GB2401003A

GB2401003A - Mobile telephone with wirelessly connectable head mounted display

Info

Publication number: GB2401003A
Application number: GB0303180A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Heseltine
Original assignee: Pankhurst Design & Development
Current assignee: Pankhurst Design & Development
Priority date: 2003-02-12
Filing date: 2003-02-12
Publication date: 2004-10-27
Also published as: GB0303180D0

Abstract

A mobile telephone incorporates a head mounted display for generating a visual image from data acquired by the handset. The display is in the form of a pair of spectacles with the lenses replaced by screens that generate small high resolution images very close to a users eye. The spectacles may incorporate wireless ear pieces to give the benefit of multimedia audio. The head mounted display is most beneficial when the handset is accessing services that have a higher visual content such as web surfing or viewing large databases. The head mounted display may be wirelessly connectable with the mobile telephone and when not in use may be releasably mounted upon the mobile telephone.

Description

MOBILE TELEPHONES

The invention relates to mobile telephones.

A mobile telephone comprises a transmitter/receiver handset for receiving and sending data over a mobile telephone network. To meet portability requirements, there is a requirement to keep handsets as small as possible. However, the reduction in size of handsets inevitably reduces the size of display screens incorporated in such handsets which in turn reduces the amount of visual information that can be conveyed to a user at one time.

According to the invention, there is provided a mobile telephone comprising a wireless transmitter/receiver handset connected to a means for generating a visual image from data acquired by the handset.

Head mounted displays are able to generate small high resolution images very close to the eye which appear to the user as the equivalent of a large display as if the user were viewing a full size computer monitor. This increases significantly the visual information able to be conveyed through the handset.

Until recently, such networks have been of limited bandwidth but there is now being introduced 3G networks which have significantly higher bandwidths. This will increase significantly the amount of data that can be delivered to the handset and will enable the provision of new services such as streaming video, full access to the internet and multimedia; services that are currently only available on desktop computers. Preferably the handset is a handset for a 3G cellular network.

The following is a more detailed description of an embodiment of the invention by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mobile telephone handset carrying a head mounted display in a folded disposition, Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1 with the folded head mounted display detached from the handset, and Figure 3 is a view of the head mounted display in an unfolded disposition.

Referring first to Figure 1, the handset 10 is, electronically, any form of known 3G handset that allows the transmission and receipt of data over a 3G cellular network.

The handset 10 includes a casing 11 provided with a retaining recess 12. A head mounted display 13 in a folded disposition is received in the recess 12 and retained in the recess 12 by mechanical engagement. As seen in Figure 2, the head mounted display 13 can be released from the recess 12 and, as seen in Figure 3, and unfolded.

In the unfolded condition, the head mounted display 13 is in the form of a pair of spectacles with a frame 14 including a pair of ear engaging arms 15 and two screens 16 situated in the same position as lenses in a pair of spectacles and having the same size as lenses of a pair of spectacles.

Each screen 16 is formed by a small liquid crystal display capable of generating a small high resolution image very close to the eye. The frame 14 carries a power S source and a wireless radio connection to the handset 10 to allow data to be transmitted from the handset 10 to the screens 16. The screens 16 can thus produce images from data received by the handset 10 and the eyes of a wearer will perceive those images as if they were a similar size to a full size computer monitor.

The head mounted display 13 may also include ear pieces (not shown) to allow the user to receive audio data. In addition, the handset 10 may include a navigation button (not shown) which is operable by a user to allow the user to navigate around the image as if using a wireless computer mouse.

In use, the head mounted display 13 will be carried in the folded condition engaged in the recess 12 in the handset 10. The handset 10 can then be used in the same way as any mobile telephone handset. When a user accesses services that have a high visual content such as when surfing the Internet or viewing large databases, the head mounted display 13 can be detached from the recess 12 in the headset 10, unfolded and placed on the users head in the manner of spectacles. The wireless radio connection between the handset 10 and head mounted display 13 provides data to the head mounted display 13 and the screens 16 generate images that are viewed by the user. The navigation button is used to navigate around the image produced by the screens. Where ear pieces are provided, the user will also hear audio data.

The head mounted display 13 includes a power supply (not shown) and this power supply may be recharged from a battery (not shown) in the handset 10 when the head mounted display 13 placed in the recess 12.

It will be appreciated that, while the benefits are greatest with a 3G cellular network, the head mounted display could be used with any cellular or other wireless transceiver.

The head mounted display 13 as described above and illustrated in the drawings is in the form of a pair of spectacles. It will be appreciated that the head mounted display could be in any suitable form such as a single screen and may not be foldable.

While the screens 16 have been described using liquid crystal displays, they may also produce images by other means includings prismatic projections or projection directly into the retina of the user.

The screens 16 or single screen where provided, could provide a display for the handset 10. s

Claims

1. A mobile telephone comprising a transmitter/receiver handset connected to means for generating a visual image from data acquired by the transmitter/receiver.

2. A telephone according to claim 1 wherein the handset is a handset for a 3G cellular network.

3. A telephone according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said image generating means are a head mounted display.

4. A telephone according to claim 3 when the display is in the form of a pair of spectacles carrying a pair of image generating screens.

5. A telephone according to claim 1 or 2 wherein data is transferred from the handset to the image generating means through a wireless radio connection.

6. A telephone according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the image generating means, when not in use, is mounted on the handset and is releasable from the handset for deployment and use.

7. A telephone according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the head mounted display includes wireless ear pieces for producing an audible signal.

8. A mobile telephone substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.