阅读说明：本技术 用于瞳孔转向的集成增强现实头戴式显示器 (Integrated augmented reality head mounted display for pupil steering ) 是由 道格拉斯·罗伯特·兰曼 于 2018-12-18 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种用于向佩戴者提供增强现实内容的头戴式显示设备包括眼睛跟踪器、投光器、光束转向器和组合器。眼睛跟踪器被配置成确定佩戴者的眼睛的瞳孔的位置。投光器被配置为投射光以用于渲染图像。光束转向器被配置成基于瞳孔的位置来改变来自投光器的光的方向。组合器被配置为将来自投光器的光和来自头戴式显示设备外部的光组合,用于提供所渲染的图像和与来自头戴式显示设备外部的光相对应的真实图像的重叠。(A head-mounted display device for providing augmented reality content to a wearer includes an eye tracker, a light projector, a beam redirector, and a combiner. The eye tracker is configured to determine a position of a pupil of an eye of the wearer. The light projector is configured to project light for rendering an image. The beam redirector is configured to redirect light from the light projector based on the position of the pupil. The combiner is configured to combine light from the light projector and light from outside the head mounted display device for providing an overlay of the rendered image and a real image corresponding to the light from outside the head mounted display device.)

1. A head-mounted display device for providing augmented reality content to a wearer, the device comprising:

an eye tracker configured to determine a position of a pupil of the wearer's eye;

a light projector configured to project light to render an image based at least on the augmented reality content;

a beam redirector configured to redirect light from the light projector based on a position of the pupil; and

a combiner configured to combine light from the light projector and light from outside the head mounted display device for providing an overlay of the rendered image and a real image, the real image corresponding to light from outside the head mounted display device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the light projector is configured to project light onto an area located within a 6mm x 6mm square area on the plane of the pupil of the eye of the wearer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the light projector is configured to project light onto an area having a characteristic dimension of at least 3 mm.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the combiner does not include a grating coupled to a waveguide.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the light projector comprises one or more of: a spatial light modulator or a scanning mirror projector.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the light projector is coupled with one or more adjustable focus lenses.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the light projector is coupled to the aperture and the one or more lenses.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the beam redirector comprises one or more actuators.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the combiner includes one or more of: a fresnel combiner, a flat combiner, an ellipsoidal mirror, one or more tunable waveguides, or a holographic combiner.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the combiner is configured to reflect light from the light projector and transmit light from outside the head-mounted display device.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the eye tracker comprises one or more of: a pupil image tracker, a retinal reflex tracker, a depth sensor, or a flash tracker.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the beam redirector is integrated with the light projector.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the beam redirector is integrated with the optical combiner.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the eye tracker is integrated with the light projector.

15. A method of providing augmented reality content to a wearer using a head mounted display device comprising an eye tracker, a light projector, a beam redirector, and a combiner, the method comprising:

determining, with the eye tracker, a location of a pupil of the wearer's eye;

projecting light with the light projector to render an image based at least on the augmented reality content;

changing, with the beam redirector, a direction of light from the light projector based on the position of the pupil; and

combining, with the combiner, light from the light projector and light from outside the head mounted display device for providing an overlay of the rendered image and a real image, the real image corresponding to the light from outside the head mounted display device.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising:

projecting light with the light projector onto an area located within a 6mm x 6mm square area on the plane of the pupil of the wearer's eye.

17. The method of claim 15, comprising:

projecting light with the light projector onto an area having a characteristic dimension of at least 3 mm.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the combiner does not include a grating coupled to a waveguide.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the light projector includes one or more adjustable focus lenses.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the light projector includes an aperture and one or more lenses.

Technical Field

The present application relates generally to display devices and, more particularly, to head mounted display devices.

Background

Head mounted display devices (also referred to herein as head mounted displays) are becoming increasingly popular as a means of providing visual information to users. For example, head mounted display devices are used for virtual reality and augmented reality operations.

However, the size and weight of conventional head mounted displays limit the applications of head mounted displays.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, there is a need for a compact and light head mounted display to enhance the virtual reality and/or augmented reality experience of a user.

In particular, conventional head mounted display devices (e.g., configured for augmented reality operations) project images over a large area around the user's eyes in order to provide a wide field of view in all gaze directions (e.g., to handle pupil steering). However, projecting an image over a large area results in a reduction in the brightness of the projected image. Compensating for the reduced brightness typically requires high intensity light sources, which are typically large and heavy and have high power consumption.

The disclosed display device reduces or eliminates the above-described deficiencies and other problems associated with conventional head mounted displays. According to some embodiments, the location of the pupil of the user's eye is determined (e.g., using an eye tracker) and an image is projected onto the reduced area towards the pupil of the eye. By reducing the area over which the image is projected, the need for a high intensity light source is reduced or eliminated. This in turn allows for a compact, light and low power consumption head mounted display.

According to some embodiments, a head mounted display device for providing augmented reality content to a wearer includes an eye tracker, a light projector, a beam redirector, and a combiner. The eye tracker is configured to determine a position of a pupil of an eye of the wearer, the light projector is configured to project light to render an image based at least on augmented reality content, the beam redirector is configured to redirect the light from the light projector based on the position of the pupil, and the combiner is configured to combine the light from the light projector and light from outside the head mounted display device for providing an overlay of the rendered image and a real image, the real image corresponding to the light from outside the head mounted display device.

According to some embodiments, a method of providing augmented reality content to a wearer using a head-mounted display device including an eye tracker, a light projector, a beam redirector, and a combiner includes determining a location of a pupil of an eye with the eye tracker. The method also includes projecting light with a light projector to render an image based at least on augmented reality content, and changing a direction of the light from the light projector with a beam redirector based on a position of a pupil. The method also includes combining, with a combiner, light from the light projector and light from outside the head mounted display device for providing an overlay of the rendered image and a real image, the real image corresponding to the light from outside the head mounted display device.

According to some embodiments, a method for providing an image to a wearer using a head mounted display device including a light projector and a beam shifter includes projecting light with the light projector to render an image based at least on virtual reality content and/or augmented reality content, and changing a path of the light projected from the light projector based on a position of a pupil of an eye of the wearer with the beam shifter.

According to some embodiments, a head-mounted display device for providing an image to a wearer includes a light projector configured to project light to render an image based at least on virtual reality content and/or augmented reality content, and a beam shifter configured to change a path of the light projected from the light projector based on a position of a pupil of an eye of the wearer.

According to some embodiments, a head-mounted display device for providing augmented reality content to a wearer includes a first light projector configured to project light to render an image based at least on the augmented reality content and a first Fresnel (Fresnel) combiner configured to combine light from the first light projector and light from outside the head-mounted display device for providing an overlay of the rendered image and a real image corresponding to the light from outside the head-mounted display device.

In accordance with some embodiments, a method of providing augmented reality content to a wearer using a head mounted display device including a first light projector and a first fresnel combiner includes projecting light with the first light projector to render an image based at least on the augmented reality content, and combining light from the first light projector and light from outside the head mounted display device with the first fresnel combiner for providing an overlay of the rendered image and a real image, the real image corresponding to the light from outside the head mounted display device.

According to some embodiments, a head-mounted display device for providing augmented reality content to a wearer includes a light projector and a flat (pantake) combiner. The light projector is configured to project light having a first polarization to render an image based at least on augmented reality content. The flat combiner is configured to combine light from the light projector and light from outside the head mounted display device for providing an overlay of the rendered image and a real image, the real image corresponding to the light from outside the head mounted display device. The flat combiner is also configured to direct light from the light projector toward a pupil of an eye of the wearer.

In accordance with some embodiments, a method of providing augmented reality content to a wearer using a head mounted display device including a light projector and a flat combiner includes projecting light having a first polarization with the light projector to render an image based at least on the augmented reality content, and combining the light from the light projector and light from outside the head mounted display device with the flat combiner to provide an overlay of the rendered image and a real image, the real image corresponding to the light from outside the head mounted display device. The flat combiner is configured to direct light from the light projector toward the pupil of the eye of the wearer.

According to some embodiments, a head-mounted display device for providing augmented reality content to a wearer includes a light projector configured to project light to render an image based at least on the augmented reality content, an eye tracker configured to determine a location of a pupil of an eye of the wearer, and a beam redirector configured to redirect the light from the light projector based on the location of the pupil.

According to some embodiments, a method for providing augmented reality content to a wearer using a head mounted display device including an eye tracker, a light projector, and a beam redirector includes determining a position of a pupil of an eye of the wearer with the eye tracker and projecting light with the light projector to render an image based at least on the augmented reality content. The method also includes changing a direction of light from the light projector based on a position of the pupil with the beam redirector.

According to some embodiments, a method for providing augmented reality content to a wearer using a head-mounted display device including an eye tracking sensor, a light projector, a beam redirector, and a combiner includes determining a position of a pupil of an eye of the wearer with the eye tracking sensor and projecting light with the light projector to render an image based at least on the augmented reality content. The method also includes changing a direction of light from the light projector based on a position of the pupil with the beam redirector. Light from the beam redirector is directed to a combiner, and the light from the beam redirector and light from outside the head mounted display device are combined by the combiner to provide an overlay of the rendered image and a real image, the real image corresponding to the light from outside the head mounted display device.

According to some embodiments, a head mounted display device for providing augmented reality content to a wearer, the device comprising an eye tracking sensor configured to determine a position of a pupil of an eye of the wearer, a light projector configured to project light to render an image based at least on the augmented reality content, a light beam redirector configured to redirect the light from the light projector based on the position of the pupil, and a combiner configured to combine the light from the light projector and light from outside the head mounted display device for providing an overlay of the rendered image and a real image, the real image corresponding to the light from outside the head mounted display device.

According to some embodiments, a head-mounted display device for providing an image to a wearer includes a focus-supporting light projector configured to project light for rendering the image. The light projected from the focus-enabled light projector corresponds to an image plane selected based at least in part on the position of the pupil of the wearer's eye. The device also includes a beam redirector configured to alter a path of light projected from the light projector that supports focusing based on a position of a pupil of the eye of the wearer.

According to some embodiments, a method for providing an image to a wearer is performed using a head mounted display device comprising a light projector and a beam redirector that support focusing. The method includes projecting light with a light projector that supports focusing to render an image based at least on virtual reality content and/or augmented reality content. The light projected from the focus-enabled light projector corresponds to an image plane selected based at least in part on the position of the pupil of the wearer's eye. The method also includes changing, with the beam redirector, a path of light projected from the light projector that supports focusing based on a position of a pupil of the eye of the wearer.

Accordingly, the disclosed embodiments provide a compact and lightweight display device that may be used for augmented reality and/or virtual reality operations.