All-passive, transformable optical mapping (ATOM) near-eye display

Abstract

We present an all-passive, transformable optical mapping (ATOM) near-eye display based on the "human-centric design" principle. By employing a diffractive optical element, a distorted grating, the ATOM display can project different portions of a 2D display screen to various depths, rendering a real 3D image with correct focus cues. Thanks to its all-passive optical mapping architecture, the ATOM display features a reduced form factor and low power consumption. Moreover, the system can readily switch between a real-3D and a high-resolution 2D display mode, providing task-tailored viewing experience for a variety of VR/AR applications.