An optical system including at least a first lens, a partial reflector and a reflective polarizer is described. The optical system has an optical axis such that a light ray propagating along the optical axis passes through the first lens the partial reflector and the reflective polarizer without being substantially refracted. At least one major surface of the optical system is rotationally asymmetric about the optical axis. A major surface of the optical system may have a first portion defined by a first equation and a second portion adjacent the first portion defined by a different equation. The first lens may have a contoured edge adapted to be placed adjacent an eye of a viewer and substantially conform to the viewer's face.

Display systems for achieving collimated projection effects. For example, in a theatrical or concert installation, display systems can be used to project images of scenery that appear to be vast and at a great distant behind the viewing window. The system may include a flat panel display, a corrective mirror, and a concave mirror positioned for viewing by an observer. The corrective mirror pre-warps an image generated by the flat panel display and reflects the undistorted image onto the concave mirror such that the observer perceives the image generated by the flat panel display as being at a large distance. The corrective mirror does not distort with changes in viewpoint. In another implementation, the system may include a short throw projector generating an image, a free-form projection screen, and a concave mirror positioned for viewing by many observers through a viewing window.

A waveguide includes an input area, a multi-layered substrate, and an output area. The multi-layered substrate includes a plurality of layers of at least a substrate and at least one partially reflective layers. The input area in-couples light in a first band into the waveguide. The one or more partially reflective layers are partially reflective to light in the first band. Each of the one or more partially reflective layers are located between respective layers of the plurality of layers of the substrate. The output area out-couples light from the waveguide. The pupil replication density of the out-coupled light is based in part on a number of the one or more partially reflective layers and respective locations of the one or more partially reflective layers in the waveguide.

An optical system including at least a first lens, a partial reflector and a reflective polarizer is described. The optical system has an optical axis such that a light ray propagating along the optical axis passes through the first lens the partial reflector and the reflective polarizer without being substantially refracted. At least one major surface of the optical system is rotationally asymmetric about the optical axis. A major surface of the optical system may have a first portion defined by a first equation and a second portion adjacent the first portion defined by a different equation. The first lens may have a contoured edge adapted to be placed adjacent an eye of a viewer and substantially conform to the viewer's face.

An optical device, such as a head mounted display, includes a display that emits light, a reflector, and a partially reflective circular polarizer (RCP) positioned between the reflector and a user's eye or eyes. The reflector can be partially reflective. The partially reflective circular polarizer, the reflector, or both, can be curved. Light from the display is reflected one or more times by the reflector. The RCP can include one or more of a quarter-wave plate (QWP), a reflective polarizer layer, a linear polarizer, a supportive substrate, and an anti-reflective film. The reflector can include a mirror coating and an anti-reflection coating.

Provided is a head up display for a vehicle. The head up display for the vehicle may include an imaging mechanism for emitting a linearly-polarized light in a first direction and a linearly-polarized light in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, a first reflection mirror for reflecting a light to a windshield of the vehicle, a polarization reflection mirror spaced apart from the first reflection mirror wherein the polarization reflection mirror transmits the linearly-polarized light in the first direction and reflects the linearly-polarized light in the second direction, and a second reflection mirror spaced apart from the polarization reflection mirror wherein the second reflection mirror reflects the light transmitted through the polarization reflection mirror to the polarization reflection mirror. The imaging mechanism may include a separating partition for preventing mutual interference between the linearly-polarized light in the first direction and the linearly-polarized light in the second direction.

An optical device includes a first polarization selective reflector; and a second polarization selective reflector positioned relative to the first polarization selective reflector so that the first polarization selective reflector directs first light having a first polarization toward the second polarization selective reflector and the second polarization selective reflector directs second light having a second polarization toward the first polarization selective reflector. A first plane defined by the first polarization selective reflector intersects a second plane defined by the second polarization selective reflector at a first angle.

The present disclosure provides an electronic device including a device body being maintained at a preset position relative to an eye of a user. The device body further includes: a display unit for emitting light corresponding to a display content; and a lens group having a side surface facing the display unit. The light emitted from the display unit is reflected by the side surface to be incident on the eye of the user.

A multilayer reflective polarizer convex along orthogonal first and second axes orthogonal to an optical axis passing thorough an apex of the multilayer reflective polarizer is described. The multilayer reflective polarizer has at least one first location having a radial distance r1 from the optical axis and a displacement s1 from a plane perpendicular to the optical axis at the apex, where s1/r1 is in a range of about 0.2 to about 0.8. The multilayer reflective polarizer may have at least one inner layer substantially optically uniaxial at at least one first location away from the apex. For an area of the reflective polarizer defined by s1 and r1, a maximum variation of a transmission axis of the reflective polarizer may be less than about 2 degrees.

Optical systems including a partial reflector, a reflective polarizer, and a retarder disposed between the partial reflector and the reflective polarizer are described. The reflective polarizer is curved about two orthogonal axes and includes at least one layer that is substantially optically uniaxial at at least one location. The optical system is adapted to provide an adjustable focus.