Virtual reality display device

• US 6,813,085 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2001
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Angus Duncan Richards
• Original Assignee: Angus Duncan Richards
• Inventors: Richards, Angus Duncan
• Primary Examiner(s): Sugarman, Scott J.
• Application Number:
  US09/892,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20020030636A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 359/290-292, 359/630, 359/631, 359/632, 359/633, 359/639, 345/8, 345/7, 345/9
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0136 with a single image source for both eyes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0407 Resolution change, inclusive of the use of different resolutions for different screen areas
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/346 based on modulation of the reflection angle, e.g. micromirrors micromirrors devices per se G02B26/0833

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to various arrangements of optical and electronic components to form a high-resolution helmet mounted display (HMD) or other compact display device utilizing one or more reflective mode display devices for the generation of imagery, including those utilizing micro mirror technology.

Claims

1. A compact lightweight display device comprising

(A) a single digital micro-mirror device that comprises a multiplicity of individually electronically controlled mirrors, where each mirror has a first position and a second position;

(B) at least one light source for projecting light onto said digital micro-mirror display device;

(C) means for transmitting light from the first said light source that is reflected by the micro-mirrors in said first position into an eye of a person viewing said display device; and

(D) an optional means for transmitting light from the second said light source that is reflected by the micro-mirrors in said second position into the other eye of a person viewing said display device.

2. A display device according to claim 1 wherein there is a first light source and a second light source and light from said first light source that is reflected by the micro-mirrors that are in said first position is transmitted into one eye of a person viewing said display device and light from said second light source that is reflected by the micro-mirrors that are in said second position is transmitted into the other eye of a person viewing said display device.

3. A display device according to claim 1 wherein said light source projects white light.

4. A display device according to claim 1 wherein said light source projects three optical primary colors in succession.

5. A display device according to claim 1 wherein a pair of concave mirrors focuses and directs said light into the eyes of a viewer to produce two separate images.

6. A display device according to claim 1 wherein a series of plane and concave mirrors focuses and directs said light into the eyes of a viewer to produce two separate images.

7. A display device according to claim 1 wherein a series of plane mirrors and lenses focuses and directs said light into the eyes of a viewer to produce two separate images.

8. A display device according to claim 1 wherein a series of lenses focuses and directs said light into the eyes of a viewer to produce two separate images.

9. A display device according to claim 1 wherein two off-axis focusing lenses focus and direct the light into a pair of eyepieces and subsequently into the eyes of a viewer to produce two separate images.

10. A display device according to claim 1 wherein at least one lens directly in front of and on the same optical axis as said digital micro-mirror device focuses light from said light sources to a pair of focus points where it is reflected from at least one mirror onto at least one concave mirror and then into the eyes of a viewer.

11. A display device according to claim 1 wherein at least one lens directly in front of and on the same optical axis as said digital micro-mirror device focuses light from said light sources to a pair of off-axis focusing lenses, which in turn focus and direct said light to a pair of eyepieces and subsequently into the eyes of a viewer to produce two separate images.

12. A display device according to claim 1 wherein at least one lens directly in front of and on the same optical axis as said digital micro-mirror device focuses light from said light sources to a pair of focus points where said light is reflected from at least one mirror onto a pair of off-axis focusing lenses which in turn focus and direct said light to a pair of eyepieces and subsequently into the eyes of a viewer to produce two separate images.

13. A display device according to claim 11 that incorporates a mechanism to adjust the spacing between said off-axis focusing lenses to achieve inter-ocular adjustment.

14. A display device according to claim 12 that incorporates a mechanism to adjust the spacing between said off-axis focusing lenses to achieve inter-ocular adjustment.

15. A display device-according to claim 1 wherein at least one lens directly in front of and on the same optical axis as said digital micro-mirror device focuses the light from said light source to a binocular arrangement of lenses or prisms which in turn focus and direct said light to a pair of eyepieces and subsequently into the eyes of a viewer to produce two separate images.

16. A display device according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said digital micro-mirror device and said light source is rotated 90 degrees to the optical axis of the viewer and is optically coupled to the remainder of the optical apparatus by a partially silvered or plane mirror.

17. A display device according to claim 1 wherein said light source comprises a spinning drum of colored filter material oriented along its axis of rotation, where said drum consists of (1) at least three different sections, where each section filters light into one of three optical primary colors;

(2) a white light source contained within said drum to provide said light;

(3) a collimating lens assembly;

(4) an optional diffuser; and

(5) means for rotating said drum.

18. A display device according to claim 1 wherein said light source comprises (1) a collimating lens;

and (2) two spinning drums that share a common axis of rotation but are rotated substantially 180 degrees out of phase with each other, that consist of at least 180 degrees of substantially opaque material in addition to the transparent filter material, wherein only one of said two drums passes light through said collimating lens at any time.

19. A display device according to claim 1 wherein said light source is at least one laser or light emitting diode.

20. A display device according to claim 1 wherein said light source comprises (1) three light sources each producing one of the optical primary colors;

(2) a series of partially silvered mirrors and optional plane mirror or a series of dichroic mirrors and optional plane mirror; and

(3) a diffuser; and

(4) an optional collimating lens.

21. A display device according to claim 1 wherein said light source comprises (1) white light that passes through three color filters capable of filtering it into the three optical primary colors;

(2) three separate fast response electronic shutters placed in the optical path of each of said filters; and

(3) a series of partially silvered mirrors and optional plane mirror or a series of dichroic mirrors and optional plane mirror; and

(4) a diffuser; and

(5) an optional collimating lens.

22. A compact, lightweight display device comprising

(A) a single digital micro-mirror device that comprises a multiplicity of individually electronically controlled mirrors, where each mirror has a first position and a second position;

(B) a first light source positioned on one side of said digital micro-mirror device projecting primary light colors onto said digital micro-mirror display device;

(C) a second light source positioned or the opposite side of said digital micro-mirror device projecting primary light colors onto said digital micro-mirror display device;

means for transmitting light from said first light source that is reflected by the micro-mirrors that are in said first position onto a concave mirror which in turn converges said light to a focus point at the viewer'"'"'s eye thereby eliminating the need for eyepiece optics; and

(D) means for transmitting light from said second light source that is reflected by the micro-mirrors that are in said second position into onto a concave mirror which in turn converges said light to a focus point at the viewer'"'"'s other eye thereby eliminating the need for eyepiece optics.

23. A compact, lightweight display device comprising

(A) a single digital micro-mirror device that comprises a multiplicity of individually electronically controlled mirrors, where each mirror has a first position and a second position;

(B) a first light source positioned on one side of said digital micro-mirror device projecting primary light colors onto said digital micro-mirror display device;

(C) a second light source positioned on the opposite side of said digital micro-mirror device projecting primary light colors onto said digital micro-mirror display device;

(D) means for focusing light from said first light source that is reflected by the micro-mirrors that are in said first position to form a real image which is then magnified by eyepiece optics before being transmitted into one eye of a person viewing said display device; and

(E) means for focusing light from said second light source that is reflected by the micro-mirrors that are in said second position to form a real image which is then magnified by eyepiece optics before being transmitted into the other eye of a person viewing said display device.