Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to providing see-through computer display optics. In embodiments, a wearable head device comprises a frame, a first optical module comprising a first reflecting surface, a second optical module, electronic components, and a heat sink. The electronic components may be disposed adjacent to the frame and further disposed between the first reflecting surface and the second optical module. The electronic components may comprise a processor. The electronic components may be configured to rest a first distance from the head of a user of the wearable head device. The heat sink may be disposed between the first reflecting surface and the second optical module and configured to rest a second distance from the head of the user, the second distance greater than the first distance. The heat sink may be thermally coupled to the processor.

Abstract: A see-through head mounted display with controllable light blocking includes an optics module comprising a light source and image source positioned on a same side of an angled partially-reflective surface, wherein the light source projects light off the surface to the image source which reflects the light as image light to the surface which transmits the image light along a first axis. The display also includes a flat combiner positioned to reflect the image light off of a first side and simultaneously transmit incident light through the first and a second side, along an optical axis perpendicular to the first axis to provide a view of a displayed image overlaid onto a see-through view of the environment, and a controllable light blocking element arranged generally parallel to the flat combiner and in front of the second side to block light incident on the same optical axis as the image light.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to methods and devices for receiving and presenting content. In an example method, content is received, the content to be delivered to a plurality of recipients. Each recipient of the plurality of recipients has a preference for a respective first physical location at which the content is to be presented on a display of a wearable head device associated with the recipient. A sender of the content has a preference for a second physical location at which the content is to be presented to the respective recipient of the plurality of recipients. A respective final physical location for the presentation of the content for the respective recipient of the plurality of recipients is identified. The respective final physical location is based on the respective recipient's preference and the sender's preference. It is determined whether the respective recipient is proximate to a zone associated with the respective final physical location.

Abstract: A system and method for providing assisted safety to an operator of a vehicle using a head-mounted display that provides displayed content and a see-through view of a surrounding environment, includes determining whether the operator is looking through the windshield of the vehicle or is not looking through the windshield, if the user is looking through the windshield, preventing displayed content from being provided within a display field of view of the head-mounted display, thereby providing an unencumbered see-through view of the surrounding environment, if the user is not looking through the windshield, providing displayed content for viewing by the user within the display field of view, and if important information relating to the safety of the vehicle is detected by a system associated with the vehicle while the user is looking not looking through the windshield, interrupting the displayed content and providing an alert to the operator.

Abstract: A head-mounted display may include a display system and an optical system in a housing. The display system may have a pixel array that produces light associated with images. The display system may also have a linear polarizer through which light from the pixel array passes and a quarter wave plate through which the light passes after passing through the quarter wave plate. The optical system may be a catadioptric optical system having one or more lens elements. The lens elements may include a plano-convex lens and a plano-concave lens. A partially reflective mirror may be formed on a convex surface of the plano-convex lens. A reflective polarizer may be formed on the planar surface of the plano-convex lens or the concave surface of the plano-concave lens. An additional quarter wave plate may be located between the reflective polarizer and the partially reflective mirror.

Abstract: A head-mounted display may include a display system and an optical system that are supported by a housing. The optical system may be a catadioptric optical system having one or more lens elements. In one example, the optical system includes a single lens element and a retarder that is coated on a curved surface of the lens element. The retarder may be coated on an aspheric concave surface of the lens element. In another example the retarder may be coated on an aspheric convex surface of the lens element. One or more components of the optical system may be formed using a direct printing technique. This may allow for one or more adhesive layers and one or more hard coatings to be omitted from the optical system. A lens element may be directly printed on the display system to improve alignment between the optical system and the display system.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a computer display stray-light suppression system for a head-worn computer comprising an eye cover including a flexible material with a perimeter, wherein the perimeter is formed to substantially encapsulate an eye of a person, and the eye cover including an attachment system adapted to removably and replaceably attach to a perimeter of the head-worn computer to suppress light emitted from a computer display in the head-worn computer.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate a head-worn computer with a see-through display wherein computer content is presented to a user wearing the head-worn computer and through which the user sees a surrounding environment, wherein the see-through display generates image light comprised of narrow bandwidths of red, green and blue light and wherein the see-through display further includes a tristimulus notch mirror positioned to reflect the image light towards the user's eye, and wherein the tristimulus notch mirror reflects less than a full width half max of the red image light.

Abstract: Head-worn computers with eye-imaging systems include a camera system positioned in a head-worn computer, wherein the camera system is further positioned to capture eye-image light that originates as reflections from a user's eye, wherein the camera system is further positioned to capture eye-image light as a reflection from a partially reflective surface that is positioned in front of an image display in the head-worn computer, wherein image light, from the image display, is transmitted through the partially reflective surface. A processor is adapted to cause the camera system to capture the eye-image light. The processor is further adapted to cause a comparison of the captured eye-image light with a pre-stored eye image of a known user of the head-worn computer. In the event the comparison confirms the identity of the known user, the user is granted permission to view content to be presented in a display of the head-worn computer.

Abstract: A see-through head mounted display with controllable light blocking includes an optics module comprising a light source and image source positioned on a same side of an angled partially-reflective surface, wherein the light source projects light off the surface to the image source which reflects the light as image light to the surface which transmits the image light along a first axis. The display also includes a flat combiner positioned to reflect the image light off of a first side and simultaneously transmit incident light through the first and a second side, along an optical axis perpendicular to the first axis to provide a view of a displayed image overlaid onto a see-through view of the environment, and a controllable light blocking element arranged generally parallel to the flat combiner and in front of the second side to block light incident on the same optical axis as the image light.

Abstract: Disclosure herein concerns a method that includes illuminating a user's eye with an illumination source in a head-worn display, capturing an image of the user's eye with an eye camera in the head-worn display, wherein the image includes an eye glint produced by light from the illumination source that is reflected from a surface of the user's eye, determining a size of an eye glint in the captured image, and identifying a change in focus distance for the user's eye in correspondence with a change in the size of the eye glint.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to optical systems with ergonomic presentation of content for use in head-worn computing systems. A method for controlling a head-worn computer when viewing virtual images, including image content, that encourages an ergonomic head position to reduce neck pain, includes determining an angle of the head-worn computer relative to horizontal, determining an angle of a line of sight to the center of the virtual image as presented to a user's eye, determining a deviation between the determined angle of the line of sight and a predetermined ergonomic angle, and shifting the image content of the virtual image vertically as displayed to the user's eye so that a portion of the image content is not viewable, wherein the amount of shifting is in reverse correspondence to the magnitude of the determined deviation.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a computer display stray-light suppression system for a head-worn computer comprising an eye cover including a flexible material with a perimeter, wherein the perimeter is formed to substantially encapsulate an eye of a person, and the eye cover including an attachment system adapted to removably and replaceably attach to a perimeter of the head-worn computer to suppress light emitted from a computer display in the head-worn computer.

Abstract: Disclosure herein concerns a method that includes illuminating a user's eye with an illumination source in a head-worn display, capturing an image of the user's eye with an eye camera in the head-worn display, wherein the image includes an eye glint produced by light from the illumination source that is reflected from a surface of the user's eye, determining a size of an eye glint in the captured image, and identifying a change in focus distance for the user's eye in correspondence with a change in the size of the eye glint.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to methods and systems for providing a high transmission see-through view of the environment while trapping escaping light from the display system. In embodiments, a camera system is also provided that is aligned with the display system to provide images of the environment in a viewing direction of the user.

Abstract: In one implementation, an apparatus includes: a display to emit light in a first wavelength range; one or more light sources to emit light in a second wavelength range; a camera to detect the light in the second wavelength range; and an eyepiece to reflect and refract the light in the first wavelength range while passing, without substantial distortion, the light in the second wavelength range, wherein the eyepiece includes two lens halves separated by a retarder that changes light in the first wavelength range from a first polarization to a second polarization different from the first polarization.

Abstract: An optical system for a head-worn computer includes an upper optical module adapted to convert illumination into image light by illuminating a reflective display through a field lens, wherein the image light is transmitted back through the field lens, then through a partially reflective partially transmissive surface and into a lower optic module adapted to present the image light to an eye of a user wearing the head-worn computer and the upper optical module being positioned within a housing for the head-worn computer and having a height of less than 24 mm, as measured from the reflective display to the bottom edge of the rotationally curved partial mirror.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to optical systems with ergonomic presentation of content for use in head-worn computing systems. A method for controlling a head-worn computer when viewing virtual images, including image content, that encourages an ergonomic head position to reduce neck pain, includes determining an angle of the head-worn computer relative to horizontal, determining an angle of a line of sight to the center of the virtual image as presented to a user's eye, determining a deviation between the determined angle of the line of sight and a predetermined ergonomic angle, and shifting the image content of the virtual image vertically as displayed to the user's eye so that a portion of the image content is not viewable, wherein the amount of shifting is in reverse correspondence to the magnitude of the determined deviation.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to suppression of stray light in head worn computing.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to methods and systems for providing a high transmission see-through view of the environment while trapping escaping light from the display system. In embodiments, a camera system is also provided that is aligned with the display system to provide images of the environment in a viewing direction of the user.