Classifications

• • 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
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B23/00—Telescopes, e.g. binoculars; Periscopes; Instruments for viewing the inside of hollow bodies; Viewfinders; Optical aiming or sighting devices
  • G02B23/12—Telescopes, e.g. binoculars; Periscopes; Instruments for viewing the inside of hollow bodies; Viewfinders; Optical aiming or sighting devices with means for image conversion or intensification
• • 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
• • 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
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N5/00—Details of television systems
  • H04N5/74—Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor
  • H04N5/7475—Constructional details of television projection apparatus
  • H04N5/7491—Constructional details of television projection apparatus of head mounted projectors

Definitions

• the present invention relates to low light viewing systems and, more particularly, to low light viewing systems that produce simulated images for a user.
• NVGs night vision goggles
• a typical night vision goggle employs an image intensifier tube (IIT) that produces a visible image in response to light from the environment.
• IIT image intensifier tube
• the image intensifier tube converts visible or non-visible radiation from the environment to visible light at a wavelength readily perceivable by a user.
• One prior art NVG 30, shown in Figure 1 includes an input lens 32 that couples light from an external environment 34 to an IIT 36.
• the IIT 36 is a commercially available device, such as the G2 or G3 series of IITs available from Edmonds Scientific.
• the IIT 36 includes a photocathode 38 that outputs electrons responsive to light at an input wavelength ⁇ .
• the electrons enter a microchannel plate 40 that accelerates and/or multiplies the electrons to produce higher energy electrons at its output.
• the higher energy electrons strike a screen 42 coated with a cathodoluminescent layer 44, such as a green phosphor.
• the cathodoluminescent layer 44 responds to the electrons by emitting visible light in regions where the electrons strike the screen 42. The light from the cathodoluminescent layer 44 thus forms the output of the IIT 36.
• the visible light from the cathodoluminescent layer 44 travels to eye coupling optics 46 that include an input lens 48, a beam splitter 50, and respective eyepieces 52.
• the lens 48 couples the visible light to the beam splitter 50 that, in turn, directs portions of the visible light to each of the eyepieces 52.
• Each of the eyepieces 52 turns and shapes the light for viewing by a respective one of the user's eyes 54.
• NVGs For example, users must train to properly and effectively operate in low vision environments using NVGs for vision.
• the lenses 48, IIT 36 and eyepieces 52 may induce significant distortion in the viewed image.
• the screen 42 typically outputs monochrome light with limited resolution and limited contrast.
• NVGs often have a limited depth of field and a narrow field of view, giving the user a perception of "tunnel vision.”
• the overall optical effects of distortion, monochromaticity, limited contrast, limited depth of field and limited field of view often require users to practice operating with NVGs before attempting critical activities.
• NVG forms a mass that is displaced from the center of mass of the user's head.
• the added mass induces forces on the user that may affect the user's physical movements and balance. Because the combined optical and physical effects can degrade a user's performance significantly, some form of NVG training is often required before the user engages in difficult or dangerous activities.
• One approach to training replaces an IIT with a fiber rod that transmits light from an external environment to the user.
• the fiber rod is intended to limit the user's depth perception while allowing the user to view an external environment through separate eyepieces of a modified NVG.
• the fiber rod system requires the IIT to be removed and does not provide light at the output wavelength of the cathodoluminescent layer. Additionally, the fiber rod system does not appear to provide a way to provide electronically generated images.
• An alternative approach to the fiber rod system is to project an electronically generated IR or near-IR image onto a large screen that substantially encircles the user. The user then views the screen through the NVG.
• This system has several drawbacks, including limiting the user's movement and orientation to locations where the screen is visible through the NVG.
• typical large screen systems utilize projected light to produce the screen image.
• One of the simplest and most effective approaches to projecting light onto a large surrounding screen is to locate the projecting source near the center of curvature of the screen.
• the user may interrupt the projected light as the user moves about the artificial environment.
• the environment may use more than one source or position the light source in a location that is undesirable from an image generation point-of-view.
• a display apparatus includes a night vision goggle and an infrared source.
• the infrared source is a scanned light beam display that includes a scanning system and an infrared light emitter.
• the infrared source receives an image signal from control electronics that indicates an image to be viewed.
• the control electronics activate the light emitter and the light emitter emits modulated light having an intensity corresponding to the desired image.
• a scanning mirror within the scanning system scans the modulated light through a substantially raster pattern onto an image intensifier tube of the night vision goggles.
• the IIT In response to the incident infrared light, the IIT outputs visible light for viewing by a user. To prevent environmental light from affecting the IIT, the input to the IIT is occluded, in one embodiment.
• the scanner includes two uniaxial scanners, while in another embodiment, the scanner is a biaxial scanner. In one embodiment, the scanner is a mechanically resonant scanner.
• the scanner may be a discrete scanner, acousto-optic scanner, microelectromechanical (MEMs) scanner or another type of scanner.
• the scanner is replaced by a liquid crystal display with an infrared back light.
• the LCD is addressed in conventional fashion according to image data.
• the pixel transmits the infrared light to the IIT.
• the IIT outputs visible light to the user.
• the scanner is replaced by an emitter panel of a field emission display.
• the IIT photocathode may also be removed.
• the emitter panel then emits electrons directly to the microchannel accelerator of the NVG.
• the accelerated electrons activate the cathodoluminescent material of the NVG to produce output light for viewing.
• a non-visible radiation source such as an ultraviolet or infrared light source illuminates a phosphor.
• the phosphor emits light at visible wavelengths.
• the wavelength is selected in a region that is determined to be safe for human viewing.
• a display uses a plurality of non- visible radiation sources, such as laser diodes, to drive wavelength selective phosphor compounds on a screen.
• Each of the phosphor compounds is responsive to a selected one of the light sources to emit visible light at a respective visible wavelength.
• An electronic controller modulates each of the non- visible radiation sources according to image information in an image signal, such as a conventional video signal.
• a scanner then scans the modulated light from all of the light sources in a substantially raster pattern onto the phosphor compounds.
• the phosphor compounds emit light at their respective visible wavelengths with intensities corresponding to the modulated intensity of the corresponding non- visible radiation.
• Each location on the screen thus emits light with a color and intensity dictated by the image signal, thereby producing a respective pixel of an image.
• Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a prior art low light viewer, including an image intensifier tube (IIT) and associated optics.
• IIT image intensifier tube
• FIG. 2 is a detail block diagram of the IIT of Figure 1.
• Figure 3 is a diagram of a combined image perceived by a user resulting from the combination of light from an image source and light from a background.
• Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a night vision simulator including an infrared beam scanned onto a night vision goggle input.
• Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a head-mounted night vision simulator including a tethered IR source
• Figure 6 is a schematic of an IR scanning system suitable for use as the image source in the display of Figure 2.
• Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of a simulator including a LCD panel with an infrared back light.
• Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of a simulator including an FED emitter.
• Figure 9 is a top plan view of a simulation environment including a plurality of users and a central control system including a computer controller and rf links.
• Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of a display including a scanned light beam activating a wavelength converting phosphor and a reflected visible beam.
• Figure 11 is a diagrammatic representation of an embodiment of a head mounted display including a scanned non-visible radiation beam activating a wavelength converting phosphor to produce a visible image.
• Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view of a color display system using non- visible radiation sources at a plurality of wavelengths to selectively activate wavelength selective phosphors.
• Figure 13 is a top plan view of a bi-axial MEMS scanner for use in the display of Figure 4.
• a variety of techniques are available for providing visual displays of graphical or video images to a user.
• very small displays have been developed for partial or augmented view applications.
• the display is positioned to produce an image 60 in a region 62 of a user's field of view 64, as shown in Figure 3.
• the user can thus see both a displayed image 66 and background information 68.
• a small display is a scanned beam display such as that described in U. S. Patent No. 5,467,104 of Furness et al., entitled VIRTUAL RETINAL DISPLAY, which is incorporated herein by reference.
• a scanner such as a scanning mirror or acousto-optic scanner, scans a modulated light beam onto a viewer's retina.
• the scanned light enters the eye through the viewer's pupil and is imaged onto the retina by the cornea.
• the user perceives an image corresponding to the modulated light image onto the retina.
• small displays include miniature liquid crystal displays (LCDs), field emission displays (FEDs), plasma displays and miniature cathode ray tube- based displays (CRTs). Each of these other types of displays is well known in the art.
• these miniature displays can be adapted to activate light emitting materials to produce visible images at selected wavelengths different from the wavelengths of miniature display.
• such miniature displays can activate the cathodoluminescent material of NVGs to produce a perceived image that simulates the image perceived when the NVGs are used to view a low light image environment.
• a first embodiment of such a system shown in Figure 4, includes an IR scanned light beam display 70 positioned to scan a beam for input to an NVG 72. Responsive to light from the IR display 70, the NVG 72 outputs visible light for viewing by the viewer's eyes 54.
• the IR display 70 includes four principal portions, each of which will be described in greater detail below.
• control electronics 76 provide electrical signals that control operation of the display 70 in response to an image signal V, M from an image source 78, such as a computer, television receiver, videocassette player, or similar device. While the block diagram of Figure 4 shows the image source 78 connected directly to the control electronics 76, one skilled in the art will recognize other approaches to coupling the image signal V, M to the control electronics 76. For example, where the user is intended to move freely, a rf transmitter and receiver can communicate the image signal V, M as will be described below with reference to Figure 9. Alternatively, where the control electronics 76 are configured for low power consumption, such as in a man wearable computer, the control electronics 76 may be carried by the user and powered by a battery.
• an image source 78 such as a computer, television receiver, videocassette player, or similar device. While the block diagram of Figure 4 shows the image source 78 connected directly to the control electronics 76, one skilled in the art will recognize other approaches to coupling the image signal V, M to the control electronics 76. For example,
• the second portion of the display 70 includes a light source 80 that outputs a modulated light beam 82 having a modulation corresponding to information in the image signal V IM .
• the light source 80 may include a directly modulated light emitter such as a laser diode or light emitting diode (LED) or may be include a continuous light emitter indirectly modulated by an external modulator, such as an acousto-optic modulator. While the light source 80 preferably emits IR or near-IR light, other wavelengths may be used for certain applications. For example, in some cases, the NVG 72 may use phosphors having sensitivity at other wavelengths (e.g., visible or ultraviolet). In such cases, the wavelength of the source 80 may be selected to correspond to the phosphor.
• the third portion of the display 70 is a scanner assembly 84 that scans the modulated beam 82 of the light source 80 through a two-dimensional scanning pattern, such as a raster pattern.
• a scanner assembly is a mechanically resonant scanner, such as that described U.S. Patent No. 5,557,444 to Melville et al., entitled MINIATURE OPTICAL SCANNER FOR A TWO- AXIS SCANNING SYSTEM, which is incorporated herein by reference.
• other scanning assemblies such as microelectromechanical (MEMs) scanners and acousto-optic scanners may be within the scope of the invention.
• MEMs scanner is preferred in some applications due to its low weight and small size.
• Such scanners may be uniaxial or biaxial.
• An example of one such MEMs scanner is described in U. S. Patent No. 5,629,790 to Neukermans, et al entitled MICROMACHINED TORSIONAL SCANNER, which is incorporated herein by reference. Because the light source 80 and scanner assembly 84 can operate with relatively low power, a portable battery pack can supply the necessary electrical power for the light source 80, the scanner assembly 84 and, in some applications, the control electronics 76.
• Imaging optics 86 form the fourth portion of the display 70. While the imaging optics 86 are represented in Figure 4 as a single lens, one skilled in the art will recognize that the imaging optics 86 may be more complicated, for example when the beam 82 is to be focused or shaped. For example, the imaging optics 86 may include more than one lens or diffractive optical elements. In other cases, the imaging optics may be eliminated completely or may utilize an input lens 88 of the NVG 72. Also, where alternative structures, such as an LCD panel or field emission display structure (as described below with reference to Figures 7 and 8), replace the image source 78 and scanner assembly 84, the imaging optics 86 may be modified according to known principles.
• the imaging optics 86 output the scanned beam 82 onto the input lens 88 or directly onto an IIT 96 of the NVG 72.
• the NVG 72 responds to the scanned beam 82 and produces visible light for viewing by the user's eye 54, as described above.
• a first portion 104 of the display 70 is mounted to a lens frame 106 and a second portion 108 is carried separately, for example in a hip belt.
• the portions 104, 108 are linked by a fiber optic and electronic tether 1 10 that carries optical and electronic signals from the second portion 108 to the first portion 104.
• An example of a fiber-coupled scanning display is found in U.S. Patent No. 5,596,339 of Furness et. al., entitled VIRTUAL RETINAL DISPLAY WITH FIBER OPTIC POINT SOURCE which is incorporated herein by reference.
• the light source may be incorporated in the first portion 104 and the tether 1 10 can be eliminated.
• the lens frame 106 couples infrared light from the first portion to the IIT 1 12.
• the IIT 112 converts the infrared light to visible light that is presented to a user by the eyepieces 114.
• FIG. 6 shows one embodiment of a mechanically resonant scanner 200 suitable for use as the scanner assembly 84.
• the resonant scanner 200 includes as the principal horizontal scanning element, a horizontal scanner 201 that includes a moving mirror 202 mounted to a spring plate 204.
• the dimensions of the mirror 202 and spring plate 204 and the material properties of the spring plate 204 are selected so that the mirror 202 and spring plate 204 have a natural oscillatory frequency on the order of 1-100 kHz.
• a ferromagnetic material mounted with the mirror 202 is driven by a pair of electromagnetic coils 206, 208 to provide motive force to mirror 202, thereby initiating and sustaining oscillation.
• Drive electronics 218 provide electrical signal to activate the coils 206, 208.
• Vertical scanning is provided by a vertical scanner 220 structured very similarly to the horizontal scanner 201.
• the vertical scanner 220 includes a mirror 222 driven by a pair of coils 224, 226 in response to electrical signals from the drive electronics 218.
• the vertical scanner 220 is typically not resonant.
• the mirror 222 receives light from the horizontal scanner 201 and produces vertical deflection at about 30-100 Hz.
• the lower frequency allows the mirror 222 to be significantly larger than the mirror 202, thereby reducing constraints on the positioning of the vertical scanner 220.
• the details of virtual retinal displays and mechanical resonant scanning are described in greater detail in U.S. Patent No. 5,557,444 of Melville, et al., entitled MINIATURE OPTICAL SCANNER FOR A TWO AXIS SCANNING SYSTEM which is incorporated herein by reference.
• the vertical mirror may be mounted to a pivoting shaft and driven by an inductive coil.
• Such scanning assemblies are commonly used in bar code scanners.
• the vertical and horizontal scanner can be combined into a single biaxial scanner in some applications.
• the light source 80 driven by the image source 78 ( Figure 4) outputs a beam of light that is modulated according to the image signal.
• the drive electronics 218 activate the coils 206, 208, 224, 226 to oscillate the mirrors 202, 222.
• the modulated beam of light strikes the oscillating horizontal mirror 202, and is deflected horizontally by an angle corresponding to the instantaneous angle of the mirror 202.
• the deflected light then strikes the vertical mirror 222 and is deflected at a vertical angle corresponding to the instantaneous angle of the vertical mirror 222.
• the modulation of the optical beam is synchronized with the horizontal and vertical scans so that at each position of the mirrors, the beam color and intensity correspond to a desired image.
• the beam therefore "draws" the virtual image directly upon the IIT 112 ( Figure 4).
• the vertical and horizontal scanners 201, 220 are typically mounted in fixed relative positions to a frame.
• the scanner 200 typically includes one or more turning mirrors that direct the beam such that the beam strikes each of the mirrors 202, 222 at the appropriate angle.
• the turning mirror may direct the beam so that the beam strikes one or both of the mirrors 202, 222 a plurality of times to increase the effective angular range of optical scanning.
• an alternative embodiment of an NVG simulator 600 is formed from a LCD panel 602, an IR back light 604, and the NVG 72.
• the IR back light 604 is formed from an array of IR sources 606, such as LEDs or laser diodes, a backreflector 608 and a diffuser 610.
• IR sources 606 such as LEDs or laser diodes
• backreflector 608 and a diffuser 610.
• diffuser 610 One skilled in the art will recognize a number of other structures that can provide infrared or other light for spatial modulation by the LCD panel.
• the LCD panel 602 is structured similarly to conventional polarization- based LCD panels, except that the characteristics of the liquid crystals and polarizers are adjusted for response at IR wavelengths.
• the LCD panel 602 is addressed in a conventional manner to activate each location in a two-dimensional array. At locations where the image is intended to include IR light, the LCD panel selectively passes the IR light from the back light 604 to the NVG 72.
• the NVG 72 responds as described above by emitting visible light for viewing by the user's eye 54.
• an emitter panel 802 receives control signals from FED drive electronics 804 and emits electrons in response.
• the emitter panel 802 may be any known emitter panel, such as those used in commercially available field emission displays.
• the emitter panel 802 is formed from an array of emitter sets 806 aligned to an extraction grid 808.
• the emitter sets 806 typically are a group of one or more commonly connected emissive discontinuities or "tips" that emit electrons when subjected to high electric fields.
• the extraction grid 808 is a conductive grid of one or more conductors.
• the drive electronics 804 When the drive electronics 804 induce a voltage difference between an emitter set 806 and a surrounding region of the extraction grid 808, the emitter set 806 emits electrons. By selectively controlling the voltage between each emitter set 806 and the surrounding region of the grid 808, the drive electronics 804 can control the location and rate of electrons being emitted.
• human participants 900 may use the display 70 of Figure 5 in a simulation environment 902 that permits substantially unbounded movement.
• the participants 900 carry the display 70 with the second portion 108 secured around the waist and the first portion 104 mounted to a head-borne NVG 72.
• the first portion 104 additionally includes a position monitor 906 and a gaze tracker 908 that identify the participant's positions in the environment and the orientation of the user's gaze.
• the position monitor 906 may alternatively be fixedly positioned in or around the environment or may include a mobile portion and a fixed portion.
• the gaze tracker utilizes a plurality of fiducial reflectors 910 positioned throughout the environment 902 or on the participants 900.
• the gaze tracker 908 emits one or more IR beams outwardly into the environment 902.
• the IR beams may be generated by the image source 78, or from separate IR sources mounted to the first portion 104.
• the emitted IR beams strike the fiducial 910 and are reflected. Because each of the fiducials 910 has a distinct, identifiable pattern of spatial reflectivity, the reflected light is modulated in a pattern corresponding to the particular fiducial 910.
• a detector mounted to the first portion 104 receives the reflected light and produces an electrical signal indicative of the reflective pattern of the fiducial 910.
• the tether 110 carries the electrical signal to the second portion 108.
• the second portion 108 includes an rf transceiver 904 with a mobile antenna 905 that transmits data corresponding to the detected reflected light and status information to an electronic controller 911.
• the electronic controller 91 1 is a microprocessor-based system that determines the desired image under control of a software program.
• the controller 911 receives information about the participants' locations, status, and gaze directions from the transceivers 904 through a base antenna 907.
• the controller 91 1 identifies appropriate image data and transmits the image data to the transceiver 904.
• the second portion 108 then provides signals to the first portion 104 through the tether, causing the scanner assembly 84 and image source 78 to provide IR input to the NVG 72.
• the participants 900 thus perceive images through the NVG 72 that correspond to the participants' position and gaze direction.
• a display 912 coupled to the electronic controller 911 presents images of the environment, as viewed by the participants 900.
• a scenario input device 914 such as a CD-ROM, magnetic disk, video tape player or similar device
• a data input device 916 such as a keyboard or voice recognition module, allow the action within the environment 902 to be controlled and modified as desired.
• Ultraviolet light scanning may be particularly useful for scanning conventional visible phosphors, such as those found in common fluorescent lamps or for scanning known up-converting phosphors.
• a scanned beam display 1000 is formed from a UV light source 1002 aligned to a scanner assembly 1004.
• the UV source 1002 may be a discrete laser, laser diode or LED that emits UV light.
• Control electronics 1006 drive the scanner assembly 1004 through a substantially raster pattern. Additionally, the control electronics 1006 activate the UV source 1002 responsive to an image signal from an image input device 1008, such as a computer, rf receiver, FLIR sensor, videocassette recorder, or other conventional device.
• an image input device 1008 such as a computer, rf receiver, FLIR sensor, videocassette recorder, or other conventional device.
• the scanner assembly 1004 is positioned to scan the UV light from the UV source 1002 onto a screen 1010 formed from a glass or plexiglas plate 1012 coated by a phosphor layer 1014. Responsive to the incident UV light, the phosphor layer 1014 emits light at a wavelength visible to the human eye. The intensity of the visible light will correspond to the intensity of the incident UV light, which will in turn, correspond to the image signal. The viewer thus perceives a visible image corresponding to the image signal.
• the screen 1010 effectively acts as an exit pupil expander that eases capture of the image by the user's eye, because the phosphor layer 1014 emits light over a large range of angles, thereby increasing the effective numerical aperture.
• the embodiment of Figure 10 also includes a visible light source 1020, such as a red laser diode, and a second scanner assembly 1022.
• the control electronics 1006 control the second scanner assembly 1022 and the visible light source 1020 in response to a second image signal from a second image input device 1024.
• the second scanner assembly 1022 scans the visible light onto the screen 1010.
• the phosphor is selected so that it does not emit light of a different wavelength in response to the visible light.
• the phosphor layer 1014 and the plate 1012 are structured to diffuse the visible light.
• the phosphor layer 1014 and plate 1012 thus operate in much the same way as a commercially available diffuser, allowing the viewer to see the red image corresponding to the second image signal.
• the UV and visible light sources 1002, 1020 can be activated independently to produce two separate images that may be superimposed.
• the UV source 1002 can present various data or text from a sensor, such as an altimeter, while the visible source 1020 can be activated to display FLIR warnings.
• the display of Figure 10 is presented as including two separate scanner assemblies 1004, 1022, one skilled in the art will recognize that by aligning both sources to the same scanner assembly, a single scanner assembly can scan both the UV light and the visible light.
• the invention is not limited to UV and visible light.
• the light sources 1002, 1020 may be two infrared sources if an infrared phosphor or other IR sensitive component is used.
• the light sources 1002, 1020 may include an infrared and a visible source or an infrared source and a UV source.
• a scanned light beam head mounted display (HMD) 1 100 includes a phosphor plate 1 102 activated by a scanned light beam 1 104 to produce a viewing image for a user.
• the HMD 1 100 may be used as a general purpose display, rather than as a night vision aid.
• the HMD 1 100 includes a frame 1 106 that is configured similarly to conventional glasses so that a user may wear the HMD 1 100 comfortably.
• the frame 1 106 supports the phosphor plate 1 102 and an image source 1 108 in relative alignment so that the light beam strikes the phosphor plate 1 102.
• the image source 1 108 includes a directly modulated laser diode 1 1 12 and a small scanner 1 1 10, such as a MEMs scanner, that operate under control of an electronic control module 1 116.
• the laser diode 1 1 12 preferably emits non-visible radiation such as an infrared or ultraviolet light. However, other wavelengths, such as red or near-UV may be used in some applications.
• the scanner 1110 is a biaxial scanner that receives the light from the diode 1 112 and redirects the light through a substantially raster pattern onto the phosphor plate 1102. Responsive to the scanned beam 1104, the phosphor on the phosphor plate 1102 emits light at visible wavelengths. The visible light travels to the user's eye 1114 and the user sees an image corresponding to the modulation of the scanned beam 1104.
• the image may be color or monochrome, depending upon patterning of the phosphor plate.
• the phosphor plate 1102 may include interstitially located lines, each containing a respective phosphor formulated to emit light at a red, green or blue wavelength, as shown in Figure 12.
• the control module 1 1 16 controls the relative intensity of the scanned light beam for each location to produce the appropriate levels of red, green and blue for the respective pixel.
• the HMD 1 100 uses an active feedback control with one or more sensor high-speed photodiodes 1 118 mounted adjacent to the scanner 1 1 10.
• Small reflectors 1120 mounted to the phosphor plate 1102 reflect an end portion of the scanned beam 1104 back to the photodiodes 1118 at the end of each horizontal scan.
• the photodiodes 11 18 provide an electrical error signal to the control module 1116 indicative of the phase relationship between the beam position and the beam modulation.
• the control module 11 16 adjusts the timing of the image data to insure that the diode 1112 is modulated appropriately for each scanning location.
• the display 1150 of Figure 12 includes a multi- wavelength source 1 152 that provides light input to a scanner 1 154.
• the scanner 1 154 scans the light onto a screen 1156 coated with a wavelength- selective phosphor layer 1158.
• the multi-wavelength source 1152 is formed from four IR laser diodes
• the laser diodes 1 160 that emit light at slightly different wavelengths.
• the laser diodes 1 160 emit light at wavelengths ranging from 900-
• Each of the laser diodes 1 160 is driven independently by a driver circuit
• a signal source 1 166 such as a television receiver, computer, videocassette receiver, aircraft control system, or other type of image source.
• the driver circuit 1 164 extracts selected components, such as RGB components, of the image signal VTM and provides corresponding electrical signals to the respective laser diodes 1 160.
• each laser diode 1 160 In response to its respective electrical signal, each laser diode 1 160 emits infrared light at a corresponding intensity level.
• a beam combiner 1 162 combines the light from the laser diodes 1 160 to produce a single beam that includes intensity-modulated light at four different wavelengths ⁇ ,- ⁇ 4 .
• the scanner 1 154 raster scans the combined beam onto the screen 1 156.
• the combined beam strikes the phosphor layer 1 158 causing light to be emitted at each location.
• the phosphor layer 1 158 includes a plurality of wavelength selective phosphor combinations, where each phosphor combination is responsive to a respective one of the wavelengths ⁇ ,- ⁇ 4 to emit light at a respective visible wavelength.
• Such phosphors have been demonstrated by SRI and are available from SRI and Kodak.
• a first of the phosphor combinations emits green light in response to light at the first IR wavelength ⁇ ,.
• the intensity of the green light corresponds to the intensity of the light at the first IR wavelength ⁇ du which corresponds, in turn to a green component of the image signal V M .
• the alignment issues described with respect to the embodiment of Figure 1 1 are reduced significantly. While this embodiment has been described as including four independent laser diodes 1 160, the invention is not so limited. For example, other infrared sources, such as LEDs may be adequate for some applications. Similarly, the number of laser diodes 1 160 may be fewer or greater than four. In a typical RGB system, the number of laser diodes 1 160 would typically be three; however, other numbers may be appropriate depending upon the spectral or other responses of the phosphor combinations, and upon the desired information content of the displayed image.
• the beam combiner 1162 is presented as a 4-to-l -fiber combiner, other beam combiners, such as free space optical elements, integrated optical components, or polymeric waveguides may be used.
• light modulators such as interferometric modulators, may be incorporated into the beam combiner 1 162 so that the laser diodes may be driven at constant intensities.
• the exemplary embodiment includes a single scanner 1 154 that scans light of all three wavelengths, the invention is not so limited. In some applications, more than one scanner 1 154 may be used.
• MEMS microelectromechanical
• a bi-axial scanner 1200 is formed in a silicon substrate 1202.
• the bi-axial scanner 1200 includes a mirror 1204 supported by opposed flexures 1206 that link the mirror 1204 to a pivotable support 1208.
• the flexures 1206 are dimensioned to twist torsionally thereby allowing the mirror 1204 to pivot about an axis defined by the flexures 1206, relative to the support 1208.
• pivoting of the mirror 1204 defines horizontal scans of the scanner 1200.
• a second pair of opposed flexures 1212 couple the support 1208 to the substrate 1202.
• the flexures 1210 are dimensioned to flex torsionally, thereby allowing the support 1208 to pivot relative to the substrate 1202.
• the mass and dimensions of the mirror 1204, support 1208, and flexures 1210 are selected such that the mirror resonates, at 10-40 kHz horizontally with a high Q and such that the support 1208 pivots at higher than 60 Hz.
• the mirror 1204 is pivoted by applying an electric field between a plate 1214 on the mirror 1204 and a conductor on a base (not shown).
• This approach is termed capacitive drive, because of the plate 1214 acts as one plate of a capacitor and the conductor in the base acts as a second plate.
• the electric field exerts a force on the mirror 1204 causing the mirror 1204 to pivot about the flexures 1206.
• the mirror 1204 can be made to scan periodically.
• the voltage is varied at the mechanically resonant frequency of the mirror 1204 so that the mirror 1204 will oscillate with little power consumption.
• the support 1208 is pivoted magnetically depending upon the requirements of a particular application.
• Fixed magnets 1205 are positioned around the support 1208 and conductive traces 1207 on the support 1208 carry current. Varying the current varies the magnetic force on support and produces movement.
• the support 1208 and flexures 1212 are dimensioned so that the support 1208 can respond at frequencies well above a desired refresh rate, such as 60Hz.
• capacitive or electromagnetic drive can be applied to pivot either or both of the mirror 1204 and support 1208 and that other drive mechanisms, such as piezoelectric drive may be adapted to pivot the mirror 1204 or support 1208.
• the positioning of the various components may be varied.
• the UV source 1002 and visible sources 1020 may be positioned on opposite sides of the screen 1010.
• the horizontal scanner 200 is described herein as preferably being mechanically resonant at the scanning frequency, in some applications the scanner 200 may be non-resonant. For example, where the scanner 200 is used for "stroke" or "calligraphic" scanning, a non-resonant scanner would be preferred.
• the input signal is described as coming from an electronic controller or predetermined image input, one skilled in the art will recognize that a portable video camera (alone or combined with the electronic controller) may provide the image signal. This configuration would be particularly useful in simulation environments involving a large number of participants, since each participant's video camera could provide an image input locally, thereby reducing the complexity of the control system. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Astronomy & Astrophysics (AREA)
• Mechanical Optical Scanning Systems (AREA)
• Control Of Indicators Other Than Cathode Ray Tubes (AREA)
• Lasers (AREA)
• Video Image Reproduction Devices For Color Tv Systems (AREA)
• Semiconductor Lasers (AREA)

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• 1999
  • 1999-10-29 AU AU13342/00A patent/AU1334200A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-10-29 WO PCT/US1999/025565 patent/WO2001033866A1/en active Application Filing
  • 1999-10-29 EP EP99956814A patent/EP1226718A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1999-10-29 KR KR1020027005414A patent/KR100731683B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1999-10-29 JP JP2001534888A patent/JP2003513324A/ja not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-10-29 CA CA002387744A patent/CA2387744C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

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