Rockwell Collins, Inc.

Infocus Corporation

Straight Signals LLC

Other

Ziro Limit Composite, Inc.

Seiko Epson Corporation

Kurt A Stahl

Robert D Brown

Mark David Peterson

Robert B Wood

Jeffrey Alan Gohman

Christopher Alan Keith

Eric P Stratton

Brandon E Wilson

Lincoln J Burns

Franc Potekev

Christopher M Buchholz

David Elliott Slobodin

Kevin Lynn Simmons

Brian Donald Wichner

Brian G Russell

Lu Bai

Norman R Gordon

Norman C Anheier

Joshua Gerdes

Scott Engle

Lawrence J Gianola

Walter R Park

Gerhardt A Quast

Kevin E Jopes

Carl Bycraft

Donald Graham

Paul Sliva

Chris M Buchholz

Brian D Wichner

A system and method. The system may include a head-up display (HUD). The HUD may include a positionable combiner optical element (COE) and a combiner alignment detector (CAD) configured to conform images displayed on the positionable COE with a view through the positionable COE. The CAD may include a mirror that moves with the positionable COE, an infrared (IR) emitter configured to emit IR pulses onto the mirror with a duty cycle of less than 1% such that an average time-based radiance of the IR pulses is compatible with a night vision imaging system (NVIS), and an IR detector configured to receive the IR pulses reflected off of the mirror.

NVIS compatible head-up display combiner alignment detector

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.

Waveguide combiner system and method with less susceptibility to glare

A display can be utilized with an image source. The display includes a collimator and a substrate waveguide. The substrate waveguide sees collimated light from the collimator at an input and provides the collimated light to an output. The collimated light travels from the input to the output within the substrate by total internal reflection. An input diffraction grating is disposed in a first area at the input and an output diffraction grating is disposed in a second area at the output. The second diffraction grating is matched to the first diffraction grating. A combiner alignment detector is not required due to the periscopic effect according to one embodiment.

System for and method of displaying information without need for a combiner alignment detector

A head up display include an image source, and a waveguide. The waveguide has a first diffraction grating and a first end and a second diffraction grating at a second end. The waveguide is positioned as a combiner and allows viewing of an outside scene and information from the image source. The first and second diffraction gratings are surface relief gratings having a high index of modulation.

Ultra-compact HUD utilizing waveguide pupil expander with surface relief gratings in high refractive index materials

A Head Up Display can be utilized to find light from an energy source. The Head Up Display includes a first waveguide having a first input coupler and a first output coupler. The Head Up Display can also include a second waveguide having a second input coupler and a second output coupler. The first waveguide has a first major surface and the second waveguide has a second major surface, which are disposed approximately parallel to each other. The first waveguide and the second waveguide are positioned as a combiner and allowing viewing an outside feed and information from an image source. The first input coupler diffracts light in the first field of view into the first waveguide and light in a second field of view reaches the second input coupler and is diffracted into the second waveguide.

System for and method of extending vertical field of view in head up display utilizing a waveguide combiner

A display (for example, a head up display (HUD)) includes a substrate waveguide. The substrate waveguide can act as a combiner. The substrate waveguide receives collimated light an input and provides the collimated light to an output. The collimated light travels from the input to the output within the substrate waveguide by total internal reflection. An input diffraction grating is disposed in the first area at the input and an output diffraction grating is disposed in the second area at the output. A plate covers at least a portion of the second area. The plate can protect the diffraction grating and reflect transmitted order light from the diffraction grating to improve efficiency.

Reflector and cover glass for substrate guided HUD

A head up display can use a catadioptric collimating system. The head up display includes an image source. The head up display also includes a collimating mirror, and a polarizing beam splitter. The light from the image source enters the beam splitter and is reflected toward the collimating mirror. The light striking the collimating mirror is reflected through the beam splitter toward a combiner. A corrective lens can be disposed after the beam splitter.

System for and method of catadioptric collimation in a compact head up display (HUD)

A head up display (HUD) includes an image source, a first lens, a second lens, a focusing mirror, a polarizing beam splitter, a second beam splitter and a combiner. The first lens is disposed between the image source and polarizing beam splitter. The second lens is disposed between the polarizing beam splitter and the second beam splitter. The polarizing beam splitter is disposed between the first lens, the mirror, and the second lens. The optical system for the HUD forms an intermediate image between the second lens and the second beam splitter. The intermediate image is located at the focal point of the curved combiner, and therefore the curved combiner collimates the display light upon reflection. The HUD can be compact and have a wide field of view.

Method of and system for providing a head up display (HUD)

A present novel and non-trivial system, apparatus, and method for employing a catadioptric optical system in a Head-Up Display ('HUD') system are disclosed. A catadioptric optical module is configured to produce a large image size within a small space envelope by folding the optical path back through module and separating the paths by use of a beam splitter. Such module comprised of a beam splitter, collimating mirror, and correcting lens produces collimated beams of light from an image source providing either polarized or non-polarized beams of light. If polarized beams are provided, the module includes a quarter-wave retarder, and the configuration of the module permits the image source to provide either s-polarized or p-polarized beams. A combiner arm assembly comprising of at least one combiner receives the collimated beams, where the employment of a plurality of combiners extends the relatively small instantaneous field of view.

Catadioptric system, apparatus, and method for producing images on a universal, head-up display

An integrated light gathering reflector and optical element holder for a projection device includes opposing first and second members. Each of the first and second members define a light gathering reflector portion and an optical element holder portion. The shape of the first member is substantially identical to a shape of the second member.

Integrated light gathering reflector and optical element holder

A system including a light source, a polarizing beam splitter, and first, second and third light valves is provided. The light source produces light in first, second and third wavebands in a second polarization direction. The beam splitter transmits the first waveband of light in a first polarization direction and the second and third wavebands of light in the second polarization direction. The first, second and third light valves reflect at least a portion of the respective first, second and third wavelength bands of light generally toward a projection lens.

Color video projection system employing reflective liquid crystal display devices

Embodiments of methods, apparatuses, devices and systems associated with a pre-aligned light source for use with a light gathering reflector are disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Portland, OR, United States of America

Kurt A Stahl