An optical system includes a light module, an optical element on a first grating coupler, and a second grating coupler. The light module emits three beams from different positions. The optical element is below the light module and is configured to change incident angles of the three beams and to focus the three beams at the same region of the first grating coupler. The first grating coupler is below the optical element and is configured to couple the three beams into a light-guide substrate. The light-guide substrate is connected to the first grating coupler and is configured to transmit the three beams. The second grating coupler is connected to the light-guide substrate and is configured to enable the three beams departing from the light-guide substrate after the three beams have traveled the same optical path.

Optical devices and methods for expanding input light and outputting the expanded light include a waveguide and an input optical element to receive light incident on a first side of the waveguide. The input optical element includes an input reflective surface to reflect the received light into the waveguide. An intermediate diffractive optical element receives light in the waveguide from a first direction, and provides an expansion of the received light in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. An output optical element includes an output reflective surface to reflect the expanded light out of the waveguide towards a viewer. The waveguide guides light along an optical path from the input optical element to the intermediate diffractive optical element and from the intermediate diffractive optical element to the output optical element.

One embodiment provides an apparatus for displaying an image comprising: a first optical substrate comprising at least one waveguide layer configured to propagate light in a first direction, wherein the at least one waveguide layer of the first optical substrate comprises at least one grating lamina configured to extract the light from the first substrate along the first direction; and a second optical substrate comprising at least one waveguide layer configured to propagate the light in a second direction, wherein the at least one waveguide layer of the second optical substrate comprises at least one grating lumina configured to extract light from the second substrate along the second direction, wherein the at least one grating lamina of at least one of the first and second optical substrates comprises an SBG in a passive mode.

A spectacle lens for a display device that can be fitted on the head of a user and generate an image. A coupling-in section in an edge area of the spectacle lens and a coupling-out section in a central area of the spectacle lens. The spectacle lens is suitable for coupling light bundles of pixels of the generated image into the spectacle lens via the coupling-in section, guiding them in the spectacle lens to the coupling-out section and coupling them out of the spectacle lens via the coupling-out section. The coupling-in section can divide at least one of the light bundles into several first sub-bundles and couple them into the spectacle lens offset from each other in a first direction such that the first sub-bundles are guided in the spectacle lens to the coupling-out section along a second direction running transverse with respect to the first direction.

A near-eye optical display system that may be utilized in mixed reality applications and devices includes a see-through waveguide on which diffractive optical elements (DOEs) are disposed that are configured for in-coupling, exit pupil expansion, and out-coupling. The optical display system includes a conformal coating that is thickness modulated over different areas of the display to enable tuning of the optical parameters such as refractive index and reflectivity to meet various design requirements. The conformal coating may also be utilized to enhance physical characteristics of the optical display system to thereby improve reliability and resist wear and damage from handling and exposure to environmental elements.

An optical device includes a substrate, a first surface-relief grating including grooves and ridges formed on or in the substrate, a first overcoat layer in the grooves of the first surface-relief grating, and a first antireflective layer on the first overcoat layer. The ridges of the first surface-relief grating include high-refractive index, photoactive metal oxide nanoparticles and a material of the first overcoat layer in regions between the metal oxide nanoparticles, or the first overcoat layer includes the metal oxide nanoparticles and a material of the first antireflective layer in regions between the metal oxide nanoparticles. Methods of fabricating the optical device are also described.

Virtual reality (VR) displays are computer displays that present images or video in a manner that simulates a real experience for the viewer. In many cases, VR displays are implemented as head-mounted displays (HMDs) which provide a display in the line of sight of the user. Because current HMDs are composed of a display panel and magnifying lens with a gap therebetween, proper functioning of the HMDs limits their design to a box-like form factor, thereby negatively impacting both comfort and aesthetics. The present disclosure provides a different configuration for a VR display which allows for improved comfort and aesthetics, including specifically at least one coherent light source, at least one pupil replicating waveguide coupled to the at least one coherent light source to receive light therefrom, and at least one spatial light modulator coupled to the at least one pupil replicating waveguide to modulate the light.

A waveguide display includes a waveguide and a grating coupler configured to couple display light into or out of the waveguide. The grating coupler includes at least a first grating layer and a second grating layer arranged in a stack. The first grating layer is characterized by a first thickness and includes a first transmission VBG configured to diffract display light of a first wavelength from a first field of view. The second grating layer is characterized by a second thickness greater than the first thickness and includes a second transmission VBG configured to diffract display light of the first wavelength from a second field of view greater than the first field of view.

Aspects described herein include an optical apparatus comprising an input port configured to receive an optical signal comprising a plurality of wavelengths, and a plurality of output ports. Each output port is configured to output a respective wavelength of the plurality of wavelengths. The optical apparatus further comprises a first plurality of two-mode Bragg gratings in a cascaded arrangement. Each grating of the first plurality of two-mode Bragg gratings is configured to reflect a respective wavelength of the plurality of wavelengths toward a respective output port of the plurality of output ports, and transmit any remaining wavelengths of the plurality of wavelengths.

There is provided a method for fabricating a waveguide master grating imprint tool. The method comprises: coating a substrate with at least one photoresist layer; selectively exposing a first diffraction grating master profile onto a first area of the at least one photoresist layer; selectively exposing a second diffraction grating master profile onto a second area of the at least one photoresist layer; and processing the substrate to form the first diffraction grating master profile and the second diffraction grating master profile. Each of the first diffraction grating profile and the second diffraction grating profile comprises an edge between the substrate and the respective grating profile that is substantially perpendicular to the substrate surface and each of the edges is substantially the same height as a maximum depth of the first diffraction grating master profile and the second diffraction grating master profile