An optical apparatus is configured to introduce light from an object to an image pickup element, and includes first, second, and third retardation plates, a polarizer, and a setter. The first retardation plate, the second retardation plate, and the polarizer are arranged in this order from a side of the object to a side of the image pickup element. The slow axis direction or the fast axis direction of the second retardation plate tilts to the slow axis direction or the fast axis direction of the first retardation plate. The setter sets the retardation of the second retardation plate according to the polarization component of the light from the object.

A heads-up display may comprise a viewing screen having a reflective surface; a housing defining an opening; a display element disposed within the housing and comprising an integral linear polarizer configured to polarize light in a first direction; and a first linear polarizer disposed between the display element and the viewing screen covering the opening defined by the housing configured to polarize light in the first direction. The display element may be capable of causing images to be displayed on the viewing screen.

An optical system and a near-eye display device are provided. The optical system includes a light-emitting source, a light conversion unit, and a first reflection unit. The light conversion unit is on a light exit side of the light-emitting source, and a first surface of the light conversion unit faces a light exit surface of the light-emitting source. The first reflection unit is on a side of the light conversion unit away from the light-emitting source, and a first angle is provided between a second surface of the first reflection unit and the first surface. A first light emitted by the light-emitting source is converted by the light conversion unit into a second light, and the second light is reflected by the first reflection unit.

A near-eye display device, including: a display device (1) for displaying an image; an imaging lens (2) on a light-outgoing side of the display device (1) and for imaging the image displayed on the display device (1); a polarizer (3) on the light-outgoing side and for converting light emitted from the display device (1) into linearly polarized light; first and second phase delay layers (41, 42), on a side of the polarizer (3) distal to the display device (1) and for converting a polarization state of incident light; a polarized light splitter (5) on a side of the second phase delay layer (42) distal to the polarizer (3); and a curved mirror (6) on a reflected light path of the polarized light splitter (5) and for partially reflecting light transmitted by the second phase delay layer (42) to human eyes and partially transmitting ambient light.

The present invention relates to a method for improving the image quality of a HUD system, the HUD system comprising an image display device (1) and a reflecting element (3) having a partially transmissive first reflective surface (3a) and at least one partially transmissive second reflective surface (3b) substantially parallel thereto, and a polarization-dependent reflection layer (13) and/or an anti-reflection layer (14) and/or an optical birefringent layer (15), wherein the second reflective surface (3b) is arranged on the side of the first reflective surface (3a) opposite the image display device (1) and wherein the reflecting element (3) is adapted to produce reflected light beams (12a, 12b) from incident light beams (11) which are originating from the points of the image generated by the image display device (1) and arriving at the reflective surfaces (3a, 3b) and to reflect a portion of the reflected light beams (12a, 12b) toward a design detection point (23a), characterized by —determining for each of the incident light beams (11) reflected by the reflecting element (3) in the direction of the design detection point (23a) an optimal polarization state to which the intensity ratio of the reflected light beams (12a, 12b) reflected by the first reflective surface (3a) and first reflected by the second reflective surface (3b) during the reflection of the given incident light beam (11) is minimal, and —setting the polarization states of the incident light beams (11) reflected by the reflecting element (3) in the direction of the design detection point (23a) by means of a polarizing element (20) arranged in the path of the incident light beams (11) in accordance with the previously determined optimal polarization states. The invention also relates to a polarizing element and a HUD system.

An optical arrangement for expanding and uniformizing a beam of light, including a first optical member arranged to receive a collimated incoming light beam, from an incoming beam direction, with a first polarization, the first optical member configured to expand and uniformize the collimated incoming light beam along a first axis to form a first collimated light beam exiting therefrom in a first beam direction; a second optical member adapted to receive the first collimated light beam, from the first beam direction, with the first polarization in relation thereto, the second optical member configured to expand and uniformize the first collimated light beam along a second axis to form a second collimated light beam exiting therefrom in a second beam direction.

In a general aspect, a structured optical beam with position-dependent polarizations is prepared for human observation. In some examples, an optics method includes processing an optical beam to produce a structured optical beam for human observation. Processing the optical beam includes receiving the optical beam from a laser source; attenuating the optical beam to an exposure irradiance level that is safe for direct viewing by a human eye; expanding the optical beam to a size configured for a field of view of the human eye; and preparing the optical beam with a position-dependent polarization profile. The structured optical beam, which has the position-dependent polarization profile, is directed towards an observation region for human observation.

The present disclosure generally pertains to a polarization imaging portion having a plurality of imaging elements, wherein each imaging element is configured to convert light into an electric signal, the polarization imaging portion further including: a set of event sensors configured to detect an event being indicative of an intensity change of the light; a set of polarization filters; and a set of tunable polarizers configured to adjust a polarization of the light in response to an electric signal, wherein each polarization filter of the set of polarization filters is associated with a respective tunable polarizer of the set of tunable polarizers, thereby configuring a set of tunable polarization filters, such that the set of tunable polarization filters is associated with the set of event sensors.

An optical combiner including a waveguide prism configured to convey display light, from a display panel, from a proximal end of the waveguide prism to a distal end of the waveguide prism via total internal reflection. The optical combiner also includes an outcoupling interface positioned at the distal end of the waveguide prism on a surface of the waveguide prism that faces a user's eye. The outcoupling interface includes a plurality of polarization-dependent layers including a refractive beam-splitting convex lens to fold the light path of the display light and reduce the dimensions of a near-eye optical system implementing the optical combiner.

Provide are an optical element that can improve a utilization efficiency of light while increasing an optical path length, an image display unit, and a head-mounted display. The optical element includes, in the following order: a first absorptive linearly polarizing plate; a first reflective linearly polarizing plate; a first retardation plate; a partially reflecting mirror that allows transmission of a part of incident light and reflects a part of the incident light; a second retardation plate; and a second reflective linearly polarizing plate, in which a turning direction of circularly polarized light that is reflected from the first reflective linearly polarizing plate in a case where light transmits through the first retardation plate and is incident into the first reflective linearly polarizing plate is opposite to a turning direction of circularly polarized light that is reflected from the second reflective linearly polarizing plate in a case where light transmits through the second retardation plate and is incident into the second reflective linearly polarizing plate.