See-through computer display systems

• US 9,651,784 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2015
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mentor Acquisition One, LLC (Magic Leap, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Osterhout Design Group
• Inventors: Osterhout, Ralph F.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOI, WILLIAM C
• Application Number:
  US14/851,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20160109713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 359630, 345 7- 9
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0052 Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0112 comprising device for genereting colour display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/012 comprising devices for attenuating parasitic image effects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/003 Light absorbing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• 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 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• 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: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to methods and systems for a head-worn computer with a content display where the head-worn computer can be changed from an augmented reality system where there is relatively high see-through transmission through the display to a virtual reality system where the is no or relatively little see-through transmission through the display.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a platform mechanically adapted to be worn on a head of a user;

a see-through image display mounted on the platform and adapted to present image content to an eye of the user, wherein the see-through image display also provides the user a see-through view of an environment proximate the user;

a removable and replaceable eye cover adapted to connect to the platform, wherein the eye cover is further adapted to contain light from escaping an internal cavity formed at a facial interface with the user; and

a removable and replaceable outer lens mounted on the platform along an optical axis in-line with the user'"'"'s see-through view of the environment,

wherein the eye cover is adapted to connect to the platform with a magnet.

2. An apparatus, comprising:

a platform mechanically adapted to be worn on a head of a user;

a see-through image display mounted on the platform and adapted to present image content to an eye of the user, wherein the see-through image display also provides the user a see-through view of an environment proximate the user;

a removable and replaceable eye cover adapted to connect to the platform, wherein the eye cover is further adapted to contain light from escaping an internal cavity formed at a facial interface with the user; and

a removable and replaceable outer lens mounted on the platform along an optical axis in-line with the user'"'"'s see-through view of the environment;

wherein the outer lens has an electronically adjustable transparency.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the electronically adjustable transparency is based on a liquid crystal system.

4. An apparatus, comprising:

a platform mechanically adapted to be worn on a head of a user;

a see-through image display mounted on the platform and adapted to present image content to an eye of the user, wherein the see-through image display also provides the user a see-through view of an environment proximate the user;

a removable and replaceable eye cover adapted to connect to the platform, wherein the eye cover is further adapted to contain light from escaping an internal cavity formed at a facial interface with the user; and

a removable and replaceable outer lens mounted on the platform along an optical axis in-line with the user'"'"'s see-through view of the environment;

wherein the outer lens has a low transparency in an area behind a field of view presented to the eye of the user and a higher transparency outside of the area behind the field of view.

5. An apparatus, comprising:

a platform mechanically adapted to be worn on a head of a user;

a see-through image display mounted on the platform and adapted to present image content to an eye of the user, wherein the see-through image display also provides the user a see-through view of an environment proximate the user;

a removable and replaceable eye cover adapted to connect to the platform, wherein the eye cover is further adapted to contain light from escaping an internal cavity formed at a facial interface with the user; and

a removable and replaceable outer lens mounted on the platform along an optical axis in-line with the user'"'"'s see-through view of the environment;

wherein the eye cover further comprises an internal lighting effects system to provide peripheral lighting effects in coordination with content presented in a field of view.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the internal light effects system produces lighting effects with LEDs or OLEDs.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the lighting effects are colored lighting effects.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the internal lighting system includes a light source substantially surrounding the inside cavity for controlled placement of the effect lighting direction.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

a platform mechanically adapted to be worn on a head of a user;

a see-through image display mounted on the platform and adapted to present image content to an eye of the user, wherein the see-through image display also provides the user a see-through view of an environment proximate the user;

a removable and replaceable eye cover adapted to connect to the platform, wherein the eye cover is further adapted to contain light from escaping an internal cavity formed at a facial interface with the user; and

a removable and replaceable outer lens mounted on the platform along an optical axis in-line with the user'"'"'s see-through view of the environment;

wherein the eye cover further includes a tactile effects system adapted to effect tactile effects in coordination with content presented in a field of view.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the tactile effects system includes a piezo vibratory system.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the piezo vibratory system is positioned on a side of the eye cover.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the piezo vibratory system is positioned on top of the eye cover.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the piezo vibratory system is positioned on bottom of the eye cover.