Scanned light display system using large numerical aperture light source, method of using same, and method of making scanning mirror assemblies

• US 20060181484A1
• Filed: 04/14/2006
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dean R. Brown, Hakan Urey, John R. Lewis, Margaret K. Brown, Mathew D. Watson, Randall B. Sprague, Stephen R. Willey, Thomas W. Montague
• Original Assignee: Dean R. Brown, Hakan Urey, John R. Lewis, Margaret K. Brown, Mathew D. Watson, Randall B. Sprague, Stephen R. Willey, Thomas W. Montague
• Inventors: Brown, Dean R., Willey, Stephen R., Montague, Thomas W., Sprague, Randall B., Urey, Hakan, Brown, Margaret K., Lewis, John R., Watson, Mathew D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,639,209 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/32
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/101 with both horizontal and vertical deflecting means, e.g. raster or XY scanners colour television using laser beams scanning a display screen H04N9/3129
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/10 with curved faces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7408 Direct viewing projectors, e.g. an image displayed on a video CRT or LCD display being projected on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7491 of head mounted projectors

Abstract

A scanned light display system includes a light source operable to emit light and a curved mirror positioned to receive at least a portion of the light. The curved mirror is configured to substantially collimate the received light. The substantially collimated light is scanned to form an image by moving at least one of the light source and the curved mirror relative to each other. Alternatively, the scanned light display system includes a light source operable to emit light, a curved mirror positioned to receive some of the light, and an optical element positioned to receive light reflected from the curved mirror. The optical element is configured to substantially collimate the reflected light. The substantially collimated light is scanned to form an image by moving at least one of the light source, the curved mirror, and the optical element. Scanning mirror assemblies and methods of making are also disclosed.

Claims

1-150. -150. (canceled)

151. A handheld display device, comprising:

a scanned beam display, comprising;

a light source operable to emit diverging light;

a curved mirror positioned to receive at least a portion of the light and configured to substantially collimate the received light into a beam; and

an actuator coupled to at least one of the light source and the curved mirror, the actuator operable to move the light source and the curved mirror relative to each other to scan the beam.

152. The handheld display device of claim 151 wherein the light source comprises at least one array of light emitters positioned in front of the curved mirror, the at least one array having a longitudinal axis extending in a first direction.

153. The handheld display device of claim 152 wherein the at least one array is stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to rotate the curved mirror about an axis that is substantially parallel to the first direction.

154. The handheld display device of claim 152 wherein the at least one array is stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to move the curved mirror in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

155. The handheld display device of claim 152 wherein the curved mirror is stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to move the at least one array in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

156. The handheld display device of claim 152 wherein the curved mirror is stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to move the at least one array in a direction that is substantially parallel to the first direction.

157. The handheld display device of claim 152 wherein the at least one array is stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to move the curved mirror in a direction that is substantially parallel to the first direction.

158. The handheld display device of claim 152 wherein the at least one array is stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to rotate the curved mirror about an axis substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

159. The handheld display device of claim 155 wherein the actuator is operable to move the at least one array of light emitters in a manner that maintains the distance between the light emitters and the curved mirror substantially constant as the actuator moves the at least one array of light emitters.

160. The handheld display device of claim 152, further comprising a control system coupled to the light emitters and the actuator, the control system being operable to couple signals to the light emitters in the at least one array to sequentially scan in the first direction and to couple a signal to the actuator to move the at least one array of light emitters and the curved mirror relative to each other.

161. The handheld display device of claim 160 wherein the control system is operable to couple signals to the light emitters to sequentially actuate each of the light emitters at each position of the at least one array of light emitters when the at least one array of light emitters is moved in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

162. The handheld display device of claim 152, further comprising a control system coupled to the light emitters and the actuator, the control system being operable to couple signals to the light emitters in the at least one array to substantially simultaneously emit light from each of the light emitters and to couple a signal to the actuator to move the at least one array of light emitters and the curved mirror relative to each other.

163. The handheld display device of claim 152 wherein the at least one array of light emitters extends in the first direction with a curvature that corresponds to the curvature of the curved mirror in the first direction.

164. The handheld display device of claim 152 wherein the curved mirror has a focal surface, and wherein the at least one array of light emitters are positioned substantially at the focal surface.

165. The handheld display device of claim 151 wherein the curved mirror is a spherical mirror and the focal surface is a focal sphere.

166. The handheld display device of claim 151 wherein the curved mirror comprises a mirror that is at least partially transparent.

167. The handheld display device of claim 151, further comprising an optical element positioned to receive the beam from the curved mirror and configured to further collimate the beam.

168. The handheld display device of claim 167 wherein the optical element comprises at least one lens.

169. The handheld display device of claim 151 wherein the curved mirror comprises a spherical mirror.

170. The handheld display device of claim 151 wherein the curved mirror comprises a Fresnel mirror.

171. The handheld display device of claim 151 wherein the curved mirror comprises a diffractive mirror.

172. The handheld display device of claim 152 wherein the at least one array of light emitters comprises a substantially linear array of light emitters.

173. The handheld display device of claim 151, further comprising a partially transparent mirror located and oriented to redirect light emitted from the light source upwardly to the curved mirror.

174. The handheld display device of claim 151, further comprising a reflective surface positioned to receive the beam from the curved mirror and redirect the beam through a viewing aperture.

175. The handheld display device of claim 174 wherein the curved mirror is located at a first focal point of an ellipse and a pupil of a viewer'"'"'s eye can be positioned at a second focal point of the ellipse to receive scanned light from the reflective surface.

176. The handheld display device of claim 151 wherein the actuator comprises a magnetic actuator.

177. A viewing system, comprising:

an image source operable to transmit image signals; and

a scanned beam display coupled to the image source to receive the image signals therefrom, the scanned beam display comprising;

a light source operable to emit diverging light;

a curved mirror positioned to receive at least a portion of the light and configured to substantially collimate the received light into a beam; and

an actuator coupled to at least one of the light source and the curved mirror, the actuator operable to move the light source and the curved mirror relative to each other to scan the beam responsive to the image signals.

178. The viewing system of claim 177 wherein the image source comprises an image capture device.

179. The viewing system of claim 178 wherein the image capture device comprises a camera.

180. The viewing system of claim 178 wherein the image source is operable to transmit video image signals.

181. The viewing system of claim 177, further comprising a controller coupled to the image source, the controller operable to control the operation of the image capture device.

182. The viewing system of claim 177 wherein the image source comprises an Internet network operable to transmit the image signals to the scanned beam display.

183. The viewing system of claim 177 wherein the image source comprises an telephone network operable to transmit the image signals to the scanned beam display.

184. The viewing system of claim 177 wherein the image source comprises an cable network operable to transmit the image signals to the scanned beam display.

185. The viewing system of claim 181 wherein the image source comprises a satellite system operable to transmit the image signals to the scanned beam display.

186. The viewing system of claim 177 wherein the image source comprises a computer readable medium.

187. The viewing system of claim 177 wherein the image source is coupled to the scanned beam display via a wireless interface.

188. The viewing system of claim 177 wherein the image source is electrically coupled to the scanned beam display.

189. The viewing system of claim 177, further comprising a user interface configured to allow a user to select the image to be displayed by the scanned beam display.

190. The viewing system of claim 177 wherein the scanned beam display comprises a pocket media viewer.

191. The viewing system of claim 177 wherein the scanned beam display is included in a cellular telephone.

192. The viewing system of claim 177 wherein the scanned beam display is included in an Internet access device.

193. The viewing system of claim 177 wherein the light source comprises at least one array of light emitters positioned in front of the curved mirror, the at least one array having a longitudinal axis extending in a first direction.

194. The viewing system of claim 192 wherein the at least one array is stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to rotate the curved mirror about an axis that is substantially parallel to the first direction.

195. The viewing system of claim 192 wherein the at least one array is stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to move the curved mirror in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

196. The viewing system of claim 192 wherein the curved mirror is stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to move the at least one array in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

197. The viewing system of claim 192 wherein the curved mirror is stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to move the at least one array in a direction that is substantially parallel to the first direction.

198. The viewing system of claim 192 wherein the at least one array is stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to move the curved mirror in a direction that is substantially parallel to the first direction.

199. The viewing system of claim 192 wherein the at least one array is stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to rotate the curved mirror about an axis substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

200. The viewing system of claim 192 wherein the actuator is operable to move the at least one array of light emitters in a manner that maintains the distance between the light emitters and the curved mirror substantially constant as the actuator moves the at least one array of light emitters.

201. The viewing system of claim 192 wherein the scanned beam display comprises a control system coupled to the image source, the control system further coupled to the light emitters and the actuator, the control system operable to couple signals to the light emitters in the at least one array to sequentially scan in the first direction and to couple a signal to the actuator to move the at least one array of light emitters and the curved mirror relative to each other.

202. The viewing system of claim 200 wherein the control system is operable to couple signals to the light emitters to sequentially actuate each of the light emitters at each position of the at least one array of light emitters when the at least one array of light emitters is moved in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

203. The viewing system of claim 192 wherein the scanned beam display comprises a control system coupled to the image source, the control system further coupled to the light emitters and the actuator, the control system operable to couple signals to the light emitters in the at least one array to substantially simultaneously emit light from each of the light emitters and to couple a signal to the actuator to move the at least one array of light emitters and the curved mirror relative to each other.

204. The viewing system of claim 192 wherein the at least one array of light emitters extends in the first direction with a curvature that corresponds to the curvature of the curved mirror in the first direction.

205. The viewing system of claim 192 wherein the curved mirror has a focal surface, and wherein the at least one array of light emitters are positioned substantially at the focal surface.

206. The viewing system of claim 177 wherein the curved mirror is a spherical mirror and the focal surface is a focal sphere.

207. The viewing system of claim 177 wherein the curved mirror comprises a mirror that is at least partially transparent.

208. The viewing system of claim 177, further comprising an optical element positioned to receive the beam from the curved mirror and configured to further collimate the beam.

209. The viewing system of claim 207 wherein the optical element comprises at least one lens.

210. The viewing system of claim 177 wherein the curved mirror comprises a spherical mirror.

211. The viewing system of claim 177 wherein the curved mirror comprises a Fresnel mirror.

212. The viewing system of claim 177 wherein the curved mirror comprises a diffractive mirror.

213. The viewing system of claim 192 wherein the at least one array of light emitters comprises a substantially linear array of light emitters.

214. The viewing system of claim 177, further comprising a partially transparent mirror located and oriented to redirect light emitted from the light source upwardly to the curved mirror.

215. The viewing system of claim 177, further comprising a reflective surface positioned to receive the beam from the curved mirror and redirect the beam through a viewing aperture.

216. The viewing system of claim 214 wherein the curved mirror is located at a first focal point of an ellipse and a pupil of a viewer'"'"'s eye can be positioned at a second focal point of the ellipse to receive scanned light from the reflective surface.

217. The viewing system of claim 177 wherein the actuator comprises a magnetic actuator.

218. A method of providing an image to a viewer, comprising:

transmitting image signals from an image source to a scanned beam display including a light source and a curved reflecting surface;

emitting light from the light source;

reflecting the light from the curved reflecting surface;

substantially collimating the reflected light into a beam; and

scanning the beam across a pupil of an eye of the viewer.

219. The method of claim 218 wherein the act of transmitting image signals from an image source to a scanned beam display including a light source and a curved reflecting surface comprises transmitting the image signals corresponding to an image captured with an image capture device.

220. The method of claim 218 wherein the act of transmitting image signals from an image source to a scanned beam display including a light source and a curved reflecting surface comprises transmitting the image signals over a wireless communication network.

221. The method of claim 218 wherein the act of transmitting image signals from an image source to a scanned beam display including a light source and a curved reflecting surface comprises transmitting the image signals over an Internet network.

222. The method of claim 218 wherein the act of transmitting image signals from an image source to a scanned beam display including a light source and a curved reflecting surface comprises transmitting the image signals over a cable network.

223. The method of claim 218 wherein the act of transmitting image signals from an image source to a scanned beam display including a light source and a curved reflecting surface comprises transmitting the image signals over a television network.

224. The method of claim 218 wherein the act of transmitting image signals from an image source to a scanned beam display including a light source and a curved reflecting surface comprises transmitting the image signals from a satellite.

225. The method of claim 218 wherein the act of transmitting image signals from an image source to a scanned beam display including a light source and a curved reflecting surface comprises transmitting the image signals from a computer readable medium having image data stored thereon.

226. The method of claim 218 wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light emitters and wherein the plurality of light emitters defines a curve which corresponds to a curvature of the curved reflecting surface.

227. The method of claim 218 wherein the act of reflecting the light from a curved reflecting surface comprises reflecting the light from a spherical reflecting surface.

228. The method of claim 218 wherein the curved reflecting surface comprises a substantially stationary reflecting surface.

229. The method of claim 218 wherein the curved reflecting surface has a focal surface, and wherein the light is emitted from a position that is substantially on the focal surface.

230. The method of claim 218 wherein the curved reflective surface comprises a narrow-band reflective surface that preferentially reflects light within a range of wavelengths of the light emitted from the light source.

231. The method of claim 218 wherein the curved reflecting surface comprises a spherical reflecting surface.

232. The method of claim 218 wherein the curved reflecting surface comprises a Fresnel reflecting surface.

233. The method of claim 218 wherein the curved reflecting surface comprises a diffractive reflecting surface.

234. The method of claim 218 wherein the act of scanning the beam across a pupil of an eye of the viewer comprises scanning the beam in one dimension.

235. The method of claim 218 wherein the act of scanning the beam across a pupil of an eye of the viewer comprises scanning the beam in two dimensions.

236. The method of claim 218 wherein the act of scanning the beam across a pupil of an eye of the viewer comprises moving the light source and the curved reflecting surface relative to each other.

237. The method of claim 218 wherein the act of emitting light from a light source comprises emitting light from a plurality of locations generally extending in a first direction and wherein the act of scanning the scanning the beam across a pupil of an eye of the viewer comprises rotating the curved reflecting surface about an axis that is substantially parallel to the first direction.

238. The method of claim 218 wherein the act of emitting light from a light source comprises emitting light from a plurality of locations generally extending in a first direction and wherein the act of scanning the beam across a pupil of an eye of the viewer comprises moving the curved reflecting surface in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

239. The method of claim 218 wherein the act of emitting light from a light source comprises emitting light from a plurality of locations generally extending in a first direction and wherein the act of scanning the beam across a pupil of an eye of the viewer comprises moving the light source in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

240. The method of claim 218 wherein the act of emitting light from a light source comprises emitting light from a plurality of locations generally extending in a first direction and wherein the act of scanning the beam across a pupil of an eye of the viewer comprises moving the curved reflecting surface in a direction that is substantially parallel to the first direction.

241. The method of claim 218 wherein the act of emitting light from a light source comprises emitting light from a plurality of locations generally extending in a first direction and wherein the act of scanning the beam across a pupil of an eye of the viewer comprises moving the light source in a direction that is substantially parallel to the first direction.

242. The method of claim 218, further comprising reflecting the light emitted from the light source to the curved reflecting surface.

243. The method of claim 242 wherein the act of reflecting the light emitted from the light source to the curved reflecting surface comprises reflecting the light emitted from the light source from a partially transparent reflecting surface.

244. The method of claim 218 wherein the act of scanning the beam across a pupil of an eye of the viewer comprises reflecting the beam to the pupil of the viewer'"'"'s eye.

245. The method of claim 218 wherein the act of substantially collimating the reflected light comprises passing the reflected light through a lens.

246. The method of claim 218 wherein the act of substantially collimating the reflected light occurs upon reflection from the curved reflecting surface.

247. A scanning mirror assembly, comprising:

a light source operable to emit diverging light;

a curved mirror positioned to receive the diverging light and configured to substantially collimate the received diverging light into a beam;

a support assembly supporting the curved mirror, the support assembly carrying a plurality of permanent magnets; and

a magnetic actuator operable to generate at least one magnetic field that interacts with a magnetic field of one of the permanent magnets to effect rotation of the curved mirror.

248. The scanning mirror assembly of claim 247 wherein the magnetic actuator comprises a plurality of electromagnets spaced apart on opposing sides of a rotation axis of the curved mirror, each of the electromagnets associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of permanent magnets, the plate operable to rotate about the rotation axis responsive to a magnetic field generated by at least one of the plurality of electromagnets.

249. The scanning mirror assembly of claim 247 wherein the plurality of permanent magnets comprises first, second, third, and fourth permanent magnets spaced apart about first and second rotation axes of the curved mirror and wherein the magnetic actuator comprises first, second, third, and fourth electromagnets corresponding to the first, second, third, and fourth permanent magnets, the plate operable to rotate about the first and second rotation axes responsive to magnetic fields generated by two of the plurality of electromagnets on one side of one of the first and second rotation axes.

250. The scanning mirror assembly of claim 248, further comprising a bias magnet disposed between each of the electromagnets and a corresponding one of the permanent magnets, poles of the bias magnet oriented opposite poles of the corresponding permanent magnet.

251. The scanning mirror assembly of claim 247 wherein the support assembly comprises a magnesium alloy.

252. The scanning mirror assembly of claim 247 wherein the support assembly comprises:

a frame having the curved mirror mounted thereto; and

first and second springs pivotally attached to the frame.

253. The scanning mirror assembly of claim 252 wherein the first and second springs are operable to provide a restoring force to the plate upon removal of the at least one magnetic field.

254. The scanning mirror assembly of claim 247 wherein the light source comprises an array of light emitters.

255. The scanning mirror assembly of claim 247 wherein the curved mirror comprises a spherical mirror.

256. The scanning mirror assembly of claim 247 wherein the curved mirror comprises a Fresnel mirror.

257. The scanning mirror assembly of claim 247 wherein the curved mirror comprises a diffractive mirror.

258. The scanning mirror assembly of claim 247, further comprising a plate having a curved reflective surface defining the curved mirror and an opposing back surface attached to the frame.

259. The scanning mirror assembly of claim 247 wherein the curved mirror comprises a polymeric material.