Eyeglass mounted visual display

• US 3,936,605 A
• Filed: 02/14/1972
• Issued: 02/03/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Textron Inc
• Inventors: Upton, Hubert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Claffy, Kathleen
• Application Number:
  US05/225,741
• Time in Patent Office: 1,450 Days
• Field of Search: 179/1 VS, 179/107 S, 178/6.8, 178/7.85, 351/50
• US Class Current: 704/271
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0125 Field-of-view increase by wavefront division
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0169 Supporting or connecting means other than the external walls
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 9/00 Attaching auxiliary optical parts auxiliary optical parts per se G02C7/08 - G02C7/16

Abstract

A personal information system wherein an illuminated information source is viewed in a mirror located closer to the eye than the shortest focal length to present in focus a visual image to the eye so that it can be viewed unobtrusively superimposed over the existing visual scene during normal activities. In a further aspect, the invention provides reflected illuminated symbolic presentation for speech interpretation assistance.

Claims

1. In a personal information system where a light variable display is located out of view at the side of the eye of a person, the improvement which comprises:

a. a generally spherical mirror subtending a solid angle of not more than about 7°

of the field of vision of said person when positioned in front of said eye at a distance less than the minimal focal length of said eye, and

b. structure for supporting said mirror at about said distance from said eye and for supporting said display at about the focal length of said mirror at a location such that the mirror axis bisects the angle between said light source and said eye.

2. A personal information system which comprises:

a. a matrix of voltage actuated light sources,

b. at least one mirror subtending a solid angle when viewed by an eye of not more than about 7°

when supported in front of said eye at about the location of an eyeglass lens for reflecting said sources to said eye,

c. means for supporting said sources at the side of said eye a distance from said mirror at about the focal length of said mirror, and

d. means for controlling said sources to actuate in real time different parts of said matrix in response to different parts of said information.

3. A personal information system which comprises:

a. an eyeglass having at least one mirror surface thereon which because of proximity is out of focus to the eye of the wearer of said eyeglass and which is of size to subtend a solid angle of only a few degrees in the field of vision of said wearer, and

b. an information source positioned to the side of said eye to be viewed via said mirror and located at about the focal length of said mirror to present to said wearer an in focus image of said source unobtrusively superimposed on the background scene viewed by said wearer.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 in which a plurality of said mirror surfaces are distributed in an array on said eyeglass and each positioned to reflect light from said information source to the eye of said wearer.

5. The combination set forth in claim 3 in which a plurality of mirror surfaces are provided and a plurality of information sources are positioned to be viewed by said wearer each separately through one of said mirrors.

6. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said information source includes means responsive to spoken intelligence for transforming the same into voicing related displays.

7. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein a plurality of mirror surfaces are provided on said eyeglass in a random array throughout the field of vision of said wearer.

8. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said mirror surface is formed by a mirror element secured to said eyeglass.

9. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said mirror surface is ground into the surface of said eyeglass.

10. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said mirror surface is shaped to present a magnified image of said information source.

11. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein a plurality of mirror surfaces are provided on said eyeglass and each presents to said wearer the image of a portion of said information source.

12. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein a plurality of mirror surfaces are provided on said eyeglass and wherein means are provided for presenting an image of said information source successively in time on different ones of said mirror surfaces.

13. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said information source is an array of light emitting diodes.

14. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said information source is a cathode ray tube.

15. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said information source comprises an array of light emitting diodes of the configuration H and wherein means are provided for separate actuation of the five bars of said H configuration.

16. A personal information system which comprises:

a. an eyeglass having at least one mirror surface thereon which because of proximity is out of focus to the eye of the wearer of said eyeglass and which is of size to subtend a solid angle of only a few degrees in the field of vision of said wearer,

b. an information source comprising an array of light emitting diodes of the configuration H positioned to the side of said eye to be viewed via said mirror and located at about the focal length of said mirror to present to said wearer an in focus image of said source unobtrusively superimposed on the background scene viewed by said wearer,

c. a first means which illuminates a first H bar in response to voiced frictional sounds,

d. second means which illuminates a second H bar in response to plosive sounds,

e. a third means which illuminates a third H bar in response to voicing of vowels,

f. a fourth means which illuminates a fourth H bar in response to the presence of combined friction and vowel sounds, and

g. a fifth means which illuminates a fifth H bar in response to the presence of both vowel and plosive sounds.

17. A personal information system which comprises:

a. an eyeglass having at least one mirror surface thereon which because of proximity is out of focus to the eye of the wearer of said eyeglass and which is of size to subtend a solid angle of only a few degrees in the field of vision of said wearer,

b. an information source comprising an array of light emitting diodes of the configuration H positioned to the side of said eye to be viewed via said mirror and located at about the focal length of said mirror to present to said wearer an in focus image of said source unobtrusively superimposed on the background scene viewed by said wearer, and

c. control means causing the upper left H bar to be illuminated in response to voiced frictional sounds, the upper right H bar to be illuminated in response to plosive sounds, the horizontal H bar to be illuminated in response to voicing vowels, the lower left H bar to be illuminated in response to the presence of combined friction and voicing sounds, and the lower right H bar to be illuminated in response to the presence of both voicing and plosion sounds.

18. The method of assisting speech interpretation which comprises:

forming by reflection from a magnifying mirror subtending a solid angle of not more than about 7°

in the field of vision on an eyeglass in focus images of an information source located at about the focal plane of said mirror, which source emits light from a plurality of discrete sources separately illuminated in response to frictional, plosive and vowel voicing characteristics.

19. The method of assisting speech interpretation which comprises:

a. forming by reflection from a magnifying mirror subtending a solid angle of not more than about 7°

in the field of vision on an eyeglass in focus images of an information source located at about the focal plane of said mirror in response to frictional, plosive, and vowel voicing characteristics.

20. The method set forth in claim 19 in which frictional, plosive, and vowel voicing characteristics are separately signaled on said information source and wherein predetermined combinations thereof are separately signaled.

21. The method of presenting information to the wearer of an eyeglass which comprises:

a. forming a light emitting information display in a region on the same side of said glasses as the wearer thereof and out of view of said wearer, and

b. reflecting with magnification light from said source from a mirror surface subtending a solid angle in the field of view of said wearer of not more than about 7°

at the distance from the eye of said wearer as said eyeglass after travel from said source of a distance about the focal length of said mirror to present an in focus image of said source to said wearer while permitting view of the scene beyond said mirror in brightness substantially undiminished by the presence of said mirror.