AUGMENTED REALITY EYEPIECE WITH FREEFORM OPTIC, IMAGE SOURCE, AND OPTICAL DISPLAY

• US 20110221659A1
• Filed: 03/16/2011
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Osterhout Design Group
• Inventors: King, Robert W. III, Osterhout, Ralph F., Haddick, John D., Lohse, Robert Michael
• Application Number:
  US13/049,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20110221659A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• 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: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1673 Arrangements for projecting a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/19 Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/197 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/635 Region indicators; Field of view indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence

Abstract

This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display. An integrated image source, which includes a light source and the optical display, introduces the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content. Alternatively, an integrated projector facility projects the content to the optical assembly. The projector facility includes a light source and the LCoS display, wherein light from the light source is emitted under control of the processor and traverses a polarizing beam splitter where it is polarized before being reflected off an LCoS display and into an optical waveguide of the eyepiece.

Claims

1. An interactive head-mounted eyepiece, comprising:

an optical assembly through which a user views a surrounding environment and displayed content, wherein the optical assembly comprises;

a corrective element that corrects the user'"'"'s view of the surrounding environment;

a freeform optical waveguide enabling internal reflections; and

a coupling lens positioned to direct an image from an LCoS display to the optical waveguide; and

an integrated processor for handling content for display to the user; and

an integrated projector facility for projecting the content to the optical assembly, wherein the projector facility comprises a light source and the LCoS display, wherein light from the light source is emitted under control of the processor and traverses a polarizing beam splitter where it is polarized before being reflected off the LCoS display and into the optical waveguide.

2. The eyepiece of claim 1, wherein the corrective element is a see-through correction lens attached to the optical waveguide that enables proper viewing of the surrounding environment whether the projector facility is on or off.

3. The eyepiece of claim 1, wherein the freeform optical waveguide comprises dual freeform surfaces that enable a curvature and a sizing of the waveguide, wherein the curvature and the sizing enable placement of the waveguide in a frame of the interactive head-mounted eyepiece.

4. The eyepiece of claim 1, wherein the light source is an RGB LED module that emits light sequentially to form a color image that is reflected off the LCoS display.

5. The eyepiece of claim 1, further comprising, a homogenizer through which light from the light source is propagated to ensure that the beam of light is uniform.

6. The eyepiece of claim 1, wherein a surface of the polarizing beam splitter reflects the color image from the LCoS display into the optical waveguide.

7. The eyepiece of claim 1, further comprising, a collimator that improves the resolution of the light entering the optical waveguide.

8. An interactive head-mounted eyepiece, comprising:

an optical assembly through which a user views a surrounding environment and displayed content, wherein the optical assembly comprises;

a corrective element that corrects the user'"'"'s view of the surrounding environment;

an optical waveguide enabling internal reflections; and

a coupling lens positioned to direct an image from an optical display to the optical waveguide; and

an integrated processor for handling content for display to the user; and

an integrated image source for introducing the content to the optical assembly, wherein the image source comprises a light source and the optical display.

9. The eyepiece of claim 8, wherein light from the light source is emitted under control of the processor and traverses a polarizing beam splitter where it is polarized before being reflected off the optical display and into the optical waveguide.

10. The eyepiece of claim 8, wherein the optical display is at least one of an LCoS and an LCD display.

11. The eyepiece of claim 8, wherein the image source is a projector, and wherein the projector is at least one of a microprojector, a nanoprojector, and a picoprojector.

12. The eyepiece of claim 8, wherein the corrective element is a see-through correction lens attached to the optical waveguide that enables proper viewing of the surrounding environment whether the image source is on or off.

13. The eyepiece of claim 8, wherein the optical waveguide comprises dual freeform surfaces that enable a curvature and a sizing of the waveguide, wherein the curvature and the sizing enable placement of the optical waveguide in a frame of the interactive head-mounted eyepiece.

14. The eyepiece of claim 8, wherein the light source is an RGB LED module that emits light sequentially to form a color image that is reflected off the optical display.

15. The eyepiece of claim 8, further comprising, a homogenizer through which light from the light source is propagated to ensure that the beam of light is uniform.

16. The eyepiece of claim 8, further comprising, a polarizing beam splitter that polarizes light from the light source before being reflected off the LCoS display and into the optical waveguide.

17. The eyepiece of claim 16, wherein a surface of the polarizing beam splitter reflects the color image from the LCoS display into the optical waveguide.

18. The eyepiece of claim 8, further comprising, a collimator that improves the resolution of the light entering the optical waveguide.