Scanned-Beam Heads-Up Display and Related Systems and Methods

• US 20080212194A1
• Filed: 04/28/2008
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
• Inventors: Powell, Karlton D., Urey, Hakan, Malik, Amjad, Hannigan, Russell J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,826,141 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/622
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/22 Telecentric objectives or lens systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/10 Scanning systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0087 with index gradient
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/001 using specific devices not provided for in groups G09G3/02 - G09G3/36, e.g. using an intermediate record carrier such as a film slide; Projection systems; Display of non-alphanumerical information, solely or in combination with alphanumerical information, e.g. digital display on projected diapositive as background slide projectors per se G03B23/00 = 42 HP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3129 scanning a light beam on the display screen scanning a light beam on a screen in displays other than projection devices G09G3/02; scanning systems in general G02B26/10; projectors using laser light sources in general H04N9/3161
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 359/90 Methods

Abstract

A heads-up display that includes a scanner and a projection assembly. The scanner generates an image by sweeping a beam of electromagnetic energy, and the projection assembly directs the image into a predetermined viewing space having a region with a substantially uniform intensity profile. Such a heads-up display can often be made smaller than a conventional heads-up display, and can often generate an image having a higher quality than an image generated by a conventional display. Furthermore, one can often calibrate and recalibrate such a display without physically modifying or replacing a component of the display or of a vehicle incorporating the display.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A method, comprising:

sweeping a beam of light in at least one dimension to generate an image; and

directing the image into a predetermined viewing space having a substantially uniform intensity envelope in a cross section having a region that is substantially normal to a viewing dimension.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein directing the image comprises generating a plurality of beamlets within the viewing space.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein:

a planar projection of the cross section has a predetermined shape; and

directing the image comprises generating within the viewing space a plurality of beamlets each having a planar cross section with substantially the predetermined shape.

14-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method, comprising:

generating an output beam of electromagnetic energy having a substantially uniform intensity profile in a planar cross section that is normal to a direction in which the output beam propagates; and

sweeping the output beam in at least one dimension to generate an image.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein generating the output beam comprises:

generating an input beam having a non-uniform intensity profile in a planar cross section that is normal to a direction in which the input beam propagates; and

passing the input beam through a top-hat converter to generate the output beam.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein generating the output beam comprises:

generating an input beam having a substantially Gaussian intensity profile in a planar cross section that is normal to a direction in which the input beam propagates; and

clipping an outer portion of the input beam; and

generating the output beam from an undipped inner portion of the input beam.

24-26. -26. (canceled)

27. A method, comprising:

generating a beam of electromagnetic energy; and

resonantly sweeping the beam in one dimension to generate a virtual image that is reflected from a wind screen of a vehicle.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein resonantly sweeping the beam comprises generating the image while resonantly sweeping the beam in both directions of the dimension.

29-35. -35. (canceled)

36. A method, comprising:

sweeping a beam having a profile in a cross section;

converting the profile of the beam into substantially a spatial sine function;

performing a spatial Fourier Transform on the spatial sine function to generate an image; and

directing the image into a predetermined viewing space with a wind screen of a vehicle.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein converting the profile of the beam comprises converting the profile of the beam into substantially a spatial sine function using a dual-microlens array.

38-41. -41. (canceled)

42. A method, comprising:

generating an output beam of electromagnetic energy having a substantially hexagonally shaped planar cross section that is normal to a direction in which the output beam propagates; and

sweeping the output beam in at least one dimension to generate an image.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising:

forming beamlets of the image, each beamlet having a substantially hexagonally shaped planar cross section that is normal to a direction in which the beamlet propagates; and

directing the beamlets into a predetermined viewing space.

44-52. -52. (canceled)

53. A method, comprising:

generating an image by sweeping a beam of electromagnetic energy in at least one dimension; and

directing the image into a predetermined viewing space such that in a cross section of the viewing space having a region that is substantially normal to a viewing dimension, the image has a substantially uniform intensity profile.

54. The method of claim 53, further comprising generating the beam of electromagnetic energy having a substantially uniform intensity profile in a planar cross section that is normal to a direction in which the beam propagates.

55. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

generating the beam of electromagnetic energy having a hexagonal aperture and a substantially uniform intensity profile in a planar cross section that is normal to a direction in which the beam propagates; and

wherein the cross section of the viewing space has a hexagonal shape.

56. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

generating the beam of electromagnetic energy having a hexagonal aperture and a substantially uniform intensity profile in a planar cross section that is normal to a direction in which the beam propagates;

wherein the cross section of the viewing space has a hexagonal shape; and

wherein the viewing space includes beamlets each having a hexagonal aperture and a substantially uniform intensity profile in a planar cross section that is substantially parallel to the planar cross section of the viewing space.