Invention:
The Curved Combiner is an improvement on flat waveguide head-up (i.e. windshields) and near to eye displays (i.e. glasses). The curved nature of the invention allows for image expansion and aesthetically pleasing hardware to be used in a diversified set of applications. The invention contains three holograms to redirect or expand the light that passes through the curved waveguide. Each hologram has a different function to ensure that the image has no aberrations which can occur when using curved waveguides.
Background:
Waveguides are currently being produced using flat glass pieces. The advantage of flat waveguides is the small chance of image aberrations when injecting an image through the waveguide. However, flat waveguides limit the opportunity for image expansion and real-world applications. Current systems are bulky and limit integration capabilities. To address this issue, the present invention describes a curvature of the waveguide. The curvature allows the invention to be integrated into more modern applications.
Applications:
- Car windshields
- Modern glasses
- Airplane canopies
- Ticket counters
- Smart windows
- Doors of ovens, refrigerators, & freezers
- Helmets
- Contact lenses
- Augmented Reality
- Retail store window
Advantages:
- Image expansion
- Curvature capability of screen
- Designability
- Aesthetic appeal
- Increased comfort for viewer
- Elimination of image distortion and aberrations in current waveguides
Status: issued U.S. patent #11,333,893
