SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR WEARABLE HEADS-UP DISPLAYS

• US 20180321484A1
• Filed: 07/02/2018
• Published: 11/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thalmic Labs Inc.
• Inventors: Bailey, Matthew, Alexander, Stefan
• Application Number:
  US16/025,820
• Publication Number:
  US 20180321484A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/015 involving arrangement aiming to get less bulky devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0154 with movable elements
• 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 26/10 Scanning systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/30 Collimators

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods for transparent displays that are well-suited for use in wearable heads-up displays are described. Such transparent displays include one or more scanning projector(s) that is/are mounted on or proximate the lens portion(s) thereof, directly in the field of view of the user. Each scanning projector includes a respective light source that sequentially generates pixels or other discrete portions of an image and a respective dynamic optical beam-steerer that controllably steers the modulated light directly towards select regions of the eye of the user. Successive portions of the image are generated in rapid succession until the entire image is displayed to the user by projection directly onto the eye of the user from one or more point(s) within the user'"'"'s field of view.

Claims

1. A wearable heads-up display comprising:

a support structure to be worn on a head of a user;

a first transparent element that is physically coupled to the support structure, wherein the first transparent element is positioned within a field of view of at least one eye of the user when the support structure is worn on the head of the user;

a first light-emitting element physically coupled to the support structure and positioned proximate a periphery of the first transparent element; and

a first set of static light-refractors, each static light-refractor in the first set of static light-refractors carried by the first transparent element in the field of view of the at least one eye of the user when the support structure is worn on the head of the user, wherein in use at least one static light-refractor in the first set of static light-refractors receives light emitted by the first light-emitting element through the periphery of the first transparent element and refracts the light emitted by the first light-emitting element towards the at least one eye of the user.

2. The wearable heads-up display of claim 1 wherein the first light-emitting element includes a register of light-emitting diodes.

3. The wearable heads-up display of claim 1 wherein the first light-emitting element includes at least one laser.

4. The wearable heads-up display of claim 1 wherein the first transparent element includes a prescription eyeglass lens.

5. The wearable heads-up display of claim 1 wherein each static light-refractor in the set of static light-refractors is selected from the group consisting of:

a prismatic structure and a prismatic film.

6. The wearable heads-up display of claim 1 wherein the support structure has a general shape and appearance of a set of eyeglasses.

7. The wearable heads-up display of claim 1, further comprising:

a processor physically coupled to the support structure and communicatively coupled to the first light-emitting element; and

a non-transitory processor-readable storage medium physically coupled to the support structure and communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the non-transitory processor-readable storage medium stores processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to control the light emitted by the first light-emitting element.

8. The wearable heads-up display of claim 1, further comprising a first controllably rotatable reflector physically coupled to the support structure and positioned to, in use, receive a light provided by the first light-emitting element and reflect the light provided by the first light-emitting element.

9. The wearable heads-up display of claim 8 wherein the first controllably rotatable reflector is controllably rotatable about at least two orthogonal axes.

10. The wearable heads-up display of claim 8, further comprising:

at least one collimator positioned in between the first light-emitting element and the first controllably rotatable reflector, wherein in use the light provided by the first light-emitting element passes through the at least one collimator before receipt by the first controllably rotatable reflector.

11. The wearable heads-up display of claim 1 wherein each static light-refractor in the set of static light-refractors includes a respective thin-film element that is affixed to the first transparent element.

12. The wearable heads-up display of claim 1 wherein the first transparent element is positioned within a field of view of a first eye of the user when the support structure is worn on the head of the user, and further comprising:

a second transparent element physically coupled to the support structure, wherein the second transparent element is substantially planar and positioned within a field of view of a second eye of the user when the support structure is worn on the head of the user;

a second light-emitting element physically coupled to the support structure and positioned proximate a periphery of the second transparent element;

a second set of static light-refractors, each static light-refractor in the second set of static light-refractors carried by the second transparent element in the field of view of the second eye of the user when the support structure is worn on the head of the user, wherein in use at least one static light-refractor in the second set of static light-refractors receives the light emitted by the second light-emitting element through the periphery of the second transparent element and refracts the light emitted by the first light-emitting element towards the second eye of the user.