HYBRID DIFFRACTIVE/REFRACTIVE RELAY SYSTEM FOR HEAD MOUNTED DISPLAYS

AN OPTICAL RELAY USED TO IMAGE TEXT, GRAPHICS, AND VIDEO IN A HEAD MOUNTED DISPLAY (HMD) SYSTEM IS PROPOSED. COMPUTER GENERATED HOLOGRAMS WILL BE EMPLOYED IN CONJUNCTION WITH CONVENTIONAL-REFRACTIVE OPTICS IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE WEIGHT AND SIZE OF THE SYSTEM WHILE ENHANCING ITS PERFORMANCE. BOTH LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAYS (LCD) AND DEFORMABLE MIRROR DEVICES (DMD) ILLUMINATED BY A LOW POWER LASER DIODE OR LED WILL BE CONSIDERED AS A SOURCE. COMMERCIAL OPTICAL SOFTWARE IN CONJUNCTION WITH IN-HOUSE SOFTWARE WILL BE USED TO ANALYZE AND OPTIMIZE THE SYSTEM'S PERFORMANCE. ANTICIPATED BENEFITS/POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS - HMD'S CAN PROVIDE GRAPHICS, TEXT, AND VIDEO INFORMATION WHILE NOT CONFINING THE USER TO A TERMINAL. THIS LEAVES THE USERS HANDS FREE. THEY WOULD BE USEFUL TO AIRCRAFT TECHNICIANS WORKING IN TIGHT QUARTERS AND NEED ACCESS TO TECHNICAL INFORMATION. THIS WOULD ALSO BE GOOD FOR PILOTS AND ASTRONAUTS. HMD'S ALSO HAVE APPLICATIONS WHICH RANGE FORM THAT OF AN INVENTORY TAKING TOOL TO VIRTUAL-REALITY (VR) SIMULATOR.