Helmet Mounted Display Visor Patch for Bright Light
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Solution Overview
Problem
Helmet-mounted display systems with tinted visors face challenges in maintaining image brightness comparable to ambient light conditions, leading to the need for high-power image generators that increase system bulk and heat generation, requiring additional cooling elements.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a patch on the tinted visor with higher light transmission than the rest, allowing the generated image to pass directly to the user's eye without attenuation, and using an optical cover with controllable light transmission to match the brightness of the ambient scene, enabling a standard power image generator and reducing system bulk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a high-power image generator is used to compensate for the tinted visor's light attenuation, then the image brightness reaches the user's eye, but the system volume and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The visor is divided into two functional zones: a tinted portion that attenuates ambient light and a clear patch portion that allows light transmission. This segmentation allows the display image to pass through without attenuation while the tinted portion maintains ambient light reduction, eliminating the need for high-power image generation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the visor have different optical properties: the tinted portion has high light attenuation to reduce ambient light, while the clear patch portion has low attenuation to allow display image transmission. This local differentiation of optical quality resolves the contradiction between image brightness and system power requirements.
2Illumination intensity
If a high-power image generator is used to compensate for the tinted visor's light attenuation, then the image brightness reaches the user's eye, but heat generation increases requiring cooling elements
Solution Approach 1:
The visor is divided into two functional zones: a tinted portion that attenuates ambient light and a clear patch portion that allows light transmission. This segmentation allows the display image to pass through without attenuation while the tinted portion maintains ambient light reduction, eliminating the need for high-power image generation and associated heat generation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the visor have different optical properties: the tinted portion has high light attenuation to reduce ambient light, while the clear patch portion has low attenuation to allow display image transmission. This local differentiation of optical quality resolves the contradiction between image brightness and system power requirements, thereby eliminating excessive heat generation.
3Illumination intensity
If a clear visor is used to allow maximum light transmission, then the display image brightness is maintained, but the user cannot view the ambient scene properly in bright conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The visor is divided into two functional zones: a tinted portion that attenuates ambient light and a clear patch portion that allows light transmission. This segmentation allows the display image to pass through without attenuation while the tinted portion maintains ambient light reduction, enabling the user to view both the display and ambient scene properly.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the visor have different optical properties: the tinted portion has high light attenuation to reduce ambient light interference, while the clear patch portion has low attenuation to allow display image transmission. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between maintaining display brightness and reducing ambient light interference.
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 solution maintains image brightness comparable to the ambient scene without increasing system size or heat generation, allowing for a more compact and efficient Helmet Mounted Display system.
Implementation Method 1
The patch may have greater light transmission than the rest of the tinted visor
Implementation Method 2
The combiner reflects the generated image toward the eye, and transfers light rays of an outside scene toward the eye
Implementation Method 3
The visor of a helmet with a HMD may be a tinted visor (i.e., a shaded visor), having lower light transmission than a clear visor. Such tinted visor reduces the brightness of the ambient light arriving at the user's eye
Data Source
AI summary
A Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) system, to be mounted on a helmet of a user, includes a tinted visor, coupled with the helmet, located in front of the face of the user when the tinted visor is in an operative position. The tinted visor further includes a patch, which is located in front of an eye of the user. The patch has greater light transmission than the rest of the tinted visor. The HMD system includes an image generator, coupled with the helmet, generating an image to be displayed to the user. The HMD system further includes an optical combiner, coupled with the helmet, and located substantially on the optical axis of the user's eye. The combiner reflects the generated image toward the eye, and transfers light rays of an outside scene toward the eye.