US 12,487,456 B2
Binocular optical display system
Rory Thomas Alexander Mills, Rochester Kent (GB)
Assigned to BAE SYSTEMS PLC, London (GB)
Appl. No. 17/756,829
Filed by BAE SYSTEMS plc, London (GB)
PCT Filed Nov. 19, 2020, PCT No. PCT/GB2020/052948
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 3, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/111102, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 10, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 19275143 (EP), filed on Dec. 6, 2019; and application No. 1917886 (GB), filed on Dec. 6, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0021349 A1, Jan. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. G02B 27/01 (2006.01); G02B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 27/0172 (2013.01) [G02B 17/002 (2013.01); G02B 2027/0132 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optical display system comprising:
a first image generator for projecting a first image along a first optical path, the first optical path comprising a first region of a surface;
a second image generator for projecting a second image along a second optical path, the second optical path comprising a second region of the surface; and
an optical element positioned in both the first and second optical paths between the image generators and the surface;
wherein the first image generator is positioned to the left of a central plane passing through the surface;
wherein the second image generator is positioned to the right of the central plane passing through the surface;
wherein the first and second regions of the surface are reflective and arranged to respectively reflect the light emitted by the first image generator towards a user's left eye position and the light emitted by the second image generator towards the user's right eye position;
wherein the optical element comprises an array of microstructures on a primary surface, each microstructure comprising at least a first facet and a second facet, wherein the first facet from each of a first plurality of the microstructures is arranged to reflect the light emitted by the first image generator and forms part of the first optical path, and the second facet from each of a second plurality of the microstructures is arranged to reflect the light emitted by second image generator and forms part of the second optical path; and
wherein the first facets are not part of the second optical path, and the second facets are not part of the first optical path.