Head-mounted display (hmd) with spatially-varying retarder optics
AssigneeValve Corporation
InventorJoshua Mark Hudman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A head-mounted display, or other near-to-eye display, incorporates optics that include a spatially-varying retarder (SVR). The SVR may include one or more layers of birefringent material. Light that enters and exits the SVR experiences a change in polarization where the phase of the light is modified by amounts that are different for different portions of the SVR. Focal length of light of an image generated by a pixelated display device is shortened by the optics so that the image can be focused onto a user's eye, which is relatively close to the pixelated display device.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- an information display;
- and
- a lens assembly to direct light from the information display toward a user's eye, wherein the lens assembly includes:
- an entrance side where the light enters the lens assembly;
- an exit side where the light exits the lens assembly;
- a spatially-varying retarder (SVR) to modify phase of the light that passes through the SVR by amounts that are different for different portions of the SVR;
- and
- at least one of a polarizing beam splitter or a partially reflective mirror disposed between the SVR and the exit side of the lens assembly.
A method comprising:
- generating an image using a pixelated display device;
- directing light of the image to a lens assembly to modify a focal length of the image to a modified focal length, the lens assembly including:
- a spatially-varying retarder (SVR) that is configured to modify phase of the light that passes through the SVR by amounts that are different for different portions of the SVR;
- and
- at least one of a polarizing beam splitter, a partially reflective mirror, or a linear polarizer disposed between the SVR and an exit side of the lens assembly;
- and
- projecting the image having the modified focal length on an eye of a user.
A system comprising:
- an information display that includes pixels that are configured to collectively form an image;
- a backlighting assembly to illuminate the pixels of the information display;
- and
- an optical subsystem to direct light of the image from the information display toward a user's eye, wherein the optical subsystem includes:
- a spatially-varying retarder (SVR) that is configured to modify phase of the light to a modified phase as the light passes through the SVR, wherein the phase of the light is modified by amounts that are different for different portions of the SVR;
- and
- at least one of a polarizing beam splitter, a partially reflective mirror, or a linear polarizer positioned to receive the light having the modified phase after the light has passed through the SVR and to selectively allow the light to pass through and exit from an exit surface of the optical subsystem toward the user's eye.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.