System and method for a compact display

• US 9,848,127 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2015
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Dopilka, David J., Fritz, Bernard, Larson, Brent D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Won, Bumsuk
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beatty, Collin X
• Application Number:
  US14/798,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20170019602A1
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 345 7, 345 8, 359 13, 359630, 359900, 349 11
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0112 comprising device for genereting colour display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence

Abstract

Provided is a compact display system and method for creating, with minimal volume, a focused, high quality, full color, large FOV virtual image characterized by eye-limited spatial resolution. The provided compact display (i) enables a flexible range of eye relief, and (ii) enables a large exit pupil.

Claims

1. A display system for creating virtual images, comprising:

an image source configured to receive image data and generate a real display image therefrom; and

an optical assembly coupled to the image source and comprising an exit surface, the optical assembly configured to create a virtual image of the real display image, such that, when viewed from a predetermined eye-pupil within a predetermined pupil that is separated a predetermined eye relief from the exit surface, the virtual image comprises optical qualities of

(i) a predetermined field of view (FOV) of ten degrees or larger that is substantially unvignetted,

(ii) a predetermined center of the field of view (CFOV),

(iii) appearing to be in focus at an accommodation distance greater than or equal to twice the predetermined eye relief, and

(iv) eye-limited spatial resolution at the predetermined FOV;

wherein the optical assembly comprises a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, and a fourth lens, the first lens, second lens and third lens each have positive refractive power, the fourth lens has negative refractive power and is nearest the first display device, and the first display device is planar; and

wherein the display system has a display system depth behind the exit surface toward the predetermined CFOV that is less than or substantially equal to the predetermined eye relief.

2. The display system of claim 1, wherein the optical assembly is substantially coaxial with an axis associated with the predetermined CFOV.

3. The display system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined pupil is at least 20 millimeters in diameter.

4. The display system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined FOV is 24 degrees or larger.

5. The display system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined eye relief is within the range of about 50 mm to about 250 mm.

6. The display system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined eye relief is within the range of 75 mm to 125 mm.

7. The display system of claim 1, wherein the image source comprises:

a first display device; and

drive electronics coupled to the first display device, the drive electronics configured to (i) receive the image data and (ii) command the first display device to generate the real display image.

8. The display system of claim 1, further comprising a housing surrounding the image source and the optical assembly, wherein the housing does not obscure the exit surface of the optical assembly, and wherein a housing depth is not more than 86 millimeters and a housing height and a housing width are not more than 56 millimeters.

9. The display system of claim 1, further comprising a face plate, and wherein a housing is coupled to a region of the face plate, and wherein the region of the face plate comprises an optical quality that cooperates with the optical assembly.

10. The display system of claim 9, wherein the region of the face plate (i) intersects the housing and (ii) is located between the first lens and the image source.

11. The display system of claim 1, wherein the optical assembly comprises one or more of an aspheric surface, a diffractive surface, and a first display device that is non-planar.

12. The display system of claim 1, further comprising a transparent display device coupled to an exit surface side of the image source.

13. The display system of claim 1, wherein a lens within the optical assembly further comprises circular aperture to allow for rotational adjustment.

14. A display system for creating virtual images, comprising:

an image source configured to receive image data and generate a real display image therefrom; and

an optical assembly coupled to the image source and comprising an exit surface, the optical assembly configured to create a virtual image of the real display image, such that, when viewed from a predetermined eye-pupil within a predetermined pupil that is separated a predetermined eye relief from the exit surface, the virtual image comprises optical qualities of

(i) a predetermined field of view (FOV) of ten degrees or larger that is substantially unvignetted,

(ii) a predetermined center of the field of view (CFOV),

(iii) appearing to be in focus at an accommodation distance greater than or equal to twice the predetermined eye relief from the predetermined pupil, and

(iv) eye-limited spatial resolution at the predetermined FOV;

wherein the display system has a display system depth behind the exit surface toward the predetermined CFOV that is less than or substantially equal to the predetermined eye relief; and

a face plate having a housing coupled to a region of the face plate, wherein the region of the face plate comprises an optical quality that cooperates with the optical assembly, and wherein the region of the face plate (i) intersects the housing and (ii) is located between a first lens of the optical assembly and the image source.

15. The display system of claim 14, wherein the image source comprises:

a first display device that is planar and has an exit surface side;

a transparent display device coupled to the exit surface side of the first display device; and

drive electronics coupled to the first display device and the transparent display device, the drive electronics configured to (i) receive the image data and (ii) command the first display device to generate a first portion of the real display image and command the transparent display device to generate another portion of the real display image.