Display apparatus and method of displaying using polarizers and optical combiners

A display apparatus (100) comprising:

• an image source (102);
• a processor (104) coupled to the image source (102), wherein the processor (104) is configured to render an image at the image source (102);
• at least one optical combiner (106) for combining a projection of the rendered image with a projection of a real world image, wherein the at least one optical combiner (106) comprises a reflective element for substantially reflecting the projection of the rendered image towards a direction in which the projection of the real world image is directed;
• a first polarizing element (108) for polarizing the projection of the real world image at a first polarization orientation, wherein the first polarizing element (108) is positioned on a first side of the at least one optical combiner (106) upon which the projection of the real world image is incident, whilst the reflective element is positioned on a second side of the at least one optical combiner (106);
• a second polarizing element (110) facing the second side of the at least one optical combiner (106), the second polarizing element (110) having polarization properties for reducing ambient light within the display apparatus, wherein the polarization properties of the second polarizing element (110) are to be adjusted with respect to the first polarization orientation of the first polarizing element (108), and wherein the second polarizing element is movable by an actuator to position the combined projection on eyes of a user;
• and
• a third polarization element (114) positioned in an optical path between the image source (102) and the at least one optical combiner (106), the third polarizing element (114) having polarization properties for suppressing artifacts of the image rendered at the source.