SEE-THROUGH NEAR-EYE DISPLAY GLASSES WITH A SMALL SCALE IMAGE SOURCE

• US 20120218172A1
• Filed: 03/25/2012
• Published: 08/30/2012
• 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., Haddick, John D., Osterhout, Ralph F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,472,120 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 27/0176 characterised by mechanical 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, wherein the image source comprises a lighting system that directs light from a light source to a curved polarizing film that reflects a portion of the light to a reflective image display. The ratio of the height of the curved polarizing film to the width of the reflective image display is less than 1:1.

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,

wherein the image source comprises a lighting system that directs light from a light source to a curved polarizing film that reflects a portion of the light to a reflective image display,

wherein the ratio of the height of the curved polarizing film to the width of the reflective image display is less than 1;

1.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the curve on the polarizing film determines the width of the illuminated area on the reflective display, and the tilt of the curved area determines the positioning of the illuminated area on the reflective display.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the curved polarizing film reflects illumination light of a first polarization state onto the reflective display, which changes the polarization of the illumination light and generates image light, and wherein the curved polarizing film passes reflected image light.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the curved polarizing film comprises a portion that is parallel to the reflective display over the light source.