IP Library Granted Patent US 12,282,163
Granted Patent B2
US 12,282,163 · App. 17/566,048 · Granted Apr 22, 2025

Optical waveguide system and electronic device

Inventor: Lingshan Li (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Goertek Inc.
G02B27/0172G02B6/0016G02B6/0036G02B2027/0123
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 12,282,163
App. No.
17/566,048
Granted
Apr 22, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An optical waveguide system and an electronic device are disclosed. The system comprises: a waveguide; an input coupler coupling a light into the waveguide; and an output coupler, wherein the input coupler includes a right portion and a left portion, wherein the right portion includes stacked first and second polarization volume gratings, the left portion includes stacked third and fourth polarization volume gratings. The first and fourth polarization volume gratings are polarization volume gratings optimized for a right-hand-side field of view of the light, and the third and second polarization volume gratings are polarization volume gratings optimized for a left-hand-side field of view of the light.

Claims (35)

1. An optical waveguide system, comprising

a waveguide;

an input coupler, provided at an input side of the waveguide and coupling a light into the waveguide; and

an output coupler, provided at an output side of the waveguide and coupling the light out of the waveguide,

wherein the input coupler includes a right portion and a left portion,

wherein the right portion is located at the right side of the input coupler and the left portion is located at the left side of the input coupler, from light incident direction,

wherein the right portion includes a first polarization volume grating and a second polarization volume grating stacked under the first polarization volume grating,

wherein the left portion includes a third polarization volume grating and a fourth polarization volume grating stacked under the third polarization volume grating,

wherein, from the light incident direction, the first polarization volume grating and the second polarization volume grating, are located at the right of the third polarization volume grating and the fourth polarization volume grating,

wherein the first polarization volume grating and the fourth polarization volume grating are polarization volume gratings optimized for a right-hand-side field of view of the light, and

wherein the third polarization volume grating and the second polarization volume grating are polarization volume gratings optimized for a left-hand-side field of view of the light, and

wherein the first polarization volume grating and the fourth polarization volume grating each have a first un-symmetric field of view with a right portion thereof larger than a left portion thereof, wherein the third polarization volume grating and the second polarization volume grating each have a second un-symmetric field of view with a left portion thereof larger than a right portion thereof.

2. The optical waveguide system according to claim 1 ,

wherein

the field of views of the first polarization volume grating and the fourth polarization volume grating are (−30°, 10°),

wherein the field of views of the third polarization volume grating and the second polarization volume grating are (−10°, 30°).

3. The optical waveguide system according to claim 1 , further comprising

a central polarization volume grating, which is provided between the right portion and left portion and which is optimized for central field of view.

4. The optical waveguide system according to claim 3 , wherein

the central polarization volume grating has a symmetric field of view overlapping at least part of the field of views of the first, second, third and fourth polarization volume gratings.

5. The optical waveguide system according to claim 4 , wherein

the field of view of the central polarization volume grating is (−15°, 15°).

6. The optical waveguide system according to claim 1 , wherein

the output coupler includes a two dimensional surface relief grating.

7. The optical waveguide system according to claim 1 , wherein

the first, second, third and fourth polarization volume gratings are transmissive polarization volume gratings.

8. The optical waveguide system according to claim 1 , further comprising

a polarizer, provided before the input coupler for converting the light into a polarized light to be diffracted by the output coupler.

9. The optical waveguide system according to claim 1 , wherein

the first and third polarization volume gratings are made by liquid crystal polymers in a first liquid crystal layer,

wherein the second and fourth polarization volume gratings are made by liquid crystal polymers in a second liquid crystal layer,

wherein the first liquid crystal layer and the second liquid crystal layer have a period variation along grating plane, and different grating vectors and/or a different period localization.

10. An electronic device, comprising

a display, which generates an image light; and

an optical waveguide system according to claim 1 , which receives the image light.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 2022
From: GOERTEK INC.
To: GOER OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 062111/0787 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 18, 2022
From: LI, LINGSHAN
To: GOERTEK INC.
Reel/Frame 058679/0634 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230213760A1 · Jul 6, 2023
References Cited (20)
US 10690851B2 · Waldern et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 11067811B2 · Chi et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11119343B2 · Geng · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20160313556A1 · Futterer · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20200081252A1 · Jamali et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210055551A1 · Chi · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20210055553A1 · Chi · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20210191122A1 · Yaroshchuk · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20220107517A1 · Yaroshchuk · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20230176382A1 · Drazic · 2023 [cited by examiner]
CN 113341569A · 2021 [cited by examiner]
CN_113341569_A (English Translation) (Year: 2021). [cited by examiner]
Lee et al., “Reflective polarization volume gratings for high efficiency waveguide-coupling augmented reality displays,” Optics Express, 25(22): 27008-27014 (2017) doi:10.1364/OE.25.027008. [cited by applicant]
Li et al., “Improved saturation and wide-viewing angle color filters based on multi-twist retarders,” Optics Express, 29(3): 4124-4138 (2021). [cited by applicant]
Li et al., “Super achromatic wide-angle quarter-wave plates using multi-twist retarders,” in Optics Express, 29(5): 7464-7478 (2021). [cited by applicant]
Li et al., “Solc-style color filters based on multi-twist retarders,” Novel Optical Systems, Methods, and Applications XXIII, vol. 11483, SPIE, 136-149 (2020) doi:10.1117/12.2569133. [cited by applicant]
Xiang et al., “Numerical analysis of Bragg polarization gratings,” Josa B., 36(5): D1--D8 (2019). [cited by applicant]
Xiang et al., “Nanoscale liquid crystal polymer Bragg polarization gratings,” Optics Express, 25(16):19298-19308 (2017) doi:10.1364/OE.25.019298. [cited by applicant]
Xiang et al., “Bragg polarization gratings for wide angular bandwidth and high efficiency at steep deflection angles,” Sci Rep., 8(1):7202 (2018) doi:10.1038/s41598-018-25535-0. [cited by applicant]
Yin Polarization Volume Gratings for Near-Eye Displays and Novel Photonic Devices, Crystals, 10(7):561, 18 pages (2020). [cited by applicant]
Cited By (1)
US 12,455,458