Electrically actuatable image combiner

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an image display system for displaying an image in a user's line of sight including an image combiner that is electrically actuatable. The image display system generally includes an image projection device, and an electrically actuatable image combiner. The image combiner may be superposed with a transparent substrate such as a visor or a windshield.

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       32 . An image combiner for a heads up display comprising: 
 at least one cholesteric liquid crystal layer;    at least two optically transparent, electrically conductive substrates; and    said image combiner being actuatable between first and second states.    
   
   
       33 . The image combiner of  claim 32  wherein said at least one cholesteric liquid crystal layer comprises a mixture of a cholesteric liquid crystal material and another liquid crystal material having a molecular weight of less than about 5000.  
   
   
       34 . The image combiner of  claim 33  wherein said at least one cholesteric liquid crystal layer comprises a mixture of a first material, a second material and a third material, said first material being a cholesteric liquid crystal material, said second material being a liquid crystal material having a molecular weight of less than about 5000, and said third material being a chiral material.  
   
   
       35 . The image combiner of  claim 32  having a reflection band with a center wavelength of about 540 nm and a bandwidth of less than about 100 nm.  
   
   
       36 . The image combiner of  claim 32  comprising two cholesteric liquid crystal layers with an optically transparent, electrically conductive interlayer disposed therebetween.  
   
   
       37 . The image combiner of  claim 36  wherein said two cholesteric liquid crystal layers are disposed between two of said at least two optically transparent, electrically conductive substrates.  
   
   
       38 . The image combiner of  claim 37  wherein said at least two optically transparent, electrically conductive substrates and said interlayer each comprise indium tin oxide.  
   
   
       39 . The image combiner of  claim 32  wherein said at least two optically transparent, electrically conductive substrates each comprise an indium tin oxide coated glass substrate.  
   
   
       40 . The image combiner of  claim 32  wherein said at least two optically transparent, electrically conductive substrates each comprise an indium tin oxide coated plastic substrate.  
   
   
       41 . The image combiner of  claim 32  having a reflectivity within a narrow spectrum of wavelengths greater than about 90% when said image combiner is disposed in said first state.  
   
   
       42 . The image combiner of  claim 32  having a reflectivity within a narrow spectrum of wavelengths less than about 10% when said image combiner is disposed in said second state.  
   
   
       43 . The image combiner of  claim 32  wherein the reflectivity within a narrow spectrum of wavelengths may be electrically controlled over a range from less than about 10% to greater than about 90%.  
   
   
       44 . A method for fabricating a heads up display system, said method comprising: 
 providing an image projection device;    providing an image combiner including at least one cholesteric liquid crystal layer, said image combiner being electrically actuatable between first and second states;    providing a driving circuit;    electrically connecting said image combiner with said driving circuit; and    locating said image projection device for projecting images on said image combiner.    
   
   
       45 . A method for positioning an image in a user's line of sight, said method comprising: 
 positioning an image combiner including at least one cholesteric liquid crystal layer in the user's line of sight, said image combiner being electrically actuatable between first and second states;    projecting an image to be combined with an image in user's line of sight on said image combiner; and    selectively electrically actuating and deactuating said image combiner, wherein actuation of said image combiner from said first state to said second state substantially reduces the brightness of the projected image, and deactuation of said image combiner from said second state to said first state substantially increases the brightness of the projected image.    
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 45  wherein said electrically actuating and deactuating said image combiner further comprises electrically controlling the brightness of the projected image.