Meniscus head up display combiner
AssigneeRockwell Collins, Inc.
InventorsGuolin Peng, Martin J. Steffensmeier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A meniscus combiner for a head up display (HUD) system. The meniscus combiner includes a meniscus lens; a multi-layer dichroic coating formed on a first surface of the meniscus lens; and, an anti-reflection coating formed on a second, opposite surface of the meniscus lens. The meniscus combiner preferably utilizes a non-symmetric aspheric meniscus lens which simplifies the optical system of the image source (overhead or in-dash unit) minimizing aberrations and minimizing costs. The meniscus combiner may be fabricated utilizing a number of lens sections which may be bonded together and blended. Use of multiple lens sections provides the ability to easily optimize the lens design. Alternatively, the meniscus combiner can be fabricated from a single lens.
Claims15
A meniscus combiner for a head up display (HUD) system, comprising:
- a non-symmetric aspheric meniscus lens having a first fitting radius of curvature in a range of between about 15 and 30 inches and a second fitting radius of curvature approximately 3 inches greater than said first fitting radius of curvature, said second fitting radius of curvature being orthogonal to said first fitting radius of curvature;
- a multi-layer dichroic coating formed on a first surface of said meniscus lens;
- and,
- an anti-reflection coating formed on a second, opposite surface of said meniscus lens.
A meniscus combiner for a head up display (HUD) system, comprising:
- a meniscus lens;
- a multi-layer dichroic coating formed on a first surface of said meniscus lens, wherein said multi-layer dichroic coating is formed of a stack of quarterwave (QW) layers of alternating high- and low-index dielectric material wherein said dichroic coating selectively reflects a desired narrow band head-up image wavelength defined by a peak wavelength of 530 nm, 50% cutoff wavelengths of 507 nm and 546 nm;
- and photopic transmission being greater than 75% from an eye center point;
- and
- an anti-reflection coating formed on a second, opposite surface of said meniscus lens.
A head up display (HUD) system, comprising:
- a meniscus combiner, comprising:
- i. a non-symmetric aspheric meniscus lens having a first fitting radius of curvature in a range of between about 15 and 30 inches and a second fitting radius of curvature approximately 3 inches greater than said first fitting radius of curvature, said second fitting radius of curvature being orthogonal to said first fitting radius of curvature;
- ii. a multi-layer dichroic coating formed on a first surface of said meniscus lens;
- and,
- iii. an anti-reflection coating formed on a second, opposite surface of said meniscus lens;
- and,
- an image source operatively associated with said meniscus combiner for projecting an image to said meniscus combiner for observation in combination with an observer's visual exterior view of an outside scene.
A method for fabricating a meniscus combiner for a head up display (HUD) system, comprising:
- a) providing a plurality of lens sections, each lens section comprising:
- i. a non-symmetric aspheric meniscus lens having a first fitting radius of curvature in a range of between about 15 and 30 inches and a second fitting radius of curvature approximately 3 inches greater than said first fitting radius of curvature, said second fitting radius of curvature being orthogonal to said first fitting radius of curvature;
- ii. a multi-layer dichroic coating formed on a first surface of said meniscus lens;
- and,
- iii. an anti-reflection coating formed on a second, opposite surface of said meniscus lens;
- and,
- b) bonding said plurality of lens sections together to form a single component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.