# US 12,761,482 B2 · Occlusion-capable optical viewing device and associated method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,761,482 B2 - Document ID: US12761482B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/726,715 - Filed: 2023-01-07 - Published: 2025-03-20 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2022-01-07 - Assignees: Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of the University of Arizona - Applicants: Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of the University of Arizona - Inventors: Hong Hua; Austin Wilson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12761482B2 ## CPC - G02B 27/0172: {characterised by optical features} - G02B 27/30: Collimators - G02B 2027/0118: {comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility} - G02B 2027/0132: {comprising binocular systems} - G02B 2027/0145: {creating an intermediate image} - G02B 2027/0178: {Eyeglass type (eyeglass details G02C)} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract An occlusion-capable viewing device includes an imaging lens, a collimating lens, and a virtual display module, and between the imaging lens and the collimating lens, an image inverter, and a spatial light modulator. The imaging lens projects a first inverted image of a scene on to an entrance surface of the image inverter. The image inverter rotates the first inverted image to yield a first upright image. The spatial light modulator attenuates a first image-region of the first upright image to produce a modulated optical beam. The virtual display module includes a display device and a light combiner, which combines (i) the collimated optical beam and (ii) illumination emitted by the display device to yield an occluded image. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An occlusion-capable viewing device comprising: an imaging lens, a collimating lens, and a virtual display module, and between the imaging lens and the collimating lens, an image inverter and a spatial light modulator, wherein: the imaging lens projects a first inverted image of a scene on to an entrance surface of the image inverter; the image inverter rotates the first inverted image to yield a first upright image; the spatial light modulator attenuates a first image-region of the first upright image to produce a modulated optical beam; the collimating lens collimates the modulated optical beam to yield a collimated optical beam; and the virtual display module includes a display device and a light combiner, which combines (i) the collimated optical beam and (ii) illumination emitted by the display device to yield an occluded image. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The occlusion-capable viewing device of claim 1, the imaging lens and the collimating lens being coaxial. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The occlusion-capable viewing device of claim 1, the display device being optically coupled to the light combiner. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The occlusion-capable viewing device of claim 1, the image inverter being a fiber faceplate inverter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The occlusion-capable viewing device of claim 1, the spatial light modulator including a liquid crystal display. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The occlusion-capable viewing device of claim 1, the first image-region being of a scene-region of the scene, the imaging lens, the image inverter, and the collimating lens constituting a first optics unit, and further comprising a second optics unit that (i) includes a second imaging lens, a second image inverter, and a second collimating lens, and (ii) is laterally displaced from and parallel to the first optics unit, wherein: the second imaging lens projects a second inverted image of the scene on to an entrance surface of the second image inverter; the second image inverter rotates the second inverted image to yield a second upright image; the spatial light modulator further attenuates a second image-region of the second upright image to produce a second modulated optical beam, the second image-region being of the scene-region; the second collimating lens collimates the second modulated optical beam to yield a second collimated optical beam; and the light combiner further combines (i) the second collimated optical beam and (ii) the illumination emitted by the display device to yield the occluded image. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The occlusion-capable viewing device of claim 6, optical axes of the imaging lens and the second imaging lens being parallel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The occlusion-capable viewing device of claim 6, principal planes of the imaging lens and the second imaging lens being coplanar. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The occlusion-capable viewing device of claim 6, optical axes of the collimating lens and the second collimating lens being parallel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The occlusion-capable viewing device of claim 6, principal planes of the collimating lens and the second collimating lens being coplanar. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The occlusion-capable viewing device of claim 6, further comprising a third optics unit, including a third imaging lens, a third image inverter, and a third collimating lens, laterally displaced from, and parallel to the first and second optics units, such that the first, second, and third optics units form a two-dimensional array of optics units, wherein: the third imaging lens projects a third inverted image of the scene on to an entrance surface of the third image inverter; the third image inverter rotates the third inverted image to yield a third upright image; the spatial light modulator further attenuates a third image-region of the third upright image to produce a third modulated optical beam, the third image-region being of the scene-region; the third collimating lens collimates the third modulated optical beam to yield a third collimated optical beam; and the light combiner further combines (i) the third collimated optical beam and (ii) the illumination emitted by the display device to yield the occluded image. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The occlusion-capable viewing device of claim 11, optical axes of the imaging lens, the second imaging lens, and the third imaging lens being parallel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The occlusion-capable viewing device of claim 11, principal planes of the imaging lens, the second imaging lens, and the third imaging lens being coplanar. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The occlusion-capable viewing device of claim 11, optical axes of the collimating lens, the second collimating lens, and the third collimating lens being parallel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The occlusion-capable viewing device of claim 11, principal planes of the collimating lens, the second collimating lens, and the third collimating lens being coplanar. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) An occlusion-capable head-mounted display, comprising: an eyewear frame; and the occlusion-capable viewing device of claim 1, attached to the eyewear frame. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The occlusion-capable head-mounted display of claim 16, the eyewear frame including one of a visor, eyeglasses, data glasses, a helmet, and a headset. ### Claim 18 A method for producing an occluded image, comprising: projecting an inverted image of a scene onto an entrance surface of an image inverter; rotating the inverted image to yield an upright image; attenuating an image-region of the upright image to produce a modulated optical beam; collimating the modulated optical beam to yield a collimated optical beam; and combining (i) the collimated optical beam and (ii) an illumination emitted by a display device to yield the occluded image. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: projecting an additional inverted image of the scene onto an entrance surface of an additional image inverter; rotating the additional inverted image to yield an additional upright image; further attenuating an additional image-region of the additional upright image to produce the modulated optical beam; collimating the modulated optical beam to yield an additional collimated optical beam; and further combining (i) the additional collimated optical beam and (ii) the illumination emitted by the display device to yield the occluded image.