Systems, devices, and methods for wearable heads-up displays

• US 10,054,788 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2017
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thalmic Labs Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Bailey, Matthew, Alexander, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Jr., Kenneth B
• Application Number:
  US15/679,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20170343797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/015 involving arrangement aiming to get less bulky devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0154 with movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/10 Scanning systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/30 Collimators

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods for transparent displays that are well-suited for use in wearable heads-up displays are described. Such transparent displays include a light source that sequentially generates pixels or other discrete portions of an image. Respective modulated light signals corresponding to the respective pixels/portions are sequentially directed towards at least one dynamic reflector positioned on a lens of the transparent display within the user'"'"'s field of view. The dynamic reflector (such as a MEMS-based digital micromirror) scans the modulated light signals directly over the user'"'"'s eye and into the user'"'"'s field of view. Successive portions of the image are generated in rapid succession until the entire image is displayed to the user.

Claims

1. A wearable heads-up display (WHUD) comprising:

a support structure that in use is worn on a head of a user;

a transparent element that is physically coupled to the support structure, wherein the transparent element is positioned within a field of view of the user when the support structure is worn on the head of the user;

at least one light source physically coupled to the support structure and positioned near or beyond a field of view of the user when the support structure is worn on the head of the user;

at least one light-redirection element physically coupled to the support structure and positioned to receive light signals provided by the light source and redirect the light signals towards the transparent element; and

a number n of dynamic reflectors positioned on the transparent element in the field of view of the user when the support structure is worn on the head of the user, where n is any integer greater than 1, wherein the n dynamic reflectors receive light signals redirected by the at least one light-redirection element, and wherein the n dynamic reflectors are each controllably variable by rotation about at least two orthogonal axes to reflect light signals towards select regions of at least one eye of the user.

2. The WHUD of claim 1 wherein each of the n dynamic reflectors reflects light signals representative of a respective copy of the same image towards select regions of at least one eye of the user.

3. The wearable heads-up display of claim 1 wherein the support structure has a general shape and appearance of an eyeglasses frame.

4. The wearable heads-up display of claim 1, further comprising:

a processor physically coupled to the support structure and communicatively coupled to the at least one light source and the n dynamic reflectors; and

a non-transitory processor-readable storage medium physically coupled to the support structure and communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the non-transitory processor-readable storage medium stores processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

control the light signals provided by the at least one light source; and

control the n dynamic reflectors to reflect the light signals provided by the at least one light source towards select regions of at least one eye of the user.

5. The wearable heads-up display of claim 1 wherein each of the n dynamic reflector includes a digital microelectromechanical system (MEMS) micromirror.