OPTICAL SYSTEM STEERING VIA BRAGG GRATING SHEAR - MSFT Application

Looks like this one slipped through the cracks a few weeks ago!

OPTICAL SYSTEM STEERING VIA BRAGG GRATING SHEAR

TLDR -

Assignee - Microsoft,

Published: Nov. 22, 2018

Filing Date: May 22, 2017

20180338122

ABSTRACT

An optical system includes a light source, a film positioned to be illuminated by light from the light source, the film including a plurality of Bragg gratings configured to redirect the light, and an actuator configured to apply a shearing force to the film. The shearing force manipulates an orientation of the plurality of Bragg gratings to change an extent to which the plurality of Bragg gratings redirects the light and to thereby re-position a pupil at which the light converges after redirection by the plurality of Bragg gratings.

TLDR

• Lasers + Near eyes display wide FOV + Digilens connection (possibly?)

[0073] The projector 602 may include one or more lasers or other light sources. In the example of FIG. 6, the projector 602 includes a single laser 614. The projector 602 may also include one or more liquid crystal layers, as described above. In this example, the projector 602 includes a liquid crystal grating 616 and a liquid crystal display 618. The liquid crystal display 618 may include or be configured as a liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) or other LC or other device.

[0093] The steering films described herein may be integrated into various types of optical systems and electronic devices. For instance, the steering film may be combined with a collimated backlight so as to create a display that uses very little optical power. The steering film may be combined with a three-dimensional or other virtual image so as to steer the pupil of that image to follow the viewer. A wide field of view may be achieved without having to resort to undesirably large displays, which may be useful in realizing head-mounted and other portable displays. The steering film may also be combined with a wedge periscope so as to steer the position of the point towards which captured rays travel prior to deflection.