Infrared video display eyewear

• US 10,218,884 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2017
• Issued: 02/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brian C. Longbotham, Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Brian C. Longbotham, Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Longbotham, Brian C, Bain, Judith
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhao, Daquan
• Application Number:
  US15/592,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20170285366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 348 42, 348 51, 348 52, 348 53, 348 54, 348 56, 348 59, 348 61, 348162, 348164
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0127 comprising devices increasing the depth of field
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0134 of stereoscopic type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0154 with movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/125 head-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/246 Calibration of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/254 in combination with electromagnetic radiation sources for illuminating objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 with head-mounted left-right displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/20 for generating image signals from infrared radiation only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

A wearable display apparatus for viewing video images of scenes and/or objects illuminated with infrared light, the display apparatus including a transparent display that is positioned in a user'"'"'s field of vision when the display apparatus is worn, a stereoscopic video camera device including at least two cameras that each capture reflected infrared light images of a surrounding environment and a projection system that receives the infrared light images from the stereoscopic camera device, and simultaneously projects (i) a first infrared-illuminated video image in real-time onto a left eye viewport portion of the transparent display that overlaps a user'"'"'s left eye field of vision and (ii) a second infrared-illuminated video image in real-time onto a right eye viewport portion of the transparent display that overlaps a user'"'"'s right eye field of vision.

Claims

1. A display system for viewing video images of objects comprising:

a wearable display including a transparent display that is positioned in a user'"'"'s field of vision when the wearable display is worn;

a stereoscopic video camera device including at least two cameras that each capture video images of the surrounding environment; and

a projection system mounted to the wearable display that receives the video image from the stereoscopic camera device, and projects (i) a first video image onto a transparent left eye viewport portion of the transparent display, the first video image overlapping the user'"'"'s left eye field of vision and (ii) a second video image onto a transparent right eye viewport portion of the transparent display, the second video image overlapping the user'"'"'s right eye field of vision;

a belt that is disposed around a hard hat worn by the user;

a bracket attachment that is fastened to the belt; and

a support device that is rotatably fixed to the bracket attachment,

wherein the stereoscopic video camera device is attached to one end of the support device.

2. The display system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an infrared light source, wherein

the support device is substantially bent at 90°

so that a viewing angle of the stereoscopic video camera device and a viewing angle of the infrared light source are substantially the same.

3. The display system of claim 2, wherein

when the support device is rotated, the viewing angle of the stereoscopic video camera device and the viewing angle of the infrared light source remain substantially the same.

4. The display system of claim 1, further comprising:

a fastener that fastens the support device to the stereoscopic video camera device.

5. The display system of claim 1, wherein the belt encircles the hard hat and extends over the top of the hard hat.

6. The display system of claim 1, wherein

the bracket attachment increases a clamping force to fix the support device in place, and

the bracket attachment decreases a clamping force to rotate the support device.

7. A display system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an infrared light source, wherein the infrared light source is attached to another end of the support device.

8. A display system for viewing video images of objects, the system comprising:

a wearable display including a transparent display that is positioned in a user'"'"'s field of vision when the wearable display is worn;

a camera;

a belt that is disposed around a hard hat worn by the user;

a bracket attachment that is fastened to the belt; and

a support device that is rotatably fixed to the bracket attachment,

wherein the camera is attached to one end of the support device.

9. A display system according to claim 8, further comprising:

an infrared light source, wherein the infrared light source is attached to another end of the support device.