Ambient light display illumination for a head-mounted display

• US 6,008,946 A
• Filed: 11/07/1997
• Issued: 12/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Knowles, Gary R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lucas, Michael A
• Application Number:
  US08/966,142
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 359/618, 359/518, 359/577, 359/630
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features

Abstract

A head mounted display in which ambient light is used to illuminate a display to at or near the brightness of the scene being viewed when both reach the user'"'"'s eyes. A small supplemental light source may further be used to increase the range of operation of the display when ambient light levels are insufficient to make the display screen viewable.

Claims

1. A method of positioning an image from a display on a viewed scene comprising the steps of:

directing ambient light through the display;

passing the image from the display to a combiner;

passing the viewed scene through the combiner whereby the image from the display is superimposed on the viewed scene;

directing light from a supplemental light source through the display

activating the supplemental light source when the ambient light drops below a predetermined level; and

directing light from the supplemental light source though the display to augment the ambient light passing through the display.

2. Apparatus for positioning an image from a display on a viewed scene comprising:

an ambient light director for directing ambient light from the viewed scene through the display;

a combiner for receiving the image from the display and causing it to be superimposed on the viewed scene;

a supplemental light source which augments the light supplied by the ambient light director to the display; and

an ambient light detector for detecting the level of ambient light, and causing the supplemental light source to augment the light supplied to the display when the level of ambient light drops below a predetermined level.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the supplemental light source remains on throughout all levels of ambient light.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the display is of the type selected from the group consisting of AMLCD, PAMEL or micro-mirror displays.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising:

a beamsplitter for reflecting the image from the display to the combiner and allowing reflected images of the display and images from the scene to pass therethrough.