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
  • G02B27/017—Head mounted
  • G02B27/0172—Head mounted characterised by optical features
• • 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
  • G02B27/0101—Head-up displays characterised by optical features
• • 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
  • G02B27/0101—Head-up displays characterised by optical features
  • G02B2027/0118—Head-up displays characterised by optical features comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• • 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
  • G02B27/0101—Head-up displays characterised by optical features
  • G02B2027/0132—Head-up displays characterised by optical features comprising binocular systems
• • 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
  • G02B27/0101—Head-up displays characterised by optical features
  • G02B2027/0138—Head-up displays characterised by optical features comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• • 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
  • G02B27/0101—Head-up displays characterised by optical features
  • G02B2027/0143—Head-up displays characterised by optical features the two eyes not being equipped with identical nor symmetrical optical devices
• • 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
  • G02B2027/0178—Eyeglass type
• • 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
  • G02B27/0179—Display position adjusting means not related to the information to be displayed
  • G02B2027/0187—Display position adjusting means not related to the information to be displayed slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• • 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
  • G02B2027/0192—Supplementary details
  • G02B2027/0198—System for aligning or maintaining alignment of an image in a predetermined direction
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B3/00—Simple or compound lenses
  • G02B3/02—Simple or compound lenses with non-spherical faces
  • G02B3/08—Simple or compound lenses with non-spherical faces with discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lens
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
  • G02B5/30—Polarising elements

Definitions

• PERSONAL VISUAL DISPLAY SYSTEM This invention relates to visual displays which preferably can combine generated images with a view of the environment surrounding a user and transmit such combined visual information to the eye position of the user.
• Such displays include a number of components including, in a form known as a folded catadioptric display, an image generator, a beam splitter which receives the image light from the image generator, often via a series of lenses and other optic elements and sends a fraction, designated the reflected fraction, of such image light to a reflective combiner that is either non-transmissive or both allows light from the real world to pass through such combiner and reflects the image light such that both the real-world light and the image light are transmitted to the eye of the user through the beam splitter, often via another series of lenses or other optical elements.
• the beam splitter will transmit a fraction, designated the transmitted fraction, of the image light reflected from the collimator-combiner.
• the combiner is at least partially transmissive, a fraction of the real-world light is also transmitted by the beam splitter.
• One embodiment of the invention is a head-mounted display (HMD) that can project an image from an image generator such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or a liquid crystal display (LCD) to one or each of the eyes of the observer or both transmit such an image and combine it with a direct view of the surrounding environment.
• the combiner images a CRT or LCD display surface mounted above the eye with a simple metallic, dielectric or holographic fold mirror reflecting the image towards the combiner.
• the device simplifies the imaging optics by reducing the total number of elements.
• One embodiment of the invention consists of an image generator such as a CRT or LCD, a combiner such as a spherical metallic, dielectric or holographic combiner or collimator-combiner and a fold mirror such as a metallic, dielectric or holographic fold mirror.
• a visual display provides for monochromatic and/or three-color display without refractive optics, such as by using reflective imaging optics only.
• the apparatus provides a high-quality image while using a lightweight and visually attractive configuration.
• the apparatus is a glasses-like structure with optics configured to deliver an image to the user's eye position, preferably to deliver generated images to the left and right eyes of a user, and with temple pieces projecting backward on each side of the user's head in the fashion of eyeglasses.
• a strap may be used to assist in holding the device in a desired location. Headphone-like loud speakers are positionable near the user's ears to provide simultaneous video and audio to the user.
• a brace is used to contact the user's forehead to further assist in proper positioning and weight-bearing.
• the display device is modifiable by addition, preferably snap-on addition, of further components.
• a light shield may be snapped on to convert a see-through display into an immersion display.
• Head position tracker components can be snapped on to provide an indication, e.g., to a computer and/or video game device, of the orientation, movement, and/or location of the user's head.
• an optical element is configured to reduce or eliminate loss of image contrast such as that which may occur from an image generated by a backlit LCD display, particularly near the edges of the image.
• a color display with high density is provided by the combination of a white or monochrome display coupled with a color shutter.
• the shutter is located spaced from the screen or output plane of the image generator, and may be positioned substantially immediately in front of the eyes of the user. In another embodiment the shutter is located adjacent to the image generator output plane or to an optical element, such as a field curvature correction lens, which is adjacent to the image generator output plane.
• shrouds provide proper shielding, holding and alignment of various components of the device.
• a shroud can be configured to not only block stray light but also to hold, for example, a fold mirror and/or combiner.
• two or more masks are provided for the image generator to achieve elimination of unwanted light source angles without masking desired portions of the image.
• such masks are provided as a unitary piece which can also function to hold other elements such as the LCD or other image generator, a light source, a lens, etc.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a head-mounted display according to one embodiment of the present invention
• Fig. 2 is a front view of the apparatus of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 is a rear view of the apparatus of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 4 is a right side elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 5 is a left side elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 7 is a top view generally corresponding to that of Fig. 6 but showing the temple pieces in a folded configuration
• Fig. 8 is a plan view similar to that of Fig. 4 but having portions cut away to show interior components thereof;
• Fig. 9 is a schematic side view showing optical components according to one embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 10 is a perspective view of an optical shroud according to one embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 11 is a front view of an the optical shroud of Fig. 10;
• Fig. 12 is a side view of the optical shroud of Fig. 10;
• Fig. 13A is a bottom plan view of the optical shroud of Fig. 10;
• Fig 13B is a partially exploded perspective view of the optical shroud of Fig. 10, fold mirror, combiner and field curvature correction lens;
• Fig. 14A is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a mask and holder apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 14B is an exploded perspective view of a mask and holder apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 showing attachment of additional components.
• one embodiment of the present invention provides a main component 12, preferably containing some or all of the electronics or optics used for the visual display and left and right temple pieces 14a, 14b.
• the temple pieces may be used for assisting and holding the main portion 12 in the desired position to deliver video output to the user's eyes.
• a strap 16 can be provided to further assist in holding the apparatus in the desired position with respect to the head 18 of the user.
• a forehead brace 22 can be provided to further assist in proper positioning of the main portion 12. The forehead brace 22 is useful to transfer some of the weight of the apparatus to the user's forehead.
• the forehead brace 22 extends back a distance 24 from the main portion 12 of the apparatus.
• there is an amount of space 26 between the eye position of the user 28 and the portion of the apparatus 32 which resides in front of the user's eyes sufficient to accommodate the user's eyeglasses, e.g., about one inch or more (in one embodiment, about 28 mm) .
• a connection is provided for establishing communication or data transfer to the display apparatus which, in the depicted embodiment, involves a cable 34 mounted along the underside of the left temple piece 14b and terminating in a connector 36.
• the connector 36 will be connected to a cable which provides for data transfer or other communication with a video/audio source 38 (Fig. 17) such as a computer, a video cassette recorder (VCR) , video disk player, broadcast television receiver, television cable or optical fiber source, gaming device, or video telephone service.
• a video/audio source 38 Fig. 17
• the cable 34 is also used to deliver power to the apparatus.
• data communication can be made without using a wire cable, such as by using a fiber optic cable, or by using wireless communication such as infrared, or radio communication.
• a first button 42 can be used to provide, for example, a mute function.
• activation of this button provides for both discontinuing the video image which is currently being output and discontinuing the audio to provide both a video mute and an audio mute.
• the mute control is configured so that the user can easily turn off at least the image, without requiring turning off of power to the HMD or interrupting the stack of data (although, in one embodiment, the mute button can be configured to simultaneously pause the data stream) .
• the mute control turns off power for the LCD backlight, LCD and/or audio functions.
• the current control setting e.g., monoscopic/3-D, volume, contrast
• the current control setting e.g., monoscopic/3-D, volume, contrast
• a rocker switch 44 can be used to provide control of a parameter which varies through a range, such as volume of the audio.
• Other items that could be controlled in the fashion include tint, hue or contrast of the video image, selection of a video and/or audio source such as channel selection, image brightness, audio tone (i.e., treble/bass control) and the like.
• a slider switch 46 can be used, e.g., to select among discrete choices to select left, right or no relative frame phasing, to select between stereo and non-stereoscopic views, and the like.
• One or more visible displays can be provided.
• an LED "power on" indicator is provided.
• Other controls and/or indicators can also be used and can be mounted on various surfaces of the head-mounted apparatus of Fig. 1.
• Left and right loudspeakers 52a, 52b are preferably movably attached to the ends of the temple pieces 14a, 14b, e.g., by pivotable arms 54a, 54b which can be laterally adjusted in a mounting slot 56a, 56b in each temple 14a, 14b.
• the speakers 52a, 52b can be held in position by friction or detent tightners 58a, 58b can be used to secure the speakers 52a, 52b in the desired position.
• Cables 62a, 62b are used to provide the desired signal to the loud speaker 52a, 52b.
• the head strap 16 is preferably coupled to the temples 14a, 14b via left and right strap pivots, loops or D-rings 17a, 17b.
• a length and/or tightness adjustment mechanism such as a buckle, can be provided on the strap 16.
• the temples 14a, 14b are connected to the main portion 12 using left and right hinges 64a, 64b.
• the hinges 64a, 64b permit the temple pieces 14a, 14b to be folded in directions inwardly 66a, 66b to provide the compact configuration depicted in Fig. 7.
• the compact configuration is achieved partially by locating much or all of the electronics associated with the production of the video device in the main portion 12 (as described more fully below) . In one configuration, there are little or no optical or video elements or electronics in the temple pieces 14a, 14b
• the temples 14a, 14b can be folded nearly flat against the main portion 12, as depicted in Fig. 7, residing underneath the forehead brace 22.
• the electronics used in generating the image 72 are substantially all contained in the upper portion of the main section 12 of the apparatus as depicted in Fig. 8.
• the electronics used for this purpose can be those generally well-known in the art for producing video images, such as the electronics used in producing video images in the eyepiece of a video recorder and can include, for example, power supply, timing circuitry (e.g.
• the electronic signals constituting the video signal are converted into an image, or a series of images, e.g., simulating motion, by an image generator 74.
• the image generator 2 can be any of a plurality of color or monochrome imaging devices including a cathode-ray tube (CRT) , light emitting diode (LED) array, liquid crystal display (LCD) , field emissive device (FED) , as well as laser devices such as laser diode arrays.
• CTR cathode-ray tube
• LED light emitting diode
• LCD liquid crystal display
• FED field emissive device
• an LCD that can be used for this purpose is a 0.7" diagonal LCD of the type commonly used for the view finder of a camcorder, for example, Model FO7KM200 available from Seiko Epson Corporation.
• Other sizes and types of LCDs can also be used such as a 1 inch diagonal LCD available from Hitachi, Inc.
• an LCD device includes the capability for being backlit using any of a number of backlighting devices such as incandescent lighting, fluorescent lighting, electro-luminescent and ambient lighting.
• the light from the image generator is configured by various optical elements to deliver the desired image to the eye position 28 of the user.
• a number of different optical configurations can be used for this purpose including those described in USSN 08/150,996 filed November 12, 1993 for "Optically Corrected Helmet Mounted Display," a divisional of U.S. Patent No. 5,303,085, filed February 7, 1992, both of which are incorporated herein by reference or PCT application No. PCT/US94/ (attorney docket 16486-5PC) for
• the optical devices include the image generator 74, a field correction device such as a plano-convex or meniscus lens 76 for providing a substantially flat field of focus to the user, a fold mirror 78 for reflecting at least a part of the image from the image generator towards a combiner 82 which reflects at least a portion of the image received from the fold mirror 78 through the fold mirror 78 and towards the eye position of the user 28, preferably magnifying the image (e.g., by virtue of a reflection from its substantially spherical surface) and, in embodiments where the combiner is at least partially transparent, combines the image light with light from the environment to provide the user with a simultaneous view of the environment and of the generated image.
• a field correction device such as a plano-convex or meniscus lens 76 for providing a substantially flat field of focus to the user
• a fold mirror 78 for reflecting at least a part of the image from the image generator towards a combiner 82 which reflects at least a portion of the image received from the fold
• the combiner serves as the primary magnification element for the image light.
• An optical element is referred to as being a "powered” element if it provides image magnification.
• this item is referred to as a “combiner”, in some embodiments the combiner may be used without providing for a combination of image light with environmental light, as described more fully below.
• the image generator 2 is mounted substantially above the fold mirror 1 (meaning vertically above, when the device is oriented so that the axis between the eye position 5 and combiner 4 is substantially horizontal) . With reference to this configuration, the image light travels downward from the image generator 2 towards the fold mirror 1.
• the image light is at least partially reflected by the fold mirror 1 in a substantially horizontal direction away from the eye of the user 5 and towards the combiner 4.
• the image light is at least partially reflected back towards the fold mirror 1.
• the combiner can be substantially fully reflective and substantially non-transmissive.
• the image light and/or the combined light is at least partially transmitted through the fold mirror 1 towards the eye of the user 5.
• the amount of light, if any, which passes from the surrounding environment to the eyes of the observer can be at least partially controlled by the coatings placed on the surfaces of the combiner, and the fold mirror.
• each frame would be divided into three subframes, one for each color so that subframes would be presented at a rate of about 180 times per second in a repeating pattern of e.g., a red frame, a green frame, a blue frame, a red frame, etc.
• a color shutter is an electronically-driven device which provides a color filter over the entire image area and which can be switched rapidly, e.g., 180 times per second among the three image colors (red, blue, green) .
• One type of color shutter is that provided in Tektronix EX100HD 1 inch Color Display System.
• Such a color shutter can be mounted directly on the surface of the screen of a monochrome (or black and white) video image generator.
• the monochrome image generator is then configured to produce a black and white image of the respective color components of the desired final image at, e.g., 180 frames per second.
• the black and white image generator will produce a black and white image of the red component of the first frame of the image and the color shutter will be configured to transmit only red light.
• the monochrome generator will generate a black-and-white image of the blue component of the image and the color shutter will be configured to transmit only blue light.
• the monochrome image generator will output a black- and white image of the green component of the frame and the color shutter will be configured to transmit only green light.
• the resulting image will appear to be fully colored to the user but the three colors for a given pixel will be in exactly the same location, i.e., there will be no physical separation of the location of the color components of the pixel.
• a color shutter approach is useful to provide a high-intensity color image, it has not been previously provided in the context of a light-weight, high- quality, head-mounted display.
• optical configurations in the past have used, e.g., a monochrome CRT in conjunction with relay lens systems to transfer the image from a remotely-mounted CRT to the user's eye. This typically resulted in heavy systems, often of a type that were helmet- mounted and suitable cheifly for military use.
• one embodiment of the present invention departs from the approach of positioning a color shutter directly on an output screen and, instead, positions a color shutter 88 at a position which is farther along on the optical path, such as the position depicted in Fig. 9. As depicted in Fig. 9, the color shutter 88 can be placed between the fold mirror 78 and the eye position 28 of the user.
• an embodiment of the invention provides for an optical shroud which can be used for the dual functions of shielding from stray light and providing for correct positioning of optical elements.
• the shroud 112 has a top surface 114 having an opening 116 for entry of the image light.
• the top portion 114 Beneath the top portion 114 is a chamber 118 defined by left and right sidewalls 122a, 122b and floor member 124.
• the side members 122a, 122b preferably flare outward (i.e., in a direction away from the eye position, e.g., at an angle 124 (with respect to the straight-ahead axis of view of the user 128) of between about 10° and about 30°, preferably between about 10° and about 25° and more preferably being about 15°.
• the top of the shroud 114 in the depicted embodiment defines a plane 131 which is substantially parallel to the plane of the image generator output.
• the floor 124 is flared downward at an angle 132 , with respect to the top plane 131, of between about 10° and about 25°, preferably between about 10° and about 20° and more preferably at about 12°.
• a groove near the front edge of the floor 134c is curved with a curvature corresponding to that of the combiner. This groove is used , in conjunction with recesses 134a and 134 b, for mounting the combiner so as to assure that the combiner 82 is located in the correct position, as depicted in Fig 13B. After positioning, the combiner can be held in place b y e.g.
• Ledges 136, 137, 137 defining an imaginary plane which intersects the sidewalls 122a, 122b along lines running diagonally inside of the sidewalls, are used for mounting the fold mirror 78 in the correct position with respect to the other optical components, as depicted in Fig 13B. After positioning, the fold mirror can be held in place by, e.g. adhesives, ultrsonic welding, interlocking tabs and slots, heat staking, latches, gaskets and the like.
• the top 114, floor 124 and sidewalls 122a, 122b, and particularly, the floor 124 and outside sidewall are particularly useful in shielding the optics from stray light of types that commonly produce image degradation.
• An example of such stray light would be light that may bounce upward off a light-colored shirt of a user.
• the shroud also protects the optical components from dust, abrasion, scratches and the like, at least on the surfaces of the optics enclosed within the chamber 118.
• a transparent dust cover 141 can be positioned e.g. between the fold mirror 78 and the eye of the user.
• pins 152 a, 152b, 152c projecting from the upper surface 114 assist in proper alignment of the field curvature correction device such as plano-convex lens 76, e.g. by mating with corresponding holes 154a, 154b, 154c in the lens 76.
• the lens 76 can be attached to the shroud 12 by heat staking or heat-doming the ends of the pins 152a, 152b,152c or by other means such as adhesives, ultrasonic welding, clamps, latches and the like.
• Tabs 156a, 156b, 156c are provided for aligning and/or attaching the shroud 112 to the main portion 12 of the head-mounted display device.
• separate shrouds 112 are provided for the left and right optics, as depicted, e.g., in Fig. 1, although a unified shroud can also be used.
• the depicted embodiment shows recesses 134a, 134b, groove 134c, ledges 136, 137, 139 and pins 152a, 152b, 152c for aligning and/or holding various optical components
• other devices for holding can be used such as tabs, ridges, tracks, rails, spring-mounts, gaskets, latches and the like.
• the shroud 112 can be made from a number of components, including plastic, metal, ceramic, fiber-reinforced resins, and the like.
• the shroud 112 may contains holes, slots or other shapes to facilitate connecting the shroud to other optics (such as contrast-enhancement optics) in the correct position with respect to other items in the device.
• image generator must, of course, be correctly positioned with respect to the other elements such as a field correction lens 86, fold mirror 78, etc.
• Certain image generating devices notably an LCD array, suffer from image degradation as a result of transmission of light peripheral to the image area of the LCD.
• an LCD is backlit and many LCDs have used a rectangularly-shaped mask around the edge of the LCD to prevent the viewer from seeing a bright outline surrounding the active area of the LED.
• FIG. 14A depicts a cross-section through a backlight 202, active LCD area 204, peripiheral LCD circuitry 206, and mask 208. As seen in this configuration, if the only light travelling through the LCD 204 were travelling in a normal direction, such as that shown by arrow 210, the mask 208 would be fully effective.
• the mask 208 would typically be provided with an opening 214 which was smaller than a full active area of the LCD. This represented a certain amount of waste of the image generated by the LCDs since the edge of the LCD image would be masked.
• one embodiment of the invention involves providing at least two masks, one mask 222 (Fig. 14B) adjacent the output surface of the LED 72 and another mask 224 between the LCD location 226 and the location of the backlight 228.
• both the first mask 222 and the second mask 224 have opening or windows 232, 234, respectively, which are substantially equal and congruent to the active area of the LCD.
• the first mask 222 is formed integrally with a holder 236 which includes sidewalls 237a, 237b, 237c for properly aligning the second masks 222, 224 and/or the LCD device 72 to provide an accurate and inexpensive way to perform both masking and proper positioning and alignment of the masks with respect to the LCD array.
• a holder 236 which includes sidewalls 237a, 237b, 237c for properly aligning the second masks 222, 224 and/or the LCD device 72 to provide an accurate and inexpensive way to perform both masking and proper positioning and alignment of the masks with respect to the LCD array.
• the mask/holder also contains holes 238a, 238b 238c for mounting the holder to the main portion 12 of the head mounted display device.
• the holder 236 may include devices (such as screw holes, bosses, grooves, rails and the like, not shown) for mounting items such as the image source, backlight, lenses, etc.
• the mask/holder 236 is provided with a means for adjustably mounting the mask/holder within the main portion 12 of the apparatus. Adjustability is useful in order to avoid image disparity between the two eye positions. Part of the image disparity results from the fact that the active area of an LCD due to manufacturing tolerances, may not be precisely located in the same position, with respect to the device edges, on every LCD device. The variability is typically within about ⁇ 0.25 mm in both horizontal and vertical directions.
• an optional adjustment mechanism such as travelling screw arrangement 244a can be provided for vertical alignment of the two images.
• the traveller 246a By rotating the screw 224a, the traveller 246a, attached to the holder 236 will move vertically up and down (i.e. along axis 247) and the desired vertical adjustment can be achieved in this fashion.
• Other ways of achieving vertical disparity adjustment include use of rack and pinion adjustment, shims, and tilting the combiner (at the cost of introducing other distortions) .
• a similar adjustment mechanism 244b, 246b can be provided for adjusting the focus of the image for one eye with respect to the other.
• the environmental view can be provided by using the combiner to combine image light with light from the environment. It is possible to provide a fully reflective, substantially spherical mirror so as to provide an image-only or "immersive" device.
• the apparatus can be used to provide either type of image as desired by the user. It is believed to be particularly useful to leave the user with the option of achieving a view of the environment since users may need such a view in order to properly and safely move while wearing the apparatus. In the embodiment depicted in Fig.
• a shield 302 is configured so that it can snap over the external area of the combiner 82, thus converting an environmental-view device (also called “see-through”, “transmissive” or “heads-up”) into an immersive view device.
• the shield can be held in place by a number of mechanisms such as snaps 304, or by tab and slot devices, hook and loop devices such as that sold under the tradename VELCRO ® , or various latches or pivots (such as a flip-up shield) .
• the shield 302 can be made from a number of materials including plastics, metals and the like.
• the transmissivity of light through the combiner 82 can also be controlled by other devices such as an electro-mechanically controlled iris, a photochromically activated coating or an electrically activated coating.
• tracking devices are configured so as to permit the user to attach and detach the tracking devices as desired. In the embodiment depicted in Fig.
• a tracking devices 312 can be attached to either of the temples 14a, 14b of the apparatus, e.g., using flexible hook attachments 314, configured to engage the edges of the temples 14a, 14b.
• Other attachment devices that can be used include latches, clamps, and/or hook and loop material (such as that sold under the tradename VELCRO*.
• One tracking device which can be used for this purpose is a product sold under the trade name The BirdTM, by Ascension Technology Corp.
• the tracker 312 has its own cable for transmitting information, e.g., to a computer. It is also possible to provide for couplers and wiring to route the tracking information over the HMD cable, to reduce the number of separate cables involved.
• one or more trackers can be integrally built into the head-mounted display device.
• the present invention provides for a high quality image in a head-mounted display at low cost and low weight.
• the device can be easily stored and transported, provides for comfort for the user, because of its low weight and mounting facility, can provide controls for video and audio is easily adjustable to accommodate the user's head size and ear and eye location, provides a high intensity, preferably color image, provides for ease of alignment, manufacture, design and repair, provides for ease of control by the user such as controlling video, audio or immersive characteristics and permits the user to select whether tracking is attached.
• a number of variations and modifications of the invention can also be used. Although the device depicted is binocular, a monocular device can also be used. More or fewer controls than those depicted can be used. A number of aspects of the invention can be used without providing other aspects, for example, it is possible to provide for the eyeglass-like fold-up style without providing for a color shutter.

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• 1994
  • 1994-08-31 EP EP95914671A patent/EP0763216A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1994-08-31 JP JP7520579A patent/JPH09508478A/ja active Pending
  • 1994-08-31 WO PCT/US1994/009819 patent/WO1995021395A1/en active Application Filing
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