DISPLAY INSTRUMENT AND IMAGE DISPLAY METHOD

• US 20130300766A1
• Filed: 05/02/2013
• Published: 11/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Mukawa, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 9,558,540 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/633
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• 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 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0179 Display position adjusting means not related to the information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/22 Matching criteria, e.g. proximity measures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2215/16 Using real world measurements to influence rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/50 using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/003 Details of a display terminal, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto specific for a CRT G09G1/165; for a flat panel G09G3/2092

Abstract

A head-mounted display device including an image display apparatus configured to display a captured image of a portion of an environment viewable through the head-mounted display device; and a dimmer configured to, while the captured image is displayed, allow a portion of ambient light from the environment to pass through the dimmer. Also, a method of displaying information on a head-mounted display device. The method may include displaying a captured image of a portion of an environment viewable through the display device; and dimming ambient light received through the head-mounted display device from the environment while displaying the captured image.

Claims

1. A head-mounted display device comprising:

an image display apparatus configured to display a captured image of a portion of an environment viewable through the head-mounted display device; and

a dimmer configured to, while the captured image is displayed, allow a portion of ambient light from the environment to pass through the dimmer.

2. The head-mounted display device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one storage device configured to store display data; and

wherein the image display apparatus is further configured to display the display data.

3. The head-mounted display device of claim 2, wherein the display data is selected from the group comprising a character, a word, a sentence, a figure, an illustration, a still image and a moving image.

4. The head-mounted display device of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller configured to, in response to receiving an indication to switch from a first mode of operation to a subsequent mode of operation;

command the image display apparatus to switch from displaying the captured image to displaying the display data; and

command the dimmer to switch from allowing a first portion of ambient light from the environment to pass through the dimmer to allowing a second portion of ambient light from the environment to pass through the dimmer.

5. The head-mounted display device of claim 4, wherein the display data is at least one word describing at least one subject of the environment viewable through the head-mounted display device.

6. The head-mounted display device of claim 4, wherein the display data is at least one image corresponding at least one subject of the environment viewable through the head-mounted display device.

7. The head-mounted display device of claim 4, wherein:

the first portion of ambient light to pass through the dimmer is less than the second portion of ambient light to pass through the dimmer.

8. The head-mounted display device of claim 4, wherein the indication to switch from the first mode of operation to the subsequent mode of operation is received from a user of the head-mounted display device.

9. The head-mounted display device of claim 8, further comprising:

a microphone configured to receive a voice command from the user to switch from the first mode of operation to a subsequent mode of operation.

10. The head-mounted display device of claim 8, further comprising:

an infrared receiver configured to receive a eye-blinking command from the user to switch from the first mode of operation to a subsequent mode of operation.

11. A method of displaying information on a head-mounted display device, the method comprising:

displaying a captured image of a portion of an environment viewable through the display device; and

dimming ambient light received through the head-mounted display device from the environment while displaying the captured image.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

displaying display data stored in at least one storage device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the display data is selected from the group comprising a character, a word, a sentence, a figure, an illustration, a still image and a moving image.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

in response to receiving an indication to switch from a first mode of operation to a subsequent mode of operation;

switching from displaying the captured image to displaying the display data; and

switching from dimming the ambient light received through the display device from the environment by a first amount to dimming the ambient light received through the display device from the environment by a second amount.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the display data is at least one word describing at least one subject of the environment viewable through the display device.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the display data is at least one image corresponding to at least one subject of the environment viewable through the display device.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the first amount more than the second amount.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the indication to switch from the first mode of operation to a subsequent mode of operation is received from a user of the head-mounted display device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the indication from the user is a voice command or an eye-blinking command.

20. A head-mounted display device comprising:

display means for displaying a captured image of a portion of an environment viewable through the display device; and

dimming means for dimming ambient light received through the head-mounted display device from the environment while displaying the captured image.