Virtual and augmented reality systems and methods
A system for displaying virtual content to a user includes at least one light source to multiplex a plurality of light beams to display a respective plurality of light patterns associated with one or more frames of image data. The system also includes a plurality of waveguides to receive the plurality of light beams and to direct the plurality of light beams toward an exit pupil, wherein the plurality of waveguides are stacked along an optical axis of the user. The system further includes at least one optical element to modify a focus of a light beam of the plurality of light beams directed by the plurality of waveguides.
1. A system for displaying virtual content to a user, comprising:
at least one light source to multiplex a plurality of light beams to display a respective plurality of light patterns associated with one or more frames of image data;
first, second, and third planar waveguides to receive the plurality of light beams and to direct the plurality of light beams toward an exit pupil, wherein the first, second, and third planar waveguides are stacked along an optical axis of the user; and
at least one optical element to modify a focus of a light beam of the plurality of light beams directed by the first, second, and third planar waveguides,
wherein the first, second, and third planar waveguides have first, second, and third wavefront curvatures corresponding to respective first, second, and third focal distances,
wherein the first focal distance is a focal distance of a determined accommodation of the user's eyes,
wherein the second focal distance is based at least in part on the determined accommodation and is located at a first predetermined error margin farther from the user's eyes relative to the first focal distance,
wherein the third focal distance is based at least in part on the determined accommodation and is located at a second predetermined error margin closer to the user's eyes relative to the first focal distance, and
wherein the first, second, and third planar waveguides are configured to allow a range of accommodation before a physical adjustment of the focus level is necessary due to a change in the accommodation of the user's eyes.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical element modifies the plurality of light beams in a manner such that a wavefront curvature is created, and
wherein the created wavefront curvature corresponds to a focal plane when the plurality of light beams are viewed by the user.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third planar waveguides are each switchable between on and off states.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein first, second, and third planar waveguides are static planar waveguides.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein an optical element of the at least one optical elements is switchable between on and off states.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein an optical element of the at least one optical elements is a static optical element.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein an optical element of the at least one optical elements is a diffractive optical element (DOE) in one of the first, second, or third planar waveguides,
wherein the DOE is switchable between on and off states.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical element comprises a weak lens.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical element comprises a Fresnel zone plate.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein first, second, and third frames of the one or more frames of image data are delivered through the first, second, and third planar waveguides to the user's eye simultaneously.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein first, second, and third frames of the one or more frames of image data are delivered through the first, second, and third planar waveguides to the user's eye sequentially.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first planar waveguide is disposed between the second and third planar waveguides, and
wherein the first wavefront curvature corresponds to the focal distance of the determined accommodation of the user's eyes.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the second planar waveguide is closer than the first planar waveguide to the user, and
wherein the second wavefront curvature corresponds to the first predetermined error margin farther from the user's eyes relative to the first focal distance.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the third planar waveguide is farther than the first planar waveguide from the user,
wherein the third wavefront curvature corresponds to the second predetermined error margin closer to the user's eyes relative to the first focal distance,
wherein the third wavefront curvature is greater than the first wavefront curvature, and
wherein the first wavefront curvature is greater than the second wavefront curvature.
15. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a compensating lens to compensate for a cumulative focus modification of the at least one optical elements on a light beam passing through the first, second, and third planar waveguides along the optical axis of the user.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the compensating lens is disposed on an opposite side of the plurality of planar waveguides from the user.
17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source comprises a plurality of light sources corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of planar waveguides.
18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source is a single multiplexed light source.
19. The system of claim 1 ,
wherein the first predetermined error margin is an accommodation error margin, and
wherein the second predetermined error margin is an accommodation error margin.
20. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source comprises first, second, and third light sources respectively addressing the first, second, and third planar waveguides along respective longitudinal axes of the first, second, and third planar waveguides orthogonal to the optical axis of the user.