Face-mounted apparatus having spectacles and a video display integrated into the spectacles

• US 20040178970A1
• Filed: 12/10/2003
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eyeneo SAS
• Original Assignee: Ingineo SaS
• Inventors: El Sayed, Atika, Paris, Nicolas
• Application Number:
  US10/732,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20040178970A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/8
• 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

Abstract

A device integrated in a pair of spectacles for the diffusion of virtual images into a user'"'"'s visual field superposed onto his perception of ambient images. This device includes a display unit and an optical system comprising a mirror and a terminal lens, which comprise virtual image diffusion means, assembled as a prism and attached in a mobile manner laterally to a facial mounting via a chassis which accommodates them in proximity to one another and which is arranged in a dark chamber. These arrangements are such that the virtual images are diffused biased towards the user'"'"'s pupil from a lateral zone of the mounting, optimizing the use of the light intensity of the display unit.

Claims

1. A face-mounted apparatus having spectacles and a video display integrated into the spectacles, the apparatus comprising:

an image-producing source; and

a virtual image diffuser having a display, a mirror, and a terminal lens, the virtual image diffuser being attached to a facial mounting and displaying virtual images from the image-producing source,

wherein the virtual image diffuser is positioned on the facial mounting away from a main line of sight of a user, the virtual image diffuser directing a biased diffusion towards the user'"'"'s pupil of virtual images projected by the terminal lens.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display, the mirror, and the terminal lens are together carried by a chassis attached to a mounting such that the mounting is equipped with a mechanism for adjusting the position of the image projected towards the user'"'"'s pupil, starting from a displacement of the virtual image diffuser.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the chassis is arranged in an envelope inside which the display, the mirror, and the terminal lens are attached, such that the chassis is arranged in a dark chamber inside which the virtual image diffuser are assembled in proximity to one another.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the dark chamber is composed of two half-shells joined together by interlocking, and which accommodate between them the display, mirror, and terminal lens.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the virtual image diffuser is oriented between 29.7°

and 41.7°

laterally off of the main line of sight.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the virtual image diffuser is oriented between 1°

and 19°

laterally off of the main line of sight and in a lower half of the facial mounting.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the terminal lens is equipped with a mechanism for adjusting its focal length.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a support unit arranged in a case of two half-shells joined together by interlocking to envelope the virtual image diffuser.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a audio connector which receives audio from a control unit.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a control unit including a power source.

11. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the mechanism for adjusting the position of the image projected towards the user'"'"'s pupil includes a knob.

12. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein mechanism for adjusting the position of the image projected towards the user'"'"'s pupil comprises pre-defined notches in the chassis.