Brookhaven Science Associates, Lcc

Scram Technologies, Inc.

Assoicated Universties, Inc.

Other

The United States of America As Represented by the United States

Brookhaven National Laboratory

James T Veligdan

Leonard DeSanto

Calvin Brewster

Cyrus Biscardi

Christopher T Cotton

David Elliott Slobodin

Thomas E Phillips

Robert E Barletta

Peter Vanier

Milton J Shoup, Iii

Lisa Kaull, Legal Representative

John D Feichtner

An optical panel system including stackable waveguides is provided. The optical panel system displays a projected light image and comprises a plurality of planar optical waveguides in a stacked state. The optical panel system further comprises a support system that aligns and supports the waveguides in the stacked state. In one embodiment, the support system comprises at least one rod, wherein each waveguide contains at least one hole, and wherein each rod is positioned through a corresponding hole in each waveguide. In another embodiment, the support system comprises at least two opposing edge structures having the waveguides positioned therebetween, wherein each opposing edge structure contains a mating surface, wherein opposite edges of each waveguide contain mating surfaces which are complementary to the mating surfaces of the opposing edge structures, and wherein each mating surface of the opposing edge structures engages a corresponding complementary mating surface of the opposite edges of each waveguide.

Optical panel system including stackable waveguides

A video image is displayed from an optical panel by splitting the image into a plurality of image components, and then projecting the image components through corresponding portions of the panel to collectively form the image. Depth of the display is correspondingly reduced.

Split image optical display

A display system includes a waveguide optical panel having an inlet face and an opposite outlet face. An image beam is projected across the inlet face laterally and transversely for display on the outlet face. An optical detector including a matrix of detector elements is optically aligned with the inlet face for detecting a corresponding lateral and transverse position of an inbound light spot on the outlet face.

Interactive display system having a matrix optical detector

An optical display panel which provides improved viewing contrast for front projection applications, and a method of producing a stacked optical waveguide panel for front projection applications, are disclosed. The optical panel includes a plurality of stacked optical waveguides, wherein each waveguide has a back face and an outlet face at opposing ends of each waveguide, and wherein each waveguide is formed of a core between an opposing pair of cladding layers, and at least one reflector connected to the back face of at least one waveguide, wherein the at least one reflector receives image light incident through at least one waveguide from the outlet face, and wherein the at least one reflector redirects the image light back through the at least one waveguide out of the outlet face. In the preferred embodiment, the outlet face is rendered black by inclusion of black within or between cladding layers. The method includes stacking a plurality of clear strips of plastic, placing a double sided, dark colored adhesive between each strip of plastic, pressing the stack, forming, at two opposite ends of the stack, a back face and an outlet face, and connecting at least one reflector to the back face.

High contrast front projection display panel and a method of making a high contrast front projection display panel

A display system includes a waveguide optical panel having an inlet face and an opposite outlet face. A projector and imaging device cooperate with the panel for projecting a video image thereon. An optical detector bridges at least a portion of the waveguides for detecting a location on the outlet face within a target zone of an inbound light spot. A controller is operatively coupled to the imaging device and detector for displaying a cursor on the outlet face corresponding with the detected location of the spot within the target zone.

Interactive display system having a scaled virtual target zone

A display system includes a waveguide optical panel having an inlet face and an opposite outlet face. A projector cooperates with a digital imaging device, e.g. a digital micromirror imaging device, for projecting an image through the panel for display on the outlet face. The imaging device includes an array of mirrors tiltable between opposite display and divert positions. The display positions reflect an image light beam from the projector through the panel for display on the outlet face. The divert positions divert the image light beam away from the panel, and are additionally used for reflecting a probe light beam through the panel toward the outlet face. Covering a spot on the panel, e.g. with a finger, reflects the probe light beam back through the panel toward the inlet face for detection thereat and providing interactive capability.

Interactive display system having a digital micromirror imaging device

An optical panel includes a plurality of stacked optical waveguides bound by black cladding to collectively form an inlet face and an opposite display screen. An inlet diffuser has an inlet surface, and an opposite outlet surface adjoining the inlet face of the waveguides. Asymmetric diffusion of image light is effected by the inlet diffuser for increasing field of view, with ambient light being absorbed through the display screen for increasing contrast. Alternatively, an outlet diffuser may be provided at the display screen to complement the inlet diffuser by differently diffusing the image light spatially at the display screen.

Display panel having dual directional diffusion

A display system includes a waveguide optical panel having an inlet face and an opposite outlet face. A projector and imaging device cooperate with the panel for projecting an image thereon. An optical detector is located near the panel for detecting a location on the outlet face of an inbound light spot. The inbound light is channeled to the detector which may be of a reduced size.

Interactive display system having an optical channeling element

An optical display panel which provides improved light intensity at a viewing angle by redirecting light emitting from the viewing screen, and a method of making a light redirective display panel, are disclosed. The panel includes an inlet face at one end for receiving light, and an outlet screen at an opposite end for displaying the light. The inlet face is defined at one end of a transparent body, which body may be formed by a plurality of waveguides, and the outlet screen is defined at an opposite end of the body. The screen includes light redirective elements at the outlet screen for re-directing light emitting from the outlet screen. The method includes stacking a plurality of glass sheets, with a layer of adhesive or epoxy between each sheet, curing the adhesive to form a stack, placing the stack against a saw and cutting the stack at two opposite ends to form a wedge-shaped panel having an inlet face and an outlet face, and forming at the outlet face a plurality of light redirective elements which direct light incident on the outlet face into a controlled light cone.

Light redirective display panel and a method of making a light redirective display panel

An ultrathin optical panel, and a method of producing an ultrathin optical panel, are disclosed, including stacking a plurality of glass sheets, which sheets may be coated with a transparent cladding substance or may be uncoated, fastening together the plurality of stacked coated glass sheets using an epoxy or ultraviolet adhesive, applying uniform pressure to the stack, curing the stack, sawing the stack to form an inlet face on a side of the stack and an outlet face on an opposed side of the stack, bonding a coupler to the inlet face of the stack, and fastening the stack, having the coupler bonded thereto, within a rectangular housing having an open front which is aligned with the outlet face, the rectangular housing having therein a light generator which is optically aligned with the coupler. The light generator is preferably placed parallel to and proximate with the inlet face, thereby allowing for a reduction in the depth of the housing.

Ultrathin optical panel and a method of making an ultrathin optical panel

A display scanner includes an optical panel having a plurality of stacked optical waveguides. The waveguides define an inlet face at one end and a screen at an opposite end, with each waveguide having a core laminated between cladding. A projector projects a scan beam of light into the panel inlet face for transmission from the screen as a scan line to scan a barcode. A light sensor at the inlet face detects a return beam reflected from the barcode into the screen. A decoder decodes the return beam detected by the sensor for reading the barcode. In an exemplary embodiment, the optical panel also displays a visual image thereon.

Integrated display scanner

An optical panel is disclosed. A plurality of stacked planar optical waveguides are used to guide light from an inlet face to an outlet face of an optical panel. Each of the optical waveguides comprises a planar sheet of core material having a central plane. The core material has an index of refraction which decreases as the distance from the central plane increases. The decrease in the index of refraction occurs gradually and continuously.

Growing community of inventors

Manorville, NY, United States of America

James T Veligdan