System, apparatus, and method for displaying an image with a wider field of view

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016291326-A1
Application number	US-201514676996-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 2, 2015
Priority date	Apr 2, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system ( 100 ), apparatus ( 110 ), and method ( 900 ) for displaying an image ( 880 ). The system ( 100 ) can use an aspherical lens ( 450 ) to direct light ( 800 ) in the interim image ( 850 ) towards the viewer ( 96 ) of the final image ( 880 ) displayed by the system ( 100 ). Use of the aspherical lens ( 450 ) expands the FOV ( 860 ) accessible to the viewer ( 96 ) and reduces exit pupil drift ( 480 ).

First claim

1 . A system ( 100 ) for displaying an image ( 880 ) to a user ( 90 ), said system ( 100 ) comprising:
an illumination assembly ( 200 ) that provides for supplying a plurality of light ( 800 ); an imaging assembly ( 300 ) that provides for creating an interim image ( 850 ) with said plurality of light ( 800 ); and a projection assembly ( 400 ) that provides for creating said image ( 880 ) by modifying said interim image ( 850 ), said projection assembly ( 400 ) including an aspheric lens ( 450 ).

2 . The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said aspheric lens ( 450 ) is a relay lens that receives said interim image ( 850 ) from a modulator ( 320 ) in said imaging assembly ( 300 ).

3 . The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said aspheric lens ( 450 ) is a sixth order aspheric lens ( 454 ).

4 . The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said system ( 100 ) is a visor apparatus ( 115 )

5 . The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said system ( 100 ) is a VRD visor apparatus ( 116 ) that projects said image ( 880 ) onto an eye ( 92 ) of the user ( 90 ).

6 . The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said system ( 100 ) is DLP system ( 141 ).

7 . The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said image ( 880 ) does not include substantial exit pupil drift ( 480 ) that is visible to the user ( 90 ).

8 . The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein aspherical lens ( 450 ) provides for reducing exit pupil drift ( 480 ) for light ( 800 ) directed to a splitting plate ( 430 ) and a curved mirror ( 420 ).

9 . The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said aspheric lens ( 450 ) provides for correcting a distortion in said interim image ( 850 ), and wherein said aspheric lens ( 450 ) acts as a field stop.

10 . The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said system ( 100 ) provides the user ( 90 ) with a field of view ( 860 ) that is greater than about 40 degrees.

11 . The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said system ( 100 ) provides the user ( 90 ) with a horizontal field of view ( 862 ) that is greater than about 40 degrees.

12 . The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said system ( 100 ) provides the user ( 90 ) a horizontal field of view ( 862 ) that is greater than about 50 degrees.

13 . The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said system ( 100 ) provides the user ( 90 ) a horizontal field of view ( 862 ) that is greater than about 60 degrees.

14 . The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said system ( 100 ) includes a tracking mode ( 123 )

15 . The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said system ( 100 ) includes augmentation mode ( 122 ) and an immersion mode ( 121 ).

16 . The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said projection assembly ( 450 ) further includes a curved mirror ( 420 ) and a partially transparent plate ( 440 ).

17 . A system ( 100 ) for displaying an image ( 880 ) to a user ( 90 ), said system ( 100 ) comprising:
an illumination assembly ( 200 ) that provides for supplying a plurality of light ( 800 ); an imaging assembly ( 300 ) that provides for creating an interim image ( 850 ) with said plurality of light ( 800 ); and a projection assembly ( 400 ) that provides for creating said image ( 880 ) by modifying said interim image ( 850 ) comprised of said plurality of light ( 800 ), wherein said projection assembly ( 400 ) includes an aspheric lens ( 450 ) that reduces a pupil drift ( 470 ) in said image ( 880 ).

18 . The system ( 100 ) of claim 17 , wherein said system ( 100 ) is a VRD apparatus ( 116 ) that provides the user ( 90 ) with a horizontal field of view ( 862 ) that is greater than about 60 degrees.

19 . A method ( 900 ) for making an image ( 880 ) accessible to a user ( 90 ) by projecting said image ( 880 ) on an eye ( 92 ) of the user ( 90 ), said method comprising ( 900 ):
generating ( 910 ) a plurality of light ( 800 ) from a light source ( 210 ); modulating ( 920 ) said light ( 800 ) into an interim image ( 850 ); and directing ( 930 ) said light ( 800 ) of said interim image ( 850 ) in aspheric lens ( 450 ) prior to the delivery of said light ( 800 ) to the eye ( 92 ) of the user ( 90 ).

20 . The method ( 900 ) of claim 19 , wherein said aspheric optic ( 450 ) provides for a horizontal field of view ( 862 ) that is greater than about forty degrees.

Assignees

• Avegant Corp

Inventors

• Evans Allan Thomas
• Dewald D Scott

Classifications

• G02B27/01

  Head-up displays · CPC title

• G02B27/0101

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

• G02B2027/011

  comprising device for correcting geometrical aberrations, distortion · CPC title

• G02B27/0172 Primary

  characterised by optical features · CPC title

• G02B2027/0123

  comprising devices increasing the field of view · CPC title