Compact, head-mountable display device with suspended eyepiece assembly

• US 7,843,403 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Myvu Corporation
• Inventors: Spitzer, Mark B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Nitin
• Application Number:
  US11/644,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20070103388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,439 Days
• Field of Search: 345/7, 345/8, 345 11- 13, 359/630, 715/856, 348 42- 60
• US Class Current: 345/7
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/011 comprising device for correcting geometrical aberrations, distortion
• 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 5/30 Polarising elements light-modulating devices with active elements G02F1/00

Abstract

A compact, lightweight, head-mountable display device is provided for transmitting an image to a user'"'"'s eye. The device includes a projection system including a display attached at one end to a head-mountable support fixture. An eyepiece assembly is attached to a second end of the support fixture. The support fixture maintains the projection system and the eyepiece assembly in alignment along an optical path through free space between the projection system and the eyepiece assembly, with the projection system disposed to transmit the image on the optical path and the eyepiece assembly disposed to receive the image from the projection system and to direct the image to the user'"'"'s eye.

Claims

1. A compact display device for transmitting an image to a user'"'"'s eye, the display device comprising:

a head-mountable support fixture comprising an elongated member having a first end and a second end;

a projection system including a display operative to provide an image, the support fixture attached at the first end to the projection system; and

an eyepiece assembly attached to the second end of the support fixture;

wherein the support fixture maintains the projection system and the eyepiece assembly in alignment along an optical path through free space between the projection system and the eyepiece assembly, with the projection system disposed to transmit the image on the optical path and the eyepiece assembly disposed to receive the image from the projection system and to direct the image to the user'"'"'s eye; and

wherein the eyepiece assembly comprises a non-axial optical system including a modified Mangin mirror comprising a solid optical material having an external entrance and exit surface and an internal reflective surface, the material arranged and having an index of refraction selected so that light from the projection system incident on the external surface is refracted as the light propagates into the material and light within the material is reflected off the internal reflective surface and is refracted at the external surface as the light exits the material, whereby off-axis aberrations are reduced.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the reflective surface comprises a metal, a vacuum-deposited dielectric coating, or a holographic coating.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the reflective surface is spherical or aspherical.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the reflective surface is a paraboloid.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the reflective surface is partially transmitting and the eyepiece assembly further includes a section adjacent the reflective surface selected to reduce refraction of ambient light passing through the reflective surface into the solid optical material.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the solid optical material is housed within a curved housing.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the solid optical material is housed within a spherical housing.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a housing, the projection system disposed within the housing, circuits and wiring in electrical communication with the projection system disposed within the housing, and the support fixture attached to the housing.

9. The device of claim 8, further comprising a mounting device configured to mount the housing to spectacle frames or a headband.

10. The device of claim 8, further including a microphone supported by the housing.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the microphone is mounted on a boom.

12. The device of claim 8, further including an earpiece supported by the housing and operative to transmit audio output signals.

13. The device of claim 8, further comprising a boom attached to a headband, the housing attached to the boom.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising a microphone supported by the headband.

15. The device of claim 13, further comprising an earpiece supported by the headband and operative to transmit audio output signals.

16. A cellular telephone in communication with the display device of claim 1.

17. A computer in communication with the display device of claim 1.

18. A personal digital assistant in communication with the display device of claim 1.