Optical combiner

Lumus Vision combiner and attached optical engine

A combiner is an optical component that merges two optical paths. For example, a reflector or a waveguide.

Optical combiners are used in near-eye display modules.

An inexpensive type of combiner is a reflector, like what is used in the Project North Star.

Optical-see through waveguides are combiners. They combine optically the outside world with the electronically rendered light.

Combiners can use HOEs to reflect light in a way where the angle of incidence does not equal the angle of reflection.

Types

• Reflector (Like in Project North Star and Meta 2)
• Diffractive waveguide (Like in the Magic Leap 1)
• Reflective waveguide (Like from Lumus)
• Geometric waveguide (Lumus)
• Holographic optical element