Virtual reality system and method

• US 6,118,414 A
• Filed: 12/02/1997
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gregory J. Kintz
• Original Assignee: Gregory J. Kintz
• Inventors: Kintz, Gregory J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Saras, Steven J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AWAD, AMR A
• Application Number:
  US08/982,348
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 345/31, 345/8, 345/7, 348/36, 348/37, 348/39, 348/63, 348/67, 434/40, 434/38, 434/44
• US Class Current: 345/7
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/308 by LCD, gas plasma display or electroluminescent display
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/326 the image being transformed by optical means

Abstract

A novel display system for observing virtual and real images. The display system includes a light redirection surface or reflective surface (e.g, mirrored surface) to display, for example, a virtual image. The system also has a light emitting surface, or LES, which includes first and second sides directly opposite from each other. The LES emits light to form the virtual image at an apparent distance behind the reflective surface. An observing region is also included on the second side of the LES for observing the image through the LES.

Claims

1. A method for observing an image, said method comprising:

emitting light from a first side of a light emitting surface ("LES") to a reflective magnifying optical system ("RMOS") within a field of view of an observer, whereupon said LES providing said light to form an image on a light redirection surface which is behind said LES; and

observing said image through said LES on a second side, said second side being substantially opposite of said first side, said LES being constructed to permit a portion of said light from said light redirection surface to be observed by said observer without substantial optical distortion or attenuation;

wherein said LES comprising a rotating light emitting structure which revolves around said observer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said rotating light emitting structure selectively emits light from pixel elements to provide said image from said RMOS.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said LES comprises a source selected from a plurality of organic light emitting diodes, a plurality of light emitting diodes, a plurality of electroluminescent materials, a porous silicon, a plurality of electrically addressed phosphors, a plurality of lasers, or a plurality of illuminated light valves.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said light emitting diodes comprise a red colored diode, a green colored diode, and a blue colored diode.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said rotating light emitting structure is rotating around said observer at a speed greater than about 600 revolutions per minute.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said rotating light emitting structure is rotating around said observer at a speed greater than about 1,800 revolutions per minute.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said LES rotates around said observer at a speed that forms said image in a flicker free manner.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said RMOS comprises a substantially spherical concave mirror.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said LES comprises a substantially spherical surface, said first side corresponds to an outside of said substantially spherical surface, said second side corresponds to an interior of said spherical surface, and said LES comprising an LES radius that is greater than about half of a radius of said RMOS.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said first side of said LES corresponds to an outside surface, said second side of said LES corresponding to an interior surface, said LES being within a volume defined by the RMOS and within a radius that is greater than about half of a radius of said RMOS.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said RMOS includes a horizontal viewing angle of greater than about 180 degrees.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said RMOS includes a horizontal viewing angle of greater than about 300 degrees.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said RMOS includes a horizontal viewing angle of about 360 degrees.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said RMOS includes a vertical viewing angle of greater than about 90 degrees.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said RMOS includes a vertical viewing angle of greater than about 120 degrees.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said RMOS includes a vertical viewing angle of about 180 degrees.

17. A light emitting surface ("LES"), said light emitting surface comprising:

a first side coupled oppositely to a second side, said first side comprising a plurality of sources for emitting electromagnetic energy to project as an image onto a reflective magnifying optical system ("RMOS"), said image projecting off of said RMOS and passing through said first side to be substantially visible by an observer facing at said second side;

wherein said image being substantially visible to said observer having a horizontal viewing angle greater than about 180 degrees and a vertical viewing angle greater than about 90 degrees.

18. The LES of claim 17 wherein said image is a virtual image at an apparent distance behind said RMOS.

19. A display system for an observer, said system comprising:

a reflective magnifying optical system ("RMOS"), said RMOS comprising a reflective surface to display a virtual image;

a light emitting surface ("LES"), said light emitting surface having a first side and a second side, said first side emitting light to form said virtual image at an apparent distance in said RMOS;

said LES comprising a rotating light emitting structure which revolves around said observer, said rotating light emitting structure comprising an array of light emitting sources, said array of light emitting sources being selectively addressed to provide said virtual image on said RMOS; and

an observing region, said observing region being positioned on said second side of said light emitting surface, said observing region comprising a location for viewing said virtual image on said RMOS through said light emitting surface.

20. The display system of claim 19 wherein said RMOS is provided in an auditorium for viewing images.

21. The display system of claim 19 wherein said RMOS is provided in a flight simulator.

22. The display system of claim 19 wherein said RMOS is provided in a virtual reality game.

23. The display system of claim 19 wherein said RMOS is provided in an arcade game.

24. The display system of claim 19 further comprising a filter placed between said RMOS and said observing region, said filter reducing a possible reflection of light from said RMOS.

25. The display system of claim 24 wherein said filter is selected from a polarizer film and a quarter-wave film, or a combination polarizer-quarter-wave film.

26. The display system of claim 19 wherein said LES is operably coupled to an interface, said interface providing data to said LES, said data being selectively emitted as light from said LES to provide said virtual image on said RMOS.

27. The display system of claim 19 wherein said LES comprises a source selected from a plurality of organic light emitting diodes, a plurality of light emitting diodes, a plurality of electroluminescent materials, a porous silicon, a plurality of electrically addressed phosphors, a plurality of lasers, or a plurality of illuminated light valves.

28. The display system claim 27 wherein said light emitting diodes comprise a red colored diode, a green colored diode, and a blue colored diode.

29. A virtual reality system, including a computer having a memory, said memory comprising:

a code directed to selectively emit light from a first side of a light emitting surface ("LES") to a reflective magnifying optical system ("RMOS") within a field of view of an observer, whereupon said LES providing said light to form an image behind said LES and allowing a user to observe said image through said LES on a second side, said second side being substantially opposite of said first side, said LES being constructed to permit a portion of said light from said RMOS to be observed by said observer without substantial optical distortion or attenuation;

wherein said LES comprising a rotating light emitting structure which rotates about said observer.

30. A light emitting surface ("LES"), said light emitting surface comprising:

a first side of comprising a plurality of sources for emitting electromagnic energy to project as an image onto a reflective magnifying optical ("RMOS"); and

a second side coupled oppositely to side first side, wherein said image projecting off of said RMOS passes trough said first side to be substantially visible by an observer facing said second side.