Holographic optical elements for augmented reality (AR) devices and methods of manufacturing and using the same are disclosed. A disclosed system includes a holographic optical element (HOE), and a first light source to direct a first beam of light toward the HOE from a first direction. The first beam of light is collimated. The disclosed system further includes a second light source to direct a second beam of light toward the HOE from a second direction. The disclosed system also includes a decollimation lens positioned between the first light source and the HOE. The decollimation lens is to decollimate the first beam of light.

A holographic display apparatus for providing an expanded viewing window includes a spatial filter configured to separate a plurality of holographic images generated by the hologram pattern displayed on the spatial light modulator from a plurality of lattice spots generated by a physical structure of the spatial light modulator. The spatial filter includes a plurality of color filters or a plurality of dichroic mirrors separating a first color image, a second color image, and a third color image from a first color lattice spot, a second color lattice spot, and a third color lattice spot.

When an image capturing apparatus captures an image of an original screen and a finger reflected on an eye of a user, an operation determination unit determines the content of an operation performed with the finger based on image data of the captured image. An operation position identification unit generates data representing a position of the finger on the original screen based on the image data of the captured image. An input control unit recognizes a content of an input instruction corresponding to the operation performed with the finger, based on data on the content of the operation obtained by the operation determination unit, data on the position generated by the operation position identification unit, and data on the original screen stored in a storage unit, and controls the original screen to be displayed on a display apparatus according to the recognized content of the input instruction.

Systems, devices, and methods for preventing eyebox degradation in wearable heads-up displays (“WHUDs”) are described. A WHUD may provide an eyebox defined by multiple spatially-separated exit pupils, where the size of the eyebox is influenced by the spacing between the exit pupils. A larger eyebox is achieved with larger spacing between the exit pupils but a larger spacing between exit pupils is susceptible to the formation of gaps or blind spots in the eyebox (eyebox degradation) if bright environmental light causes the user's pupil to constrict to a size that is smaller than the spacing between the exit pupils. A material of variable chromism is included in the user's field of view to reduce the perceived brightness of environmental light and thereby prevent the user's pupil from constricting to a size smaller than the spacing between the exit pupils.

A waveguide display includes a waveguide and a staircase structure coupled to the waveguide. The waveguide includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a holographic material layer between the first substrate and the second substrate. The holographic material layer includes a first grating and a second grating. The staircase structure is positioned on top of at least a portion of the first grating but not on top of the second grating. The staircase structure includes an input grating that is on top of the first grating and is configured to couple display light into the waveguide. The first grating is configured to redirect the display light coupled into the waveguide by the input grating towards the second grating.

A diffractive optical element according to the invention includes a holographic element configured to deflect incident light, a first substrate provided on one surface side of the holographic element, a first dielectric film provided between the first substrate and the holographic element, a second dielectric film provided on another surface side of the holographic element, and a third dielectric film provided on a side surface side of the holographic element.

A display device includes a first diffraction element configured to diffract image light and a second diffraction element disposed on an optical path between a light source and the first diffraction element. The first and the second diffraction element emit light beams that have highest diffraction efficiencies in one direction when a single wave light enters from directions of normals. If the sum of the number of reflections of light and the number of times of intermediate image generation between the second diffraction element and the first diffraction element is an even number, in the first and the second diffraction element, the directions of the diffraction light having the highest diffraction efficiencies are output when light enters from the directions of the normals are the same with respect to the directions of the normals to the incident planes. If the sum is an odd number, the directions are opposite.

A display includes a projector configured to provide light of a virtual image, a waveguide into which the light of the virtual image is injected at an injection angle by the projector, and a combiner disposed along the waveguide and configured to redirect the light of the virtual image. The waveguide is configured to emit the light at a point established by the injection angle. The combiner is further configured to allow ambient light from beyond the waveguide to pass through the combiner. The waveguide constrains the light of the virtual image through total internal reflection along a curved path for the light between the projector and the combiner.

Provided is a multi-image display apparatus including an image forming device configured to form a first image, a first polarization plate configured to transmit a first polarization component of the first image provided from the image forming device, a second polarization plate configured to transmit a second polarization component of a second image that is provided from a path different from the first image, the second polarization component being different from the first polarization component, a screen configured to reflect and diffuse the first image, and transmit the second image, and a polarization selective lens configured to focus the first image having the first polarization component, and transmit the second image having the second polarization component without refraction.

In some embodiments, a display system comprising a head-mountable, augmented reality display is configured to perform a neurological analysis and to provide a perception aid based on an environmental trigger associated with the neurological condition. Performing the neurological analysis may include determining a reaction to a stimulus by receiving data from the one or more inwardly-directed sensors; and identifying a neurological condition associated with the reaction. In some embodiments, the perception aid may include a reminder, an alert, or virtual content that changes a property, e.g. a color, of a real object. The augmented reality display may be configured to display virtual content by outputting light with variable wavefront divergence, and to provide an accommodation-vergence mismatch of less than 0.5 diopters, including less than 0.25 diopters.