IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,158,095
Granted Patent B2
US 7,158,095 · App. 10/622,197 · Granted Jan 2, 2007

Visual display system for displaying virtual images onto a field of vision

Assignee: Big Buddy Performance, Inc.
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,158,095
App. No.
10/622,197
Granted
Jan 2, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

An optically transparent, ghost-free visual display system that superimposes a virtual image comprising graphical or textual information onto a field of vision. Embodiments of the visual display system utilize illumination and optical components that introduce a virtual image onto a field of vision while minimally obstructing and/or attenuating other objects within the field of vision. Embodiments of the visual display system can be used in numerous applications, including head-up displays (“HUDs”) for automotive, tracked and rail-mounted vehicles, marine, aerospace applications, see-through speech prompt displays, and see-through projection displays.

Claims (46)

1. A visual display system that superimposes a virtual image onto a field of vision of an occupant of a vehicle that includes a windshield, the visual display system comprising:

a display light source that transmits an image in at least partially polarized light; and

a combiner positioned between the occupant and the windshield that transmits light from a field of vision extemal to the vehicle to the occupant, the combiner

reflecting a first portion of the display light to superimpose the image as a virtual image within the transmitted field of vision,

rotating the polarization of a second portion of the display light, and

transmitting the second portion of the display light through the windshield, the second portion of the light having low efficiency for reflection towards the viewer from windshield-related optical boundaries encountered by the second portion of the display light following rotation of the plane of polarization of the display light and transmission by the combiner.

2. The visual display system of claim 1 wherein the light is s-polarized, and the polarization of the light is rotated by the combiner to produce p-polarized light.

3. The visual display system of claim 1 wherein the combiner consists of a birefringent material.

4. The visual display system of claim 1 wherein the combiner is coated with a birefringent film.

5. The visual display system of claim 1 wherein the combiner is coated with a dielectric film.

6. The visual display system of claim 1 wherein the combiner is coated with a metallic film.

7. The visual display system of claim 1 used in a head-up display, providing a primary virtual image of an automotive gauge with only attenuated ghost images.

8. The visual display system of claim 1 used in a head-up display, providing a primary virtual image of an automotive gauge with no ghost images.

9. The visual display system of claim 1 used in an application selected from among:

a see-through projection display; and

a head-up display in a vehicle.

10. The visual display system of claim 1 further including a relay optic that rotates the polarization of the reflected, first portion of the light.

11. The visual display system of claim 10 used in a head-up display to allow a viewer to wear p-polarized sunglasses.

12. The visual display system of claim 10 wherein the display light source is selected from among:

a display projection system utilizing a light guide, diffuser, liquid crystal display, and transmitting window;

a vacuum fluorescent display;

a laser or light emitting diode combined with a scanning mirror;

a laser or light emitting diode combined with a number of lasers, LEDs, and scanning mirrors;

a laser or LED combined with scanning lenses; and

an array of LEDs that together compose a graphical or textual display.

13. The visual display system of claim 1 wherein the combiner is coated with both a dielectric film and a metallic film.

14. The visual display system of claim 1 wherein the combiner is applied to an inner surface of the windshield.

15. A visual display system that superimposes a virtual image onto a field of vision of an occupant of a vehicle that includes a windshield, the visual display system comprising:

a display light source that transmits an image in an at least partially p-polarized light; and

a combiner, coated with a metallic coating, positioned between the occupant and the windshield that transmits light from a field of vision external to the vehicle to the occupant, the combiner

reflecting a first portion of the display light to superimpose the image as a virtual image within the transmitted field of vision, and

transmitting a second portion of the display light, the second portion of the display light having low efficiency for reflection towards the viewer from optical boundaries encountered by the second portion of the display light following transmission into the combiner.

16. The visual display system of claim 15 used in a head-up display to allow a viewer to wearp-polarized sunglasses.

17. A method for superimposing a virtual image onto a field of vision of an occupant of a vehicle that includes a windshield, the method comprising:

transmitting an image in an at least partially polarized light from a display light source to a combiner positioned between the occupant and the windshield that transmits light from a field of vision external to the vehicle to the occupant, the combiner reflecting a first portion of the display light to superimpose the image as a virtual image within the transmitted field of vision,

rotating the polarization of a second portion of the display light, and

transmitting the second portion of the display light through the windshield, the second portion of the light having low efficiency for reflection towards the viewer from windshield-related optical boundaries encountered by the second portion of the display light following rotation of the plane of polarization of the display light and transmission by the combiner.

18. The method of claim 17 employed to provide a head-up display.

19. The method of claim 17 employed to provide a see-through display projector.

20. A visual display system that superimposes a virtual image onto a field of vision of an occupant of a vehicle that includes a windshield, the visual display system comprising:

a display light source that transmits an image in at least partially polarized light;

a combiner that transmits light from a field of vision external to the vehicle to the occupant, the combiner

reflecting a first portion of the display light to superimpose the image as a virtual image within the transmitted field of vision,

rotating the polarization of a second portion of the display light, and

transmitting the second portion of the display light through the windshield, the second portion of the light having low efficiency for reflection towards the viewer from windshield-related optical boundaries encountered by the second portion of the display light following rotation of the plane of polarization of the display light and transmission by the combiner; and

a relay optic that rotates the polarization of the reflected, first portion of the display light to direct p-polarized light to the vehicle occupant.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 17, 2003
From: JENSON, BARTON JAMES; BEAN, KENNETH EUGENE II; GEORGE, DAVID PAUL
To: BIG BUDDY PERFORMANCE, INC.
Reel/Frame 014314/0733 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20050012682A1 · Jan 20, 2005