Steerable near-to-eye display and steerable near-to-eye display system

• US 8,681,426 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2011
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Larson, Brent D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Application Number:
  US13/289,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20130114146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 359629-632, 359/641, 351/205, 351/211, 351/221, 351/158, 345 7- 9
• US Class Current: 359/632
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/123 the axis of rotation intersecting in a single point, e.g. by using gimbals
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/04 for supporting on, or holding steady relative to, a person, e.g. by chains , e.g. rifle butt or pistol grip supports, supports attached to the chest or head apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs or for projecting or viewing them G03B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• 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 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features

Abstract

A steerable near-to-eye display is provided and may include, but is not limited to, a first curved support arm configured to rotate about a first axis, a second curved support arm configured to rotate about a second axis, and an ocular assembly coupled to at least one of the first curved support arm and the second curved support arm, the ocular assembly configured to display an image and configured to substantially maintain a position where the first curved support arm crosses the second curved support arm.

Claims

1. A steerable near-to-eye display, comprising:

a first curved support arm configured to rotate about a first axis;

a second support arm configured to rotate about a second axis; and

an ocular assembly coupled to at least one of the first curved support arm and the second support arm, the ocular assembly configured to display an image and configured to substantially maintain a position where the first curved support arm crosses the second support arm.

2. The steerable near-to-eye display of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to control the image displayed by the ocular assembly.

3. The steerable near-to-eye display of claim 2, wherein the second support arm is a second curved support arm, the steerable near-to-eye display further comprising:

a first motor coupled to the first curved support arm and configured to rotate the first curved support arm about the first axis; and

a second motor coupled to the second curved support arm and configured to rotate the second curved support arm about the second axis,

wherein the controller is further configured to control the first and second motors.

4. The steerable near-to-eye display of claim 3, further comprising:

a camera configured to transmit eye positional image data to the controller, wherein the controller is further configured to;

process the eye positional image data to determine a position of a user'"'"'s eye; and

instruct the first and second motors to rotate the first and second curved support arms such that the ocular assembly is positioned where the user'"'"'s eye is directed.

5. The steerable near-to-eye display of claim 4, wherein the ocular assembly further comprises:

an image source configured to project an image;

a beam splitter configured to receive the image projected from the image source and to reflect the received image; and

a collimating mirror configured to receive the image reflected from the beam splitter and further configured to reflect the image towards a center of rotation of the first and second curved support arms.

6. The steerable near-to-eye display of claim 5, where the camera is configured to receive the eye positional image data from a reflection off the beam splitter.

7. The steerable near-to-eye display of claim 2, wherein the first curved support arm further comprises a first electrically conductive path, and the second support arm further comprises a second electrically conductive path and the first and second electrically conductive paths electrically couple the controller to the ocular assembly.

8. The steerable near-to-eye display of claim 1, wherein the first curved support arm and the second support arm are at least partially transparent.

9. A near-to-eye display system, comprising:

a first circular support arm configured to rotate about a first axis;

a second circular support arm configured to rotate about a second axis; and

an ocular assembly coupled to at least one of the first circular support arm and the second circular support arm, the ocular assembly configured to display an image and configured to substantially maintain a position where the first circular support arm crosses the second circular support arm.

10. The near-to-eye display system of claim 9, wherein the first axis is substantially perpendicular to the second axis.

11. The near-to-eye display system of claim 10, wherein the first circular support arm is oriented substantially vertically.

12. The near-to-eye display system of claim 9, wherein the ocular assembly further comprises:

an image source configured to project an image; and

a collimating mirror to reflect the image towards a center of the first and second circular support arms.

13. The near-to-eye display system of claim 12, wherein one of the first and second circular support arms is the collimating mirror.

14. The near-to-eye display system of claim 12 wherein a total path length between the image source and the collimating mirror is approximately half the radius of the first circular support arm.

15. The near-to-eye display system of claim 12, wherein the image source is at least partially transparent.

16. The near-to-eye display system of claim 9, wherein the first circular support arm and the second circular support arm are configured to be rotated manually.

17. A near-to-eye display system, comprising:

a first partially circular support arm configured to rotate about a first axis;

a second partially circular support arm configured to rotate about a second axis;

an ocular assembly coupled to at least one of the first partially circular support arm and the second partially circular support arm, the ocular assembly configured to display an image and configured to substantially maintain a position where the first partially circular support arm crosses the second partially circular support arm;

a first motor coupled to the first partially circular support arm and configured to rotate the first partially circular support arm about the first axis;

a second motor coupled to the second partially circular support arm and configured to rotate the second partially circular support arm about the second axis; and

a controller coupled to the first and second motors and configured to control a rotation of the first partially circular support arm and the second partially circular support arm.

18. The near-to-eye display system of claim 17, further comprising a clamping mechanism configured to reduce unintentional movement of the ocular assembly.

19. The near-to-eye display system of claim 17, further comprising a first counterweight coupled to the first partially circular support arm and a second counterweight coupled to the second partially circular support arm.

20. The near-to-eye display system of claim 17, further comprising a transparent enclosure, wherein the first partially circular support arm, the second partially circular support arm and the ocular assembly are enclosed by the transparent enclosure.