See-through near-eye display glasses wherein image light is transmitted to and reflected from an optically flat film

• US 8,482,859 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2012
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Osterhout Design Group
• Inventors: Border, John N., Bietry, Joseph, Osterhout, Ralph F.
• Primary Examiner(s): PINKNEY, DAWAYNE
• Application Number:
  US13/429,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20120212399A1
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 359630-634, 359 13- 14, 310/49.R, 310/156.32, 310/156.35, 310/156.34, 310266-268, 310/156.02, 353 11- 12, 353/28, 353/119, 340/438, 340/980, 340/995.1, 340/815.47, 340/815.74
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0093 with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3058 comprising electrically conductive elements, e.g. wire grids, conductive particles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/005 Input arrangements through a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/005 for combining the signals of two or more microphones specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content, wherein the optical assembly comprises an optically flat film, disposed at an angle in front of a user'"'"'s eye, that reflects and transmits a portion of image light and transmits scene light from a see-through view of the surrounding environment, so that a combined image comprised of portions of the image light and the transmitted scene light is provided to a user'"'"'s eye.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an interactive head-mounted eyepiece worn by a user, wherein the eyepiece includes an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment combined with displayed content, an integrated processor for handling content for display to the user, and an integrated image source for introducing the content to the optical assembly,

wherein the integrated image source directs light to a single curved polarizing film, the single curved polarizing comprising at least one layer, that first reflects a portion of the light to illuminate a reflective image display, and then transmits a portion of illuminating light though the single curved polarizing film to provide image light, and

wherein the optical assembly comprises a beam splitter layer, disposed at an angle in front of a user'"'"'s eye, that reflects and transmits a portion of image light and transmits scene light from a see-through view of the surrounding environment, so that a combined image comprised of portions of the image light and the transmitted scene light is provided to a user'"'"'s eye.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein thebeam splitter layer is a wire grid polarizer.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the beam splitter layer is an optically flat film laminated to a transparent substrate.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the beam splitter layer is an optically flat film molded into a surface of the eyepiece.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the beam splitter layer is positioned at less than 40 degrees from vertical.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the image source further comprises a half wave film for converting light from the display to S-polarized light.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the integrated image source comprises an LCoS reflective image display.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the integrated image source comprises an LED light source for directing light to the curved polarizing film.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the integrated image source further comprises a diffuser between the LED light source and the curved polarizing film.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the integrated image source further comprises a prepolarizer between the LED light source and the curved polarizing film.