US 11,754,767 B1
Display with overlaid waveguide
Yakov G. Soskind, Plainsboro, NJ (US); Alexander Shpunt, Portola Valley, CA (US); and Graham C. Townsend, Menlo Park, CA (US)
Assigned to APPLE INC., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed by Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 17, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/151,170.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/985,354, filed on Mar. 5, 2020.
Int. Cl. F21V 8/00 (2006.01); G02B 6/35 (2006.01); G02B 27/00 (2006.01); H04N 13/332 (2018.01)
CPC G02B 6/0016 (2013.01) [G02B 6/35 (2013.01); G02B 27/0093 (2013.01); H04N 13/332 (2018.05); H04N 2213/001 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optoelectronic device, comprising:
a display comprising:
a display base; and
groups of pixels, which are disposed on the display base and configured to emit first optical radiation in a first wavelength band through a front surface of the display;
a planar optical waveguide, which is transparent in the first wavelength band and is overlaid across the display base, and which is configured to guide second optical radiation in a second wavelength band along a direction transverse to the front surface;
at least one emitter, which is configured to emit a beam of the second optical radiation into the planar optical waveguide;
a first diffractive structure formed in a first area of the planar optical waveguide so as to couple the beam of the second optical radiation that is guided through the planar optical waveguide out of the planar optical waveguide into a region in front of the display;
a second diffractive structure formed in a second area of the planar optical waveguide so as to couple incoming second optical radiation from the region in front of the display into the planar optical waveguide, whereby the incoming second optical radiation is guided through the planar optical waveguide; and
at least one sensor, which is coupled to receive and sense the incoming second optical radiation that has been guided through the planar optical waveguide.