Scanned beam display with adjustable accommodation

Claim 1

A scanning display responsive to an image signal having a depth component and a modulation component representing modulation of respective image pixels, comprising: a light source having an input terminal for receiving the image signal and responsive to the image signal to produce the light modulated according to the modulation component; a scanner positioned to receive the modulated light and configured to scan the modulated light through a periodic scan pattern, where the scan pattern includes a plurality of locations, each location corresponding to a respective one of the image pixels, the periodic scan pattern having a scanning period; and a variable focus lens positioned to receive the modulated light and having a variable focal length, the lens having a response time sufficiently fast to produce a first focal length for a first image pixel and a second, different focal length for an immediately subsequent pixel in response to the depth component, wherein the variable focus lens is a resonantly varying lens having a resonant frequency corresponding to the scan period, and wherein the modulated light is controlled to enter the variable focus lens at a timing by which the variable focus lens produces the first focal length when the modulated light for the first image pixel enters the variable focus lens and produces the second focal length when the modulated light for the second image pixel enters the variable focus lens.

Claim 6

A method for scanning an image upon a display field, comprising the steps of: receiving an image data signal at a light source which in response generates light in a pattern of image pixels which defines content of the image; directing the generated light toward a lens which passes the light, the passed light having a focal distance, the lens having a controlled focal length; varying the focal distance of the passed light by varying focal distance comprises varying the thickness of the lens in a resonant manner; and controlling the light to enter the lens at a timing by which the lens produces a first focal length when the light for a first image pixel enters the lens and produces a second focal length when the light for a second image pixel enters the lens.

Claim 7

A method for scanning an image upon a display field, comprising the steps of: receiving an image data signal at a light source which in response generates light in a pattern of image pixels which defines content of the image; directing the generated light toward a lens which passes the light, the passed light having a focal distance, the lens having a controlled focal length; varying the focal distance of the passed light by varying focal distance comprises varying the thickness of the lens in a resonant manner; and controlling the light to enter the lens at a timing by which the lens produces a first focal length when the light for a first image pixel enters the lens and produces a second focal length when the light for a second image pixel enters the lens.

Claim 9

A method for scanning an image for viewing by a viewer's eye, comprising the steps of: receiving an image data signal at a light source for generating a pattern of light to define content of the image, the pattern of light comprising a sequence of pixels; responsive to a control signal at a resonant variable focus lens, varying the lens focus periodically; receiving the pattern of light at the variable focus lens, wherein the control signal is synchronized to the pattern of light to adjust frequency of the variable focus lens to exhibit an instantaneous first focal length for a first image pixel of the pattern of light and an instantaneous second focal length, differing from the first focal length, for a second image pixel of the pattern of light; transmitting light from the variable focus lens to a mirror; deflecting the light with the mirror to scan the image onto the viewer's eye; and forming an exit pupil for the viewer beyond an eyepiece at which a viewer perceives the image; and wherein perceived depth of portions of the viewed image varies based upon the changing focus of the variable focus lens.

Claim 10

A method for scanning an image for viewing by a viewer's eye, comprising the steps of: receiving an image data signal at a light source for generating a pattern of light to define content of the image, the pattern of light comprising a sequence of pixels; responsive to a control signal at a resonant variable focus lens, varying the lens focus periodically; receiving the pattern of light at the variable focus lens, wherein the control signal is synchronized to the pattern of light to adjust frequency of the variable focus lens to exhibit an instantaneous first focal length for a first image pixel of the pattern of light and an instantaneous second focal length, differing from the first focal length, for a second image pixel of the pattern of light; transmitting light from the variable focus lens to a mirror; deflecting the light with the mirror to scan the image onto the viewer's eye; and forming an exit pupil for the viewer beyond an eyepiece at which a viewer perceives the image; and wherein perceived depth of portions of the viewed image varies based upon the changing focus of the variable focus lens.