A switchable optical assembly comprises a switchable waveplate configured to be electrically activated and deactivated to selectively alter the polarization state of light incident thereon. The switchable waveplate comprises first and second surfaces and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second surfaces. The first liquid crystal layer comprises a plurality of liquid crystal molecules. Said first and second surfaces may be curved. Said plurality of liquid crystal molecules may vary in tilt with respect to said first and second surfaces with outward radial distance from an axis through said first and second surfaces and said liquid crystal layer in a plurality of radial directions. The switchable waveplate additionally comprises a first plurality of electrodes to apply an electrical signal across said first liquid crystal layer.

The present disclosure relates to an augmented reality (AR)-content-providing device that can further increase user satisfaction and its utilization by realizing AR content of a 3D image. An AR-content-providing device comprises at least one display module configured to separately display a background image and a main image, and at least one optical member including respective display light paths of the background image and the main image so that the background image and the main image are superimposed on each other to be perceived as a three-dimensional (3D) image by a user's eyes.

A system may comprise a selectively transparent projection device for projecting an image toward an eye of a viewer from a projection device position in space relative to the eye of the viewer, the projection device being capable of assuming a substantially transparent state when no image is projected; an occlusion mask device coupled to the projection device and configured to selectively block light traveling toward the eye from one or more positions opposite of the projection device from the eye of the viewer in an occluding pattern correlated with the image projected by the projection device; and a zone plate diffraction patterning device interposed between the eye of the viewer and the projection device and configured to cause light from the projection device to pass through a diffraction pattern having a selectable geometry as it travels to the eye.

A system may comprise a selectively transparent projection device for projecting an image toward an eye of a viewer from a projection device position in space relative to the eye of the viewer, the projection device being capable of assuming a substantially transparent state when no image is projected; an occlusion mask device coupled to the projection device and configured to selectively block light traveling toward the eye from one or more positions opposite of the projection device from the eye of the viewer in an occluding pattern correlated with the image projected by the projection device; and a zone plate diffraction patterning device interposed between the eye of the viewer and the projection device and configured to cause light from the projection device to pass through a diffraction pattern having a selectable geometry as it travels to the eye.

The three-dimensional image display apparatus includes: a housing; a light source unit which is mounted in the housing, and emits light; a single light transfer unit which is disposed in the housing to face the light source unit, and refracts, diffracts, or reflects the light emitted from the light source unit; and an image display unit which forms, as an image, the light refracted, diffracted, or reflected by the light transfer unit.

The three-dimensional image display apparatus includes: a housing; a light source unit which is mounted in the housing, and emits light; a single light transfer unit which is disposed in the housing to face the light source unit, and refracts, diffracts, or reflects the light emitted from the light source unit; and an image display unit which forms, as an image, the light refracted, diffracted, or reflected by the light transfer unit.

Embodiments include a head-worn display including a display panel sized and positioned to produce a field of view to present digital content to an eye of a user, and a processor adapted to present the digital content to the display panel such that the digital content is only presented in a portion of the field of view, the portion being in the middle of the field of view such that horizontally opposing edges of the field of view are blank areas. The processor is adapted to shift the digital content into one of the blank areas to adjust the convergence distance of the digital content and thereby change the perceived distance from the user to the digital content.

Embodiments include a head-worn display including a display panel sized and positioned to produce a field of view to present digital content to an eye of a user, and a processor adapted to present the digital content to the display panel such that the digital content is only presented in a portion of the field of view, the portion being in the middle of the field of view such that horizontally opposing edges of the field of view are blank areas. The processor is adapted to shift the digital content into one of the blank areas to adjust the convergence distance of the digital content and thereby change the perceived distance from the user to the digital content.

Eyewear having a stereoscopic display including a lens system, and a push-pull lens set including prisms to produce a binocular overlap of two images that coincides with an accommodation plane. The overlap of two virtual images generated by a respective display as seen by the user's two eyes provides user comfort. The stereoscopic display may have a single accommodation plane, where the binocular overlap of the two virtual images depends on the location of the accommodation plane and the depth of the content formed by disparity in the two images. By providing the content at or near the location where the virtual images are at least substantially overlapped, the user viewing comfort is improved. The binocular overlap is controlled by tilting or steering the virtual images inward, such that the overlap occurs at the accommodation plane.

Eyewear having a stereoscopic display including a lens system, and a push-pull lens set including prisms to produce a binocular overlap of two images that coincides with an accommodation plane. The overlap of two virtual images generated by a respective display as seen by the user's two eyes provides user comfort. The stereoscopic display may have a single accommodation plane, where the binocular overlap of the two virtual images depends on the location of the accommodation plane and the depth of the content formed by disparity in the two images. By providing the content at or near the location where the virtual images are at least substantially overlapped, the user viewing comfort is improved. The binocular overlap is controlled by tilting or steering the virtual images inward, such that the overlap occurs at the accommodation plane.