Wearable display system

• US 9,939,650 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2016
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Smith, David A., Goergen, Patrick J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Audrey Y
• Application Number:
  US15/058,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20160259169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 359466, 359474, 345 7, 345 8, 348 53, 349 57, 349 58
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0136 with a single image source for both eyes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/028 characterised by the supporting structure
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/08 with discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lens diffractive Fresnel lenses G02B5/1876
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/34 Stereoscopes providing a stereoscopic pair of separated images corresponding to parallactically displaced views of the same object, e.g. 3D slide viewers
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/20 Diffractive and Fresnel lenses or lens portions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 with head-mounted left-right displays

Abstract

A wearable display system has a first lens sub-assembly defining a first optical path and a second lens sub-assembly defining a second optical path. The first and second lens sub-assemblies are disposed in a frame in respective first and second lens-holding sub-assemblies. The frame also has a device holder configured to maintain a display of a device in the first and second optical paths. The display can be maintained within a predetermined range of distances and angles with respect to the first and second lens sub-assemblies. This arrangement permits the display, such as, for example, a smartphone display, independently to provide a specific image to each eye of a user. For example, different images can be independently provided to each eye from different portions of a common display, thereby enabling the user to perceive a three-dimensional image.

Claims

1. A wearable display system comprising:

a first lens sub-assembly defining a first optical path;

a second lens sub-assembly defining a second optical path; and

a frame comprising;

a lens-holding sub-assembly comprising;

a first lens holder configured to hold the first lens sub-assembly;

a second lens holder configured to hold the second lens sub-assembly; and

a bridge coupled between the first lens holder and the second lens holder; and

a device holder comprising;

a first support member hingedly coupled to the first lens holder, the first support member comprising a first device grip member configured to releasably grip a first portion of a device to maintain a display of the device in the first optical path and in the second optical path; and

a second support member hingedly coupled to the second lens holder, the second support member comprising a second device grip member configured to releasably grip a second portion of the device to maintain the display of the device in the first optical path and in the second optical path;

wherein the device holder is configured to;

maintain a display of the device in the first optical path and in the second optical path,

maintain the display within a predetermined range of distances with respect to the first lens sub-assembly and the second lens sub-assembly, and

maintain the display within a predetermined range of angles with respect to the first lens sub-assembly and the second lens sub-assembly.

2. The wearable display system of claim 1 wherein the first lens sub-assembly comprises a first Fresnel lens defining the first optical path, and the second lens sub-assembly comprises a second Fresnel lens defining the second optical path.

3. The wearable display system of claim 2 wherein the first Fresnel lens comprises a plurality of first Fresnel lenses defining the first optical path, and the second Fresnel lens comprises a plurality of second Fresnel lenses defining the second optical path.

4. The wearable display system of claim 3 wherein the plurality of first Fresnel lenses is configured to refract light twice as light passes through at least two first Fresnel lenses along the first optical path, and

the plurality of second Fresnel lenses is configured to refract light twice as light passes through the at least two second Fresnel lenses along the second optical path.

5. The wearable display system of claim 1, wherein the device holder is configured to maintain the display in the first optical path and in the second optical path such that:

a first portion of the display is maintained in the first optical path, and

a second portion of the display is maintained in the second optical path,

wherein the first portion of the display does not overlap with the second portion of the display.

6. The wearable display system of claim 5 wherein the device holder has a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration, wherein in the folded configuration each of the lens-holding sub-assembly, the first support member, and the second support member are substantially parallel to each other, and wherein in the unfolded configuration the first support member and the second support member are substantially parallel to each other and are substantially perpendicular to the lens-holding sub-assembly.

7. The wearable display system of claim 6 wherein the frame is configured to be worn by a user such that, while the frame is being worn, the lens-holding arrangement is the predetermined range of distances from a first eye and a second eye of the user, wherein the first eye of the user is in the first optical path, and the second eye of the user is in the second optical path.

8. The wearable display system of claim 7 wherein the frame further comprises a peak attachment member configured to be coupled to a peak of a hat while the frame is being worn.

9. The wearable display system of claim 8 wherein the peak attachment member comprises a first arm and a second arm coupled to the device holder.

10. The wearable display system of claim 7, wherein the frame further comprises a head support member configured to extend around opposite sides of a head of the user while the frame is being worn to secure the frame to the head of the user.

11. The wearable display system of claim 10, wherein the frame further comprises a strap configured to extend around the head of the user while the frame is being worn to secure the frame to the head of the user.

12. The wearable display system of claim 5, wherein the first device grip member comprises a first lower support and the second device grip member comprises a second lower support, the first lower support and the second lower support configured to support the display device against a downward force.

13. The wearable display system of claim 12, wherein the first device grip member comprises a first upper support and the second device grip member comprises a second upper support, the first upper support and the second upper support configured to support the display device against an upward force.

14. A method of using a wearable display system comprising:

positioning a frame of the wearable display system in a field of view of a user, the frame comprising;

a device holder comprising;

a first support member comprising a first device grip member configured to releasably grip a first portion of a device to maintain a display of the device in the first optical path and in the second optical path; and

a second support member comprising a second device grip member configured to releasably grip a second portion of the device to maintain the display of the device in the first optical path and in the second optical path;

a lens-holding sub-assembly comprising;

a first lens holder holding a first lens sub-assembly, the first lens holder hingedly coupled to the first support member;

a second lens holder holding a second lens sub-assembly, the second lens holder hingedly coupled to the second support member; and

a bridge coupled between the first lens holder and the second lens holder;

disposing a device comprising a display in the device holder of the wearable display system, wherein

the display is maintained within a predetermined range of distances with respect to the first lens sub-assembly and the second lens sub-assembly,

the display is maintained within a predetermined range of angles with respect to the first lens sub-assembly and the second lens sub-assembly,

the first lens sub-assembly defines a first optical path between a first eye of the user and the display; and

the second lens sub-assembly defines a second optical path between a second eye of the user and the display.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first lens sub-assembly comprises a first Fresnel lens defining the first optical path, and the second lens sub-assembly comprises a second Fresnel lens defining the second optical path.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first Fresnel lens comprises a plurality of first Fresnel lenses defining the first optical path, and the second Fresnel lens comprises a plurality of second Fresnel lenses defining the second optical path,

wherein light along the first optical path is refracted at least twice by the plurality of first Fresnel lenses, and light along the second optical path is refracted at least twice by the plurality of second Fresnel lenses.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein disposing the display of the device in the device holder further comprises:

maintaining a first portion of the display in the first optical path, and

maintaining a second portion of the display in the second optical path,

wherein the first portion of the display does not overlap with the second portion of the display.

18. A wearable display system comprising:

a first lens sub-assembly defining a first optical path;

a second lens sub-assembly defining a second optical path; and

a frame comprising;

a lens-holding sub-assembly comprising;

a first lens holder configured to hold the first lens sub-assembly;

a second lens holder configured to hold the second lens sub-assembly; and

a bridge coupled between the first lens holder and the second lens holder; and

a device holder comprising at least one grip member hingedly coupled to at least one of the first lens holder or the second lens holder, the grip member forming at least one slot configured to receive a device upon insertion of the device into the at least one slot and release the device upon removal of the device from the at least one slot;

wherein the device holder is configured to;

maintain a display of the device in the first optical path and in the second optical path,

maintain the display within a predetermined range of distances with respect to the first lens sub-assembly and the second lens sub-assembly, and

maintain the display within a predetermined range of angles with respect to the first lens sub-assembly and the second lens sub-assembly.