Rockwell Collins, Inc.

Eric P Stratton

Robert D Brown

Christopher Alan Keith

Brandon E Wilson

Carlo L Tiana

Ming Yu

James H Stanley

Kurt A Stahl

Robert W Wood

Christopher M Buchholz

Robert B Wood

Kenneth A Zimmerman

David I Han

Bruce Hufnagel

Gary J Albert

Ian M Meyer

Weston James Lahr

Christopher M Boggs

Wyatt L Hendrick

William T Kirchner

Joshua Gerdes

Daniel S Wald

Conor D Kelly

Jefferey R Bader

Chris M Buchholz

Charles W Micka

Wyatt Lee Hendrick

A system includes a head wearable display (HWD) device and a processor. The HWD device includes a waveguide display and an image monitor sensor. The waveguide display includes a waveguide and an optical system, the optical system configured to: receive image data corresponding to an image; and project the image at least through the waveguide to be displayed to a user. The image monitor sensor is optically coupled to the waveguide or the optical system. The image monitor sensor is configured to: capture at least a portion of the image as a monitored image; and output monitored image data. The processor is configured to: receive the monitored image data from the image monitor sensor; and based at least on the monitored image data, determine whether the waveguide display displayed the image correctly.

Head wearable display device with image monitoring comprising at least one image monitor sensor optically coupled to a waveguide

A compact see-through head up display (HUD) for a vehicle such as an aircraft implemented as a fixed display positionable forward of a user (e.g., pilot), a head worn display, a helmet mounted display, etc. The HUD may be provided as an integrated stack including a see-through emissive display positioned between a predetermined number of first and second optical pairings each including a waveplate coupled with a polarization directed lens. The first optical pairing is configured to collimate display light emitted from a display side of the see-through emissive display and the second optical pairing provides an equal and opposite focal vergence effect to counter the focal vergence effect of the first optical pairing such that the see-through emissive display does not affect the focal distance of the outside environment as viewed through the see-through emissive display.

Compact see-through head up display

An optical display includes a waveguide comprising an input coupler, first expansion grating, second expansion grating, and output coupler. The input coupler is configured to couple image light from an image source. The first expansion grating is configured to receive the image light, expand the image light along a first axis and away from a first direction at a first angle of expansion, and direct the image light out of the first expansion grating in a second direction different than the first direction. The second expansion grating is configured to receive the image light, to expand the image light along the first axis and towards the first direction at a second angle of expansion, and direct the image light out of the first expansion grating in the second direction.

Dual sided expansion waveguide

A system for detecting an alignment of a relay lens assembly and a combiner of a head-up display is disclosed. The system includes an illuminated reticle spatially coupled to the relay lens assembly, an optical sensor spatially coupled to the combiner, and a control module configured to receive an input from the optical sensor, determine a position of the combiner relative to the relay lens assembly based on the received input; and generate an output based on a determined position of the combiner relative to the relay lens assembly. In another system, the illuminated reticle is spatially coupled to the combiner, and the optical sensor is spatially coupled to the relay lens assembly. The system may also participate in a feedback loop with the head-up display to reduce jitter in the head-up display.

Combiner alignment detector

An optical display system includes a first display, a plurality of electronic drivers, a controller, and a combiner. Light from a scene is combined with image light from the first display, and the combined light presented to an observer. The combiner includes an electrochromic layer comprising one or more electrochromic regions disposed between the scene and the combiner. The electronic drivers are arranged to electrically connect with and drive respective of the electrochromic regions. The controller is configured to control the plurality of electronic drivers to individually address each of the electrochromic regions to selectively drive some of the electrochromic regions to change light transmission of the selectively driven electrochromic regions.

Optical display system with regionally addressable electrochromic light modulator

A visor for a helmet is disclosed. The visor includes a first lens member, which includes a first transparent shield configured with a photochromic layer. The photochromic layer is configured to adjust a first transmission state of a first viewing area of the first lens member based on the transmission of ambient light through the first viewing area. The visor also includes a second lens member that includes an electrochromic layer. The electrochromic layer is configured to adjust the transmission of ambient light through a second viewing area upon an application of a voltage to the electrochromic layer. The visor also includes a controller configured to adjust a voltage applied to the electrochromic layer, and an attachment element coupled to the first lens member configured to attach to a headgear.

Combined fast-switch tintable visor

An optical system is disclosed. The optical system includes collimating optics, including a polarization beam splitter, which includes one or more polarizations selection reflection surfaces configured to split image light into (s)-polarized light and (p)-polarized light. The collimating optics further include a first mirror configured to receive and reflect (p)-polarized light emitted from the one or more polarization selective reflection surfaces, a second mirror configured to receive and reflect (s)-polarized light emitted from the one or more polarization selective reflection surface, and a corrector lens configured to receive (p)-polarized light reflected from the first mirror and receive (s)-polarized light reflected from the second mirror, wherein a light path of the (s)-polarized light and a light path of the (p)-polarized light are substantially equal, wherein the (p)-polarized light and the (s)-polarized light are configured to combine to form a user image.

Efficiency of catadioptric system by means of recycling polarized light

An optical display system includes a first display, a plurality of electronic drivers, a controller, and a combiner. Light from a scene is combined with image light from the first display, and the combined light presented to an observer. The combiner includes an electrochromic layer comprising one or more electrochromic regions separated from each other. The electronic drivers are arranged to electrically connect with and drive respective of the electrochromic regions. The controller is configured to control the plurality of electronic drivers to individually address each of the electrochromic regions to selectively drive some of the electrochromic regions to change light transmission of the selectively driven electrochromic regions.

A system includes a vehicle cockpit and a processor. The vehicle cockpit includes imperceptible cockpit reference fiducials and a head wearable display (HWD) device. The imperceptible cockpit reference fiducials are imperceptible to a naked eye of a user in the vehicle cockpit. The HWD device includes a display and an optical sensor configured to: capture images of the imperceptible cockpit reference fiducials; and output optical sensor image data. The processor is configured to: receive the optical sensor image data; and based at least on the optical sensor image data, determine a position and orientation of the head wearable display device. The display is configured to display the images aligned with the field of view of the user based at least on the determined position and the determined orientation of the head wearable display device.

Vehicle including head wearable display device and imperceptible reference fiducials and method therefor

A system is disclosed that display configured to transmit a signal that includes a first light configured as a display image and a second light configured as a reference image. The system also includes a beam splitter, a selectively transmissive mirror and a sensor configured to detect the second light. The beam splitter is configured to receive the signal from the display and reflect the signal to the selectively transmissive mirror. The selectively transmissive mirror is configured to receive the reflected signal, transmit the second light toward a sensor, and reflect the first light, wherein the first light is configured with a first bandwidth, wherein the second light is configured with a second bandwidth. The system further includes a corrector lens configured to receive the first light and transmit the first light to an exit pupil.

Advanced monitoring solution of displays

A display system includes an interface unit, a head worn display in wireless communication with the interface unit, and a first tracker sensor remote from a head of a user and configured to wirelessly sense a head pose and provide first head tracking data to the interface unit. The interface unit is remote from the head worn display. The display system also includes a second tracker sensor associated with the head of the user and configured to provide second head tracking data associated with the head pose to the head worn display. The interface unit is configured to receive the second head tracking data from the head worn display via at least one wireless link and provide video information for display on the head worn display via the at least one wireless link.

Systems and methods for interfacing with head worn display systems

A light-modulated photodiode-based monitor for detecting a control signal of a display is disclosed. The monitor includes an emitter configured to emit a control signal, a polarizer configured to linearly polarize the pulsed signal, one or more fold mirrors configured to reflect the pulsed signal from the emitter onto a test portion and/or reflect the pulsed signal that has reflected off of the test portion. The monitor further includes an analyzer configured to block or transmit the polarized pulse signal reflected from at least one of the fold mirror or the test portion, and a detector configured to receive the pulsed signal transmitted from the analyzer and convert the pulsed signal into an electrical signal. The monitor further includes a controller that includes one or more processors and is configured to receive the electrical signal, filter and rectify the electrical signal, and determine a functional state of the display.

Light modulated photodiode-based display monitor system

A head up display can be used in compact environments. The head up display includes a combiner system including at least one light pipe and a waveguide. The at least one light pipe includes a turning grating or mirror array for providing light into the waveguide from the light pipe. An additional light pipe can also be provided. The combiner system can be headworn or stand-alone and can provide dual axis pupil expansion.

Head up display (HUD) using a light pipe

A system and method for a head up display (HUD) can mitigate glare. The head up display can include a waveguide combiner including an input grating and an output grating and a glare mitigator disposed to prevent glare through the output grating from reaching an eye box. The glare mitigator can be a shade, a diffuser, a dimming element, or other device for mitigating glare. The glare mitigator can be an active or passive glare mitigator.

Growing community of inventors

Portland, OR, United States of America

Eric P Stratton