Optical combiner designs and head mounted displays
First Claim
1. A head mounted display for displaying images comprising:
- a spatial light modulator comprising a plurality of pixels selectively adjustable for producing spatial patterns;
a light source for illuminating said spatial light modulator;
imaging optics disposed with respect to the spatial light modulator to receive light from said spatial light modulator for forming an image thereof;
an aspheric reflective combiner substantially conforming to the shape of a portion of a surface selected from the group consisting of an ellipsoid and a paraboloid, said aspheric combiner reflecting light from said imaging optics such that said image may be displayed; and
head gear for supporting said spatial light modulator, imaging optics, and combiner.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Various embodiments involving structures and methods for illumination can be employed, for example, in projectors, head-mounted displays, helmet-mounted displays, heads-up displays, back projection TVs, flat panel displays as well as other optical systems. Certain embodiments may include prism elements for illuminating, for example, a spatial light modulator. Light may be coupled to the prism in some cases using fiber optics or lightpipes. The optical system may also include a diffuser having scatter features arranged to scatter light appropriately to produce a desired luminance profile. Ellipsoid- and parapoloid-shaped combiners may be employed in embodiments of displays such as for example head mounted displays, helmet mounted displays, and heads-up display. Other embodiments are possible as well.
86 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A head mounted display for displaying images comprising:
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a spatial light modulator comprising a plurality of pixels selectively adjustable for producing spatial patterns;
a light source for illuminating said spatial light modulator;
imaging optics disposed with respect to the spatial light modulator to receive light from said spatial light modulator for forming an image thereof;
an aspheric reflective combiner substantially conforming to the shape of a portion of a surface selected from the group consisting of an ellipsoid and a paraboloid, said aspheric combiner reflecting light from said imaging optics such that said image may be displayed; and
head gear for supporting said spatial light modulator, imaging optics, and combiner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A head mounted display for displaying images comprising:
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a spatial light modulator;
a light source for illuminating said spatial light modulator;
first optics disposed with respect to the spatial light modulator to receive light from said spatial light modulator;
second optics comprising an ellipsoidal combiner having a reflective surface comprising an ellipsoidal surface curved in two dimensions in accordance with the curvature of an ellipsoid, said ellipsoidal combiner reflecting light received from said first optics; and
head gear for supporting said spatial light modulator and first and second optics. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of forming an image in the eye of a wearer of a head mounted display, said method comprising:
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illuminating a spatial light modulator in said head mounted display;
collecting light from said spatial light modulator with projection optics having an exit pupil; and
reflecting said collected light from an ellipsoidal reflector into the eye of the wearer to form an image at the eye, said ellipsoidal reflector having a shape substantially conforming to a portion of an ellipsoid. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A heads-up display for displaying images comprising:
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a spatial light modulator for producing spatial patterns;
a light source for illuminating said spatial light modulator;
imaging optics disposed with respect to the spatial light modulator to receive light from said spatial light modulator for forming an image thereof; and
an optical combiner substantially conforming to the shape of a portion of a conic surface having a conic constant, k, where −
1≦
k≦
0, said optical combiner reflecting light from said imaging optics such that said image may be displayed. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of forming an image in a person'"'"'s eye, said method comprising:
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illuminating a spatial light modulator;
collecting light from said spatial light modulator with projection optics having an exit pupil; and
reflecting said collected light from an reflector into the eye to form an image at the eye, said reflector having a shape substantially conforming to a portion of an paraboloid. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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Specification