Compact display system with two stage magnification and immersed beam splitter
First Claim
1. A virtual image display system comprising:
- an imaging surface on which a source object is formed;
a first optical element having a reflective function and a magnification function;
a second optical element having a magnification function;
an immersed beam splitting element positioned between the first and second optical elements, the immersed beam splitting element including a beam splitter surrounded by an optically transparent material having a refractive index greater than air; and
an illumination source for projecting the source object formed at the imaging surface through the optically transparent material to the beamsplitter, the beamsplitter reflecting the projected source object to the first optical element, the first optical element magnifying the projected source object and reflecting a magnified virtual image of the projected source object to the beamsplitter, the magnified virtual image traversing the beamsplitter to the second optical element which magnifies the magnified virtual image to produce a compound magnified virtual image of the source object.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A virtual image display system is provided which is made thinner through the use of an immersed beam splitter, and in one embodiment, total internal reflection. The display system includes an imaging surface on which a source object is formed, a first optical element having a reflective function and a magnification function, a second optical element having a magnification function and an immersed beam splitting element positioned between the first and second optical elements, the immersed beam splitting element including a beam splitter surrounded by an optically transparent material having a refractive index greater than air. An illumination source projects the source object formed at the imaging surface through the optically transparent material to the beam splitter. The beam splitter reflects the projected source object to the first optical element. The first optical element magnifies the projected source object and reflects a magnified virtual image of the projected source object to the beam splitter. The magnified virtual image traverses the beam splitter to the second optical element which magnifies the magnified virtual image to produce a compound magnified virtual image of the source object.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A virtual image display system comprising:
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an imaging surface on which a source object is formed; a first optical element having a reflective function and a magnification function; a second optical element having a magnification function; an immersed beam splitting element positioned between the first and second optical elements, the immersed beam splitting element including a beam splitter surrounded by an optically transparent material having a refractive index greater than air; and an illumination source for projecting the source object formed at the imaging surface through the optically transparent material to the beamsplitter, the beamsplitter reflecting the projected source object to the first optical element, the first optical element magnifying the projected source object and reflecting a magnified virtual image of the projected source object to the beamsplitter, the magnified virtual image traversing the beamsplitter to the second optical element which magnifies the magnified virtual image to produce a compound magnified virtual image of the source object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A virtual image display system comprising:
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an imaging surface on which a source object is formed; a first optical element having a reflective function and a magnification function; a second optical element having a magnification function; an immersed beam splitting element positioned between the first and second optical elements, the immersed beam splitting element including a beam splitter surrounded by an optically transparent material having a refractive index greater than air, the immersed beam splitting element having a back surface facing the first optical element which causes light directed to the surface from within the optically transparent material to be totally internally reflected; and an illumination source for projecting the source object formed at the imaging surface to the back surface of the optically transparent material at an angle such that the back surface internally reflecting the light to the beamsplitter which reflects the projected source object to the first optical element, the first optical element magnifying the projected source object and reflecting a magnified virtual image of the projected source object to the beamsplitter, the magnified virtual image traversing the beamsplitter to the second optical element which magnifies the magnified virtual image to produce a compound magnified virtual image of the source object. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A virtual image display system comprising:
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an imaging surface on which a source object is formed; a first optical element having a reflective function and a magnification function; a second optical element having a magnification function; an immersed beam splitting element positioned between the first and second optical elements, the immersed beam splitting element including a beam splitter surrounded by an optically transparent material having a refractive index greater than air; an illumination source for projecting the source object through the optically transparent material to the beamsplitter, the beamsplitter reflecting the projected source object to the first optical element, the first optical element magnifying the projected source object and reflecting a magnified virtual image of the projected source object to the beamsplitter, the magnified virtual image traversing the beamsplitter to the second optical element which magnifies the magnified virtual image to produce a compound magnified virtual image of the source object; and a focusing mechanism for moving two elements selected from the group consisting of the first optical element, the second optical element and the beam splitting element relative to each other. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification