Design method of an ultra-thin two-dimensional geometrical waveguide near-eye display based on forward-ray-tracing and maximum FOV analysis

A two-dimensional geometrical waveguide enables ultra-thin augmented reality (AR) near-eye display (NED) with wide field of view (FOV) and large exit-pupil diameter (EPD). A conventional design method can efficiently design waveguides that meet the requirements, but is unable to fully utilize the potential display performance of the waveguide. A forward-ray-tracing waveguide design method with maximum FOV analysis is proposed, enabling two-dimensional geometrical waveguides to achieve their maximum FOV while maintaining minimum dimensions. Finally, the designed stray-light-suppressed waveguide NED has a thickness of 1.7 mm, a FOV of 50.00 degrees H x 29.92 degrees V, and an eye-box of 12 mm x 12 mm at an eye-relief of 18 mm. (c) 2023 Optica Publishing Group under the terms of the Optica Open Access Publishing Agreement