Optical: systems and elements – Single channel simultaneously to or from plural channels – By partial reflection at beam splitting or combining surface
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-01
2001-04-24
Epps, Georgia (Department: 2873)
Optical: systems and elements
Single channel simultaneously to or from plural channels
By partial reflection at beam splitting or combining surface
C359S629000, C345S007000, C345S008000, C345S009000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06222675
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to display systems and more specifically to binocular systems presenting different views from electronic image sources.
Head-mounted displays (HMDs) are useful for immersing a viewer in an artificial, or enhanced, visual world. Uses for HMDs include simulation systems, virtual reality applications, night vision, infravision, instrumentation displays and video games. In a binocular HMD separate views are presented to each of the user's left and right eyes. The use of separate views for each eye gives greater realism as the user is able to perceive stereo, or depth, effects.
It is common for the views to be generated by a computer using a digital imaging device such as a liquid crystal display. In such a system, each of the user's eyes is presented with a view from a separate image source. The presentation from the image source can be direct, reflected, partially reflected, or a combination of these. For example, where it is desired that the image source projection fill up the entire angle of view of an eye, the image source may be placed directly in front of the eye with interceding collimating lenses for proper focusing. A viewfinder, sightguide or other enclosure or housing is provided so that the user's field of view is restricted to viewing the image source alone. This can be done for both eyes.
Another possibility is to have an indirect view of the image source. This can be accomplished by using a half-silvered mirror which allows the image source to be placed at an off-angle from the user's line of sight. The user looks through the half-silvered mirror and is able to see through the mirror to a scene other than the scene presented by the image source. Meanwhile, the image source's projection is transferred via the mirror and, possibly, other optical devices, to the user's eyes so that the user sees the indirect image source projection superimposed on the other scene. For example, the view over which the image source projection is superimposed can be of the outside world, another image source-generated scene or scenes or information presented by other means.
However, a problem exists in that the trade-off between presenting an exclusive image to view to the user's eyes fully immerses the viewer in a simulated world, but prevents the user from seeing the real world. On the other hand, by using superimposed presentations, the degree of control over what the user sees is reduced. The superimposed images may overlap and conflict with each other. Also, it is difficult to build a device that provides a superimposed view to a user where the view or scene generated by the image source completely covers the user's field of view.
Although it is difficult to build large field of view devices that superimpose images, there are cases where such a superimposed image view is desirable. An example of this is in an aircraft simulator, or trainer, where the pilot needs to be presented with simulated views outside the cockpit while at the same interacting with a real-world physical instrument panel, controls and cockpit surrounding the pilot. Thus, it is desirable to create a head-mounted display that superimposes imaged views and alternative views, such as a direct view of an instrument panel, while minimizing the problems and shortcomings of such an approach.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention uses different viewing mechanisms for each eye. One of the eyes is presented with an image from a single image source that occupies the entire field of view of the eye. The view presented by this first image source is a wide field of view with a relatively low resolution. A second image source presents a second view to the other eye of the user. The second view is a narrower field of view, higher resolution depiction of the same view or scene as presented by the first image source. Additionally, the second image source includes a direct see-through path so that the user can view the real outside surroundings. The combination of low resolution, wide field of view in one eye combined with a high resolution, narrow field of view with see-through in the other eye allows the user to be presented with a computer-generated simulation view having both wide field of view with specific, high resolution at the viewer's visual center of interest. Additionally, since a partial view of the real outside surroundings is presented to one of the user's eyes, the user also has access to real-world information.
The user perceives a single scene with all of the elements from the different views composited into a single perception. Thus, the user perceives an imaged wide field of view at low resolution with an imaged center area of interest at high resolution along with a real-world view. In the flight simulator application, the instrument panel, cockpit and other objects that are not “out-the-window” views are programmed into the computer graphics system so that they are “clipped” against the computer generated imaged scenes. This eliminates overlap of the computer generated views with the real-world cockpit view.
One embodiment of the invention is a viewing apparatus allowing a user to view a scene. The viewing apparatus includes: a first viewer including a first image source presenting a first-resolution, first-angle view of the scene to a first eye of the user; a second viewer including a second image source presenting a higher resolution, narrower angle view of the scene to a second eye of the user; and a see-through pathway in the second viewer so that the second eye of the user is simultaneously presented with a non-imaged view along with the view presented by the second image source.
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Fontaine Jean-Jacques
Mall Benedict J.
Epps Georgia
Kaiser Electro-Optics, Inc.
Kulas Charles J.
Spector David N.
Townsend and Townsend / and Crew LLP
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