See-through computer display systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11892644-B2
Application number	US-202117389174-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2021
Priority date	Jan 21, 2014
Publication date	Feb 6, 2024
Grant date	Feb 6, 2024

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to providing see-through computer display optics.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wearable head device comprising:
an optics module comprising:
a polarized light source configured to provide an illumination light;
a reflective image source configured to form an image light based on the illumination light; and
a partial reflector configured to transmit the illumination light toward the reflective image source, receive the image light from the reflective image source, and transmit the image light toward a first lens configured to converge the image light;

a combiner configured to transmit the converged image light, along with an environment light from a surrounding environment, toward a user's eye concurrently with the user wearing the wearable head device; and
a frame configured to hold a second lens,

wherein:
the second lens comprises a first region having a first transmissivity configured to occlude viewing of the optics module through the first region of the second lens,
the second lens further comprises a second region having a second transmissivity configured to transmit the environment light toward the user's eye concurrently with the user wearing the wearable head device, and
the second transmissivity is greater than the first transmissivity.

2. The wearable head device of claim 1 , wherein the first transmissivity is less than 30 percent.

3. The wearable head device of claim 1 , wherein the second transmissivity is greater than 90 percent.

4. The wearable head device of claim 1 , wherein the second lens further comprises a gradient zone, the gradient zone comprising a tint gradient from the first transmissivity to the second transmissivity.

5. The wearable head device of claim 1 , wherein the frame is configured to hold the second lens via a magnetic attachment system.

6. The wearable head device of claim 1 , wherein the first region corresponds to an upper region of the second lens and the second region corresponds to a lower region of the second lens.

7. The wearable head device of claim 1 , wherein:
the second lens further comprises an electrochromic element;
the wearable head device further comprises one or more processors in communication with the electrochromic element, the one or more processors configured to vary the second transmissivity via the electrochromic element.

8. The wearable head device of claim 7 , wherein varying the second transmissivity via the electrochromic element comprises varying the second transmissivity based on a signal received via a software application executed by the one or more processors.

9. The wearable head device of claim 1 , further comprising an eye imaging camera positioned adjacent to the partial reflector and configured to capture light reflected by the user's eye.

10. A method comprising:
providing, via a polarized light source of an optics module of a wearable head device, an illumination light;
transmitting, via a partial reflector of the optics module, the illumination light toward a reflective image source of the optics module;
forming, via the reflective image source, an image light based on the illumination light;
receiving, via the partial reflector, the image light from the reflective image source;
transmitting, via the partial reflector, the image light toward a first lens of the wearable head device;
converging the image light via the first lens; and
concurrently transmitting, toward a user's eye via a combiner of the wearable head device, the converged image light and an environment light from a surrounding environment, wherein:
the wearable head device comprises a frame configured to hold a second lens,
the second lens comprises a first region having a first transmissivity configured to occlude viewing of the optics module through the first region of the second lens,
the second lens further comprises a second region having a second transmissivity configured to transmit the environment light toward the user's eye, and
the second transmissivity is greater than the first transmissivity.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first transmissivity is less than 30 percent.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second transmissivity is greater than 90 percent.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second lens further comprises a gradient zone, the gradient zone comprising a tint gradient from the first transmissivity to the second transmissivity.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the frame is configured to hold the second lens via a magnetic attachment system.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first region corresponds to an upper region of the second lens and the second region corresponds to a lower region of the second lens.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein:
the second lens further comprises an electrochromic element;
the method further comprises varying the second transmissivity via the electrochromic element.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein varying the second transmissivity via the electrochromic element comprises varying the second transmissivity based on a signal received via a software application executed by one or more processors in communication with the wearable head device.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein:
the wearable head device further comprises an eye imaging camera positioned adjacent to the partial reflector, and
the method further comprises capturing, via the eye imaging camera, light reflected by the user's eye.

Assignees

• Mentor Acquisition One Llc

Inventors

• Osterhout Ralph F
• Border John N
• Lohse Robert Michael
• Haddick John D
• Shams Nima L

Classifications

• H04N23/20

  for generating image signals from infrared radiation only · CPC title

• G02B27/0176 Primary

  characterised by mechanical features · CPC title

• G02B27/0093

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

• G02B27/0101

  characterised by optical features (G02B27/0172 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B27/017

  Head mounted · CPC title