Optical Displays: A Tutorial on Images and Image Formation

Abstract

The tutorial presents basic image and optical display concepts. To aid in understanding the concepts, discussion, figures, and tables, derivations in detail of optical equations are presented. Examples and alternative derivations clarify the concepts. High school algebra and trigonometry are adequate for following the derivations. Extensive use is made of the basic Gauss lens equation relating object distance and lens focal length to image distance. Topics include real and virtual images, image size and distance, proper viewing distance, exit pupil diameter and location, varying optical distance with a magnifier, focal length, objectives and eyepieces, relays, microscopes and telescopes, optical system complexity, etc. Compound optical systems with an objective and an eyepiece, and systems that also include a relay lens, are examined. Optical and mechanical considerations for helmet-mounted displays (HMDs), and the compromises and trade-offs required in designing such systems are presented in considerable detail

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1992
Accession Number
ADA266230

Entities

People

  • Herschel C. Self

Organizations

  • Armstrong Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Sensors
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Cameras
  • Diffraction
  • Display Systems
  • Distortion
  • Equations
  • Geometry
  • Helmet Mounted Displays
  • Human Factors Engineering
  • Optical Instruments
  • Optical Properties
  • Optics
  • Photographic Film
  • Photographs
  • Photography
  • Refraction
  • Two Dimensional
  • Visible Spectra

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Human-Computer Interaction (HCI).
  • Image Processing and Computer Vision.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space