Abstract: A varifocal system comprises a stacked first-type liquid crystal (LC) lens structure and a stacked second-type LC lens structure in optical series. The stacked first-type LC lens structure includes a plurality of first-type LC lenses, and a first-type LC lens provides continuously variable optical states in a first step resolution. The stacked second-type LC lens structure includes a plurality of second-type LC lenses and provides a plurality of optical states in a second step resolution. The first step resolution is smaller than the second step resolution, such that when the stacked second-type LC lens structure is switched between two optical states, the first-type LC lenses provide a continuous adjustment of optical power between the two optical states. The stacked first-type LC lens structure and the stacked second-type LC lens structure together provide a continuous adjustment range of optical power for the varifocal system.

Abstract: A varifocal optical assembly includes a plurality of optical elements configured to transmit light in successive optical stages. Each respective optical stage of the successive optical stages includes at least one respective optical element of the plurality of optical elements and is configurable to be in one of a first state and a second state. The respective optical stage in the first state has a first respective optical power for light of a first polarization and a second respective optical power for light of a second polarization. The respective optical stage in the second state has a third optical power for light of the first polarization and a fourth optical power for light of the second polarization. The optical power of varifocal optical assembly is adjustable by changing the states of one or more of the successive optical stages.

Abstract: An optical system is provided. The optical system includes an electronic display, an adaptive lens assembly, and an eye tracking device. The electronic display displays a virtual scene for a user of the optical system; the adaptive lens assembly is optically coupled to the electronic display between the electronic display and eyes of the user; and the eye tracking device provides eye tracking information of the eyes of the user. The adaptive lens assembly includes a plurality of adjustable liquid crystal (LC) lenses arranged in an array, and the adjustable LC lenses are activated individually based on the eye tracking information.

Abstract: A method for displaying a near-eye light field display (NELD) image is disclosed. The method comprises determining a pre-filtered image to be displayed, wherein the pre-filtered image corresponds to a target image. It further comprises displaying the pre-filtered image on a display. Subsequently, it comprises producing a near-eye light field after the pre-filtered image travels through a microlens array adjacent to the display, wherein the near-eye light field is operable to simulate a light field corresponding to the target image. Finally, it comprises altering the near-eye light field using at least one converging lens, wherein the altering allows a user to focus on the target image at an increased depth of field at an increased distance from an eye of the user and wherein the altering increases spatial resolution of said target image.

Abstract: An optical system is provided. The optical system includes an electronic display, an adaptive lens assembly, and an eye tracking device. The electronic display displays a virtual scene for a user of the optical system; the adaptive lens assembly is optically coupled to the electronic display between the electronic display and eyes of the user; and the eye tracking device provides eye tracking information of the eyes of the user. The adaptive lens assembly includes a plurality of adjustable liquid crystal (LC) lenses arranged in an array, and the adjustable LC lenses are activated individually based on the eye tracking information.

Abstract: A method for displaying a near-eye light field display (NELD) image is disclosed. The method comprises determining a pre-filtered image to be displayed, wherein the pre-filtered image corresponds to a target image. It further comprises displaying the pre-filtered image on a display. Subsequently, it comprises producing a near-eye light field after the pre-filtered image travels through a microlens array adjacent to the display, wherein the near-eye light field is operable to simulate a light field corresponding to the target image. Finally, it comprises altering the near-eye light field using at least one converging lens, wherein the altering allows a user to focus on the target image at an increased depth of field at an increased distance from an eye of the user and wherein the altering increases spatial resolution of said target image.

Abstract: A varifocal optical assembly includes a plurality of optical elements configured to transmit light in successive optical stages. Each respective optical stage of the successive optical stages includes at least one respective optical element of the plurality of optical elements and is configurable to be in one of a first state and a second state. The respective optical stage in the first state has a first respective optical power for light of a first polarization and a second respective optical power for light of a second polarization. The respective optical stage in the second state has a third optical power for light of the first polarization and a fourth optical power for light of the second polarization. The optical power of varifocal optical assembly is adjustable by changing the states of one or more of the successive optical stages.

Abstract: A varifocal system comprises a stacked first-type liquid crystal (LC) lens structure and a stacked second-type LC lens structure in optical series. The stacked first-type LC lens structure includes a plurality of first-type LC lenses, and a first-type LC lens provides continuously variable optical states in a first step resolution. The stacked second-type LC lens structure includes a plurality of second-type LC lenses and provides a plurality of optical states in a second step resolution. The first step resolution is smaller than the second step resolution, such that when the stacked second-type LC lens structure is switched between two optical states, the first-type LC lenses provide a continuous adjustment of optical power between the two optical states. The stacked first-type LC lens structure and the stacked second-type LC lens structure together provide a continuous adjustment range of optical power for the varifocal system.

Abstract: A method for displaying a near-eye light field display (NELD) image is disclosed. The method comprises determining a pre-filtered image to be displayed, wherein the pre-filtered image corresponds to a target image. It further comprises displaying the pre-filtered image on a display. Subsequently, it comprises producing a near-eye light field after the pre-filtered image travels through a microlens array adjacent to the display, wherein the near-eye light field is operable to simulate a light field corresponding to the target image. Finally, it comprises altering the near-eye light field using at least one converging lens, wherein the altering allows a user to focus on the target image at an increased depth of field at an increased distance from an eye of the user and wherein the altering increases spatial resolution of said target image.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing optical image processing via a transparent display are disclosed. In one example approach, a method comprises determining a position of incident light on a see-through display device, determining a direction of the incident light relative to the see-through display device, and modulating, with the see-through display device, a transmission of the incident light through the see-through display device based on the determined position and determined direction of the incident light.

Abstract: System and method of displaying images in temporal superresolution by multiplicative superposition of cascaded display layers integrated in a display device. Using an original video with a target temporal resolution as a priori, a factorization process is performed to derive respective image data for presentation on each display layer. The multiple layers are refreshed in staggered intervals to synthesize a video with an effective refresh rate exceeding that of each individual display layer, e.g., by a factor equal to the number of layers. Further optically averaging neighboring pixels can minimize artifacts.

Abstract: System and method of displaying images in spatial/temporal superresolution by multiplicative superposition of cascaded display layers integrated in a display device. Using an original image with a target spatial/temporal resolution as a priori, a factorization process is performed to derive respective image data for presentation on each display layer. The cascaded display layers may be progressive and laterally shifted with each other, resulting in an effective spatial resolution exceeding the native display resolutions of the display layers. Factorized images may be refreshed on respective display layers in synchronization or out of synchronization.

Abstract: A method for displaying a near-eye light field display (NELD) image is disclosed. The method comprises determining a pre-filtered image to be displayed, wherein the pre-filtered image corresponds to a target image. It further comprises displaying the pre-filtered image on a display. Subsequently, it comprises producing a near-eye light field after the pre-filtered image travels through a microlens array adjacent to the display, wherein the near-eye light field is operable to simulate a light field corresponding to the target image. Finally, it comprises altering the near-eye light field using at least one converging lens, wherein the altering allows a user to focus on the target image at an increased depth of field at an increased distance from an eye of the user and wherein the altering increases spatial resolution of said target image.

Abstract: In embodiments of the invention, an apparatus may include a display comprising a plurality of pixels and a computer system coupled with the display and operable to instruct the display to display images. The apparatus may further include a microlens array located adjacent to the display and comprising a plurality of microlenses, wherein the microlens array is operable to produce a light field by altering light emitted by the display to simulate an object that is in focus to an observer while the display and the microlens array are located within a near-eye range of the observer.

Abstract: In embodiments of the invention, an apparatus may include a display comprising a plurality of pixels and a computer system coupled with the display and operable to instruct the display to display images. The apparatus may further include a microlens array located adjacent to the display and comprising a plurality of microlenses, wherein the microlens array is operable to produce a light field by altering light emitted by the display to simulate an object that is in focus to an observer while the display and the microlens array are located within a near-eye range of the observer.

Abstract: A method for displaying a near-eye light field display (NELD) image is disclosed. The method comprises determining a pre-filtered image to be displayed, wherein the pre-filtered image corresponds to a target image. It further comprises displaying the pre-filtered image on a display. Subsequently, it comprises producing a near-eye light field after the pre-filtered image travels through a microlens array adjacent to the display, wherein the near-eye light field is operable to simulate a light field corresponding to the target image. Finally, it comprises altering the near-eye light field using at least one converging lens, wherein the altering allows a user to focus on the target image at an increased depth of field at an increased distance from an eye of the user and wherein the altering increases spatial resolution of said target image.

Abstract: In embodiments of the invention, an apparatus may include a display comprising a plurality of pixels. The apparatus may further include a computer system coupled with the display and operable to instruct the display to display a deconvolved image corresponding to a target image, wherein when the display displays the deconvolved image while located within a near-eye range of an observer, the target image may be perceived in focus by the observer.

Abstract: In embodiments of the invention, an apparatus may include a display comprising a plurality of pixels and a computer system coupled with the display and operable to instruct the display to display images. The apparatus may further include an SLM array located adjacent to the display and comprising a plurality of SLMs, wherein the SLM array is operable to produce a light field by altering light emitted by the display to simulate an object that is in focus to an observer while the display and the SLM array are located within a near-eye range of the observer.

Abstract: In embodiments of the invention, an apparatus may include a display comprising a plurality of pixels. The apparatus may further include a computer system coupled with the display and operable to instruct the display to display a deconvolved image corresponding to a target image, wherein when the display displays the deconvolved image while located within a near-eye range of an observer, the target image may be perceived in focus by the observer.

Abstract: In embodiments of the invention, an apparatus may include a display comprising a plurality of pixels and a computer system coupled with the display and operable to instruct the display to display images. The apparatus may further include an SLM array located adjacent to the display and comprising a plurality of SLMs, wherein the SLM array is operable to produce a light field by altering light emitted by the display to simulate an object that is in focus to an observer while the display and the SLM array are located within a near-eye range of the observer.