L. Sadovnik
Holoptic, LLC, California, United States
Keywords: Augmented Reality, Avionics HUD, HMD
Current Augmented Reality (AR) systems such as Smart Goggles, Head-Ups and Helmet-Mounted Displays use reflection from the glass to facilitate both the see-through and display properties. The mirror type reflection necessitates a particular geometry of an image source and a viewer in respect to the glass. This, along with the low light efficiency limits the applicability of this approach. In contrast, Transparent Holographic Display (THD) approach based on our patented hologram recording technology and replication process provides for arbitrary placement of the image source, viewer and the display. THD bright RGB images can be seen in a sunlit outdoor environment as it does not require to trade reflectivity for transparency. Recorded into a thin photopolymer film, THD can be laminated on curved surfaces of helmet visors or vehicle windshields, in contrast to a known AR waveguide approach which requires high quality flat surfaces. The hologram is recorded using complex wavefront, as THD does not require any additional optics to create a virtual image at any distance from the viewer, unlike conventional approach that relies on bulky and complex freeform optical components. We will demonstrate THD applications to vehicle and avionics HUDs and HMDs.