U.S. patent number RE42,992 [Application Number 11/896,645] was granted by the patent office on 2011-12-06 for chromatic planar optic display system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Mirage Innovations Ltd.. Invention is credited to Yair David.
United States Patent |
RE42,992 |
David |
December 6, 2011 |
Chromatic planar optic display system
Abstract
A compact chromatic display system to be used by a viewer to
view a virtual image including: (a) an output optical device, which
enables the viewer to see through it a chromatic virtual image. (b)
an input optical device. (c) an optical arrangement for directing
light from the input optical device to the output optical device
and (d) a Shift Adjusted Display (SAD) device that radiates
chromatic image.
Inventors: |
David; Yair (Ramat-HaSharon,
IL) |
Assignee: |
Mirage Innovations Ltd.
(Petach-Tikva, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
32926185 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/896,645 |
Filed: |
September 4, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
10367894 |
Feb 19, 2003 |
7205960 |
Apr 17, 2007 |
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/7; 359/13;
345/204 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09G
5/06 (20130101); G02B 27/4272 (20130101); G09G
3/003 (20130101); G02B 27/0103 (20130101); G02B
6/0016 (20130101); G02B 6/0038 (20130101); G02B
2027/0116 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G09G
5/00 (20060101); G03H 1/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;345/7-9,204
;359/13,15,16,556,563,630 |
References Cited
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WO 2009/037706 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Mengistu; Amare
Assistant Examiner: Holton; Steven
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A compact display system to be used by a viewer to view a
virtual image, the system comprising: (a) an output optical device,
through which the viewer looks at a virtual image; (b) an input
optical device; (c) an optical arrangement for directing light from
said input optical device to said output optical device, (d) a
Complete Shift Adjusted Display (CSAD) device that radiates images,
said CSAD being operatively connected with said optical
arrangement, wherein said optical arrangement includes at least two
transparent substrate plates, and wherein said output optical
device includes at least two diffractive optical elements carried
by said transparent substrate plates.
.[.2. The compact display system as in claim 1, wherein said input
optical device includes at least two diffractive optical elements
carried by said transparent substrate plates..].
3. The compact display system as in claim 1, wherein at least one
of said transparent substrate plates is at least partially coated
with a light-reflective coating.
4. The compact display system as in claim .[.2.]. .Iadd.7.Iaddend.,
wherein each one of said diffractive optical elements of said input
optical device has a different grating spacing from other said
diffractive optical elements of said input optical device.
5. The compact display system as in claim .[.2.]. .Iadd.1.Iaddend.,
wherein each one of said diffractive optical elements of said
output optical device has a different grating spacing from other
said diffractive optical elements of said output optical
device.
6. The compact display system as in claim .[.2.]. .Iadd.1.Iaddend.,
wherein each one of said transparent substrate plates has a
different thickness from other said transparent substrate
plates.
7. A compact display system to be used by a viewer to view a
virtual image, the system comprising: (a) an output optical device,
through which the viewer looks at a virtual image; (b) an input
optical device; (c) an optical arrangement for directing light from
said input optical device to said output optical device, (d) a
Complete Shift Adjusted Display (CSAD) device that radiates images,
said CSAD being operatively connected with said optical
arrangement, wherein said optical arrangement includes at least two
transparent substrate plates, and wherein said input optical device
includes at least two diffractive optical elements carried by said
transparent substrate plates.
8. The compact display system as in claim 7, wherein at least one
of said transparent substrate plates is at least partially coated
with a light-reflective coating.
9. A method to be used by a viewer to view a virtual image, the
method comprising the steps of: (a) providing said viewer with a
compact planar optic display system including: (i) a first
transparent substrate plate; (ii) at least a second transparent
substrate plate; (iii) at least two input diffractive optical
elements .[.canied.]. .Iadd.carried .Iaddend.by said transparent
substrate plates, each one of said input diffractive optical
elements being carried by one of said transparent plates; .Iadd.and
.Iaddend. (iv) at least two output diffractive optical elements
carried by said transparent substrate plates, each one of said
output diffractive optical elements being carried by one of said
transparent plates.[., and.]..Iadd.; .Iaddend. .[.(v) a Complete
Shift Adjusted Display (CSAD) device;.]. (b) connecting said
compact planar optic display system to an active video source; (c)
causing said compact planar optic display system to display an
output virtual image, and (d) positioning said compact planar optic
display system in orientation and location, with respect to an eye
of said viewer, so as to enable said viewer to observe said output
virtual image.
10. A compact chromatic display system to be used by a viewer to
view a corrected chromatic virtual image, the system comprising:
(a) an output optical device, enabling the viewer to see the
corrected chromatic virtual image therethrough; (b) an input
optical device; (c) an optical arrangement for directing light from
said input optical device to said output optical device, and (d) a
Shift Adjusted Display (SAD) device that radiates a chromatic
image, said SAD being operatively connected with said input optical
device, wherein said SAD device is an Intensity Shift Adjusted
Display (ISAD) device, and wherein said ISAD is configured to
separately modify an intensity of each sub-pixel of said chromatic
image so as to effect a transformation of a wavelength-dependent
intensity distortion and an intensity distortion dependent on pixel
position, said distortions introduced by at least one of said input
optical device, said optical arrangement, and said output optical
device, thereby producing the corrected chromatic virtual
image.
11. The display system as in claim 10, wherein said transformation
is substantially independent of input intensity.
12. A compact display system .[.compiising.]. .Iadd.comprising
.Iaddend.two compact display systems as in claim 10.
13. The display system as in claim 10, wherein said optical
arrangement includes a transparent substrate plate.
14. The display system as in claim 13, wherein at least one of said
input optical device and said output optical device includes at
least one diffractive optical element.
15. The display system as in claim 10, wherein said ISAD includes a
transforming module for transforming an intensity radiated by said
light-radiating display device so as to correct said intensity
distortions.
16. The display system as in claim 11, wherein said ISAD includes a
transforming module for transforming said intensity so as to
correct said intensity distortions.
.[.17. A compact display system comprising two compact display
systems as in claim 11..].
18. The display system as in claim 13, wherein said optical
arrangement is configured such that light emitted by said ISAD is
transmitted by total internal reflection within said transparent
substrate plate.
19. The display system as in claim 18, wherein at least one of said
input optical device and said output optical device includes at
least one diffractive optical element.
20. The display system as in claim 15, wherein said transforming
module includes a look-up table (LUT) for storing correction values
for each said sub-pixel.
21. The display system as in claim 15, wherein said transforming
module includes a memory array for storing correction values for
each said sub-pixel.
22. A compact chromatic display system to be used by a viewer to
view a corrected chromatic virtual image, the system comprising:
(a) an output optical device, which enables said viewer to see the
corrected chromatic virtual image therethrough; (b) an input
optical device; (c) an optical arrangement for directing light from
said input optical device to said output optical device, and (d) a
Shift Adjusted Display (SAD) device that radiates a chromatic
image, said SAD being operatively connected with said input optical
device, wherein said SAD device is an Intensity Shift Adjusted
Display (ISAD) device, the system configured to transmit at least
two light beams along different pathways through said input optical
device, within said optical arrangement and through said output
optical device, such that said pathways produce transmission
intensity distortions of differing magnitude, and wherein said ISAD
is configured to separately modify an intensity of each sub-pixel
of said chromatic image so as to transform a wavelength-dependent
intensity distortion and said transmission intensity distortions
introduced by at least one of said input optical device, said
optical arrangement, and said output optical device, thereby
producing the corrected chromatic virtual image.
.[.23. The display system as in claim 22, wherein said
transformation is substantially independent of input
intensity..].
.[.24. A compact display system comprising two compact display
systems as in claim 22..].
.[.25. The display system as in claim 22, wherein said optical
arrangement includes a transparent substrate plate..].
.[.26. The display system as in claim 22, wherein said ISAD
includes a transforming module for transforming said intensity so
as to correct said wavelength-dependent intensity distortion and
said transmission intensity distortions..].
.[.27. A compact display system comprising two compact display
systems as in claim 23..].
.[.28. The display system as in claim 25, wherein at least one of
said input optical device and said output optical device includes
at least one diffractive optical element..].
.[.29. The display system as in claim 25, wherein said optical
arrangement is configured such that light emitted by said ISAD is
transmitted by total internal reflection within said transparent
substrate plate..].
.[.30. The display system as in claim 29, wherein at least one of
said input optical device and said output optical device includes
at least one diffractive optical element..].
.[.31. The display system as in claim 26, wherein said transforming
module includes a look-up table (LUT) for storing correction values
for each said sub-pixel..].
.[.32. The display system as in claim 26, wherein said transforming
module includes a memory array for storing correction values for
each said sub-pixel..].
.Iadd.33. A method according to claim 9, wherein at least one of
said transparent substrate plates is at least partially coated with
a light-reflective coating..Iaddend.
.Iadd.34. A method according to claim 9, wherein each of said input
diffractive optical elements has a different grating spacing from
other input diffractive optical elements..Iaddend.
.Iadd.35. A method according to claim 9, wherein each of said
output diffractive optical elements has a different grating spacing
from other output diffractive optical elements..Iaddend.
.Iadd.36. A method according to claim 9, wherein each of said
transparent substrate plates has a different thickness from other
said transparent substrate plates..Iaddend.
.Iadd.37. A method according to claim 9, wherein the compact planar
optic display system further includes a Complete Shift Adjusted
Display (CSAD) device..Iaddend.
.Iadd.38. The compact display system as in claim 1, wherein said
input optical device includes at least two diffractive optical
elements carried by said transparent substrate plates..Iaddend.
.Iadd.39. A compact display system comprising two compact display
systems as in claim 11..Iaddend.
.Iadd.40. The display system as in claim 22, wherein said
transformation is substantially independent of input
intensity..Iaddend.
.Iadd.41. A compact display system comprising two compact display
systems as in claim 22..Iaddend.
.Iadd.42. The display system as in claim 22, wherein said optical
arrangement includes a transparent substrate plate..Iaddend.
.Iadd.43. The display system as in claim 22, wherein said ISAD
includes a transforming module for transforming said intensity so
as to correct said wavelength-dependent intensity distortion and
said transmission intensity distortions..Iaddend.
.Iadd.44. A compact display system comprising two compact display
systems as in claim 40..Iaddend.
.Iadd.45. The display system as in claim 42, wherein at least one
of said input optical device and said output optical device
includes at least one diffractive optical element..Iaddend.
.Iadd.46. The display system as in claim 42, wherein said optical
arrangement is configured such that light emitted by said ISAD is
transmitted by total internal reflection within said transparent
substrate plate..Iaddend.
.Iadd.47. The display system as in claim 46, wherein at least one
of said input optical device and said output optical device
includes at least one diffractive optical element..Iaddend.
.Iadd.48. The display system as in claim 43, wherein said
transforming module includes a look-up table (LUT) for storing
correction values for each said sub-pixel..Iaddend.
.Iadd.49. The display system as in claim 43, wherein said
transforming module includes a memory array for storing correction
values for each said sub-pixel..Iaddend.
Description
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a holographic planar optic display
system and, in particular, to a multi chromatic holographic planar
optic display system, which employs a planar optic approach, and
which include a Shift Adjusted Display (SAD) device.
As used herein the specifications and claims, the term Shift
Adjusted Display (SAD) device refers to a device that performs
electronic diversion of input image pixels to the Chromatic Planar
Optic Display System, for the purpose of improving the output
display image as a result of distorted optic transformation, which
is unwanted in the optic display system.
There are a wide variety of display systems for visual radiation of
a video image to the user's eyes. The video image can reach the
display system from a wide range of sources, such as video cameras,
DVD, VCR, computers, and receiver antennas, as a video signal in
wire or wireless communication.
These video signals are command signals for the recreation of the
image display using a light-radiating device. Light-radiating
display devices are based on technologies such as: Cathode Ray Tube
(CRT), Light Emitting Diode (LED), Liquid Crystal Display (LCD),
Passive Matrix LCD (PMLCD), Active Matrix LCD (AMLCD), Active
Matrix Electro-Luminescent display (AMEL), Micro-Electro Mechanical
display (MEM), Thin Film Transistors (TFT), Light Doped Drain
(LDD), Liquid Crystal On Silicon (LCOS), Ferroelectric LCD
(FLC).
Examples of application of these devices are television sets,
computer screens, billboards, wristwatches, handheld computers,
cellular phones, etc. However, there still are certain situations
in which looking directly at a display screen is insufficient. Such
situations include Head Up Display (HUD) and Visor Display, in
aircraft and other vehicles in which the outer world is seen
through image display, or in Head Mounted Display (HMD), in which
the system is small to the extent that the eye is unable to focus
on the image, on account of the distance between the eye and the
screen being too short.
A displayed image may be either a real image or a virtual image. A
real image refers to an image, which is observed directly by the
unaided human eye, displayed by a viewing surface positioning at a
given place. Compact display devices, due to their small size, have
a limited surface area on which a real image can be provided. Since
the amount of detail that the human eye can resolve per unit of
area is limited, devices, which provide a real image, are only
capable to providing a limited amount of legible information per
display screen.
Due to current technological trends and developments, there is a
growing demand for a mobile and compact display device that is
capable of displaying an increasing number of visual data to the
viewer, which is expressed in a growing demand for a display device
with a small surface area and an increasing number of display
pixels.
One approach to reduce the size of an image display and yet retain
image quality is through the formation of a virtual image instead
of a real image. A virtual image can exist at a place where no
display surface exists.
A virtual image is seen through an optical device. An example of a
virtual image is the image viewed through a magnifying glass, a
three-dimensional hologram, a mirror-reflected image, the image
viewed through a combiner of head up display and the image viewed
through an output diffractive optical element of planar optic visor
display. Virtual image displays can provide an image, which appears
to be larger than the source object from which the virtual image
emerges, and at a distance suitable for the focus ability of the
eye.
Creation of the image in Compact Display Sources can be performed
in one of several methods, such as scanning a screen with an
electron ray in CRT monitors in parallel lines at a high speed, or
radiation of light from Chip Laser Emitted Diodes (LED) serving as
backlights in flat screen Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD). The result
is an image displayed to the viewer's eyes, which is comprised of
many light-radiating pixels, aligned in most devices as a two
dimensional array of pixels. A light-radiating pixel of this type
is also known as a dot.
A dot or pixel is an element that forms a character or symbol when
combined in a matrix, or an array. In monochromatic displays, every
such pixel can either project light or not, and in more advanced
systems the light radiation can be at several grades of intensity,
which allows for pixel gray level.
Color display systems have the option of creating a pixel referred
to as a full-color pixel, as a combination of several
light-radiating pixels, which are in close proximity to each other,
while each radiates light in an additive primary color, at the
necessary intensity. The combination of these additive primary
colors at the necessary division of intensities gives the feel of a
color pixel of the desired hue and brightness. The term "additive"
refers to the addition of several primary colors, usually three:
red, blue, and green. at the appropriate ratios to create the sense
of a color of any hue and brightness within the color vision
spectrum. Color addition is suitable for creation of a color image
from light-radiating sources
Another method of creating color images is "subtraction". In this
method, the source of light can be white sunlight, which is blocked
with three filters at the necessary filtering intensity, usually
yellow, red, and blue filters. An example of use of the subtraction
method is in watercolor paintings.
Another option is radiating light in primary colors in the
sequential color method. In this method, each pixel in the display
array radiates the additive primary colors (red, green, and blue)
at a high rate that gives the eye the sense of simultaneous
radiation, and the end result of a color pixel of the desired hue
and brightness.
An example of a Compact Display Source on the market nowadays is
the AMLCD CyberDisplay 640 Color, manufactured by the Kopin
Corporation, 695 Myles Standish Blvd., Taunton, Mass. USA. Its
active display area measures 5.76 mm.times.7.68 mm with VGA
resolution 640.times.480 pixels and a video rate of up to 180
frames per second, with three primary colors: red, green, and blue,
and a filed of view of 32 degrees. This compact display source is
based on Kopin's field color sequential technology in which time
division multiplexing produces color by rapidly creating a
repetitive sequence of red, green and blue sub-images which the
human eye integrates into a full color image.
There are several standards of display arrays, in which one of the
primary characteristics is the increase in number of pixels, for
example:
TABLE-US-00001 Color Graphics Array CGA 200 .times. 640 pixels
Enhanced Graphics Array EGA 350 .times. 640 pixels Video Graphics
Array VGA 480 .times. 640 pixels Super Video Graphics Array SVGA
600 .times. 800 pixels
As noted above, the present invention relates to holographic planar
optic display system. The holographic planar optic display device
is a highly efficient display device, as it is both compact and
inexpensive. The general structure of the holographic planar optic
display device is described in FIG. 1.
This basic structure uses two Diffractive Optical Elements (DOE).
Structures of holographic planar optic display devices can include
a higher number of DOE's. In display systems based on geometrical
optics, the diversion of light rays is made by use of lenses, beam
splitters, and mirrors, which cause a relatively thick display
system. In planar optic display systems on the other hand, which
are based on diffractive optics, the DOE serves as an optical
grating that diverts the light coming through it (or reflected from
it) by taking advantage of the diffraction phenomenon.
The light is diverted by the input element at a sufficiently large
angle to enable it, upon hitting the transparent substrate plate,
to be reflected in full internal reflection and move in the
substrate until it reaches the output element, which diverts it out
of the substrate. The gratings can be light-transmissive gratings
or light-reflective gratings. The thickness of the grating is
negligible in comparison to those of geometrical optical elements,
and the transparent substrate plate thickness is small,
approximately 1 3 mm. therefore, display systems based on
diffractive planar optics can be extremely compact.
These systems are particularly good when the display is in
monochromatic light, namely light with only one wavelength or
frequency. In this case, use of simple linear gratings is
sufficient, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,512 of Upatnieks,
the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The light is radiated from the image source in several angles; each
pixel radiates a beam of light, as a cone with a certain angle of
opening. In planar optic systems, the light radiated from the image
source usually undergoes collimation by a geometrical lens placed
between the image source and the input element or within the input
element. Another possibility is partial collimation in the
geometrical lens or the input element and additional collimation by
additional gratings between the input element and the output
element. After collimation the rays of light are parallel to each
other.
The light diversion angle in the grating depends on the structure
of the grating, the ratio between the index of refraction of the
transparent substrate and the index of refraction of the
environment and the light's wavelength. A simple linear grating
diverts each wavelength at a different angle. Therefore a system
with a linear input grating will create lateral chromatic
aberration at its output.
When planning the grating spacing of the input grating, in use of
linear gratings, the light must pass through it or be reflected
from it at the appropriate angle, which is called the critical
angle .beta..sub.C, which assures that the light will be reflected
from the inner side of the transparent substrate plate in total
internal reflection.
The minimal angle, which is called the critical angle .beta..sub.C
that assures total internal reflection of the light within the
substrate, can be calculates using Snell's law, that states that
for a system in air, .beta..sub.C=sin.sup.-1(1/n.sub.p), n.sub.p
being the plate index of refraction. For example, in glass this
index is approximately 1.51.
In color display systems this calculation will be made for the
light with the shortest wavelength. For blue light with a
wavelength of .lamda..sub.B, the angle .beta..sub.B will be
calculated, as it is diverted at the smallest angle. The desired
grating spacing (gs) can be calculated using the equation: n.sub.p
sin .beta..sub.B-n.sub.a sin .beta..sub.i=.lamda..sub.B/gs or when
.beta..sub.i=0, when light hits the input grating at a
perpendicular angle: n.sub.p sin .beta..sub.B=.lamda..sub.B/gs
Now, the diversion angles of the other light beams can be
calculated, and we can find, for example, the diversion angle for
green light, .beta..sub.G, and the diversion angle for red light,
.beta..sub.R, and the cycle distance (cd) of each of the light's
color components. Obviously, the light rays will each arrive to the
output grating at a different distance from the substrate input
point and after a different number of cycles.
Over the past few years, many efforts to solve the problem of
chromatic aberration in planar optic display systems. The solutions
offered also include the use of more than two gratings or use of a
complex input grating. Examples of this are described in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,966,223 of Friesem et al, which describes the use of a
complex input grating, as illustrated in FIG. 4a; in PCT
International Publication No. WO 99/52002 to Amitai et al, which
describes the use of at least three gratings, and the second
grating diverts the light on the substrate by 90.degree. as
illustrated in FIG. 4b; in PCT International Publication No. WO
01/09663 to Friesem et al, which describes the addition of at least
one additional diffractive optical element being positioned between
the input and the output diffractive optical elements, as
illustrated in FIG. 4c; and in PCT International Publication No. WO
01/95027 to Amitai, which describes the installment of a reflecting
surface in the input and the installment of a parallel array of
partially reflecting surfaces, as illustrated in FIG. 4d, which
necessitates thickening the transparent substrate. The contents of
these four examples are hereby incorporated by reference.
These solutions are limited in their ability to solve the problem
of chromatic dispersion, and mostly the problem of chromatic
aberration, and also complicate the production process of the
display systems.
There is therefore a need for, and it would be highly advantageous
to have a compact multichromatic display system in which the image
is displayed to the viewer without unwanted chromatic aberration
and/or chromatic dispersion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a compact
multichromatic display system, in which the image is displayed to
the viewer's eyes without unwanted chromatic aberration and/or
chromatic dispersion.
According to the present invention, a compact chromatic display
system is provided to be used by a viewer to view a virtual image
including: (a) an output optical device, which enable the viewer to
see through it a chromatic virtual image. (b) an input optical
device. (c) an optical arrangement for directing light from the
input optical device to the output optical device and (d) a Shift
Adjusted Display (SAD) device that radiate chromatic image.
According to still further features in the described preferred
embodiments the compact chromatic display system, wherein the Shift
Adjusted Display (SAD) device is a Complete Shift Adjusted Display
(CSAD) device.
According to still further features in the described preferred
embodiments the compact chromatic display system wherein the
optical arrangement includes at least two transparent substrate
plates. The plates can be overlapping, with one plate longer than
the other, or both plates at an angle with a small overlapping
area, only in the area of the output element.
According to still further features in the described preferred
embodiments, the compact chromatic display system, wherein the
output optical device, includes at least two diffractive optical
elements carried the one diffractive optical element by each of the
transparent substrate plates.
According to still further features in the described preferred
embodiments, the compact chromatic display system, wherein the
input optical device, includes at least two diffractive optical
elements carried the one diffractive optical element by each of the
transparent substrate plates.
According to still further features in the described preferred
embodiments, the compact chromatic display system, wherein the
input optical device, includes at least two diffractive optical
elements carried the one diffractive optical element by each of the
transparent substrate plates.
According to still further features in the described preferred
embodiments, the compact chromatic display system, further
including at least two additional diffractive optical element being
positioned between the input optical device and the output optical
device at least one of the additional diffractive optical elements
being positioned on each the transparent substrate plates.
According to still further features in the described preferred
embodiments, the compact chromatic display system, wherein each one
of the diffractive optical elements of the input optical device,
has different grating spacing from the other diffractive optical
elements of the input optical device.
According to still further features in the described preferred
embodiments, the compact chromatic display system, wherein each one
of the diffractive optical elements of the output optical device,
has different grating spacing from the other diffractive optical
elements of the output optical device.
According to still further features in the described preferred
embodiments, the compact chromatic display system, wherein the each
one of the transparent substrate plates, has different thickness
from the other transparent substrate plate.
According to still further features in the described preferred
embodiments, the compact chromatic display system, wherein the
transparent substrate plates are coated, at least partially, with a
light-reflective coating.
According to still further features in the described preferred
embodiments, the compact chromatic display system, wherein the
Shift Adjusted Display (SAD) device, is a Partial Shift Adjusted
Display (PSAD) device.
According to still further features in the described preferred
embodiments, the compact chromatic display system, wherein the
optical arrangement, includes a transparent substrate plate.
According to still further features in the described preferred
embodiments, the compact chromatic display system, wherein the
input optical device, includes a diffractive optical clement
carried by the transparent substrate plate.
According to still further features in the described preferred
embodiments the compact chromatic display system, wherein the
output optical device, includes a diffractive optical element
carried by the transparent substrate plate.
According to still further features in the described preferred
embodiments, the compact chromatic display system, wherein the
output optical device, includes a diffractive optical element
carried by the transparent substrate plate.
According to still further features in the described preferred
embodiments, the compact chromatic display system, further
including at least one additional diffractive optical element,
being positioned between the input optical device and the output
optical device.
According to still further features in the described preferred
embodiments, the compact chromatic display system, wherein the
transparent substrate plate is coated, at least partially, with a
light-reflective coating.
According to still further features in the described preferred
embodiments, the compact chromatic display system including two
compact chromatic display sub systems.
According to still further features in the described preferred
embodiments, wherein the transparent substrate plates are coated,
at least partially, with a light-reflective coating.
According to the present invention, a method is provided to be used
by a viewer to view a virtual chromatic image, the method including
the steps of (a) providing the viewer with a compact chromatic
planar optic display system including: (i) a first transparent
substrate plate, (ii) at least second transparent substrate plate,
(iii) at least two inputs diffractive optical elements carried by
the transparent substrate plates, each one of the diffractive
optical elements carried by each of the transparent plates, (iv) at
least two outputs diffractive optical elements carried by the
transparent substrate plates, each one of the diffractive optical
elements carried by each of the transparent plates. (v) a Complete
Shift Adjusted display (CSAD) device. (b) connecting the compact
chromatic planar optic display system to an active video source,
(c) causing the compact chromatic planar optic display system to
display an output chromatic virtual image, (d) positioning the
compact chromatic planar optic display at an orientation and at a
place with respect to the viewer's eye to enable the viewer to
observe the output chromatic virtual image.
According to the present invention, a method is provided to be used
by the viewer to view a virtual chromatic image, the method
including the steps of: (a) providing the viewer with a compact
chromatic planar optic display system including: (i) a transparent
substrate plate, (ii) an input diffractive optical element carried
by the transparent substrate plate, (ii) an output diffractive
optical element carried by the transparent substrate, (iv) a
Partial Shift Adjusted Display (PSAD) device, (b) connecting the
compact chromatic planar optic display system to an active video
source, (c) causing the compact chromatic planar optic display
system to display an output chromatic virtual image, (d)
positioning the compact chromatic planar optic display at an
orientation and at a place with respect to the viewer's eye to
enable the viewer to observe the output chromatic virtual
image.
According to the present invention, a method is provided to be used
by a viewer to view a virtual chromatic image, the method including
the steps of: (a) providing the viewer with a compact chromatic
planar optic display system including: (i) two transparent
substrate plate, (ii) two input diffractive optical elements
carried by the transparent substrate plate, (iii) two output
diffractive optical elements carried by the transparent substrate,
(iv) two Shift Adjusted Display (PSAD) devices, (b) connecting the
compact chromatic planar optic display system to an active video
source, (c), causing the compact chromatic planar optic display
system to display an output chromatic virtual images, (d)
positioning the compact chromatic planar optic display at an
orientation and at a place with respect to the viewer's eyes, so
that each eye views an image displayed by one of the two output
diffractive optical elements to enable the viewer to observe the
output chromatic virtual image.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1a b is a cross section view of a prior art planar optic
display system.
FIG. 2 is a cross section view of a prior art chromatic planar
optic display system.
FIG. 3a d show different video memories and video block diagrams
and component structure of prior art display systems.
FIGS. 4a d shows different solutions of chromatic aberration of
prior art chromatic display systems.
FIG. 5a shows a Complete Shift Adjusted Display (CSAD) device
according to one of the preferred embodiments of the present
invention.
FIG. 5b shows a Partial Shift Adjusted Display (PSAD) device
according to another of the preferred embodiments of the present
invention.
FIGS. 6a d describe options for performance of place and intensity
diversion of a pixel or a sub-pixel.
FIG. 7a is a cross section view of a chromatic planar optic display
system, including a Complete Shift Adjusted Display (CSAD) device,
according to one of the preferred embodiments of the present
invention.
FIG. 7b is a cross section view of a chromatic planar optic display
system, including a Partial Shift Adjusted Display (PSAD) device,
according to another of the preferred embodiments of the present
invention.
FIG. 7c is a cross section view of a chromatic planar optic display
system, including a Shift Adjusted Display (SAD) device, according
to another of the preferred embodiments of the present invention,
with a separate display for each viewer's eye.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention relates to holographic planar optic display
systems and, in particular, to multi chromatic holographic planar
optic display systems, which employ a planar optic approach and
which include a Shift Adjusted Display (SAD) device.
The unwanted optical transformation created in the optic display
system causes a distorted image display to the viewer's eyes.
The unwanted optical transformation can be foreseen by the system
planner through calculations based on the known performance of its
optical components and their integration in the system, or by
experimentally measuring the transformation, or combining
calculation and experimentation.
An electronic transformation, made by the Shift Adjusted Display
(SAD) device, changes the original image, for example, an image
entering the system as video signals, to a new image radiated by a
display source to the optical input component of the optic display
system in such a manner that the virtual image displayed to the
viewer's eyes using the optical output component will be as similar
as possible to the original image transmitted in the video signal
stream.
While the primary requirement of the Shift Adjusted Display (SAD)
device is to correct multi-chromatic image distortions, it can also
be used to correct mono-chromatic image distortions.
The correction made by the Shift Adjusted Display (SAD) device is
such that it does not affect the wanted changes in the image
displayed in the optical output component with respect to the
original image from the video signal stream. Wanted changes
include, for example, changes in the frame geometrical size or a
wanted and known change in lighting intensity.
The Shift Adjusted Display (SAD) device can include any display
device suitable for use as a display source for the display system;
it could, for example, be a screen in which each sub-pixel radiates
a single primary color, or, for example, a screen in which each
pixel displays various primary colors, each for a very brief
interval, or, for example, a device that rapidly scans pinpoint
beams of colored light onto the input optic device of the display
system, that colored light can be for example, a modulated light of
three light sources, red, green and blue, merged to produce a pixel
of appropriate color.
As used herein the specifications and claims, the term Complete
Shift Adjusted Display (CSAD) device Refers to a device that
performs electronic transformation of the image upon input to an
optic display system, which is opposite to the unwanted optic
transformation that occurs in the optic display system and that
causes distortion of the image to the viewer's eyes. The
transformation causes diversion of some of the pixels or some of
the sub-pixels to a geometrical position outside of the boundaries
of the original image pixel array and in proximity to the array,
thus the new shifted array boundaries do not contain any pixels or
sub-pixels other than those geometrically shifted. If all of the
geometrically shifted pixels and sub-pixels radiate only one
primary color, the new array will appear to display a monochromatic
image by the original image, from which the shifted pixels and
sub-pixels are missing.
Similarly, the transformation can include the diversion of some of
the pixels or some of the sub-pixels to an additional geometrical
position outside of the boundaries of the original image pixel
array, and also in proximity to the array.
In a display system with a Complete Shift Adjusted Display (CSAD)
device, the input gratings can be planned such that an input
grating, through which one primary color enters, will divert the
light at the same angle as another input grating diverts light of
another wavelength. The output gratings will also be planned in
accordance with these angles. In this manner, the light can hit the
output gratings at the desired angle. If the thickness of the plate
layers is uniform, the cycle times (or frequencies) of the light
waves moving through them will also he uniform. By changing the
thickness of the plates, the cycle times can also be changed.
As used herein the specifications and claims, the term Partial
Shift Adjusted Display (PSAD) device refers to a device that
performs electronic transformation of the image upon input to the
optic display system, which is opposite to the unwanted optic
transformation created in the optic display system and that causes
distortion of the image to the viewer's eyes. The transformation
includes geometrical diversion of some of the pixels or some of the
sub-pixels, to a geometrical position that can he partially outside
of the framework of the original image pixel array, the diversion
being made by giving new values to pixels or sub-pixels within the
pixel array of the original image.
As used herein the specifications and claims, the term Intensity
Shift Adjusted Display (ISAD) device refers to a device, in which a
change is made in the lighting intensity of the sub-pixels.
A shift combining the various types of shifts can also be made. The
desirable measure of shifting for each sub-pixel can be determined
based on calculation or based on measurements, of the optic
distortions created in the display system, or based on a
combination of calculations and measurements.
The chromatic holographic planar optic display system can serve for
display of a virtual multichromatic image at high quality, when
integrated with a wide range of devices, such as desktop computers,
portable computers, hand-held computers, head up display in
aircraft, automobile, motorcycles, and naval vessels, visor
display, head mounted display, landline telephones, cellular
telephones, control screen, etc.
The principles and operation of a chromatic holographic planar
optic display system, according to the present invention, may be
better understood with reference to the drawings and the
accompanying description.
The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with
reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now
to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars
shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative
discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention
only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed
to be the most useful and readily understood description of the
principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard,
no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in
more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of
the invention, the description taken with the drawings making
apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the
invention may be embodied in practice.
Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1a illustrates a prior art
planar optic display system, referred to herein below as system 20.
System 20 includes a transparent substrate plate 21, an input
Diffractive Optical Element (DOEin) 22 and output Diffractive
Optical Element (DOEout) 23.
System 20 further includes a compact display source 24, a video
input 25, and a collimating lens 29.
A representative beam of light 26 radiated from a pixel in compact
display source 24 is collimated by collimating lens 29, diverted by
DOEin 22 at the angle necessary for total internal reflection from
the sides of transparent substrate plate 21. DOEout 23 diverts the
light 26 to eye 27 of the viewer.
Landscape view light rays 28 can also reach the viewer's eye 27
through the transparent substrate plate 21 and the DOEout 23.
FIG. 1b illustrates the prior art planar optic display system 20,
most important physical and geometrical dimensions. dd is the
distance between DOEin 22 and DOEout 23, t is the transparent
substrate plate 21 thickness, n.sub.p is the transparent substrate
plate 21 index of refraction (about 1.51 at glass), gs is the
grating spacing of DOEin 22, .lamda. is the wavelength of the one
representative ray of the beam of light 26. .beta. is the diversion
angle of incoming light beam 26, after passing through input
element 22, and cd is the cycle distance of the reflected light
inside the transparent substrate plate 21.
FIG. 2 of the prior art serves to illustrate planar optic display
system 20. As illustrated in FIG. 2, each primary color light wave
is diverted after passing through DOEin 22 at an angle according to
its wavelength, so that red light 26.sub.R is diverted at angle
.beta..sub.R, green light 26.sub.G is diverted at angle
.beta..sub.G, and blue light 26.sub.B is diverted at angle
.beta..sub.B.
When the length dimension of output 23 Diffractive Optical Elements
(DOE) is large with respect to the cycle distance cd of the beam of
light 26, the beam of light 26 hits DOE out 23 more that once. In
such a case DOE out 23 can be planned and manufacture so that only
part of the light hitting it first will be diverted. The remaining
light will be reflected back into the transparent substrate plate
21, and an additional part of it will be diverted out with the next
time it hits, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,512 of Upatnieks,
the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, in the
following quote: "Diffraction grating 506 consists of two parts.
The first part, diffraction grating 508, is of the same size as
grating 504, but has only 50 percent transmission efficiency. The
second part, grating 508, is also of the same size as diffraction
grating 504, but is 100 percent efficient."
DOEout 23 can be planned and manufactured to have a transmission
efficiency that changes consistently through its entire length. The
image received from such a display system will have picture
distortions, mainly color intensity distortions, mainly due to the
following possible qualities and reasons: a. The light radiated
from a pixel of the image source 24 is radiated as a radiation
beam, as a cone of a certain opening angle. There may be a division
of intensity of the radiation beam, in which case the intensity is
higher in the center, around the cone axis, and smaller when far
from the center. b. Even light of one primary color, radiated from
a pixel in the image source 24 may have division of wavelengths. c.
The collimation lens might not be ideal and might be unable to
perform perfect collimation. d. The diffractive optical elements
(DOEs) 22, 23, might not be ideal. e. The transparent substrate
plate may be of a material that is not ideally uniform and clean
and its side might not be ideally polished.
The combination of these factors may cause loss of light on the way
between the display source 24 and the eye. Such a loss of light, if
dependent on the light wavelength, will cause an image to the
viewer's eye that is relatively missing at least one of the primary
colors. The loss of light can occur in several places, one of them
is when the light hits the sides of the transparent substrate plate
21 from the inside. Only a ray of light that hits at an angle
larger than the critical angle but smaller than 90 degrees will be
reflected at total internal reflection. The more the collimation
lens 29 allows for collimation in a larger field of view, the more
light radiated by the display source 24 that is diverted inwards at
the DOEin 22, at angles that do not allow for total internal
reflection. In a multichromatic image, when the DOE in 22 diverts
every wavelength at a different angle, the loss of light will be
different and unique in each color, so that the image will be
distorted in the sense of its color composition.
Another possibility of losing light is when the beam of light 26
hits the DOEout 23. In any hit, when the DOEout is not ideal, only
some of the light is diverted as needed towards the eye 27. In this
manner, the intensity of the light diverted out could fade
throughout the length of the DOEout 23. In a multichromatic system,
which has several wavelengths, and each wavelength has a different
cycle distance cd, so the number of times each color hits the
DOEout 23 will be different and the color fading will be typical of
each color, and will cause chromatic aberration of the display.
Another possibility of losing light is due to the phenomenon of
light dispersal caused when the light moves through the substance
comprising the transparent substrate plate 21, which may contain
small particles of pollutants and miniscule gaps. This dispersal
weakens the intensity of the light as it progresses within the
substance comprising the transparent substrate plate 21. This
weakening depends immensely on the light's wavelength, namely,
there is a strong separation of the color components of the image,
the result of which is the display of an image with an imbalance of
the intensity of the primary colors comprising it.
An additional distortion of the display image can be caused by the
appearance of the chromatic dispersion phenomenon. When the DOEout
23 does not divert two rays of light with different wavelengths so
that they come out parallel to each other, after they hit the DOEin
22 in parallel alignment to each other, the wavelengths are
separated, similarly to the separation of white light when passing
through a prism.
FIGS. 3a d serves to illustrate prior art of component structure in
video display systems. The images in multichromatic video systems
are displayed as the complete frame at each point of color
radiation as described in the above item, "Field and Background of
the Invention".
To achieve the sense of a continuous image in the display, the
image is refreshed at a high rate, referred to as the frame rate,
namely, each image is displayed for only a brief period of time,
referred to as the frame time life. Saving of the image data in
video memory is usually performed for brief intervals, up to the
duration of the frame time life, and each pixel has a correspondent
memory cell.
The main use of the video memory is as the frame buffer. This is
the place where the information about the video image itself is
stored. Each pixel on the screen typically has 4 to 32 bits of data
associated with it that represent its color and intensity.
Whether the image is generated from a video camera, a computer, or
any other means, there are common standards for storage and display
with respect to the pixel positions fbr the basic color components.
In the following examples, we will refer to a multichromatic image
with three primary colors, red, green, and blue (RGB).
As illustrated in FIG. 3a, the image is stored in three frame
buffers, one for each primary color: frame buffer 50.sub.R for the
color red, frame buffer 50.sub.G for the color green, and frame
buffer 50.sub.B for the color blue. Each frame buffer in our
example contains eight panels of nxm cells; for the storage of
color data for nxm display, pixels of each color; every cell, one
bit, and the combination of cells, eight bits, namely one byte that
allows for the storage of 256 values for each cell. Before
displaying an image, each frame buffer delivers the color "word",
color byte 51, to the color look-up tables 52, and in the case of a
system with an analog display screen, such as a CRT screen, on to
the digital to analog converter 53, from which the color signal 54
is relayed to the CRT color gun 55, which scans the CRT raster
(screen active area) 56.
Another method of saving multichromatic images is describes in FIG.
3b. In this method the image is stored in linear video memory 33
for the two-dimensional raster 31. Each one memory cell 34 contains
data designated for display in a certain dot 32 in the raster 31,
and usually, naturally, the first memory cell relays data to a dot
in the corner of the raster 31, in the first row, the second memory
cell relays data to the second dot in the corner of the raster 31,
in the first row, and so on so forth until the first row is full.
The next cell relays information to the first point in the second
row and so on so forth until data is relayed to all of the dots in
the raster 31.
FIG. 3c illustrates a possible composition of one memory cell 34 of
the video memory 33. For example, a 3.times.8 byte word, one 24
bit, in which the first eight bits 35.sub.R are for the color red,
the second eight bits 35.sub.G are for the color green and the last
eight bits 35.sub.B are for the color blue.
FIG. 3d described two common forms of geometrical position of
primary color pixels as they appear on the display screen. In the
case of RGB display, for example, the color red will be displayed
in pixel 38, the color green in pixel 39, and the color blue in
pixels 40. In each color-displaying pixel, the intensity of the
display corresponds with the data relayed from the one memory cell
34. The adjacency of the pixels to each other gives the sensation
of a multichromatic image with many colors and many shades.
FIGS. 4a d serves to illustrate prior art solutions for the problem
of displaying a virtual multichromatic image.
FIG. 4a serves to illustrate prior art technology as described in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,223 of Friesem et al, the contents of which are
hereby incorporated by reference. According to the description, a
complex grating 41 is used at the input.
FIG. 46 serves to illustrate a view from above of prior art
technology as described in PCT International Publication No. WO
99/52002 to Amitai et al, the contents of which are hereby
incorporated by reference, which describes the use of three
diffractive optical elements on the transparent substrate plate, a
small square DOEin 43, a rectangular DOE that diverts the light in
the substrate at 90.degree. towards a large square DOEout 45.
FIG. 4c serves to illustrate prior art technology as described in
PCT International Publication No. WO 01/09663 to Friesem et al, the
contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, which
describes the addition of at least one additional diffractive
optical element 46 being positioned between the DOEin 22 and the
DOEout 23.
FIG. 4d serves to illustrate prior art technology as described in
PCT International Publication No. WO 01/95027 to Amitai, the
contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, which
describes the installment of a diagonal reflecting surface 47 or a
DOE at the input, as described in FIG. 4d, and the installment of a
parallel array of diagonal partially reflecting surfaces 48 at the
output, which requires thickness of the light-conductive
substrate.
Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in
detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in
its application to the details of construction and the arrangement
of the components set forth in the following description or
illustrated in the drawings.
With reference now to FIGS. 5a b, the surfaces of pixel matrices of
the image source screens are presented two optional embodiments of
a Chromatic Planar Optic Display System, according to the present
invention. These pixel matrices comprise and display a shifted
image in the input to the Chromatic Planar Optic Display System,
according to the present invention.
The sub-system creating and displaying these pixel matrices will be
referred to as a Shift Adjusted Display (SAD) device.
As used herein the specifications and claims, the term Shift
Adjusted Display (SAD) device refers to a device that performs
electronic diversion of input image pixels to the Chromatic Planar
Optic Display System, for the purpose of improving the output
display image as a result of distorted optic transformation, which
is unwanted in the optic display system.
Namely, the input image to the Chromatic Planar Optic Display
System is intentionally displayed with a distortion, which, when
combined with the distortion created by the optic system, will
cause the display of an improved image to the viewer's eyes, in
comparison to the image that would be produced if the input image
were the original image without distortion.
With reference now to FIG. 5a, the surfaces of the pixel matrices
of the image source screen of a Complete Shift Adjusted Display
(CSAD) device, are presented.
FIG. 5a includes at least two separated screens. Screen 51, which
displays a pixel matrix composed of one or more of the primary
color components, for example red and green. Screen 52, which is
geometrically separated from to surface of screen 51, displays a
pixel matrix composed of one of the primary color components, for
example blue. Intensity shift can also be used with these
screens.
With reference now to FIG. 5b, the surfaces of the pixel matrix of
the image source of a Partial Shift Adjusted Display (PSAD) device,
combined with an Intensity Shift Adjusted Display (ISAD) device are
presented.
In the example presented in FIG. 5b, the parial shift is
represented by pixel 53, shifted from its position 54 in the
original image. The intensity shift is represented by pixel 55,
whose lighting intensity has been shifted to a different value from
that of the original.
In FIGS. 6a d, four options for practical performance of place
shift and intensity shift of a pixel or a sub pixel are
presented.
FIG. 6a describes the first option for moving a pixel component
from one place to another.
Using digital delays: A stream of bits enters an 24 bit buffer 61
(could be more in case we want to add some sync/command words),
which, every time a new pixel is delivered (every 24 clock cycles),
would move the data into the buffer 61 that will hold the pixel
data for the display. The color component that needs to be moved
will enter a delay device, in the case of RGB for example, delay
device 62 for the Red pixels, delay device 63 for the Green pixels
and delay device 64 for the Blue pixels. The data is then relayed
from the delay devices to the display adaptor.
Assuming that the color component needs to be moved N pixels ahead
(when we refer to the display memory as a one-dimensional array),
the delay system will hold N*8 bits. This in turn will result in
having the M.sup.th pixel to have two original color components and
the third color component of the M-8.sup.th pixel.
In case the color component needs to be moved back, then the other
two color components need to be delayed, thus making the M.sup.th
pixel to have two color components of the M+8.sup.th pixel and the
M.sup.th pixel's third color component.
FIG. 6b describes a second option for moving a pixel component from
one place to the other. Using a single memory array: Assuming that
the memory array 65 size is the same as the display's resolution,
and the place of the pixel in the memory array 65 is corresponding
to its display place. When the pixel displacement is known to be X
pixels horizontally and Y pixels vertically, it is easy to use the
standard memory interface 66 to move memory data from one memory
array 65 cell to another. Of course, one must remember to store the
data from the destination cell in a temporary place (a register
could do the job) so it won't be lost.
Example for Pseudo-code:
TABLE-US-00002 move (a+x,b+y) to temp_reg move (a,b) to
(a+x,b+y)
This code assumes that the initial place of the pixel is (a,b). In
the case where only a portion of the pixel is to be moved (one
component for example), we'll need to do some manipulations on the
cell:
First we'll need to copy the relevant bits from the source pixel,
and then replace the corresponding bits in the destination
pixel.
The manipulations can be done on registers and not in the memory
itself and after they are finished, the revised register can be
copied back to the memory.
Example for Pseudo-code:
TABLE-US-00003 move (a,b) to reg1 move (a+x,b+y) to reg2
temp_byte=reg2[7:0] reg2[7:0] = reg1[7:0] // assuming the bits are
in the lower 8 bits move reg1 to (a+x,b+y)
The X and Y values can be adjusted according to the place of the
source pixel (a,b) according to any function/transformation
needed.
Data from the memory interface 66 is relayed to the component
replacement module 67. The double arrows indicate data relay, the
single-headed arrows indicate address relay.
FIG. 6c describes a third option for moving a pixel from one place
to the other. Using two memory arrays: Basically, uses the same
option as described in FIG. 6b, only, the destinations are in a
second memory array 69, through second memory interface 68 and
there is no need to save the destination pixel's replaced data. The
double arrows indicate data relay, the single-headed arrows
indicate address relay.
FIG. 6d describes the first option for changing the pixel component
intensity: This can be done in a very similar manner as to
component displacement. The only difference is that instead on
moving a component from one place to another, one needs to change
the component in it place instead on performing a "move". After
all, a pixel displacement and a pixel intensity change are both
that can be implemented using a transforming module.
The intensity change of a pixel's component is done by multiplying
the component by a multiplication value, which can be constant or
place-dependant. If the multiplication value is place dependent,
then the value used in the intensity change can be chosen using a
look-up-table (LUT) 70 that will store the multiplication values
according to the specific places.
For example: if the multiplication value in the right side of the
picture is 150% and on the left it's 100% (ignoring what's in the
middle), then the look-up-table would look something like
look-up-table 70. This look-up-table 70 can also be 1D
(one-dimensional), depending on the implementation.
With reference now to FIGS. 7a c, three optional of preferred
embodiments of a Chromatic Planar Optic Display System are
presented according to the present invention, referred to herein
below as Chromatic Planar Optic Display Systems 100, 200 and
300.
As shown in FIG. 7a, Chromatic Planar Optic Display System 100
includes: first Transparent Plate 101, second Transparent Plate
102, third Transparent Plate 103, first Diffractive Optical Element
In (DOE In), 104, second Diffractive Optical Element In (DOE In),
105, third Diffractive Optical Element In (DOE In), 106, first
Diffractive Optical Element Out (DOE Out), 107, second Diffractive
Optical Element Out (DOE Out), 108, third Diffractive Optical
Element Out (DOE Out), 109, first Compact Display Source a Complete
Shift Adjusted Display device 110, second Compact Display Source a
Complete Shift Adjusted Display device 111, third Compact Display
Source a Complete Shift Adjusted Display device 112, first
n.times.m pixels 8 bit-planes buffer 113, second n.times.m pixels 8
bit-planes buffer 114, third n.times.m pixels 8 bit-planes buffer
115. FIG. 7a also shows, first Display Light Ray 116, second
Display Light Ray 117, third Display Light Ray 118, Viewrs Eye 119,
And Landscape View Light Rays 120.
Chromatic Planar Optic Display Systems 100, assembled of three
display systems each of which is in itself a monochromatic light
display system. Their combination allows for a high-quality
multichromatic display. The input image for each monochromatic
system is from a separate, monochromatic, image source plate. The
lighting intensity of these image source pixels can be shifted. The
shifting can be either uniform for each monochromatic display plate
or changing according to the place of the display surface
boundaries. The light radiated from these image sources 110, 111,
and 112, goes through separate collimation in collimation lenses
which are not shown in the illustration, through Diffractive
Optical Elements in 104, 105, and 106, or through partial
collimation in the collimation lenses and additional collimation in
Diffractive Optical Elements in 104, 105, and 106. The light is
unified in output through Optical Elements out 107, 108, and
109.
The physical and geometrical dimensions of each separate
monochromatic system, such as those described in FIG. 1b, and
particularly those of the gratings, is adapted in each one to the
wavelength of the light coming through it in total internal
reflection.
Transparent plates 101, 102, and 103 can be positioned so that in
view from above they will appear one over the other or with partial
overlapping, on the condition that DOEout 107, DOE out 108 and
DOEout 109 are positioned one above the other.
As shown in FIG. 7b, Chromatic Planar Optic Display System 200
includes: Transparent Plate 201, Diffractive Optical Element In
(DOE In), 202, Diffractive Optical Element Out (DOE Out), 203,
Compact Display Source, a Partial Shift Adjusted Display device 204
and Video Input 205. FIG. 7b also shows first Display Light Ray
206, second Display Light Ray 207, Viewrs Eye 208 and Landscape
View Light Rays 209.
The light radiated from Partial Shift Adjusted Display device 204
is collimated by a collimation lens not shown in FIG. 6b, or by
Diffractive Optical Element in 202, or by a combination of both. As
shown in FIG. 6b, the optic system can be planned so that the light
rays from two separate pixels of different wavelengths 206 and 207
will reach the viewer's eye 208 from the same angle, and will
therefore appear in the same place in the field of view. Any pixel
intensity can also be shifted in Partial Shift Adjusted Display
device 204, in order to receive an output of a high-quality
multichromatic image.
As shown in FIG. 7c Chromatic Planar Optic Display System 300 is
assembled of two systems, each similar to Chromatic Planar Optic
Display System 200. In system 300 the images radiated from the
display sources 301 and 302 are received separately through
transparent plates 303 and 304, by the viewer's eyes 305 and 306.
In this manner, images of different color composition, and
different position and intensity shifts can be displayed to each
eye.
In the three optional embodiments of a Chromatic Planar Optic
Display System 100, 200 and 300, external parts of the Transparent
Plates 101, 102, 103, 201, 303 and 304, in areas where light is not
meant to penetrat in or to escape out, can be coated with a
reflective substance that will serve as a mirror. In system 100,
transparent plates 101, 102, and 103 can be connected as a
sandwich, with a reflective substance buffering between the
plates.
Although the invention has been described in conjunction with
specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives,
modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in
the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such
alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the
spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *
References