Full‐color multi‐plane optical see‐through head‐mounted display for augmented reality applications

Abstract

Based on fast‐response polymer‐stabilized liquid crystal scattering shutters, we designed a full‐color multi‐plane optical see‐through head‐mounted display for augmented reality applications. Red, green, and blue light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) are used to illuminate a digital micromirror device in time sequence to create a full‐color 3D scene. A quasi‐collimated image projection source, with a large depth of focus, was designed, in order to ensure sharp pictures projected on different polymer‐stabilized liquid crystal films at different depth. Our system provides high‐quality full‐color images with correct depth information and thus solves the accommodation–vergence conflict problem. A proof‐of‐concept binocular full‐color two‐plane optical see‐through head‐mounted display prototype is demonstrated.

Multiplane displays based on liquid crystals for AR applications

“…Transmittance spectra of (a) a normal mode polymer stabilized liquid crystal (NPSLC) film and (B) a reverse mode polymer stabilized liquid crystal (RPSLC) film…”

“…Full‐color optical see‐through (OST) head‐mounted display (HMD) design based on a digital micromirror device (DMD), three RGB LEDs, and normal mode polymer stabilized liquid crystal (NPSLC) scattering shutters…”

“…Timing of the RGB LEDs, digital micromirror device (DMD), and polymer stabilized liquid crystal (PSLC) scattering shutters…”

“…The key components of multiplane displays using the time‐multiplexing method are fast tunable optical devices, such as liquid lens, deformable mirror, and liquid crystal (LC) devices . For instance, Hua et al realized a multiplane optical see‐through (OST) AR display utilizing a tunable liquid lens.…”

“…Tunable LC lenses (eg, LC refractive lens and LC Pancharatnam‐Berry [PB] lens) are employed in AR displays, to control the distance of virtual images by varying their focal lengths. And in some displays, multiple LC scattering shutters are used as the display medium …”