Scanned microLED array for waveguide display
A waveguide display includes a source assembly, an output waveguide, and a controller. The source assembly includes a light source and an optics system. The light source includes source elements arranged in a 1D or 2D array that emit image light. The optics system includes a scanning mirror assembly that scans the image light to particular locations based on scanning instructions. The output waveguide receives the scanned image light from the scanning mirror assembly and outputs an expanded image light. In some embodiments, the waveguide display includes a source waveguide and the 1D array of source elements. The source waveguide receives a conditioned image light from the source assembly. The controller generates the scanning instructions and provides the scanning instructions to the scanning mirror assembly. In some embodiments, the controller provides the scanning instructions to an actuator assembly of the source waveguide.
1. A scanning waveguide display, comprising:
a source assembly including:
a light source configured to emit image light, and
at least one scanning mirror configured to scan the image light along two dimensions to generate scanned image light; and
an output waveguide assembly including an input area and an output area, the output waveguide assembly configured to receive the scanned image light at the input area and to output a version of the scanned image light from at least a portion of the output area along the two dimensions.
2. The scanning waveguide display of claim 1 , wherein the output waveguide assembly is configured to condition the scanned image light.
3. The scanning waveguide display of claim 1 , wherein the at least one scanning mirror is configured to adjust an orientation of the emitted image light to generate the scanned image light.
4. The scanning waveguide display of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to generate scanning instructions causing the at least one scanning mirror to scan the image light along the two dimensions.
5. The scanning waveguide display of claim 1 , wherein the at least one scanning mirror includes a first mirror configured to scan along a first of the two dimensions and a second mirror configured to scan along a second of the two dimensions, the first dimension and the second dimension orthogonal to each other.
6. The scanning waveguide display of claim 1 , wherein the at least one scanning mirror comprises a galvanometer mirror or a MEMS mirror.
7. The scanning waveguide display of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a plurality of source elements configured to emit the image light, the source elements positioned in a one-dimensional array, each of the source elements configured to emit a portion of the image light representing a line of a two-dimensional image.
8. The scanning waveguide display of claim 7 , wherein the one-dimensional array is curved.
9. The scanning waveguide display of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a plurality of source elements configured to emit the image light, the source elements positioned in a two-dimensional array, each of the source elements configured to emit a portion of the image light representing a portion of a two-dimensional image.
10. The scanning waveguide display of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a first source element configured to emit a first portion of the image light having a wavelength in a first wavelength range and a second source element configured to emit a second portion of the image light having a wavelength in a second wavelength range different from the first wavelength range.
11. The scanning waveguide display of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a plurality of source elements configured to emit the image light, each of the source elements emitting a portion of the imaging light having a same wavelength.
12. The scanning waveguide display of claim 1 , wherein the image light is at least partially coherent.
13. The scanning waveguide display of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a plurality of source elements, each of the source elements selected from a group consisting of: a light-emitting diode (LED), a MicroLED, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), an organic MicroLED, and a superluminescent light emitting diode (SLED).
14. The scanning waveguide display of claim 1 , wherein the light source includes a plurality of source elements, each of the source elements having a plurality of sides, at least two of the sides are in contact with an optical isolator configured to reduce optical interference.
15. The scanning waveguide display of claim 14 , wherein the optical isolator is in contact with at least three sides of the plurality of sides.
16. A scanning waveguide display comprising:
a light source configured to emit image light;
a source waveguide assembly including an entrance area and an exit area, the source waveguide assembly configured to receive the image light at the entrance area, expand the image light in at least one dimension, and output the expanded image light from the exit area; and
an output waveguide assembly including an input area and an output area, the output waveguide assembly configured to receive the expanded image light at the input area, and to output a version of the expanded image light from at least a portion of the output area along two dimensions.
17. The scanning waveguide display of claim 16 , wherein the source waveguide assembly is configured to rotate along the at least one dimension.
18. The scanning waveguide display of claim 16 , wherein the source waveguide assembly comprises an actuator configured to cause the source waveguide assembly to rotate.
19. The scanning waveguide display of claim 18 , further comprising a controller configured to generate scanning instructions causing the actuator to rotate at a defined frequency.
20. The scanning waveguide display of claim 16 , wherein the light source includes a light source element configured to emit the image light at least partially coherent and a condition element configured to condition the image light.