SEE-THROUGH NEAR-EYE DISPLAY GLASSES INCLUDING A CURVED POLARIZING FILM IN THE IMAGE SOURCE, A PARTIALLY REFLECTIVE, PARTIALLY TRANSMITTING OPTICAL ELEMENT AND AN OPTICALLY FLAT FILM

• US 20120212400A1
• Filed: 03/26/2012
• Published: 08/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Osterhout Design Group
• Inventors: Border, John N., Osterhout, Ralph F., Bietry, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,488,246 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• 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 5/30 Polarising elements light-modulating devices with active elements G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/005 Input arrangements through a video camera
• 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 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content and a light source that directs light to a curved polarizing film of the optical assembly that reflects a portion of the light to illuminate a reflective image display. The optical assembly comprises an optically flat film that reflects the image light from the reflective image display to a curved partially reflecting mirror that reflects a portion of the image light and transmits a portion of the scene light from a see-through view of the surrounding environment, so that a combined image comprised of portions of the reflected image light and the transmitted scene light is transmitted through the optically flat film and provided to the user'"'"'s eye.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an interactive head-mounted eyepiece worn by a user, wherein the eyepiece includes an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment combined with displayed content, an integrated processor for handling content for display to the user, and an integrated image source for introducing the content to the optical assembly; and

a light source that directs light to a curved polarizing film of the optical assembly that reflects a portion of the light to illuminate a reflective image display of the optical assembly that reflects the illuminating light to provide image light,

wherein the optical assembly further comprises an optically flat film, disposed at an angle in front of a user'"'"'s eye, that reflects a portion of the image light from the reflective image display to a curved partially reflecting mirror,

wherein the curved partially reflecting mirror reflects a portion of the image light and transmits a portion of the scene light from a see-through view of the surrounding environment, so that a combined image comprised of portions of the reflected image light and the transmitted scene light is transmitted through the optically flat film and provided to the user'"'"'s eye.