Including Curved Reflector Patents (Class 359/631)
  • Publication number: 20130242405
    Abstract: An eyepiece for a head mounted display includes a display module, end reflector, and viewing region. The end reflector is disposed at an opposite end of the eyepiece from the display module to reflect the display light back from a forward propagation path to a reverse propagation path. The viewing region is disposed between the display module and the end reflector and includes a partially reflective surface, that passes the display light traveling along the forward propagation path and redirects the display light traveling along the reverse propagation path out of an eye-ward side of the eyepiece along an emission path. The partially reflective surface has a compound folding angle such that the emission path of the display light emitted from the eyepiece is folded along two axes relative to the reverse propagation path between the concave end reflector and the partially reflective surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventor: Anurag Gupta
  • Publication number: 20130222896
    Abstract: An intermediate image is formed inside a prism by a projection lens and the like. Image light, totally reflected, in the order of a third surface, a first surface and a second surface, on two or more surfaces thereof, reaches an eye of an observer after passing through the first surface. Thus, it is possible to decrease the thickness of the prism and to reduce the size and weight of the entire optical system. Further, it is possible to realize a bright high-performance display with a wide viewing angle. With respect to external light, it is possible to pass the external light through the first surface and the third surface, for example, for observation. Further, by setting diopter at this time to about 0, it is possible to reduce defocusing or warp of the external light when the external light is observed in a see-through manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20130194674
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a display apparatus projects a light flux including image information toward one eye. The apparatus includes an image formation unit and a projection unit. The image formation unit is configured to emit the light flux. The projection unit includes a projection region limiting unit and a semi-transmissive reflective unit. The projection region limiting unit is configured to limit a width of the light flux emitted from the image formation unit. The semi-transmissive reflective unit is configured to reflect the light flux emitted from the projection region limiting unit. A distance between the semi-transmissive reflective unit and an imaging plane of the light flux is not more than 250 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
  • Patent number: 8456745
    Abstract: A first embodiment is a lens system having a plurality of refractive and reflective spherical elements that work as a magnifier to produce a distortion free, less than 1%, image with optical correction over a wide field of view. The system has at least one concave reflecting surface, and at least three convex refracting surfaces with the sign of the radius of one of the convex refracting surfaces being opposite of the sign of the radius of remaining two convex refracting surfaces. A second embodiment is a lens having a concave reflecting element which is on a substrate that is a negative lens by transmission with an index of refraction between 1.6<nd >2.0 and a dispersion 49<?d>15. This is used in combination with at least 3 positive refracting surfaces with less dispersive power than the negative element and with the sign of the radius of one of the positive elements being opposite from the sign of the radius of the remaining positive elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Inventor: Paul Weissman
  • Patent number: 8441733
    Abstract: A volumetric imaging apparatus has a volumetric image generator with a light source, a light modulator, and a display surface. The volumetric image generator is energizable to form, on the display surface, an image over a range of focal positions at the entrance pupil of an optical system. The optical system is disposed to direct light from the image to a one-dimensional pupil expander. A combiner surface is disposed in the path of output light from the pupil expander for displaying the volumetric image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Inventor: David Kessler
  • Patent number: 8427751
    Abstract: A combiner positioning system for a head-up display (HUD) is provided. The positioning system includes a combiner holder, a pair of control discs, a pair of levers and a driving unit. The combiner holder is connected to the combiner, the levers are connected to the combiner holder and the control discs, and the driving unit is connected to the control discs. When the driving unit drives the control discs to rotate, the levers moves the combiner holder and the combiner. The positioning system enables the combiner's first movement from parking position (storage position) to operating position (display position) and a second movement for angular fine adjustment of the combiner is also enabled after reaching the operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Lite-On It Corporation
    Inventors: Horst Rumpf, Christian Hopf, Alexander Noel
  • Patent number: 8411365
    Abstract: An image-pickup display device includes an optical system which guides lights from a display element 1 to an exit pupil 3 and from an external to an image-pickup element 2. The optical system includes an optical element 10 which is filled with a medium having a refractive index larger than 1. The optical element includes a first surface 7 at an external side and includes a diffraction element portion 13. The optical system guides the light from the display element to the exit pupil via reflection on a second surface 5 and the first surface and via transmission on the second surface, and diffracts the light from the external in the diffraction element portion to be transmitted through the first surface to enter the optical element, and is reflected on the second surface to be transmitted through a third surface 5 to be guided to the image-pickup element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Saito
  • Patent number: 8405911
    Abstract: An in-vehicle information display apparatus including a virtual image generator that projects a virtual image on a windshield of a vehicle. The virtual image generator projects the virtual image on a windshield in at least one of the following projection modes: a first projection mode and a second projection mode. In the first projection mode, the virtual image is projected on the windshield in such a way that the virtual image gradually becomes darker from bottom to top. In the second projection mode, the virtual image is projected on the windshield in such a way that the virtual image gradually becomes more lightly grayed from bottom to top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Uematsu, Yuya Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 8384999
    Abstract: An optical module for head mounted displays and other applications comprises: an optical substrate and optical superstrate having inter-engaging ridged surfaces. A reflective layer is formed on at least one of the surfaces. An index matching material may be located between the surfaces. A region that receives a projected image, from a projector, directs rays launched from the projector onto the ridged surfaces, so that in use a viewer perceives an augmented image. The augmented image comprising reflected rays from the projector and transmitted rays from an object located on an opposite side of the module to that of the viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Cerr Limited
    Inventors: David Nicholas Crosby, David Hayes, Philip Andrew Greenhalgh
  • Patent number: 8363103
    Abstract: A drive assist display apparatus displays the backward or frontward of a vehicle. It is assumed that planes are perpendicular with the front-back direction, the downward, leftward and rightward directions being perpendicular with the front-back direction. Square subjects assumed to be on the planes are displayed as squares or rectangles having equal to one another on respective regions in accordance with the direction. The regions include a forward correction image display region in the vicinity of other display regions. The vicinity area has the same display image corresponding to a straight line coincident with a vertical straight line with respect to the ground surface or being in the vehicle front-back direction. The bottom side of a leftward or rightward correction image display region and the left or right side of a downward correction image display region are straight lines coincident with respective vehicle front-back direction straight lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tadao Ichinose, Koji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8362972
    Abstract: A headphone (3) has LEDs indicating whether a head-mounted display is used for the left eye or for the right eye. In the case shown in the attached figure, the LED of L showing that the display is used for the left eye is lit. Whether the head-mounted display is used for the left eye or for the right eye is indicated by the LEDs, and depending on whether it is used for the left eye or for the right eye, audio outputted from the headphone (3) is switched over between the left and the right. Independent of whether the head-mounted display is used for the left eye or for the right eye, audio for the right ear is outputted for the right ear and audio for the left ear is outputted for the left ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Miyakawa, Shigeru Kato
  • Patent number: 8351124
    Abstract: In the visual display device of the present invention, the first reflection plane 11 is so disposed as to face the eye point 4 in order of an optical path of reverse tracing that extends from the eye point 4 to the two-dimensional image displaying plane 3; the second reflection plane 21 is so disposed as to face the two-dimensional image displaying plane 3, and an optical axis connecting the first reflection plane 11 to the eye point 4 is so disposed as to cross an optical axis connecting the second reflection plane 21 to the two-dimensional image displaying plane 3; both the first and second reflection planes 11 and 21 have positive power; and diopter difference S of the position of a virtual image associated with diopter is substantially equal to that of the position of a virtual image associated with convergence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Takayoshi Togino
  • Patent number: 8342962
    Abstract: A display system includes a cabinet, a transparent dashboard and a lighting system. The dashboard is fabricated to have at least two refractive indices such that when light from the lighting system is projected therethrough, a unique lighting effect is created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Cadillac Jack
    Inventors: Sigmund H. Lee, Mark A. Thompson
  • Patent number: 8337015
    Abstract: A spectacles-type image display device having an image output unit that includes a display element that displays images and is disposed on a spectacle frame and a reflection unit that is disposed adjacent to at least one of spectacle lenses and reflects the image light that is output from the image output unit toward the eyeball so that the viewer can see a virtual image of the image is provided. The reflection unit is a reflection member having a positive refractive power and an effective luminous flux that is output from the image output unit and reaches the eyeball of the viewer is configured so that the width of the luminous flux perpendicular to an optical axis is minimum at the reflection unit with respect to the optical axis cross-section parallel to an incident surface of the optical axis relative to the reflection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Ryohei Sugihara, Seiji Tatsuta, Yoichi Iba, Koichi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8303407
    Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying multiple visual images from a single source at a gaming machine are disclosed. A reversible display device at the gaming machine presents multiple visual images from a display cell or other core display component. Virtual curtains alternate between blocking and permitting the display of visual images at various surfaces of the reversible display device. For a display cell or similar component needing a separate illumination source, illumination components alternate on and off in coordinated fashion with the virtual curtains, and are arranged to reflect light through the display cell in one direction to display one visual image at one surface and then in an opposite direction to display another visual image at the opposite surface. Lenses, mirrors and other optical devices redirect or alter a visual image from a surface such that it is not viewed directly from the display device itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Chauncey W. Griswold, Harold E. Mattice, Richard L. Wilder
  • Patent number: 8300314
    Abstract: A display device includes: a display part containing a first display region visually recognized by a viewer; an object of view arranged in a second display region; an imaging optical system of real specular image for defining a first space in which the first display region exists and a second space in which the second display region exists, the imaging optical system of real specular image including a semitransparent substrate with a plane of symmetry, the imaging optical system of real specular image forming a real image of the object of view in the first space of the first display region with light passing through the substrate; and a half mirror arranged in the first space of the first display region, the half mirror reflecting light beams emitted from the imaging optical system of real specular image to guide the reflected light beams to the viewer, while allowing an image formed in the first display region to be seen by the viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8283554
    Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining radiant energy has first and second photovoltaic receivers. A primary curved reflective surface is disposed to reflect incident polychromatic radiation toward a first focal plane. A spectral separator is disposed between the first focal plane and the primary curved reflective surface. The spectral separator has a dichroic separating surface, convex with respect to the incident reflected polychromatic radiation and treated to reflect a first spectral band toward the first photovoltaic receiver and to transmit reflected polychromatic radiation outside the first spectral band. The spectral separator also has a curved separator reflective surface, convex with respect to the light transmitted through the dichroic separating surface and treated to reflect at least a portion of the light transmitted through the dichroic separating surface toward the second photovoltaic receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: John H Bruning, Joshua Monroe Cobb, Paul Francis Michaloski
  • Patent number: 8269692
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes: a left-eye light source (101) that outputs a left-eye image constituting an original image in whole or in part; a left-eye deflection unit (104) that deflects, toward a left eye of the user, the left-eye image outputted by the left-eye light source (101); a right-eye light source (110) that outputs a right-eye image constituting the original image in whole or in part; a right-eye deflection unit (107) that deflects, toward a right eye of the user, the right-eye image outputted by the right-eye light source (110); and a control unit (105, 111) that controls the left-eye light source (101) and the right-eye light source (110) such that the left-eye image and the right-eye image are outputted which are different from each other in at least one of pixel position, image shape, image size, image resolution, and display frame rate so that the user can recognize the original image from the left-eye image and the right-eye image by an image fusion effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Keiji Sugiyama, Kakuya Yamamoto, Akira Kurozuka
  • Publication number: 20120200937
    Abstract: A half mirror layer has an angle dependency in which when an angle of incidence becomes larger than the angle of incidence range of image light, reflectance increases, such that it is possible to prevent unintended light, which is emitted to a light transmitting member from a light guiding member and is reflected inside a light transmitting member, from being returned to a light emission portion of the light guiding member after passing through the half mirror layer as a reflective film at a relatively large angle of incidence. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the image light passed through the light transmitting member from becoming ghost light while mitigating the demand for increasing processing accuracy of the light transmitting member, and bonding accuracy between the light guiding member and the light transmitting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro TOTANI, Masayuki TAKAGI, Toshiaki MIYAO, Akira KOMATSU, Takashi TAKEDA
  • Patent number: 8237626
    Abstract: A head-mounted device mounted on a wearer's head has a first pressing unit to press against the wearer's head from a position of his/her medulla, a second pressing unit to press against the wearer's head in an opposite direction to a pressing direction of the first pressing unit, and a mounting unit to mount the head-mounted device on the wearer's head by adjusting at least one of the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiki Ishino, Takaaki Nakabayashi, Yoshihiro Saito, Toshiyuki Okuma
  • Publication number: 20120120499
    Abstract: Head-mounted displays (100) are disclosed which include a frame (107), an image display system (110) supported by the frame (107), and a reflective surface, e.g., a free-space, ultra-wide angle, reflective optical surface (a FS/UWA/RO surface) (120), supported by the frame (107). In certain embodiments, the reflective surface (120) produces spatially-separated virtual images that are angularly separated by at least 100, 150, or 200 degrees. Methods and apparatus for designing reflective optical surfaces, including FS/UWA/RO surfaces, for use in head-mounted displays (100) are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gregory A. Harrison, David Alan Smith, Gary E. Wiese
  • Publication number: 20120057242
    Abstract: The invention provides a decentration optical system comprising at least five optical surfaces. The optical surfaces are each decentered with respect to an axial chief ray in the Y-Z plane in the XYZ coordinate space, and at least one surface is decentered in the X-Z plane orthogonal to the Y-Z plane. At least two of the multiple optical surfaces are rotationally asymmetric surfaces, and at least one of the at least two rotationally asymmetric surfaces is a rotationally asymmetric surface having an X odd-numbered degree term.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventor: Koichi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8125716
    Abstract: An optical assembly uses a plastic prism with one flat surface and a collimating lens optic to provide the capability of imaging a color micro-display to the eye. The collimating optic and flat prism surface can allow for aberration-free diopter adjustment and an image with very low-magnitude, nearly-symmetric distortion. The collimating optic can also provide environmental protection of the prism involving an optical plastic device. The input illumination from the micro-display enters the prism, is reflected two times within the prism, exits the prism, and passes through the collimating optic before being viewed by the eye. Such an optical assembly can provide a field of view with eye-relief and exit pupil when viewing a full-color micro-display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Kyle R. Bryant, Colin E. Reese, Richard J. Heimer
  • Publication number: 20120044573
    Abstract: A helmet or head-mounted apparatus has a visor or other curved optical element in front of at least one eye of a wearer, which element also is used as a waveguide. Image-bearing light is injected into the waveguide via an input diffractive element, and propagates through the visor to an output diffractive element which releases the light. The optical powers of the curved waveguide and the input and output diffractive elements are selected so that the released light is delivered as an image to the users eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: BAE Systems plc
    Inventors: Michael David Simmonds, Mohmed Salim Valera
  • Publication number: 20120013988
    Abstract: A head mounted display (HMD) capable of a panoramic field of view. a concave image source is optically coupled in series to a first hemispherical lens, a second hemispherical lens, and a spherical mirror. Each of the concave image source, the first and second hemispherical mirrors, and the spherical mirror are optically concentric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventor: Richard A. Hutchin
  • Patent number: 8094377
    Abstract: A see-through head-mounted optical apparatus for a viewer has at least one display module, each display module having a display energizable to form an image and a positive field lens optically coupled to the surface of the display and disposed to direct imaged light from the display toward a first surface of a prism. A curved reflector element is in the path of the imaged light through the prism and disposed at a second surface of the prism, opposite the first surface. The curved reflector element has a refractive surface and a curved reflective surface disposed to collimate imaged light received from the display and direct this light toward a beam splitter that is disposed within the prism and that is at an oblique angle to the collimated reflected light. The beam splitter redirects the incident collimated reflected light through the prism to form an entrance pupil for the viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: NVIS, Inc.
    Inventors: David Kessler, Minoo Bablani
  • Patent number: 8029140
    Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to systems and methods for providing image projection and entertainment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe A. Gutierrez, Gary Powell, Sam Ingraldi
  • Patent number: 8014075
    Abstract: A projection type image display device comprising: a projection optical system having a first refracting optical section having a plurality of lenses, a reflecting optical section having at least one concave reflecting surfacer and a second refracting optical section in order from a reduction side; and an image forming optical section disposed on an anterior stage of a light path as the reduction side of the projection optical system, wherein the second refracting optical section has an exit lens having either: (1) a roughly constant thickness and disposed in a posterior stage of the light path from an exit pupil position at which a principal ray reflected by the reflecting surface and proceeding towards the maximum field angle and the optical axis of the reflecting optical section intersect with each other, and an optical surface of a magnification side of the exit lens has a shape convex towards the magnification side; or (2) a roughly constant thickness and disposed between the reflecting optical section
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Nobutaka Minefuji
  • Publication number: 20110205633
    Abstract: A target presentation device comprises a concave mirror, a half mirror 3, and a movement device 4. The concave mirror 2 presents the virtual image of the image displayed on the image display device to the observer. The concave mirror is disposed such that the optical distance between the image display device and the concave mirror is set to be shorter than the focal point distance. The half mirror crosses and is inclined with the optical axis of the concave mirror. The optical axis passes through the observation position of the observer. The movement device moves the image display device to vary the image display device, whereby the optical distance is varied within the focus distance. The movement device moves the image display device to increase the virtual image's movement speed as the optical distance becomes long. Consequently, the fatigue of the focusing function of the observer is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Yusuke Suzuki, Shogo Fukushima
  • Patent number: 8004770
    Abstract: A beam modifying unit increases both temporal pulse length and Etendue of an illumination beam. The pulse modifying unit receives an input pulse of radiation and emits one or more corresponding output pulses of radiation. A beam splitter divides the incoming pulse into a first and a second pulse portion, and directs the first pulse portion along a second optical path and the second portion along a first optical path as a portion of an output beam. The second optical path includes a divergence optical element. A first and a second mirror, each with a radius of curvature, are disposed facing each other with a predetermined separation, and receive the second pulse portion to redirect the second portion, such that the optical path of the second portion through the pulse modifier is longer than that of the first portion, and the separation is less than radius of curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignees: ASML Holding N.V., ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Adel Joobeur, Oscar Franciscus Jozephus Noordman, Paul Van Der Veen, Arun Mahadevan Venkataraman
  • Patent number: 7980702
    Abstract: An image display device of the present invention comprises projectors, a reflecting mirror, a screen, an image signal processor which performs a distortion correction, and a base for supporting the projectors, the reflecting mirror, and the screen. The projectors, reflecting mirror, and screen are assembled in one to constitute a single moving unit, and the image display device further comprises a lifting device capable of moving the moving unit in a vertical direction with respect to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hoshino, Ryo Kawamura, Atsuyuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7982765
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image capture apparatus comprises a light emitter, a beam scanner aligned to receive emitted light and operable to scan the light in a two-dimensional pattern, imaging optics aligned to receive the scanned two-dimensional pattern and image the pattern onto an object, and to collect light scattered from the object, a detector to receive scattered light from the imaging optics, an electronic controller c operable to receive an electrical signal from the detector corresponding to the received scattered light, and an actuator operable to modify the relative alignment between the beam scanner and the imaging optics to change an imaged location on the object. According to an embodiment, a method for capturing an image comprises scanning a beam of light through imaging optics onto a location on a surface, detecting light scattered by the surface, and steering the beam scanner relative to the imaging optics to change the trajectory of the scanned pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Lewis, Clarence T. Tegreene
  • Patent number: 7969657
    Abstract: Disclosed are imaging systems and eyeglass-based display devices. In one embodiment, an imaging system includes an image source that generates images, a optical element that manipulates the images, and a beam splitter positioned between the image source and the optical element that reflects the images onto an eye of a user of the imaging system, wherein each of the image source, optical element, and beam splitter are aligned along the same optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Ozan Cakmakci, Jannick P. Rolland
  • Patent number: 7961398
    Abstract: A system for simultaneously producing multiple images substantially identical images on multiple separate detector planes is disclosed. A reflective spatially beam-splitting element preferably comprising multiple reflective areas is preferably placed at a location substantially coincident with the pupil or aperture of the system. In non-diffraction limited systems, each area preferably comprises an actual cross section that is circular or has the rotational symmetry (or a multiple thereof) of the number of images to be formed. In diffraction limited systems, all of the areas preferably comprise actual cross sections that have the same shape, size and orientation with respect to the incoming optical beam. Each individual actual cross section may be due to the shape of each area, optionally in combination with a mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Contrast Optical Design & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Tocci
  • Patent number: 7929215
    Abstract: Field widening lens methods and systems are provided. The field widening lens includes a non-planar primary mirror and a secondary mirror. In addition, separate input and output ports are provided. The field widening lens further provides for an optical path difference for rays within the lens that is essentially zero for any ray within the field of view of an optical system including the field widening lens, regardless of the angle at which the ray entered the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Christian J. Grund, Robert M. Pierce
  • Patent number: 7918562
    Abstract: A projection display device comprises: a light source; liquid crystal panels disposed corresponding to R light, G light and B light; a light guiding optical system for guiding R light, G light and B light among light from the light source to respective corresponding liquid crystal panels; a dichroic prism for synthesizing the R light, G light and B light modulated by the liquid crystal panels; a projection optical system having a curved mirror for enlarging and projecting the light synthesized by the dichroic prism; and a bending mirror. A placement plane for optical members is orthogonal to a projection plane (screen surface), and shorter sides of optical members forming the liquid crystal panels and the light guiding optical system are placed on the placement plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Matsumoto, Ryuhei Amano
  • Publication number: 20110007399
    Abstract: The general field of the invention is that of head-up display systems HUD, protected from solar illumination. An HUD comprises at least one display, an optical system and at least one semi-reflecting plate called a combiner, said optical system and said combiner being arranged so that the image on the display is collimated, the display emitting in at least one first optical spectrum of first spectral width, the display being arranged so as to withstand illumination of a predetermined level. In the display according to the invention, the lateral chromatism of the optical system is sufficiently strong for the level of solar illumination received by the display to be always less than said predetermined level and said lateral chromatism is sufficiently weak for the dispersion of the first spectrum emitted by the display and seen by a user to be less than or equal to the resolution limit of the human eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: THALES
    Inventors: Johanna Dominici, Jean-Claude Ebert, Jean-Noël Perbet
  • Publication number: 20100315720
    Abstract: A wearable system is shown that presents one or more heads-up displays to the wearer. A data source provides information to an image generator that is sufficient to generate one or more display images, which are still or moving, characters or graphical displays. The output image from the image generator passes through a lens, reflects off a curved mirror, and passes back through the lens the other way. The image then passes through two lenses, between which an intermediate image exists. The image reflects off the “lens,” or visor, of the glasses and proceeds to the pupil of the wearer's eye. Alternative embodiments use a helmet visor, mirror, or other (at least partially) reflective surface for the final reflection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: DAY AND NIGHT DISPLAYS SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Danny Filipovich, Jack Fiore, Eric Ford
  • Patent number: 7845800
    Abstract: A polarization converting element includes: a main body that is made from a transparent member; an incident section that is provided to the main body, and upon which light generated from a light source is incident; an annular reflecting section that is formed on the periphery of the incident section; and a polarization splitting section that is formed opposite to the annular reflecting section on the emission side of light incident upon the incident section. One polarized light component of the incident light passes through the main body and is emitted from the polarization splitting section. Another polarized light component of the incident light is reflected towards the annular reflecting section by the polarization splitting section, and is emitted from the polarization splitting section after having again been reflected by the annular reflecting section and having been converted into light of a same polarization component as the light of the one polarized light component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Fujinawa
  • Patent number: 7841728
    Abstract: An image display apparatus 100 that displays an image using a light modulated according to an image signal includes a projection optical system 90 that includes a projection lens 20, a first mirror 30 that reflects a light from the projection lens 20, and a second mirror 40 that widens an angle of a light from the first mirror 30 by reflecting the light, and projects the light modulated according to the image signal from an optical engine unit 10; a third mirror 50 that reflects a light from the projection optical system 90; and a screen 50 that transmits a light from the third mirror 50. The projection lens 20 and the second mirror 40 are arranged in such a manner that an optical axis of the projection lens 20 substantially matches an optical axis of the second mirror 40, and shift the light from the optical engine unit 10 to a specific side from the optical axis of the projection lens 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Morikuni, Masatoshi Yonekubo, Toshihiko Sakai, Shunji Kamijima
  • Publication number: 20100290127
    Abstract: A see-through head-mounted optical apparatus for a viewer has at least one display module, each display module having a display energizable to form an image and a positive field lens optically coupled to the surface of the display and disposed to direct imaged light from the display toward a first surface of a prism. A curved reflector element is in the path of the imaged light through the prism and disposed at a second surface of the prism, opposite the first surface. The curved reflector element has a refractive surface and a curved reflective surface disposed to collimate imaged light received from the display and direct this light toward a beam splitter that is disposed within the prism and that is at an oblique angle to the collimated reflected light. The beam splitter redirects the incident collimated reflected light through the prism to form an entrance pupil for the viewer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: NVIS INC.
    Inventors: David Kessler, Minoo Bablani
  • Patent number: 7822304
    Abstract: A laser beam multiplexer capable of easily multiplexing a plurality of laser beams is provided. A laser beam multiplexer includes a multiplexing element having a hollow portion with a sectional elliptical shape, in which the multiplexing element includes: a plurality of light-incident apertures guiding laser beams from outside toward one of two focal points of the hollow portion, a reflective layer arranged on a wall surface of the hollow portion, and multiplexing a plurality of incident laser beams while reflecting the plurality of laser beams, and a light-emitting aperture guiding laser beams multiplexed by the reflective layer toward outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shoji Hirata
  • Publication number: 20100254017
    Abstract: Image display device having an image source generating an image, a beam splitter positioned at forty five degrees to the main optical path, to project and focus the image generated by the image source into the entrance pupil of the human eye, two achromatic standard doublet lenses positioned perpendicularly to the main optical path and placed between the image source and the beam splitter, and configured to amplify, collimate, and correct optical aberrations of said image, wherein the image source, beam splitter and the doublet lenses are in an on-axis configuration and the image display device comprises two mounting brackets parallel to the main optical axis, each having an extremity part holding an edge of the beam splitter and the other extremity pivotally attached to a housing, allowing the brackets and beam splitter to rotate in an axis perpendicular to the main optical path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventor: Miguel Marques Martins
  • Patent number: 7806533
    Abstract: An optical system comprises a first image capture device for capturing an image of an observation area, a first display device, a semi-reflecting plate, a concave mirror disposed facing the first display device, and a second display device for displaying a background image. A light beam is scattered by the first display device through the semi-reflecting plate and then reflected by the mirror and the semi-reflecting plate in order to display an aerial image between the semi-reflecting plate and the observation area. A projector projects a light beam toward one of the display devices. The first image capture device is adapted to capture the image of the observation area via said one display device. A alternating control device alternates capture of an image of the observation area by the first image capture device and projection of the light beam projected by the projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: France Telecom
    Inventors: Olivier Boute, Olivier Gachignard
  • Patent number: 7800826
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical system with well corrected aberrations, which is adapted to take images from a full panoramic scene on a cylindrical, conical or other three-dimensional image surface or project such a three-dimensional display surface onto a full field of view in the distance. In an optical system adapted to form images from a 360° panoramic scene on a cylindrical or conical image surface 3, there is an annular refractive optical element 2 provided with the center axis 1 of rotation of the image surface 3 as the axis of rotational symmetry. There is further at least one reflective surface 4 provided with the center axis 1 of the rotation as the axis of rotational symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Takayoshi Togino
  • Patent number: 7791809
    Abstract: A wearable system is shown that presents one or more heads-up displays to the wearer. A data source provides information to an image generator that is sufficient to generate one or more display images, which are still or moving, characters or graphical displays. The output image from the image generator passes through a lens, reflects off a curved mirror, and passes back through the lens the other way. The image then passes through two non-doublet lenses, between which an intermediate image exists. The image reflects off the “lens,” or visor, of the glasses and proceeds to the pupil of the wearer's eye. Alternative embodiments use a helmet visor, mirror, or other (at least partially) reflective surface for the final reflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Day and Night Display Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Danny Filipovich, Jack Fiore, Eric Ford
  • Patent number: 7762703
    Abstract: A heads-up display comprises a monochrome display device for generating an image and an optical device for generating a virtual image from the image of the display device. The monochrome display device comprises a display and a backlight for illuminating the display from its backside. The backlight comprises a first light source emitting light of a first color, a second light source emitting light of a second color, a first light guide coupled to the first light source, and a second light guide coupled to the second light source. The first and second light guides are disposed in such close juxtaposition behind the display so that they illuminate together the entire backside of the display and illuminate a first region of the display associated with the first light guide with the first color and a second region of the display associated with the second light guide with the second color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Aiko Böhme, Peter Brandt, Heiko Charle
  • Patent number: 7755837
    Abstract: An image display apparatus is disclosed in which the position of an exit pupil can follow the movement of a pupil of an observer even with a small size. The apparatus includes an image-forming element which forms an image, an ocular unit which causes light from the image-forming element to form an exit pupil, and an optical element which reflects the light from the image-forming element toward the ocular unit. The optical element has an optical power and is rotated about a focal point of the ocular unit on the side closer to the image-forming element to move the exit pupil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7755831
    Abstract: Image-intensifying glasses 100 that are suitable for certain commercial and entertainment applications by virtue of their light weight, small size, and economical production, compared to certain other night vision products. In one disclosed embodiment, input light passes through two Amici prisms 144 and 148 and a field-flattening lens 150 to reach an image intensifier 152. The intensified image it produces is reflected off a first folding mirror 162, passes through a lens 154, reflects off a curved mirror 156, and passes back through the lens 154 the other way. The intensified image then passes through two additional, non-doublet lenses 158 and 160, between which an intermediate image exists. The intensified image then reflects off the “lens,” or visor 130, of the glasses and proceeds to the pupil of eye 131 of the wearer. Alternative embodiments use a helmet visor, mirror, or other (at least partially) reflective surface for the final reflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Day and Night Display Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Danny Filipovich, Jack C. Fiore, Eric Ford
  • Patent number: 7733572
    Abstract: A present novel and non-trivial system, apparatus, and method for employing a catadioptric optical system in a Head-Up Display (“HUD”) system are disclosed. A catadioptric optical module is configured to produce a large image size within a small space envelope by folding the optical path back through module and separating the paths by use of a beam splitter. Such module comprised of a beam splitter, collimating mirror, and correcting lens produces collimated beams of light from an image source providing either polarized or non-polarized beams of light. If polarized beams are provided, the module includes a quarter-wave retarder, and the configuration of the module permits the image source to provide either s-polarized or p-polarized beams. A combiner arm assembly comprising of at least one combiner receives the collimated beams, where the employment of a plurality of combiners extends the relatively small instantaneous field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Brown, Kurt A. Stahl, Gerhardt A. Quast, Robert B. Wood, Kevin E. Jopes