Patent ID: 8059342

Claim:
A microdisplay system comprising a microdisplay engine having individually addressable pixels that form a pattern within a light beam, a focuser for forming within the light beam a virtual image of the pattern produced by the microdisplay engine having an exit pupil through which light from the individually addressable pixels is substantially collimated in unique directions, a transmissive plate adapted to receive the light beam and having inner and outer surfaces separated by a thickness for propagating the light beam between the inner and outer surfaces along a length of the transmissive plate by internal reflection, and a plurality of reflective facets spaced apart from each other along the length of the transmissive plate and relatively sized in reflective area for reflecting different transverse sections of the substantially collimated light from the individually addressable pixels through the inner surface of the transmissive plate for extending an eyebox within which the virtual image is viewable, the reflective facets being formed through the outer surface of the transmissive plate and being provided with a coating to reflect the substantially collimated light from the individually addressable pixels.