10‐1: Towards Varifocal Augmented Reality Displays using Deformable Beamsplitter Membranes

Abstract

Growing evidence in recent literature suggests gaze contingent varifocal Near Eye Displays (NEDs) are mitigating visual discomfort caused by the vergence-accommodation conflict (VAC). Such displays promise improved task performance in Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) applications and demand less compute and power than light field and holographic display alternatives. In the context of this paper, we further extend the evaluation of our gaze contingent wide field of view varifocal AR NED layout [1] by evaluating optical characteristics of resolution, brightness, and eye-box. Our most recent prototype dramatically reduces form-factor, while improving maximum depth switching time to under 200 ms.

Advances in Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality Technologies

“…For example, Dunn et al . described a prototype AR display that implements a mechanism to provide a variable focus using a deformable beam splitter and an LCD panel 8 . As shown in Fig.…”

“…For example, Dunn et al described a prototype AR display that implements a mechanism to provide a variable focus using a deformable beam splitter and an LCD panel. 8 As shown in Fig. 2, this display system adjusts the perceived distance of the displayed image with a dynamic modification of the corresponding optical power of a reflective and adjustable membrane to match the gaze of the user.…”

“…2: This prototype display provides variable focus using a deformable beam splitter in conjunction with an LCD panel. 8 Fig. 1: When viewing a natural scene, our eyes converge on the object of interest in the 3D space, while the lenses of our eyes adjust accordingly to bring the light reflected by the object to focus on our retinas.…”

70‐3: Invited Paper: High‐Resolution Light‐Field VR LCD

“…As we know, although immersive using experience can be obtained with VR of larger field-of-view (FOV), but comfort vision will be determined by how good VAC can further controlled or reduced [1]. So both spatial and time multiplexed approaches have been studied and proposed [2][3][4][5][6][7].…”

All-passive transformable optical mapping near-eye display

“…To mitigate the vergence-accommodation conflict, there are generally two strategies 6 . The first strategy, referred to as temporal multiplexing (varifocal) 7–12 , rapidly sweeps the focal plane of the projector either mechanically or electronically. Mechanical sweeping is normally performed either through adjusting the optical power of the eyepiece (e.g., an acoustic lens 13–15 , a birefringent lens 16 or an Alvarez lens 17 ) or simply shifting the axial distance between the display and the eyepiece 18 .…”