A see-through combiner based on pixelated intertwined flat lens for full-color glasses-free augmented reality

Augmented reality (AR) 3D display has attracted great interest in its ability to merge virtual 3D objects with physical scenes naturally without the aid of a wearable device. Here we propose a sizeable (20-inch) see-through combiner based on 2,073,600 pixelated intertwined multilevel diffractive lenses (IMDLs) for full-color glassesfree 3D display. The pixelated IMDLs discretely reconstruct converged views with motion parallax. The irradiance pattern of each view is tailored for increased intensity uniformity and enlarged vertical viewing angle. Moreover, IMDLs are designed for the Red/Green/Blue wavelengths for full-color 3D scenes with an enhanced color gamut. A transmission of above 74 % is achieved over the visible spectrum. We demonstrate that the displayed virtual 3D scene retains sound color cues, motion parallax, and high brightness while blending well with natural objects. The potential applications include education, communication, product design, advertisement, and head-up display (HUD).