Multifocal system using adaptive lenses

A method for a multifocal system, comprising:

• receiving a light by a first adaptive lens assembly including at least two first active liquid crystal (LC) lenses directly optically coupled with one another, wherein each lens is operable in a plurality of optical states corresponding to a plurality of combinations of optical power to provide an adjustment range of optical power for the multifocal system;
• determining a first optical power of the first adaptive lens assembly;
• determining a second optical power for a second adaptive lens assembly to provide, the second adaptive lens assembly including at least two second active LC lenses directly optically coupled with one another;
• determining an optical state for each of the at least two second active LC lenses to provide the second optical power for the second adaptive lens assembly;
• and
• switching the optical state of at least one of the at least two second active LC lenses to provide the second optical power,
• transmitting, by the first adaptive lens assembly having the first optical power, a first circularly polarized light having a first handedness to a half-wave plate disposed between the first adaptive lens assembly and the second adaptive lens assembly;
• converting, by the half-wave plate, the first circularly polarized light having the first handedness into a second circularly polarized light having a second handedness opposite to the first handedness;
• outputting, by the half-wave plate, the second circularly polarized light having the second handedness to the second adaptive lens assembly;
• and
• transmitting, by the second adaptive lens assembly having the second optical power, the second circularly polarized light having the second handedness,
• wherein the at least two first active LC lenses and the at least two second active LC lenses are circular polarization dependent active LC lenses switchable between a lens switched-on state with non-zero optical power and a lens switched-off state with substantially zero optical power.