Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a display device are provided. A first image is caused to be displayed on the display device. The first image is at least representative of a field of view from on-board an aircraft. A second image is rendered over the first image on the display device. A luminance of at least a portion of the second image is temporally modulated.

Abstract: Methods and systems for operating an avionics system are provided. A predefined set of movements of a headset is detected. In response to the detection of the set of movements, one or more various functions are performed.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display is provided. The liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel having pixels configured to form an image; and a backlight system proximate to the liquid crystal display panel and configured to illuminate the pixels of the liquid crystal display panel. The backlight system includes a light guide including a plate portion generally parallel to the liquid crystal display panel and a first side portion extending generally perpendicularly from the plate portion, a light source configured to emit light into the light guide via the first side portion, and a heat sink coupled to the light source and configured to remove heat generated by the light source during operation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for color correction and contrast enhancement of projection displays. A visual display system includes a projector having a light source with a fixed spectral output, a display screen receiving the output of the projector and emitting a diffused output, and a color correction contrast enhancement filter positioned between the diffusing screen and a viewer. The filter differentially attenuates primary colors of the emission from the diffusing screen. The method includes projecting a light output from a light source having a fixed spectral output onto a diffusing screen, and attenuating primary colors of the emission from the diffusing screen with a light filter positioned adjacent to the diffusing screen.

Abstract: A backlight system for a liquid crystal display includes a substantially planar, refractive waveguide having a first major face and a second major face opposite the first major face. The waveguide includes a viewable region corresponding to a viewable area of the liquid crystal display. The system further includes a light source positioned proximate to the second major face and within the viewing region for producing light. An injection feature is proximate to one or more of the second major face and the first major face and within the viewing region to optically couple the light into the waveguide such that the light becomes waveguided light. A plurality of extraction features is proximate to one or more of the second major face and the first major face and within the viewing region to optically couple the waveguided light out of the waveguide.

Abstract: A projection system includes a vibration controlling structure. The projection system includes an imaging unit mounted to a movable platform via a partially compliant mount structure, such that the imaging unit is partially isolated from the platform while projecting an image which is stable with respect to the platform. The imaging unit and partially compliant mounting structures are constructed and arranged to damp vibrational forces on the imaging unit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for a combined image on a head-up display. A data image display provides a first part of a combined image. An optical input provides a second part of the combined image, e.g., the background scene. A combiner superimposes the first and second parts to provide the combined image to the viewer. The data image display preferentially delivers s-polarized light to the combiner, which has a selective reflectance region for preferentially reflecting s-polarized light in a wavelength region of interest. In a preferred embodiment, the data image display comprises a backlight, a liquid crystal layer and two polarizers oriented so that the data images directed toward the combiner are s-polarized with respect to the selective reflectance region. A polarization rotation element may also be used in the data image display to facilitate s-polarization orientation.

Abstract: An image projection system has a first lens with a defined entrance pupil. An image source has an image field and a defined exit pupil. The exit pupil of the image source is configured such that the exit pupil of the image source underfills the entrance pupil of the lens for portions of the image source that are not in the center portion of the image field.

Abstract: A three dimensional viewing assembly includes a first display, a second display, and a beamsplitter. The first display is for displaying a first image. The second display is for displaying a second image. The beamsplitter is disposed at least partially between the first display and the second display, and is configured to receive, and to optically overlay, the first and second images. The beamsplitter comprises a first surface, a second surface, and a mirror. The first surface at least partially faces the first display, and the second surface at least partially faces the second display. The mirror is disposed between the first surface and the second surface.

Abstract: A display system and method for providing user adjustability of displayed three-dimensional images. The system simultaneously displays a left-eye perspective view of an image and a right-eye perspective view of the same image, at a separation distance, and allows for the selective control of the separation distance via, for example, a user interface. The system and method allows multiple users to use multiple pieces of display hardware and quickly return each piece of display hardware to a user's own individualized preferences and compatibilities. It additionally allows a user to vary the display properties, such as providing extra foreshortening or stretching along the depth axis, quickly and simply.

Abstract: A polarization plate is provided for use between a light source and a display panel, where the light source is configured to emit light having a plurality of planes of polarization and the display panel is configured to have a predetermined polarization axis. The plate includes a repolarization region and a prepolarization region. The repolarization region is configured to diffuse and to depolarize or rotate at least one plane of polarization of the light passing therethrough. The prepolarization region is disposed adjacent to and in contact with the repolarization region. The prepolarization region is configured to be substantially nonabsorbent, to allow passage of light having a plane of polarization that is substantially aligned with the predetermined polarization axis, and to prevent passage of light having a plane of polarization that is not substantially aligned with the predetermined polarization axis. In another embodiment, an interface is provided between the regions.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing image uniformity in a head-up display (HUD) are provided. An imaging subsystem is characterized in that if light of a first uniformity is propagated therethrough, an uncompensated image would be displayed to a user via uncompensated image light. The uncompensated image light has first and second portions with respective first and second values of a radiant property. A difference between the first and second values is a first amount. The light source is configured to emit source light of a second, predetermined uniformity through the imaging system such that a compensated image is displayed to the user via compensated image light. The first portion of the compensated image light has a third value of the radiant property, and the second portion of the compensated image light has a fourth value of the radiant property. A difference between the third and fourth values is less than the first amount.

Abstract: An image projection system has a first lens with a defined entrance pupil. An image source has an image field and a defined exit pupil. The exit pupil of the image source is configured such that the exit pupil of the image source underfills the entrance pupil of the lens for portions of the image source that are not in the center portion of the image field.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for projecting light carrying a data image. The apparatus comprises a first layer having regions of electrically alterable variable light transmittance adapted to form the data image, and a hollow cavity backlight having a light exiting surface coupled to the first layer and adapted to provide light to the first layer through the light exiting surface from one or more light emitters some of which point in a principal direction other than at right angles to the light exiting surface. In a preferred embodiment, LEDs are used as the light emitters and are preferably mounted on one or more printed circuit boards or other support tilted at non-zero angles with respect to the light exiting surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the magnitude and edge clarity of the luminosity of an undesired image of a external object reflected from a portion of a surface of a visual display into the eye of a user includes placing a cover in the path of the reflected image. The cover has a surface portion which is not parallel to the portion of the surface of the display. As result the reflections from the cover and from the display surface portions provide multiple images of the external object to the user each having a luminosity magnitude which is less than the magnitude of the luminosity of the undesired image that would occur if the cover was parallel to the display surface portion thereby resulting in super-imposed images.

Abstract: An apparatus including a spatially modulated extended light source configured to project an output having at least one region of diminished illumination, and an array of polarizing beam splitters (PBSs) positioned proximal to the spatially modulated extended light source. The light source includes at least two light outputs configured to project unpolarized light; and at least one gap interspersed between the light outputs. The array of PBSs is configured to receive the output from the light source, convert the unpolarized light to light having a first polarized state, and remove the at least one region of diminished illumination.

Abstract: A modular and scalable seamless tiled display apparatus includes multiple display devices, a screen, and multiple lens assemblies. Each display device is subdivided into multiple sections, and each section is configured to display a sectional image. One of the lens assemblies is optically coupled to each of the sections of each of the display devices to project the sectional image displayed on that section onto the screen. The multiple lens assemblies are configured to merge the projected sectional images to form a single tiled image. The projected sectional images may be merged on the screen by magnifying and shifting the images in an appropriate manner. The magnification and shifting of these images eliminates any visual effect on the tiled display that may result from dead-band regions defined between each pair of adjacent sections on each display device, and due to gaps between multiple display devices.

Abstract: A modular and scalable seamless tiled display apparatus includes multiple display devices, a screen, and multiple lens assemblies. Each display device is subdivided into multiple sections, and each section is configured to display a sectional image. One of the lens assemblies is optically coupled to each of the sections of each of the display devices to project the sectional image displayed on that section onto the screen. The multiple lens assemblies are configured to merge the projected sectional images to form a single tiled image. The projected sectional images may be merged on the screen by magnifying and shifting the images in an appropriate manner. The magnification and shifting of these images eliminates any visual effect on the tiled display that may result from dead-band regions defined between each pair of adjacent sections on each display device, and due to gaps between multiple display devices.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for chromatic vignetting in lens systems. The apparatus includes a projection lens unit having an aperture stop, and a selective filter positioned at the aperture stop. The aperture stop defines a ray bundle boundary of an image passing therethrough. The selective filter includes a transmission area having an optical perimeter based on the ray bundle boundary, and a wavelength band filter partially extending from the optical perimeter into the transmission area. The projection lens unit may be used with an illumination unit having a light source and optics conditioning the light from the light source prior to illumination of a light valve. The selective filter may optionally be positioned at a conjugate plane to the aperture stop in the illumination unit.

Abstract: An electronic dimming system for use in projection displays is provided. In a first embodiment, the dimming system comprises a first non-absorbing polarizer, a variable polarization rotator, a second non-absorbing polarizer and a heat absorber. The first non-absorbing polarizer receives light from a light source and passes the light of a selected polarization to the variable polarization rotator. The variable polarization rotator selectively rotates the polarization of the received light. The light passes from the variable polarization rotator to the second non-absorbing polarizer. The second non-absorbing polarizer passes only light of a second selected polarization. The light that passes the second non-absorbing polarizer is passed to the display, where it is used to illuminate the display. The system provides the ability to control the amount of light passed to the display by selectively rotating the polarization of the light with the variable polarization rotator.