A multi-layered display system (e.g., a display including multiple display panels) includes at least first and second displays (e.g., display panels or display layers) arranged substantially parallel to each other in order to display three-dimensional (3D) features to a viewer(s). A refractive element is arranged on a top surface of the first display layer or between the first and second display layers. Index matching material may be provided between the first and second displays.

In particular embodiments, a computing system may divide at least a portion of a physical space surrounding a user into a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) regions, wherein each of the 3D regions is associated with an area of a plurality of areas in a plane. The system may generate estimated locations of features of objects in the portion of the physical space. Based on the estimated locations, the system may determine an occupancy state of each of the plurality of 3D regions. Then based on the occupancy states of the plurality of 3D regions, the system may determine that one or more of the plurality of areas have respective airspaces that are likely unoccupied by objects.

A three-dimensional display system includes a first display and a second display spaced apart from the first display having one or more light sources configured to emit light and to illuminate the first display, where the first display is at least partially transparent such that the second display is visible through the first display. The three-dimensional display system includes a special effect system disposed at least in part between the first display and the second display and is configured to be activated to cause a special effect to be visible through the first display. The three-dimensional display system includes a controller communicatively coupled to the first display, the second display, and the special effect system.

A three-dimensional display apparatus includes: a display layer and a transmissive phase modulator, wherein the transmissive phase modulator is disposed on a light exit side of the display layer, and includes a plurality of modulation units; and each of the modulation units is configured to perform phase modulation on light received by the modulation unit, and is configured such that a picture displayed by the display layer is presented as a contiguous curved virtual image after being processed by the transmissive phase modulator.

Methods, apparatus, devices, and systems for three-dimensional (3D) displaying objects are provided. In one aspect, a method includes obtaining data including respective primitive data for primitives corresponding to an object, determining an electromagnetic (EM) field contribution to each element of a display for each of the primitives by calculating an EM field propagation from the primitive to the element, generating a sum of the EM field contributions from the primitives for each of the elements, transmitting to each of the elements a respective control signal for modulating at least one property of the element based on the sum of the EM field contributions, and transmitting a timing control signal to an illuminator to activate the illuminator to illuminate light on the display, such that the light is caused by the modulated elements of the display to form a volumetric light field corresponding to the object.

Methods, apparatus, devices, and systems for three-dimensional (3D) displaying objects are provided. In one aspect, a method includes obtaining data including respective primitive data for primitives corresponding to an object, determining an electromagnetic (EM) field contribution to each element of a display for each of the primitives by calculating an EM field propagation from the primitive to the element, generating a sum of the EM field contributions from the primitives for each of the elements, transmitting to each of the elements a respective control signal for modulating at least one property of the element based on the sum of the EM field contributions, and transmitting a timing control signal to an illuminator to activate the illuminator to illuminate light on the display, such that the light is caused by the modulated elements of the display to form a volumetric light field corresponding to the object.

A display apparatus (1) for use in displaying an image to a viewer, comprising a transparent optical waveguide display unit (2) arranged for receiving image-bearing light (4) into the optical waveguide display unit, for guiding the received light therealong to an output area (24) thereof, and for outputting from the output area the image-bearing light (6) collimated to present a viewable image. A light-emitting display screen (3) arranged adjacent to and behind the output area of the optical waveguide display unit is visible therethrough behind the output area (24). This combines the light from the light-emitting display screen (e.g. imagery) with the viewable image (6).

A near-eye display device includes at least one projection system configured to project an image to a target position. The projection system includes an image output module, an object lens group, an aperture-coded module, and an eyepiece. The image output module is configured to provide the image. The object lens group is configured to receive lights of the image, and includes a first lens group and a second lens group. The aperture-coded module is configured to receive the lights of the image from the first lens group and send the lights of the image to the second lens group, and the aperture-coded module sequentially provides plural coded patterns, such that the object lens group converts the image into plural relay images sequentially. The eyepiece is configured to send the relay images to the target position.

A multi-planar plenoptic display assembly is provided that includes multiple spatially-varying light emitting and light modulating planes. The display assembly includes at least one light emitting device and may include, but does not require, a modulating device used in conjunction according to display methods taught herein to display light field data. A display assembly controller may be used to render a light field with depth into a multi-planar plenoptic display assembly by assigning decomposed portions of the light field to the display assembly for display or presentation by differing ones of the emitting elements and by operating a modulating device to provide a parallax barrier. In one embodiment, a dynamic parallax barrier and a number of bi-state screens. Another embodiment uses a beam splitter to co-locate two pairs of autostereoscopic displays each including a projector projecting 3D content, a parallax barrier, and an emissive/projector element.

An augmented reality system includes a light source configured to generate a virtual light beam. The system also includes a light guiding optical element having an entry portion, an exit portion, and a surface having a diverter disposed adjacent thereto. The light source and the light guiding optical element are configured such that the virtual light beam enters the light guiding optical element through the entry portion, propagates through the light guiding optical element by at least partially reflecting off of the surface, and exits the light guiding optical element through the exit portion. The light guiding optical element is transparent to a first real-world light beam. The diverter is configured to modify a light path of a second real-world light beam at the surface.