Jump to content

Waveguide display: Difference between revisions

 
Line 94: Line 94:


=== Diffractive Waveguides ===
=== Diffractive Waveguides ===
'''Diffractive waveguides''' employ periodic nanostructures to manipulate light through [[diffraction]]. These dominate commercial products due to their manufacturing scalability.<ref name="optofidelity">OptoFidelity. "Comparing and contrasting different waveguide technologies." https://www.optofidelity.com/insights/blogs/comparing-and-contrasting-different-waveguide-technologies-diffractive-reflective-and-holographic-waveguides</ref>
'''[[Diffractive waveguides]]''' employ periodic nanostructures to manipulate light through [[diffraction]]. These dominate commercial products due to their manufacturing scalability.<ref name="optofidelity">OptoFidelity. "Comparing and contrasting different waveguide technologies." https://www.optofidelity.com/insights/blogs/comparing-and-contrasting-different-waveguide-technologies-diffractive-reflective-and-holographic-waveguides</ref>


==== Surface Relief Gratings (SRG) ====
==== Surface Relief Gratings (SRG) ====
Surface relief gratings feature nano-ridges etched or embossed 100-300nm deep into the waveguide surface. Common profiles include:
[[Surface relief gratings]] feature nano-ridges etched or embossed 100-300nm deep into the waveguide surface. Common profiles include:
* '''Binary gratings''': Rectangular grooves with vertical walls
* '''Binary gratings''': Rectangular grooves with vertical walls
* '''Slanted binary gratings''': Inclined walls (slant angle β) to suppress unwanted diffraction orders
* '''Slanted binary gratings''': Inclined walls (slant angle β) to suppress unwanted diffraction orders
Line 106: Line 106:


==== Volume Holographic Gratings (VHG) ====
==== Volume Holographic Gratings (VHG) ====
Volume holographic gratings record diffraction patterns as refractive index modulations (Δn ≈ 0.03-0.1) within 5-50μm thick [[photopolymer]] layers.<ref name="pmc2020">Liu, S. et al. "Analysis of the Imaging Characteristics of Holographic Waveguides Recorded in Photopolymers." Polymers 12(8), 1666 (2020). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7408443/</ref> These gratings operate according to [[Bragg diffraction]], providing high wavelength and angular selectivity.
[[Volume holographic gratings]] record diffraction patterns as refractive index modulations (Δn ≈ 0.03-0.1) within 5-50μm thick [[photopolymer]] layers.<ref name="pmc2020">Liu, S. et al. "Analysis of the Imaging Characteristics of Holographic Waveguides Recorded in Photopolymers." Polymers 12(8), 1666 (2020). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7408443/</ref> These gratings operate according to [[Bragg diffraction]], providing high wavelength and angular selectivity.


==== Polarization Volume Gratings (PVG) ====
==== Polarization Volume Gratings (PVG) ====
PVGs utilize [[cholesteric liquid crystal]] structures with spatially varying director orientations. Key parameters include:
[[PVGs]] utilize [[cholesteric liquid crystal]] structures with spatially varying director orientations. Key parameters include:
* Pitch: 200-700nm for visible wavelengths
* Pitch: 200-700nm for visible wavelengths
* Thickness: 1-10μm
* Thickness: 1-10μm
Line 116: Line 116:


=== Geometric Waveguides ===
=== Geometric Waveguides ===
'''Geometric waveguides''' (also called reflective waveguides) employ cascaded partially reflective mirrors embedded within the substrate. [[Lumus]] pioneered this Light-guide Optical Element (LOE) architecture, achieving 5% system efficiency—significantly higher than diffractive approaches.<ref name="lumus">Wikipedia. "Lumus." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumus</ref>
'''[[Geometric waveguides]]''' (also called reflective waveguides) employ cascaded partially reflective mirrors embedded within the substrate. [[Lumus]] pioneered this Light-guide Optical Element (LOE) architecture, achieving 5% system efficiency—significantly higher than diffractive approaches.<ref name="lumus">Wikipedia. "Lumus." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumus</ref>


The manufacturing process involves:
The manufacturing process involves:
Line 127: Line 127:


=== Holographic Waveguides ===
=== Holographic Waveguides ===
'''Holographic waveguides''' record optical elements as three-dimensional interference patterns within volume materials. [[DigiLens]] developed Holographic Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal (HPDLC) technology, enabling switchable gratings through electrical control of LC droplet orientation.<ref name="digilens">DigiLens. "Technology Overview." https://www.digilens.com/technology</ref>
'''[[Holographic waveguides]]''' record optical elements as three-dimensional interference patterns within volume materials. [[DigiLens]] developed Holographic Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal (HPDLC) technology, enabling switchable gratings through electrical control of LC droplet orientation.<ref name="digilens">DigiLens. "Technology Overview." https://www.digilens.com/technology</ref>


== Manufacturing ==
== Manufacturing ==