US 11,686,944 B2
Method and system for high resolution digitized display
Lionel Ernest Edwin, Plantation, FL (US); Ivan Li Chuen Yeoh, Tampa, FL (US); Brian T. Schowengerdt, Seattle, WA (US); Kevin Richard Curtis, Boulder, CO (US); William Hudson Welch, Fort Lauderdale, FL (US); Pierre St. Hilaire, Belmont, CA (US); and Hui-Chuan Cheng, Cooper City, FL (US)
Assigned to Magic Leap, Inc., Plantation, FL (US)
Filed by Magic Leap, Inc., Plantation, FL (US)
Filed on Apr. 28, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/860,756.
Application 16/860,756 is a division of application No. 15/826,315, filed on Nov. 29, 2017, granted, now 10,678,055.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/428,510, filed on Nov. 30, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2020/0326546 A1, Oct. 15, 2020
Int. Cl. G02B 27/01 (2006.01); F21V 8/00 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 27/0172 (2013.01) [G02B 6/0016 (2013.01); G02B 6/0023 (2013.01); G02B 6/0038 (2013.01); G02B 2027/011 (2013.01); G02B 2027/0138 (2013.01); G02B 2027/0147 (2013.01); G02B 2027/0178 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image display system comprising:
a waveguide;
an optical device configured for receiving an incoming light beam and providing a plurality of input beamlets to the waveguide, wherein the optical device comprises:
a first prism and a second prism separated by an air gap, a first surface of the first prism and a second surface of the second prism being disposed in parallel and adjacent to each other across the air gap, the first surface being partially reflective and the second surface being substantially totally reflective,
wherein the first prism and the second prism are configured to receive the incoming light beam and to provide a first plurality of beamlets;
wherein the first surface is configured for receiving the incoming light beam and reflecting a first portion of the incoming light beam and to allow a second portion of the incoming light beam to pass through;
the second surface is configured for reflecting each light beam from the first surface back to the first surface; and
for each light beam directed to the first surface from the second surface, the first surface allowing a portion to pass through, and reflecting a remaining portion to the second surface;
each beamlet of the first plurality of beamlets being derived from a portion of the incoming light beam, the first plurality of beamlets being offset spatially;
a third prism and a fourth prism, a third surface of the third prism and a fourth surface of the fourth prism disposed in parallel and adjacent to each other, the third surface being partially reflective and the fourth surface being substantially totally reflective;
wherein the third prism and the fourth prism are configured to receive the first plurality of beamlets and to provide the plurality of input beamlets, wherein the first plurality of beamlets enter the third prism perpendicular to a first side surface of the third prism; and
wherein the first plurality of beamlets is offset spatially and traverses across a longitudinal direction of the waveguide, and the plurality of input beamlets is offset along a latitudinal direction of the waveguide, resulting in a 2D (two-dimensional) array of beamlets;
wherein the waveguide is configured for:
receiving the plurality of input beamlets;
propagating the plurality of input beamlets by total internal reflection (TIR);
providing an output coupling element optically coupled to the waveguide; and
outputting multiple groups of output beamlets using the output coupling element, each group of output beamlets including a portion of each of the plurality of input beamlets propagating in the waveguide by total internal reflection.