See-through computer display systems with stray light management

• US 10,422,995 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2017
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mentor Acquisition One, LLC (Magic Leap, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mentor Acquisition One, LLC (Magic Leap, Inc.)
• Inventors: Haddick, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pinkney, Dawayne
• Application Number:
  US15/657,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20190025589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 359630-636, 359409-410, 359462, 359466, 359639, 359626, 359 13- 14, 359404, 359407, 351243, 351200, 351239, 351246, 351205-206, 351210-211, 351218, 351220-223, 348115, 345 7, 345 9, 345156, 349 11, 701 1, 310 49 R, 31015635, 310266-268, 31015602, 340438, 340980, 3409951, 34081547, 34081574
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0121 Parasitic image effect attenuation by suitable positioning of the parasitic images
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/013 comprising a combiner of particular shape, e.g. curvature
• 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 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to methods and systems for the see-through computer display systems. In embodiments, the systems and methods use curved display panels to generate image light.

Claims

1. A wearable head device comprising:

a curved display panel located on an optical axis, the curved display panel having a curved emission surface, the curved emission surface including a first emission surface point where the optical axis intersects the curved emission surface, the curved emission surface having a first radius of curvature at the first emission surface point;

a lens located on the optical axis, the lens having a curved lens surface, the curved lens surface including a first lens surface point on the optical axis, the curved lens surface having a second radius of curvature at the first lens surface point, the second radius of curvature matching the first radius of curvature; and

a see-through display, wherein the curved display panel is configured to project image light through the curved lens surface towards the see-through display to present the image light overlaid on a see-through view of the surrounding environment.

2. The wearable head device of claim 1,

wherein the curved emission surface of the curved display panel includes a second emission surface point where a first line parallel to the optical axis intersects the curved emission surface,

wherein the curved lens surface of the lens includes a second lens surface point on the first line parallel to the optical axis,

wherein the first emission surface point and the first lens surface point are separated by a first distance, and

wherein the second emission surface point and the second lens surface point are separated by a second distance that equals the first distance between the first emission surface point and the first lens surface point.

3. The wearable head device of claim 1,

wherein the curved emission surface of the curved display panel includes an emission surface area circumscribed by a plurality of lines parallel to the optical axis that intersect the curved emission surface,

wherein the curved lens surface of the lens includes a lens surface area circumscribed by the plurality of lines parallel to the optical axis, and

wherein the emission surface area of the curved display panel and the lens surface area of the lens are separated by a constant distance over the respectively circumscribed areas.

4. The wearable head device of claim 1,

wherein the curved emission surface of the curved display panel and the curved lens surface of the lens are the same in shape.

5. The wearable head device of claim 1,

wherein the curved emission surface of the curved display panel and the curved lens surface of the lens are different in shape.

6. A wearable head device comprising:

a curved display panel having a curved shape, the curved display panel configured to project image light with a first beam angle based on the curved shape, wherein the first beam angle is wider than a beam angle of image light projected from a flat display panel; and

a see-through display, wherein the curved display panel is configured to project image light towards the see-through display to present the image light from the curved display panel overlaid on a see-through view of the surrounding environment.

7. The wearable head device of claim 6, wherein the curved shape includes an upward curve at an end of the curved display panel, the first beam angle based on the upward curve at the end of the curved display panel.