High brightness optical device

• US 7,884,985 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2009
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lumus Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Lumus Ltd.
• Inventors: Amitai, Yaakov, Gelberg, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): AMARI, ALESSANDRO V
• Application Number:
  US12/467,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20090237804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 359/13, 359/599, 359/630, 362/246, 345/7, 345/8
• US Class Current: 359/13
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/22 Telecentric objectives or lens systems
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/02 Diffusing elements; Afocal elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0252 using holographic or diffractive means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0257 creating an anisotropic diffusion characteristic, i.e. distributing output differently in two perpendicular axes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0284 used in reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/00 Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings

Abstract

There is provided an optical device, comprising a display source; a light-diffuser; an imaging optical module, and an output aperture from the optical device characterized in that the light diffuser is an angular, non-uniform diffuser of light for increasing a portion of light emerging from the display source that passes through the output aperture. A method for improving the brightness of an optical display is also provided.

Claims

1. An optical device, comprising:

a display source emitting light waves;

a diverging light source illuminating the display source;

a converging lens located between the light source and the display source;

a light diffuser for non-uniformly diffusing the light of the display source;

an output aperture for emitting light from the optical device; and

an imaging lens located between the display source and the output aperture for setting the light waves at the output aperture to a specific brightness, the imaging lens being a telecentric lens.

2. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the telecentricity of said imaging optical system is set to result in at least said specific brightness.

3. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the telecentricity of said imaging optical system is more than 0.5°

.

4. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the telecentricity of said imaging optical system is less than 10°

.

5. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein said light diffuser diffuses the light interposed between the display source and said converging lens.

6. The optical device according to claim 1 further comprising a light-transmitting substrate having a light-emitting surface and at least one surface located inside said substrate for coupling the light out of said substrate.

7. The optical device according to claim 6, wherein each light wave emerging from a single point on the display source is diverged into a predetermined finite solid angle, such that light waves from the entire display source are coupled into said substrate by total internal reflection.

8. The optical device according to claim 7, wherein optical nature and structure of the combination of the components of said optical device results in coupling the light waves into a single eye of an observer.

9. The optical device according to claim 7, wherein optical nature and structure of the combination of the components of said optical device results in coupling said light waves into both eyes of an observer.

10. The optical device according to claim 6, wherein input waves and image waves are located on the same side of said substrate.

11. The optical device according to claim 6, wherein input waves and image waves are located on the opposite sides of said substrate.

12. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein optical nature and structure of the combination of said light source, converging lens, display source and light diffuser, dictate the solid angles, resulting in coupling said light waves into said substrate by total internal reflection.

13. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein said optical device is utilized as a head mounted display.

14. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein said optical device is utilized as a head-up display.