Abstract
We present an ultrawide waveguide near-eye display as a unified architecture compatible with both augmented reality and virtual reality. The core idea is to segment the field of view into 2×2 channels, with each corresponding to one quarter of the field of view. Compared with the traditional field-of-view expansion methods, i.e., dividing the field of view along a single dimension, two-dimensional field-of-view division can push the envelope further. The upper limit of the field of view is illustrated and deduced. The design rules of the waveguide, gradient-linewidth grating as the in-coupler, and two-dimensional binary grating as the out-coupler are expounded. Through the Fourier modal method, the efficiencies of gratings can be calculated and optimized. As an overall evaluation, its key performance indicators are summarized as follows: field of view is 120 deg (diagonal), eye relief is 10 mm, exit pupil is 5.3 mm×5.3 mm, and pupil uniformity is 81%.