Abstract: An optical system includes a grating including at least one substrate and a grating structure coupled to the at least one substrate. The grating structure is configured to diffract a first light having an incidence angle within a predetermined range. The optical system also includes a polarizer configured to transmit the first light diffracted by the grating structure and block a second light reflected by a surface of the at least one substrate.

Abstract: A head mounted display (HMD) includes a display, at least one reflective layer, and a camera. The camera captures scene images from reflections of scene light off the at least one reflective layer. The camera is positioned in a virtual pupil position of the eyebox area with respect to the incoming scene light.

Abstract: An optical device includes a light source configured to provide illumination light and a waveguide. The waveguide has an input surface, an output surface distinct from and non-parallel to the input surface, and an output coupler. The waveguide is configured to receive, at the input surface, the illumination light provided by the light source and propagate the illumination light via total internal reflection. The waveguide is also configured to redirect, by the output coupler, the illumination light so that the illumination light is output from the output surface for illuminating a spatial light modulator.

Abstract: An optical device includes an optical waveguide and a plurality of reflective polarizers. The plurality of reflective polarizers include a first reflective polarizer and a second reflective polarizer disposed inside the optical waveguide so that the first reflective polarizer receives light propagating inside the optical waveguide, redirects a first portion of the light in a first direction, and transmits a second portion of the light in a second direction non-parallel to the first direction. The second reflective polarizer receives the second portion of the light from the first reflective polarizer, redirects a third portion of the light, and transmits a fourth portion of the light. A ratio between the first portion and the second portion of the light has a first value and a ratio between the third portion and the fourth portion of the light has a second value distinct from the first value.

Abstract: An optical device includes a spatial light modulator and an optical waveguide with a plurality of extraction features. The plurality of extraction features is positioned relative to the optical waveguide so that a respective extraction feature receives light, having propagated within the optical waveguide, in a first direction and directs a first portion of the light in a second direction distinct from the first direction to exit the optical waveguide and illuminate at least a portion of the spatial light modulator. The plurality of extraction features is also positioned relative to the optical waveguide so that a respective extraction feature directs a second portion, distinct from the first portion, of the light to undergo total internal reflection, thereby continuing to propagate within the optical waveguide.

Abstract: A display includes a display pixel array and a light bending assembly. The display pixel array is configured to generate display light. The light bending assembly is disposed over the display pixel array to receive the display light and generate compensated display light. The light bending assembly bends a given ray of the display light based on an incidence position that the given ray of the display light becomes incident upon the light bending assembly.

Abstract: An optical waveplate is provided. The optical waveplate includes a first birefringent film including optically anisotropic molecules arranged to form a first twist structure. The optical waveplate also includes a second birefringent film including optically anisotropic molecules arranged to form a second twist structure, the second birefringent film being stacked with the first birefringent film. The optically anisotropic molecules at a first portion of the first birefringent film adjacent an interface between the first birefringent film and the second birefringent film are configured with a first azimuthal angle. The optically anisotropic molecules at a second portion of the second birefringent film adjacent the interface are configured with a second azimuthal angle. The first azimuthal angle is substantially the same as the second azimuthal angle.

Abstract: An optical lens assembly includes an optical lens and a Pancharatnam Berry Phase (“PBP”) element coupled to the optical lens. The PBP element is configured to provide chromatic aberration correction for the optical lens. An Abbe number of the PBP element and an Abbe number of the optical lens have opposite signs.

Abstract: An optical device is provided. The optical device includes a first liquid crystal (“LC”) cell and a second LC cell stacked with the first LC cell. The first and second LC cells are configured to provide a phase retardation to a light transmitted therethrough. The optical device also includes at least one first compensation film disposed between the first LC cell and the second LC cell. The optical device also includes a second compensation film disposed at a first side of the first LC cell opposite to a second side of the first LC cell where the at least one first compensation film is disposed. The optical device also includes a third compensation film disposed at a first side of the second LC cell opposite to a second side of the second LC cell where the at least one first compensation film is disposed.

Abstract: An optical waveplate is provided. The optical waveplate includes a plurality of liquid crystal (“LC”) layers stacked together. At least one of the plurality of LC layers includes LC molecules that are in-plane switchable by an external field to switch the optical waveplate between states of different phase retardances.

Abstract: A display includes a display pixel array and a light bending assembly. The display pixel array is configured to generate display light. The light bending assembly is disposed over the display pixel array to receive the display light and generate compensated display light. The light bending assembly bends a given ray of the display light based on an incidence position that the given ray of the display light becomes incident upon the light bending assembly.

Abstract: A head mounted display system includes a display device and an eyetracking device. The display device includes a liquid crystal (LC) panel comprising a plurality of rows of pixels, a back light unit (BLU), and a data driver. The BLU emits light during an illumination period of a frame period from an illumination start time and does not emit light for a remaining portion of the frame period. The eyetracking device determines an eye gaze area of a user in a pixel area of the display device. The illumination start time varies based on a location of the eye gaze area of the user. Liquid crystal material in a row of pixels of the LC panel outside the eye gaze area of the user transitions during the illumination period.

Abstract: An optical element comprising a stacked liquid crystal (LC) structure for rotating polarization (e.g., handedness) of an incident circularly polarized light over a broad wavelength and incident angle for head-mounted displays (HMD)s display application is proposed. The stacked LC structure has a dual cell structures, which includes at least a first LC cell and a second LC cell, and the stacked LC structure rotates the polarized light for a broad band of light (e.g., visible spectrum) over a given field a view. The performance of designed dual LC cells structures may be optimized for narrow band wavelength and a narrow incident angle for different application cases.

Abstract: A display device includes a liquid crystal layer and a backlight. The liquid crystal layer includes a first liquid crystal portion including a first plurality of pixels, and a second liquid crystal portion including a second plurality of pixels. The backlight includes a first backlight unit corresponding to the first liquid crystal portion, and a second backlight unit corresponding to the second liquid crystal portion. Each backlight unit includes one or more light sources, and a light guide for guiding light generated by the one or more light sources to a respective liquid crystal portion.

Abstract: An electronic display comprises a backlight unit and a liquid crystal (LC) layer, wherein the backlight combines and directs light from a plurality of light sources towards the LC layer, which controls an amount of light to be displayed. The light sources comprise at least two different types of light sources associated with different wavelength ranges, to provide improved spectrum intensity for a wider range of wavelengths. The intensity of the light sources may be adjusted based upon the input data for an image to be displayed. For example, the light sources may be dimmed based upon a determined amount of the received image data associated with a particular gray level.

Abstract: An optical display system includes an information display (image-generating) component, a polarization dependent image offset optical element and possibly also a polarization rotator. By controlling the image offset optical element either by direct applying voltage or by controlling the polarization of the displayed light through the polarization rotator, the display pixels can be switched by a certain portion. By switching between offset and non-offset state with appropriate image displayed, the resolution as observed by the users can be enhanced.

Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein relate to folded optical systems for near-eye display. In one embodiment, an optical device includes a first polarizer, a second polarizer, and a partial reflector positioned between the first polarizer and the second polarizer. The first polarizer is configured to polarize incident light into light of a first circular polarization state. The second polarizer is configured to transmit light of a second circular polarization state and reflect light of the first circular polarization state without changing its polarization state. The partial reflector is configured to transmit light from the first polarizer, and reflect light from the second polarizer. The light reflected by the partial reflector and the light from the second polarizer have different polarization states.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a pixelated display, an eye tracking system, and a segmented resolution enhancing device coupled to the eye tracking system and operable to selectively enhance effective image resolution for the electronic display in the gaze direction. The segmented resolution enhancing device may include a polarization switch in series with a polarization gratings, at least one of which is segmented, for shifting image pixels in the gaze direction between offset positions while displaying a frame.

Abstract: An optical display system includes an information display (image-generating) component, a polarization dependent image offset optical element and possibly also a polarization rotator. By controlling the image offset optical element either by direct applying voltage or by controlling the polarization of the displayed light through the polarization rotator, the display pixels can be switched by a certain portion. By switching between offset and non-offset state with appropriate image displayed, the resolution as observed by the users can be enhanced.

Abstract: A display device is configured to be operable in a normal mode that blocks ambient light or a see-through mode that allows ambient light to be visible to a user. The display device includes an emission surface configured to output image light, a switchable window configurable to block ambient light in the normal mode or to transmit ambient light in the see-through mode, and an optical assembly. The optical assembly includes a first region configured to receive image light from the emission surface and to direct the image light toward the eyes of a user. The optical assembly also includes a second region configured to receive ambient light from the switchable window and to allow at least a portion of the ambient light to pass through. A method of setting the display device in normal mode or see-through mode is also disclosed.