Optical relay for compact head up display

• US 7,690,799 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2008
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
• Inventors: Nestorovic, Nenad, Hegland, Joel E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Collins; Darryl J
• Application Number:
  US12/198,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20100053758A1
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 359601-630, 359738-740
• US Class Current: 359/601
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/011 comprising device for correcting geometrical aberrations, distortion
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence

Abstract

Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, an optical relay for a head up display, the optical relay comprises a glare trap having angularly selectivity by being capable of reflecting light having an angle of incidence greater than a first angle, and being capable of transmitting light having an angle of incidence less than a second angle, and a first optic arranged to receive light reflected off the glare trap at an angle of incidence greater than the first angle, and to direct light through the glare trap at an angle of incidence less than the second angle to exit the glare trap.

Claims

1. An optical relay for a head up display, the optical relay comprising:

a glare trap having angularly selectivity reflecting light having an angle of incidence greater than a first angle, and transmitting light having an angle of incidence less than a second angle;

a first optic arranged to receive light reflected off the glare trap at an angle of incidence greater than the first angle, and to direct light through the glare trap at an angle of incidence less than the second angle to exit the glare trap; and

a second optic arranged to receive the light reflected off the glare trap at an angle of incidence greater than the first angle a first time, and to redirect light to the first optic that is reflected off the glare trap at an angle of incidence greater than the first angle a second time.

2. An optical relay as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first optic comprises a primary lens or a primary mirror, or combinations thereof, and the second optic comprises a secondary lens or a secondary mirror or combinations thereof.

3. An optical relay as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a singlet lens disposed between a display and the glare trap to provide a relatively flat field or to position an eyebox, or combinations thereof.

4. An optical relay as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a wedge optic disposed between a display and the glare trap to adjust optical distortion in an image projected by the display.

5. An optical relay as claimed in claim 1, wherein light is incident upon the glare trap two or more times before passing through the glare trap.

6. An optical relay as claimed in claim 1, wherein the glare trap has an optical coating disposed on a surface thereof to provide the angular selectivity of the glare trap.

7. An optical relay as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a combiner to combine the light exiting the glare trap with ambient light incoming to an eye of a viewer.

8. An optical relay as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first optic operates to provide an apparent magnified image disposed at a selected distance from a viewer.

9. An optical relay as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first angle and the second angle are separated by about 20 degrees or more.

10. A head up display, comprising:

a housing;

a display module disposed in the housing; and

optical relay disposed in the housing, the optical relay comprising;

a glare trap having angularly selectivity reflecting light emitted from the display having an angle of incidence greater than a first angle, and transmitting light having an angle of incidence less than a second angle;

a first optic arranged to receive light reflected off the glare trap at an angle of incidence greater than the first angle, and to direct light through the glare trap at an angle of incidence less than the second angle to exit the housing through the glare trap; and

a second optic arranged to receive the light reflected off the glare trap at an angle of incidence greater than the first angle a first time, and to redirect light to the first optic that is reflected off the glare trap at an angle of incidence greater than the first angle a second time.

11. A head up display as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a singlet lens disposed between the display and the glare trap to provide a relatively flat field or to position an eyebox, or combinations thereof, or a wedge optic disposed between the display and the glare trap to adjust optical distortion in an image projected by the display, or combinations thereof.

12. A head up display as claimed in claim 10, wherein the glare trap has an optical coating disposed on a surface thereof to provide the angular selectivity of the glare trap.

13. A head up display as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first optic operates to provide an apparent magnified image disposed at a selected distance from a viewer.

14. A head up display as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first angle and the second angle are separated by about 20 degrees or more.

15. A head up display as claimed in claim 10, wherein the display emits light at three separate wavelengths, and the angular selectivity of the glare trap functions for all of the three separate wavelengths.