Curved see-through pancake lens assembly and display device including the same

A display device comprising:

• a display configured to output image light and configurable to transmit ambient light;
• and
• an optical assembly including:
• a first surface having a first curved profile and a second surface having a second curved profile;
• a beam splitter on the first surface and conforming with the first curved profile of the first surface;
• a reflector on second surface and conforming with the second curved profile of the second surface, wherein the optical assembly is configured to:
• receive the image light at the first surface, and reflect the image light at the reflector and subsequently at the beam splitter before outputting the image light from the reflector, whereby the image light is transmitted through the optical assembly at a first optical power;
• and
• transmit the ambient light through the optical assembly without reflection at the reflector, wherein the ambient light is transmitted through the optical assembly at a second optical power that is less than the first optical power.

A method of transmitting light through an optical assembly, the method comprising:

• transmitting image light, including:
• receiving the image light at a first surface of a substrate, the substrate having a first curved profile;
• reflecting the image light at a reflector having a second curved profile;
• reflecting the image light at a beam splitter on the first surface, the beam splitter conforming with the first curved profile of the first surface;
• and
• outputting the image light from the reflector at a first optical power;
• and
• transmitting ambient light, including:
• receiving the ambient light at the first surface;
• transmitting the ambient light through the optical assembly without reflection at the reflector;
• and
• outputting the ambient light from the optical assembly at a second optical power that is less than the first optical power.