Optical device for the display of light data collimated to infinity

• US 5,170,153 A
• Filed: 12/04/1990
• Issued: 12/08/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sextant Avionique
• Original Assignee: Sextant Avionique
• Inventors: Ediar, Serge, Migozzi, Jean-Blaise
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberley, Alvin E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US07/621,879
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 340/705, 340/980, 351/209, 351/210, 351/211, 128/745, 359/630
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/225 Helmet sighting systems
• 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 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0198 System for aligning or maintaining alignment of an image in a predetermined direction
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• 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: G09B 9/307 by helmet-mounted projector or display G09B9/36 takes precedence; optical parts of head-up displays G02B27/01
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/326 the image being transformed by optical means

Abstract

In an optical device for the display of light data collimated to infinity, an image generator associated with a collimation optical device gives the eye an image collimated to infinity. The light source that illuminates the image generator is controlled so that the position of its illuminating part is such that it gives a narrow beam with an image of this illuminating part centered on the pupil of the eye. This is possible by means of an oculometer that determines the coordinates of the center of the pupil of the eye and delivers a signal enabling an automatic control circuit to adjust the position of the illuminating part of the source accordingly. The device can be applied to pilots'"'"' helmets for the display of data overlaid on the landscape.

Claims

1. An optical device for the display of light data collimated to infinity, comprising display means, an oculometer and an automatic control circuit, wherein the display means include an image generator to give an image and a collimation optical piece to receive the image given by the generator and to give a human eye an image collimated to infinity from the image given by the generator, wherein the display means have an exit pupil with a diameter smaller than that of the pupil of the eye, the position of said displayed exit pupil being adjustable, wherein the oculometer is designed to give a position signal, representing the coordinates of the center of the pupil of the eye, and wherein the automatic control circuit is designed to receive the position signal and to command the display means so that the exit pupil is centered on the pupil of the eye.

2. An optical device according to claim 1, wherein the display means include a matrix of electroluminescent diodes and an optical system to form an image of the diodes of the matrix in a zone where the display is done by the eye and wherein the command applied by the automatic control circuit consists in permitting the lighting up of at least one diode of the matrix, the image of which, given by the optical system, is substantially in the vicinity of the center of the pupil of the eye.

3. An optical device according to claim 1, wherein the collimation optical piece produces distortions and wherein the optical device includes a transcoder device to modify the characteristics of the image generator, as a function of the position signal, so that the image produced by the image generator has distortions which are the reverse of those produced by the collimation optical piece.

4. An optical device according to claim 1, wherein the display means are borne at least partially on a helmet and wherein the oculometer is borne by the helmet.

5. An optical device according to claim 1, wherein the display means include a bundle of flexible optical fibers, a first part fixedly joined to a helmet and a second part optically coupled to the helmet by the bundle of flexible optical fibers, and wherein the oculometer is fixedly joined to the second part and is designed to observe the eye by an optical trajectory including the optical fibers.