Determining user accommodation to display an image at a desired focal plane using diffractive optical elements

Abstract

Configurations are disclosed for presenting virtual reality and augmented reality experiences to users. The system may comprise an image-generating source to provide one or more frames of image data in a time-sequential manner, a light modulator configured to transmit light associated with the one or more frames of image data, a substrate to direct image information to a user's eye, wherein the substrate houses a plurality of reflectors, a first reflector of the plurality of reflectors to reflect transmitted light associated with a first frame of image data at a first angle to the user's eye, and a second reflector to reflect transmitted light associated with a second frame of the image data at a second angle to the user's eye.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of displaying virtual content to a user, the method comprising:
 determining an accommodation of the user's eyes, wherein the determined accommodation is associated with a focal distance corresponding to a user's current state of focus;   projecting, through a diffractive optics element (DOE), light associated with one or more frames of image data;   varying a focus of the projected light based at least in part on the determined accommodation; and   delivering the projected light to the user's eyes.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the accommodation is measured directly. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the accommodation is measured indirectly. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the accommodation is measured through an infrared autorefractor. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the accommodation is measured through eccentric photorefraction. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising measuring a convergence level of two eyes of the user to estimate the accommodation. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising blurring one or more portions of the one or more frames of image data based at least in part on the determined accommodation. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the focus is varied between fixed depth planes. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a compensating lens to compensate for an optical effect of the DOE, such that an outside environment is perceived at zero magnification.