Display systems

• US 8,355,610 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2008
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Inventors: Simmonds, Michael David
• Primary Examiner(s): PENG, CHARLIE YU
• Application Number:
  US12/305,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20100284090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,561 Days
• Field of Search: 345/9, 359/630
• US Class Current: 385/37
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0134 of stereoscopic type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0081 with means for altering, e.g. enlarging, the entrance or exit pupil
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/00 Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings

Abstract

A primary waveguide and a coupling waveguide are arranged so a user can view light from a forward scene through the primary waveguide. An image source generates an image which is diffractively coupled into the primary waveguide and internally reflected to an exit area for diffraction towards the user. Light from the forward looking scene is diffracted into the primary waveguide to be internally reflected and coupled to a image intensifier tube assembly. The image intensifier tube assembly enhances light from the forward looking scene and drives the image source such that an image of the enhanced light is overlaid on light from a forward scene at exit area.

Claims

1. A display system, comprising:

a primary waveguide configured so that a user can view a forward scene through the primary waveguide;

an image source configured to generate an image; and

a display optical arrangement configured to couple the image from the image source into the primary waveguide;

wherein an internal surface of the primary waveguide is configured to internally reflect the image from the image source to a position such that the user can view the image from the image source at the primary waveguide overlaid on the forward scene viewable through the primary waveguide, and

wherein the primary waveguide is configured to reflect light from the forward scene to the display optical arrangement, which is configured to transmit the light from the forward scene to a sensor device.

2. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device includes an image intensifier configured to enhance light from the forward scene and the enhanced light from the image intensifier is feed into the display optical arrangement.

3. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device is configured to determine one or more characteristics of the forward scene, and to feed information on such characteristics to the display optical arrangement, which is configured to control the image source to generate an image according to such characteristics.

4. The display system according to claim 2, wherein the sensor device is configured to determine one or more characteristics of the forward scene, and to feed information on such characteristics to the display optical arrangement, which is configured to control the image source to generate an image according to such characteristics.

5. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the image source is configured to generate an image in the form of symbology to overlay the forward scene.

6. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the primary waveguide includes at least one diffractive element configured to diffract light from the forward scene to the display optical arrangement.

7. The display system according to claim 6, wherein a pair of diffractive elements, each arranged at substantially one end of the primary waveguide, are configured to diffract light from the forward scene to the display optical arrangement.

8. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the primary waveguide includes at least one diffractive element configured to diffract the image from the image source to the user.

9. The display system according to claim 8, wherein a pair of diffractive elements, each arranged at substantially one end of the primary waveguide, are configured to diffract light from the image source to the user.

10. The display system according to claim 1, wherein a coupling waveguide is configured to couple the image generated by the image source into the primary waveguide, and to couple light from the forward scene into the display optical arrangement.

11. The display system according to claim 10, wherein the coupling waveguide includes at least one diffractive element configured to diffract the image from the image source to the primary waveguide.

12. The display system according to claim 10, wherein the coupling waveguide includes at least one diffractive element configured to diffract light from the forward scene to the display optical arrangement.

13. The display system according to claim 11, wherein the coupling waveguide includes at least one diffractive element configured to diffract light from the forward scene to the display optical arrangement.

14. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the primary waveguide forms part of a visor configured to be carried by a helmet.

15. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the display system is incorporated in a helmet mounted display apparatus.

16. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device includes a camera.