Patent attributes
There is described a display apparatus for producing an aerial image of an object. The display apparatus comprises a display acting as the object to be imaged. A first beam splitter or reflective polarizer receives light from the display and redirects at least a portion of the light to one or two retroreflectors. Lens arrays can be added onto the retroreflector(s) to reduce blur. A second beam splitter or reflective polarizer receives the light from the retroreflector(s) and produces the aerial image. The second beam splitter or reflective polarizer is aligned with a point of view of the viewer, thus defining a horizon of the field of view. An opaque surface extends below the horizon, and the first beam splitter or reflective polarizer, the first retroreflective sheeting and the display are located under the surface and therefore below the horizon, thus keeping the over-the-head space free of equipment.