Automobile windshield for HUD system

• US 7,355,796 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2005
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RealD Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ColorLink, Incorporated (RealD Incorporated)
• Inventors: Robinson, Michael G
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz; Jordan
• Assistant Examiner(s): JONES, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US11/160,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20060023315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 359/630, 359/13
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10458 Polarization selective transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/012 comprising devices for attenuating parasitic image effects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/288 Filters employing polarising elements, e.g. Lyot or Solc filters G02B5/3016 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/30 Polarising elements light-modulating devices with active elements G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/305 including organic materials, e.g. polymeric layers

Abstract

A simple reflecting layered structure is disclosed that is attached to, or incorporated into, an automobile windshield that allows a head-up-display (HUD) to be viewed through anti-glare, p-polarized sunglasses without double imaging and without substantial net alteration of the polarization state of light. The invention relies on the negligible reflection of p-polarized light at material interfaces oriented at the typical angles within an automobile HUD system. The reflecting structure consists of two polarization manipulating films sandwiching a s-polarized reflector. A suitable reflector could constitute the natural reflection off interfaces between the two films and a single medium of substantially different refractive index. One embodiment utilizes two stretched polymer half wave retardation films separated with an air gap. The optic axes of the films are essentially crossed oriented at approximately 45° to both s- and p-polarization axes.

Claims

1. A windshield for manipulating optical polarization in a head-up display system, the head-up display system comprising a projection light source, the windshield comprising:

a first polarization manipulating layer operable to transform a polarization state of light;

a thin film layer adjoining the first polarization manipulating layer;

a second polarization manipulating layer adjoining the thin film layer, the second polarization manipulating layer being operable to transform a polarization state of light; and

a transparent substrate layer adjoining the second polarization manipulating layer;

wherein a first material interface is defined by the thin film layer and the first polarization manipulating layer, a second material interface is defined by the thin film layer and the second polarization manipulating layer, the first and second material interfaces each being operable to transmit and reflect a portion of the light from the projection light source; and

wherein the first and second polarization manipulating layers each comprise half wave retarders.

2. The windshield of claim 1, wherein the orientations of the first and second half wave retarders are orthogonal.

3. A windshield for manipulating optical polarization in a head-up display system, the head-up display system comprising a projection light source, the windshield comprising:

a first polarization manipulating layer operable to transform a polarization state of light;

a thin film layer adjoining the first polarization manipulating layer;

a second polarization manipulating layer adjoining the thin film layer, the second polarization manipulating layer being operable to transform a polarization state of light; and

a transparent substrate layer adjoining the second polarization manipulating layer

wherein a first material interface is defined by the thin film layer and the first polarization manipulating layer, a second material interface is defined by the thin film layer and the second polarization manipulating layer, the first and second material interfaces each being operable to transmit and reflect a portion of the light from the projection light source; and

wherein at least one layer is adjoined to a neighboring layer with an index-matching material therebetween.

4. The windshield of claim 3, wherein the index-matching material is an index-matching adhesive.

5. The windshield of claim 3, wherein the transparent substrate layer comprises glass, plastic, or a laminated combination of glass and plastic.

15. The windshield of claim 3, wherein the first polarization manipulating layer transforms polarized light by 90°

.

16. The windshield of claim 15, wherein the second polarization manipulating layer transforms polarized light by 90°

.

6. A windshield for manipulating optical polarization in a head-up display system, the head-up display system comprising a projection light source, the windshield comprising:

a first polarization manipulating layer operable to transform a polarization state of light;

a thin film layer adjoining the first polarization manipulating layer;

a second polarization manipulating layer adjoining the thin film layer, the second polarization manipulating layer being operable to transform a polarization state of light; and

a transparent substrate layer adjoining the second polarization manipulating layer;

wherein a first material interface is defined by the thin film layer and the first polarization manipulating layer, a second material interface is defined by the thin film layer and the second polarization manipulating layer, the first and second material interfaces each being operable to transmit and reflect a portion of the light from the projection light source; and

wherein the thin film layer is operable to reflect s-polarized light and transmit p-polarized light.

17. The windshield of claim 6, wherein at least one layer is adjoined to a neighboring layer without an index-matching material.

7. A film for manipulating optical polarization for a head-up display application, the film comprising a layer structure operable to affix to a transparent substrate, the film further comprising:

a first polarization manipulating layer operable to receive polarized light from the head up display and transform the polarization state to an orthogonal state of polarization;

a thin film layer adjoining the first polarization manipulating layer, the thin film layer operable to transmit and reflect a portion of the orthogonally polarized light from the first polarization manipulating layer;

a second polarization manipulating layer with a first side adjoining the thin film layer and a second side operable to affix to the transparent substrate, the second polarization manipulating layer operable to transform the polarization state of the light from the thin film layer to an orthogonal state of polarization; and

wherein the first and second polarization manipulating layers each comprise half wave retarders.

8. The film of claim 7, wherein the orientations of the first and second half wave retarders are orthogonal.

9. A film for manipulating optical polarization for a head-up display application, the film comprising a layer structure operable to affix to a transparent substrate, the film further comprising:

a first polarization manipulating layer operable to receive polarized light from the head up display and transform the polarization state to an orthogonal state of polarization;

a thin film layer adjoining the first polarization manipulating layer, the thin film layer operable to transmit and reflect a portion of the orthogonally polarized light from the first polarization manipulating layer;

a second polarization manipulating layer with a first side adjoining the thin film layer and a second side operable to affix to the transparent substrate, the second polarization manipulating layer operable to transform the polarization state of the light from the thin film layer to an orthogonal state of polarization; and

wherein at least one layer is adjoined to a neighboring layer with an index-matching material therebetween.

10. The film of claim 9, wherein the index-matching material is an index-matching adhesive.

11. A film for manipulating optical polarization for a head-up display application, the film comprising a layer structure operable to affix to a transparent substrate, the film further comprising:

a first polarization manipulating layer operable to receive polarized light from the head up display and transform the polarization state to an orthogonal state of polarization;

a thin film layer adjoining the first polarization manipulating layer, the thin film layer operable to transmit and reflect a portion of the orthogonally polarized light from the first polarization manipulating layer;

a second polarization manipulating layer with a first side adjoining the thin film layer and a second side operable to affix to the transparent substrate, the second polarization manipulating layer operable to transform the polarization state of the light from the thin film layer to an orthogonal state of polarization; and

wherein the thin film layer is operable to reflect s-polarized light and transmit p-polarized light.

12. A windshield for manipulating optical polarization in a head-up display system, the head-up display system comprising a projection light source, the automotive windshield comprising:

a first polarization manipulating layer operable to transform a polarization state of light from the projection light source;

an air space layer adjacent to the first polarization manipulating layer;

a second polarization manipulating layer adjacent to the air space layer, the second polarization manipulating layer operable to transform a polarization state of light from the projection light source; and

a glass layer adjacent to the second polarization manipulating layer;

wherein a first material interface is defined by the air space layer and the first polarization manipulating layer, a second material interface is defined by the air space layer and the second polarization manipulating layer, the first and second material interfaces each being operable to transmit and reflect a portion of the light from the projection light source, wherein the first and second polarization manipulation layers are disposed in parallel planes.

13. The windshield of claim 12, wherein the air space layer is maintained by at least one spacer between the first and second polarization manipulating layers.

14. The windshield of claim 13, wherein the at least one spacer separates the first and second polarization manipulating layers in a range between 0.01and 0.1 mm apart.