Video headset

• US 5,696,521 A
• Filed: 06/22/1994
• Issued: 12/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Astounding Technologies Sendirian Berhad
• Original Assignee: Astounding Technologies Sendirian Berhad
• Inventors: Yankee, Wayne A., Schor, Clifton M., Muller, Peter H., Fantone, Stephen D., Robinson, Jack D., Young, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Application Number:
  US08/264,037
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: 345/8, 381/25, 381/94, 381/98, 359/637, 359/13, 224/262, 35/8 A, 348/88, 348/53
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• 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

Abstract

A video headset is worn comfortably on the head of a user, supported by a pair of spaced apart straps extending over the top of the head and across the lower back of the head. The rear strap may be counterweighted. A pair of headphone type speakers are supported on pivoted arms from a frame of the headset, so as to be swingably adjustable to accommodate ear position. In a preferred embodiment, a pair of LCD video displays are positioned above the level of the user'"'"'s eyes, each with a beam splitter positioned in front of the eyes to reflect a portion of the light from the video screens to the user. The partially transmissive beam splitters allow the user to see through to the ambient scene beyond, increasing the comfort of the user in viewing the video. A transparent shield preferably is positioned forward of the video optics, with an adjustment under the control of the user for controlling the brightness of the ambient light. The video screens and optics preferably set the user'"'"'s convergence angle at about eight feet, for optimum comfort.

Claims

1. A video headset for wearing on the human head, for presenting video images and sound to the user, comprising:

a strap means for engaging the user'"'"'s head so as to support the video headset on the head,

a headset frame secured to forward ends of said strap means,

a pair of video screens, one presenting images to each of the left and right eyes of the user, and means connected to the headset frame for supporting the two video screens,

a catadioptric optical means including a pair of reflector means one supported on the headset frame in front of each eye, for receiving an image from one of the video screens and for reflecting the image to the user'"'"'s eye,

each said reflector means being partially reflective and partially transmissive, each of the reflector means being positioned such that each video screen image is first transmitted through the corresponding reflector means and later is reflected by the same reflector means towards the user'"'"'s eye,

each said reflector means permitting the user to see through the reflector means when sufficient light is present in front of the user beyond the headset,

ambient light control means in front of the user, forward of said reflector means and supported by said headset frame, for enabling the user to continuously control the brightness of light from outside and forward of the headset, within the user'"'"'s view, and

a pair of headphone speakers, with speaker supporting means connected to the headset frame for positioning a speaker at each ear of the user.

2. A video headset according to claim 1, wherein the ambient light control means comprises a substantially transparent shield connected to and supported by the headset frame and positioned forward of said reflector means, i.e. on the opposite side of the reflector means from the user, with adjustment means under the control of the user for varying the light transmissivity of the shield.

3. A video headset according to claim 2, wherein the shield forward of the screens and optics comprises a liquid crystal shutter with means for switching the liquid crystal shutter from substantially opaque to near-transparent.

4. A video headset according to claim 2, wherein the shield includes electrochromatic means for adjusting the shield to transmit more or less light to the user.

5. A video headset for wearing on the human head, for presenting video images and sound to the user, comprising:

a strap means for engaging the user'"'"'s head so as to support the video headset on the head,

a headset frame secured to forward ends of said strap means,

a pair of video screens, one presenting images to each of the left and right eyes of the user, and means connected to the headset frame for supporting the two video screens,

a catadioptric optical means including a pair of reflector means one supported on the headset frame in front of each eye, for receiving an image from one of the video screens and for reflecting the image to the user'"'"'s eye, and wherein the positioning of the video screens, and the optical means, include means forming an overlapping field of view from the two video screens, so that the image presented to the user is only partially binocular, being monocular in left and right outer regions,

each said reflector means being partially reflective and partially transmissive, each of the reflector means being positioned such that each video screen image is first transmitted through the corresponding reflector means and later is reflected by the same reflector means towards the user'"'"'s eye,

each said reflector means permitting the user to see through the reflector means when sufficient light is present in front of the user beyond the headset, and

a pair of headphone speakers, with speaker supporting means connected to the headset frame for positioning a speaker at each ear of the user.