Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16M—FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS
  • F16M11/00—Stands or trestles as supports for apparatus or articles placed thereon ; Stands for scientific apparatus such as gravitational force meters
  • F16M11/20—Undercarriages with or without wheels
  • F16M11/24—Undercarriages with or without wheels changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each other
  • F16M11/40—Undercarriages with or without wheels changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each other by means of coilable or bendable legs or spiral shaped legs
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16M—FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS
  • F16M11/00—Stands or trestles as supports for apparatus or articles placed thereon ; Stands for scientific apparatus such as gravitational force meters
  • F16M11/20—Undercarriages with or without wheels
  • F16M11/2007—Undercarriages with or without wheels comprising means allowing pivoting adjustment
  • F16M11/2021—Undercarriages with or without wheels comprising means allowing pivoting adjustment around a horizontal axis
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16M—FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS
  • F16M13/00—Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles
  • F16M13/04—Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles for supporting on, or holding steady relative to, a person, e.g. by chains, e.g. rifle butt or pistol grip supports, supports attached to the chest or head
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
  • G02B27/01—Head-up displays
  • G02B27/017—Head mounted
  • G02B27/0176—Head mounted characterised by mechanical features

Definitions

• Binocular and monocular head mounted display systems are known in which a display and/or the associated optics for viewing the display are mounted in fixed positions.
• Examples of a monocular system with a fixed position display are shown in United States Patents Furness et al. 5,162,828 and Heacock et al. 5,539,422.
• a display and an associated optical system are mounted on a frame relative to either a user's right eye or left eye so that the user can view, with one eye, an enlarged image that appears at a distance from the user that is greater than the optical path from the display to the user's eye.
• most people are either right eye dominant or left eye dominant.
• a right eye dominant person has trouble viewing an image projected only in front of his left eye.
• a left eye dominant person has trouble viewing an image projected only in front of his right eye.
• a right eye display system is preferable for a right eye dominant person and a left eye display system is preferable for a left eye dominant person. Because the display is typically mounted in a fixed position on the frame relative to a single image viewing eye in known head mounted display systems, one system cannot typically be used by both right eye and left eye dominant users.
• Binocular head mounted display systems with fixed position displays and/or associated optics are also limited in the number of people that such systems can accommodate. For example, some binocular head mounted display systems, as well as monocular systems, require the optics associated with a display to be in a particular position with respect to the user's eye. Because people have different head sizes and different interpupillary distances, designing a system that can accommodate a large number of users is very difficult.
• the axial movement of the lens is typically accompanied by rotational movement.
• the lens can be mounted to follow a helical track or the like that moves the lens axially as the lens is rotated.
• rotation of the lens does not affect the optical characteristics of the system.
• rotation of the lens will affect the optical characteristics and can lead to distortion.
• the head mounted display system of the present invention includes a flexible mounting for a display module so that the displayed image can be positioned wherever the user wants.
• the head mounted display system of the present invention thus accommodates a much larger group of user than heretofore possible.
• the head mounted display system of the present invention includes a frame that is worn on a user's head.
• An image display module includes a module housing, at least one display and at least one optic mounted in the housing for magnifying a displayed image.
• a support arm is mounted on the frame for supporting at one end thereof the image display module.
• the support arm is flexible over at least a portion of the length of the arm to allow the position of the image display module to be simultaneously adjusted relative to three perpendicular axes and to be rotated or pivoted as well.
• the support arm is extremely flexible, it is sufficiently rigid to maintain the position of the image display module when set.
• the flexible portion of the support arm is formed of a plurality of interlocking ball and socket members.
• Each member can pivot or rotate with respect to its adjacent member so that the image display module can be moved vertically, horizontally, towards and away from the user's eye as well as rotated or angled with respect to the user's eye.
• the fit between a ball and socket is fairly tight so that once the flexible support arm is moved into position it remains in that position.
• the flexible support arm When used in a monocular head mounted display system, the flexible support arm allows the system to be easily converted from a right eye display to a left eye display. Further, whether used in a monocular or a binocular head mounted display system, the flexible support arm allows the user to position the displayed image wherever the user wants.
• the display module includes a focusing optic that is mounted to allow axial movement of the optic but that prevents rotation thereof.
• the mounting of the focusing optic allows an aspheric lens, square lens, etc. to be moved relative to the display or an image plane. Because the mounting is very compact, it is especially well-suited for a head mounted display system.
• Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a head mounted display system of the present invention for right eye viewing of an enlarged displayed image
• Fig. 2 is a front view of the head mounted display system with a frame positioned as in Fig. 1 but with a support arm moved so that an image display module is positioned above the frame;
• Fig. 3 is a front perspective view of the head mounted display system of Fig. 2, flipped over to an inverted position to provide a left eye monocular display system;
• Fig. 4 is a top perspective view of the head mounted display system of Fig. 2;
• Fig. 5 is a top view of the head mounted display system of Fig. 3;
• Fig. 6 is a side view of the display and associated optical system of the image display module depicted in relation to a user's eye;
• Fig. 7 is a block diagram of an image display controller for generating an image for viewing when the frame is to be worn in one position and for generating an inverted image for viewing when the frame is to be worn in an inverted position;
• Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a head mounted display system of the present invention
• Fig. 9 is a partial perspective view of a cut-away of the display module illustrating the focusing mechanism and eyeshade mounting for the embodiment of the present invention depicted in Fig. 8.
• a head mounted display system 10 in accordance with the present invention has a frame 12 and an image display module 14 supported on the end 15 of a movable support arm 16.
• the image display module 14 includes a miniature display or micro-display and an associated optical system to project an enlarged image of the image depicted on the display at a distance from the user that is greater than the optical path from the display to the user's eye.
• the frame 12 includes a front portion or visor 18 that extends outwardly from the user's forehead when the system 10 is worn.
• the visor 18 shades the user's eyes and the display module from overhead light for better viewing of the image.
• a pair of side portions or temples 20 and 22 extend back from the visor 18 to support the frame 12 on the user's head.
• the sides 20 and 22 are preferably pivotally connected to the visor 18 by respective connectors 24 and 26 to enable the frame to be folded, in a manner similar to a pair of eyeglasses, when the system 10 is not in use.
• the support arm 16 is pivotally mounted via a pivot connector 28 on one side 22 of the frame 12 to allow the image display module to be moved above and below the visor 18 so as to convert the head mounted display system 10 from a right eye monocular display system to a left eye monocular display system as discussed in detail below.
• the support arm 16 is flexible over at least a portion of the length of the arm 16 to allow the position of the image display module to be simultaneously adjusted relative to three perpendicular axes.
• the flexible support arm also allows the display module to be pivoted or rotated. Because the display module can be positioned wherever the user wants by the flexible support arm, the head mounted display system 10 can accommodate different users more easily than heretofore possible. However, the support arm 16 is sufficiently rigid so as to maintain a position when set.
• One suitable configuration of the support arm 16 includes a number of interlocking members 30 wherein each member 30 has a ball 32 at one end and a socket 33 at an opposite end.
• the members are connected by inserting or snapping the ball 32 of one member into the socket 33 of an adjacent member.
• the ball and socket connectors allow each of the members to pivot and/or rotate with respect to its adjacent member 30.
• the fit between a ball and socket is fairly tight however so that once the arm is moved into position it remains in that position.
• This flexibility of the support arm allows the arm to be adjusted so that the image display module 14 can be moved vertically or horizontally with respect to the user's eye and towards and away from the user's eye.
• the construction of the support arm allows movement of the display module relative to these three perpendicular axes simultaneously.
• This construction of the support arm 16 further allows the image display module 14 to be rotated in any position so that it can be angled with respect to the user's eye.
• the flexibility of the support arm 16 enables the head mounted display system 10 to accommodate different users very easily.
• the interlocking members 30 may be encased in a heat shrinkable cover or tube such as formed of plastic so as to prevent the members 30 from inadvertently being disconnected and to aid in maintaining the position of the support arm 16 when set.
• a cover may not be necessary.
• the interlocking members 30 of the support arm 16 preferably include an aperture 31 that extends centrally therethrough.
• a cable 27 from the image display module 14 is routed through the apertures 31 in the members 30 along the length of the arm 16 so that the cable 27 exits an end 35 of the arm.
• a grommet 37 can be used to form a loop 43 in the cable 27 wherein the cable 27 passes through an aperture in the grommet 37 twice.
• the loop 43 can be fastened about a hook 45 or protrusion on the frame side portion 20 opposite the side 22 on which the arm 16 is mounted. This configuration allows the cable 27 to tighten the frame about the user's head so that the frame can be firmly maintained on different sized heads.
• a semi-transparent eye shade 36 is provided for partially occluding the user's view of the real world through the non-image viewing eye.
• the eye shade 36 is preferably semi-transparent such as a dark sunglass lens so that the user can see through the eye shade 36 but the images viewed therethrough are suppressed by being substantially darkened or shaded.
• the eyeshade may also have a diffuse coating that blurs vision through the eyeshade 36 to suppress images viewed therethrough even further.
• the size of the eye shade 36 is preferably approximately the size of the display module 14 when viewed from the front so as to provide a balanced appearance.
• the eye shade 36 is, however, preferably small enough to maintain the user's peripheral vision unobstructed. It is noted, that the size of the eye shade 36 may be reduced to obscure only a portion of the user's central field of view from the non-image viewing eye and still overcome binocular rivalry. Further, if desired, the eye shade 36 may be totally occluding.
• the eye shield 36 is movably mounted with respect to the image display module 14. More particularly, a small arm or rod 38 has a flange 47 at one end that extends perpendicular to the rod 38.
• the flange 47 extends through an aperture in a connector 49 to mount the rod 38 on a housing 39 of the display module 14.
• the rod 38 extends laterally outward from the display module 14 and through an aperture 41 in a connector 40 mounted on the eye shade 36.
• the rod 38 is preferably movable within the aperture 41 of the connector to allow positioning of the eye shade 36 closer to the image display module 14 or farther therefrom so as to accommodate different interpupillary distances.
• the flange 47 of the rod is further, preferably moveable within the connector 49 so that the eye shade can be vertically adjusted as well.
• the frame 12 of the present invention is generally symmetrical about a horizontal axis 50 that extends through the center of the visor 18 from the right side thereof to the left side thereof.
• the symmetry allows the frame 12 to appear visually the same when worn in a first position as shown in Fig. 1 as when the frame 12 is flipped over into an inverted position and worn to provide a left eye monocular display as depicted in Fig. 3. Therefore, the bottom of the frame 60 and in particular the visor 18 appears the same as the top 62 of the frame and/or visor 18.
• the frame 12 is generally symmetrical, it need not be completely symmetrical.
• the temples or sides 20 and 22 of the frame are slightly vertically offset so that when the temples 20 and 22 are folded, they do not interfere with each other.
• the support arm 16 is moved from a position where the image display module 14 is positioned below the front portion or visor 18 of the frame 12 to a position where the image display module 14 is above the visor 18 with the frame 12 in a non-inverted position as shown in Fig. 2.
• the frame 12 is flipped over by rotating the frame 180° about an axis 52 that extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the length of the visor 18 and the axis 50 and in a direction, generally parallel to at least a portion of the sides 20 and 22 of the frame 12.
• the image display module 14 is positioned below the visor 18 with the image generated by the image display module 14 being viewable by the user's left eye.
• the top of the visor 62 is facing downwards whereas the bottom of the visor 60 is facing upward.
• the head mounted display system 10 can be converted from a right eye monocular display system to a left eye monocular display system by first flipping over the frame 12 and then moving the support arm 16 so as to position the image display module 14 on the opposite side of the visor 18.
• the left eye monocular display is described as having the frame in an inverted position, it can also be considered the first position in which case the frame for the right eye display would be in the inverted position.
• a suitable image display module 14 may include a miniature or micro-display 72 that is viewed through an aspheric lens 74.
• the aspheric lens 74 may be such as described in United States Patent No. 5,543,816 entitled Head Mounted Display System With
• the aspheric lens 74 may include a detractive corrector on a surface 76, a surface 78 or on both surfaces so as to correct for chromatic aberrations in the display system. Further, if desired, another corrective optic may be interposed between the display 72 and the aspheric lens 74.
• Another suitable image display module is depicted in United States Patent Application Serial No. 09/219,065 filed December 22, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference. This system utilizes a reflective micro-display with a minimal number of optics so as to be extremely compact and lightweight. As such, it is particularly well-suited for the image display module of the present invention.
• the display 72 may be mounted in the housing 39 of the module 14 in a position perpendicular to the position of the display 72 shown in Fig. 6 wherein a reflector or partial reflector is used to reflect the image from the display into the user's eye 70 as will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. It is noted that, with the image display module depicted in Fig.
• the system 10 includes a controller 84 for inverting the image on the display 72 when the frame is to be worn in the inverted position.
• a switch 80 mounted on the frame 12, module 14 or controller 84 is moveable between right eye and left eye positions 82 and 83 respectively.
• the controller 84 When the switch 80 is in the right eye position 82, the controller 84, which may include a microprocessor or the like, writes image data to be depicted on the display 72 into a video buffer 86 in a left to right and top to bottom manner or order so as to provide a bit mapped image of the image to be depicted on the display 72. With the switch 80 in the position 82, the controller reads the data out from the image buffer in the same manner in which the data was written into the buffer. When the switch 80 is moved to the left eye position 83, the controller 84 is responsive to the selection of the left eye monocular display position so as to invert the image either upon writing the image data into the buffer 86 or upon reading the image data out of the buffer 86 to the display 72.
• the controller stores the data in a manner opposite to the storage of the data when the switch 80 is in the right eye position 82 so that the data is written into the buffer 86, for example, from right to left and bottom to top.
• the data is read out of the video buffer from left to right and top to bottom in the same manner as the data is read out to the display 72 with the switch 80 in position 82.
• the image depicted on the display 72 is thereby inverted when the switch 80 is in the left eye position 83 from the image depicted on the display 72 when the switch 80 is in the right eye position 82 so that it appears the same when viewed with the system in the right eye or left eye position.
• the controller 84 may be responsive to the switch 80 in the left eye position 83 by writing the image data into the video buffer 86 in the same manner as the data is written into the buffer when the switch 80 is in the right eye position 82.
• the data in the image buffer 86 is read out to the display 72 in the opposite manner when the switch 80 is in the left eye position 83 from the manner in which the data is read out when the switch 80 is in the right eye position 82.
• the data would be read out from the video buffer 86 in this embodiment with the switch 80 in the left eye position 83 from right to left and bottom to top.
• the flexible support arm 90 is of a similar interconnecting ball and socket construction as the support arm 16.
• Each interconnecting member 30, however, is tapered between its socket portion 92 and its ball portion 94.
• the image display module 14 includes a focus adjustment knob or ring 96 mounted on the module housing 98.
• the focus adjustment knob 96 is manually rotatable by a user to move a focusing lens or optic axially with respect to a display or image plane to provide a focus adjustment.
• rotation of the focus adjustment knob or ring 96 results in axial movement of a lens 100 with respect to a display 102 or, in other embodiments, an image plane.
• the lens 100 may be aspheric or square, for example, the lens 100 is mounted in a lens support member 104 that cooperates with the module housing 98 to prevent rotation of the lens 100.
• the module 98 prevents axial movement of the ring 96.
• the focus adjustment knob or ring 96 includes a flange 106 that is disposed in a detent or aperture 108 of the module housing 98.
• the walls defining the aperture 108 prevent axial movement of the ring 96 by providing a stop for the flange 106.
• the aperture 108 allows the flange to be rotated therein.
• An inner surface of the ring 96 is threaded for engagement with a helical thread 110 on an outer surface of the lens support member 104.
• the helical thread 110 does not extend around the entire outer periphery of the lens support 104. Instead, the support member 104 has at least one flat side 112 that abuts a wall 114 of the housing 98.
• the wall 114 and flat side 112 of the lens support 104 prevent the lens support 104 and thus the lens 100 from rotating as the ring 96 rotates.
• the threads of the ring engage the threads 110 of the lens support to move the lens support 104 and thus the lens 100 axially with respect to the display 102 or an image plane.
• FIG. 9 Another feature of the embodiment depicted in Fig. 9 is the mounting of the eyeshade 36 on the module housing 98. This mounting allows the eyeshade 36 to be rotated or flipped up so that it does not block the non-image viewing eye of the user.
• the eyeshade is mounted on a curved rod 120.
• the curved rod 120 is such that when it is rotated 90°, the eyeshade is in a position generally perpendicular to the in-use position shown.
• the eyeshade is above the user's eye so that it does not block his direct field of view.
• the rod By rotating the rod a further 90°, i.e. 180° from the in-use position shown, the eyeshade and rod can be removed from the module's housing 98.
• one end 124 of the rod 120 is mounted in an aperture 125 formed in the module housing 98.
• the rod end 124 has a protrusion 126 extending outwardly therefrom wherein the protrusion 126 is urged by a spring 127 against a stop 128 so as to maintain the eyeshade 36 in the in-use position.
• the stop 128 formed in the module housing 98 continues so as to engage the protrusion 126 when the rod is rotated 90° from the in-use position to maintain the eyeshade 36 in the flipped up position.
• the protrusion 126 disengages the stop to allow the rod 120 to slide out of the aperture 125 in the housing 98 so that the eyeshade 36 can be removed.
• the head mounted display system 10 of the present invention is extremely lightweight, compact and flexible. As a monocular system it can be used by both right eye dominant and left eye dominant user. It should be appreciated that the flexible support arm of the present invention may be used to support a binocular display module as well. In such a system, an additional support arm may be employed depending on the weight of the display module to be supported. In either a monocular or a binocular system the flexible support arm allows the position of the display module to be easily adjusted to accommodate large numbers of users.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

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• 1999
  • 1999-08-10 EP EP99939121A patent/EP1135765A1/en active Pending
  • 1999-08-10 JP JP2000565526A patent/JP2002523002A/ja active Pending
  • 1999-08-10 WO PCT/US1999/018103 patent/WO2000010156A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1999-08-10 CA CA002340063A patent/CA2340063A1/en not_active Abandoned

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