A series of interconnected (directly or indirectly), coupled lighting panels is provided, the coupled lighting panels linked to one another such that various shapes and designs can be created using various arrangements of the coupled lighting panels, the lighting panels of some embodiments adapted to avoid dark spots proximate to lighting circuitry disposed therein. The lighting panels can be luminaires, and may be provided in various geometric shapes, having various dimensionalities (e.g., a flat 2 dimensional shape, or a 3 dimensional shape). Various control systems, connectors, housings, frames, and lighting systems are also described.

An optical system including a light-guide optical element (LOE) with a first set of mutually-parallel, partially-reflecting surfaces and a second set of mutually-parallel, partially-reflecting surfaces at a different orientation from the first set. Both sets of partially-reflecting surfaces are located between a set of mutually-parallel major external surfaces. Image illumination introduced at a coupling-in location propagates along the LOE, is redirected by the first set of partially-reflecting surfaces towards the second set of partially-reflecting surfaces, where it is coupled out towards the eye of the user. The first set of partially-reflecting surfaces are implemented as partial surfaces located where needed for filling an eye-motion box with the required image. Additionally, or alternatively, spacing of the first set of partially-reflecting surfaces is varied across a first region of the LOE. Additional features relate to relative orientations of the projector and partially reflecting surfaces to improve compactness and achieve various adjustments.

An eyepiece waveguide for an augmented reality display system includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface and a diffractive input coupling element formed on or in the first surface or the second surface of the substrate. The diffractive input coupling element is configured to receive an input beam of light and to couple the input beam into the substrate as a guided beam. The eyepiece waveguide also includes a diffractive combined pupil expander-extractor (CPE) element formed on or in the first surface or the second surface of the substrate. The diffractive CPE element includes a first portion and a second portion divided by an axis. A first set of diffractive optical elements is disposed in the first portion and oriented at a positive angle with respect to the axis and a second set of diffractive optical elements is disposed in the second portion and oriented at a negative angle with respect to the axis.

An optical system for directing image illumination injected at a coupling-in region towards a user for viewing includes a light-guide optical element (LOE) (12) with a pair of parallel major external surfaces (24). A first region (16) of the LOE contains a first set of partially-reflecting surfaces (17) oriented to redirect image illumination propagating within the LOE towards a second region of the LOE (18), which contains a second set of partially-reflecting surfaces (19) oriented to couple out the image illumination towards the user. The first set of partially-reflecting surfaces (17) extend across at least 95 percent of a thickness of the LOE, while the second set of partially-reflecting surfaces (19) are contained within a subsection of the thickness spanning less than 95 percent of the thickness, so that the second set of partially-reflecting surfaces (19) are excluded from one or both surface layers of the second region (18).

The identification document comprises a personalized area carrying owner-specific information, such as an owner's name data or photograph, The personalized area is overlapped by a lightguide, The lightguide comprises a primary incoupler and a primary outcoupler on opposite sides of the personalized area. Any attempt to tamper with the personalized area may lead to a damage in the lightguide, which can easily be detected by coupling light into the primary incoupler and testing the light coupled out by the primary outcoupler.

An optical waveguide, including a first structural layer, a second structural layer, a first light-guiding element, and multiple second light-guiding elements, is provided. The light-guiding elements are a partially penetrating and partially reflective layer. Multiple first sub-beams in an image beam are transmitted in the first or the second structural layer by a coupling inclined surface. Each first sub-beam forms multiple second sub-beams after being transmitted by the first or the second light-guiding elements. Some of the second sub-beams are coupled out of the optical waveguide by the second light-guiding elements, thereby enabling the image beam to expand in a first direction. For a portion of the visible light waveband, a trend of transmittance of the partially penetrating and partially reflective layer changing as a wavelength increases is opposite to a trend of transmittance of the first structural layer or the second structural layer changing as the wavelength increases.

The backlight module includes the following units. Multiple first light emitting units are disposed on a top surface of a transparent substrate. A beam angle of the first light emitting units is greater than or equal to 30 degrees and less than or equal to 45 degrees. Multiple second light emitting units and a light guide plate are disposed on a bottom surface of the transparent substrate. Each second light emitting unit is disposed in a respective hole of the light guide plate. A light intensity of the first light emitting units in a first mode is smaller than that in a second mode. A light intensity of the second light emitting units in the first mode is greater than that in the second mode. In this way, the purpose of privacy protection can be achieved.

Techniques related to reclamation of energy leaking from waveguides are disclosed. One or more photovoltaic cells may receive light leaking from a waveguide at a first surface of the wave guide. The first surface may be opposite to a second surface at which an in-coupling element is located. The light leaking from the waveguide results from inefficiency in redirecting incoming light for propagation within the waveguide. The one or more photovoltaic cells may generate electric power from the light leaking from the waveguide.

A method of operating an eyepiece waveguide having a first region and a second region includes directing light from a first projector to impinge on a first incoupling grating (ICG) and light from a second projector to impinge on a second ICG. Light from the first projector is diffracted into a first portion and a second portion of the first region of the eyepiece waveguide and out of the eyepiece waveguide. Light from the second projector is diffracted into a first portion and a second portion of the second region of the eyepiece waveguide and out of the eyepiece waveguide.

An electronic device includes a housing that at least partially defines an exterior surface and an internal volume. The electronic device also includes a display assembly that is at least partially disposed in the internal volume. The display assembly includes a light guide including a transparent plate and a light source positioned at an end of the transparent plate. A light-blocking component is affixed to the housing and at least partially covers a portion of the transparent plate. A translucent portion extends from the light-blocking component and overlaps the transparent plate.