Split exit pupil multiple virtual image heads-up display systems and methods

• Main Authors: Maiers, Marty, El-Ghoroury, Hussein S, Chuang, Chih-Li, Cai, Jingbo
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 21.01.2020
• Subjects: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS; OPTICS; PHYSICS

Split exit pupil (or split eye-box) heads-up display (HUD)systems and methods are described. The described HUD system methods make use of a split exit pupil design method that enables a modular HUD system and allows the HUD system viewing eye-box size to be tailored while reducing the overall HUD volumetric aspects. A HUD module utilizes a high brightness small size micro-pixel imager to generate one or more HUD virtual images with a one or a plurality of given viewing eye-box segment sizes. When integrated together into a HUD system, a multiplicity of such HUD modules displaying the same image would enable such an integrated HUD system to have an eye-box size that is substantially larger than the eye-box size of a HUD module. The resultant integrated HUD system volume is substantially volumetrically smaller than a HUD system that uses a single larger imager. Furthermore, the integrated HUD system can be comprised of a multiplicity of HUD modules to scale the eye-box size to match the intended application while maintaining a given desired overall HUD system brightness.