Releasably attachable augmented reality system for eyewear

• US 10,466,487 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2018
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pogotec, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pogotec, Inc.
• Inventors: Blum, Ronald, Gupta, Ami, Graham, Mark, Schoenbart, Josh, Kokonaski, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Alexander, William R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duong, Henry A
• Application Number:
  US16/008,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20180348524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 359630
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/828 Transparent cathodes, e.g. comprising thin metal layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/84 Passivation; Containers; Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/858 comprising refractive means, e.g. lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/86 Arrangements for improving contrast, e.g. preventing reflection of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/00 Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one organic light-emitting element covered by group H10K50/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/879 comprising refractive means, e.g. lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/8791 Arrangements for improving contrast, e.g. preventing reflection of ambient light

Abstract

An Augmented Reality apparatus is provided, whereby the apparatus utilizes existing eyewear as an attachment platform, and the apparatus is attachable to and detachable from a plurality of different eyewear having different shapes and sizes, whereby a portion of the apparatus rests on the top of the eyewear, and whereby the apparatus provides fully or mostly unobstructed vision when the wearer is looking straight ahead.

Claims

1. An augmented reality or mixed reality system comprising:

a see-through near-eye display in optical communication with a micro-lens array, wherein the see-through near-eye display is capable of generating light that forms a virtual image as seen by an eye of a wearer/user,

wherein the bottom edge of the see-through near-eye display is located at or above a top edge of a pupil of the wearer/user when worn,

wherein when the wearer/user desires to see an augmented reality or mixed reality image the wearer/user tilts their chin down and looks through the see-through near-eye display, and wherein when the wearer/user looks with normal gaze straight ahead the wearer/user looks under the see-through near-eye display.

2. The augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 1, wherein the virtual image is generated by an OLED or TOLED display.

3. The augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 1, wherein the virtual image is generated by a micro-LED display.

4. The augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 1, wherein the see-through near-eye display and the micro-lens array comprise two components of a see-through optical combiner.

5. The augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 4, wherein the optical combiner is used in conjunction with an eyeglass lens.

6. The augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 5, wherein the eyeglass lens has optical power.

7. The augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 5, wherein the eyeglass lens has no optical power.

8. The augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 4, wherein the optical combiner is curved to that of the base curve of one or both eyeglass lens(es) of the wearer/user.

9. The augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 4, wherein the optical combiner is adjacent to a front surface of an eyeglass lens.

10. The augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 4, wherein the optical combiner is located in front of an eyeglass lens.

11. The augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 4, wherein the optical combiner extends vertically down from either a top portion of a lens or a frame relative to an eye of the wearer/user.

12. The augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 4, wherein the optical combiner is aligned for inter pupillary distance of the wearer/user.

13. The augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 1, wherein the system is a monocular system.

14. The augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 1, wherein the system is a binocular system.

15. The augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises an eye tracker.

16. The augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 1, wherein the see-through near-eye display has a transparency of 60% or greater.

17. An optical combiner for an augmented reality or mixed reality system, the optical combiner comprising a see-through electronic display and a micro-lens array, wherein the see-through electronic display is capable of generating light that forms a virtual image as seen by an eye of a wearer/user, wherein the optical combiner is vertically aligned with a pupil of the eye of a wearer/user, wherein the bottom edge of the optical combiner is located above the line of sight of a wearer/user when the wearer/user is looking with normal gaze straight ahead, wherein when the wearer/user desires to see an augmented reality or mixed reality image the wearer/user tilts their chin down and looks through the see-through electronic display and micro-lens array and wherein when the wearer/user looks with normal gaze straight ahead the wearer/user looks under the optical combiner.

18. The optical combiner for an augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 17, wherein the electronic display is an OLED or TOLED display.

19. The optical combiner for an augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 17, wherein the electronic display is a micro-LED display.

20. The optical combiner for an augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 17, wherein the optical combiner is used in conjunction with an eyeglass lens.

21. The optical combiner for an augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 20, wherein the eyeglass lens has optical power.

22. The optical combiner for an augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 20, wherein the eyeglass lens has no optical power.

23. The optical combiner for an augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 17, wherein the optical combiner is curved to that of a base curve of an eyeglass lens.

24. The optical combiner for an augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 17, wherein the optical combiner is adjacent to a front surface of an eyeglass lens.

25. The optical combiner for an augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 17, wherein the optical combiner is located in front of an eyeglass lens.

26. The optical combiner for an augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 17, wherein the optical combiner extends vertically down from either a top portion of a lens or a frame relative to an eye of the wearer/user.

27. The optical combiner for an augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 17, wherein the optical combiner is aligned for pupillary distance of the wearer/user.

28. The optical combiner for an augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 17, wherein the system is a monocular system.

29. The optical combiner for an augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 17, wherein the system is a binocular system.

30. The optical combiner for an augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 17, wherein the system comprises an eye tracker.

31. The optical combiner for an augmented reality or mixed reality system of claim 17, wherein the see-through electronic display has a transparency of 60% or greater.