发明人：
CROSBY, DAVID NICHOLAS | HUTCHISON, HUTCH HAYMAN | GREENHALGH, PHILIP ANDREW
摘要：
An encapsulated waveguide system for a near eye optical display includes a first outer layer (24), a second outer layer (31), at least one waveguide substrate (26) comprising an input area (27) and an output area (28), a first spacer and a sealing element (22). The at least one waveguide substrate (26) is disposed between the first and second outer layers (24, 31) and spaced therefrom by the first spacer. The sealing element (22) joins edges of the first and second outer layers (24, 31) so as to encapsulate the at least one waveguide substrate (26) within a cavity (25, 29) formed by the first and second outer layers (24, 31). The formed cavity includes a first cavity (25) between the at least one waveguide substrate (26) and the first outer layer (24) and a second cavity (29) between the at least one waveguide substrate (26) and the second outer layer (31).
权利要求：
Claims
1 . An encapsulated waveguide system for a near eye optical display, comprising: a first outer layer, a second outer layer, at least one waveguide substrate comprising an input area and an output area, a first spacer, and a sealing element, wherein the at least one waveguide substrate is disposed between the first and second outer layers and spaced therefrom by the first spacer wherein the sealing element joins edges of the first and second outer layers so as to encapsulate the at least one waveguide substrate within a cavity formed by the first and second outer layers; and wherein the formed cavity comprises a first cavity between the at least one waveguide substrate and the first outer layer and a second cavity between the at least one waveguide substrate and the second outer layer.
2. The encapsulated waveguide system of claim 1, further comprising a second spacer, wherein the at least one waveguide substrate is disposed between the first and second outer layers and spaced therefrom by the first spacer and the second spacer.
3. The encapsulated waveguide system of claim 2, wherein the first spacer and second spacer are continuous spacers.
4. The encapsulated waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the first spacer and second spacer are discontinuous spacers.
5. The encapsulated waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the first and second outer layers protect the at least one waveguide substrate from environmental contamination.
6. The encapsulated waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the at least one waveguide substrate is combined with a second or third waveguide separated from one another by further spacers.
7. The encapsulated waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the at least one waveguide substrate comprises a waveguide subsystem comprising a plurality of waveguides separated from one another by spacers.
8. The encapsulated waveguide system of claim 1, wherein one of the first or second outer layers include an aperture to hermetically receive and optically align a projector module with the input area of the at least one waveguide substrate.
9. The encapsulated waveguide system of claim 1, comprising at least one pressure relief element configured to balance pressure of the first and second cavities between the at least one waveguide substrate and the first and second outer layers with ambient pressure.
10. The encapsulated waveguide system of claim 9, wherein the at least one pressure relief element is disposed within an aperture extending from an exterior surface of the encapsulated waveguide system to one of the first cavity or second cavity.
11 . The encapsulated waveguide system of claim 9, wherein the at least one pressure relief element is provided in or between the first and second outer layers.
12. The encapsulated waveguide system of claim 11, wherein the pressure relief element comprises a semi-permeable membrane that allows for exchange of specific gases but permits pressure equalization while avoiding ingress of dust and moisture into said encapsulated waveguide system.
13. The encapsulated waveguide system of claim 9, wherein the pressure relief element comprises a sintered frit.
14. The encapsulated waveguide of claim 9, wherein pressure relief elements are provided between waveguide substrates to mitigate effects of pressure differential between waveguide substrates.
15. The encapsulated waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the at least one waveguide substrate comprises a transparent waveguide substrate and wherein the encapsulated waveguide system further comprises a passageway extending through the transparent waveguide substrate, wherein the first cavity is in fluid communication with the second cavity via said passageway, and wherein the passageway is configured to enable pressure equilibrium around the waveguide
substrate.
16. The encapsulated waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the outer layer comprises two or more discrete glazing bumps for fixing within a frame.
17. The encapsulated waveguide of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first or second outer layers is an ophthalmic lens.
18. The encapsulated waveguide of claim 17, wherein each ophthalmic lens is prepared using a standard ophthalmic lens blank.
19. The encapsulated waveguide of claim 18, wherein the ophthalmic lens is prepared using a standard laboratory milling machine.
20. The encapsulated waveguide of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first or second outer layers is prepared using a 3D printing process.
21 . The encapsulated waveguide of claim 20, wherein the 3D printing process is configured to produce an ophthalmic lens.
22. A method of preventing differential pressure distortion of an image projected within a near eye optical display, comprising: providing at least one waveguide attached to a support surface or another waveguide; providing a vent structure between waveguide and support or between waveguide and waveguide; and enclosing the waveguide within a housing; wherein the vent structures equalize pressures between an atmosphere pressure and a pressure of a gas surrounding the at least one waveguide, thereby preventing bending of the waveguide and mitigating distortion of an image projected within the waveguide.
23. A near eye optical display system comprising: a light engine; and an encapsulated waveguide system, said light engine being optically coupled to said encapsulated waveguide system and the encapsulated waveguide system including:
a first outer layer; a second outer layer; at least one waveguide substrate comprising an input area and an output area; a first spacer; and a sealing element; wherein the at least one waveguide substrate is disposed between the first and second outer layers and spaced therefrom by the first spacer wherein the sealing element joins minor surfaces of the first and second outer layers so as to encapsulate the at least one waveguide substrate within a cavity formed by the first and second outer layers; and wherein the formed cavity comprises a first cavity between the at least one waveguide substrate and the first outer layer and a second cavity between the at least one waveguide substrate and the second outer layer.
24. The near eye optical display system of claim 23, wherein the near optical display system comprises an augmented reality display system. 25. The near eye optical display system of claim 23, wherein the near optical display system comprises a virtual reality display system.
26. The near eye optical display system of claim 23, wherein the light engine and encapsulated waveguide system are carried on an eyeglass frame.