Interchangeable optics for a head-mounted display

• US 10,437,070 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2016
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RealWear, Inc.
• Original Assignee: RealWear, Inc.
• Inventors: Pombo, Stephen A., Hines, George Henry, Parkinson, Christopher Iain, Jhawar, Sanjay Subir, Lustig, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Balaoing, Ariel A
• Application Number:
  US15/390,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20180180894A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/04 Parts, details or accessories of helmets
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/042 Optical devices night vision goggles G02B23/12
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0154 with movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0179 Display position adjusting means not related to the information to be displayed
• 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

Abstract

A head-mounted display that is modular and configured for securement to an item of headwear is provided. The head-mounted display may comprise a selection of components that are desired for a particular application, such as a display boom, camera, microphone, position-tracking component, etc., and may include an attachment mechanism for securing the selection of components to the item of headwear. The head-mounted display may include a display module having a corresponding display characteristic that provides a visual display and/or display functionality that is appropriate for a particular application. The display module may include a micro display that is non-transparent and/or a waveguide optic that is at least partially transparent, and may be configured to provide an augmented reality display for a user.

Claims

1. A modular head-mounted display, comprising:

one or more computer processors housed in a body of the head-mounted display and operable to provide for display visual data to one of a set of interchangeable display modules when coupled thereto;

a display boom having;

a first end adjustably coupled to the body, and

a second end having;

a first coupling member that presents at least a first interface coupled to the one or more computer processors, and

a releasing mechanism operable for disengaging one of the set of interchangeable display modules from the second end of the display boom when coupled thereto;

a first interchangeable display module from the set of interchangeable display modules having;

a first display, and

a second coupling member that compliments the first coupling member, the second coupling member presenting at least a second interface coupled to the first display,

wherein at least the first and second interfaces are adapted to communicatively couple the first interchangeable display module to the one or more computer processors when the first coupling member is removably secured to the second coupling member, and

wherein the first coupling member and the second coupling member, when removably secured to each other, provide an end-to-end connection between the second end of the display boom and an end of the first interchangeable display module.

2. The modular head-mounted display of claim 1, wherein the first coupling member is removably secured to the second coupling member with one or more magnets located on the first coupling member and/or the second coupling member.

3. The modular head-mounted display of claim 1, wherein the first end of the display boom is releasably coupleable to the body.

4. The modular head-mounted display of claim 1, wherein the first coupling member is coupled to the second end of the display boom via a ball joint.

5. The modular head-mounted display of claim 1, wherein the first interchangeable display module is configured to provide multiple viewing states and includes a first display portion coupled to a second display portion in a non-overlapping configuration, the first display portion comprising a non-transparent micro-display that provides a first viewing state and the second display portion comprising a waveguide optic that provides a second viewing state.

18. The modular head-mounted display of claim 1, wherein the first and second coupling members comprise a male-female connection assembly, and wherein the releasing mechanism comprises a pair of depressible buttons positioned on opposite sides of the display boom that are adjacent to a surface of the display boom on which the first coupling member is located.

19. The modular head-mounted display of claim 1, wherein one or more electronic components of the head-mounted display remain in active operation when the first interchangeable display module is detached from the first interface coupled to the one or more computer processors.

20. The modular head-mounted display of claim 19, wherein the one or more electronic components include at least one of:

the one or more computer processors;

a wireless communication component;

a position-tracking component;

a microphone; and

a speaker.

6. A modular head-mounted display, comprising:

a mounting portion comprising one or more computer processors;

a display boom comprising;

a first end, and

a second end,

the first end comprising a first coupling member and a first interface communicatively connected to the one or more computer processors,

the second end movably coupled to the mounting portion; and

a display module, comprising;

a display portion,

a second coupling member that compliments the first coupling member, and

a second interface communicatively connected to the display portion,

wherein, when the first coupling member and the second coupling member are releasably coupled to each other, an end-to-end connection is formed between the first end of the display boom and an end of the display module, connecting the second interface to the first interface.

7. The modular head-mounted display of claim 6, wherein the display module is adapted to provide multiple powered viewing states each having a different display characteristic.

8. The modular head-mounted display of claim 7, wherein the display module comprises a first display portion configured to provide a first display characteristic and a second display portion configured to provide a second display characteristic.

9. The modular head-mounted display of claim 6, further comprising a releasing mechanism operable for disengaging the display module from the display boom by disconnecting the first coupling member and the second coupling member.

10. The modular head-mounted display of claim 8, wherein the first display portion and the second display portion provide non-overlapping fields of view, and wherein the first display portion and the second display portion are selectively useable.

11. The modular head-mounted display of claim 8, wherein the first display portion comprises a non-transparent display and the second display portion comprises a display that is at least partially transparent.

17. The modular head-mounted display of claim 6, wherein the display module is pivotable when releasably coupled to the first end of the display boom.

12. A modular head-mounted display, comprising:

a mounting portion having one or more processors housed at least partially therein;

a display boom having a first end and a second end, the second end of the display boom being movably coupled to the mounting portion; and

an interchangeable display module adapted to be releasably secured to the first end of the display boom, the interchangeable display module including a first display portion and a second display portion that are coupled to each other in non-overlapping fashion, wherein the first display portion is configured to provide a first powered display state and the second display portion is configured to provide a second powered display state, wherein the first powered display state is a non-transparent display state and the second powered display state is an at least partially transparent display state, and wherein the interchangeable display module is configured to selectively provide the first powered display state or the second powered display state.

13. The modular head-mounted display of claim 12, wherein the interchangeable display module is adjustably secured to the first end of the display boom.

14. The modular head-mounted display of claim 12, wherein the second display portion comprises a waveguide optic that is operable to change at least a display portion, wherein the second display portion is positioned above the first display portion when the head-mounted display is in an as-worn configuration.

15. The modular head-mounted display of claim 12, wherein the first powered display state and the second powered display state are interchangeably activated by rotating the interchangeable display module.

16. The modular head-mounted display of claim 12, further comprising a camera communicatively coupled to the one or more computer processors.