Eyeglass-mount display having personalized fit module

• US 6,480,174 B1
• Filed: 10/09/1999
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sherwood Partners Incorporated, Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Optimize, Inc.
• Inventors: Hebert, Raymond T., Pfeiffer, James W., Hart, Gary E., Stirling, Loren D., Wingate, Barry, Montalbo, Roland J., Lee, Peter K. S., Kaufmann, Rick James
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Jimmy H.
• Application Number:
  US09/415,613
• Time in Patent Office: 1,130 Days
• Field of Search: 345/7, 345/8, 348/52, 348/53, 348/115, 359/13
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/08 Modular frames, easily exchangeable frame parts and lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/126 exchangeable or otherwise fitted to the shape of the nose

Abstract

An eyeglass-mount display (EMD) device includes a frame, a display pod, and a personalized module removably coupled to the frame. The frame has a cross-bracket and a pair of ear pieces each coupled to an end of the cross-bracket. The display pod is mounted to the cross-bracket and includes an electronic image generator for generating an image and optics for creating a virtual image. The personalized module includes preset fitting adjustments specific to a particular user. The module may also include corrective optical lenses. The removable personalized module enables multiple users to share the same EMD frame and display pod without making numerous fitting adjustments upon donning the EMD.

Claims

1. A display apparatus comprising:

a frame, the frame including a cross-bracket, a left ear piece, and a right ear piece, wherein the left ear piece is coupled to an end of the cross-bracket and the right ear piece is coupled to another end of the cross-bracket;

a display pod mounted to the cross-bracket, the display pod including an electronic video image generator and optics for creating a virtual image of an image generated by the electronic video image generator; and

a personalized module rigidly and removably coupled to the cross-bracket, wherein the personalized module includes an adjustment mechanism; and

wherein the adjustment mechanism allows a user, when wearing the apparatus, to adjust a position of the display pod with respect the eyes of the user, and wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a cam, the cam resting against a portion of the frame so as to adjust a position of either the left or the right ear piece with respect to the display pod, thereby adjusting a pitch and or a roll angle of the display pod with respect to the eyes of the user.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the left and right ear pieces are pivotally coupled to the cross-bracket, and are spring-loaded inward against the head of the user.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the adjustment mechanism includes an adjustable nose piece assembly configured to rest on the nose of the user, and the nose piece assembly includes detents to secure a horizontal and a vertical position of the display pod with respect to the eyes of the user.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the adjustment mechanism includes an adjustable nose piece assembly configured to rest on the nose of the user, and the nose piece assembly includes detents to secure a looking angle of the user into the display pod.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the personalized module includes at least one corrective ophthalmic lens.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the ophthalmic lens provides substantially the same ophthalmic correction provided by spectacles prescribed for the user.

7. A display apparatus comprising:

a frame, the frame including a cross-bracket, a left ear piece, and a right ear piece, wherein the left ear piece is coupled to an end of the cross-bracket and the right ear piece is coupled to another end of the cross-bracket, and wherein the left ear piece and the right ear piece are pivotally coupled to the cross-bracket;

a display pod mounted to the cross-bracket, the display pod including an electronic video image generator and optics for creating a virtual image of an image generated by the electronic video image generator; and

a personalized module rigidly and removably coupled to the cross-bracket, wherein the personalized module includes an adjustment mechanism;

wherein the adjustment mechanism allows a user, when wearing the apparatus, to adjust a position of the display pod with respect the eyes of the user, and wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a first cam resting against a portion of the left ear piece such that the first cam when turned adjusts a position of the left ear piece, and a second cam resting against a portion of the right ear piece such that the second cam when turned adjusts a position of the right ear piece.

8. A method of displaying an electrically generated image to a user, the method comprising the acts of:

providing a display apparatus, the display apparatus including a frame and a display pod attached to the frame, the frame including a cross-bracket and two ear pieces each coupled to the cross-bracket, the display pod including an image generator for generating the electrically generated image and display optics for creating a virtual image of the electrically generated image;

removably coupling a first personalized module to the frame, the first personalized module including a first adjustment mechanism for fitting the apparatus to a first user'"'"'s head;

placing the apparatus on the first user'"'"'s head so as to rest on the first user'"'"'s nose and ears; and

adjusting the first adjustment mechanism so as to allow the first user to see the electrically generated image;

wherein adjusting the first adjustment mechanism comprises turning a cam to adjust a roll angle of the display pod with respect to the first user'"'"'s eyes.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the acts of:

removing the first personalized module from the frame;

removably coupling a second personalized module to the frame, the second personalized module including a second adjustment mechanism for fitting the apparatus to a second user'"'"'s head;

placing on the second user'"'"'s head the display apparatus with the second personalized module attached so as to rest on the second user'"'"'s nose and ears; and

adjusting the second adjustment mechanism so as to allow the second user to see the electrically generated image.

10. The method of claims 9 further comprising the acts of:

removing the second personalized module from the display apparatus;

removably recoupling the first personalized module to the display apparatus; and

replacing on the first user'"'"'s head the display apparatus having the first personalized module attached, so as to allow the first user to see the electrically generated image without significantly adjusting the first adjustment mechanism.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein adjusting the first adjustment mechanism comprises positioning a nose piece assembly resting on the first user'"'"'s nose.

12. A method of displaying an electrically generated image to a user, the method comprising the acts of:

providing a display apparatus, the display apparatus including a frame and a display pod attached to the frame, the frame including a cross-bracket and two ear pieces each coupled to the cross-bracket, the display pod including an image generator for generating the electrically generated image and display optics for creating a virtual image of the electrically generated image;

removably coupling a first personalized module to the frame, the first personalized module including a first adjustment mechanism for fitting the apparatus to a first

placing the apparatus on the first user'"'"'s head so as to rest on the first user'"'"'s nose and ears; and

adjusting the first adjustment mechanism so as to allow the first user to see the electrically generated image;

wherein adjusting the first adjustment mechanism comprises turning a cam to adjust the pitch angle of the display pod with respect to the first user'"'"'s eyes.