Time-multiplexed display of virtual content at various depths

A method of operating an optical system, the method comprising:

• emitting light by a projector;
• receiving and redirecting, by at least one waveguide optically coupled to the projector, light from the projector toward a user;
• controlling a shutter assembly comprising at least one component positioned adjacent to the at least one waveguide to allow a variable amount of ambient light from an environment of the user to pass therethrough toward the user;
• controlling an adaptive lens assembly positioned between the at least one waveguide and the user to impart a variable amount of optical power to light passing therethrough toward the user;
• and
• using control circuitry communicatively coupled to the projector, the shutter assembly, and the adaptive lens assembly to synchronously:
• cause the adaptive lens assembly to vary an amount of optical power imparted to light passing therethrough toward the user;
• and
• cause the shutter assembly to vary the amount of ambient light from the environment of the user allowed to pass therethrough toward the user inversely with the amount of optical power imparted by the adaptive lens assembly to light passing therethrough.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

• causing a projector to emit light, wherein at least one waveguide optically coupled to the projector is configured to receive and redirect the light from the projector toward a user;
• controlling a shutter assembly comprising at least one component positioned adjacent to at least one waveguide to allow a variable amount of ambient light from an environment of the user to pass therethrough toward the user;
• controlling an adaptive lens assembly positioned between the at least one waveguide and the user to impart a variable amount of optical power to light passing therethrough toward the user;
• and
• using control circuitry communicatively coupled to the projector, the shutter assembly, and the adaptive lens assembly to synchronously:
• cause the adaptive lens assembly to vary an amount of optical power imparted to light passing therethrough toward the user;
• and
• cause the shutter assembly to vary the amount of ambient light from the environment of the user allowed to pass therethrough toward the user inversely with the amount of optical power imparted by the adaptive lens assembly to light passing therethrough.