Physical Optics Corporation — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: ABSTRACT: To address the Air Force need for a wide FOV, lightweight, waveguided helmet-mo

Description

ABSTRACT: To address the Air Force need for a wide FOV, lightweight, waveguided helmet-mounted display, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new see-through Multi-Layer Aberration-Compensated Guided Image Conformal Head Mounted Display (MAGIC-HMD) system based on advanced waveguide volume diffractive optics in photopolymer material layers on curved and transparent polymer visor substrates. The innovation in the MAGIC-HMD includes a new thin diffractive optics waveguide design that allows seamless extension of the device pupil to a very large size, the use of a spatial and angular multiplexing technique to enhance the FOV, and dispersion compensation to provide color imagery. The compact and lightweight MAGIC-HMD can be integrated into any helmet system for use by aviators and dismounted battlefield airmen. In Phase I, POC will develop a baseline design of the MAGIC-HMD system with at least 40 deg FOV and demonstrate the feasibility of fabricating wide-FOV diffractive waveguide optics on curved visor substrates that supports 20/20 visual acuity through display tiling and an eyebox approaching 3030 mm. POC plans to develop in Phase II curved see-through MAGIC HMD scalable prototype system with binocular color with a FOV approaching 120 deg (horizontal) x 80 deg (vertical), demonstrating the capability to support higher resolution displays. BENEFIT: Commercial applications of the MAGIC-HMD will include the replacement of current classical optics- based HMD systems and head-up display (HUD) systems with a thin, light, and low-profile HMD system that can provide more capable, ergonomic, digital vision systems. Due to its extreme compactness, the MAGIC-HMD technology can be expected to have a variety of commercial applications, including use by Homeland Security and for aerial firefighting, highway patrol, medical, commercial aviation, space exploration, personal displays, and gaming/entertainment systems. Other than the U.S. Air Force JHMCS application, major military applications for the MAGIC-HMD include Distributed Mission Training, pilot and combat vehicle crew HMDs, thermal weapon sights, Soldier's Integrated Protective Ensemble (SIPE), and logistics and training. DHS and the State Department can benefit from the MAGIC-HMD technology as well for security operations.