Flicker mitigation when toggling eyepiece display illumination in augmented reality systems

An augmented reality display system comprising:

• an eyepiece display configured to be worn by a user, the eyepiece display being at least partially transparent so as to transmit ambient light toward the eye of the user;
• an ambient light sensor configured to detect the ambient light;
• an image input device capable of inputting virtual content into the eyepiece display, the image input device comprising a light source and a spatial light modulator illuminated by the light source;
• and
• a controller,
• wherein the eyepiece display is configured to emit display light, and
• wherein the controller is configured to:
• determine that no virtual content is being displayed to the user;
• compare the ambient light to the display light to determine if a light source shutoff criterion is satisfied, and
• turn off the light source if the light source shutoff criterion is satisfied.