Diffractive lens optical design
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An optical system comprising:
- (A) a microdisplay; and
(B) a magnifier for producing a magnified image of the microdisplay for viewing by a human eye, said magnifier having a focal length fo, a long conjugate side in the direction of the human eye, a short conjugate side in the direction of the microdisplay, and an f-number f# for light passing from the long conjugate to the short conjugate, said magnifier, in order from the long conjugate side to the short conjugate side, comprising;
(I) a first element having a first surface which is convex in the direction of the long conjugate, said first element having a focal length f1;
(II) a block of optical material; and
(III) a second element having a second surface which is convex in the direction of the short conjugate, said second element having a focal length f2;
wherein;
(a) f1>
0;
(b) f2>
0;
(c) the first surface is a diffractive surface, or the second surface is a diffractive surface, or the magnifier comprises a diffractive surface which is separate from the first and second surfaces;
(d) axial light passing through the optical system from the long conjugate to the short conjugate and converging at the microdisplay has a beam diameter at the diffractive surface whose maximum value is d; and
(e) the beam diameter value d, the focal length f0, and the f-number satisfy the relationship;
(f#·
d)/f0>
0.4.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical system for use in a head-mounted display is provided which includes a microdisplay (4) and a magnifier (10) for producing a magnified image of the microdisplay for viewing by a human eye. The magnifier (10) includes a diffractive surface and has in order: a first element (1) having a first surface (S1) which is convex in the direction of the long conjugate, a block (3) of optical material, and a second element (2) having a second surface (S2) which is convex in the direction of the short conjugate. The first surface (S1) is preferably the diffractive surface. The magnifier provides a long eye relief, a large exit pupil, and a large field of view with a minimum of components.
73 Citations
41 Claims
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1. An optical system comprising:
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(A) a microdisplay; and (B) a magnifier for producing a magnified image of the microdisplay for viewing by a human eye, said magnifier having a focal length fo, a long conjugate side in the direction of the human eye, a short conjugate side in the direction of the microdisplay, and an f-number f# for light passing from the long conjugate to the short conjugate, said magnifier, in order from the long conjugate side to the short conjugate side, comprising; (I) a first element having a first surface which is convex in the direction of the long conjugate, said first element having a focal length f1; (II) a block of optical material; and (III) a second element having a second surface which is convex in the direction of the short conjugate, said second element having a focal length f2; wherein; (a) f1>
0;(b) f2>
0;(c) the first surface is a diffractive surface, or the second surface is a diffractive surface, or the magnifier comprises a diffractive surface which is separate from the first and second surfaces; (d) axial light passing through the optical system from the long conjugate to the short conjugate and converging at the microdisplay has a beam diameter at the diffractive surface whose maximum value is d; and (e) the beam diameter value d, the focal length f0, and the f-number satisfy the relationship;
(f#·
d)/f0>
0.4. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An optical system comprising:
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(A) a microdisplay; and (B) a magnifier for producing a magnified image of the microdisplay for viewing by a human eye, said magnifier having a focal length f0, a long conjugate side in the direction of the human eye, and a short conjugate side in the direction of the microdisplay, said magnifier, in order from the long conjugate side to the short conjugate side, comprising; (I) a first element having a first surface which is convex in the direction of the long conjugate, said first element having a focal length f1; (II) a block of optical material; and (III) a second element having a second surface which is convex in the direction of the short conjugate, said second element having a focal length f2; wherein; (a) f1>
0;(b) f2>
0;(c) f1/f2>
1.0; and(d) the first surface is a diffractive surface, or the second surface is a diffractive surface, or the magnifier comprises a diffractive surface which is separate from the first and second surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An optical system comprising:
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(A) a microdisplay; and (B) a magnifier for producing a magnified image of the microdisplay for viewing by a human eye, said magnifier having a focal length f0, a long conjugate side in the direction of the human eye, and a short conjugate side in the direction of the microdisplay, said magnifier, in order from the long conjugate side to the short conjugate side, comprising; (I) a first element having a first surface which is convex in the direction of the long conjugate, said first element having a focal length f1; (II) a block of optical material; and (III) a second element having a second surface which is convex in the direction of the short conjugate, said second element having a focal length f2; wherein; (a) f1>
0;(b) f2>
0;(c) f1/f0>
1.3; and(d) the first surface is a diffractive surface, or the second surface is a diffractive surface, or the magnifier comprises a diffractive surface which is separate from the first and second surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An optical system comprising:
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(A) a microdisplay; and (B) a magnifier for producing a magnified image of the microdisplay for viewing by a human eye, said magnifier having a long conjugate side in the direction of the human eye, a short conjugate side in the direction of the microdisplay, and, in order from the long conjugate side to the short conjugate side, comprises; (I) a first element having a first surface which is convex in the direction of the long conjugate, said first element having a focal length f1; (II) a block of optical material; and (III) a second element having a second surface which is convex in the direction of the short conjugate, said second element having a focal length f2; wherein; (a) f1>
0;(b) f2>
0; and(c) the magnifier comprises a diffractive surface which is closer to the magnifier'"'"'s long conjugate side than to its short conjugate side. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification