Distributed Aperture Head-Up Display for Aberration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional head-up displays (HUDs) face challenges in achieving high-quality, full-color imagery with a large instantaneous field of view and eye box, particularly in constrained spaces, due to difficulties in correcting optical aberrations and accommodating varying head positions.
Innovation Solution
A distributed aperture HUD design utilizing multiple smaller optical components and image sources, where each optical component is associated with a corresponding image source, collectively forming a larger effective aperture that minimizes aberration correction needs and allows for a larger field of view, while maintaining simplicity and adaptability for installation in tight spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a single optical element with a larger actual aperture is used, then the instantaneous field of view and eye box are improved, but the difficulty of correcting optical aberrations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single large aperture optical element into multiple smaller optical elements (e.g., two or more lenses or mirrors) arranged in an array. Each smaller element has its own aperture, and collectively they form a distributed aperture system. This segmentation allows the system to achieve a large effective aperture area for wide field of view while keeping individual elements small enough to be easily manufactured and aligned, avoiding the complex aberration correction required for single large-aperture elements.
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple smaller optical components are used to form a distributed aperture, then the ease of correcting optical aberrations is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple smaller optical elements into a single integrated optical assembly that functions as one cohesive system. The smaller elements are positioned close together to approximate a continuous aperture, and they work collectively to direct light from multiple image sources through a single optical combiner. This merging approach maintains the manufacturing advantages of small elements while presenting a unified optical path that simplifies the overall system compared to having separate, un integrated optical paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical components in the distributed aperture array are designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: each element focuses light from its associated image source, contributes to forming the virtual image at the desired location, and works in conjunction with other elements to create the complete optical path. The optical combiner serves multiple purposes by reflecting light from all image sources while allowing the driver to see through to the external environment, reducing the need for separate optical components.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple image sources and optical components are used, then the instantaneous field of view is improved, but the installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent arranges multiple smaller optical elements in a compact, nested configuration where they are positioned close together to approximate a continuous aperture. The image sources are arranged to correspond with the optical elements, and the entire array is integrated into a compact housing that can be installed in constrained spaces such as aircraft cockpits. This nested arrangement achieves wide field of view without requiring the large volume that would be needed for separate, dispersed optical components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enables high-quality, full-color HUDs with a large instantaneous field of view and eye box, simplifying aberration correction and facilitating installation in constrained environments, such as aircraft cockpits, while maintaining performance in divergence, convergence, and waveband.
Implementation Method 1
an optical combiner configured to reflect light from the projector while allowing other wavelengths of light to pass through the optical combiner
Data Source
AI summary
A head-up display includes a projector and an optical combiner configured to reflect light from the projector while allowing other wavelengths of light to pass through the optical combiner. The projector has two or more image sources, and two or more optical components, each of which is associated with a corresponding one of the image sources. In a typical implementation, the two or more optical components are closely situated to approximate an effective aperture that is larger than the actual aperture of either optical component. In such an implementation, since the actual aperture of each respective optical element is smaller than the larger effective aperture, it is generally much easier to correct for optical aberrations and the like, than it would be if a single optical element with a larger actual aperture were used.