Head-up display with narrow band reflective polarizer

• US 20050270655A1
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Wheatley, John A., Weber, Michael F., Ouderkirk, Andrew J., Brodd, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 7,123,418 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10458 Polarization selective transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/012 comprising devices for attenuating parasitic image effects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/305 including organic materials, e.g. polymeric layers

Abstract

A head-up display includes a projection system and a window having a target area where a reflective polarizer is positioned to reflect light from the projection system to a viewing area. Light from the projection system is p-polarized and strikes exposed window surface(s) at an acute angle to reduce or eliminate multiple or “ghost” images. The acute angle is closely matched to a Brewster angle of the exposed window surface(s). The reflective polarizer includes a multilayer stack with refractive indices of individual layers chosen to reflect p-polarized light substantially more than s-polarized light over a wide angular range that includes the acute angle. The reflective polarizer also can reflect infrared light to reduce cabin heating from solar radiation.

Claims

1. A system for displaying information to a viewing position, comprising:

a window member having a target area and at least a first exposed window surface at the target area, the first exposed window surface having associated therewith a first normal axis;

a display source that emits polarized light toward the target area along an illumination axis that makes an acute angle θ

₁ with respect to the first normal axis, the emitted light being substantially p-polarized and including a selected visible wavelength of interest; and

a reflective polarizer disposed proximate the target area to reflect at least some of the p-polarized light from the display source towards the viewing position;

wherein the reflective polarizer reflects the p-polarized light in a narrow reflection band that includes the selected visible wavelength of interest over an angular range of incidence angles that includes the angle θ

₁.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected visible wavelength of interest is one of a plurality of selected visible wavelengths.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the narrow reflection band is one of a plurality of narrow reflection bands.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the narrow reflection band is one of a plurality of narrow reflection bands and wherein at least some of the reflection bands correspond to some of the selected visible wavelengths.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the narrow reflection band is 10-40 nm in width.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the narrow reflection band is 10-30 nm in width.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the reflective polarizer is substantially transparent for wavelengths outside the narrow reflection band.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the narrow reflection band is located substantially entirely in the infrared range for light incident along the normal axis, and wherein the narrow reflection band shifts into visible wavelengths for light incident at the angle θ

₁.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the reflective polarizer provides substantially complete transmission for s-polarized light and wherein the reflective polarizer provides selective reflection and transmission of p-polarized light.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the selective reflection and transmission of p-polarized light includes a plurality of narrow reflection bands separated by intervening transmission bands.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the selective reflection of p-polarized light includes a blue reflection band, a green reflection band, and a red reflection band for light incident at angle θ

₁.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the blue, green, and red reflection bands is 10-40 nm in width.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the reflective polarizer is a cholesteric reflective polarizer.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the reflective polarizer is a thin film reflective polarizer.