Immersive input display apparatus

• US 20050270251A1
• Filed: 06/03/2004
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of The Navy Chief of Naval Research
• Original Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of The Navy Chief of Naval Research
• Inventors: Durbin, James, Tremper, David, Schuette, Lawrence, Burnett, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 7,501,996 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 25/001 Eyepieces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/026 and a display device, e.g. CRT, LCD, for adding markings or signs or to enhance the contrast of the viewed object

Abstract

An apparatus includes a deformable eyecup. A display shares an optical path with the eyecup. A monocular houses the display. A shutter shares the optical path with the eyecup and the display, wherein the shutter opens upon deformation of the eyecup. Optionally, the eyecup includes a rubber, neoprene, plastic, and/or pleated material. Optionally, the shutter is integral with the eyecup. Optionally, the shutter includes a mechanical iris, a liquid crystal shutter, a micro-mechanical micro-shutter array, and/or a shutter including a plurality of flaps that flex upon the deformation of the eyecup.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a deformable eyecup;

a display sharing an optical path with said eyecup;

a monocular housing said display; and

a shutter sharing said optical path with said eyecup and said display, wherein said shutter opens upon deformation of said eyecup.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said eyecup comprises at least one of rubber, neoprene, plastic, and a pleated material.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said shutter is integral with said eyecup.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said shutter comprises at least one of a mechanical iris, a liquid crystal shutter, a micro-mechanical micro-shutter array, and a shutter comprising a plurality of flaps that flex upon the deformation.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensor communicating with eyecup and said shutter such that the deformation electrically actuates the iris.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display comprises a micro-display.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said micro-display comprises at least one of an organic light emitting display, a liquid crystal on silicon display, a transmissive display, a transreflective display, a reflective display, a plasma display, a digital light processing display, and a scanned-beam display.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a lens sharing said optical path with said shutter and said display.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said monocular houses said lens.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

at least one of a focus slide and a focus ring for adjusting a distance between said lens and said display.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless receiver for receiving display data and sending the display data to said display.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

one of a wired connection and a wireless transceiver for receiving display data and sending the display data to said display; and

at least one of a pointer controller, a scroll wheel, a touch pad, a mouse button, and a keypad for controlling the display data.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a deformable eyecup;

a micro-display sharing an optical path with said eyecup and communicating with said eyecup such that deformation of said eyecup turns said micro-display on and restoration of said eyecup turns said micro-display off; and

a monocular housing said micro-display.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said eyecup comprises at least one of rubber, neoprene, plastic, and a pleated material.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said micro-display comprises at least one of an organic light emitting display, a liquid crystal on silicon display, a transmissive display, a transreflective display, a reflective display, a plasma display, a digital light processing display, and a scanned-beam display.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:

a lens sharing said optical path with said eyecup and said micro-display.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said monocular houses said lens.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

one of a focus slide and a focus ring for adjusting a distance between said lens and said micro-display.

19. The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:

a wireless receiver for receiving display data and sending the display data to said micro-display.

20. The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:

one of a wired connection and a wireless transceiver for receiving display data and sending the display data to said micro-display; and

at least one of a pointer controller, a scroll wheel, a touch pad, a mouse button, and a keypad for controlling the display data.

21. The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:

a pressure sensor communicating with eyecup and said micro-display such that the deformation of said eyecup turns said micro-display on and the restoration of said eyecup turns said micro-display off.