Described is an optical system and method for operating an HUD. The optical system includes an imaging system that generates optical radiation based on image information, a display system that projects the optical radiation, a deflection device that deflects the projected optical radiation, and at least one optically transparent pane-shaped element that at least partially reflects the deflected optical radiation. The deflection device guides the projected optical radiation onto the pane-shaped element, the optical radiation hitting the pane-shaped element at an angle. The imaging system, the display system, the deflection device and the pane-shaped element are arranged to generate a virtual image of optical radiation containing the image information. The optical system includes first and second edge points of the pane-shaped element. The first edge point has a minimal distance (d.sub.min.sup.(1)) to the deflection device and the second edge point has a minimal distance (d.sub.min.sup.(2)) to the imaging system.

The present invention provides a display apparatus for use in a vehicle that prevents reduction in driver visibility and adds no constrains to vehicle interior design. The display apparatus includes an indicator unit and a reflection receiving surface. The indicator unit includes a housing, an indicator accommodated in the housing, and a face glass sheet attached to the housing in such a manner that the indicator is visible. The reflection receiving surface receives light traveling from an eye range and reflecting off the face glass sheet. the face glass sheet is formed into a cross-sectional concavity depressed toward the indicator. The concavity provides a curved surface that reflects the light from the eye range to the reflection receiving surface. The reflection receiving surface is a back surface of a vehicle structure placed at a position at which there is space between the reflection receiving surface and the face glass sheet.

Aspects of the present invention relate to methods and systems for the see-through computer display systems. In embodiments, the systems and methods use curved display panels to generate image light.

An apparatus includes a device including a screen; a ledge against which the device lays; a connecting arm; and a partially transparent mirror coupled to the ledge via the connecting arm, where the mirror includes a center and two outer lateral edges and is structured and arranged relative to the ledge such that the screen faces the mirror and a center of the mirror is further from the screen than each of the two outer lateral edges, a part of the mirror that is adjacent the first of the two outer lateral edges thereby reflecting a part of the screen that is opposite the second of the two outer lateral edges, and a part of the mirror that is opposite the second of the two outer lateral edges thereby reflecting a part of the screen that is opposite the first of the two outer lateral edges.

An input-coupler of an optical waveguide couples light corresponding to the image and having a corresponding FOV into the optical waveguide, and the input-coupler splits the FOV of the image coupled into the optical waveguide into first and second portions by diffracting a portion of the light corresponding to the image in a first direction toward a first intermediate-component, and diffracting a portion of the light corresponding to the image in a second direction toward a second intermediate-component. An output-coupler of the waveguide combines the light corresponding to the first and second portions of the FOV, and couples the light corresponding to the combined first and second portions of the FOV out of the optical waveguide so that the light corresponding to the image and the combined first and second portions of the FOV is output from the optical waveguide. The intermediate-components and the output-coupler also provide for pupil expansion.

An apparatus for use with a head wearable display includes a curved eyepiece for guiding display light received at an input surface peripherally located from a viewing region and emitting the display light along an eye-ward direction in the viewing region. The curved eyepiece includes an optical combiner, an eye-ward facing surface that is concave, a world facing surface that is convex, and a curved lightguide disposed between the eye-ward facing and world facing surfaces to guide the display light via total internal reflections from the input surface to the viewing region. The optical combiner is disposed within the curved eyepiece at the viewing region to redirect the display light towards the eye-ward direction. The optical combiner includes a pattern of reflective elements separated by interstitial regions. The interstitial regions pass ambient light incident through the world facing surface such that the viewing region is partially see-through.

An apparatus for use with a head wearable display includes a curved eyepiece for guiding display light to a viewing region offset from a peripheral location and emitting the display light along an eye-ward direction in the viewing region. The curved eyepiece includes a curved lightguide to guide the display light, an eye-ward facing surface that is concave, a world facing surface that is convex and opposite the eye-ward facing surface, and an optical combiner disposed at the viewing region to redirect the display light towards the eye-ward direction for output from the curved lightguide. The optical combiner is partially transmissive to ambient light incident through the world facing surface such that the viewing region is see-through. In some embodiments, a prism is disposed proximate to the input surface to pre-compensate the display light for lateral chromatic aberrations resulting the curved lightguide.

The application provides an augmented reality display device comprising a projection source module and an optical path module, the projection source module comprising a projection source (12) and a beam shaping element (14) which are integrated into a unitary piece, and the optical path module comprising a beamsplitter (20) and a reflector (60), wherein virtual image light (VL) emitted from the projection source (12) and carrying virtual image information is emitted out of the projection source module after being shaped by the beam shaping element (14), projected onto the beamsplitter (20) first, then reflected onto the reflector (60) by the beamsplitter (20), then reflected by the reflector (60), and enters a human eye (E) eventually, and scene light (AL) carrying real scene information enters the reflector (60) from an outside of the reflector (60), and is transmitted through the reflector (60) and the beamsplitter (20) into the human eye (E). The application also provides a wearable augmented reality system comprising the augmented reality display device and the projection source module for the augmented reality display device.

An optical lens assembly and an optical system is provided. The optical lens assembly includes a first optical element including a partial reflector and a quarter-wave plate and a second optical element including a reflective polarizer. The first optical element and the second optical element form a cavity. The pancake lens assembly further includes a varifocal lens having an adjustable optical power, and the varifocal lens is disposed inside or outside the cavity.

A system for near-eye display applications. A lens is provided with a beam-splitting interface horizontally along the width of the lens. Two display devices per lens are provided and disposed on the perimeter surface of the lens opposing an overlapped, prismatic facet optics assembly which balances aberration introduced by the slight symmetry break in the lens.