Micro collimator system and method for a head up display (HUD)
AssigneeRockwell Collins, Inc.
InventorsRobert D. Brown, Eric P. Stratton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A head up display can use a catadioptric collimating system. The head up display includes an image source. The head up display also includes a collimating mirror, and a polarizing beam splitter. The light from the image source enters the beam splitter and is reflected toward the collimating mirror. The light striking the collimating mirror is reflected through the beam splitter toward a combiner. A field lens can include a diffractive surface. A corrector lens can be disposed after the beam splitter.
Claims20
A head up display, comprising:
- a projector comprising a polarizing beam splitter and a curved reflector, wherein the polarizing beam splitter is configured to provide light from an image source to the curved reflector so that the projector provides collimated light;
- a light pipe configured to convey the collimated light from an input to an output, wherein the light pipe is configured to expand a pupil associated with the collimated light in a first dimension as the collimated light travels through the light pipe by striking four elongated sides of the light pipe;
- and
- a combiner configured to receive the collimated light from the light pipe and expand the pupil in a second direction.
A method of providing information to a pilot, the method comprising:
- providing light from a light source through a fold element to an image source and folding light from the image source using the fold element;
- reflecting the light from the image source within a polarizing beam splitter to a curved reflective surface;
- providing light from the curved reflective surface through the polarizing beam splitter to a corrector lens;
- and
- providing light from the corrector lens as collimated light to a light pipe.
A head up display system, comprising:
- a collimator;
- at least one light pipe;
- a waveguide comprising an output diffraction grating associated with a first main planar surface, wherein the light pipe is configured so light travels through the light pipe in a corkscrew fashion and is injected into the waveguide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.