Embedded relay lens for head-up displays or the like
AssigneeMicrovision, Inc.
InventorsKarlton D. Powell, Mark O. Freeman, David Scott Wright
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, an optical relay comprises a partially-reflective-coated Fresnel lens or similar low-profile lens such as a diffractive lens or a holographic lens having a first index of refraction and a filler medium having a second index of refraction and being disposed adjacent to the Fresnel lens. The optical relay enables the optical power of the Fresnel or similar low-profile lens embedded within the two layers to influence a beam that is reflected from the optical relay while allowing transmitted light to experience little or no influence from the embedded lens.
Claims19
An optical relay, comprising:
- a lens having an at least partially reflective coating and having a first index of refraction, the lens comprising a Fresnel lens, a diffractive lens, a holographic lens, or combinations thereof, wherein the at least partially reflective coating is a neutral density filter;
- a filler medium having a second index of refraction and being disposed adjacent to the lens, wherein at least one of the lens or the filler medium, or combinations thereof, is at least partially transparent;
- a polarizing beam splitter disposed between the integrated photonics module and the optical relay;
- and
- a retarder or a beam splitter, or combinations thereof, disposed proximate to the lens.
A head-up display system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a projector to display a projected image;
- and
- an optical relay onto which the image is projected from a first side of the optical relay to allow a viewer to view the projected image through the optical relay wherein the virtual projected image is displayed on another side of the optical relay;
- wherein the optical relay comprises:
- a lens having an partially-reflective coating and a first index of refraction, wherein the lens comprises a Fresnel lens, a diffractive lens, or a holographic lens, or combinations thereof, wherein the partially reflective coating is a neutral density filter;
- a filler medium having a second index of refraction and being disposed adjacent to the lens, wherein at least one of the lens or the filler medium, or combinations thereof, is at least partially transparent;
- a polarizing beam splitter disposed between the integrated photonics module and the optical relay;
- and
- a retarder or a beam splitter, or combinations thereof, disposed proximate to the lens.
A near-to-eye display system, comprising:
- a projector module capable of emitting a projected image;
- and
- an optical relay onto which the scanned beam is projected from a first side of the optical relay to allow a viewer to view the projected image through the optical relay wherein the projected image is displayed on another side of the optical relay;
- wherein the optical relay comprises:
- a lens having an least partially reflective coating and a first index of refraction, the lens comprising a Fresnel lens, a diffractive lens, or a holographic lens, or combinations thereof, wherein the at least partially reflective coating is a neutral density filter;
- a filler medium having a second index of refraction and being disposed adjacent to the lens, wherein at least one of the lens or the filler medium, or combinations thereof, is at least partially transparent;
- a polarizing beam splitter disposed between the integrated photonics module and the optical relay;
- and
- a retarder or a beam splitter, or combinations thereof, disposed proximate to the lens.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.