Display Apparatus and Device

• US 20100165287A1
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Pienimaa, Seppo, Levola, Tapani, Salo, Antti, Wang, Kong Qiao, Wang, Xia
• Granted Patent: US 7,997,723 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/158
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0174 holographic
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0196 having transparent supporting structure for display mounting, e.g. to a window or a windshield
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/18 Diffraction gratings holographic optical elements G02B5/32, G03H; integrally combined with optical fibres G02B6/02057; for coupling light guides G02B6/34; integrally combined with optical integrated light guides G02B6/12; grating systems G02B27/44
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/00 Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements

Abstract

A near-eye display related apparatus and device is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing configured to receive an optical engine, and a light guiding plate attached to the housing and configured to receive light representing an image from the optical engine, the light guiding plate includes a first diffractive grating adapted to incouple the light into the light guiding plate, and a second diffractive grating adapted to outcouple the light from the light guiding plate such that the light is received by an eye of a user wearing the apparatus. The light guiding plate has a contact surface portion configured to optically couple the light guiding plate to a transparent plate, The contact surface portion being adapted to be in physical contact with the transparent plate.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing configured to receive an optical engine; and

a light guiding plate attached to the housing and configured to receive light representing an image from the optical engine, the light guiding plate comprising a first diffractive grating adapted to incouple the light into the light guiding plate, and a second diffractive grating adapted to outcouple the light from the light guiding plate such that the light is received by an eye of a user wearing the apparatus, the light guiding plate comprising a contact surface portion configured to optically couple the light guiding plate to a transparent plate, the contact surface portion being adapted to be in physical contact with the transparent plate.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical engine comprises a microdisplay and a lens arrangement.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light guiding plate comprises a plurality of refractive layers.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light guiding plate is configured to outcouple the light in the form of a plurality of parallel light beams.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contact surface portion is configured to guide to the transparent plate a portion of the light originating from the optical engine and directed toward an optical surface structure located near an edge of the transparent plate.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transparent plate is an eyeglass lens.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the light guiding plate is adapted to follow the shape of the eyeglass lens.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a liquid crystal shutter attached to the light guiding plate.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the liquid crystal shutter is switched on in parallel with the optical engine.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a clip-on accessory to eyeglasses.

11. A device comprising:

a mounting part enabling a user to wear the device;

a support plate attached to the mounting part, the support plate comprising an optical surface structure near an edge of the support plate, the optical surface structure being configured to display an object; and

an apparatus attached to the support plate, the apparatus comprising;

a housing configured to receive an optical engine; and

a light guiding plate attached to the housing and configured to receive light representing an image from the optical engine, the light guiding plate comprising a first diffractive grating adapted to incouple the light into the light guiding plate, and a second diffractive grating adapted to outcouple the light from the light guiding plate such that the light is received by an eye of the user wearing the apparatus, the light guiding plate comprising a contact surface portion configured to optically couple the light guiding plate to the support plate, the contact surface portion being adapted to be in physical contact with the support plate, wherein the light guiding plate is configured to display a workspace.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein the contact surface portion is configured to guide to the optical surface structure of the support plate a portion of the light originating from the optical engine.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the optical surface structure is configured to outcouple light that is coupled in to the support plate via the optical coupling provided by the contact surface portion.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the optical surface structure is selected from a group consisting of a reflective structure, a refractive structure, and a diffractive structure.

15. A device according to claim 11, wherein the device comprises a pair of eyeglasses and the support plate comprises an eyeglass lens.

16. A device according to claim 11, wherein the mounting part comprises an ear stem.

17. A device according to claim 15, wherein the position of the apparatus corresponds to the position of the reading spectacle portion of the eyeglass lens.

18. A device according to claim 11, wherein the object comprises an icon displayed for selection by the user.

19. A device according to claim 18, wherein the icon is configured to be activated by a hand movement of the user.

20. A device according to claim 11, wherein the device further comprises a microphone and a speaker.

21. A device according to claim 18, wherein the icon and the workspace forms a part of a user interface of an electronic device.

22. A device according to claim 21, wherein the user interface is modified according to the environment of the user.

23. A device according to claim 19, wherein the device further comprises a camera configured to capture the hand movement of the user.