High brightness optical device

Abstract

There is provided an optical device, comprising a display source; a light-diffuser; an imaging optical module, and an output aperture from the optical device characterized in that the light diffuser is an angular, non-uniform diffuser of light for increasing a portion of light emerging from the display source that passes through the output aperture. A method for improving the brightness of an optical display is also provided.

1 . An optical device, comprising: 
 a display source emitting light waves;    a light diffuser for non-uniformly diffusing the light of the display source;    an imaging optical module;    a light-transmitting substrate having a light-admitting surface and at least one surface located inside said substrate for coupling the light out of said substrate;    an optical coupler for coupling light waves from said imaging module into said substrate; and    an output aperture for emitting light from the optical device;    whereby light waves from the entire display source are coupled by the optical coupler via the light-admitting surface into the substrate to total internal reflection.    
   
   
       2 . The optical device according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one converging lens.  
   
   
       3 . The optical device according to  claim 2 , wherein the light diffuser diffuses the light interposed between said display source and said converging lens.  
   
   
       4 . The optical device according to  claim 2  further comprising at least one light source.  
   
   
       5 . The optical device according to  claim 4 , wherein the converging lens collects light from the light source and illuminates the display source.  
   
   
       6 . The optical device according to  claim 4 , wherein each light wave emerging from a single point on the display source is diverged into a predetermined finite solid angle, such that light waves from the entire display source are coupled into the substrate by total internal reflection.  
   
   
       7 . The optical device according to  claim 6 , wherein optical nature and structure of the combination of the light source, converging lens, display source and light diffuser, dictate the solid angles, resulting in coupling the light waves into the substrate by total internal reflection.  
   
   
       8 . The optical device according to  claim 6 , wherein optical nature and structure of the combination of the components of the optical device results in coupling the light waves into a single eye of an observer.  
   
   
       9 . The optical device according to  claim 6 , wherein optical nature and structure of the combination of the components of the optical device results in coupling the light waves into both eyes of an observer.  
   
   
       10 . The optical device according to  claim 8 , wherein optical nature and structure of the combination of the components of the optical device results in a specific brightness at the eye of the observer.  
   
   
       11 . The optical device according to  claim 9 , wherein optical nature and structure of the combination of the components of the optical device results in a specific brightness at the eyes of the observer.  
   
   
       12 . The optical device according to  claim 1 , wherein input waves and image waves are located on the same side of the substrate.  
   
   
       13 . The optical device according to  claim 1 , wherein input waves and image waves are located on opposite sides of the substrate.  
   
   
       14 . The optical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the optical device is utilized as a head mounted display.  
   
   
       15 . The optical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the optical device is utilized as heads up display.