Optical head-mounted displays for laser safety eyewear

• US 10,690,918 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2017
• Issued: 06/23/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA
• Original Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA
• Inventors: Inman, Jennifer A., Danehy, Paul M., Perkins, Brian K., Peters, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Castiaux, Brent D
• Application Number:
  US15/832,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20180172996A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/022 Use of special optical filters, e.g. multiple layers, filters for protection against laser light or light from nuclear explosions, screens with different filter properties on different parts of the screen; Rotating slit-discs optical filters per se G02B5/20
• 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 2027/0141 characterised by the informative content of the display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0147 comprising a device modifying the resolution of the displayed image
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/20 Filters polarising elements G02B5/30
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/208 for use with infrared or ultraviolet radiation, e.g. for separating visible light from infrared and/or ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/104 having spectral characteristics for purposes other than sun-protection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00

Abstract

According to certain examples, a head-mounted apparatus includes a safety eyewear component and an optical display coupled to the safety eyewear component. The safety eyewear component is configured to be worn of a head of an operator and to block transmission of a laser light therethrough. The optical display is configured to receive data associated with the laser light and to display a visual representation of the laser light in a field of view of the operator. In other examples, an apparatus includes a display, a sensor, at least one processor and at least one memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to receive, from the sensor, data associated with a laser light, process the data, and provide an image to the display, such as a representation of the laser light.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a display;

a sensor configured and arranged to detect scattered or reflected light from a laser beam;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the processor to at least perform;

receive, from the sensor, data associated with the laser light;

process the data associated with the laser; and

transmit an electronic signal configured to cause the display to provide visual representation of the laser light beam that includes a simulated projection the laser light beam in an augmented reality field of view of an operator, wherein the simulated projection of the laser light beam in the augmented reality field of view mimics an actual projection of the laser light beam the operator would view in a real life field of view without the display.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a laser eye protection component and wherein the apparatus is a head-counted apparatus, and at least a portion of the laser eye protection component and at least a portion of the display are positioned to align with an eye region of a user.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory further stores computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor cause the apparatus to adjust a viewing position responsive to receiving a user selection to modify a viewing option.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory further comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the processor to at least:

transmit an electronic signal configured to cause the optical display to output a graphical or textual information relating to a setting of the optical display.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the graphical or textual info cation comprises an indication of:

a power meter output or a beam profile intensity measurement.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory further comprises computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the processor to at least:

transmit an electronic signal configured to output a plurality of user-selectable viewing options on the optical display.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more input devices, and wherein the at least one memory further comprises computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the processor to at least:

modify a setting of the optical display responsive to receiving a user selection via the one or more input devices.

8. A laser safety system comprising:

a head-mounted frame;

a sensor configured and arranged to detect scattered or reflected light from a laser light beam;

a safety lens module removably coupled to the head-mounted frame configured to be worn on a head of an operator and configured to block transmission of laser light; and

an optical display module removably coupled to the head-mounted frame and configured to receive data from the sensor and display a visual representation of the laser light beam that includes a simulated projection the laser light beam in an augmented reality field of view of the operator wearing the head-mounted frame, wherein the simulated projection of the laser light beam in the augmented reality field of view mimics an actual projection of the laser light beam the operator would view in a real life field of view without the optical display.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the optical display module is configured to provide an augmented reality display including the visual representation of the laser light.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the optical display module is configured to provide a plurality of user-selectable viewing options.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the optical display module is configured to provide an indication of:

a power meter output or a beam profile intensity measurement.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the safety lens module includes a plurality of removable lens inserts, each lens insert rated for a specific laser wavelength.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the head-mounted frame is configured to be worn with:

only the safety lens module, only the optical display module, or both the safety lens module and the optical display module.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the simulated projection of the laser light beam is depicted in the same spatial location as the actual projection of the laser light beam.