Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
WO 95J23994 PCT/US95/0~267
8271
INFORMATION DISPLAY APPARATUS
Field of the Invention
This invention is relates generally to a display apparatus
and more particularly to a heads-up display that is integrated
into a pair of eyeglasses for providing a user with visual
information.
1 0 Background of the Invention
A growing trend in the electronics industry is the
coupling of general purpose data terminals such as notebook
computers, lap-top computers, personal computers and the like
15 with wireless communication devices and consequently
wireless communications capabilities. As will be appreciated,
wireless communication devices have enhanced the personal
mobility of the computer user by providing the individual with
the ability to transmit and receive information virtually any
20 place or time via wireless communications media such as radio
frequency (RF) and /or infrared (IR) channels. These portable
communicating computers are rapidly changing the face of the
industry as we know it today.
In the future, it is readily conceivable that other platforms
25 will support wireless communications capabilities. thereby
offering end users the ability to transmit and/or receive
information via wireless communications media.
Summary of the Invention
Briefly described, the present invention is an information
display apparatus integrated into a pair of eyeglasses for
displaying visual information to the eyeglass wearer. The
apparatus includes a display device mounted on the eyeglass
35 frame for displaying information to the wearer, a plurality of
angled mirrors disposed on a surface of at least one optical
lens, and a mirror connected to the frame and disposed
WO 95/23994 2 1 5 8 2 7 1 PCT/US95/01267
between the display devise and the plurality of angled mirrors
for optically coupling the display device to the plurality of
angled mirrors.
Brief Description of the Drawings~
FIG. 1 illustrates an expanded view of a pair of
eyeglasses employing the heads-up display apparatus of the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is an expanded view of the banded mirror of the
present invention; and
FIG. 3 is a block diagram representation of the receiver
15 shown in FIG. 1.
Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment
Heads-up display devices are well known in the art and
20 are typically employed to project text and/or graphical
information into the field of view of the device user. FIG. 1
illustrates a pair of eyeglasses having an integrated heads-up
display device in accordance with the present invention. The
eyeglasses are considered standard eyeware and include a
25 frame for supporting optical lens 110 including nose support
120 ear supports 130 by which the eyeglasses are held in
place upon a user face during operation. The head-up display
portion of the present invention includes a receiver 140,
display device 150, focusing lens 160, flat mirror 170 and a
30 plurality of angled mirrors 180 disposed on the surface of
optical lens 110.
The receiver 140 receives the information to be
displayed to the user. As will be appreciated by those skilled in
the art, receiver 140 may connect to either a wireless or
35 wireline information network from which the information is
received. In accordance with the preferred embodiment
receiver 140 is a wireless receiver capable of communicating
WO 95/23994 2 1 5 8 2 7 1 PCI/US95/01267
over wireless media such as, but not limited to RF and/or IR
communications channels. In accordance with the preferred
embodiment, receiver 140 is an RF receiver as will be
described in more detail below.
Receiver 140 is coupled to optical display device 150
via video cable 145 in order to present the display device with
the information for presentation to the user. As will be
appreciated, optical display device 150 may comprise any of
the well known visual display devices including, but not limited
to liquid crystal displays (LCD), cathode ray tubes (CRT),
television monitors and light emitting diodes (LEDs). In
accordance with the preferred embodiment, optical display
device 150 is an LCD device like those known in the art and
having a screen 152 (i.e., image plane). In conjuncton with
display device 150, the heads-up display of the present
inventon employs focusing lens 160. Focusing lens 160 in
conjunction with flat mirror 170, angled mirriors 180 and the
lens of the user's eye, operates to focus the image plane object
of display device 150 onto the retina of the user's eye. During
this operation, flat mirror 170 and angled mirrors180 operate to
fold the optical path between the image plane 152 and the
user's retina thereby permitting the heads-up dispaly to
function in the small confines offered by standard eyeware.
The plurality of angled mirrors 180, may collectively be
referred to as a banded mirror. As shown in FIG.1, the angled
mirrored bands or mirrored facets comprising banded mirror
180 are disposed on the inner surface 112 of optical lens 110
and are separated by transparent, non-mirrored facets 185.
The mirrored facets 180 reflect the image plane object of
display device 150 to the user's eye, while the transparent
bands 185 simultaneously permit light entering from the outer
surface 114 of optical lens 110 to enter the user's eye. This
point is further addressed with reference to FIG. 2, which is an
expanded view of the banded mirror 180 of FIG.1. FIC;. 2 is
presented to show that the use of the banded mirror reflects the
flat mirror image into the user's eye.
WO 95/23994 PCT/~JS9S/01267
2~1582rt~ ~
The banded mirror 180 may be covered with plastic or
glass to promote a smooth and easily cleaned surface. The
mirrored facets thereof as well as flat mirror 170 are coated
with a reflective material such as, but not limited to, silver,
5 aluminum and reflective plastics.
FIG. 3 is a partial block diagram representation of
receiver 140 as shown in FIG. 1. It w,illbe appreciated by those
skilled in the art that additional functionality is typically
implemented in such a receiver. Notwithstanding, only those
10 sections necessary for the present invention will be discussed.
As shown receiver 140 comprises a receiver circuit 310, a
video processor 320 and video cable 345. Receiver circuit 310
may comprise any of the well known radio receiver
technologies capable of receiving RF signals, demodulating
15 said signals, and capturing the transmitted data (i.e., voice, text
and/or video). The captured data is then passed to video
procesor 320 which converts the data signals received from
receiver circuit 320 into video signals for transmission to
display device 150 via video cable 145 for further processing
20 prior to display to the device user. Video processors are well
known in the art and have in the past been available by
contacting ATI Technologies Inc. at 3~61 Victoria Park Avenue
Scarborough, Ontario Canada M1W 3S2.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
25 receiver 140 may be modified to include transmit functions
without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It will
further be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the heads-
up display of the present invention may function as the output
terminal of a portable computer and used to transmit and
30 receive information in a wireless environment where mobility is
essential.
What is claimed is:
