Avantier’s Pancake Lens is an advanced optical solution designed for next-generation Virtual Reality (VR) headsets. Featuring a folded optical path structure, the Pancake lenses enable thinner, lighter, and more immersive head-mounted displays by integrating reflective polarizing films and quarter-wave plates.
This lens is engineered to meet the demanding requirements of modern VR optics, delivering enhanced image clarity, optimized space usage, and unparalleled miniaturization.
Key Features
- Folded Optical Path Design
Utilizes multiple internal reflections to achieve a compact structure while maintaining excellent image quality. - Miniaturization
- Reduces optical thickness by 60–70%
- Cuts headset weight by 30–40%
- Shortens the distance between the display and the lens
- Enhanced Image Performance
- Multi-lens combination corrects distortion and chromatic aberration
- Clearer edge details and improved contrast
- Efficient Space Utilization
Frees up interior space for sensors, batteries, and additional modules in VR devices.
The working principle of Pancake structure
The Pancake structure combines a reflective polarizing film, quarter-wave plate, and semi-reflective mirror to fold the optical path efficiently. Light transmission involves:
- Conversion between circularly and linearly polarized light
- Strategic internal reflections
- Effective stray light suppression
- Optimized light transmittance to the user’s eye
This configuration enables a compact optical path while maintaining visual accuracy and brightness.