Open AccessMulti-plane augmented reality display based on cholesteric liquid crystal reflective films
Author(s) -
Quanming Chen,
Zenghui Peng,
Yan Li,
Shuxin Liu,
Pengcheng Zhou,
Jingyuan Gu,
Jiangang Lu,
Lishuang Yao,
Min Wang,
Yikai Su
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.27.012039
Subject(s) - optics , polarization (electrochemistry) , liquid crystal display , materials science , augmented reality , circular polarization , liquid crystal , stereo display , cholesteric liquid crystal , optoelectronics , polarizer , optical path , computer science , physics , computer vision , birefringence , chemistry , microstrip
To address the accommodation-convergence conflict problem in conventional augmented reality (AR) head-mounted displays, we propose a compact multi-plane display design based on cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) reflective films and a polarization switch. Because of the polarization selectivity of CLC films, circularly-polarized light with different handedness is reflected by different CLC films, resulting in different optical path lengths and different image depths by the lens. A flicker-free dual-plane prototype with correct focus cues and relatively low operating voltage has been implemented. Moreover, a multi-plane AR display scheme with more than 2 depth planes is proposed by stacking multiple CLC films and polarization switches together.