See-through computer display systems
View Patent ↗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.
1. A see-through head-mounted display comprising:
a light source,
an image source,
an angled partially-reflective surface, wherein:
the light source faces a first side of the angled partially-reflective surface,
the image source faces the first side of the angled partially-reflective surface,
the light source is configured to project light via the angled partially-reflective surface toward the image source,
the image source is configured to reflect the projected light as image light toward the angled partially-reflective surface, and
the angled partially-reflective surface is configured to transmit the image light along a first axis;
a combiner having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the combiner is configured to:
reflect the image light via the first side of the combiner, and
transmit environment light, via the first side of the combiner and via the second side of the combiner, to an eye of a user of the see-through head-mounted display, to present to the user a view comprising the image light and further comprising the environment light; and
a light-blocking element aligned substantially parallel to the combiner and disposed opposite the combiner with respect to the user, the light-blocking element configured to block incident light from an environment of the user.
2. The see-through head-mounted display of claim 1 , wherein the combiner comprises a partial mirror.
3. The see-through head-mounted display of claim 1 , wherein the combiner comprises a notch mirror.
4. The see-through head-mounted display of claim 1 , wherein the light-blocking element comprises at least one of an electrochromic element, a polymer stabilized liquid crystal, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal.
5. The see-through head-mounted display of claim 1 , wherein the light-blocking element is attached to the second side of the combiner.
6. The see-through head-mounted display of claim 1 , wherein the light-blocking element is attached to a sidewall adjacent to the combiner.
7. The see-through head-mounted display of claim 1 , wherein the light-blocking element is segmented and comprises an array of areas that can be selectably controlled.
8. A see-through head-mounted display comprising:
an image source configured to emit image light along a first axis;
a light source configured to emit light along a second axis, different from the first axis;
a combiner having a first side and a second side, wherein the combiner is configured to:
reflect the image light via the first side of the combiner, and
transmit environment light, via the first side of the combiner and via the second side of the combiner, along an optical axis perpendicular to the first axis, toward an eye of a user of the see-through head-mounted display, to present to the user a view comprising the image light and further comprising the environment light; and
a light-blocking element aligned substantially parallel to the combiner and disposed opposite the combiner with respect to the user, the light-blocking element configured to block incident light from an environment of the user.
9. The see-through head-mounted display of claim 8 , wherein the combiner comprises a partial mirror.
10. The see-through head-mounted display of claim 8 , wherein the combiner comprises a notch mirror.
11. The see-through head-mounted display of claim 8 , wherein the light-blocking element comprises at least one of an electrochromic element, a polymer stabilized liquid crystal, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal.
12. The see-through head-mounted display of claim 8 , wherein the light-blocking element is attached to the second side of the combiner.
13. The see-through head-mounted display of claim 8 , wherein the light-blocking element is attached to a sidewall adjacent to the combiner.
14. The see-through head-mounted display of claim 8 , wherein the light-blocking element is segmented and comprises an array of areas that can be selectably controlled.
15. The see-through head-mounted display of claim 8 , wherein the incident light is parallel to the optical axis.