Monocular head-mounted display system

• US 6,452,572 B1
• Filed: 07/22/1998
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kopin Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kopin Corporation
• Inventors: Fan, John C. C., Jacobsen, Jeffrey, Ronzani, Peter A., Pombo, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): WU, XIAO MIN
• Application Number:
  US09/120,901
• Time in Patent Office: 1,518 Days
• Field of Search: 345/7, 345/8, 345/9, 345/4, 345/5, 345/6, 345/87, 345/102, 345/76, 345/82, 345/905, 345/903, 348/794, 348/790, 348/800, 348/801, 348/51, 348/53, 348/54, 351/158, 359/630, 359/631
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/011 comprising device for correcting geometrical aberrations, distortion
• 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 2027/0154 with movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0158 with adjustable nose pad
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0159 with mechanical means other than scaning means for positioning the whole image
• 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 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/18 Diffraction gratings holographic optical elements G02B5/32, G03H; integrally combined with optical fibres G02B6/02057; for coupling light guides G02B6/34; integrally combined with optical integrated light guides G02B6/12; grating systems G02B27/44
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/30 Polarising elements light-modulating devices with active elements G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/12 Adjusting pupillary distance of binocular pairs

Abstract

A monocular head mounted display system in which a matrix display element is mounted within a housing that is positioned relative to one eye of the user to display information. The display is connected to a video or information source such that the user can view information or images shown on the display. The display can be mounted to a frame so that the user can move the display in and out of the user'"'"'s filed of view without adjusting the supporting harness that holds the display on the user'"'"'s head.

Claims

1. A head-mounted display system comprising:

a support frame;

a monocular display module housing coupled to the support frame, the monocular display module housing having a liquid crystal matrix display mounted within the display housing, a matrix display driver circuit within the display housing, a lens system mounted within the display module housing to couple an image generated by the liquid crystal matrix display to an eye of a user, a backlight to illuminate the display, and a reflector that reflects light from the backlight through a diffuser positioned between the backlight and the matrix display, where the backlight, the display, and the lens system are aligned along a single linear optical axis;

a circuit housing coupled to the support frame and securable to the head of the user, the circuit housing having display circuitry mounted therein that controls the liquid crystal matrix display to generate an image; and

a wireless two-way communications circuit coupled to the support frame, the communications circuit electrically connected to the circuit housing and the communications circuit receiving image data from a remote source.

2. The display system of claim 1 wherein the two-way communications module is a wireless telephone that receives audio and image data and transmitting audio data.

3. The display system of claim 2 further comprising a microphone mounted to the support frame.

4. The display system of claim 1 further comprising a memory module on the support frame.

5. The display system of claim 1 further comprising a camera connected to the two-way communications module to record image data.

6. The display system of claim 1 further comprising a modem on the support frame.

7. The display system of claim 1 further comprising a keyboard electrically connected to the circuit housing.

8. A method of using a monocular display system adjacent the head of a user, the monocular display system having a display housing, a circuit housing and a support frame, comprising:

positioning the display housing along the support frame relative to the first eye or the second eye of the user, where the display housing has an electronic liquid crystal display, a backlight, a reflector, a diffuser, and an optical lens system with the backlight, the diffuser, the liquid crystal display, and the optical lens system aligned along a single linear axis, where the circuit housing is securable to the support frame positioned adjacent to the head of a user, the circuit housing having display circuitry mounted therein that operates the electronic display to generate an image, and where the support frame coupled to the circuit housing holds the display housing, the display housing moveable relative to the support frame and the circuit housing and the display housing movable between a first position adjacent one eye of the user and a second position adjacent a second eye of the user while the circuit housing is secured to the support frame;

receiving image data with a wireless receiver; and

connecting the electronic display, a microphone, and a speaker to a wireless telephone transceiver module, the microphone and speaker coupled to the circuit housing.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising providing a battery mounted to the support frame that provides power to the display.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising providing a camera mounted to the support frame.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising recording an image memory module mounted to the support frame, the module having a slot that can receive a memory card.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising rotating the display relative to the support frame.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising providing a backlight including a red, a green and a blue light source.

14. A method of using a monocular display system adjacent the head of a user, the monocular display system having a display housing, a circuit housing and a support frame, comprising:

positioning the display housing along the support frame relative to the first eye or the second eye of the user, where the display housing has an electronic liquid crystal display, a backlight, a reflector, a diffuser, and an optical lens system with the backlight, the diffuser, the liquid crystal display, and the optical lens system aligned along a single linear axis, where the circuit housing is securable to the support frame positioned adjacent to the head of a user, the circuit housing having display circuitry mounted therein that operates the electronic display to generate an image, and where the support frame coupled to the circuit housing holds the display housing, the display housing moveable relative to the support frame and the circuit housing and the display housing movable between a first position adjacent one eye of the user and a second position adjacent a second eye of the user while the circuit housing is secured to the support frame;

receiving image data with a wireless receiver; and

inserting a memory card into a memory interface module on the support frame.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising providing a battery mounted to the support frame that provides power to the display.

16. The system of claim 14 further comprising providing a camera mounted to the support frame.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising recording an image on the memory card.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising rotating the display relative to the support frame.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising providing a backlight including a red, a green and a blue light source.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising coupling light to the display with the reflector.