Hybrid polymer waveguide and methods for making the same
In some embodiments, a head-mounted augmented reality display system comprises one or more hybrid waveguides configured to display images by directing modulated light containing image information into the eyes of a viewer. Each hybrid waveguide is formed of two or more layers of different materials. The thicker of the layers is a highly optically transparent “core” layer, and the thinner layer comprises a pattern of protrusions and indentations to form, e.g., a diffractive optical element. The pattern may be formed by imprinting. The hybrid waveguide may include additional layers, e.g., forming a plurality of alternating core layers and thinner patterned layers. Multiple waveguides may be stacked to form an integrated eyepiece, with each waveguide configured to receive and output light of a different component color.
1. An augmented reality display system comprising:
a set of stacked, spaced-apart waveguides, wherein each of the waveguides comprises:
an optically transmissive core layer having a first major surface opposite a second major surface; and
an optically transmissive auxiliary layer on the first major surface, the auxiliary layer comprising a plurality of nanophotonic structures, the nanophotonic structures comprising:
incoupling diffractive optical elements configured to direct the modulated light into the waveguide; and
outcoupling diffractive optical elements configured to extract incoupled modulated light out of the waveguide,
wherein the auxiliary layer is thinner than the core layer and is formed of a material different from material forming the core layer,
a spatial light modulator configured to provide modulated light containing image information to the waveguides.
2. The augmented reality display system of claim 1 , wherein each waveguide is spaced apart by one or more spacers disposed between the waveguides.
3. The augmented reality display system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more spacers are integral with one of the core layer or auxiliary layer.
4. The augmented reality display system of claim 1 , wherein each of the waveguides comprises a core layer and an auxiliary layer, wherein a core layer of each waveguide is formed of a different material from core layers of other waveguides of the set of stacked, spaced-apart waveguides.
5. The augmented reality display system of claim 1 , wherein the spatial light modulator is part of a light projection system configured to project images onto the incoupling diffractive optical elements.
6. The augmented reality display system of claim 1 , wherein the spatial light modulator modulates light for a scanning fiber display.
7. The augmented reality display system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of sets of the stacked, space-apart waveguides.