SEE-THROUGH NEAR-EYE DISPLAY GLASSES INCLUDING A MODULAR IMAGE SOURCE

• US 20120236030A1
• Filed: 03/26/2012
• Published: 09/20/2012
• 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., Lohse, Robert Michael, Osterhout, Ralph F.
• Granted Patent: US 9,134,534 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/633
• 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: 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. The optical assembly comprises a reflective image display that generates and reflects image light to an optically flat film then to a curved partially reflecting mirror of the optical assembly that reflects a portion of the image light from the image source and transmits a portion of the scene light from a see-through view of the surrounding environment to the user'"'"'s eye as a combined image. The optical assembly comprises a modular image source, wherein the modular image source is mounted in a frame of the eyepiece such that its position with respect to a user'"'"'s eye can be adjusted.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an interactive head-mounted eyepiece worn by a user, wherein the eyepiece includes a modular 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 modular optical assembly,

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

wherein the curved partially reflecting mirror reflects a portion of the image light from the image source 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,

wherein the optical assembly comprises a modular image source, wherein the modular image source is mounted in a frame of the eyepiece such that its position with respect to a user'"'"'s eye can be adjusted.