Head mounted display devices

• US 20060250696A1
• Filed: 05/20/2005
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synopsys Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Optical Research Associates (Synopsys Incorporated)
• Inventors: McGuire, James P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,450,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/011 comprising device for correcting geometrical aberrations, distortion
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0037 with diffracting elements G02B27/0056 takes precedence; holographic optical elements G02B5/32; zone systems G02B5/1876
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1033 having a single light modulator for all colour channels
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1066 for enhancing image performance, like resolution, pixel numbers, dual magnifications or dynamic range, by tiling, slicing or overlapping fields of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/144 using partially transparent surfaces without spectral selectivity G02B27/147 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/145 having sequential partially reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/149 using crossed beamsplitting surfaces, e.g. cross-dichroic cubes or X-cubes

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention comprises a simplified light-weight head mounted displays comprising an off-axis combiner and a pair of plastic lenses. One of the lenses is a rotationally symmetric optical element and one of the lens is a non-rotationally symmetric optical element. This non-rotationally symmetric optical element comprises first and second lens surfaces that are tilted and decentered with respect to each other. One of these first and second lens surfaces may also include diffractive feature to provide a diffractive or holographic optical element for color correction.

Claims

1. A head mounted display for displaying images comprising:

an image formation device comprising a plurality of pixels selectively adjustable for producing spatial patterns;

imaging optics disposed with respect to the image formation device to receive light from said plurality of pixels for forming an image thereof, said imaging optics comprising no more than two lenses;

an off-axis combiner configured to reflect light from said imaging optics such that said image may be displayed; and

head gear for supporting said image formation, imaging optics, and combiner.

2. The head mounted display of claim 1, wherein said imaging optics comprises two lens.

3. The head mounted display of claim 1, wherein at least one of said lenses is plastic.

4. The head mounted display of claim 1, wherein both said lenses are plastic.

5. The head mounted display of claim 1, each optical surface on said lens is aspheric.

6. Optics for a head mounted display comprising an image formation device, said optics comprising:

imaging optics disposed with respect to said image formation device to receive light from said image formation device, wherein imaging optics comprises no more than two lens and no reflectors having optical power; and

an off-axis reflective combiner.

7. The optics of claim 6, wherein said two lenses comprise plastic.

8. The optics of claim 6, wherein each of said two lenses comprises an aspheric surface.

9. The optics of claim 6, wherein one of said lenses is rotationally symmetric and one of said lenses is non-rotationally symmetric.

10. Optics for a head mounted display comprising an image formation device, said optics comprising:

imaging optics disposed with respect to the image formation device to receive light from said image formation device, said imaging optics comprising only lens having two aspheric refractive optical surfaces; and

a reflective combiner comprising an aspheric combiner.

11. The optics of claim 10, wherein said imaging optics comprises no more than two lenses.

12. The optics of claim 10, wherein one of said lenses has a surface comprising a diffractive optical element.

13. The optics of claim 10, wherein each of said lenses are plastic.

14. A method of forming an image in the eye of a wearer of a head mounted display, said method comprising:

forming an image in an object field; and

forming an image of the object field with optics comprising exactly two lenses and an off-axis reflective combiner, said image formed in the eye of the wearer.

15. A head mounted display for displaying images comprising:

a image formation device comprising a plurality of pixels selectively adjustable for producing spatial patterns;

optics disposed with respect to the image formation device to receive light from said plurality of pixels for forming an image thereof, said optics comprising at least one non-rotationally symmetric lens comprising first and second surfaces having first and second shapes that are rotationally symmetric about first and second axes that are tilted and decentered with respect to each other;

a combiner configured to reflect light from said imaging optics such that said image may be displayed; and

head gear for supporting said image formation device, imaging optics, and combiner.

16. The head mounted display of claim 15, wherein said non-rotationally symmetric lens comprises plastic.

17. The head mounted display of claim 15, further comprising a rotationally symmetric lens.

18. Optics for a head mounted display comprising an image formation device, said optics comprising:

imaging optics configured to be disposed with respect to the image formation device to receive light from said image formation device, said imaging optics comprising at least one non-rotationally symmetric lens comprising front and rear surfaces having first and second shapes that are rotationally symmetric about first and second axes, said first and second axes being tilted with respect to each other; and

an off-axis combiner.

19. The optics of claim 18, wherein said first and second axes are decentered with respect to each other.

20. The optics of claim 18, wherein said off-axis combiner has a shape rotationally symmetric about an axis, said axis being tilted with respect to said first and second axes.

21. The optics of claim 18, wherein said first and second surfaces are aspheric.

22. A method of forming an image in a person'"'"'s eye, said method comprising:

forming an image using an image formation device have a plurality of pixels;

collecting light from said plurality of pixels with refracting optics comprising a non-rotationally symmetric lens comprising first and second surfaces having shapes that are rotationally symmetric about different first and second axis; and

reflecting said light from an off-axis reflector into the eye to form an image in the eye.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said first and second axes are tilted with respect to each other.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said first and second axes are decentered with respect to each other.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein collecting light from said spatial light modulator with said refractive optics comprises propagating said light through said non-rotationally symmetric lens without substantial reflection.

26. An optical system for displaying images comprising:

an image formation device comprising a plurality of pixels selectively adjustable for producing spatial patterns;

imaging optics disposed with respect to the image formation device to receive light from said plurality of pixels for forming an image thereof, said imaging optics comprising no more than two lenses; and

an off-axis combiner configured to reflect light from said imaging optics such that said image may be displayed.

27. The optical system of claim 26, wherein said imaging optics comprises two lens.

28. The optical system of claim 26, wherein at least one of said lenses is plastic.

29. The optical system of claim 26, wherein both said lenses are plastic.

30. The optical system of claim 26, each optical surface on said lens is aspheric.

31. Optics for displaying an image formed on an image formation device, said optics comprising:

imaging optics configured to be disposed with respect to said image formation device to receive light from said image formation device, wherein imaging optics comprises no more than two lens and no reflectors having optical power; and

an off-axis reflective combiner.

32. The optics of claim 31, wherein said two lenses comprise plastic.

33. The optics of claim 31, wherein each of said two lenses comprises an aspheric surface.

34. The optics of claim 31, wherein one of said lenses is rotationally symmetric and one of said lenses is non-rotationally symmetric.

35. Optics for imaging an image formation device, said optics comprising:

imaging optics disposed with respect to the image formation device to receive light from said spatial light modulator, said imaging optics comprising only lens having two aspheric refractive optical surfaces; and

a reflective combiner comprising an aspheric combiner.

36. The optics of claim 35, wherein said imaging optics comprises no more than two lenses.

37. The optics of claim 35, wherein one of said lenses has a surface comprising a diffractive optical element.

38. The optics of claim 35, wherein each of said lenses are plastic.

39. A method of forming an image, said method comprising:

producing an image in an object field; and

forming an image of the object field with optics comprising exactly two lenses and an off-axis reflective combiner.

40. An optical system for displaying images comprising:

an image formation device comprising a plurality of pixels selectively adjustable for producing spatial patterns;

optics disposed with respect to the image formation device to receive light from said plurality of pixels for forming an image thereof, said optics comprising at least one non-rotationally symmetric lens comprising first and second surfaces having first and second shapes that are rotationally symmetric about first and second axes that are tilted and decentered with respect to each other; and

a combiner configured to reflect light from said imaging optics such that said image may be displayed.

41. The optical system of claim 40, wherein said non-rotationally symmetric lens comprises plastic.

42. The optical system of claim 40, further comprising a rotationally symmetric lens.

43. Optics for imaging an image formation device, said optics comprising:

imaging optics configured to be disposed with respect to the image formation device to receive light from said image formation device, said imaging optics comprising at least one non-rotationally symmetric lens comprising front and rear surfaces having first and second shapes that are rotationally symmetric about first and second axes, said first and second axes being tilted with respect to each other; and

an off-axis combiner.

44. The optics of claim 43, wherein said first and second axes are decentered with respect to each other.

45. The optics of claim 43, wherein said off-axis combiner has a shape rotationally symmetric about an axis, said axis being tilted with respect to said first and second axes.

46. The optics of claim 43, wherein said first and second surfaces are aspheric.

47. A method of forming an image, said method comprising:

forming an image using an image formation device have a plurality of pixels;

collecting light from said plurality of pixels with refracting optics comprising a non-rotationally symmetric lens comprising first and second surfaces having shapes that are rotationally symmetric about different first and second axis; and

reflecting said light from an off-axis reflector to form an image.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein said first and second axes are tilted with respect to each other.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein said first and second axes are decentered with respect to each other.

50. The method of claim 47, wherein collecting light from said spatial light modulator with said refractive optics comprises propagating said light through said non-rotationally symmetric lens without substantial reflection.