Holographic head-up display

• US 5,198,895 A
• Filed: 08/29/1991
• Issued: 03/30/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
• Inventors: Vick, Gerald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US07/751,465
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 358/103, 358/250, 358/88, 358/90, 358/91, 358/92, 340/705, 340/980, 359/13, 359/14, 359/630-633
• US Class Current: 348/115
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0109 comprising details concerning the making of holograms
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0103 comprising holographic elements

Abstract

An improved three dimensional head-up display utilizing a holographic optic element diffraction grating to selectively reflect light emitted from a first CRT into a first of the pilot'"'"'s eyes and reflecting light from a second CRT into the second of the pilot'"'"'s eyes.

Claims

1. An improved head-up display of the type used in an aircraft having a wind screen and further having a cockpit with a predetermined space therein for the pilot to sit and further having a first subspace and a second subspace therein where the pilot'"'"'s eyes will be located during flight;

the improved head-up display comprising;

first video display device for emitting light representative of a predetermined image, located in cockpit;

a second video display device for emitting light representative of said predetermined image located in the cockpit; and

an angularly selective holographic optic element diffraction grating, for reflecting light emitted from said first video display into said first subspace, but not into said second subspace;

said diffraction grating further for reflecting light emitted from said second video display device into said second subspace but not into said first subspace;

said diffraction grating disposed adjacent said windscreen;

so that, a stereoscopic reproduction of said predetermined image is created when said pilot'"'"'s first eye is disposed in said first subspace and said pilot'"'"'s second eye is disposed in said second subspace and when said first and second eyes simultaneously view light representative of said predetermined image, from said first video display device and said second video display device respectively.

2. An improved head-up display comprising:

a first video display, for emitting light, located in a first portion of an aircraft cockpit;

a second video display, for emitting light, located in a second portion of an aircraft cockpit; and

an angularly selective holographic optic element diffraction degrating, disposed in said aircraft cockpit at a third location and for selectively reflecting light emitted from said first video display and said second video display;

said angularly selective holographic optic element diffraction degrating being manufactured by exposing a holographic optic element recording medium to four light sources, wherein a first light source is located at the same relative direction and distance from the holographic optic element recording medium as the first location is from the third location, and the second light source is located at the same relative direction and distance from holographic optic element recording medium as the second location is from the third location.

3. A head-up display comprising:

a first video display for emitting light representative of an image;

a second video display for emitting light representative of said image;

an angularly selective holographic optic element defraction grating that reflects light from a said first video display into a first predetermined space and does not reflect light from said second video display into said first predetermined space; and

said holographic optic element further reflecting said light from said second video display into a second predetermined space, so that, a three dimensional representation of said image is created when a viewer simultaneously views said image from said first video display and said second video display.