Lightguide type Maxwellian near-eye display with enlarged horizontal field of view by optical reconfiguration of input image

Abstract

We present a novel design of the lightguide type optical see-through Maxwellian near-eye display. The proposed display reconfigures vertically long input images to horizontally long output images for wide horizontal viewing-angle. The reconfiguration of the input images is optically performed by using folding holographic optical elements and different numbers of total internal reflections within the lightguide. The upper and lower parts of the in-coupled image undergo different numbers of total internal reflections, being separated into two images. After the separation, the upper part is additionally diffracted by the folding holographic optical element to the side of the lower part. Finally, the horizontally tiled upper and lower parts are out-coupled towards the eye by corresponding holographic optical elements. The optical power of the output couplers converges the output image to a focal spot on the eye pupil so that users experience all-in-focus images. In the optical experiment, the wavelength difference between the display and the holographic optical element recording system was pre-compensated by adjusting the recording angle. Our prototype successfully demonstrates horizontal tiling of the upper and lower parts of the input images, showing a two-times larger output horizontal field of view than the input.