Head Up Display Patents (Class 359/13)
  • Patent number: 10553139
    Abstract: An optical system comprises a linear illumination source configured to emit light, a first scanning stage configured to receive the light and to scan the light, and a second scanning stage. The linear illumination source is configured to generate light forming a vertical field of view based on the one or more output signals received from a controller modulating the one or more output signals comprising image data defining content. The first scanning stage redirects portions of the light to generate an output defining a horizontal field of view based on the one or more output signals of the controller. The first scanning device combines the vertical field of view and the horizontal field of view in the output light to create a two-dimensional light image of the content. The second scanning stage receives and directs the output of the first scanning stage toward a projected exit pupil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: David D. Bohn
  • Patent number: 10545342
    Abstract: An optical apparatus for a near-eye display includes a microdisplay to emit image light and one or more field lenses positioned to receive the image light from the microdisplay. The one or more field lenses have a combined optical power to form a curved intermediate image. A freeform combiner, having an eyeward side and an external side, is positioned to receive the image light from the one or more field lenses and reflect the image light. A curved intermediate image is formed between the freeform combiner and the one or more field lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventor: Ozan Cakmakci
  • Patent number: 10534182
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods that integrate eye tracking capability into scanning laser projector (“SLP”)-based wearable heads-up displays are described. An infrared laser diode is added to an RGB SLP and an infrared photodetector is aligned to detect reflections of the infrared light from features of the eye. A holographic optical element (“HOE”) may be used to combine visible light, infrared light, and environmental light into the user's “field of view.” The HOE may be heterogeneous and multiplexed to apply positive optical power to the visible light and zero or negative optical power to the infrared light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: North Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Alexander, Jake Chapeskie, Lloyd Frederick Holland, Thomas Mahon
  • Patent number: 10534177
    Abstract: A near-eye-display is used for presenting media to a user. The near-eye-display includes a light source assembly, a scanning assembly, one or more output waveguides, and a controller. The light source assembly emits light that is at least partially coherent. The scanning assembly includes grating elements associated with a wave vector that diffract the emitted light into several beams, and scan the beams in accordance with display instructions. The output waveguide includes several input areas, and an output area. Each input area includes one or more coupling elements associated with respective wave vectors that receive a respective beam. The output waveguide expands the beam at least along two dimensions to form expanded light for each respective beam toward a different portion of an eyebox with an overlap in at least some portions of the eyebox. The controller controls the scanning of the scanning assembly to form a two-dimensional image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wanli Chi, Hee Yoon Lee
  • Patent number: 10509224
    Abstract: A head-up display system and method are provided that suppress double images from a combiner by eliminating or reducing a reflection of a refracted image from the back surface of the combiner. The combiner contains a tilted axis polarizing structure that attenuates transmittance and subsequent reflection of a refracted polarized projector image but maintains high transmittance for the forward external scene imagery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Brent D. Larson, Kanghua Lu, Elias S. Haim
  • Patent number: 10488661
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods that integrate eye tracking capability into scanning laser projector (“SLP”)-based wearable heads-up displays are described. An infrared laser diode is added to an RGB SLP and an infrared photodetector is aligned to detect reflections of the infrared light from features of the eye. A holographic optical element (“HOE”) may be used to combine visible light, infrared light, and environmental light into the user's “field of view.” The HOE may be heterogeneous and multiplexed to apply positive optical power to the visible light and zero or negative optical power to the infrared light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: North Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Alexander, Jake Chapeskie, Lloyd Frederick Holland, Thomas Mahon
  • Patent number: 10473938
    Abstract: The present invention is a Substrate guided hologram that allows a wider range of optical devices based on SGHs with improved parameters such as larger NTE displays with a wider field of view, thinner substrates and more compact form factors. The Substrate-Guided Hologram of the subject invention includes a holographic lens which is positioned at an angle to and spaced from a holographic grating, with a mirror located at a diagonal to each of the lens and the grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: LUMINIT LLC
    Inventors: Fedor Dimov, Neven Rakuljic, Seth Coe-Sullivan
  • Patent number: 10466499
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a display device including a display panel; a collimation unit located on a light emergent side of the display panel and configured to convert emergent light in the same position of the display panel into parallel light beams in the same direction; a light waveguide unit, which is located on one side of the collimation unit away from the display panel, includes a light incident surface and a light emergent surface opposite to the collimation unit, and is configured to cause the parallel light beams to be emergent from at least two positions of the light emergent surface; and an imaging unit opposite to the light emergent surface of the light waveguide unit and configured to converge the parallel light beams emergent from the at least two positions on the light emergent surface of the light waveguide unit into a real image point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: SHANGHAI TIANMA MICRO-ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lei Niu, Jialing Li
  • Patent number: 10457202
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle cabin interior lighting device including: a light source that emits light; a polarizing member that converts the emitted light into p-polarized light; and a projection portion that is provided at an upper portion of an instrument panel, and onto which the p-polarized light is projected, and that reflects the projected p-polarized light without changing its polarization characteristics, and that causes the projected p-polarized light to be incident on a front windshield glass at Brewster's angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ken Tanaka, Kenji Narumi
  • Patent number: 10451877
    Abstract: Configurations are disclosed for a health system to be used in various healthcare applications, e.g., for patient diagnostics, monitoring, and/or therapy. The health system may comprise a light generation module to transmit light or an image to a user, one or more sensors to detect a physiological parameter of the user's body, including their eyes, and processing circuitry to analyze an input received in response to the presented images to determine one or more health conditions or defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicole Elizabeth Samec, John Graham Macnamara, Christopher M. Harrises, Brian T. Schowengerdt, Rony Abovitz, Mark Baerenrodt
  • Patent number: 10429655
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: North Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Alexander, Jake Chapeskie, Lloyd Frederick Holland, Thomas Mahon
  • Patent number: 10429645
    Abstract: In an optical near eye display system, a monolithic three-dimensional optical microstructure is formed by a waveguide substrate with at least one DOE having grating regions that integrate the functions of in-coupling of incident light into the waveguide, exit pupil expansion in one or two directions, and out-coupling of light from the waveguide within a single optical element. An in-coupling region of the DOE couples the incident light into the waveguide and to a beam steering and out-coupling region. The beam steering and out-coupling region provides exit pupil expansion and couples light out of the waveguide. The beam steering and out-coupling region of the DOE can be configured with a two-dimensional (2D) grating that is periodic in two directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventor: Tuomas Vallius
  • Patent number: 10416456
    Abstract: Methods and systems for image display with a head-mounted device involve the use of a light-field display. Such a display is useful for providing augmented reality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Essilor International
    Inventors: Aude Bouchier, Jean-Paul Cano
  • Patent number: 10409070
    Abstract: A virtual image display apparatus includes an image projection apparatus that emits image light, and a display optical system that forms a virtual image according to the image light from a liquid crystal device (image forming device). The display optical system is configured by at least two members having different refractive indices and bends the image light a plurality of times between mediums having different refractive indices in a predetermined direction. A cumulative value of an index for chromatic dispersion with respect to the predetermined direction on a refractive surface of each bent portion is smaller than or equal to a predetermined reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Komatsu, Masayuki Takagi, Toshiaki Miyao, Takashi Takeda
  • Patent number: 10345077
    Abstract: A holographic sporting/combat optic may be mounted to weapon. To control the optical path at the holographic recording level, the holographic sporting/combat optic uses a single glass carrier with a holographic optical element for collimating mounted on one side and a second holographic optical element for projecting a reticle image mounted on an opposing side of the carrier. In some cases, the holographic optical elements may be implemented by emulsions disposed on opposing surfaces of the carrier. In this way, the holographic sporting/combat optic simplifies the manufacturing process while improving accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: HEL Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dean Loebig, Dennis Finnegan
  • Patent number: 10310261
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a projection optic arranged to form a virtual image of an object. The imaging device further includes a first diffuser positioned a first distance from the virtual projection optic and a second diffuser positioned a second distance from the virtual projection optic. The controller is arranged to control the first and second diffuser to make the real image visible on one of the diffusers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: TWO TREES PHOTONICS LIMITED
    Inventors: Jamieson Christmas, Dackson Masiyano, William Crossland
  • Patent number: 10304245
    Abstract: A position of virtual reality glasses is detected using a detection device, a virtual observation position is predefined depending on the detected position of the virtual reality glasses, and a virtual bounding volume which surrounds the virtual observation position at least partially is predefined, a virtual object arranged in a virtual environment is displayed from the virtual observation position using the virtual reality glasses. As long as a part of the virtual object is immersed in the virtual bounding volume, this part is displayed as being at least partially transparent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Marcus Kühne
  • Patent number: 10289071
    Abstract: A system and method of performing incoherent light treatment is disclosed. The method may include securing a recording medium to a securing structure within an internal cavity and delivering light at least partially toward a baffle disposed within the internal cavity. The method may also include securing one or more diffusers to one or more surfaces of the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Akonia Holographics, LLC
    Inventors: Friso Schlottau, Adam Urness, Mark R. Ayres, Suchit Madan, Thomas Riley Morris, Fredric R. Askham
  • Patent number: 10281726
    Abstract: A multi-chromatic optical waveguide for a near-eye display (NED) device includes reflective/refractive structures and periodic grating structures. Image incoupling and outcoupling can be done by reflective mirrors/facets, and image expansion can done by one or more even order expansion gratings. Wider field of view can be by achieved by splitting the field-of-view into multiple portions that propagate in different directions within the waveguide and then recombining those portions in the outcoupling region of the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Tuomas Heikki Sakari Vallius, Pasi Petteri Pietilä
  • Patent number: 10254542
    Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to a near-eye display device including a holographic display system. The holographic display system includes a light source configured to emit light that is converging or diverging, a waveguide configured to be positioned in a field of view of a user's eye, and a digital dynamic hologram configured to receive the light, and project the light into the waveguide such that the light propagates through the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Joel Steven Kollin, Andrew Maimone, Steven John Robbins, Eliezer Glik, Andreas Georgiou, Xinye Lou
  • Patent number: 10226170
    Abstract: A small-sized head-mount type vision testing device, which is mounted on a testee's head, including: a display device that presents a visual target to an eyeball of the testee; a display optical system that guides light of the visual target presented on the device to the retina; an imaging device that images the eyeball; and an observation optical system that guides an image of the eyeball to the imaging device, and further including a mirror that reflects light of a specific wavelength and transmits the other light at a point closer to the eyeball side than the display device, wherein an optical axis from a pupil to the mirror in the display optical system and an optical axis from the pupil to the mirror in the observation optical system, coincide with each other, and the optical axes are bent through the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: CREWT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Satoshi Inoue, Kenzo Yamanaka, Shinji Kimura
  • Patent number: 10175488
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: NORTH INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Bailey, Stefan Alexander, Vance R. Morrison, Thomas Mahon, Lloyd Frederick Holland, Jaehong Choi
  • Patent number: 10160405
    Abstract: A vehicle decal assembly is provided herein. The decal assembly includes a substrate having a diffraction grating along a surface thereof. A luminescent structure is disposed along a surface of the substrate. A reflective layer is disposed on an opposing side of the luminescent structure from the substrate. An adhesive layer is configured to maintain the substrate on a vehicle panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Jeffrey Singer, Pietro Buttolo
  • Patent number: 10139633
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods that integrate eye tracking capability into scanning laser projector (“SLP”)-based wearable heads-up displays are described. An infrared laser diode is added to an RGB SLP and an infrared photodetector is aligned to detect reflections of the infrared light from features of the eye. A holographic optical element (“HOE”) may be used to combine visible light, infrared light, and environmental light into the user's “field of view.” The HOE may be heterogeneous and multiplexed to apply positive optical power to the visible light and zero or negative optical power to the infrared light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: THALMIC LABS INC.
    Inventors: Stefan Alexander, Jake Chapeskie, Lloyd Frederick Holland, Thomas Mahon
  • Patent number: 10108144
    Abstract: A head-mounted display device comprises a rendering engine configured to generate a hologram representative of a three-dimensional object. The hologram includes depth information that causes the three-dimensional object to be rendered with a focus that is determined by the depth information. The device also includes a spatial light modulator that modulates light from a light source as indicated by the hologram. A switchable hologram comprises multiple stacked switchable gratings. Each of the stacked switchable gratings is associated with one or more resulting exit pupil locations on a viewing surface. The system also comprises an eye tracker configured to map a viewing direction of a user's eye to a viewing location on the viewing surface. A processor is configured to activate a particular switchable grating within the switchable transmission hologram that is associated with an exit pupil location that aligns with the viewing location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Steven John Robbins, Andrew Maimone, Andreas Georgiou, Joel Steven Kollin
  • Patent number: 10108010
    Abstract: A method or system can be used with an aircraft or other vehicle. The system can include or the method can use a waveguide disposed above and below a top surface of a glare shield. The waveguide can be part of a head up display (HUD). The waveguide can be disposed to cover at least part of the head down display to provide an integrated display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Zimmerman, David I. Han, Robert D. Brown, Christopher A. Keith
  • Patent number: 10099788
    Abstract: In a lighting arrangement (2) for an interior (4) of a vehicle, having a beam area (6) for emitting light (8) into an environment (10) of the lighting arrangement (2), having at least one first luminaire (12a, b) having a first luminous area (14a, b) for emitting the light (8), the first luminous area (14a, b) being part of the beam area (6), having at least one projector (16) with a beam opening (18) for emitting the light (8), the beam opening (18) being part of the beam area (6), at least one of the first luminaires (12a, b) has at least one passage region (34) for at least one part of one of the beam openings (18) of one of the projectors (16) on its first luminous area (14a, b), and/or, in at least one of the projectors (16), a surface region (20) of the projector (16) which is adjacent to the beam opening (18) is in the form of a second luminaire (21) having a second luminous area (22) for emitting light (8), the second luminous area (22) being part of the beam area (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: DIEHL AEROSPACE GMBH
    Inventor: Bastian Lins
  • Patent number: 10088681
    Abstract: A see-through optical display apparatus includes an image generating component, a tilted primary mirror having a non-flat, freeform, front optical surface, and a tilted secondary mirror having a non-flat, freeform, front optical surface, wherein the apparatus has an external pupil. A method for designing/making a see-through optical display apparatus for displaying an image generated by or on an image generating component of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: University of Rochester
    Inventors: Jannick P. Rolland, Aaron Bauer
  • Patent number: 10078220
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: THALMIC LABS INC.
    Inventors: Stefan Alexander, Jake Chapeskie, Lloyd Frederick Holland, Thomas Mahon
  • Patent number: 10073268
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: THALMIC LABS INC.
    Inventors: Stefan Alexander, Jake Chapeskie, Lloyd Frederick Holland, Thomas Mahon
  • Patent number: 10073278
    Abstract: In an optical display system that includes a waveguide with multiple diffractive optical elements (DOEs), an in-coupling DOE couples light into the waveguide, an intermediate DOE provides exit pupil expansion in a first direction, and an out-coupling DOE provides exit pupil expansion in a second direction and couples light out of the waveguide. The in-coupling DOE is configured with two portions—a first portion includes a grating to rotate a polarization state of in-coupled light while a second portion couples light into the waveguide without modulation of the polarization state. The in-coupled light beams with different polarization states are combined in the waveguide after undergoing total internal reflection. However, as the difference in optical path lengths of the constituent light beams exceeds the coherence length, the combined light has random polarization (i.e., a degree of polarization equal to zero).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Tuomas Vallius
  • Patent number: 10061124
    Abstract: A diffractive beam expander for use in an augmented-reality display is disclosed. The device can include a optical substrate with a first diffractive optical element having a first diffractive grating disposed on one surface and a second diffractive grating disposed on the opposing surface. Portions of the first and second diffractive gratings overlap to define an in-coupling area configured to receive a beam of incoming light. The first diffractive optical element expands at least part of the received light beam by odd-order diffraction expansion in a first region and a second region and expands at least part of the received light beam by even-order diffraction expansion in a third region. The light components by the first diffractive optical element are then coupled into a second diffractive optical element, which is configured to out-couple at least part of the expanded diffracted light components to exit the substrate by diffraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jani Kari Tapio Tervo, Tuomas Heikki Vallius
  • Patent number: 10025018
    Abstract: An arrangement (20) for coupling light into a plate-like light guide (25) having two surfaces (23, 24) on opposite sides of the light guide comprises an in-coupling diffraction grating (21) for diffracting an external light beam (26) incident on said in-coupling diffraction grating into the light guide in a direction enabling the in-coupled light beam to propagate within the light guide via total internal reflections at the light guide surfaces (23, 24). According to the present invention, the arrangement further comprises a deflection member (22) arranged to deflect the beam (27) initially diffracted by the in-coupling diffraction grating (21), before it hits the in-coupling diffraction grating again, out of the path determined by the in-coupling diffraction grating in order to reduce out-coupling of the already in-coupled light through the in-coupling diffraction grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: NANOCOMP OY LTD
    Inventors: Markku Kuittinen, Pasi Laakkonen
  • Patent number: 10013055
    Abstract: An eye tracking system, images the surface (e.g., sclera) of each eye of a user to capture an optical flow field resulting from a texture of the imaged surface. The eye tracking system includes illumination source (e.g., laser) and a detector (e.g., camera). The source illuminates a portion of the eye that is imaged the camera. As the eye moves, different areas of the eye are imaged, allowing generation of a map of a portion of the eye. An image of a portion of the eye is includes a diffraction pattern (i.e., the optical flow) corresponding to the portion of the eye. Through a calibration process, the optical flow is mapped to a location where the eye is looking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Oculus VR, LLC
    Inventors: David R. Perek, Warren Andrew Hunt, Marshall Thomas DePue, Robert Dale Cavin
  • Patent number: 10001655
    Abstract: An image display device includes: a video light generation unit that generates video light modulated based on a video signal; a light diffraction unit (first diffraction optical element) that diffracts the video light emitted from the video light generation unit; a light scanning unit (light scanner) that spatially scans the video light; and a reflection unit that includes a light diffraction unit (second diffraction optical element) that diffracts video light scanned by the light scanning unit. A light reflection unit included in the light scanning unit is configured by the light diffraction unit. In the light diffraction unit, an interference fringe pitch is preferably constant. The light diffraction unit has portions in which interference fringe pitches are mutually different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shuichi Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 9964679
    Abstract: Described is a holographic film (100) whose transmission and/or reflection properties vary periodically along at least one of its directions of principal extent, said film being designed for at least partial transmission (22, 28) of light (20, 26) of at least one first wavelength range that is irradiated from a multiplicity of periodically disposed illuminants (200) and that impinges on the holographic film (100). Also described are a lighting means (300), a backlighting means and a method for producing a holographic film (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: OSRAM OPTO SEMICONDUCTOR GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Morgott, Joachim Reill, Peter Brick
  • Patent number: 9952427
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining an individual gaze value are disclosed herein. An exemplary method involves: (a) receiving gaze data for a first wearable computing device, wherein the gaze data is indicative of a wearer-view associated with the first wearable computing device, and wherein the first wearable computing device is associated with a first user-account; (b) analyzing the gaze data from the first wearable computing device to detect one or more occurrences of one or more advertisement spaces in the gaze data; (c) based at least in part on the one or more detected advertisement-space occurrences, determining an individual gaze value for the first user-account; and (d) sending a gaze-value indication, wherein the gaze-value indication indicates the individual gaze value for the first user-account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventor: Eric Teller
  • Patent number: 9910259
    Abstract: A lightweight holographic sighting system is provided that is designed to minimize optical aberrations common with earlier holographic sighting systems. The system has a modular construction that is more economic and conducive to high volume production, in terms of complexity of required fixturing and availability of materials, than earlier systems. The system is lighter and more compact, while providing a larger field of view than existing systems, and can be used on small hand guns, standard size firearms, bows, telescopes, and other devices without adding significant weight or space constraints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Inventor: Corey D. Zieger
  • Patent number: 9904057
    Abstract: A light guide device may be incorporated into a virtual image display apparatus, and functionally includes a light-incident part for entrance of picture lights, a light guide part that guides the picture lights via the light-incident part, and a light-exiting part that outputs the picture lights from the light guide part to a position of an eye. In the light guide device, light guide that enables non-diffraction virtual image formation is performed with respect to lateral first directions and a pupil size is enlarged by first and second diffraction optical elements with respect to longitudinal second directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Takeda, Takahiro Totani, Masayuki Takagi, Toshiaki Miyao, Akira Komatsu
  • Patent number: 9904063
    Abstract: A display includes a first reflecting surface, a second reflecting surface, and a beam splitter. The second reflecting surface is positioned parallel with respect to the first reflecting surface, and the beam splitter is disposed between the first and second reflecting surfaces. The beam splitter includes a first transmissive substrate having opposed first and second sides and a length extending from a first end to a second end. A first layer of material is disposed on at least one of the first or second sides of the first transmissive substrate. The first layer of reflective material extends from the first end of the first transmissive substrate to a location along the length of the first transmissive substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: INNERSCENE, INC.
    Inventors: Sean Flynn, Jonathan Clark
  • Patent number: 9874751
    Abstract: A light-transmissive layer and a partially reflective layer are mutually laminated in a luminous flux diameter enlargement element. When manufacturing the luminous flux diameter enlargement element, a light-transmissive first substrate, on which a first reflective layer is formed on a first surface, a light-transmissive second substrate, on which a first partially reflective layer is formed on a first surface, and which is formed so as to have equivalent thickness to the first substrate, and a third substrate, on which a second reflective layer is formed on a first surface, are laminated toward the same direction as a lamination direction of the respective first surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsutaka Ide, Masatoshi Yonekubo
  • Patent number: 9804400
    Abstract: [Object] To provide a display apparatus capable of obtaining excellent heat radiation performance of a light source while ensuring positional accuracy of the light source. [Solving Means] A display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technology includes a light guide portion, a casing, a projection portion, a heat source, and a heat-transfer member. The light guide portion is disposed in front of eyes of a user. The casing is fixed to the light guide portion. The projection portion is housed in the casing and is configured to be capable of projecting an image to the light guide portion. The heat-transfer member includes a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the heat source, the second end being connected to an inner surface of the casing, and is configured to be deformable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takaaki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9778461
    Abstract: A head-up display device is for projecting display light onto a projection member. The head-up display device includes a display, a reflecting member, an outside light prevention portion, and a state controller. The display emits the display light. The reflecting member reflects the display light emitted from the display in a reflection direction to project the display light onto the projection member. The outside light prevention portion changes between an entering state in which outside light is able to enter the display and a preventing state in which outside light is prevented from entering the display. The state controller controls the outside light prevention portion to be (i) in the entering state when the display light is projected onto the projection member and (ii) in the preventing state when the display light is not projected onto the projection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Sakai, Hiroshi Ando
  • Patent number: 9766452
    Abstract: A vehicle head-up display device includes a stepping motor that outputs a rotation to adjust an optical position of a reflecting mirror, a zero detection unit that detects a zero position by the rotation of the stepping motor in a return-to-zero direction, an initial adjustment unit that adjusts the optical position to an initial position based on the zero position by the rotation of the stepping motor in an away-from-zero direction, and a user adjustment unit that, after the adjustment of the initial position, adjusts the optical position to a command position based on the zero position responsive to a command from the vehicle user. The zero detection unit sets a higher rotation speed of the stepping motor than the user adjustment unit, and sets a lower output torque than the user adjustment unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuya Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9726896
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media are described herein related to a virtual monitor display technique for augmented reality environments targeted at allowing a user of a display-enabled computing device to substitute their conventional hardware-realized display screen with a virtualized display screen of equal or better usability characteristics than the hardware-realized device. A virtual screen is rendered via a micro display in an augmented reality environment to a human user wearing a see through head mountable device. The system architecture makes use of liquid lens technology in order to adjust the relative position of the display as well as the focal distance by optical means only thereby ensuring that the virtual screen is rendered at the maximum resolution of the micro display at all times. The system architecture also comprises an occlusion matrix thereby ensuring that the virtual screen is free of ghosting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Inventor: Maximilian Ralph Peter von und zu Liechtenstein
  • Patent number: 9720234
    Abstract: A head worn display for displaying a displayed image overlaid onto a see-through view of a surrounding environment that includes multiply folded optics, includes a solid prism with at least one optically powered surface and a planar surface that provides a first internal fold of an optical axis of an image light associated with the displayed image, a combiner that provides a second fold the optical axis associated with the image light and wherein a flat plate reflector is bonded to the planar surface of the solid prism to provide a flat reflective surface to the solid prism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Osterhout Group, Inc.
    Inventors: John N. Border, Joseph Bietry, John D. Haddick
  • Patent number: 9703101
    Abstract: A see-through head or helmet mounted display device (10) comprises a see-through member (18) having a see-through area (22). The see-through member (18) includes a plurality of display segments (20; 20a, 20b) for emitting visible light. The plurality of display segments (20; 20a, 20b) is provided within the see-through area (22) in a mutually spaced manner such that the see-through area (22) includes a see-through zone (24) between each pair of adjacent display segments (20; 20a, 20b). The see-through zone (24) allows visible light to pass through the see-through member (18). The see-through member (18) further includes a plurality of holographic optical elements (26; 26a, 26b) provided within the see-through area (22). Each holographic optical element (26; 26a, 26b) is associated with a respective display segment (20; 20a, 20b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Lusospace, Projectos Engenharia LDA
    Inventors: Ivo Yves de Matos Peteira Vieira, Paulo Romeu Seabra Gordo, Alexandre Pereira Cabral, Manuel Adler Sanchez de Abreu
  • Patent number: 9606355
    Abstract: A head-up display system and method are provided that suppress double images from a combiner by eliminating or reducing a reflection of a refracted image from the back surface of the combiner. The combiner contains a tilted axis polarizing structure that attenuates transmittance and subsequent reflection of a refracted polarized projector image but maintains high transmittance for the forward external scene imagery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Brent D. Larson, Kanghua Lu, Elias S. Haim
  • Patent number: 9599813
    Abstract: A system and method for a head up display (HUD) can mitigate glare. The head up display can include a waveguide combiner including an input grating and an output grating and a glare mitigator disposed to prevent glare through the output grating from reaching an eye box. The glare mitigator can be a shade, a diffuser, a dimming element, or other device for mitigating glare. The glare mitigator can be an active or passive glare mitigator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Stratton, Chris M. Buchholz, Christopher A. Keith, Kurt A. Stahl, Brandon E. Wilson
  • Patent number: 9557567
    Abstract: During the manufacturing of the light guide device (20), the first and second bonding ribs (R1,R2) are used such that the light guide prism (10) and the opposing prism (50) are connected with each other from a specific offset direction. In this case, a difference between sizes of clearances between the first bonding surface (AS) and the second bonding surface (BS) caused by a difference in inclination angles of the offset direction with respect to the first bonding surface is used such that a flow direction of the adhesive is controlled and filling is performed in a desire state, and thus high accuracy of the joint formed by the adhesive is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Noriaki Hiraide