49‐3: Building a Predictive Model of Contrast Ratio of Folded Optic Lens Systems for Virtual Reality

Abstract

Polarized catadioptrics (i.e., folded optics, pancake lenses) offer increased resolution and reduced aberrations across a wider field‐of‐view, and in a smaller physical package than conventional refractive optics for virtual reality (VR) head‐mounted display applications. One of the major challenges with polarized catadioptrics is achieving a high contrast ratio. In this paper we will review data generated experimentally and through simulations that demonstrate the impact of key system attributes on contrast ratio. The parameters we explore include the quarter‐wave plate material selection, scattering in the optical components, and rotational alignment between the polarization sensitive components.

High resolution reflective polarizer lens for catadioptric VR optics with accommodating eye box design

“…The high reflection in block state, and high transmission in pass state help to maintain system efficiency; the low transmission in block state, and low reflection in pass state help to reduce light leakage in the system and hence minimize the resulting ghosts, which eventually improves image contrast [1]. It is essential to control the polarization state along the entire optical path.…”

Ghost analysis of a polarized catadioptric system for virtual reality

“…Rapid mass market adoption has taken place over the past few years [4] and future sales are projected to accelerate even more. The major market nowadays has converged quite a bit to mainly land on one form of VR realizationpolarized catadioptric optics [5,6], where light path is folded inside the optical components by polarization manipulation. Oftentimes this type of system is called folded optics or pancake lens optics in industry, and it provides great benefits to the designers of the head-mounted displays (HMD) compared to traditional refractive optics.…”