Method and apparatus to reduce binocular rivalry in a partial overlap binocular display

• US 5,233,458 A
• Filed: 07/01/1991
• Issued: 08/03/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kaiser Aerospace & Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kaiser Aerospace & Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: Melzer, James E., Moffitt, Kirk W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnold, Bruce Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THONG Q
• Application Number:
  US07/723,865
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 359/362, 359/363, 359/575, 359/576, 359/404, 359/407-435, 359/462-482, 359/503-505, 359/629, 359/630-633, 359/227-236, 350/363-367, 350/399-410, 350/423-435, 350/462-482, 351/201-206, 351/240-246
• US Class Current: 359/227
• 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 2027/0143 the two eyes not being equipped with identical nor symmetrical optical devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/18 for binocular arrangements focusing binocular pairs G02B7/06; adjusting pupillary distance of binocular pairs G02B7/12
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features

Abstract

A method and apparatus for reducing the effects of binocular rivalry in a partially overlapped binocular image are disclosed. A false contour line is generated either electronically or mechanically along the border between the binocular and monocular images. This contour line reduces binocular rivalry in both convergent and divergent partially overlapped binocular displays.

Claims

1. In a partial overlap binocular display, a method for reducing rivalry comprising the steps of:

generating a first monocular image;

generating a second monocular image;

overlapping a predefined portion of the second monocular image over a predefined portion of the first monocular image; and

generating contour lines at the outer edges of the overlapping predefined portion of the first and second images.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second monocular images overlap to form a convergent overlapped image.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second monocular images overlap to form a divergent overlapped image.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the contour lines are generated electronically.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the contour lines are formed by a reticle at the image plane of the first and second monocular images.

6. An apparatus for reducing luning in a partial overlap binocular display comprising:

means for generating a first monocular image;

means for generating a second monocular image;

means for overlapping predefined portions of the first and second monocular images, creating a central overlapped image with outer edges; and

means for generating contour lines at the outer edges of the central overlapped image.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the contour lines are generated by a reticle.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the contour lines are generated electronically.

9. A display system for producing from first and second monocular images a binocular display for viewing by a user, the binocular display having a partial overlap, comprising:

means for generating the first and second monocular images;

means optically coupled to the generating means to display the first and second monocular images for viewing by the user in a partial overlap manner, forming thereby a viewable overlapped portion of the first and second monocular images; and

means for forming for each monocular image a visually perceptible contour line that defines the overlapped portion for resolving image rivalry in the partial overlap.