Optical displays

• US 8,233,204 B1
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DigiLens Inc, Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Stanley, James H., Tedesco, James M., Robbins, Steven J., Raynal, Francois, Brown, Robert D., Hendrick, Wyatt L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Jack
• Application Number:
  US12/571,262
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 359/566, 359/568, 359/15, 385/31, 385/37, 345/7
• US Class Current: 359/15
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0152 involving arrangement aiming to get lighter or better balanced devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0808 by means of one or more diffracting elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0103 comprising holographic elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0149 characterised by mechanical features G02B27/0176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/4272 having plural diffractive elements positioned sequentially along the optical path
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/18 Diffraction gratings holographic optical elements G02B5/32, G03H; integrally combined with optical fibres G02B6/02057; for coupling light guides G02B6/34; integrally combined with optical integrated light guides G02B6/12; grating systems G02B27/44
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/1828 having means for producing variable diffraction controlling the direction of light by means of one or more diffracting elements G02B26/0808; acousto-optical elements G02F1/11, G02F1/33; electro- or magneto-optical diffraction G02F1/292, G02F1/2955
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/32 Holograms used as optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/00 Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/01 for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour G02F1/29, G02F1/35 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/305 diffraction grating
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/30 discrete holograms only
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/2226 Edge lit holograms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 359/90 Methods

Abstract

An apparatus for providing an optical display includes an optical substrate for propagating light received from a light source, a first set of one or more switchable diffractive elements in the substrate, and a second set of one or more switchable diffractive elements in the substrate. Each diffractive element in the second set corresponds to a diffractive element in the first set. Each of the diffractive elements in the first and second sets is configured to switch between on and off states. One of the states is for diffracting light and the other state for allowing light to pass through. Each of the first set of diffractive elements is configured to diffract the light at an angle for propagation in the substrate. Each of the second set of diffractive elements is configured to diffract the light for display.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing an optical display, comprising:

an optical substrate for propagating light received from a light source;

a first set of one or more switchable diffractive elements in the substrate; and

a second set of one or more switchable diffractive elements in the substrate, each diffractive element in the second set corresponding to a diffractive element in the first set, each of the diffractive elements in the first and second sets configured to switch between on and off states, one of the states for diffracting light and the other state for allowing light to pass through, each of the first set of diffractive elements configured to diffract the light at an angle for propagation in the substrate, and each of the second set of diffractive elements configured to diffract the light for display.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switchable diffractive elements of the first and second sets are electronically switchable diffraction gratings comprising one or more of switchable Bragg gratings and holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the diffractive power of each diffractive element in the first set is the same as the diffractive power of each diffractive element in the second set.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the diffractive elements in the first set at least partially overlap and each of the diffractive elements in the second set at least partially overlap.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a collimating device for providing light from the light source to the substrate.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the collimating device comprises a diffractive lens integrated with the in-coupling switchable diffractive device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light from the light source comprises light waves from varying angles, each of the diffractive elements in the first and second sets configured to diffract light from a specific set of angles.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the field of view provided for display is greater than 30 degrees.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the diffractive elements of the first and second sets all switch within a display frame time sufficiently short so that a human eye does not perceive display flicker.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a transparent dielectric.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switchable diffractive elements are tuned to different wavelengths of light for generating color by sequentially switching the diffractive elements for three or more colors.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switchable diffractive elements are used in transmission or reflection mode.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is mounted in a head mourned display, a heads-up display, or eyewear.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the Bragg gratings or liquid crystal devices in the first set at least partially overlap and each of the Bragg gratings or liquid crystal devices in the second set at least partially overlap.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light from the light source comprises light waves from varying angles, each of the Bragg gratings or liquid crystal devices in the first and second sets configured to diffract light from a specific set of angles and wherein the field of view provided for display is greater than 30 degrees.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the Bragg gratings or liquid crystal devices of the first and second sets all switch within a display frame time sufficiently short so that a human eye does not perceive display flicker.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is mounted in a head mounted display, a heads-up display, or eyewear.

18. An apparatus for providing an optical display, comprising:

a substrate for propagating light received from a light source;

a first set of one or more switchable Bragg gratings or holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal devices in the substrate; and

a second set of one or more switchable Bragg gratings or holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal devices in the substrate, each Bragg grating or liquid crystal device in the second set corresponding to a Bragg grating or liquid crystal device in the first set, each of the Bragg gratings or liquid crystal devices in the first and second sets configured to switch between on and off states, one of the states for diffracting light and the other state for allowing light to pass through, each of the first set of Bragg gratings or liquid crystal devices configured to diffract the light at an angle for propagation in the substrate, and each of the second set of Bragg gratings or liquid crystal devices configured to diffract the light for display.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the diffractive power of each Bragg grating or liquid crystal device in the first set is the same as the diffractive power of each Bragg grating or liquid crystal device in the second set.