Binocular display having an adjustment system

• US 8,040,600 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2007
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kopin Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kopin Corporation
• Inventors: Pombo, Stephen A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapel, Derek S
• Application Number:
  US11/805,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20080042038A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,611 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 359/412
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/18 for binocular arrangements focusing binocular pairs G02B7/06; adjusting pupillary distance of binocular pairs G02B7/12
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/12 Adjusting pupillary distance of binocular pairs

Abstract

A binocular display device can include first and second display assemblies. A rail system can adjustably support the first and second display assemblies. The rail system can have a first rail slidably secured to a front region of the display assemblies, and second rail slidably secured to a rear region of the display assemblies. One rail can be at an upper region and the other rail can be at a lower region. Each display assembly can be slidably mounted to one rail along a bearing length L₁ and to the other rail along a bearing length L₂ that is less than the bearing length L₁. A release/locking system can be included for releasing the display assemblies relative to the rail system to allow the position of the display assemblies relative to each other on the rail system to be adjusted, and for locking the display assemblies at a desired position.

Claims

1. A binocular display device comprising:

first and second display assemblies;

a rail system for adjustably supporting the first and second display assemblies, the rail system having only two rails with a first rail slidably secured to a front region of the display assemblies, and a second rail slidably secured to a rear region of the display assemblies, one rail being positioned above the display assemblies and the other rail being positioned below the display assemblies, each display assembly being slidably mounted to one rail along a bearing length L₁ and to the other rail along a bearing length L₂ that is less than the bearing length L₁, whereby each display assembly is slidably mounted to the only two rails; and

a locking system capable of releasing the display assemblies relative to the rail system to allow the position of the display assemblies relative to each other on the rail system to be adjusted, and for locking the display assemblies at a desired position.

2. The display device of claim 1 in which the first rail is positioned above the display assemblies.

3. The display device of claim 2 in which the second rail is positioned below the display assemblies.

4. The display device of claim 3 further comprising a frame for supporting the first and second rails.

5. The display device of claim 3 in which each display assembly is mounted to a first rail along the bearing length L₁, and to the second rail along the bearing length L₂.

6. The display device of claim 5 in which the bearing length L₁ comprises two slidable bearings that are spaced apart from each other.

7. The display device of claim 6 in which the bearing length L₂ comprises one slidable bearing.

8. The display device of claim 1 in which the release/locking system comprises lockable levers for releasing and locking the display assemblies.

9. The display device of claim 8 in which the release/locking system further comprises a detent mechanism to provide a series of set adjustment positions.

10. The display device of claim 1 further comprising a housing mounted to the rail system between the display assemblies, the housing containing circuitry.

11. A binocular display device comprising:

first and second display assemblies;

a rail system for adjustably supporting the first and second display assemblies, the rail system having only two rails with a first rail slidably secured to a front region of the display assemblies, and a second rail slidably secured to a rear region of the display assemblies, the first rail being positioned above the display assemblies and the second rail being positioned below the display assemblies, each display assembly being slidably mounted to the first rail along a bearing length L₁ and to the second rail along a bearing length L₂ that is less than the bearing length L₁, whereby each display assembly is slidably mounted to the only two rails;

a frame for supporting the rail system; and

a locking system capable of releasing the display assemblies relative to the rail system to allow the position of the display assemblies relative to each other on the rail system to be adjusted, and for locking the display assemblies at a desired position.

12. A method of supporting first and second display assemblies of a binocular display device comprising:

adjustably supporting the first and second display assemblies on a rail system, the rail system having only two rails with a first rail slidably secured to a front region of the display assemblies, and a second rail slidably secured to a rear region of the display assemblies, one rail being positioned above the display assemblies and the other rail being positioned below the display assemblies, each display assembly being slidably mounted to one rail along a bearing length L₁ and to the other rail along a bearing length L₂ that is less than the bearing length L₁, whereby each display assembly is slidably mounted to the only two rails; and

providing a locking system capable of releasing the display assemblies relative to the rail system to allow the position of the display assemblies relative to each other on the rail system to be adjusted, and for locking the display assemblies at a desired position.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising positioning the first rail above the display assemblies.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising positioning the second rail below the display assemblies.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising supporting the first and second rails with a frame.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising mounting each display assembly to the first rail along the bearing length L₁, and to the second rail along the bearing length L₂.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising forming the bearing length L₁ with two slidable bearings that are spaced apart from each other.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising forming the bearing length L₂ with one slidable bearing.

19. The method of claim 12 further comprising providing the release/locking system with lockable levers for releasing and locking the display assemblies.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising providing the release/locking system with a detent mechanism for providing a series of set adjustment positions.

21. The method of claim 12 further comprising mounting a housing containing circuitry to the rail system between the display assemblies.