Head-mounted personal visual display apparatus with image generator and holder
First Claim
1. Visual display apparatus for a user, comprising:
- an image generator, which outputs image light;
optical elements configured to receive said image light from said image generator and provide said image to the eye position of the user; and
a holder configured to mount the image generator, optical elements and shroud to the user'"'"'s head said holder having a first portion configured for positioning before the forehead or eyes of the user and first and second temple pieces extending from said first portion along the sides of the head of the user towards the ears of the user, said first and second temple pieces being coupled to said first portion to permit pivoting of said first and second temple pieces about first and second pivot axes, allowing said temple pieces to be folded substantially adjacent said first portion wherein said first and second pivot axes are fixed with respect to said first portion.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A visual display device is provided for delivering a generated image, preferably combinable with environment light, to the eye of a user. The device is lightweight and compact but yields a high quality image. In one embodiment, a shroud protects from stray light and holds optical elements in desired alignment. In one embodiment an image generator is masked by at least two masks to provide for a high quality image without waste. In one embodiment, a removably mounted shield or activatable device and convert the apparatus from a see-through device to an immersion device and back again. In one embodiment, the device can be comfortably mounted to the user'"'"'s head while still allowing for use of conventional eyeglasses. A tracker for outputting an indication of the orientation, attitude and/or position of a head-mounted display (HMD) may be provided. The tracker can be configured so that it is incorporated in the HMD housing and/or can be easily decoupled from the HMD, so that the HMD can be used without the tracker (e.g. for watching movies). Preferably, decoupling involves unplugging a single electrical connector (such as a cable) and unfastening a mechanical connection (such as a strap). Preferably the tracker provides pass-through of signal to the HMD and, when the tracker is coupled to the HMD, only a single cable or other data link connects the HMD-tracker combination to the host computer. In one embodiment, the tracker uses magnetic sensors. In another embodiment, one or more inertial sensors, such as a rate gyro and/or accelerometers are used.
842 Citations
22 Claims
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1. Visual display apparatus for a user, comprising:
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an image generator, which outputs image light; optical elements configured to receive said image light from said image generator and provide said image to the eye position of the user; and a holder configured to mount the image generator, optical elements and shroud to the user'"'"'s head said holder having a first portion configured for positioning before the forehead or eyes of the user and first and second temple pieces extending from said first portion along the sides of the head of the user towards the ears of the user, said first and second temple pieces being coupled to said first portion to permit pivoting of said first and second temple pieces about first and second pivot axes, allowing said temple pieces to be folded substantially adjacent said first portion wherein said first and second pivot axes are fixed with respect to said first portion.
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2. Visual display apparatus for a user, comprising:
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an image generator, which outputs image light; optical elements configured to receive said image light from said image generator and provide said image to the eye position of the user; at least a first shroud configured to block stray light; and a holder configured to mount the image generator, optical elements and shroud to the user'"'"'s head including a brace configured to contact the user'"'"'s forehead. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5)
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6. Visual display apparatus for a user comprising
an image generator, which outputs image light; -
optical elements configured to receive said image light from said image generator and provide said image to the eye position of the user; at least a first shroud configured to block stray light; a holder configured to mount the image generator optical elements and shroud to the user'"'"'s head including a brace configured to contact the user'"'"'s forehead; and means for adjusting the effective thickness of said brace to change the amount of eye relief.
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7. Visual display apparatus for providing an image to the eyes of a user, comprising:
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left and right image generators, each having a first output surface, said output surfaces of said left and right image generators outputting left and right image light; left and right fold mirrors positioned to receive the left and right image light from the left and right image generators, respectively, and to reflect at least first portions of said left and right image light; a left powered reflector situated to receive said first portion of said left image light to provide at least some of said image to the left eye position of the user; and a right powered reflector, distinct from said left powered reflector, situated to receive said first portion of said right image light to provide at least some of said image to the right eye position of the user. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. Visual display apparatus for a user, comprising:
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an image generator, which outputs image light; optical elements configured to receive said image light from said image generator and provide said image to the eye position of the user; a holder configured to mount the image generator and optical elements to the user'"'"'s head; and a converter which receives audio signals and receives video signals in a first VGA format, outputs video signals in a second format and outputs audio signals. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A head-mounted visual display apparatus for a user, comprising:
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an image generator defining an image height and an image width, which outputs image light; a first mask positioned on a first side of said image generator defining a first optically clear opening having a first opening height and a first opening width; a second mask located on a side of said image generator opposite said first side defining a second optically clear opening having a second opening height equal to or greater than said image height and a second opening width equal to or greater than said image width; and optical elements configured to receive said image light from said image generator and provide said image to the eye position of the user. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A head-mounted visual display apparatus for a user for coupling to a computer, said head-mounted display being of a predetermined type, comprising:
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an image generator, which outputs image light; optical elements configured to receive said image light from said image generator and provide said image to the eye position of the user; a holder configured to mount the image generator and optical elements to the head of the user; means for communicating information regarding said type of said head-mounted display to said computer. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. Visual display apparatus for a user comprising
an image generator, which outputs image light; -
optical elements configured to receive said image light from said image generator and provide said image to the eye position of the user; at least a first shroud configured to block stray light; a holder configured to mount the image generator, optical elements and shroud to the user'"'"'s head including a brace configured to contact the user'"'"'s forehead; and a pad removably coupled to said brace.
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21. Visual display apparatus for a user comprising:
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an image generator, which outputs image light; optical elements configured to receive said image light from said image generator and provide said image to the eye position of the user; at least a first shroud configured to block stray light; and a holder configured to mount the image generator, optical elements and shroud to the user'"'"'s head including a brace configured to contact the user'"'"'s forehead wherein said brace includes a bracket and a plate pivotable with respect to said bracket. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification