Electrostereoscopic eyewear

• US 6,388,797 B1
• Filed: 10/22/1999
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RealD Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Stereographics Corporation (RealD Incorporated)
• Inventors: McKee, William, Halnon, Jeffrey James, Lipton, Lenny
• Primary Examiner(s): MACK, RICKY LEVERN
• Application Number:
  US09/403,469
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 359/277, 359/630, 351/45, 351/158, 349/13, 349/58, 349/74, 349/83
• US Class Current: 359/277
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/24 involving temporal multiplexing, e.g. using sequentially activated left and right shutters
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/101 having an electro-optical light valve electro-optical elements per se G02F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

A pair of stereoscopic eyewear includes an element for integral assembly with the eyewear including a conductive circuit trace. The conductive pattern provides electrical contact between a contact area of the frame (which is hardwired to an electrical cable) and the contact pads of the liquid crystal shutter pair. Preferably, a conductive elastomer is used to facilitate the electrical contact to the shutters and the frame. Additionally, each wire of the cable is terminated with a fixed electrical contact adapted to securely mate with a slot in the frame that correspond to the contact area. A lens assembly attaches to the frame to rigidly hold the frame, the shutters and the conductive trace in intimate juxtapostion.

Claims

1. Stereoscopic eyewear, comprising:

a pair of liquid crystal shutters each having a contact pad for receiving electrical drive signals;

a frame having a pair of eye openings therein suitable for receiving the shutters;

an electrical cable incorporated with the frame and having a plurality of wires for providing drive signals, each wire having an end which is terminated with an electrical contact;

an electrical contact area incorporated with the frame and adapted to securely receive said electrical contacts;

an electrical coupling between the electrical contact area of the frame and respective contact pads of the shutters, said coupling including a conductive circuit trace formed on an insulating material; and

a lens assembly coupled to the frame and rigidly holding the frame, the shutters and the electrical coupling in intimate juxtaposition.

2. Stereoscopic eyewear as in claim 1, wherein the conductive trace is formed on a portion of the lens assembly.

3. Stereoscopic eyewear as in claim 1, wherein the conductive trace is formed on a portion of the frame.

4. Stereoscopic eyewear as in claim 1, further comprising a mask held between the lens assembly and the frame, wherein the conductive trace is formed on a portion of the mask.

5. Stereoscopic eyewear as in claim 1, wherein a conductive elastomer is positioned between each contact pad of the shutters and the electrical coupling.

6. Stereoscopic eyewear as in claim 1, wherein a conductive elastomer is positioned between the contact area of the frame and the electrical coupling.

7. Stereoscopic eyewear as in claim 1, wherein each wire is terminated with a spring pin, and wherein the contact area of the frame includes corresponding retaining slots adapted to receive each spring pin.

8. Stereoscopic eyewear as in claim 1, wherein the electrical contact area includes a printed circuit board adapted to condition the drive signals to appropriately drive the liquid crystal shutters.

9. A method for making a pair of stereoscopic eyewear, comprising the steps of:

providing a pair of liquid crystal shutters each having a contact pad for receiving a drive signal;

providing a frame having a pair of eye openings suitable for receiving the liquid crystal shutter;

incorporating with the frame an electrical cable having a plurality of wires for providing the drive signals;

incorporating with the frame an electrical contact area including a plurality of retaining slots;

terminating the end of each wire with a spring clip adapted to mate with the retaining slot;

inserting each spring clip into a respective retaining slot;

providing a conductive pattern on a insulating material suitable for providing electrical contact between the contact pads of the shutters and the contact area of the frame; and

providing a lens assembly for holding the frame, shutters and conductive pattern in intimate juxtaposition.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the conductive pattern is provided on the frame.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the conductive pattern is provided on the lens assembly.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the conductive pattern is provided on a mask which is held in intimate juxtaposition with the frame and the shutters by the lens assembly.

13. In stereoscopic eyewear wherein a pair of liquid crystal shutters are mounted in corresponding openings in a frame and each shutter has a contact pad adapted for receiving electrical drive signals to the shutter, wherein the improvement comprises the frame having a conductive circuit trace formed on an insulating material and held in contact with the contact pads.

14. Stereoscopic eyewear as in claim 13, wherein the conductive circuit trace is formed on a mask held in intimate juxtaposition with the frame.