Flat panel laser displays enabled by large-scale visible photonic integrated circuits (2412.19274v1)

Abstract: Laser-based displays are highly sought after for their superior brightness and color performance, especially in advanced applications like augmented reality (AR). However, their broader adoption has been hindered by bulky projector designs and complex optical module assemblies. Here, we introduce a new laser display architecture enabled by large-scale visible photonic integrated circuits (PICs) to address these challenges. Unlike previous projector-style laser displays, this architecture features an ultra-thin, flat-panel form factor, replacing bulky free-space illumination modules with a single, high-performance photonic chip. Centimeter-scale PIC devices, which integrate thousands of distinct optical components on-chip, are carefully tailored to achieve high display uniformity, contrast, and efficiency. We demonstrate a 2 mm-thick flat-panel laser display combining the PIC with a liquid-crystal-on-silicon (LCoS) panel, achieving 211% of the color gamut and more than 80% volume reduction compared to traditional LCoS displays. We further showcase its application in a see-through AR system. Our work represents a major advancement in the integration of nanophotonics with display technology, enabling a range of new display concepts, from high-performance immersive displays to slim-panel 3D holography.