Display, instrument panel, optical system and optical instrument

• US 9,244,286 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2012
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Evans, Allan, Curd, Alistair, Wynne-Powell, Thomas, Smith, Nathan, Walton, Emma, Gay, Gregory, Jacobs, Adrian
• Primary Examiner(s): Merlin, Jessica M
• Application Number:
  US13/606,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20130057961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/25 using polarisation techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/40 giving the observer of a single two-dimensional [2D] image a perception of depth
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/52 the 3D volume being constructed from a stack or sequence of 2D planes, e.g. depth sampling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/322 using varifocal lenses or mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/388 Volumetric displays, i.e. systems where the image is built up from picture elements distributed through a volume

Abstract

A multiple depth display provided for displaying images at different depths comprises a single display device (61), for displaying all of the images. An optical system (62, 63, 64) is disposed in front of the display device (61). The optical system comprises first and second spaced-apart partial reflectors (62, 63) and polarization optics (64) for providing first and second light paths for first and second images or sequences of images displayed by the device (61). The first light path (65) comprises partial transmission through the first reflector (62), partial reflection from the second reflector (63), partial reflection from the first reflector (62), and partial transmission through the second reflector (65) towards a viewing region.

Claims

1. A display comprising a display device for modulating a first light with a first image or sequence of images and an optical system arranged to increase the perceived depth of the location of the first image or sequence, the optical system comprising first and second spaced-apart partial reflectors and providing a first light path for the first light from the device to a viewing region, the first light path comprising at least partial transmission through the first partial reflector towards the second partial reflector, at least partial reflection from the second partial reflector towards the first partial reflector, at least partial reflection from the first partial reflector towards the second partial reflector, and at least partial transmission through the second partial reflector towards the viewing region,

wherein the first and second partial reflectors comprise a partially transmissive mirror and a reflective linear polariser, respectively, and the optical system comprises a quarter wave plate disposed between the first and second partial reflectors and a patterned retarder or polarization rotator disposed between the first partial reflector and the device.

2. A display as claimed in claim 1, in which the optical system is arranged substantially to prevent transmission to the viewing region of the first light not reflected during reflection by the first and second partial reflectors.

3. A display as claimed in claim 1, in which the optical system is arranged to change the polarization of the first light during passage along the first light path.

4. A display as claimed in claim 3, in which the optical system is arranged to change the polarization of the first light during passage along the first light path between incidence on the second partial reflector and reflection from the first partial reflector.

5. A display as claimed in claim 1, in which the device is arranged to modulate a second image or sequence of images and the optical system is arranged to provide a second light path from the device to the viewing region of length different from that of the first light path to provide a perceived depth of location of the second image or sequence different from that of the first image or sequence.

6. A display as claimed in claim 5, in which the second light path comprises at least partial transmission through the first partial reflector towards the second partial reflector and at least partial transmission through the second partial reflector towards the viewing region.

7. A display as claimed in claim 6, in which the optical system is arranged substantially to prevent transmission to the viewing region of the second light not transmitted by the second reflector.

8. A display as claimed in claim 5, in which the display is switchable between a first mode displaying the first image or sequence and a second mode displaying the second image or sequence to change the perceived depth of image location.

9. A display as claimed in claim 5, in which the display is arranged to display the first and second images or sequences simultaneously or time-sequentially to give the appearance of one of the first and second images or sequences overlaid above the other of the first and second images or sequences.

10. A display as claimed in claim 1, in which the first and second partial reflectors are substantially plane.

11. A display as claimed in claim 1, in which the first and second partial reflectors are substantially parallel.

12. A display as claimed in claim 11, in which the first and second partial reflectors are substantially parallel to a display surface of the device.

13. A display as claimed in claim 1, in which the device comprises a liquid crystal device.

14. A display as claimed in claim 1, in which the first and second partial reflectors overlie substantially the whole of an image displaying region of the device.

15. A display as claimed in claim 1, in which the patterned retarder or rotator comprises a uniform quarter wave plate and a patterned half wave plate or patterned 90°

polarisation rotator.

16. A display as claimed in claim 1, in which the patterned retarder or rotator comprises a liquid crystal cell.

17. A display as claimed in claim 16, in which the liquid crystal cell comprises a patterned electrode arrangement.