Abstract

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) displays, considered as the next-generation information platform, have shown great potential to revolutionize the way how we interact with each other and the digital world. Both AR and VR are disruptive technologies that can enable numerous applications in education, healthcare, design, training, entertainment, and engineering. Among all the building blocks of these emerging devices, near-eye displays (NEDs) play a critical role in the entire system, through which we can perceive the virtual world as the real one. However, the visual experience offered by existing NED technologies is still far from satisfying the human vision system regarding the display resolution, image clarity, and light efficiency. This dissertation provides original solutions to remove the abovementioned roadblocks using a novel type of liquid crystal (LC) planar optics based on the Pancharatnam-Berry phase (PBP). Firstly, we demonstrated a polarization-multiplexed method that can double the perceived angular resolution of most NEDs, utilizing the polarization-sensitivity of a customized Pancharatnam-Berry phase deflector (PBPD). Secondly, a broadband Pancharatnam-Berry phase lens (PBPL) is developed and integrated with conventional VR optics, such that both monochromatic and chromatic aberrations (CAs) are reduced by more than two times, offering significantly sharper imagery to the viewer. Also, a diffractive deflection film (DDF) based on PBP is designed with a directional display panel to reduce the wasted light in current VR devices, which can boost the system light efficiency by more than two times. Furthermore, novel fabrication methods of the PBP optical elements are invented for the need of mass-production. The proposed methods and designs are examined in both optical simulation and prototype hardware with public demonstrations. The verified performance enhancement proves that the proposed LC-based PBP optical elements offer considerable value and potential for practical applications in next-generation NEDs.

Graduation Date

2021

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Wu, Shintson

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Optics and Photonics

Department

Optics and Photonics

Degree Program

Optics and Photonics

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0008562; DP0024238

URL

https://purls.library.ucf.edu/go/DP0024238

Language

English

Release Date

5-15-2021

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access)

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Optics Commons

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