Date: Apr 20, 2013 Author: press release Source: Company Data (
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SUNNYVALE, Calif., April, 2013 - SBG Labs has been awarded a new SBIR contract from the US Air Force to develop a compact Head-up Display (HUD) that could be used in the retrofit avionics market. The project leverages work already underway with partner Rockwell Collins and makes use of advanced waveguide technology to deliver greatly expanded pilot eye box and display field of view in a "Slim-Fit" form factor.
A HUD is used in many military and commercial aircraft to overlay symbology in the pilot's field of vision. These can aid in navigation and situational awareness. Many operational HUD's still feature CRTs that project images onto a transparent holographic beam combiner that sits a foot or two away from the pilot, positioned in the jet or helicopter canopy. Replacing this aging TV tube technology to free up additional space and allow for HD flat screen displays (similar to that fitted in the F-35) is a primary objective of these upgrade requirements.
SBG Labs has been developing its Switchable Bragg Gratings primarily for use in HMD and pico projector applications. These are typically small ~1-inch size optical devices that are positioned close to the eye. A HUD display based on the similar technology but is an order magnitude larger. The new SBIR award is designed to develop the technology to scale to this larger size format and greatly expand its display capability.
"The opportunity to greatly improve our core display technology is a boon to any small company and its selection ahead fierce competition a testament to its usefulness to Air Force," noted SBG Labs CTO Jonathan Waldern. "The retrofit HUD market requirements are a significant challenge in terms of both performance and cost. We are anxious to develop these solutions to address our national security needs."
About SBG Labs Inc. Located in Silicon Valley, California, with worldwide distribution and support, SBG Labs Inc. is an optical technology company that has developed a revolutionary new electrically switchable holographic device called a Switchable Bragg Grating. The electro-holographic optical technology merges breakthroughs in nano material science and optical software processing by recording holographic optics into its proprietary nanocomposite electro-optical material. SBG technology has broad applications in many everyday products, including displays, imaging, optical switches and integrated optical micro devices.
