A display system for a vehicle includes a display unit mounted to the vehicle and is selectively operable in a first mode as a holographic display and in a second mode as a mirror. Holographic images may include rear view images obtained from a camera or computer generated graphics. Holographic images are displayed at a virtual image plane behind the display to reduce the operator's eyes accommodation.

A head-up display capable of adjusting an imaging position is provided. The head-up display includes an image generation module, a reflector, a holographic diffraction optical element and a control unit. The image generation module is configured to display and project an image. The reflector is configured to reflect the image and further project the image on a transparent screen through the reflector. The holographic diffraction optical element is disposed on the transparent screen to reflect the image to a visible range of the user's eyes. The control unit is coupled to the reflector or the transparent screen to adjust the viewing angle of the holographic diffraction optical element having a pre-determined angle with the reflector.

Provided is a method in which, when configuring an HUD that produces a holographic image at a distance using a holographic optical element (HOE), an HOE capable of correcting aberrations generated by a projection optical system is manufactured and used to improve the quality of an HUD image. A method for manufacturing an HOE for HUD according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of: measuring aberrations generated by an optical system that projects an image of a display device; recording the measured aberrations in a master HOE; reproducing an aberrated wavefront of the optical system by playing the master HOE on a display plane on which the image of the display device is expressed; and causing an interference of the reproduced aberrated wavefront and a spherical wavefront irradiated from the HUD image plane on which the image of the display device is created, and recording the interference in the HOE. Accordingly, when configuring the HUD producing an image at a distance using the HOE, the quality of the HUD image can be improved by measuring aberrations in the projection optical system, creating a master HOE that reproduces the measured aberrations, and manufacturing a HOE that corrects the aberrations, and correcting aberrations generated in the projection optical system.

A display device, a photomask for a display device and a method for fabricating a display device comprising the photomask is described. The display device comprises a plurality of pixels arranged to spatially modulate light having a first characteristic. The display device further comprises a pixel mask structure. The pixel mask structure comprises a diffractive pattern that is configured to diffract light having the first characteristic and to transmit light having a second characteristic (without diffraction). The diffractive pattern of the pixel mask structure substantially surrounds the plurality of pixels.

The head-up display apparatus includes a displaying device installed inside an instrument panel, an opening portion formed in the instrument panel, and a combiner disposed above the opening portion. An image of the displaying device is projected to the combiner through the opening portion. The displaying device is a segment display. The segment display includes a plurality of light sources and a character/symbol plate having a plurality of image informing parts. The combiner is made of a non-translucent dark plate or a semi-translucent dark smoke plate.

A waveguide display includes a waveguide and a staircase structure coupled to the waveguide. The waveguide includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a holographic material layer between the first substrate and the second substrate. The holographic material layer includes a first grating and a second grating. The staircase structure is positioned on top of at least a portion of the first grating but not on top of the second grating. The staircase structure includes an input grating that is on top of the first grating and is configured to couple display light into the waveguide. The first grating is configured to redirect the display light coupled into the waveguide by the input grating towards the second grating.

A hybrid projector apparatus for a vehicle includes a heads-up display (HUD) projector disposed in a housing that includes a transparent area. The hybrid projector apparatus includes a holographic optical elements (HOE) projector supported by and at least partly exterior to the housing and is arranged to project light through the transparent area.

There is disclosed herein a waveguide comprising an optical slab and an optical wedge. The optical slab has a first refractive index, n.sub.1>1. The optical slab comprises: a pair of opposing surfaces and an input port. The pair of opposing surfaces are arranged in a parallel configuration. The input port is arranged to receive light into the optical slab at an angle such that the light is guided between the first and second opposing surfaces by a series of internal reflections. The optical wedge has a second refractive index, n.sub.2, wherein 1<n.sub.2<n.sub.1. The optical wedge comprises a pair of opposing surfaces arranged in a wedge configuration. A first surface of the optical wedge abuts the second surface of the optical slab to form an interface that allows partial transmission of light guided by the optical slab into the optical wedge at a plurality of points along the interface such that the light is divided a plurality of times. The angle of the wedge allows light received at the interface to escape through the second surface of the optical wedge such that the exit pupil of the waveguide is expanded by the plurality of divisions of the light.

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 composite pane includes first and second panes, a layer stack arranged therebetween including a first thermoplastic intermediate layer, a separating layer, an adhesive layer, a photopolymer layer having a holographic element, a carrier layer, and a second thermoplastic intermediate layer. The carrier layer contains polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, and/or cellulose triacetate and has a thickness of 20 μm to 100 μm. The carrier layer is arranged directly adjacent the photopolymer layer. The separating layer contains polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyvinyl chloride, and/or cellulose triacetate and has a thickness of 10 μm to 300 μm. The adhesive layer is arranged directly adjacent the photopolymer layer and the separating layer.