METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR A FIBER OPTIC DISPLAY SCREEN HAVING AN ADJUSTABLE SIZE

• US 20120155800A1
• Filed: 12/20/2010
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Cottrell, William J., Kennedy, Nathan G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,515,222 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/31
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/04 formed by bundles of fibres G02B6/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/262 Optical details of coupling light into, or out of, or between fibre ends, e.g. special fibre end shapes or associated optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4298 coupling with non-coherent light sources and/or radiation detectors, e.g. lamps, incandescent bulbs, scintillation chambers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/305 being the ends of optical fibres G09F9/302 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for a fiber optic display screen of adjustable size. In one embodiment, a screen comprises: a plurality of pixels formed by a terminal end of at least one optical fiber, wherein the pixels are substantially equidistant from each other along a first axis in a first screen size and in a second screen size that is larger than the first size.

Claims

1. A fiber optic display screen, comprising:

a plurality of pixels formed by a terminal end of at least one optical fiber, wherein the pixels are substantially equidistant from each other along a first axis in a first screen size and in a second screen size that is larger than the first size.

2. The screen according to claim 1, wherein the pixels are substantially equidistant from each other along a second axis in a first screen size and in a second screen size that is larger than the first size such that an aspect ratio of the screen is the same for the first and second screen sizes.

3. The screen according to claim 1, further including terminal blocks to support each of the pixels.

4. The screen according to claim 3, further including elastic bodies connecting adjacent ones of the terminal blocks.

5. The screen according to claim 4, wherein the elastic bodies bias the pixels to equidistant locations.

6. The screen according to claim 1, further including interconnected modules to support the pixels.

7. The screen according to claim 6, wherein the interconnected modules include guides.

8. The screen according to claim 1, wherein each of the pixels comprises multiple optical fiber terminal ends.

9. The screen according to claim 8, wherein the screen can provide different content at different viewing angles.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the screen is not physically connected to a laser source for generating images for the screen.

11. The system according to claim 10, further including a free space coupler to receive light from the laser source via air.

12. The system according to claim 10, further including an aerostat, wherein the screen is secured to the aerial vehicle.

13. A method, comprising:

employing a fiber optic display screen having a plurality of pixels formed by a terminal end of at least one optical fiber; and

transitioning the screen from a first size to a second size that is larger than the first size, wherein the pixels are substantially equidistant from each other in the first screen size and in the second screen size.

14. The method according to claim 13, further including utilizing elastic bodies to space the pixels equidistantly.

15. The method according to claim 13, further including using terminal blocks to support each of the pixels.

16. The method according to claim 13, further including forming each of the pixels from multiple optical fiber terminal ends.

17. The method according to claim 16, further including providing different content from the screen at different viewing angles.

18. The method according to claim 13, further including locating the screen remotely from a laser source to generate images for the screen, wherein there is no physical connection between the screen and the laser source.

19. The method according to claim 18, further including using a free space coupler to receive light from the laser source via air.

20. The method according to claim 18, further including securing the screen to an aerostat.