Collimating optical device and system

• US 8,810,914 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2014
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lumus Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Lumus Ltd.
• Inventors: Amitai, Yaakov
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D
• Application Number:
  US14/149,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20140118836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 224 Days
• Field of Search: 359/618, 359/627, 359/629, 359/630, 359/633, 359/634, 359/636, 359/641, 359/831, 385/31, 385/36, 385/129, 385/133
• US Class Current: 359/633
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/011 comprising device for correcting geometrical aberrations, distortion
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0116 comprising devices for correcting chromatic aberration
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0125 Field-of-view increase by wavefront division
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0134 of stereoscopic type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/015 involving arrangement aiming to get less bulky devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/02 involving prisms or mirrors G02B23/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0025 for optical correction, e.g. distorsion, aberration
• 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 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1006 for splitting or combining different wavelengths G02B27/1086, G02B27/141 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/106 for splitting or combining a plurality of identical beams or images, e.g. image replication
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/145 having sequential partially reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/28 for polarising used in stereoscopes G02B30/25
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/283 used for beam splitting or combining
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/286 for controlling or changing the state of polarisation, e.g. transforming one polarisation state into another G02B5/3083 takes precedence; light guide coupling means utilising polarising elements G02B6/34
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/30 Collimators
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/25 : using polarisation techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/35 : using reflective optical elements in the optical path between the images and the observer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/04 : Prisms
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/045 : Prism arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/30 : Polarising elements light-modulating devices with active elements G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3066 : involving the reflection of light at a particular angle of incidence, e.g. Brewster's angle
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3083 : Birefringent or phase retarding elements G02B5/3008, G02B5/3016 take precedence; systems for polarisation control G02B27/286; manufacturing phase modulating patterns by lithographic processes G03F7/001
• 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: G02B 6/003 : Lens or lenticular sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0035 : provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0056 : for producing polarisation effects, e.g. by a surface with polarizing properties or by an additional polarizing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2706 : as bulk elements, i.e. free space arrangements external to a light guide, e.g. polarising beam splitters
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/272 : comprising polarisation means for beam splitting and combining
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2766 : Manipulating the plane of polarisation from one input polarisation to another output polarisation, e.g. polarisation rotators, linear to circular polarisation converters
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2773 : Polarisation splitting or combining
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/34 : utilising prism or grating G02B6/293 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0136 : for the control of polarisation, e.g. state of polarisation [SOP] control, polarisation scrambling, TE-TM mode conversion or separation G02F1/0353 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/332 : Displays for viewing with the aid of special glasses or head-mounted displays [HMD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 : with head-mounted left-right displays

Abstract

There is provided a light-guide, compact collimating optical device, including a light-guide having a light-waves entrance surface, a light-waves exit surface and a plurality of external surfaces, a light-waves reflecting surface carried by the light-guide at one of the external surfaces, two retardation plates carried by light-guides on a portion of the external surfaces, a light-waves polarizing beamsplitter disposed at an angle to one of the light-waves entrance or exit surfaces, and a light-waves collimating component covering a portion of one of the retardation plates. A system including the optical device and a substrate, is also provided.

Claims

1. An optical system, comprising:

an optical device for collimating light waves including an arrangement of optical elements carried by a light-transmitting body, the device having a light waves exit surface;

a transparent prism having at least two non-parallel external surfaces;

a light-transmitting substrate having at least two major surfaces parallel to each other, edges and an input aperture;

an optical element for coupling the collimated light waves into the substrate by internal reflection, and

at least one partially reflecting surface located in the substrate for coupling light waves out of the substrate, said partially reflecting surface being non-parallel to the major surfaces of the substrate,

wherein the input aperture of the light-transmitting substrate is positioned adjacent to one of the two external surfaces of the prism, and the other of the two external surfaces is positioned adjacent to the exit surface of the collimating optical device,

characterized in that the light-waves trapped in the substrate, intersect the input aperture of the light-transmitting substrate at an oblique angle with respect to the major surfaces of the substrate, said oblique angle being greater than a critical angle for effecting the light waves internal reflection inside the substrate.

2. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein the trapped light waves pass through the prism.

3. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein the input aperture of the light-transmitting substrate is optically cemented to said one of the two external surfaces of the prism.

4. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein an output aperture of the collimating optical device is optically cemented to said other of the two external surfaces of the prism.

5. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein the light-waves trapped in the substrate intersect an output aperture of the collimating optical device, substantially normal to the surface of the output aperture.

6. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein an interface surface between the prism and the substrate is substantially transparent.

7. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein an interface surface between the prism and the collimating optical device is substantially transparent.