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Over-wavelength pitch sized diffraction gratings for augmented reality applications.
Optics Express
|February 25, 2022
Summary
New surface relief gratings (SRG) for augmented reality (AR) glasses utilize higher diffraction orders and edge wave phenomena. This approach enables over-wavelength pitches for efficient light steering, improving AR display technology.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Augmented reality (AR) glasses utilize waveguide-based optical combiners.
- These combiners often integrate surface relief gratings (SRG) with pitches as small as 200 nm for blue wavelengths.
- Current SRGs primarily use the first diffraction order for light coupling and deviation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present novel surface relief gratings (SRG) for AR applications.
- To explore the use of higher diffraction orders in SRGs.
- To leverage the edge wave (EW) diffraction phenomenon for light steering.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of SRGs with over-wavelength pitch sizes.
- Utilizing higher diffraction orders beyond the first order.
- Employing the edge wave (EW) diffraction phenomenon for light manipulation.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated SRGs capable of operating with larger, over-wavelength pitches.
- Successfully steered light using higher diffraction orders.
- Showcased the effectiveness of the edge wave (EW) diffraction phenomenon for directed light coupling.
Conclusions:
- Higher diffraction orders and edge wave phenomena offer a new paradigm for SRG design in AR.
- Over-wavelength pitch gratings can efficiently steer light, potentially simplifying AR optical systems.
- This advancement could lead to more compact and efficient AR waveguide combiners.
