Wearable image display system

• US 10,018,844 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2015
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Levola, Tapani, Saarikko, Pasi, Robbins, Steven John, Poon, Yarn Chee, Wolfe, Lena Adele, Towle, Erica Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Won, Bumsuk
• Assistant Examiner(s): Washington, Tamara Y
• Application Number:
  US14/617,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20160231570A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• Field of Search: 359 1, 359 13, 359 14, 359 15, 359 19, 359 32, 359 34, 359558-576, 359629-634, 3592045, 3592077, 3592116, 35933721, 359256, 359538, 359618, 345 6- 9, 345632-633, 715757
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/011 comprising device for correcting geometrical aberrations, distortion
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0134 of stereoscopic type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0152 involving arrangement aiming to get lighter or better balanced devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0161 characterised by the relative positioning of the constitutive elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0018 with means for preventing ghost images anti-reflection coatings G02B1/11
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0081 with means for altering, e.g. enlarging, the entrance or exit pupil
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/4272 having plural diffractive elements positioned sequentially along the optical path
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/00 Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0016 Grooves, prisms, gratings, scattering particles or rough surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0035 provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/005 provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed on the light output side of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00

Abstract

A wearable image display system includes a headpiece, a first and a second light engine, and a first and a second optical component. The first and second light engines generate a first and a second set of beams respectively, each beam substantially collimated so that the first and second set form a first and a second virtual image respectively. Each optical component is located to project an image onto a first and a second eye of a wearer respectively. The first and second sets of beams are directed to incoupling structures of the first and second optical components respectively. Exit structures of the first and second optical components guide the first and second sets of beams onto the first and second eyes respectively. The optical components are located between the light engines and the eyes. Both of the light engines are mounted to a central portion of the headpiece.

Claims

1. A wearable image display system comprising:

a headpiece;

a first and a second light engine configured to generate a first and a second set of beams respectively, each beam substantially collimated so that the first and second set form a first and a second virtual image respectively, the light engines mounted on the headpiece; and

a first and a second optical component, each optical component located to project an image onto a first and a second eye of a wearer respectively and comprising a respective incoupling structure and a respective exit structure;

wherein the first and second sets of beams are directed to the respective incoupling structure of the first and second optical components respectively, the respective exit structure of the first and second optical components being arranged to guide the first and second sets of beams onto the first and second eyes respectively, wherein the optical components are located between the light engines and the eyes, and wherein both of the light engines are mounted to a central portion of the headpiece.

2. A system according to claim 1 comprising a support structure mounted to the central portion which supports the first and second light engines, the support structure more rigid than the headpiece.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein the support structure is sufficiently rigid to maintain vertical alignment between the first and second sets of beams to within substantially one milliradian.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein horizontal alignment between the first and second sets of beams is also maintained by the support structure to within substantially one milliradian.

5. A system according to claim 2 wherein the support structure is formed of carbon fibre or titanium.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein each optical component comprises a fold structure which manipulates a spatial distribution of the beams within said each optical component.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein the first and second sets of beams are directed from first and second exit apertures of the first and second light engine respectively, and the optical components are angled relative to the light engines such that any outwardly reflected versions of the beams propagate clear of the exit apertures.

8. An optical component according to claim 1 wherein the image projected onto the first eye and the image projected onto the second eye differ from one another so that a stereoscopic image is perceived by the wearer.

9. A system according to claim 1 wherein the first light engine comprises a first display on which a first image is generated, and collimating optics arranged to generate the first set of beams from the first image on the first display;

and

wherein the second light engine comprises a second display on which a second image is generated, and collimating optics arranged to generate the second set of beams from the second image on the second display.

10. A system according to claim 1 wherein the structures are gratings, whereby the beams are diffracted onto the eye.

11. A system according to claim 1 wherein the headpiece comprises a frame, helmet or headband.

12. A system according to claim 1 wherein the optical components are formed of glass.

13. A system according to claim 1 wherein the optical components are formed of polymer.

14. A wearable image display system comprising:

a headpiece;

a first and a second display on which a first and a second image is generated respectively, the displays mounted on the headpiece;

a first and a second optical component, each optical component located to project an image onto a first and a second eye of a wearer respectively and comprising a respective incoupling structure and a respective exit structure; and

collimating optics arranged to substantially collimate each image into respective beams and to direct the beams of the first and second images to the respective incoupling structure of the first and second optical components respectively, the respective exit structure of the first and second optical components being arranged to diffract versions of the first and second images onto the first and second eyes respectively, wherein the optical components are located between the collimating optics and the eyes, wherein both of the displays and the collimating optics are mounted to a central portion of the headpiece.

15. An optical component according to claim 14 wherein the first and second images differ from one another so that a stereoscopic image is perceived by the wearer.

16. A system according to claim 14 wherein the support structure is sufficiently rigid to maintain vertical alignment between the diffracted versions of the first and second images to within substantially one milliradian.

17. A system according to claim 14, wherein horizontal alignment between the diffracted versions of the first and second images is also maintained by the support structure to within substantially one milliradian.

18. A wearable image display system comprising:

a frame;

a first and a second display on which a first and a second image is generated respectively, the displays mounted on the frame;

a first and a second optical component, each optical component located to project an image onto a first and a second eye of a wearer respectively and comprising a respective incoupling grating and a respective exit grating;

collimating optics arranged to substantially collimate each image into respective beams and to direct the beams of the first and second images to the respective incoupling grating of the first and second optical components respectively, the respective exit grating of the first and second optical components being arranged to diffract versions of the first and second images onto the first and second eyes respectively, wherein the optical components are located between the collimating optics and the eyes; and

a support structure mounted to a central portion of the frame and which supports the first and second displays and the collimating optics, the support structure more rigid than the frame.