Multifocal system with polarizing elements

1. A multifocal structure comprising:

a plurality of optical components positioned in series such that light from a display is received and passes through each of the plurality of optical components at least once before being output from the multifocal structure, the plurality of optical components including:

a switchable half waveplate (SHWP), the SHWP having a first state that causes the multifocal structure to output image light at a first focal distance, and a second state that causes the multifocal structure to output the image light at a second focal distance.

2. The multifocal structure of claim 1 , wherein the first state causes a polarization change in the image light which results in at least one reflection of the image light occurring within the multifocal structure prior to exiting the multifocal structure.

3. The multifocal structure of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of optical components further includes a reflective element positioned between an input of the multifocal structure and the SHWP, and the reflective element is configured to reflect 50 percent of incident image light and transmit a remaining 50 percent of the incident image light.

4. The multifocal structure of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of optical components further includes a reflective polarizer positioned between an input of the multifocal structure and the SHWP.

5. The multifocal structure of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of optical components further includes two quarter waveplates.

6. The multifocal structure of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of optical components further includes a polarization rotator between the SHWP and an output of the multifocal structure, the polarization rotator configured to rotate a polarization of linearly polarized light.

7. The multifocal structure of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of optical components further includes:

a first polarizer configured to linearly polarize light in accordance with a first axis orientation; and

a second polarizer located after the SHWP, the second polarizer configured to linearly polarize light in accordance with a second axis orientation.

8. The multifocal structure of claim 7 , wherein the second axis orientation is orthogonal to the first axis orientation.

9. The multifocal structure of claim 7 , wherein the second axis orientation is the same as the first axis orientation.

10. The multifocal structure of claim 1 , wherein the multifocal structure is part of a head-mounted display (HMD).

11. The multifocal structure of claim 10 , wherein the HMD includes an eye tracking system configured to determine eye tracking information for an eye of the user, and wherein the multifocal structure is further configured to output light at one of the first focal distance or the second focal distance based in part on the eye tracking information.

12. The HMD of claim 11 , further comprising a second multifocal structure that is in optical series with the multifocal structure to form a cascaded multifocal structure that has at least 4 different focal distances.

13. A head-mounted display (HMD) comprising:

a display configured to emit image light; and

a multifocal structure that includes a plurality of optical components positioned in series such that image light from the display is received and passes through each of the plurality of optical components at least once before being output from the multifocal structure, the plurality of optical components including:

a switchable half waveplate (SHWP), the SHWP having a first state that causes the multifocal structure to output the image light at a first focal distance, and a second state that causes the multifocal structure to output the image light at a second focal distance.

14. The HMD of claim 13 , wherein the first state causes a polarization change in the image light which results in at least one reflection of the image light occurring within the multifocal structure prior to exiting the multifocal structure.

15. The HMD of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of optical components further includes a reflective element positioned between an input of the multifocal structure and the SHWP, and the reflective element is configured to reflect 50 percent of incident image light and transmit a remaining 50 percent of the incident image light.

16. The HMD of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of optical components further includes a reflective polarizer positioned between an input of the multifocal structure and the SHWP.

17. The HMD of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of optical components further includes:

a first polarizer configured to linearly polarize light in accordance with a first axis orientation; and

a second polarizer located after the SHWP, the second polarizer configured to linearly polarize light in accordance with a second axis orientation.

18. The HMD of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of optical components further includes two quarter waveplates.

19. The HMD of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of optical components further includes a polarization rotator between the SHWP and an output of the multifocal structure, the polarization rotator configured to rotate a polarization of linearly polarized light.

20. The HMD of claim 13 , further comprising:

an eye tracking system configured to determine eye tracking information for an eye of the user; and

wherein the multifocal structure is further configured to output light at one of the first focal distance or the second focal distance based in part on the eye tracking information.