Monocular display device

• US 9,217,868 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2008
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kopin Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kopin Corporation
• Inventors: Jacobsen, Jeffrey J., Pombo, Stephen A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leiby, Christopher E
• Application Number:
  US12/008,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20080169998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,905 Days
• Field of Search: 345 7- 9
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0154 with movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0161 characterised by the relative positioning of the constitutive elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features

Abstract

An apparatus includes a monocular display with a wireless communications interface, a user input device, a transmitter, receiver and a controller. The controller is configured to control the transmitter for sending and receiving control signals to and from an external device via the wireless interface. The monocular display is positioned relative to the user'"'"'s dominant eye to display images to the user while occluding less than half of the user'"'"'s maximum viewing space, while enabling the user to send and receive audible information or music.

Claims

1. A headset computing device comprising:

a housing;

a display connected to the housing and configured to project a virtual image and arranged relative to a wearer'"'"'s eye when the device is mounted on the wearer'"'"'s head, wherein the same wearer'"'"'s eye has a total field of view being defined as at most 180 degrees in a horizontal, and at most 120 degrees in a vertical direction;

the virtual image projected from the display onto a portion of a surface of an eyeglass optical element external to the housing, the displayed virtual image permitting the wearer to see about ninety to ninety-five percent of the wearer'"'"'s normal vision through the eyeglass optical element; and

a support member comprising an eyeglass frame with ear support, the support member being connected to the housing and the display that supports the display relative to the same wearer'"'"'s eye, the display being located in a position relative to the same wearer'"'"'s eye so the display is located in a peripheral view of the total field of view of the same wearer'"'"'s eye while the display is operatively projecting virtual images.

2. The headset computing device of claim 1, wherein the display is spaced from the wearer'"'"'s dominant eye and positioned a predetermined amount spaced horizontally from the wearer'"'"'s eye, and a predetermined amount spaced vertically from the wearer'"'"'s eye.

3. The headset computing device of claim 1, wherein the display is generally disposed and located at an angle formed with a longitudinal axis of the housing, the longitudinal axis being disposed through said housing, and measured generally parallel relative to the wearer'"'"'s face.

4. The headset computing device of claim 3, wherein the angle is in a range of about 45 to about 90.

5. The headset computing device of claim 1, wherein the housing is connected to the display in a manner that is adapted to move the display from between at least two positions;

wherein at least a first position is the display being supported relative to the wearer'"'"'s eye and occluding no more than about ten to about twenty percent of the normal field of view; and

wherein at least a second position is the display is generally positioned closer to the wearer'"'"'s dominant eye than the first position, the second position being adapted for closely viewing images with the display in front of the wearer'"'"'s dominant eye.

6. The headset computing device of claim 5, wherein the housing is connected to the display by at least one of an articulating linkage, a telescoping arm, or a slidable arm.

7. The headset computing device of claim 5, wherein the housing further comprises

a structure adapted to (i) removably connect the support member and the housing to the wearer or to (ii) removably connect the support member and the housing to a second member being supported on the wearer.

8. The headset computing device of claim 7, wherein the structure comprises a clip.

9. The headset computing device of claim 7, wherein the structure removably connects the support member and the housing to:

(i) an eyeglass frame or removably connects the support member and the housing to (ii) a garment associated with the wearer.

10. The headset computing device of claim 1, further comprising a camera, the camera capturing an image and communicating the image to a circuit that displays the image to the wearer.

11. The headset computing device of claim 10, further comprising a second camera supported on the wearer in a different location than the camera, wherein the second camera captures a second perspective image for display to the wearer.

12. The headset computing device of claim 1, further comprising a power supply operatively connected to the display, wherein the power supply is rechargeable.

13. The headset computing device of claim 12, wherein the power supply is rechargeable by capturing radiofrequency energy.

14. The headset computing device of claim 13, wherein the power supply comprises a coil adapted to capture radiofrequency energy, the radiofrequency energy being created independently relative to the headset computing device.

15. The headset computing device of claim 1, further comprising a noise cancelling microphone, the microphone being operatively connected to a controller.

16. The headset computing device of claim 5, further comprising a sensor that detects a parameter surrounding the wearer, and the sensor outputs a signal to a controller in response to the detected parameter.

17. The headset computing device of claim 1, further comprising an audio transducer outputting audio to the wearer.

18. The headset computing device of claim 1, wherein the image projected onto the eyeglass optical element occludes about five to ten percent of the wearer'"'"'s vision.

19. The headset computing device of claim 1, said device further comprising the eyeglass optical element.

20. The headset computing device of claim 19 further comprising an intermediate optical element, the intermediate optical element configured to receive the virtual image projected from the display and to present a corresponding image onto the surface of the eyeglass optical element.

21. The headset computing device of claim 1, wherein the eyeglass optical element/display is a screen, a grating, a lens, or a clear optical component.

22. The headset computing device of claim 1 further comprising an intermediate optical element, the intermediate optical element configured to receive the virtual image projected from the display and to present a corresponding image onto the surface of the eyeglass optical element.

23. The headset computing device of claim 22, wherein the corresponding image is optically enhanced.

24. The headset computing device of claim 23, the intermediate optical element further configured to present onto the surface of the eyeglass optical element/display a corresponding image that is in wearer focus and corrected/adjusted for at least one of magnification, optical distortion, astigmatism, and chromatic aberration.

25. A headset computing device comprising:

a housing;

a display connected to the housing and configured to project a virtual image and arranged relative to a wearer'"'"'s eye when the device is mounted on the wearer'"'"'s head, wherein the same wearer'"'"'s eye has a total field of view being defined as at most 180 degrees in a horizontal, and at most 120 degrees in a vertical direction;

the virtual image projected from the display onto a portion of a surface of an eyeglass optical element external to the housing, the displayed virtual image permitting the wearer to see about ninety to ninety-five percent of the wearer'"'"'s normal vision through the eyeglass optical element;

a power supply;

a circuit operatively connected to the display, and the power supply;

a support member comprising an eyeglass frame with ear support, the support member being connected to the housing and the display that supports the display relative to the same wearer'"'"'s eye, the display being located in a position relative to the same wearer'"'"'s eye so the display is located in a peripheral view of the total field of view of the same wearer'"'"'s eye while the display is operatively projecting virtual images; and

a port being associated with the display, the housing or the support member, the port operatively connected to the circuit for removably connecting at least one additional functional component to the circuit, the port also mechanically supporting the additional functional component.

26. The headset computing device of claim 25, further comprising an additional functional component comprising a removable memory, the component removably engaging with the port, and for operative connection to the circuit.

27. The headset computing device of claim 25, further comprising a removable power supply for removably engaging with the port.

28. The headset computing device of claim 25, wherein the port is located on the display in an accessible location by the wearer.

29. The headset computing device of claim 25, further comprising a wireless transceiver assembly that removably connects to the port.

30. The headset computing device of claim 25, wherein the support structure comprises at least one of an ear loop, or a clip, and wherein the port is located on the support structure.

31. The headset computing device of claim 25, further comprising a lanyard including a housing defining an interior space, the lanyard being supported generally around a rear of the wearer'"'"'s head, the lanyard housing the port, and the port being operatively connected to the circuit, the port removably connecting at least one additional functional component to the circuit.

32. The headset computing device of claim 31, wherein the lanyard is connected to a pair of glasses supported on the wearer.

33. The headset computing device of claim 31, wherein the lanyard is cushioned for storing a resilient member in the interior space.

34. The headset computing device of claim 31, further comprising a power supply, the power supply being removably connected to the port.

35. The headset computing device of claim 31, further comprising a wireless transceiver being removably connected to the port.

36. The headset computing device of claim 31, further comprising a memory being removably connected to the port.

37. The headset computing device of claim 31, further comprising a controller operatively connected to the circuit for controlling the monocular display, and the functional component.

38. The headset computing device of claim 31, wherein the lanyard is flexible.

39. The headset computing device of claim 31, wherein the port is adapted to removably connect a removable media.

40. The headset computing device of claim 31, further comprising a cushion that is associated with the lanyard and for contacting the wearer.

41. The headset computing device of claim 25, wherein the housing is a first housing, and further comprising:

a second housing supported independently on the wearer relative to the first housing, the second housing including the port, the port being operatively connected to the circuit for removably connecting at least one additional functional component to the circuit.

42. The headset computing device of claim 41, wherein the second housing comprises an ear loop support.

43. The headset computing device of claim 41, wherein the second housing comprises an engagement member for removably connecting to the wearer.

44. The headset computing device of claim 41, wherein the second housing is removably connected to a garment, a hat, eyeglass frame, or sunglass frame of the wearer.

45. The headset computing device of claim 41, further comprising:

a wireless transceiver assembly being supported in or by the second housing, the wireless transceiver assembly being connected to a second power supply and a second circuit, and the wireless transceiver assembly being adapted for wirelessly communication with the circuit.

46. The headset computing device of claim 41, further comprising a functional component being stored in or supported by the second housing.

47. The headset computing device of claim 25, further comprising:

a second component supported around a neck of the wearer, and including an interior space, the second component including the port being operatively connected to the circuit for removably connecting at least one additional functional component to the circuit.

48. The headset computing device of claim 47, wherein the second component includes a monocular display screen on at a surface of a second component housing.

49. The headset computing device of claim 47, wherein the second component is a medallion, and includes at least two different ports removably connecting at least two functional components to the circuit.

50. The headset computing device of claim 47, further comprising a power supply, the power supply being removably connected to the port, and providing power to at least one of the second component and the monocular display.

51. The headset computing device of claim 47, wherein

the second component is supported independently relative to the monocular display or supported around a neck, wrist, ankle, head, arm, or leg of the wearer;

and

wherein the second component is supported by a generally flexible elongated member.

52. The headset computing device of claim 25, further comprising a second component being a generally a neck supported electronic medallion, the medallion comprising a user interface on an outer surface of the second component.

53. The headset computing device of claim 47, wherein the second component includes a transceiver that wireless communicates with the circuit.

54. The headset computing device of claim 47, wherein the second component is a medallion that wirelessly communicates with a computing device.