Environmental-light filter for see-through head-mounted display device

• US 8,537,075 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2012
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Robert Crocco
• Inventors: Crocco, Robert, Sugden, Ben, Stone-Perez, Kathryn
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H
• Application Number:
  US13/692,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20130162505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 288 Days
• Field of Search: 345 7- 9, 345/419, 345/633, 359/630, 349/11, 349/13, 349/15, 463/32
• US Class Current: 345/7
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0112 comprising device for genereting colour display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• 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 5/20 Filters polarising elements G02B5/30

Abstract

An environmental-light filter removably coupled to an optical see-through head-mounted display (HMD) device is disclosed. The environmental-light filter couples to the HMD device between a display component and a real-world scene. Coupling features are provided to allow the filter to be easily and removably attached to the HMD device when desired by a user. The filter increases the primacy of a provided augmented-reality image with respect to a real-world scene and reduces brightness and power consumption requirements for presenting the augmented-reality image. A plurality of filters of varied light transmissivity may be provided from which to select a desired filter based on environmental lighting conditions and user preference. The light transmissivity of the filter may be about 70% light transmissive to substantially or completely opaque.

Claims

1. An environmental-light filter lens for a head-mounted display device, comprising:

a filter lens configured to at least partially filter environmental light received by a user'"'"'s eye, and removeably coupled to a head-mounted display device to cause an augmented-reality image to appear less transparent than when the filter lens is not coupled to the head-mounted device, the head mounted device including a see-through lens extending between the user'"'"'s eye and a real-world scene when the head-mounted device is worn by the user, a display component, and an augmented-reality emitter which emits light to the user'"'"'s eye using the display component to provide the augmented reality image.

2. The environmental-light filter lens of claim 1, wherein the head-mounted display device includes a frame and the filter lens includes one or more features configured to couple to the frame.

3. The environmental-light filter lens of claim 2, wherein the features include one or more of clips, clasps, hooks, tabs, flanges, latches, or lugs for removeably coupling the filter lens to the frame.

4. The environmental-light filter lens of claim 1, wherein the filter lens has a light transmissivity between 0 and 70%.

5. The environmental-light filter lens of claim 4, wherein the filter lens is substantially opaque.

6. The environmental-light filter lens of claim 1, wherein the filter lens includes one or more substantially opaque regions.

7. The environmental-light filter lens of claim 1, wherein the filter lens blocks ultraviolet light, infrared light, and at least a portion of light in the visible spectrum.

8. The environmental-light filter lens of claim 1, wherein the filter lens includes one or more coatings configured to absorb light from the augmented-reality image that is reflected off of the user.

9. The environmental-light filter lens of claim 2, wherein the head-mounted display device further comprises a tracking component that tracks a location of the user'"'"'s eye relative to the frame.

10. The environmental-light filter lens of claim 1, wherein the display component comprises at least one optical component that combines light from the real-world scene and light representing the augmented reality image, the display component being between the filter lens and the user'"'"'s eye.

11. A head-mounted display device, comprising:

a see-through lens extending between a user'"'"'s eye and a real-world scene when the head-mounted device is worn by the user, the see-though lens including a display component that receives light comprising an augmented-reality image and directs the light toward the user'"'"'s eye;

an augmented-reality emitter that emits light to provide the augmented reality image;

a frame configured to carry the see-through lens and the augmented reality emitter for wearing on a user'"'"'s head; and

a filter lens that has a light transmissivity between 0 and 70% to at least partially filter environmental light received by a user'"'"'s eye, and that is removeably coupled to the frame.

12. The head-mounted display device of claim 11, wherein the filter lens causes the augmented-reality image to appear less transparent than when the filter lens is not coupled to the head-mounted device.

13. The head-mounted display device of claim 11, wherein the filter lens includes one or more features configured to couple to the frame.

14. The head-mounted display device of claim 11, wherein the features include one or more of clips, clasps, hooks, tabs, flanges, latches, or lugs for removeably coupling the filter lens to the frame.

15. The head-mounted display device of claim 11, wherein the filter lens is made from one or more of a glass, plastic, metal, fabric, and a composite.

16. The head-mounted display device of claim 11, wherein the filter lens substantially blocks ultraviolet light and infrared light in the environmental light from being received by the user'"'"'s eye.

17. A head-mounted display device, comprising:

a see-through lens extending between a user'"'"'s eye and a real-world scene when the head-mounted device is worn by the user, the see-though lens including a display component that receives light comprising an augmented-reality image and directs the light toward the user'"'"'s eye;

a frame configured to carry the see-through lens for wearing on a user'"'"'s head and including an augmented-reality emitter that emits light to provide the augmented reality image; and

a filter lens that is substantially opaque and substantially filters environmental light received by a user'"'"'s eye, the filter lens being removeably coupled to the frame.

18. The head-mounted display device of claim 17, wherein filtering of the environmental light by the filter lens causes the augmented-reality image to be a primary image seen by a user.

19. The head-mounted display device of claim 17, wherein the filter lens includes one or more features that provide one or more of a snap-fit, a friction fit, or magnetic coupling between the filter lens and the frame.

20. The head-mounted display device of claim 17, wherein filter lens has a light transmissivity between 0 and 10%.