Holographic display system

• US 4,832,427 A
• Filed: 02/05/1988
• Issued: 05/23/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Mizuno, Toru, Nanba, Sinzi, Goto, Tukasa, Koike, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Corbin, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edmondson, David J.
• Application Number:
  US07/152,763
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 350/3.7, 350/3.72, 350/3.77, 350/174
• US Class Current: 359/15
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/215 characterised by the combination of multiple visual outputs, e.g. combined instruments with analogue meters and additional displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0109 comprising details concerning the making of holograms
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0116 comprising devices for correcting chromatic aberration
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/012 comprising devices for attenuating parasitic image effects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0145 creating an intermediate image
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0165 associated with a head-down display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0018 with means for preventing ghost images anti-reflection coatings G02B1/11
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0103 comprising holographic elements

Abstract

A display source emits light. A first hologram receives the light from the display source and diffracts the received light. The light from the display source is applied to the first hologram at an incident angle A1 and moves from the first hologram at an outgoing angle B1. A second hologram receives the light from the first hologram and diffractively reflects the received light. The light diffractively reflected by the second hologram forms an image of the display source in viewer'"'"'s field of view. The light from the first hologram is applied to the second hologram at an incident angle A2 and moves from the second hologram at an outgoing angle B2. The first and second holograms are nonparallel to remove a ghost image of the display source which would result from at least one of surface reflections at the first and second holograms. The first hologram has an angle θ relative to the second hologram. The angles A1, B1, A2, B2, and θ are in a fixed relationship to remove chromatic aberration which would result from the nonparallel arrangement of the first and second holograms.

Claims

1. A holographic display system comprising:

(a) a display source emitting light;

(b) a first hologram receiving the light from the display source and diffracting the received light, wherein the light from the display source is applied to the first hologram at an incident angle A1 and moves from the first hologram at an outgoing angle B1; and

(c) a second hologram receiving the light from the first hologram and diffractively reflecting the received light, wherein the light diffractively reflected by the second hologram forms an image of the display source in viewer'"'"'s field of view, and wherein the light from the first hologram is applied to the second hologram at an incident angle A2 and moves from the second hologram at an outgoing angle B2;

wherein the first and second holograms are nonparallel to remove a ghost image of the display source which would result from at least one of surface reflections at the first and second holograms, wherein the first hologram has an angle θ

relative to the second hologram, and wherein the angles A1, B1, A2, B2, and θ

are in a fixed relationship to remove chromatic aberration which would result fro the nonparallel arrangement of the first and second holograms.

2. The holographic display system of claim 1 wherein the angle θ

is in a range of +5°

to +20° and

a range of -5°

to -20°

.

3. The holographic display system of claim 1 wherein the fixed relationship is expressed by an equation as follows:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">(cos (B1-θ

)/cos B1)·

((sin A1-sin B1)/(sin A2-sin B2))=-1.

4. The holographic display system of claim 1 wherein the first and second holograms have surfaces provided with multilayer coats preventing surface reflection.

5. The holographic display system of claim 1 wherein the first hologram diffractively reflects a first component of the display source light toward the second hologram and transmits a second component of the display source light, and the display source is allowed to be seen from the viewer through the first hologram.

6. The holographic display system of claim 1 wherein the first and second holograms act on essentially only light having a wavelength in a predetermined range, and the light emitted from the display source has a wavelength in the predetermined range.

7. The holographic display system of claim 6 wherein the first and second holograms have diffraction efficiencies which peak at essentially equal predetermined light wavelengths respectively.

8. The holographic display system of claim 7 wherein the diffraction efficiency of the first hologram is essentially higher than 80%.

9. The holographic display system of claim 7 wherein the diffraction efficiency of the second hologram is essentially in the range of 30 to 80%.

10. The holographic display system of claim 7 wherein the diffraction efficiency of the first hologram is essentially higher than 80%, and the diffraction efficiency of the second hologram is essentially in the range of 30 to 80%.