Head worn computer display systems

• US 9,684,172 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2015
• Issued: 06/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mentor Acquisition One, LLC (Magic Leap, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Osterhout Design Group
• Inventors: Osterhout, Ralph F., Haddick, John D., Elkatcha, Karim, Yamamoto Kohatsu, Kei Edgardo, Border, John N.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOI, WILLIAM C
• Application Number:
  US14/966,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20160246055A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 359630, 345 7- 9
• 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 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0169 Supporting or connecting means other than the external walls
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0174 holographic
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0194 with combiner of laminated type, for optical or mechanical aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0833 the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B
• 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 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1033 having a single light modulator for all colour channels
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/283 used for beam splitting or combining
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• 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: G06F 3/0304 : Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• 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 disclosure relate to mounting electronics and optical systems in head-worn see-through computer displays. In embodiments, a head worn computer includes an optical chassis with a rigid open box structure configured to provide a stable optical mounting reference plane and a plurality of image source reference planes. The head worn computer further includes a first image source mounted on one of the image source reference planes to project first image light through a first hole in the optical mounting reference plane and a second image source mounted on a second of the image source reference planes and configured to project second image light through a second hole in the optical mounting reference plane. An outer frame holds the optical chassis such that, when worn by a user, the first and second image light is aligned with the eyes of the user.

Claims

1. A head-worn computer, comprising:

an optical chassis with a rigid open box structure mechanically configured to provide a stable optical mounting reference plane and a plurality of image source reference planes;

a first image source mounted on a first of the plurality of image source reference planes and configured to project first image light through a first hole in the stable optical mounting reference plane;

a second image source mounted on a second of the plurality of image source reference planes and configured to project second image light through a second hole in the stable optical mounting reference plane; and

an outer frame configured to hold the optical chassis such that, when worn by a user, the first and second image light is aligned with the eyes of the user.

2. The head-worn computer of claim 1, further comprising an arm rotatably mounted on the outer frame and adapted to be positioned on a user'"'"'s ear.

3. The head-worn computer of claim 2, wherein the arm comprises a battery compartment and a wire connected to at least one of the first and second image source.

4. The head-worn computer of claim 1, further comprising a see-through combiner mounted on the stable optical mounting reference plane that reflects the first image light towards an eye of the user.

5. The head-worn computer of claim 4, wherein the combiner reflects the first image light directly towards the eye of the user.

6. The head-worn computer of claim 4, wherein the combiner indirectly reflects the first image light towards the eye of the user.

7. The head-worn computer of claim 4, wherein the combiner reflects the first image light towards a curved partially reflective surface that reflects the first image light towards the user'"'"'s eye.

8. The head-worn computer of claim 4, wherein the combiner includes a notch mirror.

9. The head-worn computer of claim 1, further comprising an outer lens mounted on the outer frame.

10. The head-worn computer of claim 9, wherein the outer lens is user replaceable.

11. The head-worn computer of claim 1, further comprising a processor, wherein the processor communicates with the first and second image sources and the processor is mounted between the first and second image sources within the optical chassis.

12. The head-worn computer of claim 11, wherein the processor is mounted at a top opening of the optical chassis and a heat sink is mounted on top of the top opening and in thermal contact with the processor.

13. The head-worn computer of claim 1, wherein the optical chassis comprises magnesium.

14. The head-worn computer of claim 1, wherein the optical chassis comprises aluminum.

15. The head-worn computer of claim 1, wherein a top of the optical chassis is open such that the first and second image sources are positioned on the respective first and second image source reference planes by passing them through the open top.