Now, Leti, an institute of CEA-Tech, invented a transparent retinal-projection device that projects various light waves to the eyes from a glass surface. Images are formed in the retina by the interference of light waves, which eliminates the need for optical systems or combiners. The light propagating in the air does not form an image until it interferes precisely in the retina.
CEA-Leti’s integration of the device and its use of a holographic layer also allow creation of compact AR glasses with a larger field-of-view than existing systems, while the transparent retinal projection device allows ambient light to pass through the device for enhanced AR applications.
“Combining integrated optics and holography is a new research area for the scientific community developing display applications,” said Ph.D. student Basile Meynard. “It is also a way to imagine a display device that works more as a data transfer system than as an imaging system.”
The novel approach will require further development before it reaches the commercialization stage. In the medium to long term, the retinal projection concept is expected to support more compact and higher virtual-image quality applications similar to existing AR glasses.
See the full story here: https://www.advancedsciencenews.com/lens-free-augmented-reality/