WEARABLE DISPLAY DEVICE CALIBRATION

• US 20130187943A1
• Filed: 01/23/2012
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Bohn, David D., Latta, Stephen G., Margolis, Jeffrey N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,810,600 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• 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 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/64 Imaging systems using optical elements for stabilisation of the lateral and angular position of the image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/327 Calibration thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 with head-mounted left-right displays

Abstract

In embodiments of wearable display device calibration, a first display lens system forms an image of an environment viewed through the first display lens system. A second display lens system also forms the image of the environment viewed through the second display lens system. The first display lens system emits a first reference beam and the second display lens system emits a second reference beam. The first display lens system then captures a reflection image of the first and second reference beams. The second display lens system also captures a reflection image of the first and second reference beams. An imaging application is implemented to compare the reflection images to determine a misalignment between the first and second display lens systems, and then apply an alignment adjustment to align the image of the environment formed by each of the first and second display lens systems.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a first display lens system configured to form an image of an environment viewed through the first display lens system, the first display lens system further configured to emit a first reference beam and capture a first reflection image of the first reference beam;

a second display lens system configured to form the image of the environment viewed through the second display lens system, the second display lens system further configured to emit a second reference beam and capture a second reflection image of the second reference beam;

an imaging application configured to;

compare the first the second reflection images to determine a misalignment between the first and second display lens systems; and

apply an alignment adjustment to align the image of the environment formed by each of the first and second display lens systems.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the first and second reflection images include both the reflection of the first and second reference beams; and

the imaging application is configured to compare the reflections of both the first and second reference beams in the first reflection image to the reflections of both the first and second reference beams in the second reflection image to determine the misalignment.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the misalignment between the first and second display lens systems appears as at least one of a vertical misalignment or a horizontal misalignment of the image of the environment formed by each of the first and second display lens systems.

4. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second display lens systems include:

an near infra-red laser configured to emit the respective first and second reference beams as near infra-red beams; and

a camera configured to capture the respective first and second reflection images.

5. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein the near infra-red lasers each emit multiple beams that diverge to reflect a beam pattern as the first and second reflection images.

6. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein the near infra-red lasers include collimation optics and diffractive optics configured to disperse the first and second near infra-red beams in a structured light pattern.

7. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein the imaging application is further configured to:

determine angular misalignment from the first and second reflection images that include the reflections of the structured light patterns; and

determine a distance from each of first and second display lens systems to a feature in the environment that reflects the structured light patterns.

8. A method, comprising:

emitting a first reference beam from a first display lens system that forms an image of an environment as viewed through the first display lens system;

capturing a first reflection image of the first reference beam;

emitting a second reference beam from a second display lens system that forms the image of the environment as viewed through the second display lens system;

capturing a second reflection image of the second reference beam;

comparing the first and second reflection images to determine a misalignment between the first and second display lens systems; and

applying an alignment adjustment to align the image of the environment formed by each of the first and second display lens systems.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein:

the first and second reflection images include both the reflection of the first and second reference beams; and

said comparing the reflections of both the first and second reference beams in the first reflection image to the reflections of both the first and second reference beams in the second reflection image to determine the misalignment.

10. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the misalignment between the first and second display lens systems appears as at least one of a vertical misalignment or a horizontal misalignment of the image of the environment formed by each of the first and second display lens systems.

11. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the first and second reference beams are emitted as near infra-red beams from a first near infra-red laser of the first display lens system and a second near infra-red laser of the second display lens system.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the first and second reference beams are each emitted as multiple beams that diverge to reflect a beam pattern as the first and second reflection images.

13. A method as recited in claim 11, further comprising dispersing each of the near infra-red beams in a structured light pattern.

14. A method as recited in claim 12, further comprising:

determining angular misalignment from the first and second reflection images that include the reflections of the structured light patterns; and

determining a distance from each of first and second display lens systems to a feature in the environment that reflects the structured light patterns.

15. A wearable display device, comprising:

a left display lens system for augmented reality imaging configured to emit a first reference beam with a first near infra-red laser;

a right display lens system for the augmented reality imaging configured to emit a second reference beam with a second near infra-red laser;

a left camera configured to capture a first reflection image of the first reference beam;

a right camera configured to capture a second reflection image of the second reference beam;

an imaging application configured to;

compare the first the second reflection images to determine a misalignment between the left and right display lens systems; and

align the augmented reality imaging of the left and right display lens systems based on the determined misalignment.

16. A wearable display device as recited in claim 15, wherein:

the first and second reflection images include both the reflection of the first and second reference beams; and

the imaging application is configured to compare the reflections of both the first and second reference beams in the first reflection image to the reflections of both the first and second reference beams in the second reflection image to determine the misalignment.

17. A wearable display device as recited in claim 15, wherein the misalignment between the left and right display lens systems appears as at least one of a vertical misalignment or a horizontal misalignment of the augmented reality imaging.

18. A wearable display device as recited in claim 15, wherein the first and second near infra-red lasers each emit multiple beams that diverge to reflect a beam pattern as the first and second reflection images.

19. A wearable display device as recited in claim 15, wherein the first and second near infra-red lasers each include collimation optics configured to disperse the first and second reference beams in a structured light pattern.

20. A wearable display device as recited in claim 19, wherein the imaging application is further configured to:

determine angular misalignment from the first and second reflection images that include the reflections of the structured light patterns; and

determine a distance from each of left and right display lens systems to a feature in an environment that reflects the structured light patterns.