Visual display system for displaying virtual images onto a field of vision

• US 7,158,095 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2003
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Big SHOT Performance LLC
• Original Assignee: Big SHOT Performance LLC
• Inventors: Bean, Kenneth Eugene II, George, David Paul, Jenson, Barton James
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala; Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): DHARIA, PRABODH M
• Application Number:
  US10/622,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20050012682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: 345 7- 9, 345/169, 345/611, 345/102, 345/207, 345/632, 359/15, 359/630, 359/894, 359/619, 359/640, 353/20, 704/275, 349/65, 280/735, 348/222.1
• US Class Current: 345/7
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/012 comprising devices for attenuating parasitic image effects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0018 with means for preventing ghost images anti-reflection coatings G02B1/11
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/30 Polarising elements light-modulating devices with active elements G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/00 Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings

Abstract

An optically transparent, ghost-free visual display system that superimposes a virtual image comprising graphical or textual information onto a field of vision. Embodiments of the visual display system utilize illumination and optical components that introduce a virtual image onto a field of vision while minimally obstructing and/or attenuating other objects within the field of vision. Embodiments of the visual display system can be used in numerous applications, including head-up displays (“HUDs”) for automotive, tracked and rail-mounted vehicles, marine, aerospace applications, see-through speech prompt displays, and see-through projection displays.

Claims

1. A visual display system that superimposes a virtual image onto a field of vision of an occupant of a vehicle that includes a windshield, the visual display system comprising:

a display light source that transmits an image in at least partially polarized light; and

a combiner positioned between the occupant and the windshield that transmits light from a field of vision extemal to the vehicle to the occupant, the combiner

reflecting a first portion of the display light to superimpose the image as a virtual image within the transmitted field of vision,

rotating the polarization of a second portion of the display light, and

transmitting the second portion of the display light through the windshield, the second portion of the light having low efficiency for reflection towards the viewer from windshield-related optical boundaries encountered by the second portion of the display light following rotation of the plane of polarization of the display light and transmission by the combiner.

2. The visual display system of claim 1 wherein the light is s-polarized, and the polarization of the light is rotated by the combiner to produce p-polarized light.

3. The visual display system of claim 1 wherein the combiner consists of a birefringent material.

4. The visual display system of claim 1 wherein the combiner is coated with a birefringent film.

5. The visual display system of claim 1 wherein the combiner is coated with a dielectric film.

6. The visual display system of claim 1 wherein the combiner is coated with a metallic film.

7. The visual display system of claim 1 used in a head-up display, providing a primary virtual image of an automotive gauge with only attenuated ghost images.

8. The visual display system of claim 1 used in a head-up display, providing a primary virtual image of an automotive gauge with no ghost images.

9. The visual display system of claim 1 used in an application selected from among:

a see-through projection display; and

a head-up display in a vehicle.

10. The visual display system of claim 1 further including a relay optic that rotates the polarization of the reflected, first portion of the light.

11. The visual display system of claim 10 used in a head-up display to allow a viewer to wear p-polarized sunglasses.

12. The visual display system of claim 10 wherein the display light source is selected from among:

a display projection system utilizing a light guide, diffuser, liquid crystal display, and transmitting window;

a vacuum fluorescent display;

a laser or light emitting diode combined with a scanning mirror;

a laser or light emitting diode combined with a number of lasers, LEDs, and scanning mirrors;

a laser or LED combined with scanning lenses; and

an array of LEDs that together compose a graphical or textual display.

13. The visual display system of claim 1 wherein the combiner is coated with both a dielectric film and a metallic film.

14. The visual display system of claim 1 wherein the combiner is applied to an inner surface of the windshield.

15. A visual display system that superimposes a virtual image onto a field of vision of an occupant of a vehicle that includes a windshield, the visual display system comprising:

a display light source that transmits an image in an at least partially p-polarized light; and

a combiner, coated with a metallic coating, positioned between the occupant and the windshield that transmits light from a field of vision external to the vehicle to the occupant, the combiner

reflecting a first portion of the display light to superimpose the image as a virtual image within the transmitted field of vision, and

transmitting a second portion of the display light, the second portion of the display light having low efficiency for reflection towards the viewer from optical boundaries encountered by the second portion of the display light following transmission into the combiner.

16. The visual display system of claim 15 used in a head-up display to allow a viewer to wearp-polarized sunglasses.

17. A method for superimposing a virtual image onto a field of vision of an occupant of a vehicle that includes a windshield, the method comprising:

transmitting an image in an at least partially polarized light from a display light source to a combiner positioned between the occupant and the windshield that transmits light from a field of vision external to the vehicle to the occupant, the combiner reflecting a first portion of the display light to superimpose the image as a virtual image within the transmitted field of vision,

rotating the polarization of a second portion of the display light, and

transmitting the second portion of the display light through the windshield, the second portion of the light having low efficiency for reflection towards the viewer from windshield-related optical boundaries encountered by the second portion of the display light following rotation of the plane of polarization of the display light and transmission by the combiner.

18. The method of claim 17 employed to provide a head-up display.

19. The method of claim 17 employed to provide a see-through display projector.

20. A visual display system that superimposes a virtual image onto a field of vision of an occupant of a vehicle that includes a windshield, the visual display system comprising:

a display light source that transmits an image in at least partially polarized light;

a combiner that transmits light from a field of vision external to the vehicle to the occupant, the combiner

reflecting a first portion of the display light to superimpose the image as a virtual image within the transmitted field of vision,

rotating the polarization of a second portion of the display light, and

transmitting the second portion of the display light through the windshield, the second portion of the light having low efficiency for reflection towards the viewer from windshield-related optical boundaries encountered by the second portion of the display light following rotation of the plane of polarization of the display light and transmission by the combiner; and

a relay optic that rotates the polarization of the reflected, first portion of the display light to direct p-polarized light to the vehicle occupant.