Other

Displaytech, Inc.

Cae Electronics Ltd.

Optical Resolutions, Inc.

Nvis, Inc.

Martin Shenker Optical Design, Inc.

Paul E Weissman

Frank Ruhle

Mark A Handschy

Brian L Welch

Michael R Meadows

Martin H Shenker

Minoo Bablani

A collimating image-forming apparatus comprising a first linear polarizer is disclosed. A first quarterwave plate is disposed adjacent the first polarizer and has its fast and slow axes at substantially 45&#xb0; to the plane of polarization of the first polarizer. The apparatus further comprises a beam-splitting curved mirror having a convex surface adjacent the first polarizer and facing towards the first quarter-wave plate, a second quarter-wave plate adjacent the concave side of the curved mirror, the second quarterwave plate having its having its fast and slow axes oriented with respect to the corresponding axes of the first quarter-wave plate at angles substantially equal to a first integral multiple of 90&#xb0;, and a reflective-transmissive polarizing member adjacent the second quarter-wave plate. A second linear polarizer is adjacent the reflective-transmissive polarizing member, the second linear polarize: having its plane of polarization oriented with respect to the plane of polarization of the first linear polarizer at an angle substantially equal to a second integral multiple of 90&#xb0;, both of the multiples being even or both being odd.

Collimating optical member for real world simulation

The embodiments herein describe how if a narrow wave length notch of light is used to illuminate or create an image source then the beam-splitter is only required to transmit over the narrow wavelength notch. If the concave mirror only reflects the same wavelength notch then all other wavelengths will pass through the mirror and be reflected by the beam-splitter. Each of the embodiments uses a method of optical design wherein certain portions or elements of the optical system are used for multiple purposes and/or transmit certain paths of light transmission in multiple directions. This use of multiple purposes and multiple paths produces embodiments of the invention that are smaller and more robust.

See-through optical system

A first embodiment is a lens system having a plurality of refractive and reflective spherical elements that work as a magnifier to produce a distortion free, less than 1%, image with optical correction over a wide field of view. The system has at least one concave reflecting surface, and at least three convex refracting surfaces with the sign of the radius of one of the convex refracting surfaces being opposite of the sign of the radius of remaining two convex refracting surfaces. A second embodiment is a lens having a concave reflecting element which is on a substrate that is a negative lens by transmission with an index of refraction between 1.6&#x3c;nd &#x3e;2.0 and a dispersion 49&#x3c;&#x3bd;d&#x3e;15. This is used in combination with at least 3 positive refracting surfaces with less dispersive power than the negative element and with the sign of the radius of one of the positive elements being opposite from the sign of the radius of the remaining positive elements.

Compact eyepiece using an imersed field lens

A collimating image-forming apparatus comprising a first linear polarizer is disclosed. A first quarterwave plate () is disposed adjacent the first polarizer () and has its fast and slow axes at substantially 45&#xb0; to the plane of polarization of the first polarizer. The apparatus further comprises a beam-splitting curved mirror () having a convex surface adjacent the first polarizer and facing towards the first quarter-wave plate, a second quarter-wave plate () adjacent the concave side of the curved mirror, the second quarterwave plate having its having its fast and slow axes oriented with respect to the corresponding axes of the first quarter-wave plate at angles substantially equal to a first integral multiple of 90&#xb0;, and a reflective-transmissive polarizing member () adjacent the second quarter-wave plate. A second linear polarizer () is adjacent the reflective-transmissive polarizing member, the second linear polarizer having its plane of polarization oriented with respect to the plane of polarization of the first linear polarizer at an angle substantially equal to a second integral multiple of 90&#xb0;, both of the multiples being even or both being odd.

The invention relates to compact optical arrangement for a helmet mounted display. The arrangement is well suited to use with spatial light modulators which require front illumination such as LCoS modulators but can also be adapted to rear illuminated devices such as LCD's and to self luminous devices such as OLEDs. The device uses polarization and reflection to make dual use of both volumes and lenses.

Compact optical system

An electronic viewfinder with a reflective microdisplay and associated optical elements in a design that utilizes one or more folded optical paths to achieve a compact size and volume that may have a dimension of less than 10 millimeters per side. Moreover, the optical design may have an effective focal length that is greater than the spacing of the optical elements from the microdisplay. Various embodiments include a pancake window arrangement with reflective surfaces that are spaced apart from each other and cube beamsplitter eyepieces with folded paths.

Compact electronic viewfinder

A collimating image-forming apparatus comprising a first linear polarizer is disclosed. A first quarter-wave plate is disposed adjacent the first polarizer and has its fast and slow axes at substantially 45&#xb0; to the plane of polarization of the first polarizer. The apparatus further comprises a beam-splitting curved mirror having a convex surface adjacent the first polarizer and facing towards the first quarter-wave plate, a second quarter-wave plate adjacent the concave side of the curved mirror, the second quarter-wave plate having its having its fast and slow axes oriented with respect to the corresponding axes of the first quarter-wave plate at angles substantially equal to a first integral multiple of 90&#xb0;, and a reflective-transmissive polarizing member adjacent the second quarter-wave plate. A second linear polarizer is adjacent the reflective-transmissive polarizing member, the second linear polarizer having its plane of polarization oriented with respect to the plane of polarization of the first linear polarizer at an angle substantially equal to a second integral multiple of 90&#xb0;, both of the multiples being even or both being odd.

The eyepiece of the helmet mounted display optics is formed by a beam splitter eyepiece cube and a spherical mirror to create a magnified virtual image of a rear projection screen mounted to the eyepiece cube at a relatively large distance from the observer. The rear projection screen receives an image from a spatial light modulator display which is illuminated by a separate light source.

Helmet mounted display with improved SLM illumination

An assembly for producing a visual display includes a light-reflecting type spatial light modulator and an illumination arrangement for providing a particular source of light. The spatial light modulator has a light reflecting surface cooperating with a light modulating medium switchable between different states so as to act on light in ways which form an overall pattern of reflected, modulated light. The spatial light modulator also has an arrangement for switching the modulating medium between the different states in a controlled way so as to form the overall pattern. The overall assembly further includes an optics arrangement having a first member defining a light reflecting surface. The optics arrangement also has a second member defining (i) a first external face located in proximity to the illumination arrangement, (ii) a second external face located in proximity to the spatial light modulator, (iii) a third external face located in proximity to the light reflecting surface of the first member, and (iv) a fourth external face. The optics arrangement cooperates with the illumination arrangement and the spatial light modulator such that the spatial light modulator forms the overall pattern of modulated light from light provided by the particular source of light and such that the light reflecting surface of the first member forms a magnified image of the overall pattern which is viewable from within a predetermined area which extends away from the fourth face of the second member.

Miniature image generator including optics arrangement

An optical image is generated by an image source and is transmitted to an optical assembly by a fiber optic cable or cables. The optical assembly includes a transmission lens or lenses, rear projection screens and an eyepiece. By using a rear projection screen in the optical assembly, a non-pupil forming arrangement is provided.

Growing community of inventors

Brewster, NY, United States of America

Paul E Weissman