Optical system for forming an image in space

• US 8,064,137 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2007
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PC Mirage LLC
• Original Assignee: PC Mirage LLC
• Inventors: Dike, Bruce D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavarias; Arnel C
• Application Number:
  US11/774,026
• Publication Number:
  US 20090323024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 359/489.08
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/012 comprising devices for attenuating parasitic image effects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0121 Parasitic image effect attenuation by suitable positioning of the parasitic images
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/28 for polarising used in stereoscopes G02B30/25
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/56 by projecting aerial or floating images
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/30 Polarising elements light-modulating devices with active elements G02F1/00

Abstract

An optical system that projects a real image to a location in free space and includes one or more features located along the optical path that enhance the viewability of the real image. The optical system includes a converging element for converging a portion of source light so as to form the real image. One viewability-enhancing feature is the use of a broadband reflector-polarizer having high transmitting and reflecting efficiencies. Another viewability-enhancing feature is the use of polarizing elements having substantially matched bandwidth responses and/or comprising an achromatic design. An additional viewability-enhancing feature is the use of a wide-view film to increase the viewing angle of the image.

Claims

1. A projector system, comprising:

a projection optic designed and configured to project a real image of a source image into free space, said projection optic including;

an optical axis extending through the source image when the projection optic is in operative relation to the source image;

a circular polarizer located along said optical axis for polarizing randomly polarized light from the source image so as to create circularly polarized light having a handedness;

a path-folding optic located along said optical axis and configured to;

receive the circularly polarized light from a first direction along said optical axis;

pass a first portion of the circularly polarized light as direct view light;

reverse the handedness of a second portion of the circularly polarized light; and

output reverse-handed circularly polarized light in a second direction opposite said first direction;

wherein said path-folding optic includes a beamsplitter and a broadband reflector-polarizer;

a direct view light extinguisher located along said optical axis for extinguishing the direct view light and passing said reverse-handed circularly polarized light in the second direction; and

a converging element for focusing the second portion of the circularly polarized light so as to form a floating real image in the second direction along said optical axis; and

a 3D projector designed and configured to provide the source image as a 3D floating image.

2. The projection optic of claim 1, wherein said converging element comprises said broadband reflector-polarizer.

3. The projection optic of claim 1, wherein said converging element comprises said beamsplitter.

4. The projection optic of claim 1, wherein said converging element is a refractive lens.

5. The projector of claim 1, wherein said 3D image projector is an electrovariable optic based 3D image projector.