OPTICAL COMBINER LENS WITH LIGHTGUIDE AND SPACERS EMBEDDED IN LENS
An optical combiner lens includes a lens, a protective enclosure embedded in the lens, and a lightguide contained in the protective enclosure. First spacers are arranged between a first surface of the lightguide and the protective enclosure to provide a first gap between the lightguide and the lens. Second spacers are arranged between a second surface of the lightguide and the protective enclosure to provide a second gap between the lightguide and the lens. A wearable heads-up display including the optical combiner lens is disclosed.
1 . An optical combiner lens, comprising:
a lens; and
a lightguide assembly embedded in the lens, the lightguide assembly comprising:
a first protective layer;
a second protective layer;
a lightguide having a first lightguide surface and a second lightguide surface, the lightguide disposed between the first protective layer and the second protective layer;
a plurality of first spacers arranged between the first lightguide surface and the first protective layer; and
a plurality of second spacers arranged between the second lightguide surface and the second protective layer.
2 . The optical combiner lens of claim 2 , wherein the lens is molded around the lightguide assembly.
3 . The optical combiner lens of claim 2 , wherein a refractive index of each of the first protective layer and the second protective layer is selected to match a refractive index of the lens.
4 . The optical combiner lens of claim 2 , wherein the lens has a first lens surface that is convex and a second lens surface that is concave or planar, and wherein the lightguide is arranged in a stack with the first lens surface and the second lens surface.
5 . The optical combiner lens of claim 2 , wherein the first protective layer and the second protective layer are each made of a transparent polymer.
6 . The optical combiner lens of claim 2 , wherein the lightguide assembly includes an input coupler carried by the lightguide in a position to couple light into the lightguide and an output coupler carried by the lightguide in a position to couple light out of the lightguide.
7 . The optical combiner lens of claim 2 , wherein the first and second protective layers form a sealed enclosure around the lightguide and spacers.
8 . The optical combiner lens of claim 2 , wherein the first protective layer has a patterned surface that provides the first spacers and/or the second protective layer has a patterned surface that provides the second spacers.
9 . The optical combiner lens of claim 1 , wherein the spacers are microbeads.
10 . The optical combiner lens of claim 1 , wherein the first spacers set a first gap between the first lightguide surface and the lens, wherein the second spacers set a second gap between the second lightguide surface and the lens, and wherein each of the first and second gaps has a height of at least 2 microns.
11 . The optical combiner lens of claim 1 , wherein the first spacers set a first gap between the first lightguide surface and the lens, wherein the second spacers set a second gap between the second lightguide surface and the lens, and wherein each of the first and second gaps has a height in a range from 2 microns to 100 microns.
12 . A wearable heads-up display comprising:
a support structure;
a display light source coupled to the support structure; and
an optical combiner lens coupled to the support structure, the optical combiner lens comprising:
a lens;
a protective enclosure embedded in the lens;
a lightguide contained in the protective enclosure;
a plurality of first spacers arranged between a first surface of the lightguide and the protective enclosure, the first spacers providing a first gap between the lightguide and the lens; and
a plurality of second spacers arranged between a second surface of lightguide and the protective enclosure, the second spacers providing a second gap between the lightguide and the lens.
13 . The wearable heads-up display of claim 12 , wherein the protective enclosure comprises a transparent polymer.
14 . The wearable heads-up display of claim 12 , wherein a refractive index of the protective enclosure is selected to match a refractive index of the lens.
15 . The wearable heads-up display of claim 12 , wherein a patterned surface of the protective enclosure provides the first spacers and/or the second spacers.
16 . The wearable heads-up display of claim 12 , wherein the spacers are microbeads.
17 . The wearable heads-up display of claim 12 , wherein a height of each of the first and second gaps is in a range from 2 microns to 100 microns.
18 . The wearable heads-up display of claim 12 , wherein the lens has a first lens surface that is convex and a second lens surface that is concave or planar, and wherein the lightguide is intermediate between the first lens surface and the second lens surface.
19 . The wearable heads-up display of claim 12 , wherein the optical combiner lens further comprises an output coupler carried by the lightguide and positioned to couple light out of the lightguide.
20 . The wearable heads-up display of claim 19 , wherein the optical combiner lens further comprises an input coupler carried by the lightguide and positioned to couple light into the lightguide.