Dual-focal-plane augmented reality head-up display using a single picture generation unit and a single freeform mirror

Two or more focal planes are required in augmented reality head-up displays (AR HUDs) to respectively present basic and interactive driving information to car drivers; whereas, solutions using two separated picture generation units (PGUs) with two sets of optics incur increased cost, reduced reliability, and expanded volume. To develop an AR HUD using a single PGU and a single curved mirror, we propose to set two logically separated regions on a single PGU and optically relay one of them to a new position to create two focal planes. A single freeform mirror acquired through careful optical and mechanical design optimization produces high image quality in an eyebox of 120 mm by 60 mm, simultaneously for a far image (9 m, 10 degrees by 3 degrees) and a near image (2.5 m, 6 degrees by 2 degrees). Finally, an AR HUD product with a compact volume of 8.5 L is fabricated to experimentally verify the design. (C) 2019 Optical Society of America