Patents by Inventor Ralph F. Osterhout

Ralph F. Osterhout has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • See-through near-eye display glasses including a partially reflective, partially transmitting optical element
    Patent number: 8477425
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content, wherein the optical assembly comprises a partially reflective, partially transmitting optical element that reflects a portion of image light from the image source and transmits scene light from a see-through view of the surrounding environment, so that a combined image comprised of portions of the reflected image light and the transmitted scene light is provided to a user's eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Osterhout Group, Inc.
    Inventors: John N. Border, John D. Haddick, Ralph F. Osterhout
  • See-through near-eye display glasses with a small scale image source
    Patent number: 8472120
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content, wherein the image source comprises a lighting system that directs light from a light source to a curved polarizing film that reflects a portion of the light to a reflective image display. The ratio of the height of the curved polarizing film to the width of the reflective image display is less than 1:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Osterhout Group, Inc.
    Inventors: John N. Border, John D. Haddick, Ralph F. Osterhout
  • Magnetic and locking cable connectors
    Patent number: 8342857
    Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a cable connector. The cable connector may have magnetic properties and/or a locking mechanism. The cable connector may be an HDMI connector and the cable may be an HDMI cable. Further, the connector may be plugged into the corresponding male/female connector port and be held in position by the magnetic properties associated with the connector and the port and/or by a lock lever mechanism. The magnetic array may be moved various distances in various directions. In addition, the connector and/or cable may include a processor, an integrated circuit, an indicator, an LED and/or a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventors: Craig Palli, Ralph F. Osterhout, John D. Haddick
  • HEAD-WORN ADAPTIVE DISPLAY
    Publication number: 20120249797
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content. The optical assembly includes absorptive polarizers or anti-reflective coatings to reduce stray light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: John D. Haddick, Ralph F. Osterhout
  • SEE-THROUGH NEAR-EYE DISPLAY GLASSES INCLUDING AN AUTO-BRIGHTNESS CONTROL FOR THE DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS BASED ON THE BRIGHTNESS IN THE ENVIRONMENT
    Publication number: 20120242678
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content. The image source includes an auto-brightness control that controls the brightness of the displayed content based on the brightness in the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: John N. Border, Ralph F. Osterhout
  • SEE-THROUGH NEAR-EYE DISPLAY GLASSES WITH THE OPTICAL ASSEMBLY INCLUDING ABSORPTIVE POLARIZERS OR ANTI-REFLECTIVE COATINGS TO REDUCE STRAY LIGHT
    Publication number: 20120242697
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content. The optical assembly includes absorptive polarizers or anti-reflective coatings to reduce stray light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: John N. Border, John D. Haddick, Robert Michael Lohse, Ralph F. Osterhout
  • SEE-THROUGH NEAR-EYE DISPLAY GLASSES WITH A MULTI-SEGMENT PROCESSOR-CONTROLLED OPTICAL LAYER
    Publication number: 20120242698
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content. The optical assembly includes a multi-segment optical layer that provides a display characteristic adjustment that is dependent on displayed content requirements and surrounding environmental conditions. Each segment of the multi-segment optical layer is individually controlled by the integrated processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: John D. Haddick, Robert Michael Lohse, Ralph F. Osterhout
  • GRATING IN A LIGHT TRANSMISSIVE ILLUMINATION SYSTEM FOR SEE-THROUGH NEAR-EYE DISPLAY GLASSES
    Publication number: 20120235885
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content, wherein the optical assembly comprises a light transmissive illumination system and an LED lighting system coupled to a light transmissive illumination system of the optical assembly. A grating of the illumination system directs light from the LED lighting system to uniformly irradiate a reflective image display to produce an image that is reflected through the illumination system to provide the displayed content to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory D. Miller, John N. Border, Ralph F. Osterhout
  • SEE-THROUGH NEAR-EYE DISPLAY GLASSES INCLUDING A PARTIALLY REFLECTIVE, PARTIALLY TRANSMITTING OPTICAL ELEMENT AND AN OPTICALLY FLAT FILM
    Publication number: 20120235887
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content, wherein the optical assembly comprises an optically flat film, disposed at an angle in front of a user's eye, that reflects a portion of the image light from the image source to a curved partially reflecting mirror. The curved partially reflecting mirror reflects a portion of the image light from the image source and transmits a portion of the scene light from a see-through view of the surrounding environment, so that a combined image comprised of portions of the reflected image light and the transmitted scene light is transmitted through the optically flat film and provided to the user's eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: John N. Border, Joseph Bietry, Ralph F. Osterhout
  • OPTICAL IMPERFECTIONS IN A LIGHT TRANSMISSIVE ILLUMINATION SYSTEM FOR SEE-THROUGH NEAR-EYE DISPLAY GLASSES
    Publication number: 20120235884
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content, and an LED lighting system coupled to a light transmissive illumination system of the optical assembly. An optical imperfection of the illumination system directs light from the LED lighting system to uniformly irradiate a reflective image display to produce an image that is reflected through the illumination system to provide the displayed content to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory D. Miller, John N. Border, Ralph F. Osterhout
  • SEE-THROUGH NEAR-EYE DISPLAY GLASSES WITH A FAST RESPONSE PHOTOCHROMIC FILM SYSTEM FOR QUICK TRANSITION FROM DARK TO CLEAR
    Publication number: 20120235900
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content wherein the optical assembly comprises a photochromic layer and a heater layer disposed on a see-through lens of the optical assembly, wherein the photochromic layer is heated by the heater layer to accelerate its transition from dark to clear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: John N. Border, Ralph F. Osterhout
  • SEE-THROUGH NEAR-EYE DISPLAY GLASSES INCLUDING A MODULAR IMAGE SOURCE
    Publication number: 20120236030
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content. The optical assembly comprises a reflective image display that generates and reflects image light to an optically flat film then to a curved partially reflecting mirror of the optical assembly that reflects a portion of the image light from the image source and transmits a portion of the scene light from a see-through view of the surrounding environment to the user's eye as a combined image. The optical assembly comprises a modular image source, wherein the modular image source is mounted in a frame of the eyepiece such that its position with respect to a user's eye can be adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: John N. Border, John D. Haddick, Robert Michael Lohse, Ralph F. Osterhout
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DELIVERING CONTENT TO A GROUP OF SEE-THROUGH NEAR EYE DISPLAY EYEPIECES
    Publication number: 20120236031
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content. The optical assembly includes absorptive polarizers or anti-reflective coatings to reduce stray light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: John D. Haddick, Ralph F. Osterhout
  • SEE-THROUGH NEAR-EYE DISPLAY GLASSES WITH A SMALL SCALE IMAGE SOURCE
    Publication number: 20120235886
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content, wherein the height of the image source is at least 80% of a display active area width of the optical assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: John N. Border, John D. Haddick, Ralph F. Osterhout
  • SEE-THROUGH NEAR-EYE DISPLAY GLASSES WITH A LIGHT TRANSMISSIVE WEDGE SHAPED ILLUMINATION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20120235883
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content, wherein the optical assembly comprises a light transmissive wedge-shaped illumination system with an LED lighting system coupled to an edge of the wedge, and wherein an angled surface of the wedge directs light from the LED lighting system to uniformly irradiate a reflective image display to produce an image that is reflected through the illumination system to provide the displayed content to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: John N. Border, John D. Haddick, Ralph F. Osterhout
  • SEE-THROUGH NEAR-EYE DISPLAY GLASSES WITH A SMALL SCALE IMAGE SOURCE
    Publication number: 20120218172
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content, wherein the image source comprises a lighting system that directs light from a light source to a curved polarizing film that reflects a portion of the light to a reflective image display. The ratio of the height of the curved polarizing film to the width of the reflective image display is less than 1:1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: John N. Border, John D. Haddick, Ralph F. Osterhout
  • SEE-THROUGH NEAR-EYE DISPLAY GLASSES INCLUDING A PARTIALLY REFLECTIVE, PARTIALLY TRANSMITTING OPTICAL ELEMENT
    Publication number: 20120212398
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content, wherein the optical assembly comprises a partially reflective, partially transmitting optical element that reflects a portion of image light from the image source and transmits scene light from a see-through view of the surrounding environment, so that a combined image comprised of portions of the reflected image light and the transmitted scene light is provided to a user's eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: John N. Border, John D. Haddick, Ralph F. Osterhout
  • SEE-THROUGH NEAR-EYE DISPLAY GLASSES WHEREIN IMAGE LIGHT IS TRANSMITTED TO AND REFLECTED FROM AN OPTICALLY FLAT FILM
    Publication number: 20120212399
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content, wherein the optical assembly comprises an optically flat film, disposed at an angle in front of a user's eye, that reflects and transmits a portion of image light and transmits scene light from a see-through view of the surrounding environment, so that a combined image comprised of portions of the image light and the transmitted scene light is provided to a user's eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: John N. Border, Joseph Bietry, Ralph F. Osterhout
  • AR GLASSES WITH EVENT AND SENSOR TRIGGERED AR EYEPIECE COMMAND AND CONTROL FACILITY OF THE AR EYEPIECE
    Publication number: 20120212406
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content, wherein the eyepiece includes event and sensor triggered command and control facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Ralph F. Osterhout, John D. Haddick, Robert Michael Lohse, Charles Cella, Robert J. Nortrup, Edward H. Nortrup
  • AR GLASSES WITH EVENT AND SENSOR TRIGGERED CONTROL OF AR EYEPIECE APPLICATIONS
    Publication number: 20120212414
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content, wherein the eyepiece includes an event and sensor triggered control of eyepiece applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Ralph F. Osterhout, John D. Haddick, Robert Michael Lohse, Charles Cella, Robert J. Nortrup, Edward H. Nortrup