IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,891,703

Granted Patent B2

US 9,891,703 · App. 14/965,447 · Granted Feb 13, 2018

Head-wearable electronic device

Inventors: Kwanghoon Lee (Anyang-si, KR); Mugyeom Kim (Hwaseong-si, KR); Anna Ryu (Hwaseong-si, KR); Hee Soo Yoo (Seoul, KR); Myoungjin Lee (Seoul, KR)

Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.

G06F3/011 G02B26/0816 G02B27/0093 G02B27/0172 G02B27/0176 G02B27/0179 G02F1/19 G06F1/163 G06F1/1639 G06K9/00604 G02B2027/014 G02B2027/0138 G02B2027/0161

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 9,891,703
App. No.: 14/965,447
Granted: Feb 13, 2018
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A head-wearable electronic device includes a frame worn on a head of a user and an electro-optical device coupled to the frame. The electro-optical device includes a display module generating a data image, an optical module, and a camera module. The optical module includes a first switchable mirror layer and a second switchable mirror layer, each having a light transmittance that is controllable. The first switchable mirror layer provides the second switchable mirror layer with the data image generated by the display module and the second switchable mirror layer provides eye of the user with the data image provided from the first switchable mirror layer. The camera module provides an external image having information about the eye of the user corresponding to an operation of the first and second switchable mirror layers.

Claims (70)

1. A head-wearable electronic device comprising:

a frame wearable on a head of a user; and

an electro-optical device coupled to the frame, the electro-optical device comprising:

a display module generating a data image;

a camera module securing an external image having information about the eye of the user corresponding to an operation of the first and second switchable mirror layers,

wherein:

the first switchable mirror layer and the second switchable mirror layer are configured to be operated in a transmissive mode, a transflective mode, or a reflective mode set by the user during predetermined time periods; and

the first switchable mirror layer and the second switchable mirror layer are configured to be operated in a different operating mode from each other during first time periods.

2. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:

the optical module comprises first, second, and third body parts, each of the first, second, and third body parts comprises

an upper surface defined by a first direction and a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction,

a rear surface spaced apart from the upper surface in a line direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the first direction and the second direction, and

a plurality of side surfaces connecting the upper surface and the rear surface,

the side surfaces of the first body part comprise a first diagonal surface and a second diagonal surface,

the side surfaces of the second body part comprise a third diagonal surface facing the first diagonal surface,

the side surfaces of the third body part comprise a fourth diagonal surface facing the second diagonal surface,

the first switchable mirror layer is disposed between the first diagonal surface and the third diagonal surface, and

the second switchable mirror layer is disposed between the second diagonal surface and the fourth diagonal surface.

3. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the side surfaces of each of the first, second, and third body parts are substantially perpendicular to at least one of the upper surface and the rear surface.

4. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 2 , wherein:

the first and second switchable mirror layers are spaced apart from each other in the first direction, and

a first imaginary surface substantially parallel to the first switchable mirror layer crosses a second imaginary surface substantially parallel to the second switchable mirror layer.

5. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the first imaginary surface and the second imaginary surface form an included angle greater than about 90 degrees.

6. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 4 , wherein:

the camera module faces one side surface of the side surfaces of the second body part,

the one side surface of the side surface of the second body part faces the first switchable mirror layer in the first direction, and

the display module faces one side surface of the side surfaces of the first body part, the one side surface of the side surfaces of the first body part faces the first switchable mirror layer in the second direction.

7. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the first switchable mirror layer is operated in the reflective mode during the first periods to provide the second switchable mirror layer with the data image generated by the display module and operated in the transmissive mode during second periods different from the first periods to transmit the external image having the information about the eye of the user.

8. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the camera module provides an external image in front of the user and the external image reflected by the first switchable mirror layer during the first periods, and provides the external image having the information about the eye of the user during the second periods.

9. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the second switchable mirror layer is operated in the transflective mode during the first periods and operated in the transflective mode or the reflective mode in the second periods.

10. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the second periods have a time length shorter than a time length of the first periods.

11. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 10 , wherein a transmittance of the second switchable mirror layer in the second periods is lower than a transmittance of the second switchable mirror layer in the first periods.

12. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the optical module further comprises a reflection layer disposed on one side surface of the side surfaces of the second body part, which faces the first switchable mirror layer in the first direction, the camera module is disposed on one side surface of the side surfaces of the second body part, which faces the first switchable mirror layer in the second direction, and the display module faces one side surface of the side surfaces of the first body part, which faces the first switchable mirror layer in the second direction.

13. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the first switchable mirror layer is operated in the reflective mode during the first periods to provide the data image to the second switchable mirror layer and operated in the transflective mode during second periods different from the first periods to transmit and reflect the external image having the information about the eye of the user.

14. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the second switchable mirror layer is operated in the transflective mode during the first periods and operated in the transflective or reflective mode during the second periods.

15. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the second periods have a time length shorter than a time length of the first periods.

16. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 15 , wherein a transmittance of the second switchable mirror layer in the second periods is lower than a transmittance of the second switchable mirror layer in the first periods.

17. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the first switchable mirror layer is spaced apart from the second switchable mirror layer in the first direction and substantially parallel to the second switchable mirror layer.

18. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the optical module further comprises a reflection layer disposed on one side surface of the side surfaces of the third body part, which faces the second switchable mirror layer in the first direction, the camera module is disposed on one side surface of the side surfaces of the second body part, which faces the first switchable mirror layer in the first direction, and the display module faces one side surface of the side surfaces of the first body part, which faces the first switchable mirror layer in the second direction.

19. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the first switchable mirror layer is operated in the reflective mode during the first periods to provide the data image to the second switchable mirror layer and operated in the transmissive mode during second periods different from the first periods to transmit the external image having the information about the eye of the user.

20. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 19 , wherein the camera module provides an external image in front of the user, which is reflected by the first switchable mirror layer during the first periods, and provides the external image having the information about the eye of the user during the second periods.

21. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 19 , wherein the second switchable mirror layer is operated in the transflective mode during the first periods and the second periods.

22. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 21 , wherein the second periods have a time length shorter than a time length of the first periods.

23. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the optical module further comprises a first reflection layer disposed on one side surface of the side surfaces of the second body part, which faces the first switchable mirror layer in the first direction, and a second reflection layer disposed on one side surface of the side surfaces of the third body part, which faces the second switchable mirror layer in the first direction, the camera module is disposed on one side surface of the side surfaces of the second body, which faces the first switchable mirror layer in the second direction, and the display module faces one side surface of the side surfaces of the first body part, which faces the first switchable mirror layer in the second direction.

24. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 23 , wherein the first switchable mirror layer is operated in the reflective mode during the first periods to provide the data image to the second switchable mirror layer and operated in the transflective mode during second periods to transmit and reflect the external image having the information about the eye of the user.

25. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 24 , wherein the second switchable mirror layer is operated in the transflective mode during the first periods and the second periods.

26. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 25 , wherein the second periods have a time length shorter than a time length of the first periods.

27. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the first diagonal surface and the third diagonal surface form a predetermined first gap and the second diagonal surface and the fourth diagonal surface form a predetermined second gap.

28. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 27 , wherein the first switchable mirror layer is disposed on at least one of the first diagonal surface and the third diagonal surface and the second switchable mirror layer is disposed on at least one of the second diagonal surface and the third diagonal surface.

29. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 28 , wherein each of the first and second switchable mirror layers comprises a magnesium-nickel alloy and an oxygen or a hydrogen is supplied into each of the first and second gaps to control a transmittance of a corresponding switchable mirror layer of the first and second switchable mirror layers.

30. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 29 , wherein

the optical module further comprises a housing to seal the first and second gaps,

the housing is provided with an inlet into which the oxygen or the hydrogen is supplied and an outlet from which the oxygen or the hydrogen is discharged.

31. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 2 , further comprising a communication module performing at least one of

transmitting a wireless signal to an external electronic device and

receiving a wireless signal from the external electronic device.

32. The head-wearable electronic device of claim 31 , wherein the external electronic device comprises a mobile phone, a personal computer, a smart watch, and a wireless internet router.

33. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a gas supply member configured to supply a gas to change a transmittance of at least one of the first switchable mirror layer and the second switchable mirror layer.

34. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a heat source configured to supply a heat energy to change a transmittance of at least one of the first switchable mirror layer and the second switchable mirror layer.

35. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a line configured to supply a current or voltage to change a transmittance of at least one of the first switchable mirror layer and the second switchable mirror layer.

36. A head-wearable electronic device comprising:

a frame wearable on a head of a user; and

an electro-optical device coupled to the frame, the electro-optical device comprising:

a display module configured to generate a data image;

a camera module securing an external image having information about eye of the user corresponding to an operation of the first and second switchable mirror layers

an optical module comprising a first switchable mirror layer and a second switchable mirror layer, each of the first and second switchable mirror layers having a controllable light transmittance, the first switchable mirror layer configured to provide the second switchable mirror layer with the data image generated by the display module and the second switchable mirror layer configured to provide the eye of the user with the data image provided from the first switchable mirror layer, the second switchable mirror layer configured to provide the first switchable mirror layer with the external image and the first switchable mirror layer configured to transmit the external image to provide the external image to camera module.

Assignments (1)

ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 29, 2015

From: LEE, KWANGHOON; KIM, MUGYEOM; RYU, ANNA; YOO, HEE SOO; LEE, MYOUNGJIN

To: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.

Reel/Frame 037397/0087 →

Priority Claims (1)

KR 10-2015-0007037 · Jan 14, 2015 · national

Continuity (1)

Related Publication 20160202753A1 · Jul 14, 2016