Waveguides with integrated optical elements and methods of making the same
An example waveguide can include a polymer layer having substantially optically transparent material with first and second major surfaces configured such that light containing image information can propagate through the polymer layer being guided therein by reflecting from the first and second major surfaces via total internal reflection. The first surface can include first smaller and second larger surface portions monolithically integrated with the polymer layer and with each other. The first smaller surface portion can include at least a part of an in-coupling optical element configured to couple light incident on the in-coupling optical element into the polymer layer for propagation therethrough by reflection from the second major surface and the second larger surface portion of the first major surface. The waveguide can include a tilted surface portion forming at least part of an in-coupling optical element, the tilted surface portion having curvature to provide optical power.
1. A waveguide comprising:
an optically transparent layer comprising optically transparent material and a plurality of surfaces that are arranged to guide light in the waveguide by total internal reflection, wherein the light includes image information; and
an in-coupling optical element that is configured to deflect the light into the waveguide such that the light is guided in the optically transparent layer, wherein the in-coupling optical element includes:
a prism, and
a lens that is integrated with the prism and that comprises curvature to provide optical power to the light that is incident on the in-coupling element and deflected thereby into the waveguide.
2. The waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the optical power is a positive optical power.
3. The waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the lens has a concave curvature from the perspective of most locations within the optically transparent layer.
4. The waveguide of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of surfaces has a surface roughness of about 0.1 nm to about 2.0 nm.
5. The waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the optically transparent material comprises a polymer.
6. The waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the optically transparent layer, the plurality of surfaces, and the in-coupling optical element form a molded optic.
7. The waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the in-coupling optical element does not extend completely through the optically transparent layer.
8. A waveguide comprising:
an optically transparent layer comprising optically transparent material and first and second surfaces that are arranged to guide light in the waveguide by total internal reflection, wherein the light includes image information;
a lens formed in a surface portion of the first surface, wherein the lens is monolithically integrated with the waveguide; and
an in-coupling optical element configured to receive the light that has passed through the lens and to turn at least a portion of the received light into the optically transparent layer to be guided therein, wherein the in-coupling optical element is aligned with the lens such that the lens imparts optical power to the light received by the in-coupling optical element.
9. The waveguide of claim 8 , wherein the lens is a convex lens.
10. The waveguide of claim 8 , wherein the lens is a positive powered lens.
11. The waveguide of claim 9 , wherein the in-coupling optical element is disposed on the second surface of the optically transparent layer.
12. The waveguide of claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of surfaces has a surface roughness of about 0.1 nm to about 2.0 nm.
13. The waveguide of claim 8 , wherein the optically transparent material comprises a polymer.
14. The waveguide of claim 8 , wherein the optically transparent layer, the first and second surfaces, and the lens form a molded optic.
15. The waveguide of claim 8 , wherein the in-coupling optical element is a grating.
16. The waveguide of claim 8 , wherein the in-coupling optical element is integrated with the optically transparent layer.