Traveling lens for video display
View Patent ↗A video display includes a light signal generator that generates modulated light signals containing video information propagating along an optical guideway. A light-releasing mechanism releases light from the optical guideway in a timed relationship with the modulation of the light signals. A traveling lens propagates in communication with an optical guideway for guiding light released from the optical guideway into selected directions in a timed relationship with a modulation of the light signals.
1. A video display comprising:
a light signal generator that generates modulated light signals containing video information,
a plate that propagates the light signals by internal reflection along an optical guideway,
a light-releasing mechanism to release light from the optical guideway in a timed relationship with the modulation of the light signals
a traveling lens that propagates in communication with the optical guideway for guiding light released from the optical guideway into selected directions in a timed relationship with the modulation of the light signals.
2. The video display of claim 1 further comprising:
a wave generator that generates a traveling acoustic wave to serve as a traveling lens, propagating in communication with the optical guideway for releasing light from the optical guideway in a timed relationship with the modulation of the light signals.
3. The display of claim 1 in which the traveling lens is a liquid crystal device.
4. The display of claim 1 in which the traveling lens has a finite focal length.
5. The display of claim 1 in which the traveling lens has an effectively infinite focal length.
6. The display of claim 2 in which the traveling acoustic wave releases light in directions influenced by the form of the traveling pressure wave.
7. The display of claim 3 in which the traveling acoustic wave is a variable pitch traveling wave.
8. The display of claim 7 in which the variable pitch traveling wave functions as a chirped diffractive grating lens.
9. The display of claim 8 in which the variable pitch traveling wave provides a vision correction for viewing the display.
10. The display of claim 1 in which the plate is curved to contribute focusing power.
11. The display of claim 1 further comprising an eye tracker and a control system for modifying the form of the traveling lens to accommodate changes in eye orientation.