Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a system comprising a display, a beam splitter, a dichroic surface, and a corrector lens.

A system and a method according to the invention are defined in appended claims <NUM> and <NUM>. In accordance with the claimed invention, the system includes a display configured to transmit a signal. The signal includes a first light configured as a display image. The signal further includes a second light configured as a reference image. The system further includes a sensor configured to detect the second light. The system further includes a beam splitter configured to receive the signal and reflect the signal. The system includes a selectively transmissive mirror configured to receive the reflected signal, transmit the second light to the sensor, and reflect the first light, wherein the first light is configured with a first bandwidth, wherein the second light is configured with a second bandwidth. The system further includes a corrector lens configured to receive the first light and transmit the first light to an exit pupil.

In some embodiments of the system, the system is configured as a head-up display or head worn display.

In some embodiments of the system, the display is configured of at least one of a light-emitting diode display, a micro light emitting diode display (microLED), an organic light-emitting diode display, a liquid crystal display, and active-matrix liquid crystal display, a liquid crystal on silicon display, or a digital light processing display.

In some embodiments of the system, the display is configured as a transmissive display, wherein the transmissive display comprising an illumination source, wherein the illumination source is configured as at least one of a light emitting diode, a laser, or a light source with a dedicated bandwidth configured to leak towards the sensor path.

In some embodiments of the system, the system further includes a field lens configured to receive the signal and transmit the signal to the beam splitter.

In some embodiments of the system, the system further comprises one or more collimating lenses configured to receive and transmit the second light.

In some embodiments of the system, the first bandwidth comprises wavelengths in a range from <NUM> to <NUM>.

In some embodiments of the system, the second bandwidth comprises light wavelengths in a range from <NUM> to <NUM>.

A method according to the claimed invention includes transmitting a signal to a beam splitter, wherein the signal comprises a first light configured with a first bandwidth and a second light configured with a second bandwidth. The method further includes reflecting the signal to a selectively transmissive mirror. The method includes reflecting the first light toward a corrector lens and transmitting the second light to a sensor.

In some embodiments of the method, the first bandwidth comprises wavelengths in a range from <NUM> to <NUM>.

In some embodiments of the method, the second bandwidth comprises wavelengths in a range from <NUM> to <NUM>.

A system for monitoring a display is disclosed. Specifically, the system is configured as a display having a dual-channel mode, transmitting both a first image within a first bandwidth and a second image within a second bandwidth simultaneously within a single signal. One transmitted, a selectively transmissive mirror splits the signal back into the first image and a second image. The first image is directed to the viewer, while the second image is directed to a detector with means to determine if the display is working correctly.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating a system <NUM> for monitoring an image source, not in accordance with the claimed invention. The system <NUM> includes a display <NUM> configured to transmit a signal (e.g., such as a light signal). The display <NUM> may be configured as any type of display <NUM> used in imaging systems and may include any transmissive, emissive, or reflective display including but not limited to a light-emitting diode (LED) display, a micro light emitting diode (mLED) display, an organic light-emitting diode display (OLED), a liquid crystal display (LCD), and active-matrix liquid crystal display AMLCD, a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) display, a laser, a digital light processing display (DLP) or any light source withi a dedicated bandwidth configured to leak towards a sensor path (e.g., towards a sensor). For example, the display <NUM> may be configured as an LCD configured with an LED illumination source.

The signal transmitted by the display <NUM> includes a first light <NUM> and a second light <NUM>. The first light <NUM> and/or the second light <NUM> may be configured, manifested, or purposed as any type of light signal communication including but not limited to an image, a text message, or a pattern. For example, the first light <NUM> and/or the second light <NUM> may be manifested as an image of icons to be displayed upon a windshield of a HUD. In another example, the first light <NUM> and/or the second light <NUM> may be manifested as a text message displayed on a HWD configured to be read by a user. In another example, the first light <NUM> and/or the second light <NUM> may be configured as a test pattern. The first light <NUM> and/or the second light <NUM> may present identical, near-identical, or differing images or patterns. For example, the first light <NUM> may be configured as an image, whereas the second light <NUM> may be configured as a pattern. For instance, the display <NUM> may include one or more subpixels dedicated to a specific light path with a specific wavelength of light. In another instance, the display <NUM> may include a subfield of an image that is illuminated with one or more appropriate wavelengths.

In some examples, the first image is configured as a display image for view by a user. For example, the first image may be viewed by the user of a HUD or HWD. In some examples, the second image is configured as a reference image. For example, the second image may be detected by quality control mechanisms within the HUD or HWD to ensure that the display <NUM> is working correctly.

In some examples, the first image includes a beam splitter <NUM> configured to receive the signal and reflect the signal. For example, the beam splitter <NUM> may be configured to receive the first light <NUM> and/or the second light <NUM> via a reflective coating <NUM>. The system <NUM> may include any type of beam splitter <NUM> including but not limited to cube beam splitters, plate beam splitters, pellicle beam splitters, and polka-dot beam splitters. The system <NUM> may also include polarizing or nonpolarizing beams splitters <NUM>. For example, the system <NUM> may include a nonpolarizing cube beam splitter.

In some examples, the system <NUM> includes a selectively transmissive mirror <NUM> configured to receive the reflective signal, reflect the first light <NUM>, and transmit the second light <NUM>. For example, when the first signal containing the first light <NUM> and the second light <NUM> are received at the selectively transmissive mirror <NUM> (e.g., from the beam splitter <NUM>), the selectively transmissive mirror reflects the first light <NUM> back towards the beam splitter <NUM>, while the second light <NUM> is transmitted through the selectively transmitted mirror <NUM>. The selectively transmissive mirror <NUM> may be configured adjacent to or disposed upon a face of the beam splitter <NUM>. The selectively transmissive mirror <NUM> may be configured as any type selectively transmissive medium including but not limited to a notch filter. For example, the selectively transmissive mirror <NUM> may be configured as a notch filter having a reflective dielectric coating to reflect filtered wavelengths. In another example, the selectively transmissive mirror <NUM> may be configured as a narrow band notch reflector. In another example, the selectively transmissive mirror <NUM> may be configured as a multiple band notch reflector. For instance, the selectively transmissive mirror <NUM> may be configured as a triple notch reflector that reflects a majority of red, green, and blue light, and allows the light in between the peaks of the red, green, blue light to pass through.

The selectively transmissive mirror <NUM> may reflect any range or ranges of light and/or may transmit any range or ranges of light. For example, the selectively transmissive mirror may selectively transmit light (e.g., transmit greater than <NUM>% of input light) or selectively reflect light (e.g., reflect light greater than <NUM>% of input light) at a <NUM> to <NUM> range, <NUM> to <NUM> range, a <NUM> to <NUM> range, a <NUM> to <NUM> range, a <NUM> to <NUM> range, a <NUM> to <NUM> range, a <NUM> to <NUM> range, a <NUM> to <NUM> range, a <NUM> to <NUM> range, a <NUM> to <NUM> range, a <NUM> to <NUM> range, a <NUM> to <NUM> range, a <NUM> to <NUM> range, a <NUM> to <NUM> range, or a <NUM> to <NUM> range, with all ranges being approximate. For example, the selectively transmissive mirror may reflect all light from <NUM> to <NUM>, reflecting essentially all green light. In another example, the selectively transmissive mirror <NUM> may transmit all light from <NUM> to <NUM>, transmitting essentially all red light.

In some examples, the first light <NUM> reflected from the selectively transmissive mirror <NUM> comprises light having a first bandwidth. For example, the first light <NUM> reflected from the selectively transmissive mirror <NUM> may comprise light having a first bandwidth configured as the display image. For instance, the display image may be formed from the first light <NUM> having the first bandwidth, with the display image having a green or greenish color if the first bandwidth is in a range from <NUM> to <NUM> (e.g., approximately <NUM>). The first bandwidth may comprise any range of wavelength including but limited to the ranges listed for the selective reflection of the selectively transmissive mirror <NUM> as listed herein. For example, the first bandwidth may comprise a range having a highest value of <NUM>. In another example, the first bandwidth may comprise a range having a highest value of <NUM>. Upon reflection, the first light <NUM> may pass again through the beam splitter <NUM> to an exit pupil.

In some examples, the second light <NUM> transmitted through the selectively transmissive mirror <NUM> comprises light having a second bandwidth. For example, the second light <NUM> reflected from the selectively transmissive mirror <NUM> may comprise light having a second bandwidth configured as the reference image. For instance, the reference image may be formed from the second light <NUM> having the second bandwidth, with the reference image having a red color is the second bandwidth is in a range from <NUM> to <NUM> (e.g., approximately <NUM>). The second bandwidth may comprise any range of wavelength including but limited to the ranges listed for the selective transmission of the selectively transmissive mirror <NUM> as listed herein. For example, the second bandwidth may comprise a range having a lowest value of <NUM>.

In some examples, the system includes a sensor <NUM> configured to detect the second light <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> may be configured as any type of light detector including but not limited to a photoresistor, a photodiode, a phototransistor. The sensor may take any form including but not limited to a single photodiode or a charged coupled device (CCD) camera.

The system <NUM> may utilize any color or bandwidth of light that is reflected off of the selectively transmissive mirror <NUM> toward the user or display screen and may utilize any color or bandwidth of light that is transmitted through the selectively transmitted mirror to the sensor. For example, for a HUD that utilizes green-only viewing on the display screen, green light (e.g., the first light <NUM>) is transmitted from the display <NUM> and selectively reflected via the selectively transmissive mirror <NUM> toward the display screen, while a red light (e.g., the second light <NUM>) is transmitted from the display <NUM> and selectively transmitted through the selectively transmissive mirror <NUM> toward the sensor <NUM>. In another example, for a HUD that utilizes a full color RGB display, RBG light (e.g., the first light <NUM>) is transmitted from the display <NUM> and selectively reflected via the selectively transmissive mirror <NUM> toward the display screen, while infrared light (e.g., the second light <NUM>) is transmitted from the display <NUM> and selectively transmitted through the selectively transmissive mirror <NUM> toward the sensor <NUM>.

In some examples, the system <NUM> may further include one or more filters configured to filter either the first light <NUM> or the second light <NUM>. For example, a filter may be placed in the path of the first light <NUM> after the first light <NUM> has reflected off of the selectively transmissive mirror <NUM>. For instance, in the case of the display having an RBG (e.g., first light <NUM>) image with an infrared (e.g., second light <NUM>) reference signal, the filter may filter out any extraneous infrared light, preventing the light from reaching the HUD display screen. In another example, a filter may be place in the path of the second light <NUM> after the second light <NUM> has transmitted through the selectively transmissive mirror <NUM>. For instance, in the case of the display having an RBG (e.g., first light <NUM>) image with an infrared (e.g., second light <NUM>) reference signal, the filter may filter out any extraneous RBG light, preventing the RBG light from reaching the sensor <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating a system <NUM> for monitoring an image source, in accordance with the claimed invention. The system <NUM> may include all of the components as system <NUM>, and vice-versa. For example, the system <NUM> includes a display <NUM> configured as an illuminator <NUM> optically coupled to an LCD layer <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the system <NUM> includes a field lens <NUM> disposed on or adjacent to the beam splitter <NUM> configured to receive the signal from the display <NUM> and transmit the signal to the beam splitter <NUM>. The field lens <NUM> may include a diffractive surface and/or is configured as a plano-convex aspherical lens. The field lens <NUM> may be manufactured from optical glass or plastic material.

According to the claimed invention, the system <NUM> further includes a corrector lens <NUM>. The corrector lens may be configured to adjust the first light <NUM> exiting the beam splitter <NUM>. For example, the corrector lens may be configured to focus or collimate the first light <NUM> as it exits the beam splitter <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the system <NUM> further includes one or more focusing lenses 220a-d. The one or more focusing lenses are configured to focus the second light <NUM> exiting the beam splitter as it transmits through the one or more focusing lenses 220a-d to the sensor <NUM>. For example, the one or more focusing lenses <NUM>-a-d may be configured to focus the second light <NUM> onto the sensor <NUM>.

<FIG> is a graph <NUM> illustrating the reflection capabilities of a selective transmission mirror <NUM> of the claimed system. The graph <NUM> describes the percent reflection (e.g., the Y-axis) for a visible broadband reflector <NUM>, a single stack high reflector <NUM>, and a representative selective transmissive mirror <NUM> as a function of wavelength (e.g., the X-axis). As shown in the graph <NUM>, the visible broadband reflector <NUM> reflects all light at greater than <NUM>% reflection at all wavelengths, and the single stack high reflector <NUM> reflects broadly reflects light at over <NUM>% reflection (e.g., from <NUM> to <NUM>, while allowing approximately <NUM>% reflection for most of the remaining wavelengths from <NUM> to <NUM>. The selective transmissive mirror <NUM> reflects light at greater than <NUM>% at a narrow range (e.g., <NUM> to <NUM>) while reflecting essentially zero light at wavelengths greater than <NUM> and wavelengths less than <NUM>. The selective transmissive mirror <NUM> as described in this graph <NUM> would competently reflect a first light <NUM> configured with a first bandwidth of <NUM> to <NUM> and likely competently transmit a second light configured with a wavelength greater than <NUM> and less than <NUM>. It should be understood that the selectively transmissive mirror <NUM> may have any reflection value of for any range of wavelengths. For example, the selectively transmissive mirror <NUM> may be configured to reflect from <NUM>% to over <NUM>% of light from <NUM> to <NUM> while reflecting essentially zero light at wavelengths greater than <NUM> and wavelengths less than <NUM>. Therefore, the above description should not be considered a limitation of the present disclosure, but merely an illustration.

<FIG> is a graph <NUM> illustrating the transmission capabilities of a representative selective transmissive mirror <NUM> of the claimed system at two orientations with respect to a light beam. For example, the graph <NUM> shows a normal angle of incidence curve <NUM> (e.g., the representative selective transmissive mirror <NUM> is perpendicular to the light beam) where approximately zero transmittance has been determined from <NUM> to <NUM>, whereas approximately <NUM>% transmittance has been determined at wavelengths greater than <NUM> and less than <NUM>. In another example, example the graph <NUM> shows a <NUM>° angle of incidence curve <NUM> (e.g., the representative selective transmissive mirror <NUM> is placed <NUM>° from a plane perpendicular to the light beam) where approximately zero transmittance has been determined from <NUM> to <NUM>, whereas approximately <NUM>% transmittance has been determined at wavelengths greater than <NUM> and less than <NUM>. The representative selective transmissive mirror <NUM> as described in this graph <NUM> would competently reflect a first light <NUM> configured with a first bandwidth of <NUM> to <NUM>, depending on the angle of incidence of the light beam relative to the mirror surface, and likely competently transmit a second light configured with a wavelength greater than <NUM> and less than <NUM>, again depending on orientation of the angle of incidence of the light beam relative to the mirror surface.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating a system <NUM> for monitoring an image source, as disclosed herein. The system <NUM> may include one or more, or all of the components as system <NUM>, <NUM> and vice-versa. In some examples, the system <NUM> includes a display control module configured to send one or more signals to the display <NUM> and receive signals from the sensor <NUM>. For example, the display control module <NUM> may be configured to send input signal data for the first light <NUM> and/or the second light <NUM> to the display. In another example, the display module <NUM> may be configured to receive output signal data from the second light <NUM> via the sensor <NUM>. The display control module <NUM> may then compare the input signal data to the output signal data and determine if the display <NUM> is working correctly. The display module as disclosed herein includes a controller <NUM>, one or more processors <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and a communication interface <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> provides processing functionality for at least the display control module <NUM> and can include the one or more processors <NUM> (e.g., micro-controllers, circuitry, field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other processing systems), and resident or external memory <NUM> for storing data, executable code, and other information. The controller <NUM> can execute one or more software programs embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium (e.g., memory <NUM>) that implement techniques described herein. The controller <NUM> is not limited by the materials from which it is formed or the processing mechanisms employed therein and, as such, can be implemented via semiconductor(s) and/or transistors (e.g., using electronic integrated circuit (IC) components), and so forth.

The memory <NUM> can be an example of tangible, computer-readable storage medium that provides storage functionality to store various data and/or program code associated with operation of the controller <NUM>, such as software programs and/or code segments, or other data to instruct the controller <NUM>, and possibly other components of the display control module <NUM>, to perform the functionality described herein. Thus, the memory <NUM> can store data, such as a program of instructions for operating the display control module <NUM>, including its components (e.g., controller <NUM>, communication interface <NUM>, etc.), and so forth. The memory <NUM> may also store data derived from the sensor <NUM>. It should be noted that while a single memory <NUM> is described, a wide variety of types and combinations of memory <NUM> (e.g., tangible, non-transitory memory) can be employed. The memory <NUM> can be integral with the controller <NUM>, can comprise stand-alone memory, or can be a combination of both. Some examples of the memory <NUM> can include removable and non-removable memory components, such as random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory (e.g., a secure digital (SD) memory card, a mini-SD memory card, and/or a micro-SD memory card), solid-state drive (SSD) memory, magnetic memory, optical memory, universal serial bus (USB) memory devices, hard disk memory, external memory, and so forth.

The communication interface <NUM> can be operatively configured to communicate with components of the display control module <NUM> and the system <NUM>. For example, the communication interface <NUM> can be configured to retrieve data from the controller <NUM> or other components, transmit data for storage in the memory <NUM>, retrieve data from storage in the memory <NUM>, and so forth. The communication interface <NUM> can also be communicatively coupled with the controller <NUM> to facilitate data transfer between components of the display control module <NUM> and the controller <NUM>. It should be noted that while the communication interface <NUM> is described as a component of the display control module <NUM>, one or more components of the communication interface <NUM> can be implemented as external components communicatively coupled to the display control module <NUM> via a wired and/or wireless connection. The display control module <NUM> can also include and/or connect to one or more input/output (I/O) devices. The communication interface <NUM> as disclosed herein includes or is coupled to a transmitter, receiver, transceiver, physical connection interface, or any combination thereof.

The system <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> makes use of wavelength selective material wavelength selective sources, thereby allowing the system <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> to detect display refresh irregularities, detect orientation irregularities, and/or confirm proper orientation of the display <NUM>. The system <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may also be used to sense uncommanded brightness increases, potentially protecting the pilot from a brightness hazard condition, such as an all-white-all-bright (AWAB) condition, wherein every pixel is activated with maximal brightness that may dazzle or flash blind a user.

<FIG> is a flow chart illustrating a method <NUM> for displaying a display image and a reference image, in accordance with the claimed invention. In some embodiments, the method <NUM> includes a step <NUM> of transmitting a signal to the beam splitter wherein the signal comprises a first light configured with a first bandwidth and a second light configured with a second bandwidth. For example, the display <NUM> may be configured to transmit a signal that comprises both the first light <NUM> and the second light <NUM> through the field lens <NUM> to the beam splitter <NUM>.

The method <NUM> further includes the step <NUM> of reflecting the signal to a selectively transmissive mirror <NUM>. For example, the beam splitter <NUM> may receive the signal containing the first light <NUM> and the second light <NUM>, and reflect the first light <NUM> and the second light <NUM> toward the sensor <NUM>.

It should be understood that the light reflected from and reflected through the beam splitter <NUM> may represent a fraction of the light transmitted into the beam splitter <NUM>. For example, the upon the receiving the transmission of the signal from the display <NUM>, a portion of the light signal from the signal may transmit through the beam splitter <NUM> rather than be reflected from the beam splitter <NUM> toward the sensor <NUM>. In another example, upon receiving the second light <NUM> from the selectively transmissive mirror <NUM>, a portion of the second light may be reflected back toward the display. Therefore, the above description should not be considered a limitation of the present disclosure, but merely an illustration.

The method <NUM> further includes the step <NUM> of reflecting the first light toward a corrector lens. For example, the first light <NUM> may be reflected from the selectively transmissive mirror <NUM> back through the beam splitter <NUM>, through the corrective lens <NUM> toward the exit pupil.

The method <NUM> further includes the step <NUM> of reflecting the second light <NUM> to the sensor <NUM>. For example, the second light <NUM> may pass through the selectively transmissive mirror <NUM> and the one or more focusing lenses 220a-c, to the sensor <NUM>, where the sensor detects the second light <NUM> and generates data based on the second light <NUM>, which is sent to the data control module <NUM> for processing and comparison to the original signal.

Other steps or sub-steps may be carried in addition as to one or more of the steps disclosed herein.

Claim 1:
A system comprising:
a display (<NUM>) configured to transmit a signal comprising:
a first light (<NUM>) configured as a display image; and
a beam splitter (<NUM>) configured to receive the signal and reflect the signal;
a selectively transmissive mirror (<NUM>) configured to receive the reflected signal, and reflect the first light (<NUM>), wherein the first light (<NUM>) is configured with a first bandwidth; and
a corrector lens (<NUM>) configured to receive the first light and transmit the first light to an exit pupil,
characterized in that
the signal comprises a second light (<NUM>) configured as a reference image;
the system comprises a sensor (<NUM>) configured to detect the second light;
the selectively transmissive mirror (<NUM>) is configured to transmit the second light (<NUM>) to the sensor (<NUM>); and in that
the second light (<NUM>) is configured with a second bandwidth.