Low cost virtual reality system

• US 6,414,731 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2001
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Lasko-Harvill, Ann, Lanier, Jaron Z, Teitel, Michael A
• Primary Examiner(s): TON, MINH TOAN T
• Application Number:
  US09/779,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20010009409A1
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 349/97, 349/98, 349/106, 349/115, 355/464, 355/465
• US Class Current: 349/97
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/00 Teaching, or communicating with, the blind, deaf or mute audible presentation of material to be studied G09B5/04; devices or methods for replacing direct visual or auditory perception by another kind of perception A61F9/08, A61F11/04; audible indication of meter readings or of colour G01D7/12; watches for blind persons G04B25/02; speech analysis, speech recognition G10L; sound-recording or reproducing, per se G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/22 including aircraft sound simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/308 by LCD, gas plasma display or electroluminescent display
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/326 the image being transformed by optical means

Abstract

Apparatus is disclosed for viewing computer generated images and for tracking the positions of the user'"'"'s head and hand. One alternative of the apparatus includes a frame element, versatilely mountable, with sensors for the head tracking of a user whose bodily movement is constrained to a small area. Short range and inexpensive sensors are deployed for tracking the position of the user'"'"'s head; these sensors are deployed partly on a on the user'"'"'s head and partly on the tracking frame. All the electronics for tracking and user input are enclosed in a mobile pack. In another alternative of the tracking invention natural forces such as gravity, the Earth'"'"'s magnetic field, and inertia are used, so additional references. The display allows for interchangeable optical elements so that it may be tailored to suit the needs of a particular user or application. One optical element disclosed is a bicolor polarizer, which allows an lcd to inexpensively provide a bicolor display without loss of resolution.

Claims

1. A bicolor liquid crystal display, comprising

a) a first polarizer optically coupleable to a light source;

c) a polarization rotating array;

d) a bicolor analyzer, which passes only a first narrow range of wavelengths at a first polarization angle, and passes only a second narrow range of wavelengths at a second polarization perpendicular to the first polarization angle.