Wide field of view augmented reality see through head mountable display with distance accommodation

• US 9,983,412 B1
• Filed: 02/02/2017
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill (University of North Carolina System)
• Original Assignee: University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill (University of North Carolina System)
• Inventors: Fuchs, Henry, Dunn, David Scott, Tippets, Cary Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Choudhury, Mustak
• Application Number:
  US15/423,198
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 359 13, 3592441, 359358, 359630, 359631, 359632, 348E13032, 348 46, 348E13041, 348E13074, 345633
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0185 Displaying image at variable distance
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0825 the reflecting element being a flexible sheet or membrane, e.g. for varying the focus flexible mirrors for cosmetic use A45D42/24
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0179 Display position adjusting means not related to the information to be displayed

Abstract

A head mountable augmented reality see through near eye display system includes a see through augmented reality image focal distance modulator for changing a distance at which augmented reality images appear in focus and including at least one light transmissive surface through which real world objects are viewable. The system further includes a display for generating an augmented reality image and projecting the augmented reality image onto the see through augmented reality image focal distance modulator. The system further includes an augmented reality image focal distance controller for controlling the see through augmented reality image focal distance modulator to cause the augmented reality image to appear in focus a distance corresponding to a vergence distance and for changing the distance at which the augmented reality image appears to be in focus in correspondence with changes in the vergence distance.

Claims

1. A head mountable augmented reality see through near eye display system comprising:

a see through augmented reality image focal distance modulator for changing a distance at which augmented reality images are perceived to be in focus and including at least one light transmissive surface through which real world objects are viewable, wherein the at least one light transparent surface includes a rigid transparent surface and a deformable membrane mirror attached to the rigid transparent surface;

a display for generating an augmented reality image and projecting the augmented reality image onto the deformable membrane mirror of the see through augmented reality image focal distance modulator and the real world objects are viewable through the rigid transparent surface and the deformable membrane mirror when the augmented reality images are projected by the display onto the deformable membrane mirror, which is deformable to change a distance at which the augmented reality images are perceived to be in focus; and

an augmented reality image focal distance controller for controlling the see through augmented reality image focal distance modulator to cause the augmented reality images to be perceivable in focus at a distance corresponding to a vergence distance and for changing the distance at which the augmented reality images are perceived to be in focus in correspondence with changes in the vergence distance, wherein the see through augmented reality focal distance modulator comprises a single optical element for changing the distance at which the augmented reality images are perceived to be in focus and for optically combining the augmented reality images with a view of the real world objects.

2. The system of claim 1 comprising a vacuum chamber, wherein the deformable membrane mirror is deformable by changes in pressure in the vacuum chamber.

3. The system of claim 1 comprising first and second vacuum chambers located on opposite sides of the deformable membrane and wherein the deformable membrane mirror is deformable via a pressure differential between the first and second vacuum chambers.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the deformable membrane mirror is mechanically deformable.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the deformable membrane mirror includes magnetic particles embedded within the deformable membrane and wherein the deformable membrane mirror is deformable through application of magnetic force to the magnetic particles.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the augmented reality image focal distance modulator is configured to continually deform the deformable membrane mirror through a range of deformations corresponding to a range of augmented reality image focal distances and to control the display to flash the augmented reality images on the deformable membrane mirror when the deformable membrane mirror is deformed at a desired augmented reality image focal depth.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the see through augmented reality image focal distance modulator provides a horizontal monocular field of view of 60 degrees.

8. The system of claim 1 comprising a frame for positioning the see through augmented reality image focal distance modulator physically in front of a user'"'"'s eye.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the see through augmented reality image focal distance modulator is tilted with respect to the display to reflect the augmented reality image into the user'"'"'s eye.

10. A method for displaying augmented reality images to a user via a head mountable augmented reality see through near eye display system, the method comprising:

using a display, generating an augmented reality image and projecting the augmented reality image onto a see through augmented reality image focal distance modulator through which real world objects are viewable, wherein the see through augmented reality focus distance modulator comprises a rigid transparent surface and a deformable membrane mirror attached to the rigid transparent surface and the real world objects are viewable through the rigid transparent surface and the deformable membrane mirror when the augmented reality images are projected by the display onto the deformable membrane mirror, which is deformable to change a distance at which the augmented reality images are perceived to be in focus;

a controller for controlling the see through augmented reality image focal distance modulator to cause the augmented reality images to be perceivable in focus at a vergence distance; and

changing the distance at which the augmented reality images are perceived to be in focus in correspondence with changes in the vergence distance, wherein the see through augmented reality focal distance modulator comprises a single optical element for changing the distance at which the augmented reality images are perceived to be in focus and for optically combining the augmented reality images with a view of the real world objects.

11. The method of claim 10 comprising a vacuum chamber, wherein the deformable membrane mirror is deformable by changes in pressure in the vacuum chamber.

12. The method of claim 10 comprising first and second vacuum chambers located on opposite sides of the deformable membrane mirror and wherein the deformable membrane mirror is deformable via a pressure differential between the first and second vacuum chambers.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the deformable membrane mirror is mechanically deformable.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the deformable membrane mirror includes magnetic particles embedded within the deformable membrane and wherein the deformable membrane mirror is deformable through application of magnetic force to the magnetic particles.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the augmented reality image focal distance modulator is configured to continually deform the deformable membrane mirror through a range of deformations corresponding to a range of augmented reality image focal distances and to control the display to flash the augmented reality images on the deformable membrane mirror when the deformable membrane mirror is deformed at a desired augmented reality image focal depth.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions that when executed by the processor of a computer control the computer to perform steps comprising:

in a head mountable augmented reality see through near eye display system;

using a display, generating an augmented reality image and projecting the augmented reality image onto a see through augmented reality image focal distance modulator through which real world objects are viewable, wherein the see through augmented reality focus distance modulator comprises a rigid transparent surface and a deformable membrane mirror attached to the rigid transparent surface and the real world objects are viewable through the rigid transparent surface and the deformable membrane mirror when the augmented reality images are projected by the display onto the deformable membrane mirror, which is deformable to change a distance at which the augmented reality images are perceived to be in focus;

a controller for controlling the see through augmented reality image focal distance modulator to cause the augmented reality images to be perceivable in focus at a distance corresponding to a vergence distance; and

changing the distance at which augmented reality images are perceived to be in focus in correspondence with changes in the vergence distance, wherein the see through augmented reality focal distance modulator comprises a single optical element for changing the distance at which the augmented reality images are perceived to be in focus and for optically combining the augmented reality images with a view of the real world objects.