Back to results
US 12,684,109 B2Granted
Augmented reality system with fail-safe direct view mode
AssigneeVision Products, LLC
InventorsMichael P. Browne, Kevin Mellott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various AR systems include a fail-safe mode where the user can see the region in front of the user without the display and/or outward facing imaging sensor (e.g., camera), if for example, power to the display and/or outward facing imaging sensor (e.g., camera) is lost or the outward facing imaging sensor (e.g., camera) and/or display malfunction.
Claims18
A head mounted display configured to provide an image for viewing by a user wearing said head mounted display, said head mounted display comprising:
- a frame configured to be worn by said user;
- a display supported by said frame, said display configured to output light to form images;
- a beam combiner that is partially reflective and partially transmissive;
- an electrically switchable shutter having a closed state that blocks light;
- an outward facing imaging sensor facing an area forward of said shutter to capture images of said area forward of said shutter for presentation of said images on said display for viewing by an eye of said user;
- a display imaging sensor configured to capture images of most of the display;
- and
- circuitry configured to control said shutter,
- wherein said electrically switchable shutter is disposed in an optical path between said beam combiner and said area forward of said shutter,
- wherein said beam combiner is positioned (i) in an optical path of said light output by said display such that at least a portion of said light from said display propagates to said beam combiner and then to said eye of the user to form images produced by said display that are viewable by said eye and (ii) in an optical path of light from said area forward of the shutter such that at least a portion of said light from said area forward of said shutter propagates to said beam combiner and then to said eye when said shutter is open,
- wherein said circuitry is configured to detect degradation or disruption in capturing images of said area forward of said shutter and/or display of said captured images of said area forward of said shutter and to cause the shutter to be open in response to said degradation or disruption being detected,
- wherein when power is no longer applied to said shutter, said shutter opens such that the user can view said area forward of said shutter through said shutter;
- and
- wherein said circuitry is configured to open said shutter when images of said display captured by said display imaging sensor indicate said display has ceased rendering new images such that the user can view said area forward of said shutter through said open shutter.
11 more elements
A head mounted display configured to provide an image for viewing by a user wearing said head mounted display, said head mounted display comprising:
- a frame configured to be worn by said user;
- a display supported by said frame, said display configured to output light to form images;
- a beam combiner that is partially reflective and partially transmissive;
- an electrically switchable shutter having a closed state that blocks light;
- an outward facing imaging sensor facing an area forward of said shutter to capture images of said area forward of said shutter for presentation of said images on said display for viewing by an eye of said user;
- a display sensor comprising an optical detector in front of, on or over and facing one or more pixels of said display to receive light from at least a portion of said display and output at least one electrical signal,
- circuitry configured to control said shutter,
- wherein said electrically switchable shutter is disposed in an optical path between said beam combiner and said area forward of said shutter,
- wherein said beam combiner is positioned (i) in an optical path of said light output by said display such that at least a portion of said light from said display propagates to said beam combiner and then to said eye of the user to form images produced by said display that are viewable by said eye and (ii) in an optical path of light from said area forward of the shutter such that at least a portion of said light from said area forward of said shutter propagates to said beam combiner and then to said eye when said shutter is open,
- wherein said circuitry is configured to detect degradation or disruption in capturing images of said area forward of said shutter and/or display of said captured images of said area forward of said shutter and to cause the shutter to be open in response to said degradation or disruption being detected,
- wherein when power is no longer applied to said shutter, said shutter opens such that the user can view said area forward of said shutter through said shutter;
- and
- wherein said circuitry is configured to open said shutter based on electrical output or lack thereof from said optical detector of said display sensor that indicates said display has ceased rendering new images such that the user can view said area forward of said shutter through said open shutter.
10 more elements
A head mounted display configured to provide an image for viewing by a user wearing said head mounted display, said head mounted display comprising:
- a frame configured to be worn by said user;
- a display supported by said frame, said display configured to output light to render images;
- a beam combiner that is partially reflective and partially transmissive;
- an electrically switchable shutter having a first closed state that blocks light;
- an outward facing imaging sensor facing an area forward of said shutter to capture images of said area forward of said shutter and to present said images on said display for viewing by an eye of said user;
- and
- electronics configured to control said shutter,
- wherein said electrically switchable shutter is disposed in an optical path between said beam combiner and said area forward of said shutter,
- wherein said beam combiner is positioned (i) in an optical path of said light output by said display such that at least a portion of said light from said display propagates to said beam combiner and then to said eye of the user to form images produced by said display that are viewable by said eye and (ii) in an optical path of light from said area forward of the shutter such that at least a portion of said light from said area forward of said shutter propagates to said beam combiner and then to said eye when said shutter is open,
- wherein said electronics is configured to monitor light levels of the area forward of the shutter for an increase beyond a threshold amount, said electronics configured to close said shutter in 200 milliseconds to 0.1 milliseconds if said increase beyond a threshold amount is detected.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.