Systems, devices, and methods for wearable heads-up displays
First Claim
1. A wearable heads-up display comprising:
- a support structure that in use is worn on a head of a user;
a transparent element that is physically coupled to the support structure, wherein the transparent element is positioned within a field of view of the user when the support structure is worn on the head of the user;
a light source physically coupled to the support structure and positioned near or beyond a periphery of the field of view of the user when the support structure is worn on the head of the user, the light source comprising a register of light-emitting diodes;
a dynamic reflector physically coupled to the support structure and positioned to receive light signals provided by the light source, wherein the dynamic reflector is controllably variable to reflect the light signals provided by the light source towards select regions of the transparent element, the dynamic reflector comprising an elongated reflective strip that is controllably rotatable about an axis that is parallel to or collinear with a longitudinal axis thereof, and wherein the elongated reflective strip is positioned to receive a respective light signal provided by each respective light-emitting diode in the register of light-emitting diodes and reflect the respective light signal provided by each respective light-emitting diode in the register of light-emitting diodes towards a select region of the transparent element that is dependent on a rotational orientation of the elongated reflective strip; and
a set of static light-redirection elements, each static light-redirection element in the set of static light-redirection elements positioned on or proximate the transparent element in the field of view of the user when the support structure is worn on the head of the user, wherein in use at least one static light-redirection element in the set of static light-redirection elements receives a light signal reflected by the dynamic reflector and redirects the light signal towards at least one eye of the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, devices, and methods for transparent displays that are well-suited for use in wearable heads-up displays are described. Such transparent displays include a register of light-emitting diodes that sequentially generates pixels or other discrete portions of an image. Respective sets of light signals corresponding to the respective portions (e.g., rows) of the image are sequentially directed into the user'"'"'s field of view by a combination of a dynamic reflector and a set of static light-redirection elements. The dynamic reflector is an elongated reflective strip (including, for example, one or more MEMS-based digital micromirror(s)) mounted outside of the field of view of the user and the set of static light-redirection elements are substantially transparent and mounted directly in a field of view of the user. Successive portions of the image are generated in rapid succession until the entire image is displayed to the user.
46 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A wearable heads-up display comprising:
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a support structure that in use is worn on a head of a user; a transparent element that is physically coupled to the support structure, wherein the transparent element is positioned within a field of view of the user when the support structure is worn on the head of the user; a light source physically coupled to the support structure and positioned near or beyond a periphery of the field of view of the user when the support structure is worn on the head of the user, the light source comprising a register of light-emitting diodes; a dynamic reflector physically coupled to the support structure and positioned to receive light signals provided by the light source, wherein the dynamic reflector is controllably variable to reflect the light signals provided by the light source towards select regions of the transparent element, the dynamic reflector comprising an elongated reflective strip that is controllably rotatable about an axis that is parallel to or collinear with a longitudinal axis thereof, and wherein the elongated reflective strip is positioned to receive a respective light signal provided by each respective light-emitting diode in the register of light-emitting diodes and reflect the respective light signal provided by each respective light-emitting diode in the register of light-emitting diodes towards a select region of the transparent element that is dependent on a rotational orientation of the elongated reflective strip; and a set of static light-redirection elements, each static light-redirection element in the set of static light-redirection elements positioned on or proximate the transparent element in the field of view of the user when the support structure is worn on the head of the user, wherein in use at least one static light-redirection element in the set of static light-redirection elements receives a light signal reflected by the dynamic reflector and redirects the light signal towards at least one eye of the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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3. The wearable heads-up display of clam 1 wherein the transparent element includes a prescription eyeglass lens.
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13. A method of operating a wearable heads-up display when the wearable heads-up display is worn on a head of a user, the wearable heads-up display including a transparent element positioned in a field of view of the user, a light source comprising a register of light-emitting diodes positioned substantially outside of the field of view of the user, a dynamic reflector comprising an elongated reflective strip that is controllably rotatable about an axis that is parallel to or collinear with a longitudinal axis thereof and positioned outside of the field of view of the user, and a set of static light-redirection elements positioned on or proximate the transparent element and within the field of view of the user, the method comprising:
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orienting the elongated reflective strip in a first rotational orientation; generating a first set of light signals representative of at least a first portion of an image by the register of light-emitting diodes; reflecting the first set of light signals towards a first subset of static light-redirection elements in the set of static light-redirection elements by the elongated reflective strip, the first subset of static light-redirection elements determined by the first rotational orientation of the elongated reflective strip; and redirecting the first set of light signals towards an eye of the user by the first subset of static light-redirection elements. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification