Holographic Substrate-Guided Wave-Based See-Through Display

Abstract

A holographic substrate-guided wave-based see-through display can has a microdisplay, capable of emitting light in the form of an image. The microdisplay directs its output to a holographic optical element, capable of accepting the light in the form of an image. The microdisplay directs its output to a holographic optical element, capable of accepting the image from the microdisplay, and capable of transmitting the light. The holographic optical element couples its output to an elongate substrate, capable of accepting the light from the holographic lens at a first location, and transmitting the light along a length of the substrate by total internal reflection to a second location, the elongate substrate being capable of transmitting the accepted light from the second location. The substrate couples out what it receives to a transparent holographic optical element, capable of accepting the light transmitted from the substrate and transmitting it to a location outside of the holographic optical element as a viewable image.

1 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A holographic display comprising:
 (a) a wholly transparent or partially transparent substrate wherein the substrate comprises at least two substrate-guided-wave, Bragg holographic optical elements, each comprising a hologram wherein the holographic optical elements are attached to a surface of the substrate and wherein an index of refraction of the transparent substrate comprises a similar index of refraction of the holographic lenses; and   (b) a light source positioned to illuminate an edge of the substrate.   
     
     
         7 . The display of  claim 6  wherein the substrate comprises at least one of glass, polycarbonate, acrylic, or quartz. 
     
     
         8 . The display of  claim 6  wherein the substrate comprises a thickness in the range of about 3 to about 6 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The display of  claim 6  wherein each holographic optical elements comprises at least one of glass, polycarbonate, acrylic, or quartz. 
     
     
         10 . The display of  claim 6  wherein the substrate and the holographic optical elements comprise a same material. 
     
     
         11 . The display of  claim 6  wherein the substrate comprises a first transparent region comprising a length that is greater than or equal to the length of the first holographic optical element on the surface of the plate, a second transparent region comprising a length that is greater than or equal to the length of the second holographic optical element on the surface of the plate, a viewing region comprising a length that is greater than or equal to the length of the second holographic optical element on the surface of the plate, and a transparent volume throughout the substrate. 
     
     
         12 . The display of  claim 6  wherein each holographic optical element is monochromatic or polychromatic. 
     
     
         13 . The display of  claim 6  wherein the at least two holographic optical elements are on a same surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         14 . The display of  claim 6  wherein the at least two holographic optical elements are on different surfaces of the substrate. 
     
     
         15 . The display of  claim 7  wherein the glass comprises flint glass or crown glass. 
     
     
         16 . The display of  claim 9  wherein the glass comprises flint glass or crown glass. 
     
     
         17 . The display of  claim 6  wherein the substrate comprises a tint. 
     
     
         18 . The display of  claim 6  wherein one or both of the holographic optical elements comprise optical power. 
     
     
         19 . The display of  claim 6  wherein one of the holographic optical elements comprises a holographic grating and another comprises a holographic optical element lens. 
     
     
         20 . The display of  claim 6  wherein the holograms couple light in the substrate at angles greater than or equal to a total internal reflection angle of the substrate and out-couple light that propagates along the substrate. 
     
     
         21 . The display of  claim 6  wherein the holograms diffract light in single diffraction order with a very high diffraction efficiency theoretically approaching 100%. 
     
     
         22 . The display of  claim 6  wherein the holograms couple light in the hologram to a substrate and convey the light along the length of the substrate then couple the light to an object outside of the substrate. 
     
     
         23 . The display of  claim 6  wherein each holographic optical element is polychromatic. 
     
     
         24 . A holographic display comprising:
 (a) a heads-up mounted display comprising a wholly transparent or partially transparent substrate coated on at least one surface with a reflective material wherein the substrate comprises at least two substrate-guided-wave, Bragg holographic optical elements, each comprising a hologram wherein the optical elements are attached to a surface of the substrate and wherein an index of refraction of the transparent substrate comprises a similar index of refraction of the holographic optical elements; and   (b) a light source positioned to illuminate an edge of the substrate.   
     
     
         25 . The display of  claim 24  wherein the substrate comprises a flat or curved shape.