Augmented imaging using a silhouette to improve contrast
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A display apparatus in which a viewer perceives a virtual image overlaid onto ambient environment background light, comprising:
- a virtual image display for generating a virtual image;
a silhouette display in a path of the background light, the silhouette display having a transparent display region;
a controller for controlling an amount of background light passing through a portion of the silhouette display'"'"'s transparent display region;
wherein a viewer receives from the virtual image display light which defines the virtual image and receives background light through the silhouette display with background light reduced in portions of the silhouette display, wherein the reduced background light portion of the silhouette display forms a mask for the virtual image.
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Abstract
An augmented display includes an image display source and a silhouette display source. The image display source generates a virtual image to be perceived by a viewer. The silhouette display source occurs in the path of the background light. The silhouette display source generates a mask corresponding to the image content of the image display. The mask is a darkened area reducing or blocking background light. As the light from the virtual image is overlaid onto the background, there is less background light in the portion where the image appears.
97 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A display apparatus in which a viewer perceives a virtual image overlaid onto ambient environment background light, comprising:
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a virtual image display for generating a virtual image; a silhouette display in a path of the background light, the silhouette display having a transparent display region; a controller for controlling an amount of background light passing through a portion of the silhouette display'"'"'s transparent display region; wherein a viewer receives from the virtual image display light which defines the virtual image and receives background light through the silhouette display with background light reduced in portions of the silhouette display, wherein the reduced background light portion of the silhouette display forms a mask for the virtual image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An augmented display, comprising:
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an image source having an image output and being operative to emit light forming a visible image; a beam combiner having a first input, a second input, and a combiner output, the beam combiner being positioned to receive light emitted by the image source at the first input and to receive light from a background at the second input, the beam combiner being operative to produce a combined image including light received at the first input and the second input and to output the combined image at the combiner output; and a silhouette interposed between the second input and the background, the silhouette including a first region operative to transmit light from the background to the second input with a first attenuation and a second region operative to transmit light from the background to the second input with a second attenuation different than the first attenuation. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A virtual retinal display apparatus, comprising:
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a display output configured for coupling to a viewer'"'"'s eye; a first light emitter having a first signal input terminal and being responsive to emit light in a pattern defined by an image signal received at the first signal input terminal; a silhouette positioned to receive light from a background, the silhouette having a plurality of regions of variable transmissivity; and a beam combiner having a first input positioned to receive the emitted light and a second input positioned to receive light from the plurality of regions of variable transmissivity, the beam combiner being operative to produce a combined image responsive to light received at the first and second inputs. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for forming an augmented image having an overlaid virtual image in contrast with background light, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating light defining a virtual image to be perceived by a viewer; passing background light through a silhouette display, wherein background light is light from an ambient environment viewed by a viewer; overlaying the virtual image light and the background light; generating a mask for the virtual image by reducing the amount of background light passing through a portion of the silhouette display. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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Specification