Interactive data view and command system

• US 20080157946A1
• Filed: 04/09/2007
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: David Parker Dickerson
• Inventors: Jochheim, Edgar, Eberl, Roland H.C., Dickerson, David P., Konigstein, Karsten, Eberl, Heinrich A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,969,383 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• 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: G05D 1/0016 characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0038 by providing the operator with simple or augmented images from one or more cameras located onboard the vehicle, e.g. tele-operation images analyzed by a computer and used for automatic navigation G05D1/0246

Abstract

A method and information system for capturing signals, for processing signals, and for providing signals at least partially based on, or bearing correlation to, the captured signals is disclosed. The information system includes a signal input unit, a wireless communication unit, and an output unit. The signal input unit (preferably an optical signal unit) is constructed and is positionable to capture signals associated with an eye. The output unit is constructed to provide information based on the captured signals or to provide information as a function of the captured signals or in correlation with the captured signals.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. An information system, comprising:

a signal input unit configured and adapted for use in a vehicle for determining a distance between said signal input unit and an object in a vicinity of said vehicle and outputting an output signal indicative of said distance;

an information unit configured and adapted for receiving said output signal and for outputting an image signal representative of an image based on said output signal; and

a scanning projection unit configured and adapted for receiving said image signal and for visibly projecting said image to a user.

22. The information system of claim 21, comprising a wireless communication unit.

23. The information system of claim 21, comprising an acceleration measurement apparatus.

24. The information system of claim 21, comprising an optical signal capturing unit configured and adapted to capture optical signals from a field of view of said user without capturing a retinal reflex image.

25. The information system of claim 21, wherein said information unit is configured and adapted to alter said image signal such that a brightness of said image projected by said scanning projection unit is adjusted based on a brightness of said captured optical signals.

26. The information system of claim 21, wherein said image comprises at least one of distance, speed and direction information.

27. The information system of claim 21, comprising means for determining a line of sight of said user and providing corresponding line of sight information to said vehicle.

28. An information system, comprising:

a signal input unit comprising an acceleration measurement apparatus;

an information unit configured and adapted for receiving an acceleration measurement signal from said acceleration measurement apparatus of said signal input unit and outputting an image signal representative of an image based on said input signal; and

a projection unit configured and adapted for receiving said image signal and for visibly projecting said image to a user.

29. The information system of claim 28, comprising a wireless communication unit.

30. The information system of claim 28, comprising a GPS receiver.

31. The information system of claim 28, wherein said projection unit is a scanning projection unit.

32. The information system of claim 28, comprising:

an optical signal capturing unit constructed and arranged to capture light from a natural scene ambient to said user; and

means configured and adapted for extracting image information pertaining to said natural ambient scene from said captured light.

33. The information system of claim 32, comprising:

means configured and adapted for determining an orientation of said projection unit relative to said natural ambient scene on the basis of said extracted image information.

34. The information system of claim 32, wherein said image comprises image information obtained from said captured light.

35. The information system of claim 28, comprising:

an optical signal unit constructed and arranged to capture light that has been reflected from a retina of an eye and that is indicative of physical retinal structures of said retina; and

means configured and adapted for extracting information representative of said physical retinal structures from said light captured by said optical signal unit and for determining an orientation of said eye on the basis of said extracted information.

36. The information system of claim 35, wherein said optical signal unit captures said light reflected from said retina via a scanning optical detection unit.

37. A helmet, comprising:

a projection unit, mounted in or on said helmet, constructed and arranged to project visible images into an eye of a wearer of said helmet.

38. The helmet of claim 37, comprising:

a optical signal capturing unit, mounted in or on said helmet, constructed and arranged to capture light from a natural scene ambient to said helmet.

39. The helmet of claim 37, comprising:

at least one sensor selected from the group of sensors consisting of a position sensor, an air quality sensor, a wind speed sensor, an altitude sensor and a compass.

40. The helmet of claim 37, comprising:

an orientation sensor or compass that determines an orientation of said helmet;

wherein said projection unit projects image information indicative of said determined orientation of said helmet to said wearer of said helmet.

41. An information system, comprising:

at least one helmet in accordance with claim 37;

a command console having at least one monitor;

a communication link that permits a communication of information in at least one direction between said command console and any of said at least one helmet.

42. An information system, comprising:

at least one helmet in accordance with claim 37;

a command console having at least one monitor;

a communication link that permits a communication of information at least in a direction from said at least one helmet to said command console;

wherein

said command console receives, via said communication link, signals derived from said captured light; and

said at least one monitor displays information based on said signals.

43. An information system, comprising:

at least one helmet in accordance with claim 39;

a command console having at least one monitor;

a communication link that permits a communication of information at least in a direction from said at least one helmet to said command console;

wherein,

said command console receives, via said communication link, signals derived from measurements made by said at least one sensor; and

said at least one monitor displays information based on said signals.

44. An information system, comprising:

a first helmet in accordance with claim 37;

a second helmet in accordance with claim 37;

a communication link that permits communication of information at least in a direction from said first helmet to said second helmet;

wherein

said first helmet comprises a position sensor;

said second helmet receives, via said communication link, signals derived from measurements made by said position sensor; and

said projection unit of said second helmet presents, based on said received signals, image information indicative of a position of said first helmet