System and Method for Aperture Extension and Programmable Optical Depth Modulation via Field Evolving Cavities

A system comprising:

• a display panel to emit a plurality of portions of light;
• a first plurality of electro-optic shutters, arranged in a row and disposed on a light-emitting side of the display panel, each electro-optic shutter among the first plurality of shutters to reflect or transmit a portion of light among the plurality of portions of the light from the display panel;
• and
• a second plurality of shutters, arranged in a row and disposed such that the first plurality of shutters is between the second plurality of shutters and the display panel, each shutter among the second plurality of shutters to reflect or transmit a portion among the plurality of portions of the light from the display panel;
• a relay to guide the plurality of portions of light from the first plurality of shutters to the second plurality of shutters;
• and
• a control circuit to control transmission of light through each shutter among the first and second pluralities of shutters in accordance with an optical path length for each respective portion of the light.

An optical system comprising:

• a camera to receive light, the camera having a lens and an imaging sensor;
• at least one display emitting a plurality of portions of light, each portion corresponding to a respective display image;
• a plurality of polarization-dependent reflectors to guide each portion of light along a respective optical path;
• and
• a semi-transparent reflector to receive ambient light and combine it with the plurality of portions of light,
• wherein the camera simultaneously captures the ambient light and the plurality of portions of light to create an image.