US 2015/0205134 A1Published application

Systems, articles, and methods for wearable heads-up displays

AssigneeThalmic Labs Inc.

InventorsMatthew Bailey, Thomas Mahon

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Abstract

Systems, articles, and methods for transparent displays that are particularly well-suited for use in wearable heads-up display devices are described. Such transparent displays include a register of light sources that sequentially generates light signals representative of portions (e.g., pixels, and sometimes rows or columns of pixels) of an image. Light signals corresponding to the pixels are collimated and directed substantially in-plane with or co-planar to the transparent display and through, over, or across an array of controllable reflectors. Individual controllable reflectors in the array of controllable reflectors that correspond to the approximate pixel positions are activated to selectively reflect the light signals into the field of view of the user. Successive portions of the image are similarly generated and reflected in rapid succession until the entire image is displayed to the user. The controllable reflectors may include reflective microblinds, MEMS-based mirrors, and/or tunable polarization elements such as Kerr cells.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A wearable heads-up display comprising:

a support structure that in use is worn on a head of a user;
and
a first transparent display that is physically coupled to the support structure, wherein the first transparent display is substantially planar and positioned within a field of view of the user when the support structure is worn on the head of the user, and wherein the first transparent display comprises:
a first register of light sources positioned near or beyond a periphery of the field of view of the user when the support structure is worn on the head of the user, wherein each light source in the first register of light sources controllably emits a respective light signal substantially in-plane with or co-planar to the first transparent display;
and
a first array of controllable reflectors arranged substantially in-plane with or co-planar to the first transparent display and positioned within the field of view of the user when the support structure is worn on the head of the user, wherein each controllable reflector in the first array of controllable reflectors is controllably switchable into and between at least two configurations, the at least two configurations including:
i) a transparent configuration in which light from external sources within the field of view of the user is transmitted through the controllable reflector and a light signal emitted by a light source in the first register of light sources, if impingent on the controllable reflector, is also transmitted through the controllable reflector;
and
ii) a reflective configuration in which a light signal emitted by at least one light source in the first register of light sources is reflected by the controllable reflector into the field of view of the user.

6 more elements

A method of operating a transparent display of a wearable heads-up display when the wearable heads-up display is worn on a head of a user, the method comprising:

generating a first set of light signals by a register of light sources, each light signal representative of a respective portion of an image;
directing the light signals along a plane that is substantially in-plane with or co-planar to the transparent display and substantially in-plane with or co-planar to an array of controllable reflectors;
and
activating a first set of controllable reflectors in the array of controllable reflectors to selectively reflect the light signals into a field of view of the user.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/599,279Filed 16 Jan 2015
Priority: 17 Jan 2014
Published: 23 Jul 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

G02B 27/0172
Head mounted: characterised by optical features
G02B 26/0816
For controlling the direction of light: by means of one or more reflecting elements
G02B 27/0905
Beam shaping, e.g. changing the cross-sectional area, not otherwise provided for: dividing and/or superposing multiple light beams
G02F 1/076
Based on electro-optical liquids exhibiting Kerr effect: operation of the cell; Circuit arrangements