Peripheral lighting for head worn computing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9400390-B2
Application number	US-201414163646-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 24, 2014
Priority date	Jan 24, 2014
Publication date	Jul 26, 2016
Grant date	Jul 26, 2016

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to head worn computing lighting systems and stray light control.

First claim

We claim:

1. A head worn computer, comprising:
a housing adapted to be worn on the head of a user, wherein the housing is adapted to hold an optical system;
the optical system adapted to present digital content to a visual field of the user when the user is wearing the head worn computer, the optical system also adapted to be transmissive such that the user can view a surrounding environment through the optical system; and
the optical system having an effects lighting system positioned to provide the wearer of the head worn computer with peripheral lighting effects in coordination with digital content presented, wherein the peripheral lighting effects are presented to an eye of the user after reflecting off of a partially-reflective partially-transmissive surface that is also used to reflect the digital content and through which the user views the surrounding environment, the peripheral lighting effects further presented outside of the visual field of view where the digital content is presented,
wherein the partially-reflective partially-transmissive surface includes a tristimulus notch mirror.

2. The head worn computer of claim 1 , wherein the partially-reflective partially-transmissive surface is substantially flat and angled to directly reflect the digital content to an eye of the user.

3. The head worn computer of claim 1 , wherein the partially-reflective partially-transmissive surface is substantially flat and angled to indirectly reflect the digital content to an eye of the user.

4. The head worn computer of claim 1 , further comprising a stray light suppression system adapted to suppress light from escaping the confines of the head worn computer.

5. The head worn computer of claim 4 , wherein the stray light suppression system substantially encompasses an eye of the user.

6. The head worn computer of claim 4 , wherein the stray light suppression system substantially encompasses both eyes of the user.

Assignees

• Osterhout Group Inc

Inventors

• Osterhout Ralph F
• Border John N
• Nortrup Edward H

Classifications

• G06F3/011

  Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality (blind teaching G09B21/00) · CPC title

• G02B5/30

  Polarising elements (light-modulating devices with active elements G02F1/00) · CPC title

• G02B27/0172 Primary

  characterised by optical features · CPC title

• G06F1/163

  Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt · CPC title

• G02B2027/014

  comprising information/image processing systems · CPC title