Optical waveguide for head up display, and manufacturing method therefor
AssigneeBAE SYSTEMS plc
InventorsJAMES RAYMOND LEIGHTON, RORY THOMAS ALEXANDER MILLS, MICHAEL DAVID SIMMONDS
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Abstract
A waveguide structure for a head up display in which a reflective output coupling structure is formed of a separate, but connected, component to a main waveguide. In a method of manufacture for such a waveguide the output coupling structure may be formed by depositing a material on a main waveguide, impressing the reflective structure into that material, and curing the material.
Claims20
An optical waveguide for a head up display, the waveguide comprising:
- a waveguide body extending from an input end to an output end and configured to guide light by total internal reflection from the input end to the output end;
- an input coupling device at the input end of the waveguide body for coupling light into the waveguide body;
- and
- an output coupling structure on a face of the waveguide body at the output end, the output coupling structure distinct from, but attached to, the waveguide body, wherein the output coupling structure is a reflective structure configured to direct light out of the optical waveguide by reflection.
A method of manufacturing a waveguide for a head up display, the method comprising:
- providing a waveguide body having an input end and an output end;
- depositing an optically transmissive material on a face of the waveguide body in an output coupling region at the output end;
- impressing into the optically transmissive material a reflective structure;
- and
- curing the optically transmissive material to form an output coupling device.
An optical waveguide for a head up display, the waveguide comprising:
- a waveguide body extending from an input end to an output end and configured to guide light by total internal reflection from the input end to the output end;
- an input coupling device at the input end of the waveguide body for coupling light into the waveguide body, wherein the input coupling device includes a prism or a diffractive grating;
- and
- an output coupling structure on a face of the waveguide body at the output end, the output coupling structure distinct from, but attached to, the waveguide body, wherein the output coupling structure includes a saw-tooth grating configured to reflect light out of the optical waveguide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.