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Automatic design of off-axis reflective HUD systems based on multi-field SCE and the LM algorithm
Applied Optics
|June 10, 2026
Summary
This study introduces an automated workflow for designing complex off-axis freeform reflective optical systems. The method effectively minimizes distortion and improves image quality for applications like vehicle head-up displays (HUDs).
Area of Science:
- Optical Engineering
- Freeform Optics Design
- Advanced Metrology
Background:
- Freeform optical elements are crucial in modern optical systems due to fabrication advancements.
- Automated design of off-axis freeform reflective systems is challenging due to coupled aberrations and high-dimensional design spaces.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an automated workflow for designing off-axis freeform reflective systems under multi-field constraints.
- To address the difficulties in designing systems with coupled aberrations and high-dimensional design spaces.
Main Methods:
- Combines multi-field seed-curve extension with constrained nonlinear least-squares refinement.
- Initial freeform geometry constructed under global field constraints for desired ray mapping.
- Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm used for optimizing freeform coefficients to enhance image quality and control distortion.
Main Results:
- Successfully designed a vehicle head-up display (HUD) system.
- Achieved maximum distortion below 3% and Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) above 0.3 at 6 lp/mm across the full eye box.
- Validated the design using Zemax OpticStudio.
Conclusions:
- The proposed automated workflow is effective for HUD design.
- The method shows promise for similar off-axis reflective imaging systems.
- Advances in freeform optics design are enabling practical applications.
