High resolution reflective polarizer lens for catadioptric VR optics with accommodating eye box design

Polarized catadioptric optics systems are an emerging solution for virtual reality (VR) head mounted displays (HMD). A good VR optical system should have a large pupil volume to tolerate multiple interpupillary distances and to accommodate eye rotation as the user scans across the field of view (FOV). In this paper we review the 3M™ High Acuity Reflective Polarizer (HARP) optical lens and module. We present empirical and modeling data for lens module performance including MTF as functions of pupil rotation, decenter, and diopter adjustment range. The large eye box and decentering tolerance yields a natural viewing experience. 3M™ HARP optics demonstrates the promise of pancake optic designs to deliver realistic immersive VR experience.