Abstract: A curved reflective has at least one location having a radius of curvature in a range from about 6 mm to about 1000 mm. Each location on the reflective polarizer has a maximum reflectance greater than about 70% for a block polarization state, a maximum transmittance greater than about 70% for an orthogonal pass polarization state, and a minimum transmittance for the block polarization state. For a continuous first portion of the reflective polarizer extending between different first and second edges of the reflective polarizer and defining disjoint second and third portions of the reflective polarizer, the minimum transmittance of the reflective polarizer for the block polarization state is higher at each location in at least 70% of the first portion than at each location in at least 70% of the second portion and at each location in at least 70% of the third portion.

Abstract: An optical system for displaying an image to a viewer includes a partial reflector, a reflective polarizer, and a first retarder layer. A light ray propagates along the optical axis and passes through the plurality of optical lenses, the partial reflector, the reflective polarizer, and the first retarder layer without being substantially refracted. For a cone of light incident on the optical system from an object comprising a spatial frequency of about 70, 60, 50, 40, or 30 line pairs per millimeter and filling the exit pupil with a chief ray of the cone of light passing through a center of the opening of the exit pupil of the optical system and making an angle of about 20 degrees with the optical axis, a modulation transfer function of the optical system is greater than about 0.2.

Abstract: A display system includes an optical system and a curved display disposed to emit light toward the optical system. The optical system includes at least a first optical lens, a partial reflector and a reflective polarizer. The optical system has an optical axis such that a light ray propagating along the optical axis passes through the first optical lens the partial reflector and the reflective polarizer without being substantially refracted. At least one major surface of the optical system can be rotationally asymmetric about the optical axis. A major surface of the optical system may have a first portion defined by a first equation and a second portion adjacent the first portion defined by a different equation. The first optical lens may have a contoured edge adapted to be placed adjacent an eye of a viewer and substantially conform to the viewer's face.

Abstract: An optical system includes a partial reflector having an average optical reflectance of at least 30% in a plurality of wavelengths, an image source disposed to emit image light toward the partial reflector, and a reflective polarizer disposed proximate the partial reflector. The reflective polarizer is curved about two orthogonal axes and can include at least one layer substantially optically uniaxial at at least one location. The image light may be transmitted by the reflective polarizer after it is first reflected by the reflective polarizer. Substantially any chief light ray having at least first and second wavelengths at least 150 nm apart in the plurality of wavelengths and emitted by the image source and transmitted by a stop surface or exit pupil of the optical system has a color separation distance of less than 1.5 percent of a field of view.

Abstract: An optical system is substantially centered on an optical axis and includes a display panel configured to emit an image, where the optical system configured to display a virtual image of the emitted image emitted to a viewer; and an optical lens disposed between a partial reflector and a reflective polarizer. The partial reflector has an average optical reflectance of at least 30% in a desired plurality of wavelengths. The reflective polarizer is configured to substantially transmit light having a first polarization state and substantially reflect light having an orthogonal second polarization state. The reflective polarizer is curved about two orthogonal axes and disposed on a major surface of the optical lens. The reflective polarizer is substantially optically uniaxial at at least one location of the reflective polarizer. The emitted image is transmitted by the reflective polarizer after it is first reflected by the reflective polarizer.

Abstract: An optical system including one or more optical lenses, at least one retarder layer, a reflective polarizer, and a partial reflector is provided. The at least one retarder layer may include first and second retarder layers having different wavelength dispersion curves. The at least one retarder layer may include a first retarder layer having a non-uniform fast axis orientation and/or a non-uniform retardance.

Abstract: Projection systems and components thereof are described that are well suited to miniaturization.

Abstract: An optical system for displaying an image to a viewer includes a partial reflector, a reflective polarizer, and a first retarder layer. A light ray propagates along the optical axis and passes through the plurality of optical lenses, the partial reflector, the reflective polarizer, and the first retarder layer without being substantially refracted. For a cone of light incident on the optical system from an object comprising a spatial frequency of about 70, 60, 50, 40, or 30 line pairs per millimeter and filling the exit pupil with a chief ray of the cone of light passing through a center of the opening of the exit pupil of the optical system and making an angle of about 20 degrees with the optical axis, a modulation transfer function of the optical system is greater than about 0.2.

Abstract: Projection systems and components thereof are described that are well suited to miniaturization.

Abstract: An optical system for displaying an image to a viewer includes a pixelated display including a plurality of pixels emitting unpolarized image light; a partial reflector having an average optical reflectance of at least 30% in a predetermined wavelength range; a first retarder layer disposed between the pixelated display and the partial reflector; a second retarder layer disposed between the first retarder layer and the partial reflector; and a reflective polarizer disposed between the first and second retarder layers. The reflective polarizer is adapted to increase a brightness of a pixelated image emitted by the pixelated display and displayed to the viewer by recycling at least a portion of unpolarized image light emitted by the pixels; and receive an image ray reflected by the partial reflector and reflect the received image ray toward the viewer.

Abstract: A display system includes a pixelated display being curved about at least one axis and including a plurality of groups of pixels; a plurality of light redirecting elements where each light redirecting element corresponds to a different group of pixels in the plurality of groups of pixels; and an optical lens system adapted to receive light emitted by the pixelated display and transmitted by the plurality of light redirecting elements. The optical lens system transmits at least a portion of the received light. For at least one pixel in the plurality of groups of pixels, the light redirecting element corresponding to the pixel reduces an angle between a central light ray emitted by the pixel and a chief light ray emitted by the pixel.

Abstract: Optical systems for displaying an image are described. The optical systems include a first and second optical lenses separated by air. A partial reflector is disposed on and conforms to a major surface of the first optical lens where the major surface can have a best-fit spherical radius of curvature in a range from 20 mm to 200 mm. A reflective polarizer is disposed on and conforms to a major surface of the first optical lens where the major surface can have a best-fit spherical radius of curvature greater than about 500 mm. A retarder layer is disposed between the reflective polarizer and the partial reflector. The first optical lens can have an optical birefringence of less than 15 nm/cm and the second optical lens can have an optical birefringence of greater than 15 nm/cm. A method of fabricating an optical assembly is described.

Abstract: A display system includes a pixelated display being curved about at least one axis and including a plurality of groups of pixels; a plurality of light redirecting elements where each light redirecting element corresponds to a different group of pixels in the plurality of groups of pixels; and an optical lens system adapted to receive light emitted by the pixelated display and transmitted by the plurality of light redirecting elements. The optical lens system transmits at least a portion of the received light. For at least one pixel in the plurality of groups of pixels, the light redirecting element corresponding to the pixel reduces an angle between a central light ray emitted by the pixel and a chief light ray emitted by the pixel.

Abstract: An optical system for displaying an image to a viewer includes a pixelated display including a plurality of pixels emitting unpolarized image light; a partial reflector having an average optical reflectance of at least 30% in a predetermined wavelength range; a first retarder layer disposed between the pixelated display and the partial reflector; a second retarder layer disposed between the first retarder layer and the partial reflector; and a reflective polarizer disposed between the first and second retarder layers. The reflective polarizer is adapted to increase a brightness of a pixelated image emitted by the pixelated display and displayed to the viewer by recycling at least a portion of unpolarized image light emitted by the pixels; and receive an image ray reflected by the partial reflector and reflect the received image ray toward the viewer.

Abstract: An optical component includes a first optical element having a curved first major surface; and an optical stack formed into a curved shape. The optical stack is bonded and conforms to the curved first major surface of the first optical element. The optical stack includes a reflective polarizer including a plurality of polymeric layers; and a non-adhesive flexible optical layer bonded to the reflective polarizer prior to forming the optical stack into the curved shape, such that the non-adhesive flexible optical layer bonded to the reflective polarizer improves a desired optical property of the reflective polarizer upon forming the optical stack into the curved shape relative to that of the reflective polarizer being formed into the curved shape without the non-adhesive flexible optical layer bonded to the reflective polarizer.

Abstract: A device including an antenna, a printed circuit board having a side-plated contact, and an antenna carrier that includes an integrated spring having a conductive surface, such that the conductive surface is communicatively coupled to the side-plated contact can be used in optical systems. Disclosed computer-implemented systems and methods may include a dark source that when applied as part of an augmented reality projector, can temporarily reduce the photosensitivity of a user's eyes. Furthermore, a method for forming a lens block over a substrate and hardening the lens block and a method for motion-tolerant optical heart-rate monitoring can be disclosed herein for optical systems.

Abstract: A shaped reflective polarizer has different maximum sags in different directions and has an interior portion rotationally symmetric about a principle axis and a peripheral portion adjacent the interior portion and rotationally asymmetric about the principle axis. An optical system includes a partial reflector and an optical stack including an optical lens and the shaped reflective polarizer disposed on a curved major surface of the optical lens. The optical lens may have a contoured edge adapted to be placed adjacent an eye of a viewer and substantially conform to the viewer's face.

Abstract: A reflective polarizing imaging lens includes at least one optical film having an active arca that is curved in two orthogonal directions. Edges of the optical film are arranged to form seams between segments of the optical film in the active area of the reflective polarizing imaging lens.

Abstract: An optical system, including a reflective polarizer, and a display and a mirror disposed on a same side of, and generally facing, the reflective polarizer. The reflective polarizer may transmit at least 80% of incident light having a first polarization state and may reflect at least 80% of incident light having a second polarization state, and the mirror may reflect at least 80% of the incident light for each of the first and second polarization states. The central locations of the display, reflective polarizer, and mirror may define a midplane which includes first, second, and third regions, such that the first region includes portions of the image rays that pass at least once across the region, the second region includes portions of the image rays that pass at least twice across the region, and the third region includes portions of the image rays that pass three times across the region.

Abstract: Optical films, such as reflective polarizer films, and optical systems including the optical films are described. An optical system includes one or more optical lenses having at least one curved major surface, a partial reflector, and a reflective polarizer. For a substantially normally incident light in a predetermined wavelength range extending at least from about 450 nm to about 600 nm: the partial reflector has an average optical reflectance of at least 30%, and the reflective polarizer has an average optical reflectance Rs for a first polarization state, an average optical transmittance Tp for an orthogonal second polarization state, and an average optical reflectance Rp for the second polarization state, where Tp?80%, Rp?1%, and 50%?Rs?95%.