Optical display system, method, and applications

An optical image display/view system, comprising:

• a programmable/controllable image-generating component adapted to generate a polarized image output;
• a polarization rotator disposed to accept the polarized image output and adapted to control the polarization of the polarized image output between desired polarization states;
• and
• a polarization dependent component disposed to accept an output from the polarization rotator and having a different focal length for each of the different polarization states of the image output.

A method of providing a viewable image to a viewer, comprising:

• providing an optical image-generating apparatus having an optical axis, including a programmable/controllable (virtual) image-generating component adapted to generate a polarized image output;
• a polarization rotator disposed to accept the polarized image output;
• and a polarization dependent optical element disposed to accept an output from the polarization rotator;
• using the polarization rotator to controllably change a polarization state of the polarized image output between at least two polarization states;
• and
• using the polarization dependent optical element to obtain a different focal length corresponding to a respective polarization state
• wherein different image distances of the image seen by a viewer can be displayed.