Virtual and augmented reality systems and methods
View Patent ↗A method for displaying virtual content to a user, the method includes determining an accommodation of the user's eyes. The method also includes delivering, through a first waveguide of a stack of waveguides, light rays having a first wavefront curvature based at least in part on the determined accommodation, wherein the first wavefront curvature corresponds to a focal distance of the determined accommodation. The method further includes delivering, through a second waveguide of the stack of waveguides, light rays having a second wavefront curvature, the second wavefront curvature associated with a predetermined margin of the focal distance of the determined accommodation.
1. A method for displaying virtual content to a user, the method comprising:
determining an accommodation of the user's eyes;
delivering, through a first planar waveguide of a plurality of stacked planar waveguides, first light rays having a first wavefront curvature based at least in part on the determined accommodation, wherein the first wavefront curvature corresponds to a first focal distance of the determined accommodation;
delivering, through a second planar waveguide of the plurality of stacked planar waveguides, second light rays having a second wavefront curvature based at least in part on the determined accommodation, wherein the second wavefront curvature corresponds to a second focal distance located at a first predetermined error margin farther from the user's eyes relative to the first focal distance; and
delivering, through a third planar waveguide of the plurality of stacked planar waveguides, third light rays having a third wavefront curvature based at least in part on the determined accommodation, wherein the third wavefront curvature corresponds to a third focal distance located at a second predetermined error margin closer to the user's eyes relative to the first focal distance,
wherein the first, second, and third planar waveguides of the plurality of stacked 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 method of claim 1 , wherein delivering the second light rays having the second wavefront curvature through the second planar waveguide increases a focal range in which the user can accommodate.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first planar waveguide is coupled to a variable focus element (VFE), wherein the VFE varies a focus at which the first planar waveguide focuses the first light rays.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the focus is varied based at least in part on the determined accommodation of the users' eyes.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first light rays having the first wavefront curvature, the second light rays having the second wavefront curvature, and the third light rays having the third wavefront curvature are delivered simultaneously.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first light rays having the first wavefront curvature, the second light rays having the second wavefront curvature, and the third light rays having the third wavefront curvature are perceived as first, second, and third images at respective first, second, and third depth planes by the user.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third planar waveguides respectively comprise first, second, and third diffractive optical elements (DOEs), the method further comprising dynamically altering, responsive to first, second, and third electrical signals, respective diffraction angles of the first, second, and third DOEs to deliver the first, second, and third light rays having the first, second, and third wavefront curvatures by altering respective exit angles of the first, second, and third light rays exiting the plurality of stacked planar waveguides.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first, second, and third planar waveguides is a substrate guided optic (SGO).
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third planar waveguides are switchable between on and off states.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first, second, and third planar waveguides comprises one or more switchable elements.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first light rays having the first wavefront curvature, the second light rays having the second wavefront curvature, and the third light rays having the third wavefront curvature correspond to a same image data.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein delivering the second light rays having the second wavefront curvature through the second planar waveguide comprises delivering the second light rays having the second wavefront curvature through an optical element adjacent the second planar waveguide in the plurality of stacked planar waveguides, wherein the optical element contributes to the second wavefront curvature of the light rays having the second wavefront curvature, and
wherein delivering the third light rays having the third wavefront curvature through the third planar waveguide comprises delivering the third light rays having the third wavefront curvature through an optical element adjacent the third planar waveguide in the plurality of stacked planar waveguides, wherein the optical element contributes to the third wavefront curvature of the light rays having the third wavefront curvature.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein delivering the third light rays having the third wavefront curvature through the third planar waveguide increases a focal range in which the user can accommodate.