Beaming Display Using Thin Holographic Waveguides for Wider Head Orientation Angle Range

Yuta Itoh, Tomoya Nakamura, Yuichi Hiroi, Kaan Aksit

Abstract: Augmented Reality (AR) glasses face fundamental challenges related to technical trade-offs. Emerging Beaming Displays (BDs) offer a compelling solution by separating the active and passive components. However, existing BD-based AR glasses have yet to achieve a thin and lightweight design with wide incident projection angles. This work proposes an eyepiece for BDs, including a holographic waveguide with tailored in- and out-coupling gratings. The proposed design aims to achieve a millimeter-thin form factor with a wide tolerance for incident angles, thus overcoming the limitations of existing designs. We have constructed proof-of-concept passive AR glasses prototypes, all approximately 2mm thick, including one in the form of conventional eyeglasses, and demonstrated an acceptable lateral angle of incidence of up to 90 degrees.