Optics of AR/VR using liquid crystals

Abstract

Head-mounted displays (HMDs) for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are expected to have a wide field of view, high resolution, no artifacts, vergence accommodation conflict (VAC) management, and compactness. To meet these requirements, liquid crystal technologies have attracted considerable attention as displays and optical elements. In this paper, liquid crystal technologies for AR/VR HMDs are reviewed. Short-range lurch control in-plane switching (SLC-IPS) LCDs with fast response properties decrease the motion blur artifact. A liquid crystal lens with varifocal properties can solve the VAC problem. Pancharatnam–Berry phase optical elements contribute to high resolution, the management of VAC, and compactness.