An optical device includes a freeform lightguide to direct light from a display to a region where a user's eye is expected to be positioned. The freeform lightguide includes a lightguide substrate with first and second opposing surfaces extending between a first end and a second end of the freeform lightguide, with at least the second surface being a freeform surface and being overlaid with a partial mirror layer. The first surface being overlaid with at least a quarter-wave plate layer and a polarization beam splitter layer. The freeform lightguide also includes an in-coupling interface proximate to the first end of the freeform lightguide to receive light from the display.

A reflective polarizing imaging lens includes at least one optical film having an active area that is curved in two orthogonal directions. Edges of the optical film are arranged to form seams between segments of the optical film in the active area of the reflective polarizing imaging lens.

An image display apparatus mountable on a mobile object includes an image light generator and a transmissive member. The image light generator is configured to generate image light and emit the image light to a transmission and reflection member mounted on the mobile object. The transmissive member is disposed in an optical path of the image light between the image light generator and the transmission and reflection member. The transmissive member is configured to transmit the image light from the image light generator. The transmissive member has a cross section with a predetermined curve, the cross section being orthogonal to a predetermined direction inclined with reference to a virtual plane orthogonal to a horizontal direction of the mobile object.

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.

A system for and method of projecting augmentation imagery in a head-mounted display is disclosed. A system for projecting light onto an eye includes a display to project light, a beam combiner, first and second optical systems between the display and the beam combiner along respective first and second optical paths. The first and second optical paths differ. The system also includes a switchable reflector that, in a reflective state, reflects light incident upon the reflector, and, in a non-reflective state, transmits light incident upon the reflector. The reflector is between the display and the first and second optical systems along the first and second optical paths and directs light along the first path, in the reflective state, or along the second path, in the non-reflective state, to reflect light from the beam combiner to the eye from different directions when in the different states.

An information display apparatus and an information display method configured to display video information of a virtual image on a windshield of conveyance is provided. The information display apparatus includes: a display configured to display the video information; and a virtual image optical system configured to display a virtual image at a front of the conveyance by reflecting light emitted from the display by means of the windshield. The virtual image optical system includes a concave mirror and an optical element. A reflective film is formed on a reflecting surface of the concave mirror. A protective film for preventing moisture absorption is formed on a facing surface. By forming end surfaces of the two surfaces as a curved surface or an inclined surface and forming them on the end surfaces to block moisture, moisture absorption of plastic is prevented.

Techniques are described for operating an optical system. In some embodiments, light associated with a world object is received at the optical system. Virtual image light is projected onto an eyepiece of the optical system. A portion of a system field of view of the optical system to be at least partially dimmed is determined based on information detected by the optical system. A plurality of spatially-resolved dimming values for the portion of the system field of view may be determined based on the detected information. The detected information may include light information, gaze information, and/or image information. A dimmer of the optical system may be adjusted to reduce an intensity of light associated with the world object in the portion of the system field of view according to the plurality of dimming values.

Provided is a device configured to enlarge an exit pupil area of a visual optical apparatus, the device including a diffraction grating configured to output a plurality of diffracted light beams of a plurality of diffraction orders by diffracting an incident light beam, and a waveguide provided on the diffraction grating and configured to form an exit pupil based on a first diffracted light beam among the plurality of diffracted light beams output from the diffraction grating and to form exit pupil orders based on a second diffracted light beam among the plurality of diffracted light beams output from the diffraction grating.

There are provided: a vehicle display device including a HUD device capable of ensuring safe traveling by suitably controlling a display region of an image to be displayed on the windshield of a vehicle; and a display method. A vehicle display device includes a HUD device that projects image light of an image, which is to be displayed, on a windshield WS of a vehicle such that a virtual image I* of the image is visually recognized by reflected light. The vehicle display device is operable to display a plurality of images having a priority order, and an image having a high priority order is displayed such that an image displayed in a specified region As of the windshield WS has a predetermined display rate (=an area of the image/an area of the specified region) or less. Warning images I2 and I31 to I34 are set in a priority order higher than that of the driving support images I11 to I13.

A method of forming a curved mirror for a heads-up display includes providing a mirror preform including a first major surface, a second major surface, and a minor surface connecting the first and second major surfaces. The minor preform has a central portion and a peripheral portion surrounding the central portion. The method includes disposing the minor preform on a mold having a concave surface facing the second major surface and within a housing that surrounds at least a portion of the minor surface, a space being defined between the concave surface and the second major surface with a perimeter of the space being bounded by the housing, the mold comprising a ditch-type vacuum line along a periphery of the concave surface underneath the peripheral portion. The method also includes providing vacuum pressure to the space via the ditch-type vacuum line to conform the mirror preform to the concave surface.