WO-2026096230-A1 - DISPLAY SYSTEM WITH AN OPTICAL COMBINER

Abstract

An electronic device may include a display module that generates image light and an optical system that redirects the image light towards an eye box. The optical system may include an input coupler on a waveguide and collimating optics that collimate the image light between the image light exiting a display module and the image light reaching the input coupler. An optical combiner may combine image light from multiple display modules and output the light to one or more collimating lenses. The display modules, the optical combiner, and the collimating lenses may be attached to a chassis. A display module may have an array of microlens that overlaps an array of light-emitting diodes. The microlenses may have a different horizontal pitch and/or vertical pitch than the light-emitting diodes.

Assignees

• ARTONDALE ENTERPRISES LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20251020

Priority Date

20241031

Claims (20)

1. 1. A display system comprising: a first waveguide; a second waveguide; an optical combiner that is interposed between the first and second waveguides; a first catadioptric lens that is interposed between the first and second waveguides and that redirects first image light from the optical combiner to the first waveguide; a second catadioptric lens that is interposed between the first and second waveguides and that redirects second image light from the optical combiner to the second waveguide; and a plurality of display modules that provides the first image light and the second image light to the optical combiner.
2. 2. The display system defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of display modules comprises three display modules that provide both the first image light and the second image light to the optical combiner.
3. 3. The display system defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of display modules comprises first, second, and third display modules that provide the first image light to the optical combiner and fourth, fifth, and sixth display modules that provide the second image light to the optical combiner.
4. 4. The display system defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of display modules comprises first and second active areas that share a first common backplane, third and fourth active areas that share a second common backplane, and fifth and sixth active areas that share a third common backplane.
5. 5. The display system defined in claim 1, wherein the optical combiner comprises a surface with a first portion that is rougher than a second portion.
6. 6. The display system defined in claim 5, wherein the surface is an exit surface of the optical combiner through which the first image light exits towards the first catadioptric lens and the second image light exits towards the second catadioptric lens.
7. 7. The display system defined in claim 5, wherein the surface is an entrance surface of the optical combiner through which the first image light and the second image light enter the optical combiner from the plurality of display modules.
8. 8. The display system defined in claim 1, further comprising: an ink coating on a surface of the optical combiner.
9. 9. The display system defined in claim 1, wherein the optical combiner comprises at least one baffle.
10. 10. The display system defined in claim 1, further comprising: a louver film that is interposed between the optical combiner and at least one of the plurality of display modules or interposed between the optical combiner and at least one of the first and second catadioptric lenses.
11. 11. The display system defined in claim 1, further comprising: a linear polarizer that is interposed between the optical combiner and at least one of the plurality of display modules or interposed between the optical combiner and at least one of the first and second catadioptric lenses.
12. 12. The display system defined in claim 1, further comprising: a quarter wave plate that is interposed between the optical combiner and at least one of the plurality of display modules or interposed between the optical combiner and at least one of the first and second catadioptric lenses.
13. 13. The display system defined in claim 1, further comprising: a high-angle rejection coating that is interposed between the optical combiner and at least one of the plurality of display modules or interposed between the optical combiner and at least one of the first and second catadioptric lenses.
14. 14. The display system defined in claim 1, wherein a display module of the plurality of display modules comprises an array of light-emitting diodes and an array of microlenses that overlaps the array of light-emitting diodes, wherein the array of lightemitting diodes has a first horizontal pitch and a first vertical pitch, wherein the array of microlenses has a second horizontal pitch and a second vertical pitch, wherein the second vertical pitch is different than the first vertical pitch, and wherein the second horizontal pitch is different than the first horizontal pitch.
15. 15. An electronic device comprising: a housing; a first waveguide coupled to the housing; a second waveguide coupled to the housing; a first chassis; a second chassis that is attached to the first chassis and the housing; a first lens that is interposed between the first chassis and the second chassis, wherein a first portion of the first lens is adjacent to the first waveguide; a second lens that is interposed between the first chassis and the second chassis, wherein a first portion of the second lens is adjacent to the second waveguide; an optical combiner that is attached to the first chassis; and a plurality of display modules that is attached to the first chassis and that provide image light to the optical combiner.
16. 16. The electronic device defined in claim 15, wherein the housing comprises first and second housing structures, wherein the first and second chassis are interposed between the first and second housing structures, wherein the housing comprises a mounting post that extends from the second housing structure towards the first housing structure, and wherein the mounting post mates with an opening in the second chassis.
17. 17. The electronic device defined in claim 16, further comprising: an adhesive layer that attaches the mounting post to the second chassis within the opening.
18. 18. The electronic device defined in claim 15, wherein the first chassis has a first portion that houses the optical combiner, wherein the first portion of the first chassis has a plurality of openings, and wherein the plurality of display modules provides the image light to the optical combiner through the plurality of openings.
19. 19. The electronic device defined in claim 18, wherein the first chassis has second and third portions, wherein the second chassis has an upper surface that is attached to a lower surface of the second portion of the first chassis, wherein the second chassis has a lower surface that is attached to an upper surface of the third portion of the first chassis, wherein the first and second lenses have upper surfaces that are attached to the lower surface of the second portion of the first chassis, and wherein the first and second lenses have lower surfaces that are attached to the upper surface of the third portion of the first chassis.
20. 20. The electronic device defined in claim 15, further comprising: a flexible printed circuit with a plurality of bends, wherein the plurality of display modules is bonded to the flexible printed circuit.

Description

Display System with an Optical Combiner This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/714,720, filed October 31, 2024, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Background [0001] This relates generally to optical systems and, more particularly, to optical systems for displays. [0002] Electronic devices may include displays that present images to a user’s eyes. For example, devices such as virtual reality and augmented reality headsets may include displays with optical elements that allow users to view the displays. [0003] It can be challenging to design devices such as these. If care is not taken, the components used in displaying content may be unsightly and bulky and may not exhibit desired levels of optical performance. Summary [0004] A display system may include a first waveguide, a second waveguide, an optical combiner that is interposed between the first and second waveguides, a first catadioptric lens that is interposed between the first and second waveguides and that redirects first image light from the optical combiner to the first waveguide, a second catadioptric lens that is interposed between the first and second waveguides and that redirects second image light from the optical combiner to the second waveguide, and a plurality of display modules that provides the first image light and the second image light to the optical combiner. [0005] An electronic device may include a housing, a first waveguide coupled to the housing, a second waveguide coupled to the housing, a first chassis, a second chassis that is attached to the first chassis and the housing, a first lens that is interposed between the first chassis and the second chassis, a second lens that is interposed between the first chassis and the second chassis, an optical combiner that is attached to the first chassis, and a plurality of display modules that is attached to the first chassis and that provide image light to the optical combiner. A first portion of the first lens may be adjacent to the first waveguide and a first portion of the second lens may be adjacent to the second waveguide. [0006] A display system may include a first waveguide, a second waveguide, a first catadioptric lens that is interposed between the first and second waveguides and that redirects image light to the first waveguide, a second catadioptric lens that is interposed between the first and second waveguides and that redirects the image light to the second waveguide, and at least one display module that provides the image light to the first and second catadioptric lenses. The at least one display module may include an array of light-emitting diodes and an array of microlenses that overlaps the array of light-emitting diodes, the array of lightemitting diodes may have a first horizontal pitch and a first vertical pitch, and the array of microlenses may have a second horizontal pitch that is different than the first horizontal pitch and a second vertical pitch that is different than the first vertical pitch. Brief Description of the Drawings [0007] FIG. l is a diagram of an illustrative system having a display in accordance with some embodiments. [0008] FIG. 2 is a top view of an illustrative display system with multiple display modules, an optical combiner for the multiple display modules, a waveguide, and collimating optics in accordance with some embodiments. [0009] FIG. 3 is a top view of an illustrative display system with a 5-surface catadioptric collimating lens in accordance with some embodiments. [0010] FIG. 4 is a top view of an illustrative display system with a 4-surface catadioptric collimating lens in accordance with some embodiments. [0011] FIG. 5 is a top view of an illustrative display system with a 5-surface catadioptric collimating lens that includes first and second lens elements with different refractive indices in accordance with some embodiments. [0012] FIG. 6 is a top view of an illustrative display system with a 6-surface catadioptric collimating lens that includes first and second lens elements in accordance with some embodiments. [0013] FIG. 7 is a top view of an illustrative display system with a 3-surface catadioptric collimating lens in accordance with some embodiments. [0014] FIG. 8 is a top view of an illustrative display system with two waveguides, two collimating lenses, two optical combiners, and six display modules in accordance with some embodiments. [0015] FIG. 9 is a top view of an illustrative display system with two waveguides, two collimating lenses, one optical combiner, and six display modules in accordance with some embodiments. [0016] FIG. 10 is a top view of an illustrative display system with two waveguides, two collimating lenses, one optical combiner, and three display modules in accordance with some embodiments. [0017] FIG. 11 A is a top view of an illustrative optical combiner with roughened surfaces and ink coatings for crosstalk mitigation in accordan