Scanning waveguide display
A waveguide display is used for presenting media to a user. The waveguide assembly includes a light source, a source waveguide, an output waveguide, and a controller. The light source emits image light based on scanning instructions from the controller. The source waveguide receives the image light from the light source, expands the image light in at least one dimension, and outputs an expanded image light to the output waveguide at an input area. The output waveguide outputs the expanded image light from a portion of an output area based on a direction of the expanded light from the source waveguide.
1. A waveguide display, comprising:
a first light source configured to emit first image light within a first band of light;
a second light source configured to emit second image light within a second band of light different from the first band of light;
a first source waveguide including a first entrance area and a first exit area, the first source waveguide configured to receive the first image light from the first light source at the first entrance area, to expand the first image light in at least one dimension, and to output a first expanded image light from the first exit area; and
a second source waveguide including a second entrance area and a second exit area, the second source waveguide configured to receive the second image light from the second light source at the second entrance area, to expand the second image light in at least one dimension, and to output a second expanded image light from the second exit area,
wherein the first expanded image light and the second expanded image light are combined as a polychromatic image outputted from an output area.
2. The waveguide display of claim 1 , wherein the first expanded image light is outputted in a first portion of the output area and the second expanded image light is outputted in a second portion of the output area, and wherein a location of the first portion of the output area is determined based in part on a direction of the first expanded image light and a location of the second portion of the output area is determined based in part on a direction of the second expanded image light.
3. The waveguide display of claim 1 , wherein a first distance between the first entrance area and the first exit area is greater than a second distance between the second entrance area and the second exit area, and the second expanded image light is transmitted through the second exit area before being combined with the first expanded image light.
4. The waveguide display of claim 1 , wherein the first band of light and the second band of light are in a visible band.
5. The waveguide display of claim 1 , wherein the first entrance area and the first exit area of the first source waveguide, and the second entrance area and the second exit area of the second source waveguide are selected from a group consisting of: a diffraction grating, a holographic diffraction grating, a holographic reflector, a set of reflective surfaces, and one or more prismatic reflectors.
6. The waveguide display of claim 1 , wherein the first light source is dynamically oriented at different angles of inclination, and wherein the different angles of inclination correspond to different directions of the first expanded image light output by the first source waveguide.
7. The waveguide display of claim 1 , wherein the first source waveguide includes a top surface and a bottom surface that is opposite the top surface, and the first entrance area is located along the top surface and the first exit area is located along the bottom surface.
8. The waveguide display of claim 1 , wherein the first source waveguide includes a planar surface, and the first entrance area and the first exit area are both located along the planar surface.
9. The waveguide display of claim 1 , further comprising an outcoupling element positioned to receive the first expanded image light emitted from the first source waveguide and the second expanded image light from the second source waveguide at an input area of the outcoupling element, and to output the polychromatic image from an output area of the outcoupling element.
10. The waveguide display of claim 9 , wherein the outcoupling element includes a top surface and a bottom surface that is opposite the top surface, and the input area is located along the top surface and the output area is located along the bottom surface.
11. The waveguide display of claim 9 , wherein the outcoupling element includes a planar surface, and the input area and the output area are both located along the planar surface.
12. The waveguide display of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to generate scanning instructions and to provide the scanning instructions to the first light source and the second light source, wherein the first light source is configured to emit the first image light and the second light source is configured to emit the second image light according to the scanning instructions.
13. A near-eye display (NED), comprising:
a frame configured to be worn by a user;
a waveguide display that is integrated into the NED, the waveguide display comprising:
a first light source configured to emit first image light within a first band of light;
a second light source configured to emit second image light within a second band of light different from the first band of light;
a first source waveguide including a first entrance area and a first exit area, the first source waveguide configured to receive the first image light from the first light source at the first entrance area, to expand the first image light in at least one dimension, and to output a first expanded image light from the first exit area; and
a second source waveguide including a second entrance area and a second exit area, the second source waveguide configured to receive the second image light from the second light source at the second entrance area, to expand the second image light in at least one dimension, and to output a second expanded image light from the second exit area,
wherein the first expanded image light and the second expanded image light are combined as a polychromatic image outputted from an output area.
14. The NED of claim 13 , wherein the first expanded image light is outputted in a first portion of the output area and the second expanded image light is outputted in a second portion of the output area, and wherein a location of the first portion of the output area is determined based in part on a direction of the first expanded image light and a location of the second portion of the output area is determined based in part on a direction of the second expanded image light.
15. The NED of claim 13 , wherein a first distance between the first entrance area and the first exit area is greater than a second distance between the second entrance area and the second exit area, and the second expanded image light is transmitted through the second exit area before being combined with the first expanded image light.
16. The NED of claim 13 , wherein the waveguide display further comprises an outcoupling element positioned to receive the first expanded image light emitted from the first source waveguide and the second expanded image light from the second source waveguide at an input area of the outcoupling element, and to output the polychromatic image from an output area of the outcoupling element.
17. The NED of claim 16 , wherein the first light source is dynamically oriented at different angles of inclination, and wherein the different angles of inclination correspond to different directions of the first expanded image light output by the first source waveguide.
18. The NED of claim 16 , wherein the first source waveguide includes a top surface and a bottom surface that is opposite the top surface, and the first entrance area is located along the top surface and the first exit area is located along the bottom surface.
19. The NED of claim 16 , wherein the first source waveguide includes a planar surface, and the first entrance area and the first exit area are both located along the planar surface.
20. The NED of claim 13 , wherein the waveguide display further comprises a controller configured to generate scanning instructions and to provide the scanning instructions to the first light source and the second light source, wherein the first light source is configured to emit the first image light and the second light source is configured to emit the second image light according to the scanning instructions.