Tunable focal waveguide-based see-through display with negative liquid crystal lens

Abstract

A see-through display based on a planar holographic waveguide with a tunable focal plane is presented. A negative liquid crystal lens is attached on the outcoupling location of the waveguide to manipulate the image distance. The continuous tunable range for the focal length is from negative infinity to −65 cm. The demonstrated prototype system provides 10.5° field-of-view (FOV) for the images not locating at infinity. The FOV for the images not locating at infinity is limited by the diameter of the liquid crystal lens. The lens function of the liquid crystal lens is polarization dependent. By controlling the polarization states of the real scene and the input information image, the liquid crystal lens keeps the see-through function for a real scene and simultaneously plays the role of a negative lens for the input information image. Compared to the see-through display system with a single focal plane, the presented system offers a more comfortable augmented reality (AR) experience.

Recent Applications of Optical Elements in Augmented and Virtual Reality Displays: A Review

“…171 As shown in Figure 10d, Lee et al implemented a tomographic VR NED by synchronizing a focus tunable lens with a fast digital micromirror device-based spatially adjustable backlight unit. 172 Studies using a polarization-dependent LC lens 173 and a focal length tracking system 174 have also been proposed based on the focus tunable elements.…”