# US 12,111,469 B2 · Polarization adaptive waveguide HUD

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- Number: US 12,111,469 B2
- Document ID: US12111469B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/481,900
- Filed: 2021-09-22
- Published: 2023-03-23
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2021-09-22
- Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Inventors: Thomas A. Seder; Kai-Han Chang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111469B2

## CPC

- G02B 27/0172: {characterised by optical features}
- G02B 5/04: Prisms
- G02B 5/3083: {Birefringent or phase retarding elements (G02B5/3008, G02B5/3016 take precedence; systems for polarisation control G02B27/286; manufacturing phase modulating patterns by lithographic processes G03F7/001)}
- G02B 27/0018: {with means for preventing ghost images (anti-reflection coatings G02B1/11)}
- G02F 1/1313: {specially adapted for a particular application}
- G02F 1/1326: {Liquid crystal optical waveguides or liquid crystal cells specially adapted for gating or modulating between optical waveguides}
- G02F 1/133502: {Antiglare, refractive index matching layers}
- G02F 1/133524: {Light-guides, e.g. fibre-optic bundles, louvered or jalousie light-guides}
- G02F 1/133638: {Waveplates, i.e. plates with a retardation value of lambda/n}
- G03H 1/0005: {Adaptation of holography to specific applications (holographic optical element G02B5/32; holographic scanner G02B26/106; recognition using holographic mask G06V10/88; holographic memories G11B7/0065, G11C13/042)}
- G03H 1/2205: {using downstream optical component}
- B82Y 20/00: Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
- G02B 6/0056: {for producing polarisation effects, e.g. by a surface with polarizing properties or by an additional polarizing elements}
- G02B 2027/0174: {holographic}
- G02F 2203/62: Switchable arrangements whereby the element being usually not switchable
- G03H 1/2294: {Addressing the hologram to an active spatial light modulator}
- G03H 2001/0088: {for video-holography, i.e. integrating hologram acquisition, transmission and display}
- G03H 2001/2239: {Enlarging the viewing window}
- G03H 2001/2284: {Superimposing the holobject with other visual information}
- G03H 2223/16: Optical waveguide, e.g. optical fibre, rod
- G03H 2223/18: Prism
- G03H 2223/20: Birefringent optical element, e.g. wave plate
- G03H 2223/22: Polariser
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G03H: HOLOGRAPHIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS (holograms, e.g. point holograms, used as ordinary optical elements G02B5/32; producing stereoscopic or other three-dimensional effects G02B30/00; diffraction-grating systems G02B27/44; systems using moiré fringes G02B27/60; optical logic elements G02F3/00; stereo-photography G03B35/00; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; {stereo-photographic or similar processes G03C9/00}; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D; analogue computers performing mathematical operations with the aid of optical elements G06E3/00; authentication by radiation, of concealed information carried by holograms or diffraction gratings G06K19/16; holographic storage G11B7/0065, G11C13/04; {stereoscopic or other three dimensional effects in television systems H04N13/00})
- B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES

## Abstract

A head-up display system includes a hologram projector adapted to project a holographic image, a waveguide positioned in front of the hologram projector, wherein the holographic image projected by the hologram projector passes through the waveguide, a glare control prism positioned in front of the waveguide assembly, and a waveplate positioned between the waveguide and the glare control prism, the waveplate adapted to adjust the polarization of the holographic image.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A head-up display system, comprising:
a hologram projector adapted to project a holographic image;
a waveguide positioned in front of the hologram projector, wherein the holographic image projected by the hologram projector passes through the waveguide;
a glare control prism positioned relative to the waveguide, wherein the holographic image projected by the hologram projector exits the waveguide and passes through the glare control prism, the glare control prism is adapted to allow the holographic image projected by the hologram projector to pass from the waveguide through the glare control prism and to prevent ambient light that hits the glare control prism from passing through the glare control prism to the waveguide; and
a waveplate positioned between the waveguide and the glare control prism, the waveplate adapted to adjust the polarization of the holographic image.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The head-up display system of claim 1, wherein the waveplate is adapted to adjust the ratio of s-polarization to p-polarization in the holographic image projected through the waveplate.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The head-up display system of claim 2, wherein the waveplate is adapted to adjust the ratio of s-polarization to p-polarization in the holographic image projected through the waveplate to a pre-determined ratio that is between 5:1 and 15:1.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The head-up display system of claim 3, wherein the waveplate includes an inorganic birefringent film.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The head-up display system of claim 3, wherein the waveplate comprises a liquid crystal lens connected to a voltage source, wherein the birefringent characteristics of the liquid crystal lens vary as the voltage supplied to the liquid crystal lens is varied.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The head-up display system of claim 4, wherein the inorganic birefringent film comprises columnar nanostructures.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The head-up display system of claim 6, wherein the columnar nanostructures are formed on the waveplate by oblique deposition.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The head-up display system of claim 6, wherein the inorganic birefringent film is grown directly on the glare control prism.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The head-up display system of claim 6, wherein the inorganic birefringent film is laminated to the glare control prism.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The head-up display system of claim 1, wherein the holographic image propagates inside the waveguide and is extracted multiple times, expanding an eye-box and magnifying the projected holographic image.

### Claim 11

A waveguide assembly, comprising:
a waveguide adapted to be positioned in front of a hologram projector, wherein a holographic image projected by the hologram projector passes through the waveguide;
a glare control prism positioned relative to the waveguide assembly, wherein the holographic image projected by the hologram projector exits the waveguide and passes through the glare control prism, the glare control prism adapted to allow a holographic image to pass from the waveguide through the glare control prism and to prevent ambient light that hits the glare control prism from passing through the glare control prism to the waveguide; and
a waveplate positioned between the waveguide and the glare control prism, the waveplate adapted to adjust the polarization of a holographic image passing through the waveguide.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The waveguide assembly of claim 11, wherein the waveplate is adapted to adjust the ratio of s-polarization to p-polarization in a holographic image projected through the waveplate.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The waveguide assembly of claim 12, wherein the waveplate is adapted to adjust the ratio of s-polarization to p-polarization in the holographic image projected through the waveplate to a pre-determined ratio that is between 5:1 and 15:1.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The waveguide assembly of claim 13, wherein the waveplate includes an inorganic birefringent film.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The waveguide assembly of claim 13, wherein the waveplate includes a liquid crystal lens connected to a voltage source, wherein the birefringent characteristics of the liquid crystal lens vary as the voltage supplied to the liquid crystal lens is varied.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The waveguide assembly of claim 14, wherein the inorganic birefringent film comprises columnar nanostructures.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The waveguide assembly of claim 16, wherein the inorganic birefringent film is one of grown directly on the glare control prism, and laminated to the glare control prism.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The waveguide assembly of claim 16, wherein the columnar nanostructures are formed on the waveplate by oblique deposition.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The waveguide assembly of claim 11, wherein the holographic image propagates inside the waveguide and is extracted multiple times, expanding an eye-box and magnifying the projected holographic image.

### Claim 20

A head-up display system, comprising:
a hologram projector adapted to project a holographic image;
a waveguide positioned in front of the hologram projector, wherein the holographic image projected by the hologram projector passes through the waveguide;
a glare control prism positioned relative to the waveguide assembly, wherein the holographic image projected by the hologram projector exits the waveguide and passes through the glare control prism, and the glare control prism is adapted to allow the holographic image projected by the hologram projector to pass from the waveguide through the glare control prism and to prevent ambient light that hits the glare control prism from passing through the glare control prism to the waveguide; and
a waveplate positioned between the waveguide and the glare control prism, the waveplate adapted to adjust the ratio of s-polarization to p-polarization in the holographic image projected through the waveplate, wherein the waveplate is one of:
an inorganic birefringent film comprising columnar nanostructures that are formed by oblique deposition that is one of grown directly on the glare control prism, and laminated to the glare control prism; and
a liquid crystal lens connected to a voltage source, wherein the birefringent characteristics of the liquid crystal lens vary as the voltage supplied to the liquid crystal lens is varied.