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US 5,886,822 AGranted
Image combining system for eyeglasses and face masks
AssigneeThe Microoptical Corporation
InventorMark B. Spitzer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical system combines a first image formed by a main lens with a second image provided by an electronic display, slide, or other image source. The image combining system includes one or more inserts such as a set of reflecting image combiners to redirect light on an optical pathway within the main lens to the user's eye. The image combining system is highly compact, allowing the integration of a display system with eyeglasses or a face mask, such as a diver's mask. A number of implementations of the optical system make possible other types of image integration including uses in image acquisition systems such as cameras.
Claims114
A head-mountable image combining lens system for mounting on a user's head for use with a user's eye, the head-mountable image combining lens system comprising:
- a support frame configured to be supported by the user's head;
- a lens system supported by the support frame in front of an eye of the user comprising:
- at least a first lens having two optical surfaces arranged to permit passage of some ambient light by the first lens through the two optical surfaces;
- an optical pathway disposed internally within the first lens to receive light from an image source separate from the ambient light, the optical pathway having at least a portion disposed along and between the two optical surfaces of the first lens;
- and
- an insert disposed internally within the first lens, the insert comprising an interface disposed to redirect light, which has passed along at least the portion of the optical pathway, out of the first lens to a user's eye;
- and
- a further portion of the optical pathway, the further portion of the optical pathway supported by the support frame and disposed to direct light from the image source to the portion of the optical pathway disposed internally in the lens system.
5 more elements
A head-mountable image combining system comprising:
- an eyeglasses frame having a pair of lens holders and a pair of temples configured to be supported on a user's head;
- an image source mounted to the eyeglasses frame;
- a main lens supported by the eyeglasses frame in one of the pair of lens holders in front of an eye of the user, the main lens comprising:
- two optical surfaces arranged to permit passage of some ambient light by the main lens through the two optical surfaces;
- a prism embedded within the main lens to direct light from the image source through the main lens between the two optical surfaces;
- and
- a beam splitting cube embedded with the main lens in a position to direct light from the prism to the user's eye;
- and
- a second lens system supported by the eyeglasses frame in the other of the pair of lens holders in front of the other eye of the user.
6 more elements
A lens system for an eyeglass frame, the eyeglass frame having a pair of lens holders adapted to receive an image source, the lens system comprising:
- a main lens configured to be supported by the eyeglass frame in one of the pair of lens holders in front of an eye of a user, the main lens comprising:
- two optical surfaces arranged to permit passage of ambient light by the main lens through the two optical surfaces;
- an optical pathway disposed internally within the main lens to receive light from an image source separate from the ambient light, the optical pathway having at least a portion disposed along and between the two optical surfaces;
- a first insert embedded within the main lens in a position to direct light from the portion of the optical pathway to the user's eye, the first insert including an interface, the interface being transmissive to light on the portion of the optical pathway;
- a reflecting element embedded within the main lens adjacent to the first insert, the interface further being reflective to light from the reflecting element to redirect light to one of the optical surfaces, whereby the user perceives a virtual image in space;
- and
- a second insert embedded within the main lens to direct light from the image source onto the portion of the optical pathway between the two optical surfaces.
4 more elements
An eyeglass frame comprising:
- a holder configured to hold a pair of lenses in front of a user's eyes;
- a pair of temples attached to the holder, each temple configured to be worn over an ear of the user;
- a housing mounted to one of the temples;
- and
- an optical pathway supported by the housing and operative to transmit an image from an image source directly into one of the pair of lenses in the holder to a lens system supported within the one of the pair of lenses in the holder.
2 more elements
A head-mountable image combining system comprising:
- an eyeglass frame having a pair of lens holders and a pair of temples configured to be supported on a user's head;
- an optical pathway from an image source mounted to the eyeglass frame;
- a main lens supported by the eyeglass frame in one of the pair of lens holders in front of an eye of the user, the main lens comprising:
- two optical surfaces arranged to permit passage of ambient light by the main lens through the two optical surfaces;
- an insert embedded within the main lens to direct light on the optical pathway from the image source through the main lens between the two optical surfaces;
- a further insert embedded within the main lens in a position to direct light from the insert to the user's eye, the further insert including an interface transmissive to light from the insert;
- a reflecting element embedded within the main lens adjacent to the further insert, the interface further being reflective to light from the reflecting element to redirect light to one of the optical surfaces, whereby the user is able to perceive a virtual image in space;
- and
- a second lens system supported by the eyeglass frame in the other of the pair of lens holders in front of the other eye of the user.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.