Polarization-based processing of unpolarized image light
AssigneeMeta Platforms Technologies, LLC
InventorsYang Zhao, Afsoon Jamali, Junren Wang, Wai Sze Tiffany Lam, Lu Lu, Douglas Robert Lanman
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Abstract
A display system includes a source of unpolarized image light, and a stack of polarization-selective optical elements operable to switchably convert the unpolarized image light into two orthogonally polarized light beams, each of which being switchable in at least one beam characteristic. An output polarizer selects one of the two orthogonally polarized light beams for providing to a user. A depolarizer may be disposed between an electronic display emitting polarized light and the stack. The depolarizer may be in the form of an LC bilayer with randomized in-plane optic axis.
Claims15
A display system comprising:
- a source of unpolarized image light;
- a stack of polarization-selective optical elements disposed to receive the unpolarized image light and operable to switchably convert the unpolarized image light into two orthogonally polarized light beams;
- and
- an output polarizer disposed to receive the two orthogonally polarized light beams and configured to select one of the two orthogonally polarized light beams for forming an image;
- wherein the stack comprises one or more Pancharatnam-Berry phase (PBP) optical elements, and wherein at least one of the one or more PBP optical elements is disposed to receive the unpolarized image light.
A display system comprising:
- a source of unpolarized image light comprising an electronic display configured to emit polarized image light, and a depolarizer disposed in an optical path between the electronic display and a stack of polarization-selective optical elements, the stack disposed to receive the unpolarized image light and operable to switchably convert the unpolarized image light into two orthogonally polarized light beams;
- and an output polarizer disposed to receive the two orthogonally polarized light beams and configured to select one of the two orthogonally polarized light beams for forming an image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.