Virtual retinal display with expanded exit pupil
First Claim
1. A retinal display apparatus for receiving an image data signal and scanning an image upon a viewer'"'"'s eye, comprising:
- a light source for generating light;
means for modulating the light as a function of the image data signal to define image content;
means for converging the light to a focal point;
means deflecting the light for moving the focal point, over time the moving focal point defining a curved intermediate image plane;
means upon which the light is incident for generating exit light from the incident light, the generating means being coincident with the curved intermediate image plane, the incident light spanning an incidence angle, the exit light spanning an angle greater than the incidence angle; and
an eyepiece receiving the exit light, the exit light defining an exit pupil beyond the eyepiece through which the image is scanned upon the viewer'"'"'s eye; and
wherein by having the exit light span an angle greater than the incidence angle, the generating means expands the exit pupil.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A display device is achieved using a simplified optical system which generates an expanded exit pupil without compromising magnification or resolution. Modulated light from a source is converged toward a focal point by an optics subsystem. A scanning subsystem deflects the converging light, and thus the focal point, along a raster pattern to define a curved intermediate image plane. An exit pupil expanding apparatus defines a curved surface which coincides with the curved image plane. Impinging light rays at a given instant in time span a given incidence angle. Exiting light rays span a larger angle. As a result, the exiting light spans a larger surface area of an ensuing eyepiece. In turn an expanded exit pupil occurs beyond the eyepiece. Embodiments of the expanding apparatus include a curved diffractive optical element, fiber optic face plate, lens array and diffuser. The diffractive optical element generates multiple exit pupils, while the other embodiments generate enlarged exit pupils.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A retinal display apparatus for receiving an image data signal and scanning an image upon a viewer'"'"'s eye, comprising:
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a light source for generating light; means for modulating the light as a function of the image data signal to define image content; means for converging the light to a focal point; means deflecting the light for moving the focal point, over time the moving focal point defining a curved intermediate image plane; means upon which the light is incident for generating exit light from the incident light, the generating means being coincident with the curved intermediate image plane, the incident light spanning an incidence angle, the exit light spanning an angle greater than the incidence angle; and an eyepiece receiving the exit light, the exit light defining an exit pupil beyond the eyepiece through which the image is scanned upon the viewer'"'"'s eye; and wherein by having the exit light span an angle greater than the incidence angle, the generating means expands the exit pupil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for defining an exit pupil for a retinal display device, the retinal display device receiving an image data signal and scanning an image derived from the image data signal upon a viewer'"'"'s eye, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating light modulated as a function of the image data signal to define image content; converging the light to a focal point; deflecting the light to move the focal point, over time the moving focal point defining a curved intermediate image plane; receiving the light as incident light upon an optical apparatus having a curved surface which coincides with the curved intermediate image plane, the incident light spanning an incidence angle; generating exit light at the optical apparatus from the incident light, the exit light spanning an angle greater than the incidence angle, the exit light traveling to an eyepiece which bends the exit light to form an exit pupil beyond the eyepiece through which the image is scanned upon the viewer'"'"'s eye; and wherein by having the exit light span an angle greater than the incidence angle, the optical apparatus expands the exit pupil. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification