Information system and method for providing information using a holographic element

• US 20100188638A1
• Filed: 12/23/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Metaio GmbH (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Eberl, Roland H.C., Dickerson, David, Eberl, Heinrich A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,016,421 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/221
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/12 for looking at the eye fundus, e.g. ophthalmoscopes A61B3/13 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/14 Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs per se G03B
• 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 27/0093 with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/32 Holograms used as optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T

Abstract

In an information system and a method for providing information in correlation with light that is incident on an eye, a pair of spectacles includes a holographic element that is supported in front of the eye of the wearer of the spectacles. An optical scanning detects light that is incident on the eye via the holographic element.

Claims

1. An information system for providing information in correlation with light incident on an eye, said system comprising:

a holographic element disposed in front of the eye; and

an optical scanning device which detects light incident on the eye by way of the holographic element.

2. The information system according to claim 1, wherein the optical scanning device detects light which is diffracted by the holographic element before it impinges on the eye, and does not enter the eye.

3. The information system according to claim 1, wherein the optical scanning device detects light which was first reflected back from the eye, then diffracted by the holographic element.

4. The information system according to claim 1, wherein:

the holographic element diffracts light originating from a field of vision of the eye only at several discrete wavelengths in the visible range before the light impinges on the eye for the detection by the optical scanning device; and

the holographic element diffracts light reflected back from the eye only at one discrete wavelength in the infrared range for the detection by the optical scanning device.

5. The information system according to claim 1, wherein:

the holographic element diffracts light originating from a field of vision of the eye at fewer than a predetermined number of discrete wavelengths in the visible range either before the light impinges on the eye or after its backscattering as a result of the eye, for the detection by the optical scanning device; and

said predetermined number is selected from the group consisting of 20, 10 and 5.

6. The information system according to claim 1, wherein the holographic element diffracts light originating from the field of vision of the eye at a discrete wavelength in the infrared range, before the light impinges on the eye or after its backscattering as a result of the eye, for the detection by the optical scanning device.

7. The information system according to claim 1, wherein the holographic element diffracts light reflected back by the eye only at a discrete wavelength in the infrared range for the detection by the optical scanning device.

8. The information system according to claim 1, wherein the holographic element diffracts light of one or several discrete wavelengths, at which the optical scanning device has a high sensitivity.

9. The information system according to claim 1, wherein the holographic element diffracts light at several discrete wavelengths such that the diffracted light is guided to a common point, and the angle of incidence of the light on this point permits an unambiguous, wavelength-independent conclusion as regards an angle of incidence of the light upon the holographic element.

10. The information system according to claim 1, further comprising an optical projection device which projects light into the eye by way of the holographic element.

11. The information system according to claim 10, wherein light detected by the optical detection device and the light projected by the optical projection device travel in opposite directions through a common light guiding system and can be focused by the optical scanning device or projection device such that their respective beams describe the same path from or into the eye.

12. The information system according to claim 10, wherein the holographic element comprises at least one optical marking created by reproducing mirroring elements in the holographic element during creation of the holographic element such that said mirroring elements reflect light of at least one wavelength that has fallen onto the holographic element from the optical projection device, back along the path of incidence.

13. The information system according to claim 1, wherein the holographic element comprises at least one optical marking, whose light reflection characteristics can be used by the information system by means of a photodetector for calibrating a scanning angle of at least one of the optical scanning device and a light guiding device.

14. An information system for providing information in correlation with information obtained from an eye, said system comprising:

a holographic element disposed in front of the eye; and

an optical projection device which projects light into the eye by way of the holographic element, wherein the holographic element diffracts wavelengths of the projected light.

15. The information system according to claim 14, wherein the optical projection device projects light only at discrete wavelengths in the visible range or at a wavelength in the infrared range.

16. The information system according to claim 14, wherein the holographic element comprises one or more optical markings, whose light reflection characteristics can be used by the information system by means of a photodetector for calibrating a projection angle of at least one of the optical projection device and a light guiding device.

17. The information system according to claim 16, wherein the photodetector device has a splitter mirror arranged in the light beam of the optical projection device such that it guides a portion of the light impinging on the splitter mirror against the projection direction, in the direction of a photodetector which detects in at least two areas situated concentrically around one another.

18. The information system according to claim 14, wherein the holographic element has light-diffracting characteristics at at least one discrete wavelength, which correspond to a reflection on the concave side of a surface constructed according to the curvature of a rotationally symmetrical ellipsoid.

19. The information system according to claims claim 14, wherein:

the holographic element has light-diffracting characteristics at at least one discrete wavelength, which correspond to a diffraction on the concave side of a surface constructed according to the curvature of a rotationally symmetrical ellipsoid; and

said diffraction corresponds to a reflection on a respective conical surface which is rotationally symmetrical about the axis of rotation of the ellipsoid and is perpendicular with respect to the ellipsoid at the site of the diffraction.

20. The information system according to claim 14, wherein the holographic element comprises at least one optical marking created by reproducing mirroring elements in the holographic element during creation of the holographic element, such that said mirroring elements reflect light of at least one wavelength that has fallen onto the holographic element from the optical projection device, back along the path of incidence.