Collimating optical member for real world simulation
First Claim
1. An optical system for presenting virtual optical images of an image source outputting light in a forward direction at a desired apparent distance comprising:
- (a) a light polarizing image source;
(b) a first linear polarizing element oriented to receive light from said image source and output first linearly polarized light having an orientation in a first direction, said first linear polarizing element being oriented in said first direction;
(c) a first elliptical polarizing member oriented in a second direction and positioned to receive said first linearly polarized light and output first elliptically polarized light, said first elliptically polarized light being oriented in a first elliptical direction;
(d) a partially transparent and partially reflective focusing member positioned to receive said first elliptically polarized light and transmit a portion of said first elliptically polarized light;
(e) a second elliptical polarizing member positioned to receive said portion of said first elliptically polarized light from said focusing member and transmit said portion of said first elliptically polarized light as second linearly polarized light, said second linearly polarized light being oriented in said first direction; and
(f) a reflective-transmissive polarizer configured and positioned to reflect light having a linear polarization in said first direction and transmit light having a linear polarization in a direction transverse to said first direction, said second elliptical polarizing member being configured and positioned to convert linearly polarized light reflected in a rearward direction by said reflective transmissive polarizer into second elliptically polarized light with said second elliptically polarized light being polarized in said first elliptical direction, said partially transparent and partially reflective focusing member being positioned to reflect in a forward direction said second elliptically polarized light as third elliptically polarized light, said third elliptically polarized light having a second elliptical direction different from said first elliptical direction, and said second elliptical polarizing member being positioned to convert said third elliptically polarized light into third linearly polarized light, transmitting said third linearly polarized light in a forward direction, said third linearly polarized light being oriented in a second direction transverse to said first direction, whereby said reflective-transmissive polarizer transmits said third linearly polarized light in a forward direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A collimating image-forming apparatus comprising a first linear polarizer is disclosed. A first quarterwave plate is disposed adjacent the first polarizer and has its fast and slow axes at substantially 45° to the plane of polarization of the first polarizer. The apparatus further comprises a beam-splitting curved mirror having a convex surface adjacent the first polarizer and facing towards the first quarter-wave plate, a second quarter-wave plate adjacent the concave side of the curved mirror, the second quarterwave plate having its having its fast and slow axes oriented with respect to the corresponding axes of the first quarter-wave plate at angles substantially equal to a first integral multiple of 90°, and a reflective-transmissive polarizing member adjacent the second quarter-wave plate. A second linear polarizer is adjacent the reflective-transmissive polarizing member, the second linear polarize: having its plane of polarization oriented with respect to the plane of polarization of the first linear polarizer at an angle substantially equal to a second integral multiple of 90°, both of the multiples being even or both being odd.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An optical system for presenting virtual optical images of an image source outputting light in a forward direction at a desired apparent distance comprising:
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(a) a light polarizing image source; (b) a first linear polarizing element oriented to receive light from said image source and output first linearly polarized light having an orientation in a first direction, said first linear polarizing element being oriented in said first direction; (c) a first elliptical polarizing member oriented in a second direction and positioned to receive said first linearly polarized light and output first elliptically polarized light, said first elliptically polarized light being oriented in a first elliptical direction; (d) a partially transparent and partially reflective focusing member positioned to receive said first elliptically polarized light and transmit a portion of said first elliptically polarized light; (e) a second elliptical polarizing member positioned to receive said portion of said first elliptically polarized light from said focusing member and transmit said portion of said first elliptically polarized light as second linearly polarized light, said second linearly polarized light being oriented in said first direction; and (f) a reflective-transmissive polarizer configured and positioned to reflect light having a linear polarization in said first direction and transmit light having a linear polarization in a direction transverse to said first direction, said second elliptical polarizing member being configured and positioned to convert linearly polarized light reflected in a rearward direction by said reflective transmissive polarizer into second elliptically polarized light with said second elliptically polarized light being polarized in said first elliptical direction, said partially transparent and partially reflective focusing member being positioned to reflect in a forward direction said second elliptically polarized light as third elliptically polarized light, said third elliptically polarized light having a second elliptical direction different from said first elliptical direction, and said second elliptical polarizing member being positioned to convert said third elliptically polarized light into third linearly polarized light, transmitting said third linearly polarized light in a forward direction, said third linearly polarized light being oriented in a second direction transverse to said first direction, whereby said reflective-transmissive polarizer transmits said third linearly polarized light in a forward direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An optical system for presenting virtual optical images of an image source outputting light in a forward direction at a desired apparent distance comprising:
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(a) an image source; (b) a first linear polarizing element oriented to receive light transmitted forwardly from said image source and output first linearly polarized light, said first linearly polarized light having a direction of polarization with an orientation in a first direction, said first linear polarizing element being oriented in said first direction; (c) a first elliptical polarizing member oriented in a second direction and positioned to receive said first linearly polarized light and output first elliptically polarized light, said first elliptically polarized light being oriented in a first elliptical direction; (d) a partially transparent and partially reflective concave mirror positioned to receive said first elliptically polarized light and transmit a portion of said first elliptically polarized light; (e) a second elliptical polarizing member positioned to receive said portion of said first elliptically polarized light from said partially transparent and partially reflective concave mirror and transmit said portion of said first elliptically polarized light as second linearly polarized light, said second linearly polarized light having a polarization direction, substantially oriented in said first direction; and (f) a reflective-transmissive polarizer configured and positioned to reflect light having a linear polarization in said first direction and transmit light having a linear polarization in a direction transverse to said first direction, said second elliptical polarizing member being configured and positioned to convert linearly polarized light reflected in a rearward direction by said reflective transmissive polarizer into second elliptically polarized light with said second elliptically polarized light being polarized substantially in said first elliptical direction, said partially transparent and partially reflective concave mirror being positioned to reflect in a forward direction said second elliptically polarized light as third elliptically polarized light, said third elliptically polarized light having a second elliptical direction different from said first elliptical direction, and said second elliptical polarizing member being positioned to convert said third elliptically polarized light into third linearly polarized light, transmitting said third linearly polarized light in a forward direction, said third linearly polarized light being oriented in a second direction transverse to said first direction, whereby said reflective-transmissive polarizer transmits said third linearly polarized light in a forward direction, said first linear polarizing element being positioned between said image source and said first elliptical polarizing member, said first elliptical polarizing member being positioned between said first linear polarizing element and said partially transparent and partially reflective concave mirror, said partially transparent and partially reflective concave mirror being positioned between said first elliptical polarizing member and said second elliptical polarizing member, and said second elliptical polarizing member being positioned between said partially transparent and partially reflective concave mirror and said reflective-transmissive polarizer.
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13. An optical system for presenting virtual optical images of an image source outputting light in a forward direction at a desired apparent distance comprising:
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(a) a light polarizing image source; (b) a first linear polarizing element oriented to receive light transmitted forwardly from said image source and output first linearly polarized light, said first linearly polarized light have a direction of polarization with an orientation in a first direction, said first linear polarizing element being oriented in said first direction; (c) a first circular polarizing member oriented in a second direction and positioned to receive said first linearly polarized light and output first circularly polarized light said first circularly polarized light being oriented in a first circular direction; (d) a partially transparent and partially reflective focusing member positioned to receive said first circularly polarized light and transmit a portion of said first circularly polarized light; (e) a second circular polarizing member positioned to receive said portion of said first circularly polarized light from said partially transparent and partially reflective focusing member and transmit said portion of said first circularly polarized light as second linearly polarized light, said second linearly polarized light having a polarization direction substantially oriented in said first direction; and (f) a reflective-transmissive polarizer configured and positioned to reflect light having a linear polarization in said first direction and transmit light having a linear polarization in a direction transverse to said first direction, said second circular polarizing member being configured and positioned to convert linearly polarized light reflected in a rearward direction by said reflective transmissive polarizer into second circularly polarized light with said second circularly polarized light being polarized substantially in said first circular direction, said partially transparent and partially reflective focusing member being positioned to reflect in a forward direction said second circularly polarized light as third circularly polarized light, said third circularly polarized light having a second circular direction different from said first circular direction, and said second circular polarizing member being positioned to convert said third circularly polarized light into third linearly polarized tight, transmitting said third linearly polarized light in a forward direction, said third linearly polarized light being oriented in a second direction transverse to said first direction, whereby said reflective-transmissive polarizer transmits said third linearly polarized light in a forward direction, said first linear polarizing element being positioned between said image source and said first circular polarizing member, said first circular polarizing member being positioned between said first linear polarizing element and said partially transparent and partially reflective focusing member, said partially transparent and partially reflective focusing member being positioned between said first circular polarizing member and said second circular polarizing member, and said second circular polarizing member being positioned between said partially transparent and partially reflective focusing member and said reflective-transmissive polarizer.
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Specification