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Pixelated light shutter mechanisms for improving contrast between computer-generated images and an ambient visible environment

  • US 9,576,398 B1
  • Filed: 08/14/2014
  • Issued: 02/21/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2014
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. Augmented reality glasses, comprising:

  • a processor that generates image signals corresponding to a computer-generated image;

    a see-through display surface comprising a first side and an opposing second side, wherein the display surface is at least partially transmissive to ambient light;

    a projector that projects the computer-generated image on to the first side of the see-through display surface; and

    a light shutter positioned adjacent to the second side of the see-through display surface that receives the ambient light, the light shutter comprising shutter elements, each shutter element being independently controllable by the computer processor to modulate an amount of the ambient light that passes through a corresponding portion of the light shutter and reaches a corresponding portion of the display surface,the processor controlling a number of the shutter elements to cause the number of the shutter elements to block at least a portion of the ambient light from reaching an area of the display surface comprising multiple portions of the display surface, and wherein the multiple portions of the display surface comprise a first portion of the display surface displaying at least part of the computer-generated image, a second portion of the display surface displaying no part of the computer-generated image and a third display surface portion displaying no part of the computer generated image, wherein the second portion and the first portion are contiguous and the second portion and the third portion are contiguous, and wherein the shutter elements block a larger amount of light at the second portion than at the third portion.

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