Abstract: Optical assemblies for use in virtual and augmented reality environments are described. The optical assemblies may include lenses, filter stacks, cameras, and image projecting devices. For example, the optical assemblies may include at least one lens, a first filter stack between the at least one lens and an image projecting device, a second filter stack between the first filter stack and the image projecting device, and a camera configured to capture images of an infrared reflection of light through the at least one lens.

Abstract: Systems and apparatus are described for a head-mounted display apparatus comprising at least one optical assembly. Each optical assembly may include a first curved lens including a first surface and a second surface, a second curved lens including a third surface and a fourth surface, the third surface being concave and including a beam splitter layer, the second curved lens being disposed between the first curved lens and an input filter assembly, and a display panel adapted to receive image content from an image projecting device and transmit the image content through the at least one optical assembly. The third surface of the second curved lens may have a radius of curvature that is larger than a radius of curvature of the second surface of the first curved lens.

Abstract: Systems and apparatus are described for a head-mounted display apparatus comprising at least one optical assembly. Each optical assembly may include a first curved lens including a first surface and a second surface, a second curved lens including a third surface and a fourth surface, the third surface being concave and including a beam splitter layer, the second curved lens being disposed between the first curved lens and an input filter assembly, and a display panel adapted to receive image content from an image projecting device and transmit the image content through the at least one optical assembly. The third surface of the second curved lens may have a radius of curvature that is larger than a radius of curvature of the second surface of the first curved lens.

Abstract: A system includes an electronic display for emitting light toward an eye-ward side of the system. A beam splitter receives emitted light from the display. The beam splitter includes a polarization beam splitting (PBS) film and a mirror coating to generate two orthogonal polarization states with different optical paths thereby creating a first focal plane and a second focal plane at the eye-ward side of the system. At least one liquid crystal switch is positioned to receive light from the display in a light path between the display and the eye-ward side of the system.

Abstract: A near-eye display system includes a polarization waveguide having an in-coupling interface disposed proximate to a first end and an out-coupling interface disposed proximate to an opposite second end. The polarization waveguide is configured to convey light incident at the in-coupling interface to the out-coupling interface by inducing multiple changes in a polarization state of the light as the light traverses the polarization waveguide. At least a subset of the changes in polarization state induce the light to reflect within the polarization waveguide without relying on total internal reflection (TIR).

Abstract: A near-eye display system includes an optical system facing a display panel. The optical system includes an input filter, and output filter, and a variable-power catadioptric lens assembly disposed between the input and output filters. The input and output filters are configured, along with the catadioptric lens assembly to fold a path of display light from the display panel to a user's eye. The catadioptric lens assembly includes two or more lens elements disposed along an optical axis, each lens element having at least one surface with a freeform curvature. One of the lens elements is configured to be laterally translated relative to the other lens elements so as to change an optical power of the catadioptric lens assembly.

Abstract: A system includes an electronic display for emitting light toward an eye-ward side of the system. A beam splitter receives emitted light from the display. The beam splitter includes a polarization beam splitting (PBS) film and a mirror coating to generate two orthogonal polarization states with different optical paths thereby creating a first focal plane and a second focal plane at the eye-ward side of the system. At least one liquid crystal switch is positioned to receive light from the display in a light path between the display and the eye-ward side of the system.

Abstract: Optical assemblies for use in virtual and augmented reality environments are described. The optical assemblies may include lenses, filter stacks, cameras, and image projecting devices. For example, the optical assemblies may include at least one lens, a first filter stack between the at least one lens and an image projecting device, a second filter stack between the first filter stack and the image projecting device, and a camera configured to capture images of an infrared reflection of light through the at least one lens.

Abstract: A near-eye display system includes a polarization waveguide having an in-coupling interface disposed proximate to a first end and an out-coupling interface disposed proximate to an opposite second end. The polarization waveguide is configured to convey light incident at the in-coupling interface to the out-coupling interface by inducing multiple changes in a polarization state of the light as the light traverses the polarization waveguide. At least a subset of the changes in polarization state induce the light to reflect within the polarization waveguide without relying on total internal reflection (TIR).

Abstract: A near-eye display system includes an optical system facing a display panel. The optical system includes an input filter, and output filter, and a variable-power catadioptric lens assembly disposed between the input and output filters. The input and output filters are configured, along with the catadioptric lens assembly to fold a path of display light from the display panel to a user's eye. The catadioptric lens assembly includes two or more lens elements disposed along an optical axis, each lens element having at least one surface with a freeform curvature. One of the lens elements is configured to be laterally translated relative to the other lens elements so as to change an optical power of the catadioptric lens assembly.

Abstract: Optical assemblies for use in virtual and augmented reality environments are described. The optical assemblies may include lenses, filter stacks, cameras, and image projecting devices. For example, the optical assemblies may include at least one lens, a first filter stack between the at least one lens and an image projecting device, a second filter stack between the first filter stack and the image projecting device, and a camera configured to capture images of an infrared reflection of light through the at least one lens.

Abstract: Systems and apparatus are described for a head-mounted display apparatus comprising at least one optical assembly. Each optical assembly may include a first curved lens including a first surface and a second surface, a second curved lens including a third surface and a fourth surface, the third surface being concave and including a beam splitter layer, the second curved lens being disposed between the first curved lens and an input filter assembly, and a display panel adapted to receive image content from an image projecting device and transmit the image content through the at least one optical assembly. The third surface of the second curved lens may have a radius of curvature that is larger than a radius of curvature of the second surface of the first curved lens.

Abstract: A lens assembly has two opposing surfaces, each surface introducing field curvature in a direction opposite of the field curvature introduced by the opposing surface, and thus the field curvatures introduced by the two surfaces at least partially cancel each other out, resulting in a net field curvature that provides for a substantially flat image plane or for an image plane with a specified curvature. The lens assembly may be implemented as a lens with two opposing Fresnel surfaces so that the field curvature in one direction introduced by one of the Fresnel surfaces is at least partially canceled out by the field curvature in the opposite direction as introduced by an opposing Fresnel surface. Alternatively, the lens assembly may be implemented as a lens with a positive continuous aspheric surface facing the user's eye and an opposing Fresnel surface facing the display panel.

Abstract: An optical system includes a first filter stack configured to convert light received from a display to a first circular polarization, a second filter stack configured to convert light received from external sources to a second circular polarization, and a third filter stack configured to reflect light having the first circular polarization and transmit light having the second circular polarization. The optical system also includes a refractive beam splitting lens configured to transmit light received from the second filter stack to the third filter stack. The second filter stack is oriented to reflect light received from the first filter stack onto the refractive beam splitting lens. The optical system is implemented in augmented reality devices, such as head mounted devices (HMDs), to combine images generated by the display with light received from external sources.

Abstract: An optical system includes a first filter stack to convert light to a first circular polarization, and a second filter stack that reflects light having the first circular polarization and transmits light having a second circular polarization. A refractive beam splitting convex lens is disposed intermediate the first filter stack and the second filter stack. The first filter stack can include a first linear polarizer to convert light to a first linear polarization and a first quarter wave plate to convert the light from the first linear polarization to a first circular polarization. The second filter stack can include a second quarter wave plate to convert the light from the first circular polarization to a second linear polarization that is transverse to the first linear polarization, a polarization-dependent beam splitter to pass the first polarization and reflect the second polarization, and a linear polarizer to pass the second polarization.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for receiving image content from an emissive display toward a first filter stack, the first filter stack adapted to be oriented in a first direction from an optical axis of a first lens, and toward the first lens, transmitting the image content through a curved lens parallel to the optical axis of the first lens, wherein the curved lens transmits a portion of the image content to at least one optical element and to a second filter stack, the second filter stack being adapted to be oriented in a second direction from the optical axis of the first lens, and receiving the portion from the second filter stack and providing at least some of the portion to the first lens for viewing by a user.

Abstract: Systems and methods that employ a near-eye display system including an optical assembly are described. The optical assembly may include a head-mounted display device worn by a user in which the head-mounted display device adapted to house an image projecting device and an optical assembly. The optical assembly may include, for at least one eyepiece, a first flat filter stack operable to be oriented in a first direction. and a second flat filter stack operable to be oriented in a second direction. The near-eye display system assembly may also include a display panel adapted to receive image content from the image projecting device, wherein the display panel is adapted to be oriented in the second direction.

Abstract: Optical assemblies for use in virtual and augmented reality environments are described. The optical assemblies may include lenses, filter stacks, cameras, and image projecting devices. For example, the optical assemblies may include at least one lens, a first filter stack between the at least one lens and an image projecting device, a second filter stack between the first filter stack and the image projecting device, and a camera configured to capture images of an infrared reflection of light through the at least one lens.

Abstract: A head mounted display device includes a display panel and a lens assembly mounted so that an optical axis of the lens assembly intersects the display panel. The lens assembly includes a lens body having a surface facing the display panel and defining Fresnel prisms. A Fresnel prism of the Fresnel prisms has a first facet angle when viewed in a first cross-section and has a second facet angle when viewed in a second cross-section parallel to the first cross-section. The first facet angle is different than the second facet angle.

Abstract: A lens assembly has two opposing surfaces, each surface introducing field curvature in a direction opposite of the field curvature introduced by the opposing surface, and thus the field curvatures introduced by the two surfaces at least partially cancel each other out, resulting in a net field curvature that provides for a substantially flat image plane or for an image plane with a specified curvature. The lens assembly may be implemented as a lens with two opposing Fresnel surfaces so that the field curvature in one direction introduced by one of the Fresnel surfaces is at least partially canceled out by the field curvature in the opposite direction as introduced by an opposing Fresnel surface. Alternatively, the lens assembly may be implemented as a lens with a positive continuous aspheric surface facing the user's eye and an opposing Fresnel surface facing the display panel.