Vibratory scan optical display

• US 4,311,999 A
• Filed: 02/07/1980
• Issued: 01/19/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bell Helicopter Michigan Inc (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Textron Inc
• Inventors: Goodman, James R., Upton, Hubert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Curtis, Marshall M.
• Application Number:
  US06/119,469
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 340/705, 340/755, 340/380, 340/706, 340/407
• US Class Current: 345/31
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/00 Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/06 the relative position of the fibres being the same at both ends, e.g. for transporting images
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/305 being the ends of optical fibres G09F9/302 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/001 using specific devices not provided for in groups G09G3/02 - G09G3/36, e.g. using an intermediate record carrier such as a film slide; Projection systems; Display of non-alphanumerical information, solely or in combination with alphanumerical information, e.g. digital display on projected diapositive as background slide projectors per se G03B23/00 = 42 HP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/30 using solid-state colour display devices

Abstract

A raster-type personal display is provided by vibrating an array of fiber optic filaments (32) between display limit (52, 54) by means of an electromechanical exciter (36). One end of the fiber optic filaments (32) is cantilever mounted to an array of light emitting diodes (34), with the second end of the filaments free to be vibrated by the exciter (36). Drive signals for energizing the light emitting diodes (34) are generated by a symbol generator (38) that receives synchronization pulses from a position detector consisting of a light source (58), a shutter (56) and a light responsive pickup (60).

Claims

1. A raster-type personal display system for providing an image of displayed information in the field of view of an observer, comprising:

means for mounting a mirror in the field of view of an observer,

a plurality of light sources,

an array of fiber optic filaments mounted in a cantilever arrangement and each having one end in a fixed position to receive light from said sources and a second end positioned to be visible to an observer by the mirror and free to translate within fixed display limits,

means for imparting a vibrating motion to the second end of said fiber optic filaments within the fixed display limits to produce a two dimensional display reflected from the mirror to the observer, and

means responsive to drive signals to energize said plurality of light sources in a pattern to display desired information at the vibrating second end of said fiber optic filaments.

2. A raster-type personal display system as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of light sources comprises a light emitting diode.

3. A raster-type personal display system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said plurality of light sources is arranged in a linear array.

4. A raster-type personal display system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said fiber optic filaments are formed into a flat ribbon positioned in a direction to be in alignment with the linear array of said light sources.

5. A raster-type personal display system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the one end of each of the fiber optic filaments is cantilever mounted and in contact with said plurality of light sources.

6. A raster-type personal display system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for imparting a vibrating motion includes a bar of ferrous material attached transverse of the fiber optic filaments between the one end and the second end, and an electromagnet positioned to magnetically attract said bar when energized.

7. A raster-type personal display system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said electromagnet is energized at a frequency above the flicker frequency to impart the desired vibrating motion to the second end of said fiber optic filaments.

8. A raster-type personal display system for displaying information to an observer by means of a mirror mounted in the field of view of the observer, comprising:

a plurality of light sources,

drive means responsive to input signals to energize said light sources in a pattern to convey the desired information,

an array of flexible fiber optic filaments each having one end fixedly mounted in a position to receive light from said sources and a second end free to translate within fixed display limits from an equilibrium position,

means for imparting a vibrating motion to the second end of said fiber optic filaments within the fixed display limits to provide a two dimensional image reflected from the mirror to the observer, and

means for detecting the position of the second end of said fiber optic filaments to generate a synchronization signal to said drive means and said means for imparting a vibratory motion.

9. A raster-type personal display system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said means for detecting includes a shutter attached to said array of fiber optic filaments,

a light source generating a beam of light to said shutter in one position thereof, and

light responsive means receiving light from said source when the shutter is displaced from its one position, said light responsive means generating the synchronization signal.

10. A raster-type personal display system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said plurality of light sources is arranged in a linear array.

11. A raster-type personal display system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said array of fiber optic filaments forms a flat ribbon with the one end positioned to receive light from the linear array of said light sources.

12. A raster-type personal display system as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means for imparting a vibrating motion includes:

a bar of magnetizable material attached transversely to the array of fiber optic filaments between the one end and the second end, and

an electromagnet positioned to impart vibrating motion to said bar thereby vibrating the second end of said fiber optic filaments within the fixed display limits.

13. A raster-type personal display system for providing an image of displayed information in the field of view of an observer, comprising:

binocular vision means to be worn by an observer and including lenses through which objects are observed in a conventional manner,

a mirror mounted in one of said lenses in the field of view of an observer,

a plurality of light sources,

an array of fiber optic filaments having one end mounted to said binocular vision means, each filament positioned to receive light from said light sources and a second end positioned to be viewed by an observer through said mirror, and

means for imparting a vibrating motion to the second end of said fiber optic filaments to produce a two-dimensional display reflected from the mirror to the observer.

14. A raster-type personal display system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said mirror covers only a portion of said one lens.

15. A raster-type personal display system as set forth in claim 13 including means for generating drive signals to energize said plurality of light sources in a pattern to display desired information at the vibrating second end of said fiber optic filaments.

16. A raster-type personal display system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said fiber optic filaments are cantilevered mounted to said binocular vision means.

17. A raster-type personal display system as set forth in claim 13 including means for synchronizing the energization of said light sources with the position of the vibrating optic fiber filaments.