Wireless active eyewear for stereoscopic applications

• US 5,463,428 A
• Filed: 02/08/1994
• Issued: 10/31/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RealD Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Stereographics Corporation (RealD Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hursey, Robert, Mitchell, Larry H., Lipton, Lenny, Halnon, Jeffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAI, HUY KIM
• Application Number:
  US08/193,279
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 351/41, 351/45, 351/158, 359/36, 359/85, 359/88, 359/257
• US Class Current: 351/158
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/24 involving temporal multiplexing, e.g. using sequentially activated left and right shutters
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/101 having an electro-optical light valve electro-optical elements per se G02F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

Wireless active eyewear includes a frame having a front portion and a rear portion. A gasket and shutter assembly and a circuit board are held between the front and rear portions of the frame. The non-conductive gasket has electro-optical shutters integrally formed therewith and includes conductive plugs extending therefrom which electrically contact each of the electro-optical shutters and the circuit board. The frame includes temple arms hingedly attached thereto and an on/off switch which is actuated by opening and closing the temple arms.

Claims

1. In wireless active eyewear of the type used for viewing field sequential stereoscopic images which are generated along with synchronization information by a video source, said eyewear having a frame including a pair of lens openings and a pair of temple arms, a pair of electro-optical shutters mounted in correspondence with respective lens openings, an electrical circuit in contact with the shutters for driving the shutters out of phase with each other in accordance with the synchronization information, and a battery to power the electrical circuit, the improvement comprising the electro-optical shutters being integrally mounted in a soft and flexible molded gasket, said gasket being substantially non-conductive except for a plurality of conductive regions, said conductive regions being in electrical contact with said electro-optical shutters, wherein said gasket provides a protective shock mounting for the electro-optical shutters.

2. The eyewear of claim 1, the gasket further comprising an integrally molded nosepiece.

3. The eyewear of claim 1, wherein the conductive regions comprise a first plurality of conductive plugs grouped immediately adjacent to one of the lens openings and in contact with one of the electro-optical shutters and a second plurality of conductive plugs grouped immediately adjacent to the other of the lens openings and in contact with the other of the electro-optical shutters.

4. Wireless active eyewear utilizable for viewing field-sequential stereoscopic images, comprising:

a frame comprising a front portion having an inside surface and a pair of lens openings therein and a rear portion attached to the inside surface of the front portion and having a pair of lens openings therein;

a circuit board attached between the front portion and the rear portion;

a gasket attached between the front portion and the circuit board, said gasket being substantially non-conductive and having a pair of electro-optical shutters integrally mounted therein in correspondence with the lens openings and a plurality of conductive regions which are in electrical contact with the shutters and with the circuit board;

a pair of temple arms each pivotally attached to the frame and foldable toward the inside surface of the front portion, one of said temple arms having an actuation lever; and

a switch positioned in close proximity to the actuation lever, wherein opening the temple arms causes the actuation lever to engage the switch and closing the temple arms causes the actuation lever to disengage the switch.

5. The eyewear of claim 4, wherein the conductive regions comprise a first plurality of conductive plugs grouped immediately adjacent to one of the lens openings and in contact with one of the electro-optical shutters and a second plurality of conductive plugs grouped immediately adjacent to the other of the lens openings and in contact with the other of the electro-optical shutters.

6. Wireless active eyewear as in claim 4, wherein the rear portion includes a face panel and a pair of temple panels, wherein the circuit board includes a pair of temple pads which conform to respective temple panels of the rear portion, a connecting strip which conforms to a first portion of the face panel outside of the lens openings and electrically connects the temple pads, and a pair of lens pads which conform to second portions of the face panel immediately adjacent to respective lens openings, wherein the gasket conforms to the face panel and abuts the connecting strip and lens pads of the circuit board such that the plurality of conductive regions are in electrical contact with the lens pads.

7. Active eyewear for stereoscopic applications, comprising:

a frame including a pair of lens openings and a pair of temple arms pivotally connected thereto, wherein a first of said temple arms has a post extending therefrom adjacent to its pivotal connection and the frame has a post opening located in correspondence with the post,

a pair of electro-optical shutters mounted in respective lens openings,

a circuit electronically coupled to the electro-optical shutters and to a controller, including means for receiving synchronization information from the controller and for driving the shutters out of phase with each other in accordance with the synchronization information,

means to power the circuit,

a switch wired in series with the power means and affixed to the frame proximate to the first temple arm,

an actuator mounted on the frame adjacent to the switch and comprising a ramp portion, a plunger portion and a spring portion, wherein the plunger portion has a first end movably coupled to the frame and a second end movably engaged in the post opening, wherein the ramp portion is connected to the first end of the plunger portion and extends therefrom to contact and activate the switch when the plunger portion is depressed, and wherein the spring portion is connected transversely to the plunger portion and biases the plunger portion toward a deactivated position.

8. Eyewear as in claim 7, wherein the actuator comprises an integrally molded part.

9. Eyewear as in claim 8, wherein the frame includes a surface proximate to the pivotal connection having a plurality of pins extending therefrom for positioning the switch and the actuator on the surface.

10. Eyewear as in claim 9, wherein the switch is mounted over at least one of said pins, and wherein the plunger portion includes an elongated opening on its first end which is mounted over one of said pins, and wherein each end of the spring portion is held in place by two of said pins.

11. Eyewear as in claim 8, wherein the switch includes contacts having surfaces made from gold.

12. Wireless active eyewear utilizable for viewing field-sequential stereoscopic images, comprising:

a frame having a pair of lens openings and a post opening,

a pair of temple arms pivotally attached to the frame,

a gasket incorporated within the frame, said gasket being substantially non-conductive and having a pair of electro-optical shutters integrally mounted therein in correspondence with the lens openings and a plurality of conductive regions which are in electrical contact with the shutters and with the circuit board,

a circuit incorporated within the frame and electronically coupled to the electro-optical shutters and to a controller, including means for receiving synchronization information from the controller and for driving the shutters out of phase with each other in accordance with the synchronization information, and

means to power the circuit.

13. Eyewear as in claim 12, further comprising:

a switch wired in series with the power means and affixed to the frame proximate to one of said temple arms, and

an actuator mounted on the frame adjacent to the switch and comprising a ramp portion, a plunger portion and a spring portion, wherein the plunger portion has a first end movably coupled to the frame and a second end movably engaged in the post opening, wherein the ramp portion is connected to the first end of the plunger portion and extends therefrom to contact and activate the switch when the plunger portion is depressed through the post opening by said one of said temple arms, and wherein the spring portion is connected transversely to the plunger portion and biases the plunger portion toward a deactivated position.