Patent ID: 7206133

Claim:
A heads-up display for displaying images, said heads-up display comprising: a spatial light modulator comprising a plurality of pixels selectively adjustable for creating a spatial pattern; a light source for illuminating an area on said spatial light modulator; a diffuser disposed in a first optical path between said light source and said spatial light modulator such that a portion of said diffuser receives light from said light source, said light source disposed in an arrangement that provides increasing illuminance along a transverse direction of said diffuser, said diffuser comprising a plurality of light spreading features configured to disperse light from said light source into increasingly larger projected solid angles for locations along said transverse direction of said diffuser; and imaging optics disposed to receive light from said spatial light modulator for forming an image of said spatial pattern created by said spatial light modulator, said spatial light modulator and said imaging optics defining a second optical path therebetween, wherein said diffuser is outside said second optical path between said spatial light modulator and said imaging optics.