System, apparatus, and method for displaying an image with a wider field of view

• US 9,823,474 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2015
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avegant Corp
• Original Assignee: Avegant Corp
• Inventors: Evans, Allan Thomas, Dewald, D. Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Alexander, William R
• Application Number:
  US14/676,996
• Publication Number:
  US 20160291326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 359631, 359630, 359629, 359 13, 359 14, 353 35, 345 8, 345 7, 345 9
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/011 comprising device for correcting geometrical aberrations, distortion
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/04 with continuous faces that are rotationally symmetrical but deviate from a true sphere , e.g. so called "aspheric" lenses

Abstract

A system (100), apparatus (110), and method (900) for displaying an image (880). The system (100) can use an aspherical lens (450) to direct light (800) in the interim image (850) towards the viewer (96) of the final image (880) displayed by the system (100). Use of the aspherical lens (450) expands the FOV (860) accessible to the viewer (96) and reduces exit pupil drift (480).

Claims

1. A system (100) for displaying an image (880) to a user (90), said system (100) comprising:

an illumination assembly (200) that provides for supplying a plurality of light (800);

an imaging assembly (300) that provides for creating an interim image (850) with said plurality of light (800); and

a projection assembly (400) that provides for creating said image (880) by modifying said interim image (850), said projection assembly (400) including an aspheric lens (450), wherein said aspheric lens (450) is a sixth order aspheric lens (454);

wherein said system (100) provides the user (90) a horizontal field of view (862) that is greater than about 60 degrees.

2. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein said aspheric lens (450) is a relay lens that receives said interim image (850) from a modulator (320) in said imaging assembly (300).

3. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein said system (100) is a visor apparatus (115).

4. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein said system (100) is a virtual retinal display (VRD) visor apparatus (116) that projects said image (880) onto an eye (92) of the user (90).

5. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein said system (100) is a digital light processing (DLP) system (141).

6. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein said image (880) does not include substantial exit pupil drift (480) that is visible to the user (90).

7. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein said aspheric lens (450) provides for reducing exit pupil drift (480) for light (800) directed to a splitting plate (430) and a curved mirror (420).

8. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein said aspheric lens (450) provides for correcting a distortion in said interim image (850), and wherein said aspheric lens (450) acts as a field stop.

9. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein said system (100) provides the user (90) with a field of view (860) that is greater than about 40 degrees.

10. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein said system (100) includes a tracking mode (123).

11. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein said system (100) includes augmentation mode (122) and an immersion mode (121).

12. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein said projection assembly (450) further includes a curved mirror (420) and a partially transparent plate (440).

13. A system (100) for displaying an image (880) to a user (90), said system (100) comprising:

an illumination assembly (200) that provides for supplying a plurality of light (800);

an imaging assembly (300) that provides for creating an interim image (850) with said plurality of light (800); and

a projection assembly (400) that provides for creating said image (880) by modifying said interim image (850) comprised of said plurality of light (800), wherein said projection assembly (400) includes an aspheric lens (450) that reduces a pupil drift (470) in said image (880);

wherein said system (100) is a VRD apparatus (116) that provides the user (90) with a horizontal field of view (862) that is greater than about 60 degrees.

16. The system (100) of claim 13, wherein said aspheric lens (450) is a relay lens that receives said interim image (850) from a modulator (320) in said imaging assembly (300).

17. The system (100) of claim 13, wherein said aspheric lens (450) is a sixth order aspheric lens (454).

18. The system (100) of claim 13, wherein said aspheric lens (450) provides for correcting a distortion in said interim image (850), and wherein said aspheric lens (450) acts as a field stop.

19. The system (100) of claim 13, wherein said system (100) includes augmentation mode (122) and an immersion mode (121).

14. A method (900) for making an image (880) accessible to a user (90) by projecting said image (880) on an eye (92) of the user (90), said method comprising (900):

generating (910) a plurality of light (800) from a light source (210);

modulating (920) said light (800) into an interim image (850); and

directing (930) said light (800) of said interim image (850) in an aspheric lens (450), wherein said aspheric lens (450) is a sixth order aspheric lens (454), prior to the delivery of said light (800) to the eye (92) of the user (90);

wherein said system (100) provides the user (90) a horizontal field of view (862) that is greater than about 60 degrees.

15. The method (900) of claim 14, wherein said aspheric optic lens (450) provides for a horizontal field of view (862) that is greater than about forty degrees.