US5596339A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Virtual retinal display with fiber optic point source
Assignee: WASHINGTON, University of
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Filing: 1995-05-09
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Granted: 1997-01-21
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Expires: 2015-05-09
Abstract
Abstract A virtual retinal display utilizes photon generation and manipulation to create a panoramic, high resolution, color virtual image that is projected directly onto the retina of the eye. The virtual retinal display includes a source of photons, the photons being modulated with video information and scanned by a scanning system in a raster type of pattern directly onto the retina of the user's eye. A single, monofilament optical fiber of very small diameter couples light from the photon generator to the scanning system so as to provide to the scanning system a point source of light at the fiber's exit aperture. The photon generator may utilize coherent or non-coherent light. Further, the photon generator may utilize color light emitters so as to scan a colored virtual image directly onto the retina of the user's eye.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas A. Furness, III
- 👤 Charles D. Melville
- 👤 Michael R. Tidwell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 08:12
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/01; G02B27/017; G02B26/00; G02B26/08; G02B26/10; G02B27/0172; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/001; H; H04; H04N; H04N9/00; H04N9/12; H04N9/31; H04N9/3129; G02B27/0101; G02B2027/0112; G02B2027/0116; G02B2027/0118; G02B2027/0132; G02B2027/0138; G02B27/0179; G02B2027/0187; G02B2027/0192; G02B2027/0198
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A virtual image display system comprising: a source of light, said light being modulated video information; a scanning system for scanning said light onto a retina of a user's eye; and a single, monofilament optical fiber having an entrance aperture and an exit aperture, said optical fiber coupling light from said source to said scanning system to provide a point source of light at the exit aperture of said optical fiber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
A virtual image display system comprising: a source of light, said light being modulated video information; a scanning system for scanning said light onto a retina of a user's eye; and a single, monofilament optical fiber having an entrance aperture and an exit aperture, said optical fiber coupling light from said source to said scanning system to provide a point source of light at the exit aperture of said optical fiber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A virtual image display system of claim 1 wherein said source of light includes a laser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A virtual image display system of claim 1 wherein said source of light includes a light emitting diode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A virtual image display system of claim 1 wherein said source of light has an area of light emission; and the exit aperture of said optical fiber has an area that is smaller in size than said light emission area of the light source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A virtual image display system of claim 1 wherein said source of light includes a red light emitter, a blue light emitter and a green light emitter; and a light combining system for combining light from each of said red, blue and green light emitters.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A virtual image display system of claim 5 wherein light output from said combining system is coupled to the entrance aperture of said optical fiber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A virtual image display system of claim 5 wherein at least one of said light emitters is directly modulated with said video information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A virtual image display system of claim 1 wherein said source of light is a source of coherent light.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A virtual image display system of claim 1 wherein said source of light is a source of non-coherent light.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A virtual image display system of claim 1 including a lens disposed between said source of light and said entrance aperture of said optical fiber to focus light from said source onto said entrance aperture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A virtual image display system of claim 1 wherein the entrance aperture of said optical fiber directly abuts said source of light.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A virtual image display system of claim 1 including a lens disposed between the exit aperture of said optical fiber and said scanning system to couple light from said exit aperture to said scanning system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A virtual image display system of claim 12 wherein said lens converges light to form an image plane between an output of said scanning system and the user's eye.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A virtual image display system of claim 12 including a single lens disposed between an output of said scanning system and the user's eye.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A virtual image display system of claim 5 including means coupled to the output of at least one of said light emitters for modulating said light with video information.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
82 words
A virtual image display system comprising: a source of non-coherent light, said source having an area of light emission and said light being modulated with video information; a scanning system for scanning said non-coherent light onto a retina of a user's eye; a single, monofilament optical fiber having an entrance aperture and an exit aperture, said optical fiber coupling light from said source to said scanning system and said exit aperture being smaller than the area of light emission of said source.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
82 words
A virtual image display system comprising: a source of non-coherent light, said source having an area of light emission and said light being modulated with video information; a scanning system for scanning said non-coherent light onto a retina of a user's eye; a single, monofilament optical fiber having an entrance aperture and an exit aperture, said optical fiber coupling light from said source to said scanning system and said exit aperture being smaller than the area of light emission of said source.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A virtual image display system of claim 16 wherein said source of light includes a light emitting diode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A virtual image display system of claim 17 wherein said light emitting diode is directly modulated with said video information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
A virtual image display system of claim 16 wherein said source of light includes a red light emitter, a blue light emitter and a green light emitter; and a light combining system for combining light from each of said red, blue and green light emitters.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
A virtual image display system of claim 19 wherein light output from said combining system is coupled to the entrance aperture of said optical fiber.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
A virtual image display system of claim 16 including a lens disposed between said source of light and said entrance aperture of said optical fiber to focus light from said source onto said entrance aperture.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
A virtual image display system of claim 16 wherein the entrance aperture of said optical fiber directly abuts said source of light.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
A virtual image display system of claim 16 including a lens disposed between the exit aperture of said optical fiber and said scanning system to couple light from said exit aperture to said scanning system.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
A virtual image display system of claim 23 wherein said lens converges light to form an image plane between an output of said scanning system and the user's eye.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
A virtual image display system of claim 23 including a single lens disposed between an output of said scanning system and the user's eye.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
A virtual image display system of claim 19 including an individual optical fiber portion associated with each of said red, blue and green light emitters.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of generating a virtual image comprising: modulating light emitted from a source of light with video information; positioning an entrance aperture of a single monofilament optical fiber relative to said source of light to couple light from said source to an exit aperture of said optical fiber; positioning a lens adjacent to said exit aperture of said optical fiber to receive light therefrom; and scanning light from said lens onto a retina of a user's eye to form an image of said video information on the retina.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of generating a virtual image comprising: modulating light emitted from a source of light with video information; positioning an entrance aperture of a single monofilament optical fiber relative to said source of light to couple light from said source to an exit aperture of said optical fiber; positioning a lens adjacent to said exit aperture of said optical fiber to receive light therefrom; and scanning light from said lens onto a retina of a user's eye to form an image of said video information on the retina.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said lens positioning step positions said lens at a distance from said exit aperture of the optical fiber to cause said lens to converge light at an image plane on which said light is scanned, said image plane being outside of the user's eye.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said light is emitted from a laser.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said light is emitted from a light emitting diode.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said entrance aperture of the optical fiber abuts said light emitting diode.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
90 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said modulating step includes emitting a red light; modulating said red light with red video information; emitting a blue light; modulating said blue light with blue video information; emitting a green light; modulating said green light with green video information; combining said modulated red light, blue light and green light to form the light emitted from said light source; and wherein said optical fiber positioning step includes positioning the entrance aperture of said optical fiber to receive said combined red, blue and green light.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-01-21 | 2000-07-22 | 2001-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-01-21 | 2004-07-22 | 2005-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-01-21 | 2008-07-22 | 2009-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |