Including Curved Reflector Patents (Class 359/631)
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Patent number: 7729063Abstract: A mechanism for adjusting the angular position of an optical device with respect to a field helmet is disclosed. The mechanism includes an optical device mounting component for coupling to the optical device. A field helmet mounting component is provided for coupling to the field helmet. The field helmet mounting component is rotatably coupled to the optical device mounting component about an axis of rotation. An angular adjustment mechanism is engaged between the optical device mounting component and the field helmet mounting component. The angular adjustment mechanism includes a translating member that is moveably translatable along an axis of translation for engaging a surface of either the field helmet mounting component or the optical device mounting component. Translation of the translating member along the axis of translation induces rotation of the optical device mounting component about the axis of rotation for adjusting the angular position of the optical device.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2007Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Charles D. Willey, Todd Michael Neff
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Patent number: 7710655Abstract: A display system includes an angle-mapped display engine operable to launch angle-mapped image-bearing rays through an image-guiding substrate for display.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2006Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Microvision, Inc.Inventors: Mark O. Freeman, Karlton D. Powell
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Patent number: 7699473Abstract: An image display apparatus for a viewer to view a two-dimensional image demonstrated on an image display device as an enlarged virtual image by a virtual-image optical system. The image display apparatus includes a prism and a reflective transmitting surface for reflecting or transmitting image light incident from an incident optical surface. The image display apparatus also includes a reflective optical component for reflecting image light reflected from the reflective transmitting surface and radiated from a first planar optical surface towards the reflective transmitting surface as a collimated light beam and a phase difference optical component arranged on a light path between the first planar optical surface and the reflective optical component to the state of polarization of the image light.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2005Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Mukawa, Yasuyuki Sugano
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Patent number: 7688516Abstract: Disclosed is a head-up display device for vehicles. The display device for vehicles includes a panel, on which driving data of a vehicle are displayed; and an aspheric combiner, which magnifies the driving data displayed on the panel and thus creates a virtual image, and has a ratio of DISC to CRC satisfying the below expression (here, 0<|DISC/CRC|<1.0, DISC representing the distance on an optical route between the panel and the combiner, and CRC representing the radius of curvature of the combiner).Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2008Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Ho Young Choi, Tea Jeong Ahn, Sang Keun Lee
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Patent number: 7688399Abstract: An image display apparatus including a light source unit, a liquid crystal display panel, an illumination optical system leading light from the light source unit to the liquid crystal display panel, and a display optical system leading light from the liquid crystal display panel to an observer. The illumination optical system and the display optical system share an optical surface having dielectric multilayer films and being concave toward the liquid crystal display panel on a plane including a center ray corresponding to an angle of view. The optical surface reflects light from the light source unit for leading the light to the liquid crystal display panel while transmitting light reflected from the liquid crystal display panel. On the plane including the center ray, the brightness of the light-emitting surface of the light source unit is reduced toward the optical surface smaller than that in the remote from the optical surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2007Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Makoto Fujimoto
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Patent number: 7675685Abstract: An image display apparatus including an image display unit, a light source unit, an illumination optical system configured to guide light from the light source unit to the image display unit, and a display optical system configured to guide light from the image display unit to a viewer is disclosed. With such an image display apparatus, luminance non-uniformity viewed at an exit pupil can be suppressed by intentional provision of uneven luminance distribution to an optical surface that receives light from the light emitting device of the light source unit.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2007Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Motomi Tsuyuki
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Patent number: 7672055Abstract: There is provided an optical device, having a light-transmitting substrate having at least two major surfaces (26) parallel to each other and edges; optical means (16) for coupling light waves located in a field-of-view into the substrate by internal reflection, and at least one partially reflecting surface (22) located in the substrate which is non-parallel to the major surfaces of the substrate, characterized in that at least one of the major surfaces is coated with a dichroic coating.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2008Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: Lumus Ltd.Inventor: Yaakov Amitai
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Patent number: 7652824Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a method and/or system for generating a dynamic image based, at least in part, on attributes associated with one or more individuals.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2007Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Alfredo Ayala, David Desmarais, Holger Irmler, Michael Ilardi
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Patent number: 7637617Abstract: A method for generating retinal images using the stigmatism of the two foci (F, F?) of a substantially elliptical sight (E) with a semi-reflective surface, wherein a so-called object focus consisting of the diaphragm of a pinhole disc forming the convergence point of an image generated by a light-emitting display or a collimated light source is positioned adjacent to the first focus (F) of the substantially elliptical sight (E), a so-called image focus consisting of the pupil or the centre of the user's eye (OE) is positioned adjacent to the second focus (F?) of said substantially elliptical sight (E), and the image generated by said light-emitting display or said collimated light source and reflected by the semi-reflective surface of the substantially elliptical sight (E) is projected adjacent to the retina of the user's eye.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2005Date of Patent: December 29, 2009Assignee: LasterInventors: Zile Liu, Rachid Hamdani
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Patent number: 7636199Abstract: The field of the invention is that of optical devices allowing the superposition of an electronic image on an image coming from an external scenery. The subject of the invention is an optical device for superposing images, designed to be positioned in front of an optical module comprising at least an objective and a photosensitive surface positioned in the focal plane of said objective. The device comprises an image source, an optical relay and an optical combiner formed of two optical parts assembled via an approximately plane common face including a weakly reflective coating. The combiner has the general form of a plate with plane parallel faces, the common face being inclined at around 45 degrees to said plane faces. It has an entrance face and a opposing face that are approximately perpendicular to the plane faces, the opposing face having approximately the form of a reflecting spherical surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2006Date of Patent: December 22, 2009Assignee: ThalesInventors: Jean-Michel Francois, Jean-Louis Bourgain
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Patent number: 7629877Abstract: The present invention relates to indication systems providing augmented visual support for the operator of a motor vehicle, vessel or an aircraft. The indication system is positioned in the location of a traditional vehicular gauge dashboard. The indication system consists of an image formulator and an optical collimator system with two visual channels. Lower channel is used for direct visual tracking of all virtual gauge readings while the upper channel is used to track updates “on the windshield” of a vehicle with the background of the surrounding environment. The lower channel displays virtual collimator imaging of the traditional analog or digital gauges as well as navigational system data. The upper channel is reflected onto the exterior background of the windshield and displays collimator imaged critical data that is required for the safe operation of a vehicle. To provide the switching functionality between the two channels, the indication system utilizes a lightproof partition.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2006Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Inventors: Matvey Lvovskiy, Simon Iokhvidson, Mikhail Lvovsky, Alexander Efros
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Patent number: 7619825Abstract: The present invention provides an optical display system and method for producing images and presenting the images for observation in combination with an observer's visual exterior view of an outside scene. The optical display system may include an image source for projecting an image, and a curved beam combination mirror (CBCM) or beam combination mirror (BCM) for reflecting the projected image toward an observer for observation. The image source may be a transmissive LCD, a reflective LCD, a digital micromirror device, a laser display, or the like. The CBCM or BCM may be positioned so that the observer, in a line of sight, may see a visual exterior view of an outside scene through the CBCM or BCM and the projected image in the CBCM or BCM.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2004Date of Patent: November 17, 2009Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.Inventors: Guolin Peng, Martin J. Steffensmeier
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Patent number: 7616378Abstract: Dichroic beam splitters having non-parallel entry and exit surfaces, reduced distance between such surfaces, and an aspherical exit surface can be advantageously used in dual channel optical systems, particularly when one channel is dedicated to infrared light and the other channel is dedicated to visible or near-infrared light.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2005Date of Patent: November 10, 2009Assignee: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventor: Yaujen Wang
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Patent number: 7602552Abstract: A head-up display system includes a display device for generating and displaying information to an eye of an observer; a tilted power combiner for superimposing the information displayed by the display device onto the forward view of the outside by the eye of the observer; and a relay optic assembly between the display device and the tilted power combiner for forming an intermediate image of the displayed information forwardly of the combiner that reflects the image towards the eye of the observer within an eye motion box to produce a large field of view for the observer. The relay optic assembly is void of holographic elements and includes a spherical mirror generating aberrations in the intermediate image tending to compensate for aberrations produced by the tilted power combiner.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2006Date of Patent: October 13, 2009Assignee: Elbit Systems Electro-Optics Elop Ltd.Inventor: Yoel Blumenfeld
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Publication number: 20090231722Abstract: 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 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: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2009Publication date: September 17, 2009Applicant: DAY & NIGHT DISPLAY SYSTEMS, LLCInventors: Danny Filipovich, Jack Fiore, Eric Ford
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Patent number: 7589902Abstract: A wearable display system, such as a Head Mounted Display, having a display engine producing light, preferably linearly polarized light, which defines a synthetic image that is relayed to a wire grid polarizing combiner which overlays the synthetic image onto a real image of an object of the outside world, and wherein the real image is contemporaneously viewed through the wire grid polarizing combiner by the wearer of the system. The wire grid polarizing combiner can be curved in at least one axis, and preferably two axis such that optical power is added to the wire grid polarizing combiner.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2007Date of Patent: September 15, 2009Assignee: Concurrent Technologies CorporationInventors: John Garoutte, David Bajorins, Chris Gnehm
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Patent number: 7570430Abstract: A head up display system for a vehicle includes an image source and an optical combiner which reflects the projected image from the image source toward an observer for observation. The optical combiner is positioned so that the observer, in a line of sight, sees both a visual exterior view of an outside scene through the combiner and the projected image in the combiner. In disclosed embodiments, the optical combiner comprises wedge lenses.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2007Date of Patent: August 4, 2009Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.Inventors: Guolin Peng, Martin J. Steffensmeier
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Patent number: 7567385Abstract: A display device for displaying information is provided with an optical system for guiding the light of the display device to the eye, the optical system having, in the order in the proceeding direction of the light, an entrance face for receiving the light, a curved face for totally reflecting the light and a reflecting face concave to the eye side and adapted to reflect the light toward the eye. The reflected light is transmitted by the curved face and reaches the eye. Thus there is obtained a compact display device with satisfactorily suppressed aberrations.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2007Date of Patent: July 28, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shoichi Yamazaki, Takeshi Nishimura
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Publication number: 20090180195Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2008Publication date: July 16, 2009Applicant: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.Inventors: Ozan Cakmakci, Jannick P. Rolland
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Patent number: 7549775Abstract: Directivity of light beams can be adjusted appropriately relative to the normal to the light emission surface of a light source. Thus, the light source apparatus has high brightness without significant unevenness in illumination with its simple structure. The light source apparatus comprises a light source substrate on which plural light sources are arranged, a secondary light source member on which a secondary light source surface is formed when it receives light from the plural light sources, and frame that supports the light source substrate and the secondary light source member from their lateral sides so that they are opposed to each other. At least a pair of side surfaces of the frame has reflection surfaces opposed along the arrangement direction of the plural light sources, and the reflection surfaces that the pair of side surfaces has are inclined to the same direction relative to the light source substrate.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2007Date of Patent: June 23, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kazutaka Inoguchi
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Patent number: 7545571Abstract: A wearable display system, such as a Head Mounted Display, having a display engine producing light, preferably linearly polarized light, which defines a synthetic image that is relayed to a wire grid polarizing combiner which overlays the synthetic image onto a real image of an object of the outside world, and wherein the real image is contemporaneously viewed through the wire grid polarizing combiner by the wearer of the system. The wire grid polarizing combiner can be curved in at least one axis, and preferably two axis such that optical power is added to the wire grid polarizing combiner.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2005Date of Patent: June 9, 2009Assignee: Concurrent Technologies CorporationInventors: John Garoutte, David Bajorins, Chris Gnehm
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Patent number: 7542209Abstract: One embodiment of the invention comprises a simplified light-weight head mounted displays comprising an off-axis combiner and imaging optics defining an optical path. The imaging optics comprises a lens group comprising a plurality of lenses in the optical path. The lens group has a first optical axis. Each of said plurality of lenses have optical axes collinear with the first optical axis. The imaging optics further comprises a single lens element in the optical path having a second optical axis that is different from the first optical axis. The single lens element has positive optical power and is the only lens element in the optical path between the lens group and the combiner that has an optical axis collinear with the second optical axis.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2005Date of Patent: June 2, 2009Assignee: Optical Research AssociatesInventor: James P. McGuire, Jr.
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Publication number: 20090135493Abstract: Visibility of indications in a rear-view mirror incorporating a light-emitting display device is improved. A mirror element 14 is formed by forming a semi-transmissive reflective film 18 on one surface of a transparent substrate 16. On a back surface of the mirror element 14, a dark color mask member 20 is arranged. An opening 20a is formed in the mask member 20. Behind the mirror element 14, a light-emitting display device 22 is arranged facing the opening 20a. Where the mirror element is formed of a plane mirror 14, the light-emitting display device 22 is arranged in such a manner that it is inclined toward a driver relative to the mirror surface. A wedge-shaped gap 25 occurring between the mirror element 14 and the light-emitting display device 22 due to the inclination is occluded by a wall member 24.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2008Publication date: May 28, 2009Applicant: MURAKAMI CORPORATIONInventors: Shinya Takayanagi, Masatoshi Nakamura, Masahiro Motomiya
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Patent number: 7538950Abstract: A display device for displaying information is provided with an optical system for guiding the light of the display device to the eye, the optical system having, in the order in the proceeding direction of the light, an entrance face for receiving the light, a curved face for totally reflecting the light and a reflecting face concave to the eye side and adapted to reflect the light toward the eye. The reflected light is transmitted by the curved face and reaches the eye. Thus there is obtained a compact display device with satisfactorily suppressed aberrations.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2007Date of Patent: May 26, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shoichi Yamazaki, Takeshi Nishimura
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Patent number: 7532175Abstract: A head-up display device includes a display unit for displaying information, a reflector rotatably supported by frame members fixed to a vehicle, and an adjuster for adjusting a rotational position of the reflector by a gearing system. The information displayed on the display unit is reflected by the reflector to a projection area on a vehicle windshield. The adjuster so adjusts the rotational position to allow a vehicle driver to see both a front view through the windshield and a superimposed reflected image of the information. The head-up display device further includes a regulator to allow the reflector to rotate in a rotational direction within a range where the reflector is adjustable by the adjuster, and to prevent the reflector from shifting in a direction other than the rotational direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2004Date of Patent: May 12, 2009Assignee: Yazaki CorporationInventors: Kunimitsu Aoki, Go Nakamura, Yoshihide Takada
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Patent number: 7525740Abstract: The display optical system includes first to third surfaces each having at least a reflection function, and a fourth surface having a reflection function and disposed outside an inside area surrounded by the first to third surfaces. The light from an original image passes through the inside area and is reflected by the fourth surface to return into the inside area. The light that has returned into the inside area is reflected by the first surface and is reflected by the second surface toward the first surface to impinge again thereon. The light impinging again on the first surface is re-reflected thereby such that a central-viewing-angle principal ray of the light proceeds in a direction opposite to a direction in which that principal ray has previously reflected by the first surface. The light re-reflected by the first surface is reflected by the third surface toward an exit pupil.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2008Date of Patent: April 28, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kazutaka Inoguchi
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Patent number: 7525734Abstract: A plate-shaped display device is partitioned into a meter display area and a HUD display area. Images displayed on the display device are visible on both front and rear surfaces of the display device. A direct image displayed on the meter display area is projected toward an eye range of a vehicle driver. A reflected image displayed on the HUD display area is firstly projected in a direction opposite to the eye range. Then, the reflected image is reflected at a magnifying mirror and a windshield, then finally projected toward the eye range.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2005Date of Patent: April 28, 2009Assignee: Yazaki CorporationInventors: Kunimitsu Aoki, Yoshiyuki Furuya, Hideaki Kageyama, Go Nakamura
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Patent number: 7522342Abstract: An image display apparatus having a wide view angle of an observed image with a small (thin) structure, which includes: two image forming elements; and an optical system guiding a beam from the image forming elements to two observation areas, wherein the system includes curved reflecting surfaces, and is symmetrical about a symmetry plane intermediate between the observation areas, in which a beam from the image forming element on a side of the symmetry plane is reflected on a curved reflecting surface on the side, reflected on a curved reflecting surface on the other side, is reflected on the surface on the side, and transmits a surface SLa to be guided to the observation area on the side; and an area, in the surface Sla, which a beam LLa traveling along an optical path closest to the symmetry plane transmits, has a shape having positive refractive power.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2007Date of Patent: April 21, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazutaka Inoguchi, Motomi Matsunaga
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Patent number: 7517090Abstract: A device using a low-cost plastic curved mirror and several combinations of methods for reducing aberrations to improve a real image projection system is provided, so as to reduce ghost and astigmatism phenomenon. The real image projection system includes a curved mirror having two different optical surfaces of revolution, one on a convex surface and the other on a concave surface. The real image projection system may include at least a curved reflector positioned in a tilted configuration, and an optical axis of the reflector does not coincide with a viewing axis. A beampath between a target source and the curved reflector neither passes through a beamsplitter nor is reflected thereby. The real image projection system may further include a circular polarizer for circularly polarizing a light beam in a primary light path between the mirror and the real image, eliminating ghost image caused by outside light sources.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2007Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: Provision Interactive Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey L. Vrachan, Curtis L. Thornton
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Patent number: 7518570Abstract: A digital light processing display system is provided with fewer major moving parts and a smaller form factor. A high-intensity, high-frequency strobe light is used to direct a pulse of light through colored filters. The colored pulses of light are passed through separate prisms, each with a high index of refraction. The index of refraction and the length of the path through the prism result in a delay for each color. For each pixel with a component of the color for each colored pulse, a controller activates the corresponding mirror in an array of mirrors. The timing of the activation of the mirrors is coordinated with the timing of the colored pulses of light to form a full color image.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2005Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Gordon Leslie Arnold, II
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Patent number: 7515345Abstract: A high-performance image-forming optical objective lens made compact and thin, particularly in the object side direction, by twice folding the optical path by means of two prism lenses longitudinally separated and arranged in an angular relationship to one another. The prisms have entrance and exit faces each of which is constructed of a curved surface having optical power, as well as having a rotationally symmetric polynomial aspheric attribute. The image-forming optical objective is particularly suited to helmet-mounted applications wherein the angular means for folding the optical path provides for an optical objective configuration that closely conforms to the exterior surface contour of the helmet, while providing a minimal forward projection in object space from the helmet.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2006Date of Patent: April 7, 2009Assignee: DRS Sensors & Targeting Systems, Inc.Inventor: Richard J. Heimer
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Publication number: 20090080055Abstract: A rearview mirror element assembly includes an electrochromic reflective element having a front generally planar substrate and a rear generally planar substrate. A reflecting mirror reflector is established at a third surface of the rear substrate and an auxiliary mirror element is positioned rearward of a perimeter region of the front substrate. The auxiliary mirror element provides a wide angle view of a blind spot to the side of a vehicle and a generally planar portion of the electrochromic reflective element provides a generally planar view rearward of the vehicle. A perimeter band or demarcating band may be established at least partially around a perimeter border region of the substrate and may traverse the substrate at the perimeter region of the front substrate behind which the auxiliary mirror element is positioned. The band may demarcate the perimeter region from the generally planar portion of the reflective element.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2008Publication date: March 26, 2009Applicant: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Michael J. Baur, Ian A. McCabe, Hamid Habibi, Niall R. Lynam
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Patent number: 7505207Abstract: A display device for displaying information is provided with an optical system for guiding the light of the display device to the eye, the optical system having, in the order in the proceeding direction of the light, an entrance face for receiving the light, a curved face for totally reflecting the light and a reflecting face concave to the eye side and adapted to reflect the light toward the eye. The reflected light is transmitted by the curved face and reaches the eye. Thus there is obtained a compact display device with satisfactorily suppressed aberrations.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2007Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shoichi Yamazaki, Takeshi Nishimura
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Patent number: 7495836Abstract: A display device for displaying information is provided with an optical system for guiding the light of the display device to the eye, the optical system having, in the order in the proceeding direction of the light, an entrance face for receiving the light, a curved face for totally reflecting the light and a reflecting face concave to the eye side and adapted to reflect the light toward the eye. The reflected light is transmitted by the curved face and reaches the eye. Thus there is obtained a compact display device with satisfactorily suppressed aberrations.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2007Date of Patent: February 24, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shoichi Yamazaki, Takeshi Nishimura
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Patent number: 7492330Abstract: A cap with a display device includes a display element suspended in a position below a visor of the cap and in front of the forehead of a wearer and above the eyes of the wearer so as to allow a display surface of the display element to be directed ahead of the wearer, and a concave mirror suspended in a position below the visor and ahead of the display element from the wearer so as to allow a reflective surface of the concave mirror to be directed to the eyes of the wearer. The cap with a display device enables the wearer to observe an enlarged virtual image derived from an image displayed on the display element.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2004Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Inventor: Yoshiaki Hata
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Patent number: 7477453Abstract: An optical system for image projection, particularly for projection devices of the “head-mounted”type, includes a display, an optical system for focusing an image formed by the display, and a light guide having an extended body, with two opposite, longitudinal, plane and parallel faces, and opposite ends which define first reflecting surface for coupling into the light guide and second reflecting surface for extracting the image from the light guide. Each light ray which propagates through the light guide undergoes at least three internal total reflections on the parallel plane faces of the light guide. At least a surface of the focusing optical system is a portion of a surface free of rotational symmetry axes. Moreover, the two reflecting surfaces of the light guide are portions of surfaces free of rotational symmetry axes. Finally, the inlet pupil of the light guide coincides with the outlet pupil of the focusing system.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2006Date of Patent: January 13, 2009Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per AzioniInventors: Piermario Repetto, Stefano Bernard, Davide Capello, Roberto Finizio, Luca Liotti, Cosimo Carvignese, Denis Bollea
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Patent number: 7468843Abstract: A display apparatus which has a mirror with a free curved reflective surface of which curvature fluctuates with inflection points, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a back light and a polarizer. Light of an image which was modulated by the LCD is reflected by the free curved reflective surface and passes through the polarizer. Then, the light is directed to an optical pupil. Since the curvature of the free curved reflective surface fluctuates with inflection points, curvature of field and distortion can be corrected properly, and an image of high quality can be formed.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2006Date of Patent: December 23, 2008Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasushi Tanijiri, Hiroaki Ueda, Ichiro Kasai, Takao Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20080278822Abstract: Disclosed is a head-up display device for vehicles. The display device for vehicles includes a panel, on which driving data of a vehicle are displayed; and an aspheric combiner, which magnifies the driving data displayed on the panel and thus creates a virtual image, and has a ratio of DISC to CRC satisfying the below expression (here, 0<|DISC/CRC|<1.0, DISC representing the distance on an optical route between the panel and the combiner, and CRC representing the radius of curvature of the combiner).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2008Publication date: November 13, 2008Inventors: Ho Young CHOI, Tea Jeong Ahn, Sang Keun Lee
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Patent number: 7450310Abstract: One embodiment of the invention comprises a simplified light-weight head mounted displays comprising an off-axis combiner and a pair of plastic lenses. One of the lenses is a rotationally symmetric optical element and one of the lens is a non-rotationally symmetric optical element. This non-rotationally symmetric optical element comprises first and second lens surfaces that are tilted and decentered with respect to each other. One of these first and second lens surfaces may also include diffractive feature to provide a diffractive or holographic optical element for color correction.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2005Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Assignee: Optical Research AssociatesInventor: James P. McGuire
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Patent number: 7446943Abstract: A display optical system for guiding light from an original picture to an eye of an observer or a surface to have an image projected thereon is provided with a first optical system and a second optical system. The first optical system is provided with a first surface that is formed on a transparent body and has at least a reflecting action, a second surface for reflecting light reflected on the first surface toward the first surface again, and a third surface that is formed on the transparent body in the same manner as the first surface and transmits the light from the original picture. The light transmitted through the third surface travels toward the first surface and reflected for the first time on the first surface. In addition, a principal ray at central angle of view to be reflected for the last time on the first surface is reflected and travels to a side opposite to a side of the first reflection on the first surface with respect to a normal line of a surface on a hit point thereof.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2006Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akinari Takagi, Shoichi Yamazaki, Hideki Morishima, Kazutaka Inoguchi, Motomi Matsunaga
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Publication number: 20080247048Abstract: The field of the invention is that of optical devices allowing the superposition of an electronic image on an image coming from an external scenery. The subject of the invention is an optical device for superposing images, designed to be positioned in front of an optical module comprising at least an objective and a photosensitive surface positioned in the focal plane of said objective. The device comprises an image source, an optical relay and an optical combiner formed of two optical parts assembled via an approximately plane common face including a weakly reflective coating. The combiner has the general form of a plate with plane parallel faces, the common face being inclined at around 45 degrees to said plane faces. It has an entrance face and a opposing face that are approximately perpendicular to the plane faces, the opposing face having approximately the form of a reflecting spherical surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2006Publication date: October 9, 2008Inventors: Jean-Michel Francois, Jean-Louis Bourgain
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Patent number: 7420751Abstract: In a head up display apparatus adapted to be mounted on a head in the goggle type or the head gear type and enable a video image to be observed, wherein an original image is directed to an eyeball through a reflecting optical system to enable the image to be observed, one or more members differing in power depending on the azimuth direction are present in the reflecting optical system, and the members are designed to have an aspherical surface action in the cross-section of at least one azimuth direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2007Date of Patent: September 2, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shoichi Yamazaki
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Patent number: 7400439Abstract: A compact and efficient optical illumination system featuring planar multi-layered LED light source arrays concentrating their polarized or un-polarized output within a limited angular range. The optical system manipulates light emitted by a planar light emitters such as electrically-interconnected LED chips. Each light emitting region in the array is surrounded by reflecting sidewalls whose output is processed by elevated prismatic films, polarization converting films, or both. The optical interaction between light emitters, reflecting sidewalls, and the elevated prismatic films create overlapping virtual images between emitting regions that contribute to the greater optical uniformity. Practical illumination applications of such uniform light source arrays include compact LCD or DMD video image projectors, as well as general lighting, automotive lighting, and LCD backlighting.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2006Date of Patent: July 15, 2008Assignee: Digital Optics International CorporationInventor: Robert L. Holman
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Patent number: 7397607Abstract: Virtual displays with micro-display engines are arranged in compact, lightweight configurations that generate clear virtual images for an observer. The displays are particularly suitable for portable devices, such as head-mounted displays adapted to non-immersive or immersive applications. The non-immersive applications feature reflective optics moved out of the direct line of sight of the observer and provide for differentially modifying the amount or form of ambient light admitted from the forward environment with respect to image light magnified within the display. Micro-display engines suitable for both non-immersive and immersive display applications and having LCD image sources displace polarization components of the LCD image sources along the optical paths of the engines for simplifying engine design. A compound imaging system for micro-display engines features the use of reflectors in sequence to expand upon the imaging possibilities of the new micro-display engines.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2006Date of Patent: July 8, 2008Assignee: Vuzix CorporationInventor: Paul J. Travers
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Publication number: 20080158686Abstract: Surface reflective portable eyewear display system and methods are disclosed. Invention comprises of vertical image inverting system that displays image in a mirror-flipped way on projection displays attached to the temples of a frame at an angle facing lenses of an eyewear. Said lenses of invention are half-silvered mirror coated, reflecting vertically inversed image in a mirror like way to the eyes of a wearer, making said reflected image a transparent virtual image over regular view through the glasses normally perceived. Invention incorporates a unique utility design that fits the shape of a head of a wearer and is pleasantly concealed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2006Publication date: July 3, 2008Inventor: Michael Chechelniker
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Patent number: 7391575Abstract: An image display apparatus is disclosed, which is small and has a wide view angle. The apparatus comprises an optical system which introduces light beams from first and second image display elements to first and second observation regions. The system has a plane-symmetric structure whose plane of symmetry is a plane passing between the first and second observation regions. The system introduces the light beam from the first image display element located in a first area with respect to the plane of symmetry to the first observation region via a reflection on a surface located in a second area after a reflection on a surface located in the first area, and introduces the light beam from the second image display element to the second observation region via a reflection on a surface located in the first area after a reflection on a surface located in the second area.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2006Date of Patent: June 24, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kazutaka Inoguchi
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Patent number: 7382410Abstract: The invention relates to a compact electronic camera which enables an electronic image to be displayed on a two-dimensional display element while it is phototaken or after it has been phototaken, so that the image can be magnified and displayed by a compact magnifying optical system constructed of a curved reflecting mirror to view a phototaken image of high precision. An electronic camera for photoelectrically converting a subject image formed by a phototaking optical system 2 into an electronic image to be recorded comprises a two-dimensional display element 4 for displaying an electronic image during or after phototaking and a magnifying optical system 5 for magnifying an image displayed on the two-dimensional display element 4 in the form of a virtual image. The magnifying optical system 5 is constructed of at least one curved reflecting mirror 26 and a surface 28 having a combined reflecting and transmitting action.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2003Date of Patent: June 3, 2008Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventor: Takayoshi Togino
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Patent number: 7369317Abstract: Display apparatus such as a see-through head-mounted display (HMD) through which a viewer could capture a scene while seeing an object through the apparatus is disclosed. In the display apparatus, a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) panel with a color filter attached to the LCOS panel is utilized. Accordingly, the compactness, light weight and low cost requirements can be met.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2005Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignee: Himax Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kuo-Yuin Li, Jinn-Chou Yoo
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Patent number: 7355795Abstract: A display device for displaying information is provided with an optical system for guiding the light of the display device to the eye, the optical system having, in the order in the proceeding direction of the light, an entrance face for receiving the light, a curved face for totally reflecting the light and a reflecting face concave to the eye side and adapted to reflect the light toward the eye. The reflected light is transmitted by the curved face and reaches the eye. Thus there is obtained a compact display device with satisfactorily suppressed aberrations.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2000Date of Patent: April 8, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shoichi Yamazaki, Takeshi Nishimura
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Patent number: 7350922Abstract: A three-dimensional display device includes a two-dimensional display displaying a depthwise image, and a variable focal length micromirror array lens receiving light from the two-dimensional display and forming a corresponding image in the required location in space. Each depthwise image represents a portion of an object or scene having the same image depth, and the two-dimensional display displays one depthwise image at a time. The focal length of the variable focal length micromirror array lens changes according to the depth of the depthwise image being displayed. The variable focal length micromirror array lens has enough speed and focusing depth range for the realistic three-dimensional display.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2006Date of Patent: April 1, 2008Assignees: Angstrom, Inc., Stereo Display, Inc.Inventors: Cheong Soo Seo, Gyoung Il Cho, Sang Hyune Baek