US6448944B2 — Head-mounted matrix display

Claim 1

Independent Claim 336 words

A head mounted display device comprising: a first matrix display assembly and a second matrix display assembly, each matrix display assembly including a light source, a matrix display element having a display area with a diagonal length no greater than 1.654 inches, the display element generating an image along a first optical path, only one mirror to reflect the image from the respective matrix display element from the first optical path to a second optical path and a viewing lens positioned along the second optical path in a line of sight of a viewer, the first optical path being vertically aligned with the second optical path such that the mirror transposes the image between the first and second optical paths; a housing for holding the first matrix display assembly and the second matrix display assembly relative to the head of a display user, the housing having a first aperture through which the user can view the transposed image from the matrix display element of the first matrix display assembly and a second aperture through which the user can view the transposed image from the matrix display element of the second matrix display assembly; a mounting frame on which the first matrix display assembly and the second matrix display assembly are mounted such that each matrix display assembly can slide along the mounting frame; a headband on which the mounting frame is mounted with a hinge such that the mounting frame can be rotated relative to the headband, and the headband having a sizing mechanism to expand or contract the size of the headband; a mechanism coupled to the sizing mechanism for controlling the length of a cable within the headband during expansion or contraction of the headband; and a focus adjust mechanism that controls a distance between each matrix display element and the respective lens by varying the length of the optical paths and maintaining the first optical path of the first matrix display assembly parallel to the first optical path of the second matrix display.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 336 words

A head mounted display device comprising: a first matrix display assembly and a second matrix display assembly, each matrix display assembly including a light source, a matrix display element having a display area with a diagonal length no greater than 1.654 inches, the display element generating an image along a first optical path, only one mirror to reflect the image from the respective matrix display element from the first optical path to a second optical path and a viewing lens positioned along the second optical path in a line of sight of a viewer, the first optical path being vertically aligned with the second optical path such that the mirror transposes the image between the first and second optical paths; a housing for holding the first matrix display assembly and the second matrix display assembly relative to the head of a display user, the housing having a first aperture through which the user can view the transposed image from the matrix display element of the first matrix display assembly and a second aperture through which the user can view the transposed image from the matrix display element of the second matrix display assembly; a mounting frame on which the first matrix display assembly and the second matrix display assembly are mounted such that each matrix display assembly can slide along the mounting frame; a headband on which the mounting frame is mounted with a hinge such that the mounting frame can be rotated relative to the headband, and the headband having a sizing mechanism to expand or contract the size of the headband; a mechanism coupled to the sizing mechanism for controlling the length of a cable within the headband during expansion or contraction of the headband; and a focus adjust mechanism that controls a distance between each matrix display element and the respective lens by varying the length of the optical paths and maintaining the first optical path of the first matrix display assembly parallel to the first optical path of the second matrix display.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 25 words

The head mounted display device of claim 1 further comprising a second hinge mounted support to mount a pair of audio transducers to the headband.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 20 words

The head mounted display device of claim 1 wherein the matrix display elements are both active matrix liquid crystal displays.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 19 words

The head mounted display device of claim 1 wherein the matrix display elements both comprise active matrix electroluminescent displays.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 15 words

The head mounted display device of claim 1 further comprising a pair of audio transducers.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 18 words

The head mounted display device of claim 1 further comprising a moveable nose bridge mounted to the housing.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 18 words

The head mounted display device of claim 1 wherein the matrix display elements are both passive matrix displays.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 31 words

The head mounted display device of claim 1 further comprising a video control circuit mounted within the display device, the video control circuit transposing a received signal representing a video image.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 35 words

The head mounted display device of claim 8 further comprising a manually adjustable controller mounted on the display device to adjust a control signal delivered by the video control circuit to the matrix display elements.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 23 words

The head mounted display device of claim 1 further comprising a display controller for adjusting a distance between the first and second apertures.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 19 words

The head mounted display device of claim 1 wherein the matrix display is an active matrix liquid crystal display.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 43 words

The head mounted display device of claim 1 wherein the sizing mechanism comprises a first rail and a second rail wherein the first rail and the second rail are moveable relative to each other to expand or contract the size of the headband.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 14 words

The head mounted display of claim 1 wherein the mechanism comprises a rotating member.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 204 words

A head mounted display device comprising: a matrix display assembly including a light source, a matrix display element having a display area with a diagonal length no grater than 1.654 inches, the display element forming images of a first orientation, only one mirror and a lens, the mirror reflecting the formed images through the lens such that the lens magnifies a reflected image from the display element; a housing for holding the matrix display assembly relative to the head of a display user, the housing having an aperture through which the user can view images in a second orientation; a mounting frame on which the matrix display assembly is mounted such that the matrix display assembly can slide along a first axis across the user's field of view relative to the mounting frame; a hinge that connects the housing to a headband such that the matrix display assembly can be rotated about a second axis, the second axis being parallel to the first axis, the headband having a sizing mechanism to expand or contract the size of the headband; and a mechanism coupled to the sizing mechanism for controlling the length of a cable within the headband during expansion or contraction of the headband.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 204 words

A head mounted display device comprising: a matrix display assembly including a light source, a matrix display element having a display area with a diagonal length no grater than 1.654 inches, the display element forming images of a first orientation, only one mirror and a lens, the mirror reflecting the formed images through the lens such that the lens magnifies a reflected image from the display element; a housing for holding the matrix display assembly relative to the head of a display user, the housing having an aperture through which the user can view images in a second orientation; a mounting frame on which the matrix display assembly is mounted such that the matrix display assembly can slide along a first axis across the user's field of view relative to the mounting frame; a hinge that connects the housing to a headband such that the matrix display assembly can be rotated about a second axis, the second axis being parallel to the first axis, the headband having a sizing mechanism to expand or contract the size of the headband; and a mechanism coupled to the sizing mechanism for controlling the length of a cable within the headband during expansion or contraction of the headband.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 20 words

The head mounted display device of claim 14 wherein the matrix display element comprises an active matrix liquid crystal display.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 19 words

The head mounted display device of claim 14 wherein the matrix display element comprises an active matrix electroluminescent display.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 15 words

The head mounted display device of claim 14 further comprising a pair of audio transducers.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 18 words

The head mounted display device of claim 14 further comprising a moveable nose bridge mounted on the housing.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 18 words

The head mounted display device of claim 14 wherein the matrix display element is a passive matrix display.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 31 words

The head mounted display device of claim 14 further comprising a video control circuit mounted within the display device, the video control circuit converting a video image to the first orientation.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 43 words

The head mounted display device of claim 14 wherein the sizing mechanism comprises a first rail and a second rail wherein the first rail and the second rail are moveable relative to each other to expand or contract the size of the headband.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 14 words

The head mounted display of claim 14 wherein the mechanism comprises a rotating member.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 249 words

A head mounted display device comprising: a matrix display assembly including a light source, a horizontally oriented matrix display element having a display area with a diagonal length no greater than 1.654 inches, only one mirror to reflect light from the display element from a first optical path to a second optical path and a lens positioned along the second optical path, the first optical path being vertically oriented relative to an eye of a user and the second optical path being oriented along the optical axis of the eye of the user such that the lens magnifies a reflected image from the display element; a housing for holding the matrix display assembly relative to the head of the user, the housing having an aperture through which the user can view the matrix display element; a mounting frame on which the matrix display assembly is mounted such that the matrix display assembly can slide along the mounting frame; a headband on which the mounting frame is mounted with a hinge such that the mounting frame can be rotated relative to the headband, the headband having a sizing mechanism to expand or contract the size of the headband; a mechanism coupled to the sizing mechanism for controlling the length of a cable within the headband during expansion or contraction of the headband; and a focus adjust mechanism that controls a distance between the matrix display element and the lens by movement of the matrix display element in the vertical direction.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 249 words

A head mounted display device comprising: a matrix display assembly including a light source, a horizontally oriented matrix display element having a display area with a diagonal length no greater than 1.654 inches, only one mirror to reflect light from the display element from a first optical path to a second optical path and a lens positioned along the second optical path, the first optical path being vertically oriented relative to an eye of a user and the second optical path being oriented along the optical axis of the eye of the user such that the lens magnifies a reflected image from the display element; a housing for holding the matrix display assembly relative to the head of the user, the housing having an aperture through which the user can view the matrix display element; a mounting frame on which the matrix display assembly is mounted such that the matrix display assembly can slide along the mounting frame; a headband on which the mounting frame is mounted with a hinge such that the mounting frame can be rotated relative to the headband, the headband having a sizing mechanism to expand or contract the size of the headband; a mechanism coupled to the sizing mechanism for controlling the length of a cable within the headband during expansion or contraction of the headband; and a focus adjust mechanism that controls a distance between the matrix display element and the lens by movement of the matrix display element in the vertical direction.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 22 words

The head mounted display device of claim 23 wherein the focus adjust mechanism moves the matrix display element in the vertical direction.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 24 words

The head mounted display device of claim 23 wherein the mounting frame includes three longitudinal members to which the matrix display assembly is coupled.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 19 words

The head mount display device of claim 23 wherein the matrix display assembly further includes a diffractive optic element.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 19 words

The head mounted display device of claim 23 wherein the lens has a focal length of about one inch.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 25 words

The head mounted display device of claim 23 wherein matrix display element has an apparent distance from the user of at least about fifteen feet.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 17 words

The head mounted display device of claim 28 wherein the apparent distance is adjustable by the user.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 43 words

The head mounted display device of claim 23 wherein the sizing mechanism comprises a first rail and a second rail wherein the first rail and the second rail are moveable relative to each other to expand or contract the size of the headband.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 14 words

The head mounted display of claim 23 wherein the mechanism comprises a rotating member.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 178 words

A head mounted display device comprising: a matrix display assembly including a light source, a matrix display element having a diagonal length no greater than 1.654 inches, the display element forming images of a first orientation, only one mirror and a lens, the mirror reflecting the formed images through the lens such that the lens magnifies a reflected image from the display element; a housing for holding the matrix display assembly relative to the head of a display user, the housing having an aperture through which the user can view images in a second orientation; a mounting frame on which the matrix display assembly is mounted such that the matrix display assembly can slide along a first axis across the user's field of view relative to the mounting frame; a headband on which the mounting frame is mounted, the headband having a sizing mechanism to expand or contract the size of the headband; and a mechanism coupled to the sizing mechanism for controlling the length of a cable within the headband during expansion or contraction of the headband.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 178 words

A head mounted display device comprising: a matrix display assembly including a light source, a matrix display element having a diagonal length no greater than 1.654 inches, the display element forming images of a first orientation, only one mirror and a lens, the mirror reflecting the formed images through the lens such that the lens magnifies a reflected image from the display element; a housing for holding the matrix display assembly relative to the head of a display user, the housing having an aperture through which the user can view images in a second orientation; a mounting frame on which the matrix display assembly is mounted such that the matrix display assembly can slide along a first axis across the user's field of view relative to the mounting frame; a headband on which the mounting frame is mounted, the headband having a sizing mechanism to expand or contract the size of the headband; and a mechanism coupled to the sizing mechanism for controlling the length of a cable within the headband during expansion or contraction of the headband.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 32 words

The head mounted display device of claim 32 wherein the matrix display element comprises an active matrix liquid crystal display having an active area with a diagonal of 0.820 inches or less.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 19 words

The head mounted display device of claim 32 wherein the matrix display element comprises an active matrix electroluminescent display.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 15 words

The head mounted display device of claim 32 further comprising a pair of audio transducers.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 18 words

The head mounted display device of claim 32 further comprising a moveable nose bridge mounted on the housing.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 18 words

The head mounted display device of claim 32 wherein the matrix display element is a passive matrix display.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 31 words

The head mounted display device of claim 32 further comprising a video control circuit mounted within the display device, the video control circuit converting a video image to the first orientation.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 43 words

The head mounted display device of claim 32 wherein the sizing mechanism comprises a first rail and a second rail wherein the first rail and the second rail are moveable relative to each other to expand or contract the size of the headband.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 14 words

The head mounted display of claim 32 wherein the mechanism comprises a rotating member.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-09-09	2006-03-11	2006-09-10	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-09-09	2010-03-11	2010-09-10	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-09-09	2014-03-11	2014-09-10	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Head-mounted matrix display

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