Multi-focus optical system

• US 10,071,688 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2017
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Foley, Andrew M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael
• Application Number:
  US15/648,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20170305348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 426 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/002 specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle, e.g. for viewing tyres, bumpers or the like integrated in the windows B60R1/001; combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/27 involving lenticular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/005 General purpose rendering architectures
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/671 in combination with active ranging signals, e.g. using light or sound signals emitted toward objects

Abstract

An imager system and a display system for a vehicle are provided. The imager system includes at least one imager configured to capture a multi-focus image having depth data. The display system includes at least one display assembly configured to display a multi-focus image having depth data.

Claims

1. A display system configured as an occupant display system of a vehicle, comprising:

at least one display assembly configured to display a multi-focus image having depth data and comprising;

a display comprising an array of pixels;

a light engine for generating an image on the display; and

an optics assembly in optical communication with the display and comprising;

a micro lens assembly configured to capture and output light rays from the display, wherein at least one of a diameter and profile of a first micro lens at an outer portion of the micro lens assembly is different than at least one of a diameter and profile of a second micro lens at an inner portion of the micro lens assembly; and

a main lens assembly configured to receive the light rays outputted from the micro lens assembly and to substantially project the light rays onto a plane; and

a controller in communication with the display assembly and configured to receive an input from an imager and output a signal for displaying an image having depth data on the display assembly.

2. The display of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of panes for receiving light rays projected from the main lens assembly, wherein the plurality of panes are configured to block the projected light rays at certain depths to provide a real three dimensional scene.

3. The display system of claim 1, further comprising an object for receiving light rays projected from the main lens assembly, wherein the object is configured to rotate and is approximately synchronized with the light engine.

4. The display system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to output a signal to a vehicle system, the signal based upon the depth data of the image.

15. The display system of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the first and second micro lens is circular, rectangular, hexagonal, or octagonal.

16. The display system of claim 1, wherein the profile of the first and second micro lens is circular, rectangular, hexagonal, or octagonal.

5. A display system for a vehicle, comprising:

at least one display assembly configured to display a multi-focus image having depth data and comprising;

a display comprising an array of pixels; and

an optics assembly in optical communication with the display and configured to capture light rays from the display, the optics assembly comprising;

a main lens assembly configured to substantially project the light rays onto at least one plane extending out to infinity; and

a micro lens assembly in optical communication between the main lens assembly and the display, the micro lens assembly configured to substantially project the light rays onto the main lens assembly, wherein at least one of a diameter and profile of a first micro lens at an outer portion of the micro lens assembly is different than at least one of a diameter and profile of a second micro lens at an inner portion of the micro lens assembly; and

a controller in communication with the display assembly and configured to receive an input from an imager and output a signal for displaying an image having depth data on the display assembly.

6. The display system of claim 5, wherein the diameter of the first and second micro lens is circular, rectangular, hexagonal, or octagonal.

7. The display system of claim 5, wherein the profile of the first and second micro lens is circular, rectangular, hexagonal, or octagonal.

8. The display system of claim 5, wherein the main lens assembly comprises an inner portion and an outer portion, the inner portion having a different focal length than the outer portion.

9. The display system of claim 5, wherein micro lenses of the micro lens assembly are substantially hexagonally shaped.

10. The display system of claim 5, wherein pixels of the array of pixels are substantially hexagonally shaped.

11. The display system of claim 5, wherein the controller comprises at least one of a field programmable gate array, a digital signal processor, and a parallel RISC/CISC.

12. The display system of claim 5, wherein the main lens assembly and the micro lens assembly are elliptical.

13. The display system of claim 5, wherein micro lenses of the micro lens assembly are aligned with pixels of the display assembly.

14. The display system of claim 5, configured as a glasses-free 3D display.