High performance LCD for augmented reality and virtual reality displays

ABSTRACT

For augmented reality and virtual reality displays, high-resolution density, high luminance, and fast response time are critically needed. High-resolution density helps eliminate the screen-door effect; high luminance and fast response time enable low duty ratio operation, which plays a key role for suppressing image blurs. By using a low viscosity material and new diamond-shaped electrode configuration, we demonstrate a fringe field switching liquid crystal display, abbreviated as d-FFS LCD, with high transmittance, fast grey-to-grey response time, low operation voltage, wide viewing angle, and indistinguishable colour shift and gamma shift. We also investigate the rubbing angle (α) effects on transmittance and response time. When α = 0°, the virtual wall effect is strong, resulting in fast response time but compromised transmittance. When α ≥ 1.2°, the virtual walls disappear, as a result, the transmittance increases dramatically, but the trade-off is in slower response time.

Graphical Abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Liquid crystals
• augmented reality
• virtual reality
• displays

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Haiwei Chen, Guanjun Tan and Fangwang Gou for helpful discussion.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) (FA9550-14-1-0279).