Wide Field-of-View, Head-Mounted, Visor Optics

The Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program requires industry to design and construct lightweight, head-mounted visor optics to display high-resolution color imagery and symbology for situational awareness and targeting. LSA proposes the AdVOS (Advanced VisorOptic System) to deliver high-resolution, wide field-of-view (FOV) images to immerse the user in a realistic virtual environment while addressing the deficiencies of prior HMDs. The AdVOS minimizes weight and bulkiness, optimizes the display'scenter-of-gravity, and incorporates flexible optics with curved surface visor display materials that can be integrated into a flight helmet with wide FOV projected out-the-window (OTW) imagery. Our optical system design is revolutionary, focusing thevisual information onto the operator's retinas so that relaxed out-the-window viewing is possible. Unlike other head-mounted systems, our system does not require bulky objective and ocular lenses in front of the user's eyes. Our system is more likeproviding the operators with their own personal wide-screen theater. The AdVOS concept has the added advantage of providing some depth perception by introducing optical parallax to the system. The commercial potential of the AdVOS and its subsystemcomponents is very high. Effective training is significant concern for military operations, so selling to this market will be the first avenue. As the technology matures, it will gain wider acceptance and fuel development of a broad range of newapplications in both military and commercial systems. The components of the AdVOS can be used to strengthen and provide enhanced capabilities for all aspects of visual display and virtual reality systems. The system has application in any area that largefield-of-view displays could offer significant advantages to the overall experience. Virtual reality technologies such as this will bring major breakthroughs in training, education, entertainment, and many other fields. Entertainment systems, computer,gaming, education, and medicine can all find benefits from incorporation of this technology.