Immersive input display apparatus

• US 7,501,996 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2004
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of The Navy Chief of Naval Research
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Tremper, David, Schuette, Lawrence, Durbin, James, Burnett, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe; Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIMNHUNG T
• Application Number:
  US10/863,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20050270251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,741 Days
• Field of Search: 345 7- 9, 345/80, 359/630, 359/631, 359/13
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 25/001 Eyepieces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/026 and a display device, e.g. CRT, LCD, for adding markings or signs or to enhance the contrast of the viewed object

Abstract

An apparatus includes a deformable eyecup. A display shares an optical path with the eyecup. A monocular houses the display. A shutter shares the optical path with the eyecup and the display, wherein the shutter opens upon deformation of the eyecup. Optionally, the eyecup includes a rubber, neoprene, plastic, and/or pleated material. Optionally, the shutter is integral with the eyecup. Optionally, the shutter includes a mechanical iris, a liquid crystal shutter, a micro-mechanical micro-shutter array, and/or a shutter including a plurality of flaps that flex upon the deformation of the eyecup.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a deformable eyecup;

a micro-display sharing an optical path with said eyecup and communicating with said eyecup such that deformation of said eyecup turns said micro-display on and restoration of said eyecup turns said micro-display off;

a monocular housing said micro-display, and

a pressure sensor communicating with eyecup and said micro-display such that the deformation of said eyecup turns said micro-display on and the restoration of said eyecup turns said micro-display off.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said eyecup comprises at least one of rubber, neoprene, plastic, and a pleated material.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said micro-display comprises at least one of an organic light emitting display, a liquid crystal on silicon display, a transmissive display, a transreflective display, a reflective display, a plasma display, a digital light processing display, and a scanned-beam display.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a lens sharing said optical path with said eyecup and said micro-display.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said monocular houses said lens.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

one of a focus slide and a focus ring for adjusting a distance between said lens and said micro-display.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless receiver for receiving display data and sending the display data to said micro-display.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

one of a wired connection and a wireless transceiver for receiving display data and sending the display data to said micro-display; and

at least one of a pointer controller, a scroll wheel, a touch pad, a mouse button, and a keypad for controlling the display data.