Head-mounted virtual display apparatus with a near-eye light deflecting element in the peripheral field of view

• US 6,771,423 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2003
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard Geist
• Original Assignee: Richard Geist
• Inventors: Geist, Richard Edwin
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harrington, Alicia M.
• Application Number:
  US10/335,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20030184868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 359/13, 359/630-633, 345/7-9, 348/115
• US Class Current: 359/630
• 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

Abstract

The present invention is a head-mounted virtual display apparatus based on a cross-cavity optical configuration, in which a near-eye light deflecting element (LDE) is located in the peripheral field of view. Positioning of the near-eye LDE in the peripheral field of view provides the user simultaneously with “look toward” access to an inset magnified image of a miniature display and an unobstructed forward field of view of at least 35 degrees. Active and passive alignment means, including articulating connections and image warping electronics, allow correction of geometric distortion arising from folding of the optical train and/or embodiments based on off-axis optical configurations.

Claims

1. A virtual display apparatus based on a cross-cavity optical configuration comprising:

a support means attached and connected to

a near-eye optic assembly comprising;

a near-eye optic attached and connected to

a near-eye optic holder attached and connected to

a near-eye optic support bracket attached and connected to said support means;

furthermore said support means is additionally attached and connected to

an adjacent folding optic assembly comprising;

an adjacent folding optic attached and connected to

an adjacent folding optic holder attached and connected to

an adjacent folding optic support bracket attached and connected to said support means;

furthermore said support means is additionally attached and connected to

an image source assembly comprising;

a real image source, in communication with electrical and electronic means, attached and connected to

an image source holder attached and connected to

an image source support bracket attached and connected to said support means; and

a magnifying stage holder attached and connected to said image source support bracket;

and additionally attached and connected to

a magnifying stage in close proximity to said real image source;

wherein said magnifying stage is disposed for simultaneous illumination reception from said real image source for first intermediate image formation and illumination transmission to said adjacent folding optic and is selected to provide primary magnification of said real image source;

wherein said adjacent folding optic provides a light deflection means and is disposed for simultaneous illumination reception from said magnifying stage for second intermediate image formation and illumination redirection to said near-eye optic, and additionally selected to provide supplemental magnification of said real image source; and

wherein said near-eye optic provides a light deflection means, positioned in the normal peripheral field of view for unobstructed forward vision attainment, and is disposed for simultaneous illumination reception from said adjacent folding optic for observable virtual image formation and illumination redirection to the user'"'"'s eye; and

additionally selected to provide supplemental magnification of said real image source.

2. The virtual display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said magnifying stage is selected from the group consisting of at least one bulk optical element, a single two-dimensional lenslet array, and a stack of two-dimensional lenslet arrays.

3. The virtual display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said support means is attached and connected to an additional optics assembly comprising:

at least one additional optic attached and connected to

an additional optic holder attached and connected to

an additional optic support bracket attached and connected to said support means;

wherein said additional optic is positioned within the optical train between said real image source and the user'"'"'s eye, and may be selected to provide supplemental magnification, aberration reduction, polarization and light deflection.

4. The virtual display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said magnifying stage holder is in close proximity to a focusing means selected for focused observable virtual image establishment and achievement at a desired apparent distance from the user'"'"'s eye;

and is additionally selected to provide adjustable and controllable translational motion of said magnifying stage coincident with the optical train axis between said real image source and said magnifying stage.

5. The virtual display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said near-eye optic assembly, said image source assembly, and said adjacent folding optic assemblies are separably and detachably connected to said support means using standard mounting means.

6. The virtual display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said support means is attached and connected to a head-mounted support.

7. The virtual display apparatus of claim 6, wherein said head-mounted support is in contact with the bridge of the user'"'"'s nose.

8. The virtual display apparatus of claim 6, wherein a transparency means is attached and connected to said head-mounted support;

said transparency means selected from the group consisting of zero, one, two, three and four transparencies.

9. The virtual display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said electrical and electronic means includes image warping electronics disposed for geometric distortion correction of the observable virtual image plane.

10. The virtual display apparatus of claim 9, wherein said image warping electronics is

disposed for orthogonal alignment of the observable virtual image plane with the optical axis in image space, selected from the group comprising at least one of one-dimensional orthogonality and two-dimensional orthogonality.

11. The virtual display apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first alignment means and a second alignment means are disposed for orthogonal alignment of the observable virtual image plane

with the optical axis in image space, selected from the group comprising at least one of one-dimensional orthogonality and two-dimensional orthogonality.

12. The virtual display apparatus of claim 11, wherein said first alignment means is selected from the group comprising at least one of:

image warping electronics incorporated into said electrical and electronic means, wherein said image warping electronics is disposed for geometrical distortion correction;

moveable connection disposed for translation of said real image source, an extended near-eye optic and an extended adjacent folding optic;

wherein said real image source, said adjacent folding optic and said near-eye folding optic are configured to allow the establishment of the principal optical plane;

a pair of moveable connections disposed for independent translation of said real image source and said near-eye optic, and an extended adjacent folding optic;

wherein said real image source, said adjacent folding optic and said near-eye folding optic are configured to allow establishment of the principal optical plane;

a pair of moveable connections disposed for independent translation of said real image source and said adjacent folding optic, and an extended near-eye optic;

wherein said real image source, said adjacent folding optic and said near-eye folding optic are configured to allow establishment of the principal optical plane;

or

a moveable connection disposed for translation of the real image source, and a moveable connection disposed for simultaneous translation of said near-eye optic and said adjacent folding optic;

wherein said real image source, said adjacent folding optic and said near-eye folding optic are configured to allow establishment of the principal optical plane.

13. The virtual display apparatus of claim 11, wherein said second alignment means is selected from the group comprising at least one of:

image warping electronics incorporated into said electrical and electronic means, wherein said image warping electronics is disposed for geometric distortion correction a moveable connection disposed for rotation of said near-eye optic about an axis generally perpendicular to the principal optical plane;

moveable connection disposed for rotation of said adjacent folding optic about an axis generally perpendicular to the principal optical plane;

a moveable connection disposed for rotation of said real image source about an axis generally perpendicular to the principal optical plane;

a pair of moveable connections disposed for independent rotation of said near-eye optic and said adjacent folding optic about axes generally perpendicular to the principal optical lane;

a pair of moveable connections disposed for independent rotation of said real image source and said near-eye optic about axes generally perpendicular to the principal optical plane;

a pair of moveable connections disposed for independent rotation of said real image source and said adjacent folding optic about axis generally perpendicular to the principal optical plane;

or

a moveable connection disposed for simultaneous rotation of said near-eye optic and said adjacent folding optic about axes generally perpendicular to the principal optical plane.

14. A virtual display apparatus based on a cross-cavity optical configuration comprising:

a support means attached and connected to

a near-eye optic assembly comprising;

a near-eye optic attached and connected to

a near-eye optic holder attached and connected to

a near-eye optic support bracket attached and connected to said support means

furthermore said support means is additionally attached and connected to

an adjacent folding optic assembly comprising;

an adjacent folding optic attached and connected to

an adjacent folding optic holder attached and connected to

an adjacent folding optic support bracket attached and connected to said support means;

furthermore said support means is additionally attached and connected to

a non-adjacent folding optic assembly comprising;

a non-adjacent folding optic attached and connected to

a non-adjacent folding optic holder attached and connected to

a non-adjacent folding optic support bracket attached and connected to said support means;

furthermore said support means is additionally attached and connected;

to

an image source assembly comprising;

a real image source, in communication with electrical and electronic means, attached and connected to

an image source holder attached and connected to

an image source support bracket attached and connected to said support means; and

a magnifying stage holder attached and connected to said image source support bracket; and

additionally attached and connected to

a magnifying stage in close proximity to said real image source;

wherein said magnifying stage is disposed for simultaneous illumination reception from said real image source for first intermediate image formation and illumination transmission to said non-adjacent folding optic and is selected to provide primary magnification of said real image source and

wherein said non-adjacent folding optic provides a light deflection means and is disposed for simultaneous illumination reception from said magnifying stage for second intermediate image formation and illumination redirection to said adjacent folding optic; and

wherein said adjacent folding optic provides a light deflection means and is disposed for simultaneous illumination reception from said non-adjacent folding optic for third intermediate image formation and illumination redirection to said near-eye optic, and additionally selected to provide further supplemental magnification of said real image source; and

wherein said near-eye optic provides a light deflection means, positioned in the normal peripheral field of view for unobstructed forward vision attainment, and is disposed for simultaneous illumination reception from said adjacent folding optic for observable virtual image formation and illumination redirection to the user'"'"'s eye; and

additionally selected to provide supplemental magnification of said real image source.

15. The virtual display apparatus of claim 14, wherein said magnifying stage is selected from the group consisting of at least one bulk optical element, a single two-dimensional lenslet array, and a stack of two-dimensional lenslet arrays.

16. The virtual display apparatus of claim 14, wherein said support means is attached and connected to

an additional optics assembly comprising:

at least one additional optic attached and connected to

an additional optic holder adjacent to

an additional optic support bracket attached and connected to said support means;

wherein said additional optic is positioned within the optical train between said real image source and the user'"'"'s eye and may be selected to provide supplemental magnification, aberration reduction, polarization and light deflection.

17. The virtual display apparatus of claim 14, wherein said magnifying stage holder is in close proximity to a focusing means selected for focused observable virtual image establishment and achievement at a desired apparent distance from the user'"'"'s eye;

and is additionally selected to provide adjustable and controllable translational motion of said magnifying stage coincident with the optical train axis between said real image source and said magnifying stage.

18. The virtual display apparatus of claim 14, wherein said near-eye optic assembly, said image source assembly, said adjacent folding optic assembly and said non-adjacent folding optic assembly are separably and detachably connected to said support means using standard mounting means.

19. The virtual display apparatus of claim 14, wherein said support means is attached and connected to a head-mounted support.

20. The virtual display apparatus of claim 19, wherein said head-mounted support is in contact with the bridge of the user'"'"'s nose.

21. The virtual display apparatus of claim 14, wherein a transparency means is attached and connected to said head-mounted support;

said transparency means selected from the group consisting of zero, one, two, three and four transparencies.

22. The virtual display apparatus of claim 14, wherein said electrical and electronic means includes image warping electronics disposed for geometric distortion correction of the observable virtual image plane.

23. The virtual display apparatus of claim 22, wherein said image warping electronics is disposed for orthogonal alignment of the observable virtual image plane with the optical axis in image space, selected from the group comprising at least one of one-dimensional orthogonality and two-dimensional orthogonality.

24. The virtual display apparatus of claim 14, wherein a first alignment means and a second alignment means are disposed for orthogonal alignment of the observable virtual image plane with the optical axis in image space, selected from the group comprising at least one of one-dimensional orthogonality and two-dimensional orthogonality.

25. The virtual display apparatus of claim 24, wherein said first alignment means is selected from the group comprising at least one of:

image warping electronics incorporated into said electrical and electronic means, wherein said image warping electronics is disposed for geometric distortion correction;

a moveable connection disposed for translation of said non-adjacent folding optic, an extended near-eye optic, and an extended adjacent folding optic;

wherein said non-adjacent folding optic, said adjacent folding optic and said near-eye folding optic are configured to allow establishment of the principal optical plane;

a pair of moveable connections disposed for independent translation of the non-adjacent folding optic and the near-eye optic, and an extended adjacent folding optic;

wherein said non-adjacent folding optic, said adjacent folding optic and said near-eye folding optic are configured to allow establishment of the principal optical plane;

a pair of moveable connections disposed for independent translation of said non-adjacent folding optic and said adjacent the folding optic, and an extended near-eye optic;

wherein said non-adjacent folding optic, said adjacent folding optic and said near-eye folding optic are configured to allow establishment of the principal optical plane;

or

a moveable connections disposed for translation of said non-adjacent folding optic and a moveable connection disposed for simultaneous translation of said near-eye optic and said adjacent folding optic;

wherein said non-adjacent folding optic, said adjacent folding optic and said near-eye folding optic are configured to allow establishment of the principal optical plane.

26. The virtual display apparatus of claim 24, wherein said second alignment means is selected from the group comprising at least one of:

image warping electronics incorporated into said electrical and electronic means, wherein said image warping electronics is disposed for geometric distortion correction;

a moveable connection disposed for rotation of said near-eye optic about an axis generally perpendicular to the principal optical plane;

a moveable connection disposed for rotation of said non-adjacent folding optic about an axis generally perpendicular to the principal optical plane;

a moveable connection disposed for rotation of said non-adjacent folding optic about an axis generally perpendicular to the principal optical plane;

a pair of moveable connections disposed for independent rotation of said near-eye optic and said adjacent folding optic about axes generally perpendicular to the principal optical plane;

a pair of moveable connections disposed for independent rotation of said non-adjacent folding optic and said near-eye optic about axes generally perpendicular to the principal optical plane;

a pair of moveable connections disposed for independent rotation of said adjacent folding optic and said non-adjacent folding optic about axes generally perpendicular to the principal optical plane;

or

a moveable connection disposed for simultaneous rotation of said near-eye optic and said adjacent folding optic about axis generally perpendicular to the principal optical plane.