Helmet integrated display system

• US 5,189,512 A
• Filed: 07/01/1991
• Issued: 02/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Camair Research, Lightstorm Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Camair Research Incorporated
• Inventors: Cameron, James F., Cameron, Michael H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Application Number:
  US07/724,196
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 358/103, 358/104, 358/93, 359/610, 340/705
• US Class Current: 348/838
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0143 the two eyes not being equipped with identical nor symmetrical optical devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0154 with movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A Helmet Integrated Display (HID) system and device for remotely viewing a video signal, wherein the device is worn on a cameraman'"'"'s head. The device has a housing containing a head-mounted, high resolution CRT to produce a visible image from an incoming video signal generated by an input video source such as a STEADICAM video tap camera. Through a network of mirrors and a double convex lens, the visible image is converted into a virtual image, which image is presented to a sighting eye of the cameraman. An occlusion device, also attached to the HID system, partially blocks off the view out of a non-sighting eye such that the perceived images from both eyes combine in the cerebral cortex of the cameraman'"'"'s brain into one coherent image without problems of binocular rivalry. In an alternate embodiment, an RF receiver is incorporated into the HID system for receiving an RF video signal broadcast into the airwaves from the input video source, thus eliminating the need for a direct connection to the input video source.

Claims

1. A helmet integrated display system adapted to mount on a wearer'"'"'s head for combining visual images perceived by the wearer'"'"'s sighting eye through a viewfinder and by the wearer'"'"'s non-sighting eye, the system comprising:

a headbrace means adapted for mounting to the wearer'"'"'s head, wherein the headbrace means supports the viewfinder to provide viewing by the sighting eye;

a video image means for generating the visual image from a video signal input, mounted to the viewfinder;

an optical means for converting the visual image from the video image means into a virtual image and projecting the virtual image, wherein the optical means is mounted to the viewfinder at a first predetermined distance away from the video image means;

a non-transparent reflecting means for directing the projected virtual image into a first predetermined portion of the sighting eye not more than about 30% of a field of view of the sighting eye, wherein the optical means is disposed between the reflecting means and the video image means, and wherein the reflecting means is mounted to the viewfinder; and

an adjustable occlusion means set to a predetermined position with respect to the non-sighting eye for occluding a second predetermined portion of the non-sighting eye corresponding to not more than about 30% of a field of view of the non-sighting eye for matting out objects that would otherwise be perceived by the non-sighting eye in the second predetermined portion, wherein the occlusion means is mounted to the headbrace means.

2. The helmet integrated display system of claim 1, wherein the optical means is a double convex lens.

3. The helmet integrated display system of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined distance is less than a focal length of the optical means.

4. The helmet integrated display system of claim 1, wherein the video image means is a high resolution CRT.

5. The helmet integrated display system of claim 1, wherein the reflecting means is a plurality of mirrors disposed cooperatively in the viewfinder to transfer the visual image to the sighting eye.

6. The helmet integrated display system of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined distance can be adjusted by moving the video image means closer to or farther away from the optical means.

7. The helmet integrated display system of claim 1, wherein the occlusion means is attached to the headbrace means by a pivoting and telescoping shaft such that the occlusion means can be moved out of the field of view of the non-sighting eye.

8. The helmet integrated display system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises high voltage circuits and CRT drive electronics enclosed in a housing mounted to the headbrace means for receiving a video signal from a video source.

9. The helmet integrated display system of claim 1, wherein the helmet integrated display system further comprises an RF receiver connected to the CRT drive electronics for receiving an RF video signal from the video source.

10. The helmet integrated display system of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined portion of the sighting eye is approximately 14%.

11. The helmet integrated system of claim 1, wherein the second predetermined portion of the non-sighting eye is approximately 14%.

12. The helmet integrated display system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises an optical adjustment means for adjusting the size and position of the virtual image of the field of view of the sighting eye.

13. A method of presenting a visual image using a helmet integrated display system adapted for mounting on a wearer'"'"'s head, wherein the system combines visual images perceived by the wearer'"'"'s sighting eye through a viewfinder and by the wearer'"'"'s non-sighting eye, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an input video signal;

converting the input video signal to a visible image through a video image means adapted for mounting on the wearer'"'"'s head;

converting the visible image into a virtual image by refracting the visible image with a non-transparent reflecting mirror;

directing the virtual image through a viewfinder to a first predetermined portion of the sighting eye not to exceed 14% of a field of view of the sighting eye; and

occluding a second predetermined portion of the non-sighting eye corresponding to not more than 14% of a field of view of the non-sighting eye.

14. The method of presenting a visual image using a helmet integrated display system according to claim 13 wherein the video image means is a high resolution CRT having a video display.

15. The method of presenting a visual image using a helmet integrated display system according to claim 14 wherein the step of converting the visible image is performed by an optical lens.

16. The method of presenting a visual image using a helmet integrated display system according to claim 15 wherein the step of directing the virtual image is performed by a plurality of mirrors.

17. The method of presenting a visual image using a helmet integrated display system according to claim 16 wherein the step of converting the visible image into the virtual image is performed by locating the display of the CRT a distance away from the optical lens that is less than a focal length of the optical lens.

18. A helmet integrated display system adapted to mount on a wearer'"'"'s head for combining visual images perceived by the wearer'"'"'s sighting eye through a viewfinder and by the wearer'"'"'s non-sighting eye, the system comprising:

a frame adapted for mounting to the wearer'"'"'s head having webbing disposed in a central portion;

a housing mounted to the frame including a high resolution CRT having a display screen, a first mirror, an optical lens disposed at a predetermined adjustable distance away from the display screen that is less than a focal length of the optical lens, and a non-transparent second mirror, wherein a visible image produced by the display screen is reflected by the first mirror to the optical lens which converts the visible image to a virtual image, which virtual image is completely reflected by the second mirror out of the housing through a viewfinder located substantially in front of the sighting eye and into a predetermined portion of the sighting eye corresponding to about 14% of a field of view of the sighting eye;

an occlusion means disposed on the frame to occlude a predetermined portion of the non-sighting eye corresponding to about 14% of a field of view of the non-sighting eye;

an aft electronics package attached to the annular frame containing a CRT drive board and high voltage circuitry connected to the high resolution CRT through a first cable;

a portable battery power and signal supply assembly, adapted for mounting to the wearer, for providing a NTSC video signal and a power signal to the aft electronics package through a second cable; and

a video signal source connected to the portable battery and signal supply assembly through the second cable for providing the NTSC video signal.