Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for displaying images on multiple image planes in a near-eye display system. A switchable optical device includes a first polarizer configurable to polarize incident light into light of a first circular polarization state, and a second polarizer configurable to transmit light of a second circular polarization state and reflect light of the first circular polarization state into light of the first circular polarization state. The switchable optical device also includes a partial reflector positioned between the first polarizer and the second polarizer. The partial reflector is configured to transmit light from the first polarizer and reflect light from the second polarizer, where the reflected light and the light from the second polarizer have different polarization states. At least one of the first polarizer or the second polarizer includes a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) circular polarizer that is switchable by a voltage signal.

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 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 disclosed herein includes applying a layer of photoalignment material on a non-flat optical surface, and exposing the layer of photoalignment material to alignment light that satisfies photoalignment criteria that are determined based on a representative thickness profile of a layer of liquid crystal material. The method also includes applying the layer of liquid crystal material over the layer of photoalignment material. Also disclosed is an optical element including a non-flat optical surface, a first layer of photoalignment material applied on the non-flat optical surface and a first layer of liquid crystal material. The layer of photoalignment material is aligned based on alignment light that satisfies photoalignment criteria that are determined based on a representative thickness profile of the layer of liquid crystal polymers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for displaying images on multiple image planes in a near-eye display system. A switchable optical device includes a first polarizer configurable to polarize incident light into light of a first circular polarization state, and a second polarizer configurable to transmit light of a second circular polarization state and reflect light of the first circular polarization state into light of the first circular polarization state. The switchable optical device also includes a partial reflector positioned between the first polarizer and the second polarizer. The partial reflector is configured to transmit light from the first polarizer and reflect light from the second polarizer, where the reflected light and the light from the second polarizer have different polarization states. At least one of the first polarizer or the second polarizer includes a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) circular polarizer that is switchable by a voltage signal.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes an electronic display having a pixel array configured to display a sequence of subframes, and an image shifting electro-optic device that is operable to shift at least a portion of an image of the display pixel array synchronously with displaying the sequence of subframes, so as to form a sequence of offset subframe images for providing an enhanced image resolution and pixel correction in a compound image. The image shifting electro-optic device may include a polarization switch in series with a polarization grating, for shifting image pixels between offset image positions in coordination with displaying consecutive subframes.

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: 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 display system includes an information display (image-generating) component, a polarization rotator, a polarization dependent optical element, an input holographic coupler, a light guide and an output holographic coupler. By controlling the polarization of the displayed light through the polarization rotator, the polarization dependent optical element changes the viewable content to different distances from the viewer. This enables the generation of a proper light field which will then be coupled into the light guide through the input holographic coupler, and finally go through the output holographic coupler to a user's eye.

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 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: 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: An electronic display comprises a backlight unit and a liquid crystal (LC) layer, where 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 LC layer is controlled by a plurality of thin-film transistors (TFT) disposed on a TFT layer. To prevent light from the backlight from being absorbed by the TFTs, a dielectric mirror is disposed between the transistors and the backlight unit to reflect light from the backlight unit that is projectors towards the transistors back towards the backlight unit. Hence, light can be recycled and travel through an aperture between the dielectric mirrors, thereby improving luminance.

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: A head mounted display (HMD) includes a display device that uses a black duty insertion mode. The display device includes a liquid crystal (LC) panel, a back light unit (BLU), and a data driver. In the black duty insertion mode, the BLU emits light during a portion of a frame period and does not emit light during a remaining portion of the frame period. The data driver writes data to the LC panel such that liquid crystal material in the LC panel transitions during the frame period including the portion of the frame period that the BLU emits light. The portion of the frame period the BLU emits light is less than half of the frame period and may be 20% or less of the frame period.