# US 10,481,393 B2 · See-through computer display systems

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- Number: US 10,481,393 B2
- Document ID: US10481393B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/988,313
- Filed: 2018-05-24
- Published: 2018-09-20
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2014-01-21
- Assignees: Mentor Acquisition One, LLC
- Applicants: Mentor Acquisition One, LLC
- Inventors: John N. Border
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481393B2

## CPC

- G02B 27/0093: {with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking}
- G02B 26/0833: {the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD (G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B)}
- G02B 27/0101: {characterised by optical features (G02B27/0172 takes precedence)}
- G02B 27/0172: {characterised by optical features}
- G02B 27/0176: {characterised by mechanical features}
- G02B 27/10: Beam splitting or combining systems (polarising systems G02B27/28; mixing and splitting light signals using optical waveguides G02B6/28; {beam shaping, e.g. changing the cross-sectional area, by dividing or superposing multiple light beams G02B27/0905})
- G02B 27/1033: {having a single light modulator for all colour channels}
- G02B 27/144: {using partially transparent surfaces without spectral selectivity (G02B27/147 takes precedence)}
- G02B 27/283: {used for beam splitting or combining}
- H04N 23/51: Housings
- H04N 23/54: Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
- G02B 2027/0118: {comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility}
- G02B 2027/0138: {comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera}
- G02B 2027/015: {involving arrangement aiming to get less bulky devices}
- G02B 2027/0152: {involving arrangement aiming to get lighter or better balanced devices}
- G02B 2027/0174: {holographic}
- G02B 2027/0178: {Eyeglass type (eyeglass details G02C)}
- G02B 2027/0187: {slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye}
- G02B 2027/0194: {with combiner of laminated type, for optical or mechanical aspects}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A see-through head mounted display with controllable light blocking includes an optics module comprising a light source and image source positioned on a same side of an angled partially-reflective surface, wherein the light source projects light off the surface to the image source which reflects the light as image light to the surface which transmits the image light along a first axis. The display also includes a flat combiner positioned to reflect the image light off of a first side and simultaneously transmit incident light through the first and a second side, along an optical axis perpendicular to the first axis to provide a view of a displayed image overlaid onto a see-through view of the environment, and a controllable light blocking element arranged generally parallel to the flat combiner and in front of the second side to block light incident on the same optical axis as the image light.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A see-through head mounted display with controllable light blocking comprising:
an optics module comprising a light source, an image source, and an angled partially-reflective surface, wherein the light source and the image source are positioned on a same side of the angled partially-reflective surface, wherein the light source projects light off of the angled partially-reflective surface to the image source, the image source reflects the projected light as image light to the angled partially-reflective surface, and the angled partially-reflective surface transmits the image light along a first axis;
a flat combiner having a first side and a second side positioned to reflect the image light off of the first side and simultaneously transmit incident light from an environment through the first and second side, along an optical axis generally perpendicular to the first axis that proceeds to a user's eye to provide a view of a displayed image overlaid onto a see-through view of the environment; and
a controllable light blocking element arranged generally parallel to the flat combiner and in front of the second side so as to block incident light from an environment incident on the same optical axis as the image light.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The see-through head mounted display of claim 1, wherein the flat combiner is a partial mirror.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The see-through head mounted display of claim 1, wherein the flat combiner is a notch mirror.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The see-through head mounted display of claim 1, wherein the controllable light blocking element comprises at least one of an electrochromic element, a polymer stabilized liquid crystal and a ferroelectric liquid crystal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The see-through head mounted display of claim 1, wherein the controllable light blocking element is attached to the second side of the flat combiner.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The see-through head mounted display of claim 1, wherein the controllable light blocking element is attached to a sidewall of the optics module adjacent to the flat combiner.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The see-through head mounted display of claim 1, wherein the controllable light blocking element is segmented to provide an array of areas that are separately selectably controlled.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The see-through head mounted display of claim 7, wherein the array of areas are selectably controlled to block portions of the flat combiner that correspond to high contrast areas in the displayed image.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The see-through head mounted display of claim 8, wherein the array of areas are selectably controlled to block portions of the flat combiner that correspond to areas where information or objects are displayed.

### Claim 10

A see-through head mounted display with controllable light blocking comprising:
an optics module comprising an image source adapted to emit image light along a first axis;
a flat combiner having a first side and a second side positioned to reflect the image light off of the first side and simultaneously transmit incident light from an environment through the first side and the second side, along an optical axis generally perpendicular to the first axis that proceeds to a user's eye to provide a view of a displayed image overlaid onto a see-through view of an environment; and
a controllable light blocking element arranged generally parallel to the flat combiner and in front of the second side so as to block incident light from the environment incident on the same optical axis as the image light.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The see-through head mounted display of claim 10, wherein the flat combiner is a partial mirror.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The see-through head mounted display of claim 10, wherein the flat combiner is a notch mirror.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The see-through head mounted display of claim 10, wherein the controllable light blocking element comprises at least one of an electrochromic element, a polymer stabilized liquid crystal and a ferroelectric liquid crystal.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The see-through head mounted display of claim 10, wherein the controllable light blocking element is attached to the second side of the flat combiner.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The see-through head mounted display of claim 10, wherein the controllable light blocking element is attached to a sidewall of the optics module adjacent to the flat combiner.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The see-through head mounted display of claim 10, wherein the controllable light blocking element is segmented to provide an array of areas that are separately selectably controlled.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The see-through head mounted display of claim 16, wherein the array of areas are selectably controlled to block portions of the flat combiner that correspond to high contrast areas in the displayed image.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The see-through head mounted display of claim 17, wherein the array of areas are selectably controlled to block portions of the flat combiner that correspond to areas where information or objects are displayed.