METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR AUGMENTED REALITY DISPLAY WITH DYNAMIC FIELD OF VIEW

1 . A foveated display comprising:

a first projector;

a dynamic eyepiece optically coupled to the first projector, wherein the dynamic eyepiece comprises a waveguide having a variable surface profile;

a second projector; and

a fixed depth plane eyepiece optically coupled to the second projector.

2 . The foveated display of claim 1 wherein the foveated display is characterized by a field of view, the dynamic eyepiece overlaps with a central portion of the field of view, and the fixed depth plane eyepiece overlaps with a peripheral portion of the field of view.

3 . The foveated display of claim 1 wherein the dynamic eyepiece comprises:

a waveguide layer having an input surface, an output surface opposing the input surface, and a periphery; and

a mechanical structure coupled to at least a portion of the periphery of the waveguide layer, wherein the mechanical structure is operable to apply a first mechanical force to the at least a portion of the periphery of the waveguide layer to modify a surface profile of the output surface of the waveguide layer.

4 . The foveated display of claim 3 wherein the mechanical structure is operable to modify an angle associated the periphery of the waveguide layer.

5 . The foveated display of claim 3 wherein the mechanical structure comprises one or more mechanically mobile joints between the waveguide layer and a second waveguide layer.

6 . The foveated display of claim 3 wherein the mechanical structure is operable to apply a shear strain to the waveguide layer.

7 . The foveated display of claim 3 wherein the mechanical structure is operable to apply a stretching and or compressive force to the waveguide layer.

8 . The foveated display of claim 3 wherein the mechanical structure comprises a fixed frame and an actuator.

9 . The foveated display of claim 3 wherein the mechanical structure comprises an electroactive polymer (EAP) system that further includes a voltage source electrically coupled to an EAP film.

10 . The foveated display of claim 3 wherein the mechanical structure comprises a vacuum chuck mechanism.

11 . The foveated display of claim 3 wherein the first mechanical force is applied to the waveguide layer continuously.

12 . The foveated display of claim 3 wherein the mechanical structure comprises a top disk and a bottom disk, wherein the top disk and the bottom disk have slots operable to receive support posts.

13 . The foveated display of claim 3 wherein the first mechanical force is applied in a direction that is normal to the input surface and the output surface opposing the input surface.

14 . The foveated display of claim 3 wherein the periphery has a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the mechanical structure is in contact with both the top surface and the bottom surface.

15 . The foveated display of claim 3 wherein the periphery has a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the mechanical structure is in contact with the bottom surface.

16 . The foveated display of claim 1 wherein the variable surface profile comprises a first, planar surface profile and a second, non-planar surface profile.

17 . The foveated display of claim 1 wherein the variable surface profile comprises a first surface profile having a positive curvature and a second surface profile having a negative curvature.

18 . The foveated display of claim 1 wherein the fixed depth plane eyepiece is characterized by a planar surface profile.

19 . The foveated display of claim 1 wherein the fixed depth plane eyepiece abuts a first side of the dynamic eyepiece.

20 . The foveated display of claim 1 wherein the fixed depth plane eyepiece abuts more than one side of the dynamic eyepiece thereby partially surrounding the dynamic eyepiece.