SEE-THROUGH DISPLAY OPTIC STRUCTURE

• US 20160097929A1
• Filed: 10/01/2014
• Published: 04/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Yee, Dawson, Hudman, Joshua
• Application Number:
  US14/504,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20160097929A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/013 comprising a combiner of particular shape, e.g. curvature
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/14 of variable focal length
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00

Abstract

An optical structure useful in a see-through head mounted display apparatus is provided. A first and a second partially reflective and transmissive elements are configured to receive the output of any number of optical sources via an optical element. Each reflective and transmissive element is positioned along an optical viewing axis for a wearer of the device with an air gap between the elements. Each reflective and transmissive element has a geometric axis which is positioned in an off-axis relationship with respect to the optical viewing axis. The off-axis relationship may comprise the geometric axis of one or both elements being at an angle with respect to the optical viewing axis and/or vertically displaced with respect to the optical viewing axis.

Claims

1. An optical display system operable to output an image to an optical viewing axis, comprising:

an image source;

a first optical element positioned along the optical viewing axis and having a first geometric axis at the optical viewing axis that is positioned off-axis with respect to the optical viewing axis;

a second optical element positioned along the optical viewing axis and having a second geometric axis at the optical viewing axis that is positioned off-axis with respect to the optical viewing axis.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein off-axis comprises the geometric axis positioned at an angle relative to the optical viewing axis.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein off-axis comprises the geometric axis vertically displaced with respect to the optical viewing axis.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the optical elements comprises an aspherical optical element.

6. The system of claim 1 further including a third optical element positioned between the image source and one of the first and second optical elements.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first optical element and the second optical element comprise uniform plastic substrates each including at least one partially reflective and transmissive surface.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the first optical element and the second optical element are separated by an air gap.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein each said element is aspherical, and wherein the at least one partially reflective and transmissive surface of the first element is concave and opposes the at least one partially reflective surface of the second element, the at least one partially reflective surface of the second element being convex.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the optical elements comprises a planar element.

3. (canceled)

11. A see through head mounted display, comprising:

a frame;

a display having an output;

a first partially reflective and transmissive element located below the display when worn on a user'"'"'s head;

a second partially reflective and transmissive element located below the display when worn on the user'"'"'s head;

each element positioned along an optical viewing axis for a wearer of the frame with an air gap therebetween such that

the first partially reflective and transmissive element has a first geometric axis at the optical viewing axis that is positioned off-axis respect to the optical viewing axis;

the second partially reflective and transmissive element having an optical axis at the optical view axis that is positioned off-axis with respect to the optical viewing axis; and

the elements operable to provide the output to the optical viewing axis.

12. The display of claim 11 further including a third optical element positioned between the display and the first partially reflective and transmissive element.

13. The display of claim 12 wherein at least one optical element is aspherical.

14. The display of claim 13 wherein off-axis comprises at least one said geometric axis positioned at an angle relative to the optical viewing axis.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein off-axis further comprises the at least one said geometric axis vertically displaced with respect to the optical viewing axis.

16. A display device, comprising:

a micro display having an output;

a optical element positioned adjacent to the display to receive the output;

a first partially reflective and transmissive element configured to receive the output from the optical element;

a second partially reflective and transmissive element configured to receive the output reflected from the first partially reflective and transmissive element; and

each of the first partially reflective and transmissive element and the second partially reflective and transmissive element having an axis positioned along an optical viewing axis for a wearer of the device with an air gap between and having a geometric axis positioned at an angle relative to the optical viewing axis.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the geometric axis of each element is vertically displaced with respect to the optical viewing axis.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein at least one said element is aspherical.

19. The display device of claim 16 wherein each of the optical element, first partially reflective and transmissive element and second partially reflective and transmissive element includes at least one partially reflective and transmissive surface, the surface of the first partially reflective and transmissive element being concave and the surface of the second partially reflective and transmissive element being convex.

20. The device of claim 16 wherein at least one of the partially reflective and transmissive elements is planar.