2026-10-10T17:59:07Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/33966367 2026-10-01T06:57:22Z category_37428 portal_1023 item_type_12 month_year_10_2026

Photonic integrated circuit enabled light engines for augmented reality glasses Hannes Wahn (15341854) John Straguzzi (21440861) Hongyao Chua (14359359) Guo-Qiang Lo (3982841) Wesley Sacher (4418479) Integrated Optics Silicon Photonics Augmented Reality Visible Light Photonics Laser beam scanning (LBS) light engines offer inherent advantages in power efficiency and brightness for augmented-reality (AR) glasses. However, conventional implementations rely on complex assemblies of discrete components that are difficult to miniaturize while simultaneously increasing resolution and frame rate. Here, we introduce a compact LBS light-engine architecture enabled by a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) operating in an inline double-pass configuration and validate the approach with proof-of-concept prototypes. The PIC incorporates a thinned bridge positioned in the optical path of a lens and a scanning microelectromechanical-systems (MEMS) mirror. Multiple beams emitted from on-chip silicon nitride nanophotonic waveguides enable parallel addressing of the field of view, providing a route to higher resolution and frame rates at fixed MEMS-mirror performance while also expanding the field of view for a given mirror-deflection range. A curved bridge geometry, co-designed with the lens, further facilitates correction of optical aberrations. Compared with conventional single-pass laser-scanning light engines based on discrete optical components, the proposed architecture reduces system size through a shortened double-pass optical path and compact nanophotonic beam routing, while providing a scalable PIC platform for future integration of multiple on-chip lasers. The PICs were foundry-fabricated on 200-mm silicon-on-insulator wafers using a visible-light integrated-photonics platform, underscoring the potential for manufacturing at scale. Together, these features establish a pathway toward addressing the size-performance trade-offs associated with laser-scanning AR displays. 2026-10-01T06:57:22Z Text Preprint 10.1364/opticaopen.33966367.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/preprint/Photonic_integrated_circuit_enabled_light_engines_for_augmented_reality_glasses/33966367 CC BY 4.0