Near to Eye Display System and Appliance

A proximal optic positionable adjacent an eye of a user in a near-to-eye display system for forming an image as an illuminated region on a retina of the eye, the proximal optic comprising:

• an optical structure positionable adjacent the eye and in a preselected configuration relative to a source of modulated light for reception of modulated light from the source;
• and
• a plurality of groups of optically redirecting regions;
• the optically redirecting regions configured to direct a plurality of beams of the modulated light into a pupil of the eye to form a contiguous illuminated portion of the retina of the eye;
• a first group of the optically redirecting regions configured to receive the modulated light and redirect beams thereof into the pupil of the eye for illumination of a first portion of the retina;
• a second group of the optically redirecting regions configured to receive modulated light and redirect beams thereof into the pupil of the eye for illumination of a second portion of the retina.

A method for displaying images by forming an illuminated region on a retina of at least one eye of a user, comprising:

• providing a source of modulated light;
• providing a proximal optic positionable adjacent an eye of the user to receive the modulated light, the proximal optic having a plurality of groups of optically redirecting regions;
• directing a plurality of beams of the modulated light into a pupil of the eye to form a contiguous illuminated portion of the retina of the eye, comprising:
• directing modulated light from the source onto a first group of the optically redirecting regions to create beams of the modulated light directed into the pupil of the eye for illumination of a first portion of the retina;
• and
• directing modulated light from the source onto a second group of the optically redirecting regions to create beams of the modulated light directed into the pupil of the eye for illumination of a second portion of the retina.

A projector for displaying an image on a retina of an eye in a near-to-eye display, comprising:

• a source of modulated light configured to create a bundle of rays comprising an image beam:
• relay optics receiving the image beam and directing it to an exit pupil;
• and
• a beam steering element at an exit pupil of the relay optics to steer the image beam.

A multimedia eyeglass device, comprising:

• an eyeglass frame, comprising a side arm and an optic frame;
• an output device for delivering an output to the wearer, the output device being supported by the eyeglass frame and being selected from the group consisting of a speaker, a bone conduction transmitter, an image projector, and a tactile actuator;
• an input device for obtaining an input, the input device being supported by the eyeglass frame and being selected from the group consisting of an audio sensor, a tactile sensor, a bone conduction sensor, an image sensor, a body sensor, an environmental sensor, a global positioning system receiver, and an eye tracker;
• and
• a processor comprising a set of programming instructions for controlling the input device and the output device.

A head-worn multimedia device comprising:

• a frame comprising a side arm and an optic frame;
• an audio transducer supported by the frame;
• a tactile sensor supported by the frame;
• a processor comprising a set of programming instructions for receiving and transmitting information via the audio transducer and the tactile sensor;
• a memory device for storing such information and instructions;
• and
• a power supply electrically coupled to the audio transducer, the tactile sensor, the processor, and the memory device.

A method for controlling a multimedia eyeglass device, comprising:

• providing an eyeglass device comprising:
• an output device for delivering information to the wearer, the output device being selected from the group consisting of a speaker, a bone conduction transmitter, an image projector, and a tactile actuator;
• an input device for obtaining information, the input device being selected from the group consisting of an audio sensor, a tactile sensor, a bone conduction sensor, an image sensor, a body sensor, an environmental sensor, a global positioning system receiver, and an eye tracker;
• and
• a processor comprising a set of programming instructions for controlling the input device and the output device;
• and
• providing an input by the input device;
• determining a state of the output device, the input device, and the processor;
• accessing the programming instructions to select a response based on the input and the state;
• and
• providing the response by the output device.