Eyebox uniformity optimization over the full field of view for optical waveguide displays based on linked list processing

Eyebox uniformity is an important indicator to evaluate the performance of optical waveguide displays. However, there is currently no standard design approach that achieves ideal uniformity over the full field of view (FOV) within the eyebox. Here, a novel method for eyebox uniformity optimization based on linked list processing is proposed. The linked list processing method can fast record the light trajectory and calculate the optimal numerical diffraction efficiency distribution of the coupler. We use the linked list method for an L-shaped diffractive optical waveguide and solve the matched coupler structure by combining rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA) and the simplex method. By building the model on LightTools and demonstrating the illuminance uniformity, the feasibility of the method is verified. In the FOV range of 15 degrees x 15 degrees, the eyebox uniformity reaches 0.9 at the central viewing angle and the overall eyebox uniformity is 0.617.(c) 2022 Optica Publishing Group under the terms of the Optica Open Access Publishing Agreement

Automated summary

Eyebox uniformity is an important indicator for evaluating the performance of optical waveguide displays. A novel method based on linked list processing is proposed to optimize eyebox uniformity. The method efficiently records light trajectory and calculates optimal diffraction efficiency distribution. By solving the coupled structure of an L-shaped diffractive optical waveguide using rigorous coupled-wave analysis and the simplex method, the feasibility of the proposed method is verified using LightTools. The achieved uniformity in the FOV range is 0.9 at central viewing angle and overall eyebox uniformity is 0.617.