New methods for generation of multifocal images for AR Head-Up Display applications

Current multifocal Augmented and Extended Reality (AR & XR) technologies make use of headwear and pointing devices. Such devices usually can cause discomfort due to vergence-accommodation conflict (VAC) or spatial mismatch between virtual and real objects. The mismatch happens because of different motion parallax values among other things.
These adverse effects create safety and usability concerns in many applications, especially in automotive space where fast moving objects must be highlighted and processed.
We review different technologies and methods to generate multi-focal images and contrast them to a novel technique of hyperchromatic imaging. This technique is based on optics with strong chromatic dispersion that separates images generated by lasers with different wavelengths in 3-dimensional space.
Hyperchromatic imaging methods can generate multi-focal images with only passive components and reduce the VAC creating more inclusive and safe AR applications, as well as reducing reaction and focusing times, compared to existing solutions.