Adjustment of Location of Superimposed Image

摘要

An optical system has an aperture through which virtual and real-world images are viewable along a viewing axis. The optical system may be incorporated into a head-mounted display (HMD). By modulating the length of the optical path along an optical axis within the optical system, the virtual image may appear to be at different distances away from the HMD wearer. The wearable computer of the HMD may be used to control the length of the optical path. The length of the optical path may be modulated using, for example, a piezoelectric actuator or stepper motor. By determining the distance to an object with respect to the HMD using a range-finder or autofocus camera, the virtual images may be controlled to appear at various distances and locations in relation to the target object and/or HMD wearer.

主权项

1. A wearable device comprising:
a display panel configured to generate a light pattern; an image former configured to form a virtual image from the light pattern generated by the display panel; a viewing window configured to allow outside light in from outside of the optical system; a proximal beam splitter through which the outside light and the virtual image are viewable along a viewing axis; a distal beam splitter optically coupled to the display panel and the proximal beam splitter; an optical path length modulator configured to adjust a length of an optical path between the display panel and the image former, wherein the optical path passes through the distal beam splitter and proximal beam splitter, and wherein the optical path length modulator is configured to adjust a position of the distal beam splitter with respect to the proximal beam splitter; and a computer, wherein the computer is configured to control an apparent distance of the virtual image using the optical path length modulator based on a distance to a target object viewable through the proximal beam splitter.