2D/3D convertible holographic waveguide-type AR system using the liquid-crystalline microlens array with the electro-switching polarizer

The improvement of holographic waveguide-type two-dimensional/three-dimensional (2D/3D) convertible augmentedreality (AR) display system using the liquid-crystalline polymer microlens array (LCP-MA) with electro-switching polarizer is proposed. The LCP-MA has the properties such as a small focal ratio, high fill factor, low driving voltage, and fast switching speed, which utilizes a well-aligned reactive mesogen on the imprinted reverse shape of the lens and a polarization switching layer. In the case of the holographic waveguide, two holographic optical elements (HOE) films are located at the input and output parts of the waveguide. These two HOEs have functions like mirror and magnifiers. Therefore, it reflects the transmitted light beams through the waveguide to the observer's eye as the reconstructed images. The proposed system has some common features like holographic AR display’s lightweight, thin size, and the observer can see the 2D/3D convertible images according to the direction of the electro-switching polarizer, with the real-world scenes at the same time. In the experiment, the AR system has been successfully verified that the real-world scene and reconstructed 2D/3D images were observed simultaneously.