Personal visual display system

• US 6,160,666 A
• Filed: 03/23/1998
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: i-O Display Systems LLC (Ilixco, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: i-O Display Systems LLC (Ilixco, Inc.)
• Inventors: Amadon, C. Gregory, Rallison, Richard Dennis, Mack, Wolfgang Adam Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): SEYRAFI, SAEED HMT
• Application Number:
  US09/046,805
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 359/630, 359/631, 359/633, 359/632, 345/7, 345/8, 345/3
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0143 the two eyes not being equipped with identical nor symmetrical optical devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/283 used for beam splitting or combining
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/08 with discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lens diffractive Fresnel lenses G02B5/1876
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/30 Polarising elements light-modulating devices with active elements G02F1/00

Abstract

A visual display device is provided for delivering a generated image, preferably combinable with environment light, to the eye of a user. The device is lightweight and compact but yields a high quality image. In one embodiment, a color shutter provides a high-density color image. In one embodiment, a shroud protects from stray light and holds optical elements in desired alignment. In one embodiment an image generator is masked by at least two masks to provide for a high quality image without waste. In one embodiment, a removably mounted shield or activatable device can convert the apparatus from a see-through device to an immersion device and back again. In one embodiment, the device can be comfortably mounted to the user'"'"'s head while still allowing for use of conventional eyeglasses. In one embodiment various controls, such as a mute button, volume control and the like can be provided, such as by mounting on the head-mounted display device.

Claims

1. A head-mounted visual display apparatus for a user, comprising:

an image generator, which outputs image light;

optical elements configured to receive said image light from said image generator and provide said image to the eye position of the user;

a removably mounted substantially opaque shield wherein said shield, when mounted, substantially prevents mixing of environmental light with said image light and, when removed, allows combination of said image light with environmental light to provide the user with at least a partial view of the environment; and

a holder configured to mount the image generator and optical elements to the user'"'"'s head.

2. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a color shutter, spaced from said output surface for controlling the color of light transmitted through said color shutter coordinated with said image generator to produce a full-color image;

a fold mirror positioned to receive the image light from the image generator and to reflect at least a first portion of said image light wherein said color shutter is positioned between said fold mirror and said eye position of the user;

a reflective combiner situated to receive said first portion of said image light from said fold mirror, reflect at least a second portion of said image light, wherein at least some of said image light is transmitted through said fold mirror to the eye position of the user, providing an optical path from said image generator to said fold mirror, to said combiner, back through said fold mirror, to said eye position of the user.

3. Visual display apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, further comprising means for providing said image light to said user with a substantially flat focal field.

4. Visual display apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

means for maintaining high contrast across the extent of said image light.

5. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

color shutter means spaced from said output surface for providing color in the light transmitted through said color shutter means and coordinated with said image generator to produce a full-color image;

a fold mirror positioned to receive the image light from the image generator and to reflect at least a first portion of said image light in a third direction wherein said color shutter is positioned between said fold mirror and said eye position of the user;

a reflective combiner situated to receive said first portion of said image light from said fold mirror, reflect at least a second portion of said image light wherein some of said image light is transmitted back through said fold mirror to the eye position of the user.

6. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

left and right shrouds, each having at least a lower substantially opaque surface and left and right substantially opaque side surfaces, said shrouds having integrated optics holders for holding at least some of said optics elements in a spatial relationship to said image generator, substantially sealed from the environment,

wherein said holder is configured to mount the image generator, optical elements and shrouds to the user'"'"'s head, positioning the shroud such that there is an open space between the shroud and the eye of the user sufficient to accommodate eyeglasses.

7. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 6, further comprising means for aligning said image generator with said optical elements.

8. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 7, further comprising means for aligning said image generator with said holder and means for aligning said shroud with said holder.

9. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image venerator comprises left and right image generation means for outputting image light in response to image information from an image source and further comprising

left means for holding said left image generator and for holding at least some of said optics elements in a spatial relationship to said left image generator, while blocking transmission of stray light to the left eye position of the user;

right means, distinct from said left means for holding said right image generator and for holding at least some of said optics elements in a spatial relationship to said right image generator;

while blocking stray light to the right eye position of the user; and

means for mounting, on the head of the user, the image generation means, and said optical means to said left and right means for holding.

10. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image generator comprises

left and right image generators, which output first and second image light and wherein said optical elements are configured to receive said first and second image light from said left and right image generators and provide at least portions of said first and second image light to the left and right eye positions of the user, defining left and right optical paths;

and

means for adjusting the effective position of at least one of the left and right image generators with respect to the other of the image generator independently of said optical elements so as to correct image disparity or focus.

11. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one speaker for providing sound; and

a button, functionally coupled to said speaker, for muting said sound in response to actuation of said button by said user.

12. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a button, functionally coupled to said image generator for interrupting generation of said image light in response to actuation of said button by said user.

13. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

user-activatable means, coupled to said head-mounted display for interrupting said output of said image light.

14. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a tracking module, mounted with respect to said head-mounted display to permit user removal thereof, for outputting an indication of the motion or position of the user'"'"'s head.

20. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first and second masks are formed in a single unitary piece.

15. A head-mounted visual display apparatus for a user, comprising:

an image generator having an output surface with a first perimeter, which outputs image light;

a backlight for said image generator;

a first mask between said backlight and said image generator defining a window with edges substantially congruent to said first perimeter;

a second mask, spaced from said first mask, between said image generator and said optics;

wherein said image generator outputs an image having an output image height and an output image width and wherein said second mask defines an aperture having a height which is about equal to or greater than said output image height and a width which is about equal to or greater than said output image width; and

optical elements configured to receive said image light from said image generator and provide said image to the eye position of the user.

16. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 15, wherein said first and second masks are separately formed.

17. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least one of said first and second masks is coupled to a means for aligning said first and second masks.

18. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 15 wherein as least one of said first and second masks is coupled to means for aligning with said image generator.

19. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least one of said first and second masks includes means for aligning at least one of said optical elements.

21. A head-mounted visual display apparatus for a user, comprising:

image generator means for outputting image light;

optical means for receiving said image light from said image generator and providing said image to the eye position of the user;

a holder configured to mount the image generator and optical elements to the user'"'"'s head'"'"'s and

substantially opaque shield means coupled to said holder so as to be movable between a first position wherein said shield substantially prevents mixing of environmental light with said image light and a second position which allows combination of said image light with environmental light to provide the user with at least a partial view of the environment simultaneously with a view of the image light.

22. A head-mounted visual display apparatus for a user, comprising:

image generator means for outputting image light;

optical means for receiving said image light from said image generator and providing said image to the eye position of the user;

a holder configured to mount the image generator and optical elements to the user'"'"'s head'"'"'s and

substantially opaque shield means coupled to said holder so as to be movable between a first position wherein said shield substantially prevents mixing of environmental light with said image light and a second position which allows combination of said image light with environmental light to provide the user with at least a partial view of the environment simultaneously with a view of the image light, wherein said shield means comprises a detachable opaque shield, with coupling means comprising a pivot to provide a flip-up shield.

23. A head-mounted visual display apparatus for a user comprising:

an image generator which outputs image light;

optical elements configured to receive said image light from said image generator and provide said image to the eye position of the user;

a holder configured to mount the image generator and optical elements to the user'"'"'s head;

user-activatable means, coupled to said head-mounted display for interrupting said output of said image light wherein said user-activatable means is mounted on said holder;

a substantially opaque shield movable between a first position wherein said shield substantially prevents mixing, of environmental light with said image light, and a second position wherein said image light is allowed to combine with environmental light to provide the user with at least a partial view of the environment simultaneously with a view of said image light.

24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein said shield is pivotally mounted to said holder.

25. Apparatus as claimed in claim 23, farther comprising a shield, wherein transmission of environmental light through said shield can be selectively controlled.

26. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein said shield is an electrically activated coating.

27. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein said shield comprises an electro-mechanically controlled iris.

28. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein said shield comprises a photochromically activated coating.

29. A head-mounted visual display apparatus for a user comprising:

an optical generator which outputs image light;

optical elements configured to receive said image light from said image generator and provide said image to the eye position of the user;

a holder configured to mount the image generator and optical elements to the user'"'"'s'"'"'s head;

a tracking module for outputting an indication of the motion or position of the user'"'"'s head; and

means for mounting said tracking module on said head-mounted display so as to permit user removal thereof.

30. A method for providing head-mounted visual display of an image to a user comprising:

providing an image generator which outputs image light in at least a first direction;

receiving said image light by a fold mirror and reflecting at least a first portion of said image light in a second directions;

receiving said image light from said fold mirror and magnifying said image light by reflecting said image light in a direction towards the eye position of the user;

positioning a color shutter for providing color image light;

mounting at least said fold mirror and reflective combiner on a shroud having at least a lower surface and a side surface;

positioning a backlight adjacent said image generator;

positioning a first mask between said backlight and said image generator;

positioning a second mask between said image generator and said fold mirror;

positioning said holder on the head of a user wherein said shroud is spaced at least one inch from said user'"'"'s eye position to accommodate eyeglasses;

mounting at least one speaker with respect to said holder, for providing sound;

activating a button mounted on said holder for muting at least ore of said sound and said image light; and

removably mounting a tracking module for outputting an indication of the motion or position of the user'"'"'s head.