SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING STRAY LIGHT IN AUGMENTED REALITY AND RELATED APPLICATIONS
Systems and apparatus for managing stray light in augmented reality, mixed reality, enhanced reality, and similar applications.
1 . An optical display apparatus comprising the following components:
a display comprising a transparent backplane or coverwindow comprising a plurality of pixels or patches of pixels, wherein spaces between the plurality of pixels or patches of pixels allow for transmission of real world light to reach an eye of a user of the optical display apparatus;
a microlens array comprising a plurality of microlenses;
a plurality of hollow structures located between the display and the microlens array, wherein the plurality of hollow structures are configured to prevent and/or block stray light from reaching the eye of the user of the optical display apparatus;
a plurality of light blocking shielding plates on a side of the plurality of pixels or patches of pixels facing away from the microlens array and towards a real world environment; and
a plurality of annular light blocking shields, wherein an annular light blocking shield of the plurality of annular light blocking shields surrounds or encircles a microlens of the plurality of microlenses.
2 . The optical display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of hollow structures are circular, ovular, square, rectangular, hexagonal, polygonal, or triangular in shape.
3 . The optical display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of hollow structures match or substantially match a shape of one or more of the plurality of microlenses.
4 . The optical display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of hollow structures match or substantially match a shape of one or more of the plurality of pixels or patches of pixels.
5 . The optical display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of microlenses are positioned on a surface opposite from one or more of the plurality of pixels or patches of pixels, or wherein one or more of the plurality of microlenses are positioned on a surface facing toward one or more of the plurality of pixels or patches of pixels.
6 . The optical display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein light absorbing material and/or textured features are applied to inner and/or outer sidewalls of one or more of the plurality of hollow structures.
7 . The optical display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein inner and/or outer sidewalls of one or more of the plurality of hollow structures comprise at least one of light absorbing material and textured features.