Head-mounted device lens module

Abstract

A head mounted device lens module is disclosed. An electronic device may include a display and a lens assembly supported by a housing. The lens assembly may include a plurality of lenses. The lens and / or the display may include polarizers to mitigate artifacts associated with double rebound paths of light through the optical system. The polarizer may include a quarter-wave plate and a half-wave plate. A polarizer in the lens assembly may have a polarization axis aligned with a polarization axis of a polarizer in the display. The display may also include a geometric phase lens that may redirect light from the display. Additionally or alternatively, the housing may be coated with a low visible reflectance and low infrared reflectance coating, which may further increase the contrast of the display.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 19 / 276,947, filed July 22, 2025, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 697,963, filed September 23, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background Technology

[0002] This invention relates generally to optical systems, including optical systems for head-mounted displays.

[0003] Head-mounted displays, such as virtual reality glasses, use lenses to display images to the user. The display can generate an image for each of the user's eyes. Lenses can be placed between each of the user's eyes and a portion of the display, allowing the user to view virtual reality content. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Electronic devices may include a display and a lens assembly supported by a housing. The lens assembly may include multiple lenses, such as catadioptric lenses. The lenses and / or the display may include polarizers to mitigate artifacts associated with double-bounce paths of light that cause ghosting through the optical system.

[0005] Polarizers can include quarter-wave plates and half-wave plates. Polarizers in lens assemblies can have polarization axes aligned with the polarization axes of polarizers in displays. Polarizers can be used as retarders and can reduce ghosting within optical systems.

[0006] The display may also include a geometric phase lens that can redirect light from the display based on the position of light on the lens and / or the polarization of light when it arrives at the lens.

[0007] Additionally or alternatively, the housing may be coated with a low visible light reflectance and low infrared reflectance coating, which can further increase the contrast of the display. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 These are illustrations of exemplary electronic devices based on some implementation schemes.

[0009] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary electronic device with a lens module according to some embodiments, the lens module including a lens assembly and a display.

[0010] Figure 3 This is a side view of an exemplary lens assembly including a polarizer between a first lens and a second lens, according to some embodiments.

[0011] Figure 4This is a side view of an exemplary display, according to some implementation schemes, including a polarizer and a geometric phase lens overlapping the display layer.

[0012] Figure 5 This is a front view of an exemplary geometric phase lens based on some implementation schemes.

[0013] Figure 6A and Figure 6B This is an illustrative diagram of light with different polarizations passing through a geometric phase lens according to some implementation schemes.

[0014] Figure 7 These are illustrations of an exemplary lens assembly and display having a polarizer and an additional optical layer, according to some implementation schemes.

[0015] Figure 8 This is a side view of an exemplary support for accommodating a lens assembly and a display, according to some implementation schemes.

[0016] Figure 9 This is a front view of an exemplary portion of a support member coated with a low visible light reflectance and a low infrared reflectance according to some embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0017] Head-mounted displays can be used in virtual reality and / or augmented reality systems. For example, a pair of virtual reality glasses or goggles worn on a user's head can be used to provide the user with virtual reality and / or augmented reality content.

[0018] A head-mounted display can be mounted in an optical module that includes a lens assembly that transmits the image generated by the head-mounted display to the eye socket for the user to view. Each assembly may include multiple lenses. To reduce or eliminate ghosting caused by double bounces and / or additional reflections within the lens assembly, one or more polarizers may be incorporated into the lens assembly and / or each display.

[0019] Specifically, the lens assembly may include a first lens and a second lens, with the first lens between the second lens and the display. A quarter-wave plate and a half-wave plate may form a polarizer in the lens assembly between the first and second lenses. Similarly, the display may include additional quarter-wave plates and additional half-wave plates to form a polarizer through which the display emits an image. The polarizer in the lens assembly may have the same polarization axis as the polarizer in the display (e.g., the two polarization axes may be matched and / or aligned).

[0020] Alternatively or additionally, the display may include a geometric phase lens through which the display emits an image. The geometric phase lens can redirect light emitted by the display by different amounts depending on the proximity of light to the center of the lens and / or the polarization of light passing through the geometric phase lens.

[0021] The optical module, which houses the display and lens assembly, may include one or more coatings with low visible and low infrared reflectivity. These coatings may be ultra-black and / or have low specular and low diffuse reflectivity at visible and infrared wavelengths. Generally, the contrast of the optical module can be increased by reducing ghosting in the lens assembly, matching the polarization of the display and lens assembly, and / or incorporating low-reflectivity coatings into the optical module.

[0022] Figure 1 An illustrative system is shown in the diagram, in which electronic devices (e.g., head-mounted displays, such as a pair of virtual reality glasses or goggles) are used to provide a user with virtual reality content featuring optical modules. Figure 1 As shown, electronic device 10 (sometimes referred to as glasses 10, virtual reality glasses 10, head-mounted display 10, device 10, head-mounted device 10, etc.) may include a display such as display 14, which forms an image and may have an optical system such as lens assembly 20 (also referred to herein as lens system 20 and / or lens 20), through which a user (see, for example, the user's eye 46) can view the image generated by display 14 by looking in direction 48. Although device 10 is shown as glasses, this is only illustrative. In general, device 10 may be another virtual reality, mixed reality, and / or augmented reality device, such as a goggle-type head-mounted device.

[0023] Each eye 46 may have a corresponding eye socket (e.g., the expected position of a user's eyes when the user wears the head-mounted device 10). Therefore, an eye 46 may sometimes be referred to as an eye socket 46.

[0024] Display 14 (sometimes referred to as display panel 14 or display system 14) may be based on liquid crystal display, organic light-emitting diode display, emission display with an array of crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diode dies (e.g., micro-LED display) and / or display based on other display technologies. Device 10 may include separate left and right displays 14 for the user's left and right eyes respectively, or a single display 14 may span both eyes.

[0025] Visual content (e.g., image data for still and / or moving images) can be provided to the display 14 using control circuitry 42 installed in device 10 and / or control circuitry installed externally to device 10 (e.g., associated with portable electronic devices, laptop computers, or other computing equipment). Control circuitry 42 may include storage devices such as hard disk storage, volatile and non-volatile memory, electrically programmable storage devices for forming solid-state drives, and other memories. Control circuitry 42 may also include one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, graphics processors, baseband processors, application-specific integrated circuits, and other processing circuitry. Communication circuitry in circuitry 42 can be used to transmit and receive data (e.g., wirelessly and / or via a wired path). Control circuitry 42 can use display system 14 to display visual content, such as virtual reality content (e.g., computer-generated content associated with a virtual world), pre-recorded video, or other images for movies or other media. Exemplary configurations of control circuitry 42 using display system 14 to provide virtual reality content to a user may sometimes be described herein as examples. However, in general, the control circuit 42 can use the display 14 and lens assembly 20 of the device 10 to present any suitable content to the user, including augmented reality content, mixed reality content, see-through content and / or other content.

[0026] Input-output device 44 may be coupled to control circuitry 42. Input-output device 44 may be used to acquire user input from a user, to measure the environment surrounding device 10, to provide output to a user, and / or to provide output to external electronic equipment. Input-output device 44 may include buttons, joysticks, keypads, keyboard keys, touch sensors, tracking pads, displays, touchscreen displays, microphones, speakers, light-emitting diodes for providing visual output to the user, sensors (e.g., force sensors, temperature sensors, magnetic sensors, accelerometers, gyroscopes, and / or other sensors for measuring the orientation, position, and / or movement of device 10, proximity sensors, capacitive touch sensors, strain gauges, gas sensors, pressure sensors, ambient light sensors, and / or other sensors). If desired, input-output device 44 may include one or more cameras, optical sensors (e.g., cameras for capturing images of the user's environment, cameras for performing gaze detection operations by looking at the eyes 46, and / or other cameras).

[0027] Figure 2This is a cross-sectional side view of device 10, illustrating how the lens assembly 20 and display 14 can be supported and / or coupled to a head-mounted support structure, such as the housing 12 of device 10. Housing 12 may have the shape of a frame for a pair of glasses (e.g., device 10 may resemble glasses), the shape of a helmet (e.g., device 10 may form a helmet-mounted display), the shape of goggles, or any other suitable housing shape that allows housing 12 to be worn on a user's head. Sometimes, a configuration may be described herein as an example where housing 12 supports the lens assembly 20 and display 14 in front of the user's eyes (e.g., eyes 46) when the user views the lens assembly 20 and display 14 in orientation 48. Housing 12 may have other desired configurations if desired.

[0028] Although not in order to be clear Figure 2 As shown, however, the lens assembly 20 and / or display 14 may be mounted in an optical module, such as a lens barrel (also referred to herein as a support or support structure). Additionally or alternatively, the device 10 may include two optical modules (e.g., one optical module for each eye in the user's eye 46), wherein each optical module has a display 14 and an associated lens assembly 20.

[0029] The outer shell 12 may be formed of plastic, metal, fiber composite materials such as carbon fiber, wood and other natural materials, glass, other materials and / or combinations of two or more of these materials.

[0030] Input-output device 44 and control circuit 42 ( Figure 1 It can be installed in a housing 12 having a lens assembly 20 and a display 14, and / or a portion of the input-output device 44 and the control circuitry 42 can be coupled to the device 10 via a cable, wireless connection or other signal path.

[0031] The display 14 and optical components of device 10 can be configured to display images for the user's eye 46 using a lightweight and compact arrangement. The lens assembly 20 can be based, for example, on a catadioptric lens (e.g., a lens that uses the reflection and refraction of light).

[0032] Display 14 may include an image source, such as a pixel array 14P (also referred to herein as display layer 14P). Display layer 14P may include a two-dimensional array of pixels P that emit image light (e.g., organic light-emitting diode pixels, light-emitting diode pixels formed from semiconductor dies, liquid crystal display pixels with backlighting, liquid crystal on silicon pixels with front light, etc.). Polarizers (such as linear polarizer 16) may be placed in front of pixel array 14P and / or may be laminated to pixel array 14P to provide polarized image light. Linear polarizer 16 may have a polarization characteristic of... Figure 2The transmission axis is aligned with the Y-axis (for example). Display 14 may also include a waveplate, such as a quarter-wave plate 18 (also referred to herein as a retarder 18), to provide circularly polarized image light. The fast axis 18 of this quarter-wave plate may be aligned at 45 degrees relative to the transmission axis of the linear polarizer 16. The quarter-wave plate 18 may be mounted in front of the polarizer 16 (between the polarizer 16 and the lens assembly 20). If desired, the quarter-wave plate 18 may be attached to the polarizer 16 (and display 14).

[0033] Lens assembly 20 may include lens elements (sometimes simply referred to as lenses), such as lenses 26-1, 26-2, and 26-3. Each lens may be formed of a transparent material, such as plastic, glass, acrylic, polycarbonate, sapphire, etc. Lenses may sometimes be formed using molding (e.g., molded plastic or molded glass). Lens 26-1 may have a surface S1 facing the display 14 and a surface S2 facing the user (e.g., eye 46). Lens 26-2 may have a surface S3 facing the display 14 and a surface S4 facing the user (e.g., eye 46). Lens 26-3 may have a surface S5 facing the display 14 and a surface S6 facing the user (e.g., eye 46).

[0034] Each of surfaces S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, and S6 can be a convex surface (e.g., a spherical convex surface, a cylindrical convex surface, or an aspherical convex surface), a concave surface (e.g., a spherical concave surface, a cylindrical concave surface, or an aspherical concave surface), or a free-form surface comprising both convex and concave portions. A spherically curved surface (e.g., a spherically convex or spherically concave surface) can have a constant radius of curvature throughout its surface. Conversely, an aspherically curved surface (e.g., an aspherically concave or aspherically convex surface) can have a varying radius of curvature throughout its surface. A cylindrical surface can be curved about only one axis, rather than about multiple axes as a spherical surface. In this document, a free-form surface that is primarily convex may still be referred to as a convex surface, and a free-form surface that is primarily concave may still be referred to as a concave surface.

[0035] exist Figure 2 In one exemplary arrangement shown, surface S1 is an aspherical convex surface, surface S2 is an aspherical concave surface, surface S3 is an aspherical convex surface, surface S4 is an aspherical concave surface, surface S5 is an aspherical convex surface, and surface S6 is an aspherical concave surface.

[0036] Optical structures, such as partially reflective coatings, waveplates, reflective polarizers, linear polarizers, antireflective coatings, and / or other optical components, may be incorporated into device 10 (e.g., into lens assembly 20 and / or display 14). These optical structures allow light from display 14 to pass through lens assembly 20 and / or be reflected from surfaces within the lens assembly, thereby providing lens assembly 20 with the desired lens power.

[0037] like Figure 2 As shown, the first coating 38-1 may be formed on the aspherical convex surface S1 of the lens element 26-1. The coating 38-1 may be an anti-reflective coating (ARC), an anti-smudge (AS) coating, or any other desired coating.

[0038] A partial reflector (e.g., a metallic mirror coating or other mirror coating, such as a dielectric multilayer coating having 50% transmittance and 50% reflectance) can be formed on the aspherical convex surface S3 of the lens element 26-2, such as a partial reflector 22. The partial reflector 22 may sometimes be referred to as a beam splitter 22, a half-mirror 22, or a partial reflective layer 22.

[0039] Waveplates, such as waveplate 28, can be attached to the aspherical concave surface S4 of lens element 26-2. Waveplate 28 (sometimes referred to as retarder 28, quarter-wave plate 28, etc.) can be a quarter-wave plate conforming to the surface S4 of lens element 26-2. In some embodiments, retarder 28 can be a coating on the surface S4 of lens element 26-2.

[0040] Figure 2 The retarder 28 in the optical system can have aspherical curvature (e.g., curvature along multiple axes and with different radii of curvature) and a relatively uniform thickness to provide a relatively uniform delay. The delay is equal to the thickness of the retarder multiplied by the birefringence of the retarder material. The thickness of the retarder 28 can be relatively uniform across the entire optical system (lens assembly). As a specific example, the delay provided by the retarder 28 across the entire retarder can be uniform within 20%, 10%, 5%, 3%, 2%, 1%, etc. Similarly, the thickness of the retarder 28 across the entire retarder can be uniform within 20%, 10%, 5%, 3%, 2%, 1%, etc. In other words, the delay variation across the entire retarder does not exceed 20%, 10%, 5%, 3%, 2%, 1%, etc. The thickness variation across the entire retarder does not exceed 20%, 10%, 5%, 3%, 2%, 1%, etc.

[0041] The reflective polarizer 30 can be attached to the retarder 28. The reflective polarizer 30 may have orthogonal reflection and transmission axes. Light polarized parallel to the reflection axis of the reflective polarizer 30 will be reflected by the reflective polarizer 30. Light polarized perpendicular to the reflection axis of the reflective polarizer 30 and therefore parallel to the transmission axis will pass through the reflective polarizer 30.

[0042] Polarizer 34 can be attached to reflective polarizer 30. Polarizer 34 can be a linear polarizer. Polarizer 34 can be referred to as an external blocking linear polarizer 34 or a clearing polarizer 34. Linear polarizer 34 can have a transmission axis aligned with the transmission axis of reflective polarizer 30. Linear polarizer 34 can also have a transmission axis orthogonal to the transmission axis of linear polarizer 16.

[0043] The thickness of the linear polarizer 34 can be uniform within 20%, 10%, 5%, 3%, 2%, 1%, etc., across the entire polarizer. The thickness variation on the linear polarizer can not exceed 20%, 10%, 5%, 3%, 2%, 1%, etc.

[0044] The second coating 38-2 can be formed on the aspherical concave surface S6 of the lens element 26-3. The coating 38-2 can be an anti-reflective coating (ARC), an anti-smudge (AS) coating, or any other desired coating.

[0045] like Figure 2 As shown, one or more adhesive layers may be included in the lens assembly 20 to attach adjacent components within the optical system. Figure 2 In the example, five adhesive layers are included (e.g., adhesive layer 32-1, adhesive layer 32-2, adhesive layer 32-3, adhesive layer 32-4, and adhesive layer 32-5). Each adhesive layer may be an optically clear adhesive (OCA) layer with a transparency greater than 80%, greater than 90%, greater than 95%, greater than 99%, etc.

[0046] Adhesive layer 32-1 is inserted between the partial reflective layer 22 and the lens element 26-1. Adhesive layer 32-2 is inserted between the retarder 28 and the lens element 26-2. Adhesive layer 32-3 is inserted between the reflective polarizer 30 and the retarder 28. Adhesive layer 32-4 is inserted between the linear polarizer 34 and the reflective polarizer 30. Adhesive layer 32-5 is inserted between the lens element 26-3 and the linear polarizer 34.

[0047] Lens assembly 20 can be formed as a single solid lens assembly without any intermediate air gap. For example... Figure 2As shown, each layer in lens assembly 20 is directly attached to the adjacent layer. The example of using an adhesive layer to attach adjacent components in lens assembly 20 is merely illustrative. Generally, layers in lens assembly 20 can be formed as coatings directly on adjacent layers (and thus the intermediate adhesive layer can be omitted). As a specific example, quarter-wave plate 28 can be formed as a coating on lens element 26-2, and adhesive layer 32-2 can be omitted if desired. Reflective polarizer 30 and linear polarizer 34 can also be formed as coatings if desired. However, this is only illustrative. In some embodiments, an air gap can be incorporated into lens assembly 20.

[0048] Linear polarizer 34 has a transmission axis (e.g., parallel to the Y-axis) aligned with the transmission axis of reflective polarizer 30, such that any light from the external environment will be polarized by linear polarizer 34, preventing the light from being reflected by reflective polarizer 30. Light transmitted by linear polarizer 34 and reflective polarizer 30 can pass through retarders 28 and 18 and be absorbed by linear polarizer 16.

[0049] exist Figure 2 The optical system includes a lens element 26-1 (between the partial reflective layer 22 and the display 14), which advantageously removes the refractive contribution of the partial reflective layer 22 and achieves a larger field of view for the given display system. Additionally, in Figure 2 In the optical system, functional optical layers (e.g., partial reflective layer 22, retarder 28, reflective polarizer 30, and linear polarizer 34) are embedded within the optical system (e.g., between lens elements 26-1 and 26-2 or between lens elements 26-2 and 26-3). This protects the optical layers from damage during operation of the device 10.

[0050] exist Figure 2 In the example, a retarder is included on the linear polarizer 16 in display 14. This example is merely illustrative. In alternative arrangements, the retarder may be omitted from display 14 and / or an additional retarder may be included in lens assembly 20. Figure 2 The position of the polarizer 34 between lens elements 26-2 and 26-3 is merely illustrative. In an alternative arrangement, the reflective polarizer may be positioned between lens elements 26-1 and 26-2.

[0051] Figure 2 The examples shown are merely illustrative, and the lens assembly may have other arrangements if desired. For each eye of the viewer, it may include... Figure 2 Lens assemblies of the type shown (e.g., a first lens assembly for the left eye and a second lens assembly for the right eye).

[0052] During operation of device 10, light from display 14 can pass through lens assembly 20 to be viewed by viewer's eye 46. Light can travel along multiple paths through the optical system. In the main path indicated by ray 56, light can leave display 14 in the negative Z direction (e.g., circularly polarized), pass through partial reflective layer 22 in the negative Z direction, be reflected by reflective polarizer 30 (in the positive Z direction), be reflected by partial reflective layer 22 (in the negative Z direction), pass through reflective polarizer 30 (in the negative Z direction), and pass through linear polarizer 34 (in the negative Z direction) to reach viewer's eye 46.

[0053] In the secondary path indicated by ray 58, light may exit display 14 in the negative Z direction (e.g., circularly polarized), pass through partial reflective layer 22 in the negative Z direction, be reflected first from reflective polarizer 30 (in the positive Z direction), be reflected first from partial reflective layer 22 (in the negative Z direction), be reflected second from reflective polarizer 30 (in the positive Z direction), be reflected second from partial reflective layer 22 (in the negative Z direction), pass through reflective polarizer 30 (in the negative Z direction), and pass through linear polarizer 34 (in the negative Z direction) to reach viewer's eye 46. The path associated with ray 58 may sometimes be referred to as a double bounce path because the light is reflected twice from partial reflective layer 22 in the negative Z direction (instead of once as in the main path associated with ray 56). Generally, light following this type of double bounce path is not expected to reach viewer's eye 46 because light following a double bounce path may produce an unwanted ghosting image for the viewer, which detracts from the user experience.

[0054] To reduce ghosting in the image, one or more polarizers may be incorporated into the lens assembly 20 and / or the display 14. Figure 3 An illustrative example of a lens assembly with a polarizer to reduce ghosting is shown.

[0055] like Figure 3As shown, lens assembly 20 may include a polarizer 61 inserted between a first lens 26-1 and a second lens 26-2. Polarizer 61 may include a quarter-wave plate 60 and a half-wave plate 62. The slow axis of the quarter-wave plate 60 may be aligned at 15° (e.g., 15° relative to the Y-axis). The half-wave plate 62 may have a slow axis offset from the slow axis of the quarter-wave plate 60 by a desired angle, such as 60°, 90°, 45°, between 30° and 60°, or another suitable amount. In an exemplary embodiment, the slow axis of the quarter-wave plate 60 may be aligned at 15° relative to the Y-axis, and the slow axis of the half-wave plate 62 may be aligned at 75°. Generally, by combining polarizer 61 (including quarter-wave plate 60 and half-wave plate 62) between the first lens 26-1 and the second lens 26-2, ghosting can be reduced while maintaining high transmittance (e.g., low retardation) through lens assembly 20.

[0056] Lens assembly 20 may also include multiple adhesive layers, such as adhesive layers 64, 68, and 74, between the first lens 26-1 and the second lens 26-2. Adhesive layers 64, 68, and 74 may be formed of pressure-sensitive adhesive (PCA), optically clear adhesive (OCA), and / or any other suitable adhesive. Lens assembly 20 may also include other layers, such as interlayers 70 and 72 between the first lens 26-1 and the second lens 26-2. In an exemplary embodiment, interlayer 72 may be a hard coating, and interlayer 70 may be a dielectric layer, such as a silicon oxide layer. This arrangement is merely exemplary. Generally, any suitable layer may be bonded between the first lens 26-1 and the polarizer 61.

[0057] exist Figure 3 In the example, polarizer 61 is positioned between the first lens 26-1 and the second lens 26-2. If necessary, Figure 3 The stack (including polarizer 61) is replaceable. Figure 2 The layer between the first lens 26-1 and the second lens 26-2 includes a reflector 22 and an adhesive 32-1. Double bounce can be further reduced by replacing the reflector 22 with a polarizer 61 (e.g., because the polarizer 61 can reflect less of the following). Figure 2 (Path 58 of the light). However, if necessary, in addition to Figure 2 In addition to some or all of the layers between the first lens 26-1 and the second lens 26-2, the polarizer 61 may also be included between the first lens 26-1 and the second lens 26-2.

[0058] Although polarizer 61 has been shown as being combined between the first lens 26-1 and the second lens 26-2, this arrangement is merely illustrative. In some embodiments, polarizer 61 may be combined with... Figure 2Between the second lens 26-2 and the third lens 26-3. For example, Figure 3 The stack (including polarizer 61) is replaceable. Figure 2 The layer between the second lens 26-2 and the third lens 26-3 includes a quarter-wave plate 28, a reflective polarizer 30, a linear polarizer 34, and an adhesive layer 32. However, if necessary, in addition to Figure 2 Outside of one or more layers between the second lens 26-2 and the third lens 26-3, the polarizer 61 may be included between the second lens 26-2 and the third lens 26-3. As another example, the polarizer 61 may be located on an outer surface (such as surface S1 of lens 26-1). Figure 2 The polarizer 61 (including a quarter-wave plate 60 and a half-wave plate 62) is incorporated into the lens assembly 20. Generally speaking, by incorporating the polarizer 61 (including a quarter-wave plate 60 and a half-wave plate 62) into the lens assembly 20, ghosting can be reduced while maintaining high transmittance (e.g., low retardation) through the lens assembly 20.

[0059] In addition to incorporating polarizer 61 into lens assembly 20, or instead of incorporating polarizer 61 into lens assembly 20, polarizers and / or other optical components may be incorporated into display 14. Figure 4 An illustrative example is shown below.

[0060] like Figure 4 As shown, the display 14 may include a display layer 14P for the pixel P and an encapsulation layer 90 on the display layer 14P. The encapsulation layer 90 may be formed of a polymer, glass, sapphire, or another suitable material, and may cover the display layer 14P.

[0061] A polarizer 77, comprising a quarter-wave plate 76 and a half-wave plate 78, may overlap with a display layer 14P in the display 14. The slow axis of the quarter-wave plate 76 may be aligned at -15° (e.g., -15° relative to the Y-axis). The half-wave plate 78 may have a slow axis offset from the slow axis of the quarter-wave plate 76 by a desired angle, such as 60°, 90°, 45°, between 30° and 60°, or another suitable amount. In an exemplary example, the slow axis of the quarter-wave plate 76 may be aligned at -15° relative to the Y-axis, and the slow axis of the half-wave plate 78 may be aligned at -75°.

[0062] Generally, by combining a polarizer 77 (including a quarter-wave plate 76 and a half-wave plate 78) that overlaps with the display layer 14P, ghosting can be reduced while maintaining high transmittance (e.g., low retardation) through the lens assembly 20. For example, the polarizer 77 in the display 14 and the polarizer 61 in the lens assembly 20 ( Figure 3 The polarization axes of polarizers 77 and 61 can be aligned (e.g., polarizer 77 can have the opposite polarity to polarizer 61) to provide high transmittance while minimizing ghosting.

[0063] The display 14 may also include multiple adhesive layers, such as adhesive layers 81, 83, and 87, on and between the polarizer 77. Adhesive layers 81, 83, and 87 may be formed of pressure-sensitive adhesive (PCA), optically transparent adhesive (OCA), and / or any other suitable adhesive.

[0064] In addition to incorporating polarizer 77 into display 14, or instead of incorporating polarizer 77 into display 14, geometric phase lens (GPL) 84 can overlap with display layer 14P in display 14. GPL 84 can redirect light from display layer 14P to change the angle of emitted light. The light redirection layer can redirect light by different amounts in different parts of the display to take into account the focusing characteristics of lens assembly 20 and optimize device performance.

[0065] For example, Figure 2 The light at the bottom edge of the display can be redirected downwards (e.g., at an angle of 45° in the -Y and -Z quadrants or another suitable angle). In other words, the main ray angle of the light leaving the GPL 84 at that part of the display can be at that angle. Figure 2 The light at the top edge of the display can be redirected upwards (e.g., at an angle of 45° in the +Y and -Z quadrants or another suitable angle). In other words, the principal ray angle of the light leaving the GPL 84 at that part of the display can be at that angle. Figure 2 The GPL 84 redirects light at the bottom and top of the display layer 14P, which can be redirected by the lens assembly 20 to the user of the device 10. Generally, the GPL 84 can redirect light from the display layer 14P in any suitable direction to increase the amount of light reaching the user of the device 10. At the same time, the light at the center of the display may not be substantially redirected by the GPL 84.

[0066] In summary, the GPL 84 can selectively redirect light from the display to take into account the focusing characteristics of the lens assembly 20 included in the electronic device. The degree and direction of light redirection vary depending on the location across the light redirection layer. For example, light redirection may be minimized (e.g., 0 degrees) at the center of the display. As the distance from the center of the display increases, light can be redirected away from the center of the display by a greater amount.

[0067] A GPL 84 can be a diffractive planar lens comprising liquid crystal. To form a GPL 84, a planar liquid crystal film can be formed on a transparent substrate (e.g., glass, plastic, etc.). The liquid crystal film can include a three-dimensional pattern of liquid crystal. The liquid crystal can manipulate the polarization of a light beam passing through it, which modulates the geometric phase of the beam. The geometric phase can be modulated in a spatially varying manner to provide a desired light redirection effect. A geometric phase lens can redirect light using polarization-dependent diffraction and can therefore be considered a diffractive lens.

[0068] Figure 5 This is a top view of an illustrative geometric phase lens 84. (See image.) Figure 5 As shown, the geometric phase lens 84 may include liquid crystals 162 with different orientations. Multiple liquid crystal layers may be present in the geometric phase lens (e.g., stacked along the Z-axis). The liquid crystal can be formed on a transparent substrate having an intermediate alignment film. An additional transparent substrate may optionally be formed on the liquid crystal film in the geometric phase lens.

[0069] The amount of light redirected by the geometric phase lens 84 can depend on the pitch (e.g., spacing) between identically aligned liquid crystals. Figure 5 As shown, concentric circles of liquid crystals with the same or similar orientation can be included in a geometric phase lens. The liquid crystal elements can have a larger pitch at the center of the phase lens (where light redirection is not required) and a smaller pitch toward the edge of the phase lens (where light redirection is required).

[0070] Instead of redirecting light based on its position on the geometric phase lens, or in addition to redirecting light based on its position on the geometric phase lens, the geometric phase lens can redirect light based on the polarity of the light. Figure 6A and Figure 6B An illustrative example is shown below.

[0071] Figure 6A and Figure 6B This is a side view of an exemplary geometric phase lens, showing how a geometric phase lens can redirect light. Figure 6A In the example, the geometric phase lens 84 can receive right-hand circularly polarized (RCP) incident light. This type of light can be focused to a focal point by the geometric phase lens (e.g., f>0). The output light can be left-hand circularly polarized (LCP). This light can be referred to as a +1 order image.

[0072] In contrast, when a geometric phase lens receives left-handed circularly polarized (LCP) incident light, such as in Figure 6B In this process, light can be diffused by a geometric phase lens (e.g., f < 0). The output light can be right-handed circularly polarized (RCP). This light can be referred to as a -1st order image.

[0073] Therefore, if all the incident light received by the geometric phase lens is left-handed circularly polarized, the light will be diffused (as in...). Figure 6B (In the middle). If all the incident light received by the geometric phase lens is right-handed circularly polarized, the light will be focused (as in...). Figure 6A (In the middle). If the incident light received by the geometric phase lens is linearly polarized or unpolarized, approximately half of the light will be diffused (as in...). Figure 6B (in the middle), and about half of the light will be focused (as in...) Figure 6A (In other words, a geometric phase lens will produce two separate images (e.g., a +1 order image and a -1 order image). Figure 6A and Figure 6B The example in which the RCP light is focused and the LCP light is diffused is merely illustrative. The opposite arrangement can be used instead, in which the LCP light is focused and the RCP light is diffused.

[0074] The example of using liquid crystal to form a geometric phase lens is merely illustrative. In another possible implementation, the geometric phase lens can be formed using a metasurface. The metasurface can include shaped nanostructures that modify the phase of incident light. The nanostructures can have thicknesses of less than 200 nanometers, less than 100 nanometers, less than 50 nanometers, less than 20 nanometers, less than 10 nanometers, etc. The nanostructures can have a longest dimension (e.g., length) of less than 1 micrometer, less than 2 micrometers, less than 0.5 micrometers, less than 0.1 micrometers, etc.

[0075] The geometric phase lens described herein can have the advantage of being flat (e.g., having a planar upper and lower surface parallel to the surface of the display panel) and can be very thin. Therefore, the geometric phase lens adds minimal volume and weight to the device. The thickness of the active layer (e.g., a liquid crystal layer) in the geometric phase lens can be less than 20 micrometers, less than 10 micrometers, less than 5 micrometers, less than 3 micrometers, less than 1 micrometer, between 1 and 10 micrometers, greater than 1 micrometer, etc. The total thickness of the geometric phase lens (including a transparent substrate, one or more alignment layers, optional additional substrates, etc.) can be less than 10 micrometers, less than 20 micrometers, less than 50 micrometers, less than 100 micrometers, less than 500 micrometers, between 10 and 100 micrometers, greater than 10 micrometers, greater than 30 micrometers, etc.

[0076] return Figure 4The GPL 84 can overlap with the display layer 14P and be interposed between the display layer 14P and the polarizer 77. The GPL 84 can be attached to the encapsulation layer 90 using adhesive 91, which can be PSA, OCA, or other suitable adhesive. The GPL 84 can be coupled to the polarizer 77 using adhesive 87 without any air gap. Alternatively, the polarizer 77 can be applied directly to the GPL 84 (e.g., without adhesive), or the GPL 84 can be separated from the polarizer by an air gap.

[0077] although Figure 4 The example shown illustrates a GPL 84 inserted between the polarizer 77 and the display layer 14P, but this arrangement is merely illustrative. In some embodiments, the polarizer 77 may be inserted between the GPL 84 and the display layer 14P.

[0078] In display 14 Figure 4 The stack can be replaced Figure 2 The display 14 is a stack of layers including a linear polarizer 16 and / or a quarter-wave plate 18. However, this is only illustrative. In some embodiments, polarizers 77 and / or GPL 84 may be integrated with linear polarizers 16 and / or quarter-wave plates 18 in the display 14.

[0079] Polarizers 61 and 77 can form a strain-insensitive retarder. Specifically, when stretched during three-dimensional forming (e.g., when applied to a three-dimensional substrate such as a lens), the retarder can have a uniform ellipticity (e.g., as an example, an ellipticity with at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 99% uniformity). The retarder formed by polarizers 61 and 77 can have negative dispersion, thereby allowing operation across a wide wavelength range. In addition to combining polarizers 61 and 77, it may be desirable to include other optical layers. Figure 7 An illustrative example is shown below.

[0080] like Figure 7 As shown, the display 14 may include a polarizer 77 comprising a quarter-wave plate 76 and a half-wave plate 78, and the lens assembly 20 may include a polarizer 61 comprising a quarter-wave plate 60 and a half-wave plate 62. The polarizer 61 may be formed between two lenses in the lens assembly 20, such as... Figure 3 As shown, and polarizer 77 can overlap with the display layer, such as Figure 4 As shown.

[0081] Polarizers 61 and / or 77 can form retarders. Specifically, as an example, quarter-wave plates 60 and / or 76 may have a retardation of 140 nm, greater than 100 nm, between 125 nm and 175 nm, or less than 200 nm. As an example, half-wave plates 62 and / or 78 may have a retardation of 280 nm, greater than 200 nm, between 250 nm and 300 nm, or less than 350 nm. Due to the use of polarizers 61 and 77 with aligned polarization axes (e.g., opposite polarizations), light passing through display 14 and lens assembly 20 can exhibit a near-zero ellipticity decrease (e.g., less than 10%, less than 5%, or less than 1%, as an example), while being delayed by polarizers 61 and 77.

[0082] In addition to polarizer 61, lens assembly 20 may also include a positive C-plate 80 between polarizer 61 and display 14. Similarly, display 14 may include a positive C-plate 82 between polarizer 77 and lens assembly 20. Positive C-plates 80 and 82 can compensate for angular delay offset (e.g., angular offset caused by polarizers 77 and 61). In other words, without C-plates 80 and 82, off-axis light passing through polarizers 61 and 77 may have off-axis polarization compared to on-axis light, thereby reducing the amount of light escaping from display 14 and lens assembly 20. The combination of C-plates 80 and 82 increases the amount of light escaping from display 14 and lens assembly 20.

[0083] Display 14 may also include a linear polarizer 89, a negative B-plate 86, and a positive B-plate 85. As an example, the linear polarizer 89 may have a transmission axis aligned with the Y-axis. Both the negative B-plate 86 and the positive B-plate 85 may have a slow axis of 90° (e.g., relative to the transmission axis of the linear polarizer 89) or another suitable angle. Together, the linear polarizer 89, the negative B-plate 86, and the positive B-plate 85 can polarize light before it reaches the polarizer (delay unit) 77.

[0084] A semi-mirror 88 may be incorporated into the lens assembly 20 between the C-plate 80 and the display 14. In some embodiments, the semi-mirror 88 may be applied to surface S1 of the first lens 26-1. Figure 2 However, this is merely illustrative. Generally, a half-mirror 88 can be applied to any suitable surface of the lens assembly 20. The half-mirror 88 can be, for example, a metallic mirror coating or other mirror coating, such as a dielectric multilayer coating having 50% transmittance and 50% reflectance (or another similar transmittance and reflectance separation). The half-mirror 88 may sometimes be referred to as a partial reflector 88.

[0085] In addition to incorporating polarizers 61 and 77 and / or other optical films in the lens assembly 20 and display 14, or instead of incorporating polarizers 61 and 77 and / or other optical films in the lens assembly 20 and display 14, the lens assembly and display 14 may be mounted in an optical module coated with a low visible light reflectance and a low infrared reflectance coating. Figure 8 An illustrative example is shown below.

[0086] like Figure 8 As shown, the optical module 140 may have a support structure for the display 14 and the lens assembly 20, such as a lens barrel 132 (also referred to herein as support 132 or support structure 132). During operation, the lens 20 can be used to provide an image along the optical axis 160 from the pixel P of the display 14 to the eye socket 13. When the user's eye is in the eye socket 13, the user can view the image from the display 14.

[0087] During operation of device 10, it may be desirable to collect information about the user's eyes located in eye socket 13. One or more cameras (such as...) Figure 8 A camera 142 and one or more light sources (such as light-emitting diodes 144) may be located in an internal region 162 of the optical module 140 between the lens assembly 20 and the display 14. The light-emitting diodes 144 may extend in a partial or complete ring around the periphery of the display 14 (e.g., the light-emitting diodes 144 may be mounted on a ring-shaped flexible circuit that extends around the optical axis 160 in a rectangular ring shape, an elliptical ring shape, and / or other ring shapes). There may be one, at least two, at least four, at least six, fewer than 20, fewer than 10, or other suitable number of light-emitting diodes 144 (and / or other light sources, such as lasers).

[0088] Light from LED 144 can be emitted from the eye socket (such as...) Figure 8The light emitted by the LED 144 can illuminate the user's eyes within the eye socket 13. The light provided by the LED 144 can include visible and / or infrared light. The camera 142 can be sensitive at the corresponding light wavelength. In an exemplary configuration, one or more LEDs of the LED 144 can emit light at a first wavelength (e.g., 850 nm, at least 740 nm, at least 830 nm, less than 900 nm, less than 1050 nm, and / or other suitable infrared wavelengths), and one or more LEDs of the LED 144 can emit light at a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength (e.g., 940 nm, at least 830 nm, at least 850 nm, at least 900 nm, less than 1000 nm, less than 1050 nm, at least 740 nm, and / or other suitable infrared wavelengths). The light at the second wavelength can be used as gaze-tracking illumination. The light at the first wavelength can illuminate the user's eyes during iris scanning operations (e.g., when the device 10 is started). If desired, the LED 144 can provide other types of infrared and / or visible light illumination. The use of illumination at the first and second wavelengths is exemplary.

[0089] Using infrared light at a first wavelength in the illuminated eye socket 13 during iris scanning helps ensure that the user's eye is adequately illuminated to capture a clear iris image (eye image) during image capture operation using camera 142 (which is sensitive to light at the first wavelength). In an exemplary configuration, iris scanning illumination is provided during the initial startup operation of device 10 (e.g., enabling camera 142 to capture eye images, such as iris scans or other biometric identification information). This allows device 10 to authenticate the user before the user is authorized to use device 10 and / or access information associated with the user's account. To ensure satisfactory contrast during iris scanning, the light at the first wavelength can be relatively close to the edge of the visible spectrum at 740 nm (e.g., 850 nm).

[0090] Some users may be able to faintly observe the first wavelength of light. The second wavelength of light may be completely invisible to all users, thus allowing light at the second wavelength to be used continuously or nearly continuously for gaze tracking operations (e.g., after the operation is initiated). During gaze tracking operations, the light-emitting diode 144 may be used to provide gaze tracking illumination to the eye socket 13, while the camera 142 captures eye images, such as pupil images and / or eye images containing direct reflections (sometimes referred to as flashes) from the light-emitting diodes of the user's eye.

[0091] The support structure for the optical module 140 can be formed by one or more support members. For example, one or more annular members can form the sides of the support member 132 surrounding the lens assembly 20. If desired, the support structure of the module 40 (e.g., the lens barrel 132) can have annular members that help support the display 14 (see, for example, annular display bezel 132B, which can be attached to other parts of the support member 132 using adhesives, fasteners (such as screws), solders, etc.). An annular cover can be used to support electronic components such as the camera 142 and the light-emitting diode 144. For example, the cover ring 132R can have openings for receiving the respective electronic components. As an example, the light-emitting diode 144 can be mounted on a printed circuit board. The cover ring 132R can have through-hole openings arranged around some or all of the periphery of the cover ring 132R. Each through-hole opening can receive a respective optical component (e.g., a respective light-emitting diode 144), and these optical components can be coupled to the cover ring using an adhesive (e.g., an adhesive with low visible light reflectivity and sufficient infrared transmittance to allow light emitted from each light-emitting diode 144 to pass through).

[0092] During operation of device 10, display 14 may emit stray visible light, and / or stray visible light from display 14 may be reflected from lens assembly 20 (e.g., a partial mirror on the innermost surface of lens assembly 20) onto the inner surface of support 132. Illumination from light-emitting diode 144 may also potentially impact support 132 directly or after reflection from lens assembly 20. Stray visible light from display 14 may interfere with a user's ability to satisfactorily view images from display 14. Stray eye illumination (e.g., stray infrared illumination from light-emitting diode 144 at a first and / or second wavelength) may interfere with the ability of camera 142 to capture satisfactory eye images (e.g., for biometric authentication and / or gaze tracking).

[0093] To suppress unwanted visible and infrared stray light in the interior 160, one or more surfaces of the support 132 in the interior 162 may be provided with a low-reflectivity coating (e.g., a coating having a reflectivity of less than 1%, less than 2%, less than 5%, between 1% and 6%, or another suitable reflectivity from 380 nm to 1000 nm or other suitable wavelengths). The coating may be formed by anodizing the support 132, electrodepositing a light-absorbing material into anodized holes on the support 132, etching the support 132 to create surface roughness on the holes, and / or otherwise treating the surfaces of the support 132 to form a coating exhibiting low visible and low infrared reflectivity. Any or all surfaces of the support structure in the optical module 140 that may be potentially exposed to stray visible and / or infrared light may be provided with a low-reflectivity coating (e.g., the display bezel 132R, the LED cover ring 132R, and / or other portions of the support 132 may be provided with a low-reflectivity coating). This can be achieved by forming the frame 132R, ring 132R and / or other parts of the support 132 by aluminum components or other structures, which may be provided with coatings with low visible light reflectivity and low infrared reflectivity (e.g., low reflectivity anodized coating).

[0094] exist Figure 8 In an exemplary configuration, the support member 132 has a cylindrical shape, characterized by a longitudinal axis aligned with and / or parallel to the optical axis 160. The wall of the support member 132 extends in a ring around the axis 160 and may have one or more steps (sometimes referred to as a shelf structure), characterized by step edges (shelf edges) E. The step edges E may be formed in... Figure 8 The inner surface of the horizontally extending support 132 (having a surface normal perpendicular to the optical axis 160) and Figure 8 The inner surfaces of the vertically extending support 132 (with surface normals parallel to the optical axis 160) intersect at this location. Anodizing tends to produce surface holes extending parallel to the surface normals of the anodized surface. Therefore, if edge E is sharp, there is a risk that edge E will not be well covered by the anodized coating. Figure 9 As shown, edge E can be provided with a circular (curved) cross-sectional profile. As an example, each shelf edge E can be provided with a curved (circular) cross-sectional shape with a radius R, where the value of R is 0.5 mm, 0.3 mm to 2 mm, at least 0.1 mm, at least 0.25 mm, less than 3 mm, less than 1.5 mm, less than 0.8 mm, or other suitable values. Using a circular edge E helps ensure that the low-reflectivity coating 132C will extend uniformly across edge E, and thereby helps ensure that edge E will exhibit low reflectivity.

[0095] The thickness of coating 132C can be 30 micrometers, at least 1 micrometer, at least 10 micrometers, at least 20 micrometers, at least 40 micrometers, at least 200 micrometers, less than 1000 micrometers, less than 300 micrometers, less than 120 micrometers, less than 75 micrometers, or less than 40 micrometers (as examples). Coating 132C can include black paint or ink (e.g., a polymer containing black colorants such as pigments and / or dyes), can include a carbon nanotube-based coating, can include a black anodized layer, can include an electroplating material, and can include a roughened surface formed by sandblasting, walnut blasting, chemical etching, machining (e.g., grinding, sanding, etc.), laser exposure, and / or other suitable surface roughening techniques. Low-reflectivity materials (e.g., chemically deposited layers, polymer layers including black colorants, etc.) can be deposited as part of the anodizing process and / or can be applied separately. If desired, multiple reflectivity reduction treatments can be applied to the support 132.

[0096] Generally, the support 132 can be formed from any suitable non-reflective structure (e.g., a polymer or metal with a black coating or other low-reflectivity black polymer material, such as a polymer containing black pigments and / or black dyes). If desired, the support 132 or other coated structure can be formed from aluminum-magnesium, aluminum-magnesium, aluminum-zirconium, magnesium, plastic, steel, stainless steel, carbon fiber, composite materials, etc. If the lens barrel 132 or other coated structure includes magnesium, the magnesium can be converted and coated or finished (e.g., using micro-arc oxidation (MAO)) to prevent corrosion, if desired. A black coating or other low-reflectivity black polymer material can then be applied to the coated / finished magnesium.

[0097] Coating 138C may, as an example, have a reflectance of less than 4%, less than 3.5%, or less than 5% at visible wavelengths (e.g., 380 nm–760 nm), and, as an example, a reflectance of less than 4%, less than 5%, or less than 3.5% at infrared wavelengths (e.g., 760 nm–1400 nm). However, these reflectance values ​​are merely illustrative. For example, coating 138C may have a reflectance of 1.5% or less across visible wavelengths, less than 1% across visible wavelengths, 3% or less across visible wavelengths, or any other desired reflectance. Similarly, coating 138C may have a reflectance of 1% or less across infrared wavelengths, 1.5% or less across infrared wavelengths, 3% or less across infrared wavelengths, or any other desired reflectance. In this way, coating 132C can be formed on support 132 as a low visible light reflectance and low infrared reflectance coating.

[0098] Additionally or alternatively, coating 132C may exhibit both low specular reflection and low diffuse reflection. For example, coating 132C may exhibit specular reflection of less than 0.2%, less than 0.1%, less than 0.05%, less than 0.03%, or less than 0.015%. As an example, coating 132C may exhibit diffuse reflection of less than 3.5%, less than 1%, less than 0.75%, or less than 0.5%. In this way, coating 132C may have low reflectivity across visible and infrared wavelengths and may exhibit both low specular reflection and diffuse reflection.

[0099] Through optical module 140 ( Figure 8 Coating 132C is applied to one or more surfaces of the display 14 to increase the contrast of the display 14 when viewed from the eye socket 13. Specifically, stray light from the display 14 and / or other optical components can be absorbed instead of reflected to the eye socket 13, thereby increasing the contrast of the display 14.

[0100] although Figure 9 The coating 132C on the support 132 is shown, but this is only illustrative. The coating 132C can be formed on any desired surface of the head-mounted device 10. Furthermore, if the electronic device 10 is another device, such as a laptop computer, a computer monitor containing an embedded computer, a tablet computer, a cellular phone, a media player, or other handheld or portable electronic devices, smaller devices (such as wristwatches), hanging devices, headphones or handset devices, devices embedded in glasses or other equipment worn on a user's head, or other wearable or micro-devices, televisions, computer monitors without embedded computers, gaming devices, navigation devices, embedded systems (such as systems with displays installed in kiosks or automobiles), equipment implementing two or more functions of these devices, accessories (e.g., earbuds, remote controls, wireless touchpads, etc.), or other electronic equipment, the coating can be formed on the housing or another support structure of the electronic device 10. Specifically, the electronic device 10 may have internal components within a housing that separates the interior from the exterior of the electronic device 10.

[0101] The arrangement of lens elements described herein is merely illustrative. One or more lens elements may be omitted if desired. For example, an asymmetric catadioptric lens module may include only two lens elements or only one lens element. All lens elements in an asymmetric catadioptric lens module may be asymmetric, or at least, but not all, lens elements in an asymmetric catadioptric lens module may be asymmetric.

[0102] According to an embodiment, an electronic device includes a display configured to generate light and a lens assembly for receiving light from the display. The display includes a display layer, a first quarter-wave plate overlapping the display layer, and a first half-wave plate interposed between the first quarter-wave plate and the display layer. The lens assembly includes a first lens, a second lens, a second half-wave plate interposed between the first lens and the second lens, and a second quarter-wave plate interposed between the second half-wave plate and the first lens.

[0103] According to another embodiment, the first lens is optionally inserted between the second lens and the display.

[0104] According to another embodiment, the lens assembly optionally further includes a third lens, wherein the first and second lenses are inserted between the third lens and the display; a third quarter-wave plate inserted between the second and third lenses; a linear polarizer inserted between the third quarter-wave plate and the third lens; and a reflective polarizer inserted between the third quarter-wave plate and the linear polarizer.

[0105] According to another embodiment, the display optionally includes a first polarization axis, and the lens assembly includes a second polarization axis aligned with the first polarization axis.

[0106] According to another embodiment, the display optionally also includes a geometric phase lens interposed between the display layer and the first quarter-wave plate.

[0107] According to another embodiment, the geometric phase lens optionally has a center and an edge, the geometric phase lens being configured to redirect light from the display by a first amount at the center of the geometric phase lens, and the geometric phase lens being configured to redirect light from the display by a second amount different from the first amount at the edge of the geometric phase lens.

[0108] According to another embodiment, the geometric phase lens optionally includes a liquid crystal film.

[0109] According to another embodiment, the electronic device optionally also includes a support, in which the display and lens assembly are mounted, and the support includes a coating with low visible light reflectivity and low infrared reflectivity.

[0110] According to another embodiment, the low visible light reflectance and low infrared reflectance coating is optionally configured to reflect less than 4% of light across visible and infrared wavelengths.

[0111] According to another embodiment, the low visible light reflectance and low infrared reflectance coating is optionally configured to exhibit less than 0.2% specular reflection and less than 3.5% diffuse reflection.

[0112] According to another embodiment, the low visible light reflectance and low infrared reflectance coating is optionally configured to exhibit less than 0.05% specular reflection and less than 0.75% diffuse reflection.

[0113] According to an embodiment, an optical module for a head-mounted device includes a support member comprising a coating with low visible light reflectivity and low infrared reflectivity; a display mounted in the support member and configured to generate light; and a lens assembly receiving light from the display. The display includes a display layer, a half-wave plate overlapping the display layer, and a quarter-wave plate overlapping the display layer.

[0114] According to another embodiment, the low visible light reflectance and low infrared reflectance coating is optionally configured to reflect less than 4% of light across visible and infrared wavelengths.

[0115] According to another embodiment, the low visible light reflectance and low infrared reflectance coating is optionally configured to exhibit less than 0.2% specular reflection and less than 3.5% diffuse reflection.

[0116] According to another embodiment, the display may optionally also include a geometric phase lens that overlaps with the display layer.

[0117] According to another embodiment, the half-wave plate is a first half-wave plate, the quarter-wave plate is a first quarter-wave plate, and the lens assembly optionally includes a first lens, a second lens, a second half-wave plate between the first lens and the second lens, and a second quarter-wave plate between the first lens and the second lens.

[0118] According to another embodiment, the first lens is optionally inserted between the display and the second lens, and the second quarter-wave plate is inserted between the second half-wave plate and the first lens.

[0119] According to another embodiment, the lens assembly optionally further includes a first positive C-plate on the second quarter-wave plate, and the display optionally includes a second positive C-plate on the first quarter-wave plate, a positive B-plate between the first half-wave plate and the display, and a negative B-plate between the positive B-plate and the display.

[0120] According to an embodiment, an optical module for a head-mounted device includes a support member comprising a coating with low visible light reflectivity and low infrared reflectivity; a display mounted in the support member and configured to generate light; and a lens assembly receiving light from the display. The display includes a display layer, a first half-wave plate overlapping the display layer, and a first quarter-wave plate overlapping the display layer. The lens assembly includes a first lens; a second lens, wherein the first lens is interposed between a second lens and the display; a third lens, wherein the second lens is interposed between the third lens and the first lens; a second half-wave plate between the first lens and the second lens; and a second quarter-wave plate between the first lens and the second lens.

[0121] According to another embodiment, the display optionally includes a first polarization axis, and the lens assembly includes a second polarization axis aligned with the first polarization axis.

[0122] The foregoing is merely illustrative and various modifications can be made to the described implementation scheme. The foregoing implementation scheme can be implemented individually or in any combination.

Claims

1. An electronic device, the electronic device comprising: A display configured to generate light, wherein the display includes a display layer, a first quarter-wave plate overlapping the display layer, and a first half-wave plate interposed between the first quarter-wave plate and the display layer; as well as Lens assembly, the lens assembly receiving light from the display, wherein the lens assembly includes: First lens, Second lens, The second half-wave plate inserted between the first lens and the second lens, and A second quarter-wave plate is inserted between the second half-wave plate and the first lens.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first lens is inserted between the second lens and the display.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the lens assembly further comprises: A third lens, wherein the first lens and the second lens are inserted between the third lens and the display; A third quarter-wave plate is inserted between the second lens and the third lens; A linear polarizer, which is inserted between the third quarter-wave plate and the third lens; as well as A reflective polarizer is inserted between the third quarter-wave plate and the linear polarizer.

4. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the display includes a first polarization axis, and the lens assembly includes a second polarization axis aligned with the first polarization axis.

5. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the display further comprises: A geometric phase lens is inserted between the display layer and the first quarter-wave plate.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the geometric phase lens has a center and an edge, the geometric phase lens is configured to redirect the light from the display at the center of the geometric phase lens by a first amount, and the geometric phase lens is configured to redirect the light from the display at the edge of the geometric phase lens by a second amount different from the first amount.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the geometric phase lens comprises a liquid crystal film.

8. The electronic device according to claim 5, further comprising: A support member in which the display and the lens assembly are mounted, and the support member includes a coating with low visible light reflectivity and low infrared reflectivity.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the low visible light reflectivity and low infrared reflectivity coating is configured to reflect less than 4% of light across visible and infrared wavelengths.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the low visible light reflectance and low infrared reflectance coating is configured to exhibit less than 0.2% specular reflection and less than 3.5% diffuse reflection.

11. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the low visible light reflectance and low infrared reflectance coating is configured to exhibit less than 0.05% specular reflection and less than 0.75% diffuse reflection.

12. An optical module for a head-mounted device, the optical module comprising: The support member includes a coating with low visible light reflectivity and low infrared reflectivity; A display, which is mounted in the support and configured to generate light, wherein the display includes a display layer, a half-wave plate overlapping the display layer, and a quarter-wave plate overlapping the display layer. as well as A lens assembly that receives the light from the display.

13. The optical module of claim 12, wherein the low visible light reflectivity and low infrared reflectivity coating is configured to reflect less than 4% of light across visible and infrared wavelengths.

14. The optical module of claim 13, wherein the low visible light reflectance and low infrared reflectance coating is configured to exhibit less than 0.2% specular reflection and less than 3.5% diffuse reflection.

15. The optical module of claim 12, wherein the display further comprises: A geometric phase lens, which overlaps with the display layer.

16. The optical module of claim 15, wherein the half-wave plate is a first half-wave plate, the quarter-wave plate is a first quarter-wave plate, and the lens assembly comprises: First lens; Second lens; A second half-wave plate between the first lens and the second lens; as well as A second quarter-wave plate between the first lens and the second lens.

17. The optical module of claim 16, wherein the first lens is inserted between the display and the second lens, and the second quarter-wave plate is inserted between the second half-wave plate and the first lens.

18. The optical module of claim 17, wherein the lens assembly further comprises a first positive C-plate on the second quarter-wave plate, and the display further comprises: The second positive C plate on the first quarter-wave plate; The positive B-plate is located between the first half-wave plate and the display. as well as The negative B-plate is located between the positive B-plate and the display.

19. An optical module for a head-mounted device, the optical module comprising: The support member includes a coating with low visible light reflectivity and low infrared reflectivity; A display, which is mounted in the support and configured to generate light, wherein the display includes a display layer, a first half-wave plate overlapping the display layer, and a first quarter-wave plate overlapping the display layer; as well as Lens assembly, the lens assembly receiving light from the display, wherein the lens assembly includes: First lens, A second lens, wherein the first lens is inserted between the second lens and the display. A third lens, wherein the second lens is inserted between the third lens and the first lens. The second half-wave plate between the first lens and the second lens, and A second quarter-wave plate between the first lens and the second lens.

20. The optical module of claim 19, wherein the display includes a first polarization axis, and the lens assembly includes a second polarization axis aligned with the first polarization axis.

Images