Display source

• US 7,777,819 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2006
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Inventors: Simmonds, Michael David
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Uyen-Chau N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Prince; Kajli
• Application Number:
  US11/658,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20090015735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,399 Days
• Field of Search: 349/11, 359/630
• US Class Current: 349/11
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/30 Polarising elements light-modulating devices with active elements G02F1/00

Abstract

A helmet mounted display 30 includes a display source 31 arranged to be directly imaged by a primary relay optical arrangement 32 having relay optical elements 33A, 33B and 33C. Light exiting the primary relay optical arrangement 32 indicated by ray traces 34A, 34B and 34C continue towards a visor 35 which is arranged to reflect incident light to a exit pupil located in a convenient position for a viewer 36.

The display source 31 includes a light source, beam splitter, reflective liquid crystal display and a display source relay optical arrangement to provide an output image at an output diffuser screen. The image at the output screen is then directly imaged by the primary relay optical arrangement 32.

Should the reflective liquid crystal display require modification or replacement with a newer model, then the display source 31 can be redesigned to accommodate the new reflective liquid crystal display rather than re-engineering the primary relay optical arrangement 32 at greater expense.

Claims

1. A method of modifying a display apparatus by replacing in the display apparatus a first reflective image generator having first mechanical or optical properties with a second reflective image generator having second mechanical or optical properties, the display apparatus including:

a primary relay lens arrangement having a fixed focal length;

a visor;

a display source arranged to image the primary relay lens arrangement;

wherein the primary relay lens arrangement is arranged to transmit the image from the display source to the visor; and

wherein the display source includes;

a first image generator arranged to generate an image; and

a first display source relay optical arrangement;

wherein the first image generator is arranged to image the first display source relay optical arrangement; and

the first display source relay optical arrangement has a first focal length which is selected according to the first mechanical or optical properties to transmit a correctly sized image to the primary relay lens arrangement;

the method comprising;

replacing the first image generator with a second different image generator; and

replacing the first display source relay optical arrangement with a second different display source relay optical arrangement having a second different focal length which is selected according to the second different mechanical or optical properties to transmit a correctly sized image to the primary relay lens arrangement, and

wherein the display apparatus further comprises a first output screen arrangement for matching a first numerical aperture of the first display source relay optical arrangement with a numerical aperture of the primary relay lens arrangement, the method comprising replacing the first output screen arrangement with a second different output screen arrangement which matches a second different numerical aperture of the second different display source relay optical arrangement with the numerical aperture of the primary relay lens arrangement.

2. A method, as in claim 1, wherein the image generator includes a reflective liquid crystal display.

3. A method, as in claim 2, wherein a field lens is arranged between the reflective liquid crystal display and the beam splitter.

4. A method, as in claim 1, wherein the display source relay optical arrangement includes a relay lens arrangement.

5. A method, as in claim 4, wherein a fold mirror is arranged between the relay lens arrangement and the output screen arrangement.

6. A method, as in claim 1, wherein the display apparatus includes:

a light source generator arranged to generate light including linearly polarized light of a first predetermined type;

a beam splitter arranged to substantially transmit incident linearly polarized light of the first predetermined type through the beam splitter and to substantially reflect incident linearly polarized light of a second predetermined type from the beam splitter; and

the image generators include a plurality of display pixels, each pixel including a predetermined state being arranged to reflect and convert incident linearly polarized light of the first predetermined type into linearly polarized light of the second predetermined type;

wherein the first and the second display source relay optical arrangements are arranged to transmit linearly polarized light of the second predetermined type reflected from the image generator via the beam splitter to the output screen arrangement.

7. A method, as in claim 6, wherein the light source generator includes a light source and an illuminator lens.

8. A method, as in claim 6, wherein the image generator includes a reflective liquid crystal display.

9. A method, as in claim 6, wherein the predetermined state of the display pixels of the image generator reflect and convert incident linearly polarized light of the first predetermined type into linearly polarized light of the second predetermined type to form a desired image to be displayed on the output screen arrangement.

10. A method, as in claim 6, wherein the linearly polarized light of the first predetermined type is p-polarized light.

11. A method, as in claim 6, wherein the linearly polarized light of the second predetermined type is s-polarized light.

12. A method, as in claim 6, wherein a compensator plate is arranged between the beam splitter and display source relay optical arrangement.

13. A method as in claim 6, wherein said method is applied to a display apparatus.

14. A method as in claim 13, wherein the display apparatus is provided in a helmet mounted display or head mounted display including a visor arranged to reflect incident light to a viewer.

15. A method as in claim 14, wherein the helmet mounted display or head mounted display further includes a projector lens arranged between the display source and the primary relay lens arrangement.