Breaking the efficiency limit of pancake optics in virtual reality

Yuqiang Ding; Zhenyi Luo; Garimagai Borjigin; Shin-Tson Wu

doi:10.1117/12.3025349

12 March 2024 Breaking the efficiency limit of pancake optics in virtual reality

Yuqiang Ding, Zhenyi Luo, Garimagai Borjigin, Shin-Tson Wu

Proceedings Volume 12913, Optical Architectures for Displays and Sensing in Augmented, Virtual, and Mixed Reality (AR, VR, MR) V; 1291316 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3025349
Event: SPIE AR | VR | MR, 2024, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Pancake lens has been widely used in mixed reality (MR) due to its compact formfactor. However, using a half mirror to fold the optical path results in a tremendous optical loss. To break this optical efficiency limit while keeping a compact formfactor, we present a new folded optical system incorporating a nonreciprocal polarization rotator. In our proof-of-concept experiment using a commercial Faraday rotator, the theoretically predicted 100% efficiency is validated. Meanwhile, the ghost images can be suppressed to undetectable level if the optics are with anti-reflection coating. Our novel pancake optical system holds great potential for revolutionizing next-generation MR displays.

Conference Presentation

(2024) Published by SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Citation Download Citation

Yuqiang Ding, Zhenyi Luo, Garimagai Borjigin, and Shin-Tson Wu "Breaking the efficiency limit of pancake optics in virtual reality", Proc. SPIE 12913, Optical Architectures for Displays and Sensing in Augmented, Virtual, and Mixed Reality (AR, VR, MR) V, 1291316 (12 March 2024); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3025349

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