Reflective circular polarizer for head-mounted display

A method of displaying images, the method comprising:

• polarizing, by a first polarizer, light from an image source into light of a first circular polarization state;
• transmitting, by a partial reflector, the light of the first circular polarization state to a second polarizer;
• reflecting, by the second polarizer, the light of the first circular polarization state back to the partial reflector, wherein the reflected light is in the first circular polarization state;
• reflecting, by the partial reflector, the light of the first circular polarization state into light of a second circular polarization state back to the second polarizer;
• and
• transmitting, by the second polarizer, the light of the second circular polarization state to a user's eye, wherein the light transmitted to the user's eye maintains the second circular polarization state.

A near-eye display device comprising:

• a display configured to emit display light;
• a first polarizer configured to polarize the display light into light of a first circular polarization state;
• a second polarizer;
• and
• a partial reflector positioned between the first polarizer and the second polarizer, wherein:
• the partial reflector is configured to transmit the light of the first circular polarization state from the first polarizer;
• the second polarizer is configured to reflect the light of the first circular polarization state without changing its polarization state;
• the partial reflector is further configured to reflect the light reflected from the second polarizer, wherein the light reflected by the partial reflector includes light in a second circular polarization state different from the first circular polarization state;
• and
• the second polarizer is further configured to transmit the light in the second circular polarization state to a user's eye, wherein the light transmitted to the user's eye maintains the second circular polarization state.

A near-eye display device comprising:

• a display including an output surface, wherein:
• the display is configured to emit display light through the output surface;
• and
• the output surface is configured to at least partially reflect light incident on the output surface from an exterior of the display, wherein the partially reflected light and the light incident on the output surface from the exterior of the display have different polarization states;
• and
• a reflective circular polarizer formed on the output surface of the display and including liquid crystal molecules arranged in a helical structure, the reflective circular polarizer configured to:
• reflect light of a first circular polarization state in the display light back to the output surface of the display, wherein the reflected light from the reflective circular polarizer to the output surface of the display is in the first circular polarization state;
• and
• transmit light of a second circular polarization state in the display light to a user's eye, wherein the light transmitted to the user's eye maintains the second circular polarization state.