Wide angle immersive display system

• US 7,663,793 B1
• Filed: 07/31/2008
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Institut national d'optique
• Original Assignee: Institut national d'optique
• Inventors: Doucet, Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan; James
• Application Number:
  US12/184,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20100027093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 359/212.1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/08 Catadioptric systems used in non-imaging applications G02B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/10 Scanning systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/40 giving the observer of a single two-dimensional [2D] image a perception of depth
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/32 by projected image G09B9/307, G09B9/36 take precedence

Abstract

A wide angle display system, comprising a scanner having at least one reflective surface and an axis of rotation, a dome having a reflective inner surface, the inner surface having an axis of revolution which is coincident with the axis of rotation of the scanner, at least one linear arrangement of light sources producing beams of light. The reflective surface of the scanner reflects the beams of light towards the reflective inner surface of the dome which in turn collimates the beams of light and reflects them towards an observer positioned within the wide angle display system.

Claims

1. A wide angle display system, comprising:

a scanner having at least one reflective surface and an axis of rotation;

a dome having a reflective inner surface, the inner surface having an axis of revolution which is coincident with the axis of rotation of the scanner;

at least one linear arrangement of light sources producing beams of light; and

wherein the reflective surface of the scanner reflects the beams of light towards the reflective inner surface of the dome which in turn collimates the beams of light and reflects them towards an observer positioned within the wide angle display system.

2. A wide angle display system according to claim 1, whereby in use the synchronous addressing of the linear arrangement of light sources with the rotation of the scanner allows the generation of images appearing to come from an infinite radius screen.

3. A wide angle display system according to claim 1, further comprising a shaping module associated with each of the at least one linear arrangement of light sources for aiming the beams of light at the reflective surface of the scanner.

4. A wide angle display system according to claim 3, wherein the shaping modules are shifted along and angularly around the axis of revolution of the dome.

5. A wide angle display system according to claim 3, wherein the shaping module includes:

a collecting group for transforming characteristics of the beams of light; and

a converter for adjusting the divergence of the beams of light and redirecting the beams of light from the linear arrangement of light sources towards the collecting group.

6. A wide angle display system according to claim 4, wherein the characteristics include direction, divergence and wavefront.

7. A wide angle display system according to claim 4, wherein the converter includes at least one element selected from a group consisting of a refractive component, a reflective component, a diffusing element, a diffractive element, optic fibers, fiber optics faceplate and an array of micro components.

8. A wide angle display system according to claim 3, wherein each shaping module is located inside the dome.

9. A wide angle display system according to claim 3, wherein each shaping module is located outside the dome.

10. A wide angle display system according to claim 9, wherein the dome includes input ports associated with each shaping module for introducing the beams of light inside the dome.

11. A wide angle display system according to claim 10, wherein an outside surface of the input ports is shaped so as to deviate the beams of light.

12. A wide angle display system according to claim 10, wherein an outside surface of the input ports is shaped so as to correct aberrations in the beams of light.

13. A wide angle display system according to claim 1, wherein the reflective inner surface is symmetrical about the axis of revolution of the dome.

14. A wide angle display system according to claim 1, wherein the reflective inner surface has an ellipsoidal profile having a first and second focal points and wherein the scanner is positioned at a first focal point and the observer is positioned at the second focal point.

15. A wide angle display system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reflective surface of the scanner is encapsulated within a profiled transparent body.

16. A wide angle display system according to claim 15, wherein the profiled transparent body is generally cylindrical in shape about the axis of revolution of the dome.

17. A wide angle display system according to claim 15, wherein the profiled transparent body includes a plurality of layers having different refraction indexes.

18. A wide angle display system according to claim 17, wherein at least one of an inner or outer surface of one of the layers is profiled so as to provide a desired optical correction.

19. A wide angle display system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one linear arrangement of light sources includes a line of elements selected from a group consisting of LEDs and illuminated micro-mirrors.

20. A wide angle display system according to claim 1, wherein the axis of revolution of the dome is tilted with respect to the nominal sight direction of the observer.

21. A wide angle display system according to claim 1, further comprising a second dome, the two domes having coincident axes of revolution.