Headwear-mounted periscopic display device

• US 4,869,575 A
• Filed: 04/01/1988
• Issued: 09/26/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IOTA Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: IOTA Instrumentation Co.
• Inventors: Kubik, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Henry, Jon W.
• Application Number:
  US07/176,726
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 350/638, 350/618, 350/171, 350/173, 350/174, 350/287, 350/286, 350/445, 350/565, 350/566, 350/562, 356/251-255, 351/158
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/14 Mirrors; Prisms
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 9/04 by fitting over or clamping on

Abstract

A periscopic display device for close-up viewing of a display. The device includes means for generating a display, such as an LED, LCD, or ELD display, and periscopic means consisting of a body of optically clear material having a reflecting prism portion and a collimating lens portion. The prism portion includes a first planar surface positioned adjacent to the display and at least one optically aligned reflecting surface for transmitting a reflected image of the display. The collimating lens portion consists of a convex lens having a focal point at the display and is positioned to receive the reflected image for focusing the image at optical infinity. Preferably the body includes a mounting portion in which the display generating means is embedded. The display device is lightweight, waterproof, dustproof, and is easily mounted on the eyeglass frames, visor, or headband of the wearer.

Claims

1. A display device positionable on the eyeglass frames or other headwear of the user, said display device comprising:

a display generating means;

a body of optically clear material having a first surface,

means for positioning the display generating means adjacent the first surface,

said body having at least one optically-aligned reflecting surface for transmitting a reflected image of the display, and

said body having a convex lens with a focal point at the display, said lens receiving the reflected image and focusing the image at optical infinity, wherein the display generating means and body are positionable on the eyeglass frames or other headwear of the user for positioning the assembly within the peripheral viewing field of the user to enable close-up viewing of the display.

2. The display device of claim 1, further comprising:

means for mounting the assembly on the eyeglass frames or other headwear of the user.

3. The display device of claim 2, wherein

the assembly is mounted on the eyeglass frames of the user and positioned in front of one lens of the eyeglass frames.

4. The display device of claim 1, wherein

the outer surfaces of the body are mirrored to reduce light loss and prevent ambient light from entering the body.

5. The display device of claim 1, wherein

the display generating means is an electro-optical display means.

6. The display device of claim 1, wherein

the body further comprises a mounting portion in which the display generating means is embedded.

7. The display device of claim 1, wherein

the body has one reflecting surface.

8. The display device of claim 1, wherein

the body has two reflecting surfaces.

9. The display device of claim 1, wherein

the convex lens has a focal length within the range of about 3/4 to about 13/4 inch.