Virtual reality headset with see-through mode

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10371944-B2
Application number	US-201414338326-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2014
Priority date	Jul 22, 2014
Publication date	Aug 6, 2019
Grant date	Aug 6, 2019

Abstract

Systems and method for providing a see-through screen in a head-mounted display (HMD) includes a display screen having a front side and a back side. The display screen is configured for rendering media content. First optics is provided adjacent to the front side of the display screen and configured to provide a focus for viewing the media content. A shutter screen is provided adjacent to the backside of the display screen and is switchable between an opaque mode and a transparent mode. Second optics is provided behind the shutter screen such that the shutter screen is between the display screen and the second optics. The second optics provides an adjustment to the focus to allow clear view through the first optics, the display screen, the shutter screen and the second optics, when the transparent mode is activated on the shutter screen.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device, comprising:
a display screen for rendering frames of media content thereon, the display screen having a front side and a back side, the display screen being transparent, wherein each frame that is rendered is defined by a frame size having a defined number of pixels;
first optics disposed adjacent to the front side of the display screen, the first optics includes a lens that is configured to focus the frames of media content at a predetermined distance when viewed by eyes of a user wearing the device;
a shutter screen disposed adjacent to the backside of the display screen, wherein different portions of the shutter screen are selectively switchable between an opaque mode and a transparent mode and wherein the opaque mode is active in portions of the shutter screen for enabling the media content rendered on corresponding portions of the display screen to be viewable, and the media content is not viewable in portions of the display screen that corresponds with the portions of the shutter screen where the transparent mode is active;
second optics disposed behind the shutter screen such that the shutter screen is between the back side of the display screen and the second optics, the second optics includes a lens that is configured to provide a correction so that a distortion caused by the first optics is canceled out by the second optics, the correction allows viewing of external environment in vicinity of the device through the first optics, the display screen, the shutter screen and the second optics when the transparent mode is activated on the shutter screen; and
a circuit logic configured to receive signals from one or more sensors distributed on the device and analyze the signals to determine a change in environmental condition in a vicinity of a user of the device, the change in environmental condition prompting a portion defined by a location on the shutter screen to transition from the opaque mode to the transparent mode, the portion being less than an entire portion of the shutter screen.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment provided in the second optics is to compensate for view distortion caused by the focus of the first optics.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the shutter screen is configured to allow the transparent mode to be activated on the portion of the shutter screen and the opaque mode to be activated for remaining portions of the shutter screen.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the activation of the transparent mode in the portion of the shutter screen causes a viewport to be defined through the portion of the shutter screen to provide a view to the external environment in the vicinity of the device through corresponding portions of the first optics, the display screen and the second optics.

5. The device of claim 3 , wherein the activation of the transparent mode in the portion of the shutter screen causes activation of a window in the portion of the display screen that corresponds to at least one of the remaining portions of the shutter screen that is in opaque mode, the window rendering a view of a web portal at a web site and options to interact with the web portal.

6. The device of claim 1 , further includes a switching circuit that is communicatively connected to the shutter screen to activate the transparent mode or the opaque mode in specific portions of the shutter screen; and
a microprocessor communicatively connected to the switching circuit to control the switching of the portion of the shutter screen to the transparent mode, wherein the microprocessor is configured to process the media content by formatting the media content, such that the media content is provided for rendering in a portion of the display screen that corresponds with remaining portion of the shutter screen that is in opaque mode.

7. The device of claim 1 , further includes an event detector circuit configured to generate a signal for selectively switching the portion of the shutter screen to transparent mode, in response to detection of an event occurring within the media content.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the event detected is one of a change in media content being rendered, change in environment condition within the media content, an audio signal generated in the media content, or any combinations thereof, and wherein the change in environment condition detected by the circuit logic is one of a change in an external environment condition in vicinity of the device, an audio signal detected in the vicinity of the device, a visual cue detected in the vicinity of the user wearing the device, or any combinations thereof.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the change in the external environment condition corresponds to movement of an object in the external environment in vicinity of the device,
in response to the change in the external environment condition, the event detector circuit is configured to track movement of the object and generate appropriate signals to cause selective switching of different portions of the shutter screen that correspond with the movement of the object, to transparent mode to permit viewing of the moving object.

10. The device of claim 1 , further includes input device configured for user interaction, wherein the user interaction includes providing annotation on an object provided in the media content or on an object from an external environment, interaction with the media content or the object, blending of the object into the media content or any combinations thereof.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the first optic, the display screen, the shutter screen and the second optic is coated with an anti-reflective coating, wherein an amount of anti-reflective coating on each of the first optic, the display screen, the shutter screen and the second optic is adjusted to optimize viewing efficiency of the display screen.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the display screen rendering the multimedia content thereon is disposed in front of the eyes of a user and is spaced apart from the eyes of the user, when the device is worn by the user,
pixels from video frames of the media content are rendered in portions of the display screen that correspond to portions of the shutter screen that are in opaque mode.

13. A pair of glasses used for viewing content, comprising,
a view port provided with a multi-layer arrangement, the multi-layer arrangement includes,
a first optic including lens configured with a first focus setting to focus frames of media content at a predetermined distance when rendered on a display screen of the pair of glasses worn by a user so as to allow eyes of the user to view the frames of media content;
the display screen rendering the frames of media content thereon is positioned behind the first optic, the display screen being transparent, wherein each frame that is rendered is defined by a frame size having a defined number of pixels;
a shutter screen positioned behind the display screen, wherein different portions of the shutter screen being selectively adjustable between a transparent mode and an opaque mode, wherein media content is provided for rendering so as to be viewable in portions of the display screen that correspond with portions of the shutter screen where the opaque mode is activated and is not provided for rendering in portions of the display screen that correspond with portions of the shutter screen where the transparent mode is activated; and
a second optic including lens configured with a second focus setting, the second focus setting used for adjusting any view distortion caused by the first focus setting of the first optic, to provide a foc

Assignees

• Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc

Inventors

• Mallinson Dominic

Classifications

• G02B2027/0187

  slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye · CPC title

• G02B27/0093

  with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking · CPC title

• G02B27/017 Primary

  Head mounted · CPC title

• G02B2027/0118

  comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility · CPC title

• G02B27/0172 Primary

  characterised by optical features · CPC title