In this paper we propose an optical see-through multi-plane display with reverse-mode polymer-stabilized liquid crystal (PSLC). Our design solves the problem of accommodation-vergence conflict with correct focus cues. In the reverse mode PSLC system, power consumption could be reduced to ~1/(N-1) of that in a normal mode system if N planes are displayed. The PSLC films fabricated in our experiment exhibit a low saturation voltage ~20 V_rms, a high transparent-state transmittance (92%), and a fast switching time within 2 ms and polarization insensitivity. A proof-of-concept two-plane color display prototype and a four-plane monocolor display prototype were implemented.

Electrically tunable liquid crystal microlenses have attracted strong research attention due to their advantages of tunable focusing, voltage actuation, low power consumption, simple fabrication, compact structure, and good stability. They are expected to be essential optical devices with widespread applications. However, the slow response time of nematic liquid crystal (LC) microlenses has been a significant technical barrier to practical applications and commercialization. LC/polymer composites, consisting of LC and monomer, are an important extension of pure LC systems, which offer more flexibility and much richer functionality than LC alone. Due to the anchoring effect of a polymer network, microlenses, based on LC/polymer composites, have relatively fast response time in comparison with pure nematic LC microlenses. In addition, polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystal (PS-BPLC) based on Kerr effect is emerging as a promising candidate for new photonics application. The major attractions of PS-BPLC are submillisecond response time and no need for surface alignment layer. In this paper, we review two types of fast-response microlenses based on LC/polymer composites: polymer dispersed/stabilized nematic LC and polymer-stabilized blue phase LC. Their basic operating principles are introduced and recent progress is reviewed by examples from recent literature. Finally, the major challenges and future perspectives are discussed.

We report a non-interferometric single-exposure technique for fabricating Pancharatnam-Berry (PB) devices with arbitrary wavefronts, via photo-patterning an azo-dye doped LC with a two-dimensional linear polarization field, whose local polarization direction can be controlled by a spatial light modulator (SLM) on the pixel level. Upon one exposure, different local LC orientations are generated simultaneously. The non-interferometric approach is insensitive to environmental disturbance, and moreover, the dynamic phase mask on the SLM can be conveniently reconfigured by a computer. Our fabricated PB gratings, q-plates and hologram exhibit good optical performances. Such a simple yet reconfigurable fabrication method enables new PB devices to be developed, and it would open a new gateway towards widespread applications.

To address the accommodation-convergence conflict problem in conventional augmented reality (AR) head-mounted displays, we propose a compact multi-plane display design based on cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) reflective films and a polarization switch. Because of the polarization selectivity of CLC films, circularly-polarized light with different handedness is reflected by different CLC films, resulting in different optical path lengths and different image depths by the lens. A flicker-free dual-plane prototype with correct focus cues and relatively low operating voltage has been implemented. Moreover, a multi-plane AR display scheme with more than 2 depth planes is proposed by stacking multiple CLC films and polarization switches together.