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  High brightness optical deviceUSPTO Application #: 20080106775Title: High brightness optical device Abstract: There is provided an optical device, comprising a display source; a light-diffuser; an imaging optical module, and an output aperture from the optical device characterized in that the light diffuser is an angular, non-uniform diffuser of light for increasing a portion of light emerging from the display source that passes through the output aperture. A method for improving the brightness of an optical display is also provided. (end of abstract) Agent: Snell & Wilmer LLP (oc) - Costa Mesa, CA, US Inventors: Yaakov Amitai, Jonathan Gelberg USPTO Applicaton #: 20080106775 - Class: 359013000 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080106775. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 10/937,207, filed Sep. 9, 2004 for HIGH BRIGHTNESS OPTICAL DEVICE which is incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to an optical display system and method, and particularly to a display system and method for see-through display applications. [0003] The invention can be implemented to advantage in a large number of personal imaging applications, such as, for example, head-mounted displays (HMDs) and head-up displays (HUDs), hand-held displays, as well as binoculars, monoculars and binoculars. In addition, the same arrangement can be utilized for image projection systems such as front projectors for conference rooms and rear projection TV screens. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] One of the important applications for compact optical elements is in HM)s wherein an optical module serves both as an imaging lens and a combiner, in which a two-dimensional display is imaged to infinity and reflected into the eye of an observer. The image to be displayed is obtained directly from either a spatial light modulator (SLM) such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode array (OLED), or a scanning source and similar devices, or indirectly, by means of a relay lens or an optical fiber bundle. The display comprises an array of elements (pixels) imaged to infinity by a collimating lens and transmitted into the eye of the viewer by means of a reflecting or partially reflecting surface acting as a combiner for non-see-through and see-through applications, respectively. Usually, one of the most important issues to be addressed while designing an HMD, is the brightness of the optical system. This issue is mostly important for see-through applications, where it is desired that the brightness of the display will be comparable to that of the external scene. [0005] The strive for high brightness has led to several different complex optical solutions, all of which, on the one hand, are still not sufficiently bright for many practical applications, and, on the other hand, suffer major drawbacks in terms of fabrication procedures and operational conditions. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION [0006] The present invention facilitates the structure and fabrication of very high brightness display sources for, amongst other applications, Ds. The invention allows an efficient use of the available light of the illumination source, i.e., a relatively high brightness system together with a relatively low power consumption can be achieved. The optical system offered by the present invention is particularly advantageous because it is substantially brighter than state-of-the-art implementations and yet it can be readily incorporated, even into optical systems having specialized configurations. [0007] The invention also enables the construction of improved HUDs, which have become popular and now play an important role, not only in most modern combat aircraft, but also in civilian aircraft, in which HUD systems became a key component for low-visibility landing operation. Furthermore, there have been numerous suggestions for the use of HUDs in automotive applications for potentially assisting the driver in driving and navigation tasks. State-of-the-art HUDs, however, suffer from several significant drawbacks. All HUD's of the current structures require a display source that must be offset the brightness of the external scene to ensure that the projected data will be readable even with very bright ambient light. As a result, the present HUD systems usually require complicated high brightness display sources which are necessarily bulky, large, and require considerable installation space, which makes it inconvenient for installation and, at times, even unsafe to use. [0008] An important application of the present invention relates to its implementation in a compact HUD, which alleviates the aforementioned drawbacks. In the HUD structure of the present invention, the combiner is illuminated with a compact display source having high brightness and small power consumption. Hence, the overall system is very compact and can be readily installed in a variety of configurations for a wide range of applications. [0009] A further application of the present invention is to provide a compact display with a wide FOV for mobile, hand-held application such as cellular phones. In today's wireless Internet-access market, sufficient bandwidth is available for full video transmission. The limiting factor remains the quality of the display within the end-user's device. The mobility requirement restricts the physical size of the displays, and the result is a direct-display with a poor image viewing quality. The present invention enables a physically compact display with a large and bright virtual image. This is a key feature in mobile communications, and especially for mobile Internet access, solving one of the main limitations for its practical implementation. Thereby the present invention enables the viewing of the digital content of a full format Internet page within a small, hand-held device, such as a cellular phone. [0010] Furthermore this invention is also suitable for use in the construction of the illumination for front and rear projection devices. Here the design replaces three complex dichroic polarizing beam splitters with accurate alignment requirements. [0011] For all possible applications, the present invention is particularly advantageous for utilizing substrate-mode configuration, that is, for a configuration comprising a light-transmitting substrate having at least two major surfaces and edges: optical means for coupling the light from the imaging module into said substrate by total internal reflection, and at least one partially reflecting surface located in the substrate for coupling the light onto the viewer's eye. The combination of the present invention with a substrate-mode configuration results in a compact and convenient optical system having high brightness and low power consumption. [0012] It is therefore a broad object of the present invention, to alleviate the drawbacks of state-of-the-art virtual image display devices and to provide an optical display system and method having improved performance. [0013] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an optical device, comprising a display source; a light-diffuser; an imaging optical module, and an output aperture from the optical device characterized in that said light diffuser is an angularly, non-uniform diffuser of light for increasing a portion of light emerging from the display source that passes through said output aperture. [0014] The invention further provides a method for improving the brightness of an optical display, comprising providing an optical display system including a display source and an imaging module having an output aperture, and optically increasing the portion of light emerging from the display source that passes through said output aperture. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] The invention is described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, with reference to the following illustrative figures so that it may be more fully understood. [0016] With specific reference to the figures 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 are to serve as direction to those skilled in the art as to how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. [0017] In the drawings: [0018] FIG. 1 is a side view of a display system in accordance with the present invention; [0019] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the footprint of the light, coupled into the system pupil, on the front surface of the collimating lens, according to the present invention; Continue reading... Full patent description for High brightness optical device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this High brightness optical device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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