Optical projection system and methods for configuring the same

1. An optical projection system for use with a display surface, the optical projection system comprising:

at least one image source comprising an array of source image pixels;

a projector to project a first projection of the array of source image pixels; and

at least one mirror including at least one curved reflecting surface having a curved profile, wherein the at least one curved reflecting surface is adapted to convert the first projection to a curved second projection directed onto the display surface to provide an array of displayed image pixels on the display surface corresponding to the array of source image pixels, wherein the array of displayed image pixels have constant pixel pitch among adjacent displayed image pixels;

wherein the at least one curved reflecting surface includes a reflecting surface having an asymmetric smooth profile.

2. The optical projection system of claim 1 wherein the curved second projection is a truncated ellipsoidal projection.

3. The optical projection system of claim 2 wherein the curved second projection is a truncated spherical projection.

4. The optical projection system of claim 1 wherein the curved second projection is a truncated cylindrical projection.

5. The optical projection system of claim 1 further including a display structure having a display surface, wherein the optical projection system is adapted to project the second projection onto the display surface.

6. The optical projection system of claim 1 wherein the display surface has a curved profile.

7. The optical projection system of claim 6 wherein the display surface is truncated ellipsoidally shaped.

8. The optical projection system of claim 7 wherein the truncated ellipsoidally shaped display surface has the shape of an ellipsoid that is truncated on at least first and second opposed sides.

9. The optical projection system of claim 7 wherein the display surface has a center axis and the at least one mirror includes a terminal mirror having a terminal curved reflecting surface, wherein the terminal curved reflecting surface is offset from the center axis.

10. The optical projection system of claim 9 wherein the display surface has a periphery and the terminal mirror is located outside of a sight volume bounded by the periphery in all directions except in directions parallel to the center axis.

11. The optical projection system of claim 1 wherein the at least one mirror includes a mirror body and a light reflective coating on the mirror body forming a curved reflective surface of the at least one mirror.

12. The optical projection system of claim 1 wherein the curved second projection has a negative focus.

13. The optical projection system of claim 1 wherein the at least one mirror includes at least two mirrors in series.

14. The optical projection system of claim 13 wherein the at least one mirror includes a first, flat mirror and a second, curved mirror in series.

15. The optical projection system of claim 13 wherein the at least one mirror includes a plurality of curved mirrors in series.

16. The optical projection system of claim 1 wherein, in the array of displayed image pixels:

the array of displayed image pixels have a first constant pixel pitch among adjacent image displayed pixels along a first axis and a second constant pixel pitch among adjacent image displayed pixels along a second axis transverse to the first axis; and

the first pixel pitch is different from the second pixel pitch.

17. The optical projection system of claim 1 wherein the at least one curved reflecting surface is adapted to convert the first projection to the curved second projection such that the array of displayed image pixels are distributed on the display surface such that reference rays each cast from a defined common reference point to a center of a respective one of the displayed pixels will have constant angular separation between adjacent said reference rays.

18. The optical projection system of claim 1 wherein the first image projection is provided without requiring spatial distortion correction of the array of source image pixels.

19. The optical projection system of claim 18 wherein:

the display surface has a center axis;

the at least one mirror includes a terminal mirror having a terminal curved reflecting surface;

the terminal curved reflecting surface is offset from the center axis; and

the display surface has a periphery and the terminal mirror is located outside of a sight volume bounded by the periphery in all directions except in directions parallel to the center axis.

20. An optical projection system for use with a display surface, the optical projection system comprising:

at least one image source comprising an array of source image pixels;

a projector to project a first projection of the array of source image pixels; and

at least one mirror including at least one curved reflecting surface having a curved profile, wherein the at least one curved reflecting surface is adapted to convert the first projection to a curved second projection directed onto the display surface to provide an array of displayed image pixels on the display surface corresponding to the array of source image pixels, wherein the array of displayed image pixels have constant pixel pitch among adjacent displayed image pixels;

wherein the display surface has a center axis and the at least one mirror includes a terminal mirror having a terminal curved reflecting surface, wherein the terminal curved reflecting surface is offset from the center axis.

21. The optical projection system of claim 20 wherein the display surface has a curved profile.

22. The optical projection system of claim 21 wherein:

the display surface is truncated ellipsoidally shaped; and

the truncated ellipsoidally shaped display surface has the shape of an ellipsoid that is truncated on at least first and second opposed sides.

23. The optical projection system of claim 20 wherein the display surface has a periphery and the terminal mirror is located outside of a sight volume bounded by the periphery in all directions except in directions parallel to the center axis.

24. An optical projection system for use with a display surface, the optical projection system comprising:

at least one image source comprising an array of source image pixels;

a projector to project a first projection of the array of source image pixels; and

at least one mirror including at least one curved reflecting surface having a curved profile, wherein the at least one curved reflecting surface is adapted to convert the first projection to a curved second projection directed onto the display surface to provide an array of displayed image pixels on the display surface corresponding to the array of source image pixels, wherein the array of displayed image pixels have constant pixel pitch among adjacent displayed image pixels;

wherein the curved second projection is a truncated cylindrical projection.

25. An optical projection system for use with a display surface, the optical projection system comprising:

at least one image source comprising an array of source image pixels;

a projector to project a first projection of the array of source image pixels; and

at least one mirror including at least one curved reflecting surface having a curved profile, wherein the at least one curved reflecting surface is adapted to convert the first projection to a curved second projection directed onto the display surface to provide an array of displayed image pixels on the display surface corresponding to the array of source image pixels, wherein the array of displayed image pixels have constant pixel pitch among adjacent displayed image pixels;

wherein the at least one mirror includes at least two mirrors in series.

26. The optical projection system of claim 25 wherein the at least one mirror includes a first, flat mirror and a second, curved mirror in series.

27. The optical projection system of claim 25 wherein the at least one minor includes a plurality of curved mirrors in series.

28. An optical projection system for use with a display surface, the optical projection system comprising:

at least one image source comprising an array of source image pixels;

a projector to project a first projection of the array of source image pixels; and

at least one mirror including at least one curved reflecting surface having a curved profile, wherein the at least one curved reflecting surface is adapted to convert the first projection to a curved second projection directed onto the display surface to provide an array of displayed image pixels on the display surface corresponding to the array of source image pixels, wherein the array of displayed image pixels have constant pixel pitch among adjacent displayed image pixels; and

wherein the first image projection is provided without requiring spatial distortion correction of the array of source image pixels; and

wherein:

the display surface has a center axis;

the at least one mirror includes a terminal mirror having a terminal curved reflecting surface;

the terminal curved reflecting surface is offset from the center axis; and

the display surface has a periphery and the teiminal mirror is located outside of a sight volume bounded by the periphery in all directions except in directions parallel to the center axis.

29. An optical projection system for use with a display surface, the optical projection system comprising:

at least one image source comprising an array of source image pixels;

a projector to project a first projection of the array of source image pixels; and

at least one mirror including at least one curved reflecting surface having a curved profile, wherein the at least one curved reflecting surface is adapted to convert the first projection to a curved second projection directed onto the display surface to provide an array of displayed image pixels on the display surface corresponding to the array of source image pixels, wherein the array of displayed image pixels are distributed on the display surface such that reference rays each cast from a defined common reference point to a center of a respective one of the displayed pixels will have constant angular separation between adjacent said reference rays;

wherein the first image projection is provided without requiring spatial distortion correction of the array of source image pixels; and

wherein:

the display surface has a center axis;

the at least one mirror includes a terminal mirror having a terminal curved reflecting surface;

the terminal curved reflecting surface is offset from the center axis; and

the display surface has a periphery and the terminal mirror is located outside of a sight volume bounded by the periphery in all directions except in directions parallel to the center axis.