Wireless hands-free computing head mounted video eyewear for local/remote diagnosis and repair

• US 9,369,760 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2012
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kopin Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kopin Corporation
• Inventors: Jacobsen, Jeffrey J., Parkinson, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Bilodeau, David
• Application Number:
  US13/719,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20130174205A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• 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 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• 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: G09B 5/06 with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114

Abstract

The present application relates to human/computer interfaces and more particularly to a wireless computing headset with one or more microdisplay devices that can provide hands-free remote control of attached or remote peripheral devices, systems and/or networks. A wireless hands-free video computing headset, and corresponding method, enabling communication with a host processor to provide the user omnipresent expertise is disclosed. The wireless hands-free video computing headset, which includes a microdisplay device to present information to the user graphically, communicates with a host processor to provide the user with an expert resource. The expert resource may take numerous forms, such as diagnostic software, or live human support. The wireless hands-free video computing headset is useful by enabling the user to focus his or her attention, and maintain his or her focus, on a physical subject by enabling hands-free control, enabling the user the ability to continuously manipulate the subject manually with his or her hands as needed.

Claims

1. A portable wireless video computing headset device comprising:

a frame;

one or more high-resolution microdisplays, for displaying visual information received from a local processor, the one or more microdisplays supported by a cantilever arm integral with the frame locating the one or more microdisplays near an eye of a user of the headset device;

one or more peripheral ports integral with the frame, for supporting one or more peripheral devices that provide input signals indicating a sensor input or at least one of a user motion and/or vocal input;

the local processor, located in the portable wireless video computing headset device, and further comprising;

one or more receivers, for receiving the peripheral inputs;

a translator, for translating sensor information, user motion and/or vocal input into one or more user commands;

a display controller, for forwarding information to be displayed on the one or more microdisplays;

a communications interface, for wirelessly communicating with a remote host processor, the communications including expert diagnosis and/or repair information received from the host processor, said information including at least a portion of a diagnostic decision tree; and

a software module, including instructions for the local processor to present the portion of the diagnostic decision tree, based upon the one or more user commands, on at least one of (i) the one or more microdisplays and (ii) an optional audio output device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the expert diagnosis and/or repair information accessed is provided by a software program.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the expert diagnosis and/or repair information accessed is provided by a person (or persons).

4. A portable wireless video computing headset device comprising:

a frame;

one or more high-resolution microdisplays, for displaying visual information received from a local processor, the one or more microdisplays supported by a cantilever arm integral with the frame locating the one or more microdisplays near an eye of a user of the headset device;

one or more peripheral ports integral with the frame, for supporting one or more peripheral devices that provide input signals indicating a sensor input or at least one of a user motion and/or vocal input;

a local processor, located in the portable wireless video computing headset device and configured (a) to present at least a first and a second input prompt to the user at at least one of (i) the one or more microdisplays and (ii) an optional audio output device and (b) to receive via the one or more peripheral devices a first and a second user input responsive respectively to the first and the second input prompts, wherein the second input prompt is determined at least in part by the first user input, and further comprising;

one or more receivers, for receiving the peripheral inputs;

a translator, for translating sensor information, user motion and/or vocal input into one or more user commands;

a display controller, for forwarding information to be displayed on the one or more microdisplays; and

a software module, to enable expert diagnosis and/or repair information, said information including instructions for the local processor to present the first and the second input prompts.

5. A portable wireless video computing headset device comprising:

a frame;

one or more high-resolution microdisplays, for displaying visual information received from a local processor, the one or more microdisplays supported by a cantilever arm integral with the frame locating the one or more microdisplays near an eye of a user of the headset device;

one or more peripheral ports integral with the frame, for supporting one or more peripheral devices that provide one or more peripheral input signals indicating a sensor input or at least one of a user motion and/or vocal input;

one or more cameras, for capturing video, supported by the one or more peripheral ports, arranged such that the captured video approximates the field of view of a user;

the local processor, located in the portable wireless video computing headset device, and further comprising;

one or more receivers, for receiving the peripheral inputs;

a translator, for translating sensor information, user motion and/or vocal input into one or more user commands;

a display controller, for forwarding information to be displayed on the one or more microdisplays;

a communications interface, for wirelessly communicating with a host processor, the communications providing to the host processor the captured video and at least first and second user inputs, and receiving from the host processor information determined by an expert, said information including at least first and second input prompts;

a software module, including instructions for the local processor to (a) to present the at least first and second input prompts received from the host processor to the user at at least one of (i) the one or more microdisplays and (ii) an optional audio output device and (b) to receive via the one or more peripheral devices first and a second user inputs responsive respectively to the first and the second input prompts, wherein the second input prompt is determined at least in part by the first user input.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the information determined by an expert is provided by a software program.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the one or more cameras include a visible light camera, an ultraviolet (UV) light camera, and an infrared (IR) camera.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the information determined by an expert is provided by a person (or persons).

9. A method of expert-assisted diagnosis and/or repair comprising:

given;

a portable wireless computing headset device worn by a user and having a frame, one or more high-resolution microdisplays for displaying visual information received from a local processor, the one or more microdisplays supported by a cantilever arm integral with the frame locating the one or more microdisplays near an eye of the user of the headset device;

one or more peripheral devices integral with the frame, for providing one or more peripheral input signals indicating a sensor input or at least one of a user motion and/or vocal input at one or more peripheral port; and

a local processor, located in the portable wireless video computing headset device, and further comprising;

one or more receivers, for receiving the peripheral inputs;

a translator, for translating sensor information, user motion and/or vocal input, into one or more user commands; and

a display controller, for forwarding information to be displayed on the one or more microdisplays;

the device presenting to the user at least a portion of a diagnostic decision tree on at least one of (i) the one or more microdisplays and (ii) an optional audio output device, the at least a portion of the diagnostic decision tree generated by the processing software;

the device receiving from the user via the one or more peripheral devices an input responsive to the presented portion of the diagnostic decision tree; and

the user rendering a diagnosis and/or executing a repair based at least in part on the presented portion of the diagnostic decision tree;

wherein the diagnostic decision tree is provided by an expert.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the computing headset device further comprises a communications interface, for wirelessly communicating with a remote host processor, and further comprising the step of the headset device receiving from the host processor a representation of the at least a portion of a diagnostic decision tree.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the local processor of the portable wireless computing headset device further comprises software executing on the local processor and further comprising the step of the software generating the portion of a diagnostic decision tree for presentation.

10. A method of expert-assisted diagnosis and/or repair comprising:

given;

a portable wireless computing headset device worn by a user and having a frame;

one or more high-resolution microdisplays for displaying visual information received from a local processor, the one or more microdisplays supported by a cantilever arm integral with the frame locating the one or more microdisplays near an eye of the user of the headset device;

one or more peripheral devices integral with the frame, for providing one or more peripheral input signals indicating a sensor input or at least one of a user motion and/or vocal input at one or more peripheral port; and

a local processor, located in the portable wireless video computing headset device, and further comprising;

one or more receivers, for receiving the peripheral inputs;

a translator, for translating sensor information, user motion and/or vocal input, into one or more user commands; and

a display controller, for forwarding information to be displayed on the one or more microdisplays;

the device presenting to the user at least a first and a second input prompt at at least one of (i) the one or more microdisplays and (ii) an optional audio output device;

the device receiving from the user via the one or more peripheral devices a first and a second user input responsive respectively to the first and the second input prompts, wherein the second input prompt is determined at least in part by the first user input;

the device presenting to the user diagnosis and/or repair-related information on at least one of (i) the one or more microdisplays and (ii) the optional audio output device; and

the user rendering a diagnosis and/or executing a repair based at least in part on the diagnosis and/or repair-related information;

wherein the first and second input prompts and the user diagnosis and/or repair-related information are provided by an expert.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the computing headset device further comprises a communications interface, for wirelessly communicating with a remote host processor, and further comprising the step of the headset device receiving from the host processor the user diagnosis and/or repair-related information provided by an expert.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the local processor of the portable wireless computing headset device further comprises software executing on the local processor and further comprising the step of the software generating the user diagnosis and/or repair-related information provided by an expert.