IP Library Granted Patent US 11,181,681
Granted Patent B2
US 11,181,681 · App. 16/599,782 · Granted Nov 23, 2021

Multi-waveguide optical structure with diffraction grating

Inventors: Frank Y. Xu (Austin, TX); Michael Nevin Miller (Austin, TX); Kang Luo (Austin, TX); Vikramjit Singh (Pflugerville, TX); Michael Klug (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Molecular Imprints, Inc.
G02B6/0038G02B6/0065G02B6/0076G02B1/11G02B27/4205G02B27/4272
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,181,681
App. No.
16/599,782
Granted
Nov 23, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A multi-waveguide optical structure, including multiple waveguides stacked to intercept light passing sequentially through each waveguide, each waveguide associated with a differing color and a differing depth of plane, each waveguide including: a first adhesive layer, a substrate having a first index of refraction, and a patterned layer positioned such that the first adhesive layer is between the patterned layer and the substrate, the first adhesive layer providing adhesion between the patterned layer and the substrate, the patterned layer having a second index of refraction less than the first index of refraction, the patterned layer defining a diffraction grating, wherein a field of view associated with the waveguide is based on the first and the second indices of refraction.

Claims (38)

1. A multi-waveguide optical structure, comprising:

waveguides stacked to intercept light passing sequentially through each waveguide, each waveguide comprising:

a first adhesive layer; and

a substrate having a first index of refraction; and

a patterned layer positioned such that the first adhesive layer is between the patterned layer and the substrate, wherein the first adhesive layer provides adhesion between the patterned layer and the substrate, the patterned layer has a second index of refraction, and the second index of refraction is less than the first index of refraction.

2. The multi-waveguide optical structure of claim 1 , wherein each waveguide is associated with a different color.

3. The multi-waveguide optical structure of claim 1 , wherein each waveguide is associated with a different depth of plane.

4. The multi-waveguide optical structure of claim 1 , wherein each patterned layer defines a diffraction grating.

5. The multi-waveguide optical structure of claim 1 , wherein a field of view associated with each waveguide is based on the first and the second indices of refraction.

6. The multi-waveguide optical structure of claim 5 , wherein the field of view of each waveguide is at least 50 degrees.

7. The multi-waveguide optical structure of claim 1 , further comprising a waveguide support connecting and positioning each waveguide of the multiple waveguides.

8. The multi-waveguide optical structure of claim 1 , wherein each waveguide further comprises a second adhesive layer positioned such that the substrate is between the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer.

9. The multi-waveguide optical structure of claim 8 , wherein each waveguide further comprises an additional patterned layer positioned such that the second adhesive layer is between the substrate and the additional patterned layer.

10. The multi-waveguide optical structure of claim 9 , wherein the additional patterned layer has a third index of refraction, and the third index of refraction is less than the first index of refraction.

11. The multi-waveguide optical structure of claim 10 , wherein the third index of refraction is approximately 1.5.

12. The multi-waveguide optical structure of claim 1 , wherein the first index of refraction is at least 1.7.

13. The multi-waveguide optical structure of claim 1 , wherein the second index of refraction is approximately 1.5.

14. The multi-waveguide optical structure of claim 1 , wherein the substrate of each waveguide is free of a diffraction grating.

15. The multi-waveguide optical structure of claim 1 , wherein the substrate of each waveguide is partially etched.

16. The multi-waveguide optical structure of claim 1 , wherein the multi-waveguide optical structure comprises at least three waveguides.

17. The multi-waveguide optical structure of claim 1 , wherein each of the waveguides is separated by air.

18. The multi-waveguide optical structure of claim 1 , wherein each waveguide provides total internal refraction of the light.

19. A multi-waveguide optical structure comprising:

waveguides stacked to intercept light passing sequentially through each waveguide, each waveguide comprising:

a first adhesive layer;

an anti-reflective layer;

a substrate positioned between the first adhesive layer and the anti-reflective layer, the substrate having a first index of refraction;

a first patterned layer positioned such that the first adhesive layer is between the first patterned layer and the substrate, wherein the first adhesive layer provides adhesion between the first patterned layer and the substrate, and the first patterned layer has a second index of refraction less than the first index of refraction;

a second adhesive layer; and

a second patterned layer positioned such that the second adhesive layer is positioned between the anti-reflective layer and the second patterned layer, and the second adhesive layer provides adhesion between the second patterned layer and the anti-reflective layer.

20. A multi-waveguide optical structure comprising:

waveguides stacked to intercept light passing sequentially through each waveguide, each waveguide comprising:

a first adhesive layer;

an anti-reflective layer;

a substrate positioned between the first adhesive layer and the anti-reflective layer, the substrate having a first index of refraction;

a patterned layer positioned such that the first adhesive layer is between the patterned layer and the substrate, the first adhesive layer providing adhesion between the patterned layer and the substrate, the patterned layer having a second index of refraction less than the first index of refraction, the patterned layer defining a diffraction grating, wherein a field of view associated with the waveguide is based on the first and the second indices of refraction; and

a second adhesive layer positioned such that the anti-reflective layer is positioned between the second adhesive layer and the substrate; and

a waveguide support connecting and positioning each waveguide of the multiple waveguides.

Assignments (4)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2025
From: MAGIC LEAP, INC.; MENTOR ACQUISITION ONE, LLC; MOLECULAR IMPRINTS, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073388/0027 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 24, 2022
From: MOLECULAR IMPRINTS, INC.; MENTOR ACQUISITION ONE, LLC; MAGIC LEAP, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 060338/0665 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 21, 2020
From: MAGIC LEAP, INC.; MOLECULAR IMPRINTS, INC.; MENTOR ACQUISITION ONE, LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052729/0791 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 8, 2020
From: XU, FRANK Y.; MILLER, MICHAEL NEVIN; LUO, KANG; SINGH, VIKRAMJIT; KLUG, MICHAEL
To: MOLECULAR IMPRINTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 051446/0380 →