Scanless virtual retinal display system

• US 7,375,701 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2004
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Inventors: Patton, David L., Manico, Joseph A., Covannon, Edward, Spoonhower, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe; Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shapiro; Leonid
• Application Number:
  US10/883,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20060033879A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,419 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1, 345/6, 345/8, 345/30, 345/87, 345/102, 345/204
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• 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: G09G 3/002 to project the image of a two-dimensional display, such as an array of light emitting or modulating elements or a CRT
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/041 Optical pumping
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/183 having only vertical cavities, e.g. vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers [VCSEL]
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/18383 with periodic active regions at nodes or maxima of light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/36 comprising organic materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/423 having a vertical cavity

Abstract

A scanless display system that projects an image directly onto a retina, comprising a plurality of organic laser cavity devices. The organic laser cavity devices are placed in close proximity to a user'"'"'s eye, for variably changing individual image pixels; wherein projecting the image directly onto the retina occurs by variably addressing individual image pixel locations and variably changing duration of illumination on individual image pixels upon the retina. Also included are a receiver for receiving transmitted electrical signals that include content information; a decoder for decoding received electrical signals; and a modulator for driving the scanless display under predetermined parameters.

Claims

1. A scanless display system that projects an image directly onto a retina, comprising:

a) a plurality of organic laser cavity devices, placed in close proximity to a user'"'"'s eye, for variably changing individual image pixels;

wherein projecting the image directly onto the retina occurs by variably addressing individual image pixel locations and variably changing duration of illumination on individual image pixels upon the retina;

b) a receiver for receiving transmitted electrical signals that include content information;

c) a decoder for decoding received electrical signals; and

d) a modulator for driving the scanless display under predetermined parameters.

2. The scanless display system claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

e) a plurality of optical sensors, facing the user'"'"'s eye, for capturing eye data, wherein the plurality of optical sensors are excited by the illumination of individual image pixels reflected by the user'"'"'s eye;

f) an encoder for encoding the captured eye data as encoded information; and

g) a transmitter for transmitting the encoded information.

3. The scanless display system claimed in claim 2, wherein the captured eye data is data selected from the group consisting of retinal movement and position data, pupil dilation, and blood flow within the user'"'"'s eye.

4. The scanless display system claimed in claim 1, wherein the scanless display is monochromatic.

5. The scanless display system claimed in claim 1, wherein the scanless display is color.

6. The scanless display system claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

e) a processor for manipulating the content information and encoded information according to the scanless display parameters.

7. The scanless display system claimed in claim 6, wherein the processor compares buffer values and produces an output value indicative of biasing.

8. The scanless display system claimed in claim 6, wherein the processor compares buffer values such that position of the retina is calculated.

9. The scanless display system claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

e) a storage device for storing the content information and encoded information according to the scanless display parameters.

10. The scanless display system claimed in claim 9, wherein the storage device includes a plurality of buffers for storing the encoded information.

11. The scanless display system claimed in claim 10, wherein the plurality of buffers comprise:

a) a buffer that stores data representing reflected light from the retina as the retina is illuminated;

b) a buffer that stores data representing an array of the individual image pixels at a given moment in time;

c) a buffer that stores a panoramic version of the image; and

d) a buffer that stores environmental data sent to the scanless display.

12. The scanless display system claimed in claim 11, wherein the environmental data is data selected from the group consisting of GPS data, IR data, RF data, and other position tracking data.

15. The scanless display claimed in claim 10, wherein the plurality of buffers for storing the encoded information includes time dependent information for changing pixel values of the scanless display.

29. The scanless display system claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of organic laser cavity devices emit coherent light.

30. The scanless display system claimed in claim 1, wherein an angular distribution of light emitted by the plurality of organic laser cavity devices is substantially narrower than a hemispherical angular distribution.

31. The scanless display system claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of organic laser cavity devices emit visible light.

32. The scanless display system claimed in claim 1, wherein variably changing individual image pixels includes updating the image pixels without regard to simultaneity.

33. The scanless display system claimed in claim 1, wherein a first portion of the image pixels have a first refresh rate and a second portion of the image pixels have a second refresh rate different from the first refresh rate.

34. The scanless display system claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of organic laser cavity devices are configured to be enabled in parallel.

13. A scanless display that projects an image directly onto a retina, comprising:

a) a plurality of organic laser cavity devices for variably changing individual image pixels;

wherein projecting the image directly onto the retina occurs by variably addressing individual image pixel locations and variably changing duration of illumination on individual image pixels upon the retina;

b) means for tracking position of the retina relative to the scanless display;

c) means for directing the plurality of organic laser cavity devices at the retina;

d) a receiver for receiving transmitted electrical signals that include content information;

e) a decoder for decoding received electrical signals; and

f) a modulator for driving the scanless display under predetermined parameters.

g) a means for switching between modulating sources.

14. The scanless display claimed in claim 13, wherein the means for tracking position of the retina further includes:

e) a plurality of optical sensors, facing the user, for capturing head positioning and eye data of the user;

f) an encoder for encoding the captured eye data as encoded information; and

g) a transmitter for transmitting the encoded information.

16. A method for directly projecting a scanless image onto a viewer'"'"'s eye, comprising the steps of:

a) variably addressing individual image pixel locations; and

b) variably changing duration of illumination on the individual image pixels upon the viewer'"'"'s eye with a plurality of organic laser cavity devices for projecting the scanless image.

17. The method claimed in claim 16, wherein the step of variably addressing individual image pixel locations further comprises the steps of:

a1) identifying a change of state of the individual image pixel locations for a predetermined absolute unit of time.

18. The method claimed in claim 17, wherein the step of (a1) includes:

simultaneously addressing the individual image pixel locations for the predetermined absolute unit of time as determined by a clock.

19. The method claimed in claim 17, wherein the step of (a1) includes:

simultaneously addressing the individual image pixel locations for the predetermined absolute unit of time as determined by a processor.

20. The method claimed in claim 16, wherein the step of changing the duration of illumination of individual image pixel locations includes modulating a pumped light source.

21. The method claimed in claim 16, wherein the step of changing the duration of illumination of individual image pixel locations includes shuttering or deflecting a light output of a pumped light source.

22. The method claimed in claim 16, wherein the step of changing the duration of illumination of individual image pixel locations includes modulating an output of an organic laser cavity device.

23. The method claimed in claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

identifying an eye position of a viewer and altering content of an image output to the viewer'"'"'s eye based upon the viewer'"'"'s eye position.

24. The method claimed in claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

identifying a viewer'"'"'s biological state and altering content of an image output to the viewer'"'"'s eye based upon the viewer'"'"'s biological state.

25. The method claimed in claim 24, further includes the steps of:

tracking retinal movement and position;

tracking pupil dilation; and

tracking blood flow.

26. The method claimed in claim 16, wherein the scanless image includes content information.

27. The method claimed in claim 16, wherein the scanless image includes viewer environment information.

28. The method claimed in claim 16, wherein the scanless image includes a combination of content information and viewer environment information.