Active eyebox waveguide combiner for augmented reality driven by electrowetting actuation

Chuan Luo, Yuzuru Takashima

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

An active eyebox augmented reality (AR) waveguide combiner concept established on the electrowetting actuation (EWA) is reported, which integrates a traditional one-dimensional (1D) diffractive waveguide combiner with transparent electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) device. The active eyebox functionality is achieved by using EWA to move liquid droplets, selectively activating sub-regions of the out-coupler to control light interaction. This approach directs light only to the target eye pupil area, rather than across the entire eyebox, effectively increasing the overall light transfer efficiency of waveguide combiner. In this paper, we first analyze the potential enhancement factor in active eyebox and illustrate the theory for EWOD device. Subsequently, the proposed active eyebox principle is demonstrated by implementing an off-the-shelve EWOD device with a one-dimensional (1D) binary surface relief grating (SRG) based waveguide combiner.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationOptical Architectures for Displays and Sensing in Augmented, Virtual, and Mixed Reality (AR, VR, MR) VI
EditorsNaamah Argaman, Hong Hua, Daniel K. Nikolov
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510686069
DOIs
StatePublished - 2025
EventOptical Architectures for Displays and Sensing in Augmented, Virtual, and Mixed Reality (AR, VR, MR) VI 2025 - San Francisco, United States
Duration: Jan 27 2025Jan 28 2025

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume13414
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

ConferenceOptical Architectures for Displays and Sensing in Augmented, Virtual, and Mixed Reality (AR, VR, MR) VI 2025
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Francisco
Period1/27/251/28/25

Keywords

  • active eyebox
  • AR display
  • electrowetting actuation
  • EWOD display
  • pupil switching

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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