See-through computer display systems with adjustable zoom cameras

• US 10,578,869 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2017
• Issued: 03/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mentor Acquisition One, LLC (Magic Leap, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mentor Acquisition One, LLC (Magic Leap, Inc.)
• Inventors: Osterhout, Ralph F., Lohse, Robert Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Eurice, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US15/657,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20190025588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/009 having zoom function
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0134 of stereoscopic type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0075 with means for altering, e.g. increasing, the depth of field or depth of focus
• 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 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/04 with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
• 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: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/296 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 with head-mounted left-right displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/383 for tracking with gaze detection, i.e. detecting the lines of sight of the viewer's eyes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 : Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 : Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3111 : for displaying the colours sequentially, e.g. by using sequentially activated light sources sequential projection in colour photography G03B33/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/312 : Driving therefor driving of electronic spatial light modulators in displays other than projection devices G09G3/34, G09G3/36; control of liquid crystal elements G02F1/133; control of micromechanical modulators G02B26/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/317 : Convergence or focusing systems electronic adjustment of convergence H04N9/3185; convergence or focusing arrangements for cathode ray tubes H04N9/28; means for automatic focusing of projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/53
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3179 : Video signal processing therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3194 : including sensor feedback

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to methods and systems for the see-through computer display systems with adjustable-zoom cameras positioned such that their respective capture fields-of-view at least partially overlap at a target distance.

Claims

1. A wearable head device, comprising:

a first display;

a second display;

a first camera configured to;

adjustably zoom, and

capture a first image; and

a second camera configured to;

adjustably zoom independently of the first camera, and

capture a second image, wherein;

the first image and the second image include overlapping content,

the first display is configured to display at least a portion of the first image, and

the second display is configured to display at least a portion of the second image.

2. The wearable head device of claim 1, wherein the portion of the first image displayed by the first display and the portion of the second image displayed by the second display each include the overlapping content.

3. The wearable head device of claim 1, wherein each of the first camera and the second camera is further configured to perform optical zooming.

4. The wearable head device of claim 1, wherein each of the first camera and the second camera is further configured to perform digital zooming.

5. The wearable head device of claim 1, wherein each of the first camera and the second camera is further configured to perform simultaneously capturing the first and second images.

6. The wearable head device of claim 1, wherein the first and second cameras are further configured for capturing the first and second images at a same zoom level.

7. The wearable head device of claim 1, wherein the first camera is further configured to capture the first image at a first zoom level and the second camera is further configured to capture the second image at a second zoom level different from the first zoom level.

8. A method comprising:

adjusting a zoom level of a first camera;

capturing, using the first camera, a first image;

independently of adjusting the zoom level of the first camera, adjusting a zoom level of a second camera;

capturing, using the second camera, a second image, wherein the first image and the second image include overlapping content;

displaying, by a first display of a wearable head device, at least a portion of the first image; and

displaying, by the second display of the wearable head device, at least a portion of the second image.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the portion of the first image displayed by the first display and the portion of the second image displayed by the second display each include the overlapping content.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein:

adjusting the zoom level of the first camera further comprises optically zooming; and

adjusting the zoom level of the second camera further comprises optically zooming.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein:

adjusting the zoom level of the first camera further comprises digitally zooming; and

adjusting the zoom level of the second camera further comprises digitally zooming.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and second images are simultaneously captured.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and second images are captured at a same zoom level.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the first image is captured at a first zoom level, and the second image is captured at a second zoom level different from the first zoom level.