WEARABLE HIGH RESOLUTION AUDIO VISUAL INTERFACE

• US 20090059381A1
• Filed: 12/12/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oakley, Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Original Assignee: Oakley, Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Inventors: Jannard, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,740,353 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0112 comprising device for genereting colour display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0169 Supporting or connecting means other than the external walls
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0179 Display position adjusting means not related to the information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3173 wherein the projection device is specially adapted for enhanced portability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An adjustable visual optical element is provided, which may be supported, for example, by an eyeglass. The optical element is preferably adjustable in each of the X, Y, and Z axes to allow the wearer to optimize projection of the optical element. A view axis of the display is preferably also angularly adjustable with respect to a wearer'"'"'s straight ahead normal line of sight. Source electronics may be carried onboard the eyeglasses, or may be connectable to the eyeglasses via either a hardwire, optical guide, or radiofrequency link.

Claims

1. An adjustable optical element for projecting at least one optical beam onto a retina of a wearer, the retina defining an optical centerline, the optical element being attachable to a wearable support structure, the optical element comprising:

an adjustable connector having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end being attachable to the support structure, the distal end thereof being adjustable relative to the proximal end;

a transmission component being configured to receive optical data from at least one source module, the transmission component being configured to transmit the optical data along a data path toward the distal end of the adjustable connector; and

a transmission surface being disposed on the distal end of the adjustable connector along the data path, the transmission surface being configured to receive the optical data from the transmission component and to project at least one optical beam onto the retina of the wearer at an angle of incidence relative to the optical centerline, the optical beam being representative of the optical data,

wherein the distal end of the adjustable connector is configured to provide directional movement of the transmission surface along at least X and Y axis for altering the angle of incidence of the optical beam.

2. The optical element of claim 1 wherein the transmission surface is tiltably connected to the distal end of the adjustable connector.

3. The optical element of claim 2 wherein the adjustable connector defines a connector axis and the transmission surface is tiltable about the connector axis.

4. The optical element of claim 1 wherein the adjustable connector is further configured to provide directional movement of the transmission surface along a Z axis.

5. The optical element of claim 1 wherein the adjustable connector is configured as a flexible shaft.

6. The optical element of claim 1 wherein the adjustable connector comprises a plurality of interconnected links.

7. The optical element of claim 6 wherein the adjustable connector is adjustable between a plurality of rigid positions.

8. The optical element of claim 1 wherein the adjustable connector is configured to provide for removable positioning of the transmission surface within a field of view of the wearer.

9. The optical element of claim 8 wherein the adjustable connector is configured to be removably stowable against the wearable support structure.

10. The optical element of claim 1 wherein the transmission surface projects the optical beam onto a reflective surface, the beam being reflected from the reflective surface onto the retina of the wearer.

11. The optical element of claim 1 wherein the transmission component is mounted on the adjustable connector.

12. The optical element of claim 6 wherein the transmission component includes an optical fiber.

13. The optical element of claim 1 wherein the wearable support structure is an eyeglass frame.

14. A wearable projection assembly for projecting at least one optical beam onto a retina of a wearer, the retina defining an optical centerline, the assembly comprising:

a support structure;

at least one adjustable optical element being attachable to the support structure, the optical element comprising;

an adjustable connector having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end being attachable to the support structure, the distal end thereof being adjustable relative to the proximal end;

a transmission component being configured to receive optical data from at least one source module, the transmission component being configured to transmit the optical data along a data path toward the distal end of the adjustable connector; and

a transmission surface being disposed on the distal end of the adjustable connector along the data path, the transmission surface being configured to receive the optical data from the transmission component and to project at least one optical beam onto the retina of the wearer at an angle of incidence relative to the optical centerline, the optical beam being representative of the optical data,

wherein the distal end of the adjustable connector provides for at least X and Y axis movement of the transmission surface for altering the angle of incidence of the optical beam.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the support structure includes an eyeglass, the eyeglass including a frame and first and second earstems, the frame defining first and second sides, the frame defining anterior and posterior portions, the first and second earstems each defining outer and inner portions, the first and second earstems being connectable to the respective ones of the first and second sides of the frame.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein first and second optical elements are connected to the eyeglass and each of the first and second optical elements correspond to a respective one of left and right eyes of the wearer.

17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein each proximate end of each of the first and second optical elements is connected to the respective ones of the outer portions of the left and right earstems of the eyeglass.

18. The assembly of claim 16 wherein each proximate end of each of the first and second optical elements is connected to the anterior portion of the frame of the eyeglass.

19. The assembly of claim 16 wherein each proximate end of each of the first and second optical elements is connected to the posterior portion of the frame of the eyeglass.

20. The optical element of claim 14 wherein each adjustable connector includes at least one orientation indicator for allowing symmetrical positioning of the first and second adjustable connectors.

21. The optical element of claim 20 wherein each adjustable connector comprises a plurality of links, each link including an orientation indicator for allowing symmetrical positioning of each respective link of the first and second adjustable connectors.

22. A wearable dual element projection assembly for projecting optical beams onto retinas of a wearer, the retina defining an optical centerline, the assembly comprising:

a support structure;

first and second adjustable optical elements being attachable to the support structure, each optical element comprising;

an adjustable connector having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end being attachable to the support structure, the distal end thereof being adjustable relative to the proximal end;

a transmission component being configured to receive optical data from at least one source module, the transmission component being configured to transmit the optical data along a data path toward the distal end of the adjustable connector; and

a transmission surface being disposed on the distal end of the adjustable connector along the data path, the transmission surface being configured to receive the optical data from the transmission component and to project at least one optical beam onto the retina of the wearer at an angle of incidence relative to the optical centerline, the optical beam being representative of the optical data,

wherein the distal end of the adjustable connector provides for X, Y, and Z axis movement of the transmission surface for altering the angle of incidence of the optical beam, and wherein the transmission surface is tiltably connected to the distal end of the adjustable connector.