CONTROL OF AMBIENT AND STRAY LIGHTING IN A HEAD MOUNTED DISPLAY

• US 20160170210A1
• Filed: 02/16/2016
• Published: 06/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Southern California
• Original Assignee: University of Southern California
• Inventors: Bolas, Mark, Jones, J. Adam, Krum, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,416,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0134 of stereoscopic type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/34 Stereoscopes providing a stereoscopic pair of separated images corresponding to parallactically displaced views of the same object, e.g. 3D slide viewers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0294 adapted to provide an additional optical effect, e.g. anti-reflection or filter
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/22 using controlled light sources

Abstract

A head mounted display (HMD) for viewing a virtual environment generally include a flat display (FD), lenses for focusing on the FD, and a housing to enclose the FD and lenses. The housing is generally opaque to block out all external light, so the viewer only sees light from the FD. By making a portion or all of the housing translucent or transparent, ambient light and other external light can be seen by the viewer, providing additional visual cues and a larger perceived field of view. Additionally, other people can see light from the FD. The lenses are configured to view the FD and parts of the translucent housing.

Claims

1. A virtual environment viewing device comprising:

a display having a display area;

an optics component oriented towards the display and having a field of view; and

a translucent housing connected to the display and the optics,

wherein the field of view is configured to include the display area and a portion of the translucent housing.

2. The virtual environment viewing device of claim 1, wherein an internal surface of the translucent housing has a differential surface.

3. The virtual environment viewing device of claim 1, wherein an internal surface of the translucent housing has a reflective surface.

4. The virtual environment viewing device of claim 1, wherein an internal surface of the translucent housing has a diffusive surface.

5. The virtual environment viewing device of claim 1, wherein the display in non-planar.

6. The virtual environment viewing device of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a multiple element display panel.

7. The virtual environment viewing device of claim 1, wherein a translucency of the translucent housing is variable.

8. The virtual environment viewing device of claim 7, wherein the translucent housing includes a translucent window configured to vary the translucency.

9. The virtual environment viewing device of claim 7, wherein the translucent housing includes an adjustable opening configured to vary the translucency.

10. The virtual environment viewing device of claim 7, wherein the translucency is controlled mechanically, electrically, chemically, or through light.

11. The virtual environment viewing device of claim 1, further comprising an optical element configured to modify external or internal light from the display.

12. The virtual environment viewing device of claim 1, further comprising a light emitting device.

13. The virtual environment viewing device of claim 12, wherein a brightness of the light emitting device is variable.

14. The virtual environment viewing device of claim 1, further comprising a light pipe configured to provide selective illumination.

15. The virtual environment viewing device of claim 1, further comprising a translucent baffle within the translucent housing.

16. The virtual environment viewing device of claim 1, wherein the translucent housing is configured to pass a light through the optics component at a subtended angle greater than a subtended angle of a display light from the display.

17. The virtual environment viewing device of claim 16, wherein the subtended angle of the translucent housing is greater than the subtended angle of the display.

21. The virtual environment viewing device of claim 2, wherein the display is non-planar.

18. A stereoscopic head mounted display comprising:

a display configured to display a left image and a right image;

a left optics component oriented towards the left image;

a right optics component oriented towards the right image;

a housing connected to the display, the left optics component, and the right optics component,

wherein the left optics component is configured to provide a first view, the right optics component is configured to provide a second view, the first view includes the left image and a first translucent portion of the housing, the second view includes the right image and a second translucent portion of the housing.

19. The head mounted display of claim 18, wherein the housing further comprises a translucent baffle between the left optics component and the right optics component.

20. A head mounted display comprising:

a display for viewing a virtual environment;

an optics component oriented towards the display; and

a housing connected to the display and the optics component,

wherein an exterior portion of the housing is capable of being illuminated from an interior of the housing by the display.