Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of projecting a portion of an image, which is to be projected on to a display area, with improved brightness, comprising the steps of, configuring a projector such that it projects over a portion of the display area, modifying a signal which defines the pixels of the image, to provide a signal which defines pixels of a portion of the image. The present invention further relates to a corresponding device.

Abstract: Laser safety systems, devices, and methods for use in laser projectors are described. A laser projector includes any number of laser diodes that each emit laser light, a shared laser diode power source, a photodetector to detect a power/intensity of a portion of the laser light, a beam splitter to direct a first portion of the light towards the photodetector and a second portion of the light towards an output on the projector, and a laser safety circuit responsive to signals from the photodetector. The laser safety circuit selectively electrically couples/uncouples the laser diodes from the power source depending on the power/intensity of the laser light detected by the photodetector. Particular applications of the laser safety systems, devices, and methods in a wearable heads-up display are described.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for laser eye tracking are described. Laser eye tracking involves scanning laser light over the eye and detecting diffuse reflections of the laser light with one or more photodetector(s). While conventional camera-based eye tracking techniques rely on detecting and identifying specific reflections (i.e., Purkinje images such as the “glint”), the laser eye tracking techniques described herein detect and identify a reduction in reflection intensity due to transmission of laser light through the pupil and/or increased diffusivity of reflections from the cornea relative to reflections from the sclera. This effect is referred to herein as the “corneal shadow” effect. Laser eye tracking uses considerably less power than conventional camera-based eye tracking techniques.

Abstract: The present invention provides a projection system (10), preferably for a head-up display e.g. on board a vehicle, comprising a laser source (1), a diffuser (3) and telecentric optics (2) disposed between the laser and the diffuser so that the telecentric optics outputs parallel rays to the diffuser, the diffused light being thus independent from the incidence angle; each pixel of the projected image has the same brightness, regardless of the angle or of the position from which it is viewed.

Abstract: Systems, articles, and methods for wearable human-electronics interfaces are described. A wearable human-electronics interface device includes a band that in use is worn on an appendage (e.g., a wrist, arm, finger, or thumb) of a user. The band carries multiple sensors that are responsive to vibrations. The sensors are physically spaced apart from one another on or within the band. The band also carries an on-board processor. The sensors detect vibrations at the appendage of the user when the user performs different finger tapping gestures (i.e., tapping gestures involving different individual fingers or different combinations of fingers) and provide corresponding vibration signals to the processor. The processor classifies the finger tapping gesture(s) based on the vibration signals and an on-board transmitter sends a corresponding signal to control, operate, or interact with a receiving electronic device. The sensors include inertial sensors, digital MEMS microphones, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for preventing image astigmatism in wearable heads-up displays (WHUD) with laser projectors are described. A WHUD includes a support structure carrying a laser projector and an eyeglass lens with a transparent combiner. The laser projector includes at least one laser diode, at least one anamorphic optical element, and at least one controllable mirror. The at least one laser diode generates a laser light that, without optical manipulation, would result in an astigmatic, unfocused image at the eye of the user. The at least one anamorphic optical element anamorphically shapes the spot of the laser light to compensate for an astigmatic effect of at least the transparent combiner. The at least one controllable mirror scans the light onto the transparent combiner and the transparent combiner redirects the light towards an eye of a user to create a focused, non-astigmatic image.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a projection device, which is configured to project an image which is co-operable with images projected by one or more other projection devices, wherein the projection device comprises a detector operable to detect characteristics of images projected on a display surface by the projection device and one or more other projection devices, and a controller operable to adjust the projection device and/or to adjust one or more of the other projection devices, based on the characteristics of the images detected by the detector, such that the images projected by each projection device co-operate on the display surfaces.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods that implement state machine models in wearable electronic devices are described. A wearable electronic device stores processor-executable gesture identification instructions that, when executed by an on-board processor, enable the wearable electronic device to identify one or more gesture(s) performed by a user. The wearable electronic device also stores processor-executable state determination instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the wearable electronic device to enter into and transition between various operational states depending on signals detected by on-board sensors. The state machine models described herein enable the wearable electronic devices to identify and automatically recover from operational errors, malfunctions, or crashes with minimal intervention from the user.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for engineering the eyebox of a display using multiple heterogeneous exit pupils are described. The eyebox of a display includes at least two heterogeneous exit pupils that are different from one another in terms of size and/or shape. Heterogeneous exit pupils may overlap, one may encompass another, or they may be completely spatially-separated from one another. Such configurations enable specific eyebox and/or visual display configurations that can be advantageous in certain applications. An example in which a scanning laser-based wearable heads-up virtual retina display implements a holographic combiner that is engineered to provide multiple heterogeneous exit pupils is described.

Abstract: Systems, articles, and methods for surface electromyography (“EMG”) sensors that combine elements from traditional capacitive and resistive EMG sensors are described. For example, capacitive EMG sensors that are adapted to resistively couple to a user's skin are described. Resistive coupling between a sensor electrode and the user's skin is galvanically isolated from the sensor circuitry by a discrete component capacitor included downstream from the sensor electrode. The combination of a resistively coupled electrode and a discrete component capacitor provides the respective benefits of traditional resistive and capacitive (respectively) EMG sensor designs while mitigating respective drawbacks of each approach. A wearable EMG device that provides a component of a human-electronics interface and incorporates such capacitive EMG sensors is also described.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for eyebox expansion by exit pupil replication in wearable heads-up displays (“WHUDs”) are described. A WHUD includes a scanning laser projector (“SLP”), a holographic combiner, and an exit pupil selector positioned in the optical path therebetween. The exit pupil selector is controllably switchable into and between N different configurations. In each of the N configurations, the exit pupil selector receives a light signal from the SLP and redirects the light signal towards the holographic combiner effectively from a respective one of N virtual positions for the SLP. The holographic combiner converges the light signal to a particular one of N exit pupils at the eye of the user based on the particular virtual position from which the light signal is made to effectively originate. In this way, multiple instances of the exit pupil are distributed over the eye and the eyebox of the WHUD is expanded.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods that integrate eye tracking capability into scanning laser projector (“SLP”)-based wearable heads-up displays are described. At least one narrow waveband laser diode is used in an SLP to define one or more portion(s) of a visible image. At least one corresponding narrow waveband photodetector is aligned to detect reflections of the portion(s) of the image from features of the eye. A holographic optical element (“HOE”) may be used to combine the image and environmental light into the user's “field of view.” Three narrow waveband photodetectors each responsive to a respective one of three narrow wavebands output by the RGB laser diodes of an RGB SLP are aligned to detect reflections of a projected RGB image from features of the eye.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for spatial multiplexing in holographic optical elements (“HOEs”) are described. A spatially-multiplexed HOE includes multiple spatially-separated holographic regions and each spatially-separated region applies a respective optical function to light that is incident thereon. An exemplary application as a spatially-multiplexed holographic combiner (“SMHC”) in a scanning laser-based wearable heads-up display (“WHUD”) is described. In this exemplary application, a scanning laser projector directs multiple light signals over the area of the SMHC and the SMHC converges the light signals towards multiple spatially-separated exit pupils at or proximate the eye of the user. The particular exit pupil at the eye of the user towards which any particular light signal is converged by the SMHC depends on the particular region of the SMHC upon which the light signal is incident.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for preventing eyebox degradation in wearable heads-up displays (“WHUDs”) are described. A WHUD may provide an eyebox defined by multiple spatially-separated exit pupils, where the size of the eyebox is influenced by the spacing between the exit pupils. A larger eyebox is achieved with larger spacing between the exit pupils but a larger spacing between exit pupils is susceptible to the formation of gaps or blind spots in the eyebox (eyebox degradation) if bright environmental light causes the user's pupil to constrict to a size that is smaller than the spacing between the exit pupils. A material of variable chromism is included in the user's field of view to reduce the perceived brightness of environmental light and thereby prevent the user's pupil from constricting to a size smaller than the spacing between the exit pupils.

Abstract: Wearable electronic devices that provide robustness against variations in user form are described. The wearable electronic devices include a set of pod structures arranged in an annular configuration having a variable circumference, with adaptive physical coupling between adjacent pairs of pod structures. Adaptive physical coupling advantageously accommodates different user sizes, forms, and movements and enhances the overall ergonomics of the wearable electronic devices. Adaptive physical coupling also maintains substantially constant and/or equal angular spacing between components of the wearable electronic devices regardless of the form of the user.

Abstract: A computerized method and system for monitoring a building, including: accepting data regarding building operation data, generating a statistical model based on the data, comparing current building performance to the statistical model, determining whether the current building performance is normal or abnormal, and displaying information indicating abnormal and/or normal operating conditions.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to systems and methods for analyzing a marksman training exercise. Embodiments disclosed herein include determining a desired instructor speed and a desired instructor accuracy for a plurality of shots in the marksman training exercise, determining a desired student speed and a desired student accuracy for the plurality of shots in the marksman training exercise, and assigning the desired instructor speed and the desired instructor accuracy a first percentage. Some embodiments are configured for assigning the desired student speed and the desired student accuracy a second percentage, receiving a marksman speed data and a marksman accuracy data for the plurality of shots by a marksman, and converting the marksman speed data and the marksman accuracy data into respective percentages based on the first percentage and the second percentage.

Abstract: A system includes a first database configured to store agreement information corresponding to terms of an agreement between a service provider and a third party. A second database is configured to store records related to the agreement. A computing device is configured to compare the records to the agreement information to determine whether the service provider is in compliance with the terms of the agreement.

Abstract: A bend radius manager includes a base having a surface, and a plurality of discrete lobes with at least one arcuate section extending away from the base surface and terminating at a top surface, an outer surface defined between the base and the top surface, the plurality of lobes configured to receive at least one media having a minimum bend radius.