Augmented reality display integrated with self-contained breathing apparatus

• US 20020039085A1
• Filed: 08/09/2001
• Published: 04/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Information Decision Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Information Decision Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Ebersole, John Franklin, Ebersole, John Franklin Jr., Furlong, Todd Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,110,013 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/006 Indicators or warning devices, e.g. of low pressure, contamination
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 99/0081 Training methods or equipment for fire-fighting
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features

Abstract

A system for creating an augmented reality display coupled with a firefighter'"'"'s self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) mask. The invention combines a camera, motion tracking sensor, head-mounted display, SCBA mask, and optional head phones into a display suitable for performing exercises, such as training of firefighters or other emergency first responders, in augmented reality.

Claims

1. A system for creating an augmented reality display comprising:

a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) mask;

a head-mounted display (HMD); and

a motion tracker.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the HMD is non-see-through, and further comprising a head-mounted camera.

3. The system of claim 1 in which the HMD is a see-through display.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising one or two mirrors to set the camera viewpoint to more closely coincide with the wearer'"'"'s eye position.

5. The system of claim 2, further comprising a head-mounted camera for generating a stereoscopic view.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising one or two mirrors to set the camera viewpoints to more closely coincide with the wearer'"'"'s eye positions.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising headphones.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising shafts to connect the headphones to the SCBA, and wherein the shafts are filled with epoxy or other means to strengthen the shafts.

9. The system of claim 4, further comprising a rubber bumper placed around the mirror or mirrors.

10. The system of claim 6, further comprising a rubber bumper placed around the mirror or mirrors.

11. The system of claim 4 wherein each mirror is placed in a mechanical clamp mount.

12. The system of claim 6 wherein each mirror is placed in a mechanical clamp mount.

13. The system of claim 4, further comprising a structure for protecting each mirror from being bumped or hooked.

14. The system of claim 6, further comprising a structure for protecting each mirror from being bumped or hooked.

15. The system of claim 4 wherein each mirror is mounted on a mounting plate.

16. The system of claim 6 wherein each mirror is mounted on a mounting plate.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the non-augmented reality portion of the user'"'"'s field of view is blocked from view by the user with opaque material such that only augmented reality imagery is visible to the user.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the said opaque materials are selected from the group of materials consisting of tape, foam, plastic, rubber, silicone, paint, and combinations of these materials.