A liquid crystal element (100) refracts and outputs light. The liquid crystal element (100) includes a first electrode (1), a second electrode (2), an insulating layer (21) that is an electric insulator, a resistance layer (22), a liquid crystal layer (23) including liquid crystal, and a third electrode (3). The insulating layer (21) is disposed between each location of the first and second electrodes (1) and (2) and the resistance layer (22) to insulate the first and second electrodes (1) and (2) from the resistance layer (22). The resistance layer (22) has an electrical resistivity higher than that of the first electrode (1) and lower than that of the insulating layer (21). The resistance layer (22) and the liquid crystal layer (23) are disposed between the insulating layer (21) and the third electrode (3). The resistance layer (22) is disposed between the insulating layer (21) and the liquid crystal layer (23). The insulating layer (21) has a thickness (ts) smaller than a thickness (th) of the resistance layer (22).

A liquid crystal element (100) refracts and outputs light. The liquid crystal element (100) includes a first electrode (1), a second electrode (2), an insulating layer (21) that is an electric insulator, a resistance layer (22), a liquid crystal layer (23) including liquid crystal, and a third electrode (3). The insulating layer (21) is disposed between each location of the first and second electrodes (1) and (2) and the resistance layer (22) to insulate the first and second electrodes (1) and (2) from the resistance layer (22). The resistance layer (22) has an electrical resistivity higher than that of the first electrode (1) and lower than that of the insulating layer (21). The resistance layer (22) and the liquid crystal layer (23) are disposed between the insulating layer (21) and the third electrode (3). The resistance layer (22) is disposed between the insulating layer (21) and the liquid crystal layer (23). The insulating layer (21) has a thickness (ts) smaller than a thickness (th) of the resistance layer (22).

Apparatus and methods are described, including a corrective optical film for converting a corrective single-focal lens to a multi-focal lens and/or a progressive lens. A thickness and/or a curvature of the corrective optical film is different in different regions of the corrective optical film, such that the corrective optical film is configured, upon being adhered to the single-focal lens, to change a focal length of the single-focal lens differently in different regions of the single-focal lens. Other applications are also described.

See-through type display apparatuses and electronic apparatuses including the same are disclosed. A see-through type display apparatus may include a multipath optical member that transfers a plurality of images along a plurality of paths to an ocular organ of a user, and an anisotropic optical member that is arranged between the multipath optical member and the ocular organ of the user. The anisotropic optical member may exhibit characteristics which vary based on a polarization direction of incident light. For example, the anisotropic optical member may function as a lens with respect to light that propagates along a first path and function in a different manner than the lens with respect to light that propagates along a second path. The anisotropic optical member may function as a flat plate with respect to the light that propagates along the second path.

Provided is a multi-image display apparatus including an image forming device configured to form a first image, a first polarization plate configured to transmit a first polarization component of the first image provided from the image forming device, a second polarization plate configured to transmit a second polarization component of a second image that is provided from a path different from the first image, the second polarization component being different from the first polarization component, a screen configured to reflect and diffuse the first image, and transmit the second image, and a polarization selective lens configured to focus the first image having the first polarization component, and transmit the second image having the second polarization component without refraction.

Provided is a multi-image display apparatus including an image forming device configured to form a first image, a first polarization plate configured to transmit a first polarization component of the first image provided from the image forming device, a second polarization plate configured to transmit a second polarization component of a second image that is provided from a path different from the first image, the second polarization component being different from the first polarization component, a screen configured to reflect and diffuse the first image, and transmit the second image, and a polarization selective lens configured to focus the first image having the first polarization component, and transmit the second image having the second polarization component without refraction.

A metalens includes one or more regions of nanostructures. A first region of nanostructures directs a first field of view (FOV) of light incident on the first region of nanostructures to a first region of an image plane. A second region of nanostructures directs a second FOV of light incident on the second region of nanostructures to a second region of the image plane in which the second FOV is different from the first FOV, and the second region of the image plane is different from the first region of the image plane. A third region of nanostructures directs a third FOV of light to a third region of the image plane, in which the third FOV is different from the first FOV and the second FOV, and the third region of the image plane is different from the first region and the second region of the image plane.

A lens includes a substrate with optically anisotropic molecules arranged in helical configurations between first and second surfaces. A first portion of the substrate includes a first helical structure having a first phase and a second helical structure adjacent to the first helical structure having a second phase. A difference between the first and second phases corresponds to a first phase difference. A second portion includes a third helical structure having a third phase and a fourth helical structure adjacent to the third helical structure having a fourth phase. A difference between the third and fourth phases corresponds to a second phase difference. A third portion includes a fifth helical structure having a fifth phase and a sixth helical structure adjacent to the fifth helical structure having a sixth phase. A difference between the fifth and sixth phases corresponds to a third phase difference.

A lens includes a substrate with optically anisotropic molecules arranged in helical configurations between first and second surfaces. A first portion of the substrate includes a first helical structure having a first phase and a second helical structure adjacent to the first helical structure having a second phase. A difference between the first and second phases corresponds to a first phase difference. A second portion includes a third helical structure having a third phase and a fourth helical structure adjacent to the third helical structure having a fourth phase. A difference between the third and fourth phases corresponds to a second phase difference. A third portion includes a fifth helical structure having a fifth phase and a sixth helical structure adjacent to the fifth helical structure having a sixth phase. A difference between the fifth and sixth phases corresponds to a third phase difference.

A device is provided. The device includes a first lens assembly controllable to switch between a first plurality of optical powers. The first lens assembly includes a plurality of directly optically coupled lenses, and is configured to converge or diverge a light transmitted therethrough. The device also includes a second lens assembly coupled with the first lens assembly, and controllable to switch between a second plurality of optical powers that are opposite to the first plurality of optical powers.