IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,242,074
Granted Patent B2
US 12,242,074 · App. 18/519,971 · Granted Mar 4, 2025

Methods and systems for auto-alignment of displays

Inventors: Robert B. Atac (Batavia, IL); Richard Madison (Bedford, MA); James E. Melzer (Encinitas, CA)
Assignee: THALES DEFENSE & SECURITY, INC.
G02B27/0176B64D11/0015G01C21/10G02B27/017G02B2027/0198
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,242,074
App. No.
18/519,971
Granted
Mar 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method, medium and system for auto-aligning displays of a head/helmet mounted display. The method, medium and system may provide for an auto-alignment of components of a headband, headgear, or a helmet. The method, medium and system may provide for a first sensor mounted to the helmet of a user and configured to communicate and transfer align with a vehicle comprising an inertial navigation system (INS). The method, medium and system may provide for display comprising a second sensor configured to communicate with the first sensor and transfer align the second sensor with the first sensor based on the transfer alignment of the first sensor with the vehicle. The method, medium and system may provide for wherein the first sensor and the second sensor comprise an inertial measurement unit (IMU). Further, the method, medium and system may also provide for the aligning of two displays on the head/helmet relative to each other in real time.

Claims (33)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a display comprising a first sensor mounted on a headband, headgear, or helmet; and

a second sensor mounted on the headband, headgear, or helmet and configured to transfer align with the first sensor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor and the second sensor each comprises at least one inertial measurement unit (IMU).

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the display is a head mounted display (HMD) configured to display at least one of a symbol, an icon, or an image in a monocular arrangement.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a vehicle comprising an inertial navigation system (INS) or IMU configured to transfer align with at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor mounted to the headband, headgear, or helmet.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the vehicle is an aircraft, and wherein a fiducial constellation is mounted to a canopy of the aircraft for additional alignment of the first sensor or the second sensor to the aircraft.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second display comprising a third sensor configured to transfer align with at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the second sensor and third sensor compare the transfer alignment to the first sensor to determine when there is an error in the transfer alignment.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first display and the second display comprise a see-through head mounted display (HMD) and are configured to display at least one of symbols, icons, or images in a binocular or biocular arrangement.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein to transfer align, the second sensor is configured to determine a transform between a first coordinate system associated with the first sensor and a second coordinate system associated with the second sensor.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein to determine the transform the second sensor is configured to transform a first translation or a first rotation in the first coordinate system into a second translation or a second rotation in the second coordinate system.

11. A method for auto-alignment of components of a headband, headgear, or helmet, the method comprising:

receiving a first orientation from a first sensor mounted to the headband, headgear, or helmet;

receiving a second orientation from a second sensor mounted to the headband, headgear, or helmet; and

transfer aligning the first sensor with the second sensor based on the first orientation and the second orientation.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein:

receiving the first orientation comprises receiving the first orientation from a first inertial measurement unit (IMU) of the first sensor; and

receiving the second orientation comprises receiving the second orientation from a second IMU of the second sensor.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising displaying, via a head mounted display (HMD) associated with the first sensor, at least one of a symbol, an icon, or an image in a monocular arrangement.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

receiving a third orientation from an inertial navigation system (INS) or IMU of an aircraft;

transfer aligning with at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor based at least on the third orientation.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising monitoring a fiducial constellation mounted to a canopy of the aircraft for additional alignment of the first sensor or the second sensor to the aircraft.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

receiving a third orientation from a third sensor mounted to the headband, headgear, or helmet; and

transfer aligning the third sensor with at least one of the first sensor or the second sensor.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

comparing, by the second sensor and third sensor, the transfer alignment to the first sensor; and

determining whether there is an error in the transfer alignment based on the comparison.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising displaying, via a head mounted display (HMD) associated with the first sensor and the third sensor, at least one of a symbol, an icon, or an image in a binocular or biocular arrangement.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein transfer aligning comprises determining a transform between a first coordinate system associated with the first sensor and a second coordinate system associated with the second sensor.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein determining the transform comprises transforming a first translation or a first rotation in the first coordinate system into a second translation or a second rotation in the second coordinate system.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 4, 2023
From: ATAC, ROBERT B.; MADISON, RICHARD; MELZER, JAMES E.
To: THALES DEFENSE & SECURITY, INC.
Reel/Frame 065754/0254 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 18046696 · Oct 14, 2022
Continuation 16992788 · Aug 13, 2020
Provisional Application 62886778 · Aug 14, 2019
Related Publication 20240184123A1 · Jun 6, 2024
References Cited (18)
US 9891705B1 · Lahr et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 11300649B1 · Lacaze · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 11487124B2 · Atac · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 11867913B2 · Atac · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US 20080048931A1 · Ben-Ari · 2008 [cited by examiner]
US 20150001381A1 · Shimon et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150002375A1 · Williams · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150317838A1 · Foxlin · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20170169627A1 · Kim et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170352190A1 · Calloway · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180007252A1 · Tuulos et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180185734A1 · Kennard et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180299271A1 · Calloway · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180330527A1 · Corcoran · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190041980A1 · Trythall et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190133232A1 · Olivares Velasco · 2019 [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and the Written Opinion issued by the International Searching Authority in International Patent Application No. PCT/US2020/046360, dated Oct. 29, 2020. [cited by applicant]
European Examination Report issued by the European Patent Office in corresponding European Patent Application No. 20 853 094.9, dated Dec. 17, 2024. [cited by applicant]