Optical imperfections in a light transmissive illumination system for see-through near-eye display glasses

• US 9,223,134 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2012
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Miller, Gregory D., Border, John N., Osterhout, Ralph F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Augustine, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US13/429,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20120235884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,374 Days
• Field of Search: 715/756, 715/757, 715/773, 349/11, 345/629, 353/20, 359/630
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0093 with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/005 Input arrangements through a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H

Abstract

This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content, and an LED lighting system coupled to a light transmissive illumination system of the optical assembly. An optical imperfection of the illumination system directs light from the LED lighting system to uniformly irradiate a reflective image display to produce an image that is reflected through the illumination system to provide the displayed content to the user.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an interactive head-mounted device including

an optical assembly comprising a light transmissive illumination system, the optical assembly being configured to display virtual content and to enable viewing of at least a portion of a surrounding environment,

an integrated processor for processing the virtual content for display,

an integrated image source for introducing the virtual content to the optical assembly, the integrated image source including a reflective image display, and

an LED lighting system coupled to the light transmissive illumination system,

wherein the light transmissive illumination system comprises a planar illumination facility comprising

a waveguide having an end configured to input light from the LED lighting system, and

an optical imperfection formed in the planar illumination facility, the optical imperfection being configured to direct light from the LED lighting system input at the end of the waveguide toward a face of the waveguide that is transverse to the end of the waveguide to output the light from the waveguide toward the reflective image display to uniformly irradiate the reflective image display to produce an image, and wherein the reflective image display is configured to reflect the image through the waveguide for display.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the imperfection comprises a groove.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the planar illumination facility comprises a plurality of grooves.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of grooves are formed in a surface of the planar illumination facility that is positioned on an opposite side of the planar illumination facility as the reflective image display.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the planar illumination facility comprises an input port configured to receive light from the image source, and wherein the grooves vary in spacing as a function of distance from the light input port.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the planar illumination facility comprises an input port configured to receive light from the image source, and wherein the grooves vary in one or more of height and pitch as a function of distance from the light input port.

7. The system of claim 2, further comprising a counter ridge positioned in the groove of the planar illumination facility.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the counter ridge comprises a snap-on ridge assembly.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising an air gap located between a sidewall of the groove and a side wall of the counter ridge.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein a sidewall angle of the groove matches a sidewall angle of the counter ridge.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical imperfection comprises a dot.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of dots.

13. A system, comprising:

an interactive head-mounted device including

an optical assembly comprising a light transmissive illumination system, the optical assembly being configured to display virtual content and to enable viewing of at least a portion of a surrounding environment,

an integrated processor for processing the virtual content for display,

an integrated image source for introducing the virtual content to the optical assembly, the integrated image source including a reflective image display, and

an LED lighting system coupled to the light transmissive illumination system of the optical assembly,

wherein the light transmissive illumination system comprises a planar illumination facility comprising

a waveguide with an end configured to receive an input of light from the LED lighting system and a face that is transverse to the end,

the planar illumination facility also comprising a groove formed in the waveguide, the groove being configured to redirect, by one or more of reflection and refraction, the light received from the LED lighting system at the end of the waveguide toward the reflective image display to uniformly irradiate the reflective image display to produce an image, and wherein the reflective image display is configured to reflect the image through the waveguide for display.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the planar illumination facility comprises a plurality of grooves formed in a surface of the planar illumination facility that is positioned on an opposite side of the planar illumination facility as the reflective image display.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the planar illumination facility comprises an input port configured to receive light from the image source, and wherein the grooves vary in one or more of spacing, height and pitch as a function of distance from the light input port.

16. The system of claim 13, further comprising a counter ridge positioned in the groove of the planar illumination facility.

17. In a head-mounted device, a method of producing an image, the method comprising:

producing light via a light source;

directing light from the light source into an end of a waveguide of a planar illumination facility, the waveguide comprising one or more optical imperfections;

directing the light through the waveguide via total internal reflection;

reflecting the light via the one or more optical imperfections toward a face of the waveguide that is transverse to the end of the waveguide and out of the planar illumination facility toward a reflective image display;

producing an image from the light via the reflective image display and directing the image through the waveguide for display on a see-through display of the head-mounted device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein reflecting the light via the one or more optical imperfections comprises reflecting the light via a plurality of grooves.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein reflecting the light via the plurality of grooves comprises reflecting the light via a plurality of grooves that vary in one or more of spacing, pitch and height.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein reflecting the light via the one or more optical imperfections comprises reflecting the light via dots.