US5715337A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Compact display system
Assignee: Google LLC
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Filing: 1996-09-19
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Granted: 1998-02-03
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Expires: 2016-09-19
Abstract
Abstract A compact display system including a viewing surface; a beam steering mechanism; a source of light remote from the viewing surface and the beam steering mechanism; and at least one waveguide connecting the source of light with the viewing surface for transmitting illumination from the source of light to the viewing surface. The beam steering mechanism is associated with the waveguide and the viewing surface for scanning illumination transmitted by the waveguide onto the viewing surface. There is a modulator for modulating the source of light; and a subsystem for synchronizing the modulator with the beam steering mechanism, but only the distal end of the waveguide and the beam steering mechanism are located near the viewing surface resulting in a more compact display which can be mounted on a pair of eyeglasses.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark Bradley Spitzer
- 👤 Joseph Jacobson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:44
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/01; G02B27/017; G02B27/0172; G02B26/00; G02B26/08; G02B26/10; G02B26/103; G02B2027/0178; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/35; G02B6/3502; G02B6/3564; G02B6/3568; G02B6/357; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S385/00; Y10S385/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A compact display system comprising: a viewing surface; an optical signal processor including beam steering means; a source of light remote from the viewing surface and the beam steering means; at least one waveguide connecting said source of light with said viewing surface for transmitting illumination from the source of light to the viewing surface; said beam steering means associated with the waveguide and the viewing surface for scanning illumination transmitted by the waveguide in two directions onto the viewing surface; a modulator for modulating said source of light; and means for synchronizing the modulator with the beam steering means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
A compact display system comprising: a viewing surface; an optical signal processor including beam steering means; a source of light remote from the viewing surface and the beam steering means; at least one waveguide connecting said source of light with said viewing surface for transmitting illumination from the source of light to the viewing surface; said beam steering means associated with the waveguide and the viewing surface for scanning illumination transmitted by the waveguide in two directions onto the viewing surface; a modulator for modulating said source of light; and means for synchronizing the modulator with the beam steering means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 1 further including a pair of eyeglasses, said beam steering means mounted on said eyeglasses and connected to one end of said waveguide, the viewing surface including said eyeglasses, the source of light and the modulator remote from the eyeglasses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 2 further including means for sensing the range of scanning by the beam steering means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 3 further including means, responsive to the means for sensing, and responsive to the modulator, for interrupting the transmission of light to the beam steering means in response to a range of scanning beyond a predetermined threshold to protect the eyeglass wearer's eyes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 1 in which said beam steering means includes a pair of reflective elements positioned to receive light from said waveguide, means for deflecting one of said reflective elements in one direction, and means for deflecting the other reflective element in a second direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 1 in which said waveguide is an optical fiber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 6 in which said beam steering means includes a cantilever portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 7 in which said beam steering means includes a substrate and a groove cut in the substrate to receive said optical fiber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 8 in which said groove includes two portions, a first portion of a first depth to fix the position of the fiber and a second, cantilever portion of a second, greater depth in which the distal end of the fiber is free to move.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 7 in which said beam steering means includes a capacitor, one plate of which is a component of the cantilever portion and a second plate of which is spaced from the first plate in one direction for deflecting said cantilever in said one direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 10 further including a second capacitor having a third plate spaced from the first plate in a second direction for deflecting said cantilever in said second direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 7 in which said cantilever portion includes a layer of piezoelectric material and means for applying a potential across the piezoelectric material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 7 in which said cantilever portion includes one of a material attracted to magnetic forces and an electromagnetic material, the other of the material attracted to magnetic forces and the electromagnetic material spaced therefrom.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1 further including a vacuum enclosure surrounding said beam steering means for controlling the of damping the motion of the beam steering means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 further including means for amplifying the displacement of light exiting said waveguide.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 15 in which said means for amplifying includes a set of reflectors displaced at an angle with respect to a path of light exiting the distal end of the waveguide.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 in which said beam steering means includes a plurality of parallel output waveguides on a deflectable cantilever pad.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 17 in which said at least one waveguide includes an optical fiber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 18 further including means for switching the position of a distal end of said fiber to direct illumination alternately among said output waveguides.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 1 in which said source of light is a source of white light, the system further including means for resolving said white light into a plurality of colors.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 20 in which said means for resolving includes dichroic devices, one for each color.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 20 in which said modulator includes means for separately modulating each color of light.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 22 in which said waveguide includes a plurality of input optical fibers each optically coupled to each means for modulating and a fiber coupler for coupling each to said input fiber.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 23 further including an output optical fiber connected to said coupler.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1 in which said source of light includes at least one semiconductor light-emitting device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 6 in which said optical fiber is a single mode fiber with a core diameter in the range of approximately 1 μm to 5 μm.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 6 in which said optical fiber has a length greater than three feet for increasing the maneuverability of said viewing surface.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
107 words
A compact display system comprising: a viewing surface; a waveguide; an optical signal processor including beam steering means comprising: a pair of reflective elements positioned to receive light from said waveguide, means for deflecting one of said reflective elements in one direction, and means for deflecting the other reflective element in a second direction; a source of light remote from the viewing surface; the waveguide connecting said source of light with said beam steering means for transmitting illumination from the source of light to the beam steering means; a modulator for modulating said source of light; and means for synchronizing the modulator with said means for deflecting.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
107 words
A compact display system comprising: a viewing surface; a waveguide; an optical signal processor including beam steering means comprising: a pair of reflective elements positioned to receive light from said waveguide, means for deflecting one of said reflective elements in one direction, and means for deflecting the other reflective element in a second direction; a source of light remote from the viewing surface; the waveguide connecting said source of light with said beam steering means for transmitting illumination from the source of light to the beam steering means; a modulator for modulating said source of light; and means for synchronizing the modulator with said means for deflecting.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
59 words
A compact display system comprising: a viewing surface; a long, flexible optical fiber; beam steering means including a cantilever portion for scanning illumination transmitted by said optical fiber in two directions; a source of light remote from the viewing surface; a modulator for modulating said source of light; and means for synchronizing the modulator with the beam steering means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
59 words
A compact display system comprising: a viewing surface; a long, flexible optical fiber; beam steering means including a cantilever portion for scanning illumination transmitted by said optical fiber in two directions; a source of light remote from the viewing surface; a modulator for modulating said source of light; and means for synchronizing the modulator with the beam steering means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 29 in which said beam steering means includes a substrate and a groove cut in the substrate to receive said optical fiber.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 30 in which said groove includes two portions, a first portion of a first depth to fix the position of the fiber and a second portion of a second, greater depth in which the distal end of the fiber is free to move.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
89 words
A compact display system comprising: a viewing surface; a long, flexible, optic fiber; beam steering means including a cantilever portion and a capacitor, one plate of which is a component of the cantilever portion and a second plate of which is spaced from the first plate in one direction for deflecting a distal end of said fiber in said one direction; a source of light remote from the viewing surface; a modulator for modulating said source of light; and means for synchronizing the modulator with the beam steering means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
89 words
A compact display system comprising: a viewing surface; a long, flexible, optic fiber; beam steering means including a cantilever portion and a capacitor, one plate of which is a component of the cantilever portion and a second plate of which is spaced from the first plate in one direction for deflecting a distal end of said fiber in said one direction; a source of light remote from the viewing surface; a modulator for modulating said source of light; and means for synchronizing the modulator with the beam steering means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
72 words
A compact display system comprising: a viewing surface; a long, flexible optical fiber; beam steering means comprising a cantilever portion including a distal end of said optical fiber, and a layer of piezoelectric material and means for applying a potential across the piezoelectric material; a source of light remote from the viewing surface; a modulator for modulating said source of light; and means for synchronizing the modulator with the beam steering means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
72 words
A compact display system comprising: a viewing surface; a long, flexible optical fiber; beam steering means comprising a cantilever portion including a distal end of said optical fiber, and a layer of piezoelectric material and means for applying a potential across the piezoelectric material; a source of light remote from the viewing surface; a modulator for modulating said source of light; and means for synchronizing the modulator with the beam steering means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
108 words
A compact display system comprising: a viewing surface; a source of light remote from the viewing surface; a long, flexible optic fiber connecting said source of light with said viewing surface for transmitting illumination from the source of light to the viewing surface; beam steering means comprising a cantilever portion including a distal end of said optical fiber, said cantilever portion including one of a material attracted to magnetic forces and an electromagnetic material, the other of the material attracted to magnetic forces and the electromagnetic material spaced therefrom; a modulator for modulating said source of light; and means for synchronizing the modulator with the beam steering means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
108 words
A compact display system comprising: a viewing surface; a source of light remote from the viewing surface; a long, flexible optic fiber connecting said source of light with said viewing surface for transmitting illumination from the source of light to the viewing surface; beam steering means comprising a cantilever portion including a distal end of said optical fiber, said cantilever portion including one of a material attracted to magnetic forces and an electromagnetic material, the other of the material attracted to magnetic forces and the electromagnetic material spaced therefrom; a modulator for modulating said source of light; and means for synchronizing the modulator with the beam steering means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
95 words
A compact display system comprising: a viewing surface; beam steering means including a plurality of parallel output waveguides on a deflectable cantilever pad; a source of light remote from the viewing surface; a long, flexible, optical fiber connecting said source of light with said beam steering means; said beam steering means associated with a distal end of the optical fiber and the viewing surface for scanning illumination transmitted by the optical fiber onto the viewing surface; a modulator for modulating said source of light; and means for synchronizing the modulator with the beam steering means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
95 words
A compact display system comprising: a viewing surface; beam steering means including a plurality of parallel output waveguides on a deflectable cantilever pad; a source of light remote from the viewing surface; a long, flexible, optical fiber connecting said source of light with said beam steering means; said beam steering means associated with a distal end of the optical fiber and the viewing surface for scanning illumination transmitted by the optical fiber onto the viewing surface; a modulator for modulating said source of light; and means for synchronizing the modulator with the beam steering means.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 35 further including means for switching the position of the photons from said fiber to direct illumination alternately among said output waveguides.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
98 words
A compact display system comprising: a viewing surface; beam steering means; a source of white light; means for resolving said white light into a plurality of colors; at least one waveguide connecting said source of light with said viewing surface for transmitting illumination from the source of light to the viewing surface; said beam steering means associated with the waveguide and the viewing surface for scanning illumination transmitted by the waveguide onto the viewing surface; a modulator for including means for separately modulating each color of light; and means for synchronizing the modulator with the beam steering means.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
98 words
A compact display system comprising: a viewing surface; beam steering means; a source of white light; means for resolving said white light into a plurality of colors; at least one waveguide connecting said source of light with said viewing surface for transmitting illumination from the source of light to the viewing surface; said beam steering means associated with the waveguide and the viewing surface for scanning illumination transmitted by the waveguide onto the viewing surface; a modulator for including means for separately modulating each color of light; and means for synchronizing the modulator with the beam steering means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-02-02 | 2001-08-04 | 2002-02-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-02-02 | 2005-08-04 | 2006-02-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-02-02 | 2009-08-04 | 2010-02-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |