Abstract:
A holographic substrate-guided wave-based see-through display has a microdisplay, capable of emitting light in the form of an image. The microdisplay directs its output to a holographic optical element, capable of accepting the image from the microdisplay, and capable of transmitting the light. The holographic optical element couples its output to an elongate substrate, capable of accepting the light from the holographic optical element at a first location, and transmitting the light along a length of the substrate by internal reflection to a second location, the elongate substrate being capable of transmitting the accepted light from the second location. The substrate couples out what it receives to a transparent holographic optical element, capable of accepting the light transmitted from the substrate and transmitting it to a location outside of the holographic optical element as a viewable image.
Abstract:
A laser image projector display system (200) includes laser operating electronics (208, 210, 212, 400, 500, 700) that selectively operates a laser diode at a bias that is low enough to save energy based on analysis pixel brightness values. The laser bias may be high enough that laser can be transitioned to a lasing state in time to display a pixel, or the system can “look ahead” into a stream of pixels and adjust the bias in advance.
Abstract:
A collimator can be made of a compound holographic optical element made of three holographic optical elements. The first reflection holographic optical element will have recorded within it continuous lens configured to receive light from a diffuse light beam and diffract the received light as a first collimated light beam. The second reflection holographic optical element will have recorded within it a regular hologram that is configured to permit the light from the diffuse light source to transmit through it to reach the first reflection holographic element, the second reflection holographic element having within it a second holographically reflective structure configured to receive the first collimated light beam and diffract the first collimated light beam as a second collimated light beam. The third transmission holographic optical element is configured to receive the second collimated light beam and diffract it as a third holographic light beam.
Abstract:
A holographic substrate-guided wave-based see-through display can has a microdisplay, capable of emitting light in the form of an image. The microdisplay directs its output to a holographic lens, capable of accepting the light in the form of an image from the microdisplay, and capable of transmitting the accepted light in the form of an image. The holographic lens couples its output to an elongate transparent substrate, capable of accepting the light in the form of an image from the holographic lens at a first location, and transmitting the light in the form of an image along a length of the substrate by total internal reflection to a second location spaced from the first location, the elongate substrate being capable of transmitting the accepted light in the form of an image at the second location. The substrate couples out what it receives to a transparent holographic grating, capable of accepting the light transmitted from the elongate substrate and transmitting it to a location outside of the holographic grating as a viewable image.
Abstract:
A compact real-image projection apparatus is used for a portable device (140). An optical projector (110) emits light that is capable of forming an image. A collapsible screen (120) has a collapsed surface area no larger than substantially the surface area of a side of the portable device and an expanded surface area capable of receiving the light emitted from the optical projector (110). A retractable connecting member (150) is coupled between the screen (120) and the optical projector (110) and has at least a stowed position and an extended position. The extended position is configured to hold the screen (120) and the optical projector (110) relative to one another such that the light emitted from the optical projector forms a real image on the screen.
Abstract:
An optical reflecting device employs an interfacing of an optical refractor and an optical reflector. When incorporated within a system (e.g., an optical switch, a display, and a bar code scanner), the optical reflecting device can be rotated among a plurality of positions. At a first position of the optical reflecting device, a light beam entering the optical reflecting device is sequentially refracted by the optical refractor, reflected by the optical reflector and refracted by the optical refractor prior to exiting the optical reflecting device at a first exit angle of the light beam from a normal axis of the optical reflector. Upon a rotation of the optical reflecting device by a rotation angle to a second rotation position, the light beam exits the optical reflecting device at a second exit angle of the light beam from the normal axis of the optical reflector at the first rotation position. An absolute value of a difference between the first and second exit angles is greater than twice an absolute value of the rotation angle.
Abstract:
A head-up display includes an image source, such as a laser scanner, a means for diffusing light and a transparent element that can include a holographic element. The laser scanner emits a visible light for generating an image. The means for diffusing light receives the visible light from the laser scanner to project the image thereon, and preferably apply gain thereto. The transparent element produces a virtual or a real image of the image from the means for diffusing light. In a vehicle, the head-up display is configured to reflect the image into the vehicle to provide a virtual image ahead of a driver.
Abstract:
A color display and solar cell device (100, 300, 500), and methods for fabricating and operating the device. The device (100, 300, 500) includes a transparent light source (140, 340, 540) located behind a liquid crystal display (105, 305, 505) that includes a switchable transflector layer (145, 345, 545). In a first embodiment, the liquid crystal display (105) also includes a tri-color pixelized filter (115), the switchable transflector (145) is a switchable broadband transflector, and the transparent light source (140) is a white light source. In a second embodiment, the switchable transflector layer (345) is a tri-color selectable transflector and the transparent light source (340) is a tri-color selectable light source. In a third embodiment, the switchable transflector layer is a switchable broadband transflector and the transparent light source is a tri-color selectable light source. In a fourth embodiment, the switchable transflector layer (545) is a switchable pixelized tri-color transflector and the transparent light source (540) is a tri-color selectable light source.
Abstract:
A liquid crystal device comprises a first and second cell wall structure; at least one liquid crystal material disposed within a space between the first and second cell wall structures; and polymer micro-structures, wherein the micro-structures are formed by polymerizing a prepolymer, and wherein said micro-structures have a shape and spatial location determined by said liquid crystal material. Permanent polymer micro-structures are formed from a liquid crystal with a non-uniform spatially modulated director field. The polymer structures have the shape and spatial location dictated by the non-uniform director field of the liquid crystal. The micro-structures are a backbone that restores the liquid crystal director field that existed during the polymerization process even when other factors, such as electric field, temperature, or surface anchoring, do not favor this restoration. The polymer micro-structures can be used in optical devices, such as diffraction gratings and deflecting and beam steering devices, and in micro-mechanical and micro-fluidic devices.
Abstract:
A substrate-guided holographic diffuser has a light-guide section configured to in-couple light and transmit the light within itself via total internal reflection. It can also have a brightness enhancement section that recycles non-diffracted light within the light-guide section. A hologram section that receives light from the light-guide section has a holographic structure defining acceptance conditions and is positioned relative to the internally reflected light such that the internally reflected light meets the acceptance conditions of the holographic structure. The internally reflected light is out-coupled by the holographic structure as a projected image of light scattered from a diffuser.