Head up display (HUD) using a light pipe
First Claim
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1. A head up display, comprising:
- an input port having a first input face and a second input face perpendicular to the first input face, and comprising a first grating on the first input face;
a first light pipe coupled to the input port and having a first elongated face extending in a first direction and coplanar with the second input face of the input port, the first light pipe configured to expand a pupil in the first direction and comprising at least one turning grating and comprising a second grating on the second input face; and
a waveguide combiner configured to expand the pupil in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and comprising an output grating,wherein the first grating is reciprocal to the output grating so that light entering the first grating and light exiting the output grating travels in the same direction, and the second grating is reciprocal to the at least one turning grating so that light entering the second grating and light exiting the at least one turning grating travels in the same direction.
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Abstract
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.
583 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A head up display, comprising:
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an input port having a first input face and a second input face perpendicular to the first input face, and comprising a first grating on the first input face; a first light pipe coupled to the input port and having a first elongated face extending in a first direction and coplanar with the second input face of the input port, the first light pipe configured to expand a pupil in the first direction and comprising at least one turning grating and comprising a second grating on the second input face; and a waveguide combiner configured to expand the pupil in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and comprising an output grating, wherein the first grating is reciprocal to the output grating so that light entering the first grating and light exiting the output grating travels in the same direction, and the second grating is reciprocal to the at least one turning grating so that light entering the second grating and light exiting the at least one turning grating travels in the same direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of providing information to a user, the method comprising:
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providing light from an image source in a first direction via a first grating; directing the light from the image source in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction with a second grating; providing the light from the second grating to a first light pipe; propagating a spiral light ray down the first light pipe; expanding a pupil in a third direction different from and coplanar with the second direction with the first light pipe; and providing the light from the first light pipe to a waveguide combiner using a turning grating; wherein the first grating is reciprocal to an output grating of the waveguide combiner so that the light entering the first grating and the light exiting the output grating travels in the same direction, and the second grating is reciprocal to the turning grating so that the light entering the second grating and light exiting the turning grating travels in the same direction. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A head up display system, comprising:
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at least one light pipe comprising an input grating and a turning grating that is a reciprocal grating to the input grating so that light entering the input grating and light exiting the turning grating travels in the same direction; and a waveguide combiner, wherein the at least one light pipe propagates light between the input grating and the turning grating via mirror reflection and into the waveguide combiner from the light pipe via the turning grating, the waveguide combiner comprises an output grating that is a reciprocal grating to a first grating of an input port so that the light entering the input port via the first grating and the light exiting the waveguide combiner via the output grating travels in the same direction. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification