Image display glasses having an LCD for displaying an image wherein the image provides for viewing by others

• US 5,594,573 A
• Filed: 10/15/1993
• Issued: 01/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MEA Technologies Pte Limited
• Original Assignee: MEA Technologies Pte Limited
• Inventors: August, Gregg D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gross, Anita Pellman
• Assistant Examiner(s): TON, MINH TOAN T
• Application Number:
  US08/136,165
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 359/83, 359/94, 359/630, 359/53, 359/40, 351/41, 351/158
• US Class Current: 349/13
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0196 having transparent supporting structure for display mounting, e.g. to a window or a windshield
• 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

Abstract

Glasses include lens assemblies held by a frame to be worn by a user. The lens assemblies have liquid crystal displays which are operatively connected to a PC board mounted on the frame. The printed circuit board drives the liquid crystal display to produce animated images which may be seen by one facing the wearer. A battery mounted on the frame powers the chip and PC board.

Claims

1. Image display glasses comprising a pair of lenses:

a transparent lens assembly for each of said lenses;

a frame which holds said lens assemblies;

said glasses capable of displaying an animated image viewable from the front of said lens assemblies;

a liquid crystal display contained sandwiched in each said lens assembly, said liquid crystal display containing a plurality of energizable crystals;

electronic means contained within said frame and operatively connected to said liquid crystal display for selectively activating said crystals to produce a visible image;

program means contained within said frame and for use for controlling the sequence of operations of the electronic means in selectively activating said liquid crystal displays;

a source of battery current within said frame operatively connected to said electronic means;

said electronic means selectively energizing said crystals to produce an animated display in each lens assembly;

said electronic means comprising a PC board which cooperates with the program means for selectively inducing said animated display; and

whereby the induced animated display upon the front surface of the lens assembly provides for viewing by others rather than the wearer of said image display glasses, without completely obstructing viewing by the wearer of said glasses.

2. The image display glasses of claim 1 wherein said source of current is a solar battery.

3. The image display glasses of claim 1 and further including means for selectively altering the animated image produced in the lens assemblies.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said means for altering said image includes at least two liquid crystal displays stacked in said frame, said programmed means including means for switching between said displays to selectively operate the desired animated display.

5. The image display glasses of claim 4 wherein said switching means includes a plurality of jumpers.

6. The image display glasses of claim 5 wherein said jumpers are each connected on one side of the lens assembly to separate ports, and on another side of the lens assembly to a common port, said jumpers being selectively openable and closable to selectively switch between said animated displays.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein said electronic means includes resistor means connected in parallel across said battery, a pair of capacitors connected in series with said resistor, computer means containing a clock oscillator, a crystal means connected in parallel with said capacitors to set the frequency of the said clock oscillator, jumper means connecting with the output of the crystal means and cooperating with the program means to conduct charge to the liquid crystal display within the lens assemblies for furnishing an animated display to an observer.