Exit pupil expansion based on polarization volume grating

Abstract

In this paper, we demonstrate a waveguide display structure which can realize a large field of view on a two-dimensional plane and a larger exit pupil size at the same time. This waveguide structure has three polarization volume gratings as its coupling elements. We use Zemax to simulate the effect of monochromatic and full-color two-dimensional exit pupil expansion and actually prepared a monochromatic waveguide with a two-dimensional exit pupil expansion structure. For the red, green, and blue light beams, it can achieve a large diffraction angle and can achieve diffraction efficiency of more than 70%. The waveguide structure shown can have an angle of view of 35° in the horizontal direction and 20° in the vertical direction, and an exit pupil of 18 mm long and 17 mm wide was achieved at the same time. As measured, the overall optical efficiency was measured as high as 118.3 cd/m2 per lumen with a transparency of 72% for ambient light.