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US-12625364-B2 - Method and system for fiber scanning projector

US12625364B2US 12625364 B2US12625364 B2US 12625364B2US-12625364-B2

Abstract

A fiber scanning projector includes a piezoelectric element and a scanning fiber passing through and mechanically coupled to the piezoelectric element. The scanning fiber emits light propagating along an optical path. The fiber scanning projector also includes a first polarization sensitive reflector disposed along and perpendicular to the optical path. The first polarization sensitive reflector includes an aperture and the scanning fiber passes through the aperture. The fiber scanning projector also includes a second polarization sensitive reflector disposed along and perpendicular to the optical path.

Inventors

  • Brian T. Schowengerdt
  • Matthew D. Watson
  • Charles David Melville
  • Samuel Scott Frank

Assignees

  • MAGIC LEAP, INC.

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20240620

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A fiber scanning projector comprising: a piezoelectric element; a scanning fiber passing through and mechanically coupled to the piezoelectric element, wherein the scanning fiber is configured to emit light propagating along an optical path; a first polarization sensitive reflector disposed along and perpendicular to the optical path, wherein the first polarization sensitive reflector includes an aperture and the scanning fiber passes through the aperture; and a second polarization sensitive reflector disposed along and perpendicular to the optical path.
  2. 2 . The fiber scanning projector of claim 1 wherein the first polarization sensitive reflector is curved and the second polarization sensitive reflector is planar.
  3. 3 . The fiber scanning projector of claim 1 wherein the first polarization sensitive reflector is planar and the second polarization sensitive reflector is curved.
  4. 4 . The fiber scanning projector of claim 1 further comprising a quarter wave plate disposed between the first polarization sensitive reflector and the second polarization sensitive reflector.
  5. 5 . The fiber scanning projector of claim 4 wherein the first polarization sensitive reflector, the quarter wave plate, and the second polarization sensitive reflector are contained in a solid laminated component having optical power.
  6. 6 . The fiber scanning projector of claim 4 wherein the quarter wave plate is integrated with the second polarization sensitive reflector.
  7. 7 . The fiber scanning projector of claim 1 further comprising a lens disposed along the optical path and configured to adjust a working distance of the fiber scanning projector.
  8. 8 . The fiber scanning projector of claim 7 wherein the second polarization sensitive reflector and the lens are separated by the working distance.
  9. 9 . The fiber scanning projector of claim 7 further comprising a field of view magnifier disposed between the second polarization sensitive reflector and the lens.
  10. 10 . The fiber scanning projector of claim 7 further comprising a spherical aberration corrector disposed between the second polarization sensitive reflector and the lens.
  11. 11 . A method of generating light using a fiber scanning projector, the method comprising: generating light using a scanning fiber mechanically coupled to a piezoelectric element and passing through an aperture in a first polarization sensitive reflector; directing the light to propagate along an optical path; reflecting, during a first pass, the light off of a second polarization sensitive reflector disposed along the optical path; reflecting the light off of the first polarization sensitive reflector; and passing, during a second pass, the light through the second polarization sensitive reflector.
  12. 12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the first polarization sensitive reflector is curved and the second polarization sensitive reflector is planar.
  13. 13 . The method of claim 11 wherein the first polarization sensitive reflector is planar and the second polarization sensitive reflector is curved.
  14. 14 . The method of claim 11 further comprising passing the light through a lens disposed along the optical path at a distance from the second polarization sensitive reflector.
  15. 15 . The method of claim 14 further comprising passing the light through a field of view magnifier disposed along the optical path between the lens and the second polarization sensitive reflector.
  16. 16 . The method of claim 14 further comprising passing the light through a spherical aberration corrector disposed along the optical path between the lens and the second polarization sensitive reflector.
  17. 17 . The method of claim 11 wherein a quarter wave plate is integrated with the first polarization sensitive reflector and disposed between the first polarization sensitive reflector and the second polarization sensitive reflector.
  18. 18 . The method of claim 17 wherein the first polarization sensitive reflector, the quarter wave plate, and the second polarization sensitive reflector are contained in a solid laminated component.
  19. 19 . The method of claim 18 wherein the solid laminated component has an optical power.
  20. 20 . The method of claim 11 wherein a quarter wave plate is integrated with the second polarization sensitive reflector and disposed between the first polarization sensitive reflector and the second polarization sensitive reflector.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/306,779, filed May 3, 2021, U.S. Pat. No. 12,055,707, issued Aug. 6, 2024, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FIBER SCANNING PROJECTOR,” which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/927,765, filed Mar. 21, 2018, U.S. Pat. No. 11,022,793, issued Jun. 1, 2021, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FIBER SCANNING PROJECTOR,” which is a non-provisional of and claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/474,461, filed Mar. 21, 2017, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FIBER SCANNING PROJECTOR,” the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Modern computing and display technologies have facilitated the development of systems for so called “virtual reality” or “augmented reality” experiences, wherein digitally reproduced images or portions thereof are presented to a viewer in a manner wherein they seem to be, or may be perceived as, real. A virtual reality, or “VR,” scenario typically involves presentation of digital or virtual image information without transparency to other actual real-world visual input; an augmented reality, or “AR,” scenario typically involves presentation of digital or virtual image information as an augmentation to visualization of the actual world around the viewer. Despite the progress made in these display technologies, there is a need in the art for improved methods and systems related to augmented reality systems, particularly, display systems. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to methods and systems related to projection display systems including wearable displays. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for volumetric displays, also referred to as a light field displays, that create volumetric sculptures of light at more than one depth plane. The invention is applicable to a variety of applications in computer vision and image display systems. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a projector is provided. The projector includes a scanning light source defining a convex object surface and an optical assembly section operable to receive light from the scanning light source. The optical assembly section includes a prism element; a collimating element coupled to the prism element at an interface; a quarter wave plate; and a polarizing beam splitter disposed at the interface. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a fiber scanning projector is provided. The fiber scanning projector includes a piezoelectric element, a scanning fiber mechanically coupled to the piezoelectric element, and an optical assembly section operable to receive light from the scanning fiber. The optical assembly section includes a prism element, a collimating element coupled to the prism element at an interface, a quarter wave plate, and a polarizing beam splitter disposed at the interface. According to another embodiment of the present invention, a fiber scanning projector is provided. The fiber scanning projector includes a piezoelectric element and a scanning fiber passing through and mechanically coupled to the piezoelectric element. The scanning fiber emits light along an optical path. The fiber scanning projector also includes a mirror including an aperture. The scanning fiber passes through the aperture. The fiber scanning projector further includes a collimating mirror disposed along the optical path. According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, a fiber scanning projector is provided. The fiber scanning projector includes a piezoelectric element and a scanning fiber passing through and mechanically coupled to the piezoelectric element. The scanning fiber emits light along an optical path. The fiber scanning projector also includes a first polarization sensitive reflector disposed along the optical path, a quarter wave plate disposed adjacent the first polarization sensitive reflector, and a second polarization sensitive reflector disposed along the optical path. Numerous benefits are achieved by way of the present invention over conventional techniques. For example, embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems that can be used to display images to a user in a form factor comparable to standard eyeglasses. In some embodiments, image projectors integrated with a fiber scanning light source can fit within the frames of the eyeglasses. These and other embodiments of the invention along with many of its advantages and features are described in more detail in conjunction with the text below and attached figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1A is a simplified perspective view illustrating a fiber scanning projector according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a simplified cutaway perspective view illustrating a fiber