Displays

• US 9,684,170 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2013
• Issued: 06/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Inventors: Simmonds, Michael David
• Primary Examiner(s): OSORIO, RICARDO
• Application Number:
  US14/650,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20150316768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0154 with movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0174 holographic
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0103 comprising holographic elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3197 using light modulating optical valves

Abstract

A display apparatus is described that comprises an optical ocular part (3) arranged for viewing a scene therethrough, and a waveguide display part (6) arranged for guiding image-bearing light to a transparent display output area (16) thereof and thereat displaying the image. The ocular part and/or the waveguide display part are positioned, or are arranged to be positioned, mutually in register for viewing simultaneously the scene with the displayed image incorporated in it, through the transparent display output area. A focuser part (17) positioned in register with the display output area focuses simultaneously the scene and the incorporated image for focused viewing by a user (13).

Claims

1. A display apparatus comprising:

an optical ocular part for viewing a scene therethrough; and

a waveguide display part arranged for guiding image-bearing light from an image generator part to a transparent display output area of the waveguide display part such that the image-bearing light is viewable combined with light from the scene passing through the transparent display output area,

wherein at least one of the ocular part and the waveguide display part is moveable relative to the other between a stowed relative position and a relative position of alignment such that when in the relative position of alignment, light from the scene viewable through the ocular part is arranged to pass through the transparent display output area and to be viewable combined with the image-bearing light,

the display apparatus further comprising a switchable focuser part positioned in alignment with the display output area for focusing simultaneously light from the scene viewable through the ocular part, when the waveguide display part and the ocular part are in the relative position of alignment, combined with the image-bearing light for focused viewing by a user,

wherein the state of focus of the light from the scene after passing through the optical ocular part is consistent with the state of focus of the image-bearing light.

2. The display apparatus according to claim 1, in which the image-bearing light is collimated and the ocular part is arranged or is adjustable to output to the display output area collimated light from the scene.

3. The display apparatus according to claim 1, in which the focuser part is arranged or operable to possess a negative optical power thereby to diverge light received from the display output area.

4. The display apparatus according to claim 1, in which the focuser part is switchable between a first state in which it possesses substantially no optical power and a second state in which it possesses an optical power for focusing light received from the display output area.

5. The display apparatus according to claim 4, in which the ocular part is moveably connected to the waveguide display part and is moveable between a first position in which it is in the stowed relative position with respect to the waveguide display part and a second position in which it is in the relative position of alignment with respect to the waveguide display part.

6. The display apparatus according to claim 5, in which the focuser part is arranged to switch from said first state to said second state when the ocular part is moved from said first position into said second position.

7. The display apparatus according to claim 5, in which the focuser part is arranged to switch from said second state to said first state when the ocular part is moved from said second position into said first position.

8. The display apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a switch element arranged to detect a change in relative position of the ocular part and the waveguide display part from the first position to the second position and from the second position to the first position thereby to switch the focuser part from the first state to the second state and from the second state to the first state, respectively.

9. The display apparatus according to claim 1, in which the waveguide display part comprises a planar waveguide display.

10. The display apparatus according to claim 1, in which the ocular part is comprised within a monocular lens assembly.

11. The display apparatus according to claim 1, in which the ocular part is comprised within one lens assembly within a binocular lens assembly and not within another lens assembly of the binocular lens assembly.

12. The display apparatus according to claim 11, wherein each lens assembly of the binocular lens assembly includes an independently adjustable eyepiece lens such that the eyepiece lens of the lens assembly comprising the ocular part may be independently adjusted such that the state of focus of the light from the scene after passing through the ocular part is consistent with the state of focus of the image-bearing light.

13. The display apparatus according to claim 12, in which the focuser part is switchable between a first state in which it possesses substantially no optical power and a second state in which it possesses an optical power for focusing light received from the display output area, wherein the eyepiece lens of the lens assembly comprising the ocular part is arranged to output collimated light from the scene and the eyepiece lens of the other lens assembly of the binocular lens assembly is arranged to output focused light from the scene, such that the optical power of the eyepiece lens of the other lens assembly is substantially matched by the optical power of the focuser part when switched to said second state.

14. The display apparatus according to claim 11, in which the ocular part is comprised in a lens assembly of a night vision goggle system.

15. The display apparatus according to claim 1, in which the switchable focuser part comprises a switchable transmissive Bragg grating.