AUGMENTED REALITY EYEPIECE WITH FREEFORM OPTIC, IMAGE SOURCE, AND OPTICAL DISPLAY
This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display. An integrated image source, which includes a light source and the optical display, introduces the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content. Alternatively, an integrated projector facility projects the content to the optical assembly. The projector facility includes a light source and the LCoS display, wherein light from the light source is emitted under control of the processor and traverses a polarizing beam splitter where it is polarized before being reflected off an LCoS display and into an optical waveguide of the eyepiece.
1 . An interactive head-mounted eyepiece, comprising:
an optical assembly through which a user views a surrounding environment and displayed content, wherein the optical assembly comprises:
a corrective element that corrects the user's view of the surrounding environment;
a freeform optical waveguide enabling internal reflections; and
a coupling lens positioned to direct an image from an LCoS display to the optical waveguide; and
an integrated processor for handling content for display to the user; and
an integrated projector facility for projecting the content to the optical assembly, wherein the projector facility comprises a light source and the LCoS display, wherein light from the light source is emitted under control of the processor and traverses a polarizing beam splitter where it is polarized before being reflected off the LCoS display and into the optical waveguide.
2 . The eyepiece of claim 1 , wherein the corrective element is a see-through correction lens attached to the optical waveguide that enables proper viewing of the surrounding environment whether the projector facility is on or off.
3 . The eyepiece of claim 1 , wherein the freeform optical waveguide comprises dual freeform surfaces that enable a curvature and a sizing of the waveguide, wherein the curvature and the sizing enable placement of the waveguide in a frame of the interactive head-mounted eyepiece.
4 . The eyepiece of claim 1 , wherein the light source is an RGB LED module that emits light sequentially to form a color image that is reflected off the LCoS display.
5 . The eyepiece of claim 1 , further comprising, a homogenizer through which light from the light source is propagated to ensure that the beam of light is uniform.
6 . The eyepiece of claim 1 , wherein a surface of the polarizing beam splitter reflects the color image from the LCoS display into the optical waveguide.
7 . The eyepiece of claim 1 , further comprising, a collimator that improves the resolution of the light entering the optical waveguide.
8 . An interactive head-mounted eyepiece, comprising:
an optical assembly through which a user views a surrounding environment and displayed content, wherein the optical assembly comprises:
a corrective element that corrects the user's view of the surrounding environment;
an optical waveguide enabling internal reflections; and
a coupling lens positioned to direct an image from an optical display to the optical waveguide; and
an integrated processor for handling content for display to the user; and
an integrated image source for introducing the content to the optical assembly, wherein the image source comprises a light source and the optical display.
9 . The eyepiece of claim 8 , wherein light from the light source is emitted under control of the processor and traverses a polarizing beam splitter where it is polarized before being reflected off the optical display and into the optical waveguide.
10 . The eyepiece of claim 8 , wherein the optical display is at least one of an LCoS and an LCD display.
11 . The eyepiece of claim 8 , wherein the image source is a projector, and wherein the projector is at least one of a microprojector, a nanoprojector, and a picoprojector.
12 . The eyepiece of claim 8 , wherein the corrective element is a see-through correction lens attached to the optical waveguide that enables proper viewing of the surrounding environment whether the image source is on or off.
13 . The eyepiece of claim 8 , wherein the optical waveguide comprises dual freeform surfaces that enable a curvature and a sizing of the waveguide, wherein the curvature and the sizing enable placement of the optical waveguide in a frame of the interactive head-mounted eyepiece.
14 . The eyepiece of claim 8 , wherein the light source is an RGB LED module that emits light sequentially to form a color image that is reflected off the optical display.
15 . The eyepiece of claim 8 , further comprising, a homogenizer through which light from the light source is propagated to ensure that the beam of light is uniform.
16 . The eyepiece of claim 8 , further comprising, a polarizing beam splitter that polarizes light from the light source before being reflected off the LCoS display and into the optical waveguide.
17 . The eyepiece of claim 16 , wherein a surface of the polarizing beam splitter reflects the color image from the LCoS display into the optical waveguide.
18 . The eyepiece of claim 8 , further comprising, a collimator that improves the resolution of the light entering the optical waveguide.