IP Library Granted Patent US 9,823,474
Granted Patent B2
US 9,823,474 · App. 14/676,996 · Granted Nov 21, 2017

System, apparatus, and method for displaying an image with a wider field of view

Inventors: Allan Thomas Evans (San Francisco, CA); D. Scott Dewald (Dallas, TX)
Assignee: AVEGANT CORP.
G02B27/0172G02B3/04G02B27/01G02B27/0101G02B2027/011G02B2027/0123
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,823,474
App. No.
14/676,996
Granted
Nov 21, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system ( 100 ), apparatus ( 110 ), and method ( 900 ) for displaying an image ( 880 ). The system ( 100 ) can use an aspherical lens ( 450 ) to direct light ( 800 ) in the interim image ( 850 ) towards the viewer ( 96 ) of the final image ( 880 ) displayed by the system ( 100 ). Use of the aspherical lens ( 450 ) expands the FOV ( 860 ) accessible to the viewer ( 96 ) and reduces exit pupil drift ( 480 ).

Claims (31)

1. A system ( 100 ) for displaying an image ( 880 ) to a user ( 90 ), said system ( 100 ) comprising:

an illumination assembly ( 200 ) that provides for supplying a plurality of light ( 800 );

an imaging assembly ( 300 ) that provides for creating an interim image ( 850 ) with said plurality of light ( 800 ); and

a projection assembly ( 400 ) that provides for creating said image ( 880 ) by modifying said interim image ( 850 ), said projection assembly ( 400 ) including an aspheric lens ( 450 ), wherein said aspheric lens ( 450 ) is a sixth order aspheric lens ( 454 );

wherein said system ( 100 ) provides the user ( 90 ) a horizontal field of view ( 862 ) that is greater than about 60 degrees.

2. The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said aspheric lens ( 450 ) is a relay lens that receives said interim image ( 850 ) from a modulator ( 320 ) in said imaging assembly ( 300 ).

3. The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said system ( 100 ) is a visor apparatus ( 115 ).

4. The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said system ( 100 ) is a virtual retinal display (VRD) visor apparatus ( 116 ) that projects said image ( 880 ) onto an eye ( 92 ) of the user ( 90 ).

5. The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said system ( 100 ) is a digital light processing (DLP) system ( 141 ).

6. The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said image ( 880 ) does not include substantial exit pupil drift ( 480 ) that is visible to the user ( 90 ).

7. The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said aspheric lens ( 450 ) provides for reducing exit pupil drift ( 480 ) for light ( 800 ) directed to a splitting plate ( 430 ) and a curved mirror ( 420 ).

8. The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said aspheric lens ( 450 ) provides for correcting a distortion in said interim image ( 850 ), and wherein said aspheric lens ( 450 ) acts as a field stop.

9. The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said system ( 100 ) provides the user ( 90 ) with a field of view ( 860 ) that is greater than about 40 degrees.

10. The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said system ( 100 ) includes a tracking mode ( 123 ).

11. The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said system ( 100 ) includes augmentation mode ( 122 ) and an immersion mode ( 121 ).

12. The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said projection assembly ( 450 ) further includes a curved mirror ( 420 ) and a partially transparent plate ( 440 ).

13. A system ( 100 ) for displaying an image ( 880 ) to a user ( 90 ), said system ( 100 ) comprising:

an illumination assembly ( 200 ) that provides for supplying a plurality of light ( 800 );

an imaging assembly ( 300 ) that provides for creating an interim image ( 850 ) with said plurality of light ( 800 ); and

a projection assembly ( 400 ) that provides for creating said image ( 880 ) by modifying said interim image ( 850 ) comprised of said plurality of light ( 800 ), wherein said projection assembly ( 400 ) includes an aspheric lens ( 450 ) that reduces a pupil drift ( 470 ) in said image ( 880 );

wherein said system ( 100 ) is a VRD apparatus ( 116 ) that provides the user ( 90 ) with a horizontal field of view ( 862 ) that is greater than about 60 degrees.

14. A method ( 900 ) for making an image ( 880 ) accessible to a user ( 90 ) by projecting said image ( 880 ) on an eye ( 92 ) of the user ( 90 ), said method comprising ( 900 ):

generating ( 910 ) a plurality of light ( 800 ) from a light source ( 210 );

modulating ( 920 ) said light ( 800 ) into an interim image ( 850 ); and

directing ( 930 ) said light ( 800 ) of said interim image ( 850 ) in an aspheric lens ( 450 ), wherein said aspheric lens ( 450 ) is a sixth order aspheric lens ( 454 ), prior to the delivery of said light ( 800 ) to the eye ( 92 ) of the user ( 90 );

wherein said system ( 100 ) provides the user ( 90 ) a horizontal field of view ( 862 ) that is greater than about 60 degrees.

15. The method ( 900 ) of claim 14 , wherein said aspheric optic lens ( 450 ) provides for a horizontal field of view ( 862 ) that is greater than about forty degrees.

16. The system ( 100 ) of claim 13 , wherein said aspheric lens ( 450 ) is a relay lens that receives said interim image ( 850 ) from a modulator ( 320 ) in said imaging assembly ( 300 ).

17. The system ( 100 ) of claim 13 , wherein said aspheric lens ( 450 ) is a sixth order aspheric lens ( 454 ).

18. The system ( 100 ) of claim 13 , wherein said aspheric lens ( 450 ) provides for correcting a distortion in said interim image ( 850 ), and wherein said aspheric lens ( 450 ) acts as a field stop.

19. The system ( 100 ) of claim 13 , wherein said system ( 100 ) includes augmentation mode ( 122 ) and an immersion mode ( 121 ).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 29, 2016
From: EVANS, ALLAN THOMAS; DEWALD, D. SCOTT
To: AVEGANT CORP.
Reel/Frame 039567/0949 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160291326A1 · Oct 6, 2016