EP0452815A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trapped beam hologram center high mounted stoplight
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1991-04-11
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-04-11
Abstract
Abstract A holographic rear window stoplight for a vehicle having a playback illumination source (115), a prism for optically coupling the playback illumination (PB) into the rear window (113) of a vehicle, and a hologram for diffracting the internally propagated playback illumination (PB) to produce a holographic stoplight image that is visible from behind the vehicle. The playback illumination (PB) can be directed to the prism (529) by acrylic light guides (523,525) and the hologram can comprise a reflection hologram, a transmission hologram, or a rainbow hologram.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald T. Smith
- 👤 Andrew J. Daiber
- 👤 Mark E. Mcdonald
- 👤 Anson Au
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 00:24
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/0081; B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/26; B60Q1/30; B60Q1/302; G03; G03H; G03H1/00; G03H1/04; G03H1/0402; G03H1/22; G03H1/2202; G03H2001/0413; G03H2001/0415; G03H1/0465; G03H2001/0473; G03H2001/2223; G03H2001/2226; G03H1/2249; G03H2001/2263; G03H2001/2268; G03H2210/00; G03H2210/20; G03H2223/00; G03H2223/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A holographic stoplight for a vehicle having a rear window, comprising: illumination means for providing playback illumination; optical coupling means for coupling playback illumination into the rear window for propogation therein by internal reflection, the thickness of the coupled playback illumination being larger than the thickness of the rear window; and a hologram for diffracting the internally reflected playback illumination to produce a holographic stoplight image that is visible from behind the vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
16 words
The holographic stoplight of Claim 1 wherein said optical coupling means comprises a wedge shaped prism.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The holographic stoplight of Claim 1 wherein said hologram comprises a reflection hologram.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The holographic stoplight of Claim 1 wherein said hologram comprises a transmission hologram.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The holographic stoplight of Claim 1 wherein said hologram comprises a rainbow hologram.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The holographic stoplight of Claim 1 wherein said illumination means includes an acrylic light guide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The holographic stoplight of Claim 1 wherein said optical coupling means and said hologram are configured to substantially fully illuminate said hologram with a single pass of the internally reflected playback illumination.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The holographic stoplight of Claim 1 wherein said optical coupling means and said hologram are configured to substantially fully illuminate said hologram with a plurality of passes of the internally reflected playback illumination.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
97 words
A holographic stoplight for a vehicle having a rear window, comprising: illumination means for providing playback illumination; a wedge prism for coupling playback illumination into the rear window for propogation therein by internal reflection, the width of the coupled playback illumination being larger than the thickness of the rear window; and a hologram for diffracting the internally reflected playback illumination to produce a holographic stoplight image that is visible from behind the vehicle; said wedge prism and said hologram being configured to substantially fully illuminate said hologram with a single pass of the internally reflected playback illumination.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The holographic stoplight of Claim 9 wherein said hologram comprises a a reflection hologram.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The holographic stoplight of Claim 9 wherein said hologram comprises a transmission hologram.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The holographic stoplight of Claim 9 wherein said hologram comprises a rainbow hologram.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The holographic stoplight of Claim 9 wherein said illumination means includes an acrylic light guide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
98 words
A holographic stoplight for a vehicle having a rear window, comprising: illumination means for providing playback illumination; a wedge prism for coupling playback illumination into the rear window for propogation therein by internal reflection, the width of the coupled playback illumination being larger than the thickness of the rear window; and a hologram for diffracting the internally reflected playback illumination to produce a holographic stoplight image that is visible from behind the vehicle; said wedge prism and said hologram being configured to substantially fully illuminate said hologram with a plurality of passes of the internally reflected playback illumination.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The holographic stoplight of Claim 14 wherein said hologram comprises a a reflection hologram.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The holographic stoplight of Claim 14 wherein said hologram comprises a transmission hologram.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The holographic stoplight of Claim 14 wherein said hologram comprises a rainbow hologram.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The holographic stoplight of Claim 14 wherein said illumination means includes an acrylic light guide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
WO1988005002A1
Cited
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