Binocular viewing system

Abstract

A binocular viewing system provides images from electronic display elements to the left and right eyes of a user transmitted via right eye and left eye display assemblies connected by a nose bridging element. The binocular viewing system includes an interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism to accommodate multiple users. Accommodation for vision correction and a focus mechanism may also be provided. Component parts can be formed integrally. A source of image date is communication with the electronic display elements includes a television, a digital video disc player, an MPEG4 player, a camcorder, a digital camera, a video tape player, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, or a cellular telephone.

1 . A binocular viewing system comprising: 
 a right eye display assembly and a left eye display assembly connected by a nose bridging element, each display assembly comprising: 
 an electronic display element operative to provide an image, and  
 an eyepiece assembly comprising an eyelens and at least one at least partially reflective surface arranged to relay light from the electronic display element toward an eye of a user;  
   a frame wearable on a user's head, the right eye display assembly and the left eye display assembly mounted to the frame; and    a right eyeglass lens and a left eyeglass lens detachably mountable to the frame.    
     
     
         2 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a detachable lens retainer configured to retain the right eyeglass lens and the left eyeglass lens in the frame.  
     
     
         3 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 2 , wherein the detachable lens retainer comprises a right retainer for the right eyeglass lens and a left retainer for the left eyeglass lens.  
     
     
         4 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 2 , wherein the detachable lens retainer is removably attached to the frame at hinges at temples of the frame.  
     
     
         5 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 2 , wherein the detachable lens retainer is removably attached to the frame at nose pieces of the frame.  
     
     
         6 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a right detachable lens retainer configured to retain the right eyeglass lens in the frame and a left detachable lens retainer configured to retain the left eyeglass lens in the frame.  
     
     
         7 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the right eyeglass lens and the left eyeglass lens provide optical correction for a user.  
     
     
         8 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 1 , further comprising an interpupillary adjustment mechanism configured to movably mount the right eye display assembly and the left eye display assembly to the nose bridging element to adjust a spacing between the eyepiece assembly of the right eye display assembly and the eyepiece assembly of the left eye display assembly, whereby an interpupillary distance between the user's eyes can be accommodated.  
     
     
         9 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 1 , wherein the right eye display assembly and the left eye display assembly each further comprise an optical pipe element.  
     
     
         10 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 1 , wherein the nose bridging element comprises an optical pipe.  
     
     
         11 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 1 , wherein the right eye display assembly and the left eye display assembly each further include a focusing adjustment mechanism.  
     
     
         12 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic display elements are in communication with a source of image data.  
     
     
         13 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 12 , wherein the source of image date comprises a television, a digital video disc player, an MPEG4 player, a camcorder, a digital camera, a video tape player, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, or a cellular telephone.  
     
     
         14 . A binocular viewing system comprising: 
 a nose bridging element arrangeable over a user's nose; and    a right eye display assembly and a left eye display assembly mounted to the nose bridging elements, each comprising: 
 an electronic display element operative to provide an image, and  
 an optical pipe element comprising an integral solid transparent pipe and eyepiece assembly, the integral solid transparent pipe and eyepiece assembly arranged to relay light internally from the electronic display element to the user's eye.  
   
     
     
         15 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 14 , wherein the right eye display assembly and the left eye display assembly comprise a single injection molding.  
     
     
         16 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 14 , wherein the right eye display assembly and the left eye display assembly each is comprised of an optical plastic material.  
     
     
         17 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 14 , wherein the right eye display assembly and the left eye display assembly each is comprised of polymethylmethacrylate, polycarbonate resin, epoxy resin, urethane, cyclo-olefin, or glass.  
     
     
         18 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 14 , further comprising an interpupillary adjustment mechanism configured to movably mount the right eye display assembly and the left eye display assembly to the nose bridging element to adjust a spacing between the eyepiece assembly of the right eye display assembly and the eyepiece assembly of the left eye display assembly, whereby an interpupillary distance between the user's eyes can be accommodated.  
     
     
         19 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 14 , wherein the nose bridging element comprises a rail element, and the interpupillary adjustment mechanism comprises a sliding member integral with each optical pipe element and configured to slide along the rail element.  
     
     
         20 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 19 , wherein the rail element includes an elongated recess therein, and the sliding members are retained within the recess for sliding movement along the recess.  
     
     
         21 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 20 , wherein the sliding members include an elongated dovetail projection on a surface of the optical pipe element and the elongated recess has a mating configuration to receive the dovetail projection.  
     
     
         22 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 14 , wherein the interpupillary adjustment mechanism is integral with the optical pipe elements.  
     
     
         23 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 14 , wherein the optical pipe elements include a cavity for retention of circuitry or wiring connecting the electronic display elements.  
     
     
         24 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 14 , wherein the nose bridging element includes a cavity for retention of circuitry or wiring connecting the electronic display elements.  
     
     
         25 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 14 , wherein the transparent pipe of the optical pipe element further includes two optical surfaces arranged to permit passage of ambient light through the two optical surfaces toward the user's eye.  
     
     
         26 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 14 , wherein the eyepiece assembly of each optical pipe element comprises a turning mirror and an eyelens arranged to direct light toward the eye.  
     
     
         27 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 14 , wherein each eyepiece assembly includes an eyelens selected to minimize off-axis aberrations.  
     
     
         28 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 27 , wherein the eyelens includes an aspherical lens.  
     
     
         29 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 27 , wherein the diameter of the eyelens is selected to accommodate a range of interpupillary distances.  
     
     
         30 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 14 , wherein the nose bridging element comprises an optical pipe element connecting the right eye display assembly and the left eye display assembly.  
     
     
         31 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 14 , wherein the nose bridging element comprises an optical pipe aligned with the optical pipes of the right eye display assembly and the left eye display assembly.  
     
     
         32 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 14 , wherein the optical pipes of the right eye display assembly and the left eye display assembly are curved to accommodate curvature of a user's face.  
     
     
         33 . A binocular viewing system comprising: 
 a right eye display assembly and a left eye display assembly connected by a nose bridging element, each display assembly comprising: 
 an electronic display element operative to provide an image, and  
 an eyepiece assembly comprising an optical pipe element and a surface arranged to relay light from the electronic display element toward an eye of a user;  
   a source of image data in communication with the electronic display element, the source of image data comprising a television, a digital video disc player, an MPEG4 player, a camcorder, a digital camera, a video tape player, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, or a cellular telephone.    
     
     
         34 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 33 , further comprising an interpupillary adjustment mechanism configured to movably mount the right eye display assembly and the left eye display assembly to the nose bridging element to adjust a spacing between the eyepiece assembly of the right eye display assembly and the eyepiece assembly of the left eye display assembly, whereby an interpupillary distance between the user's eyes can be accommodated.  
     
     
         35 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 33 , wherein the right eye display assembly and the left eye display assembly each further include a focusing adjustment mechanism.  
     
     
         36 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 33 , wherein the nose bridging element includes a cavity for retention of circuitry or wiring connecting the electronic display elements.  
     
     
         37 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 33 , further comprising temple housings disposed at ends of the right eye display assembly and the left eye display assembly, cavities disposed in the temple housings to hold the electronic display elements and service loops of circuitry or wiring.  
     
     
         38 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 33 , wherein the right eye display assembly and the left eye display assembly are arranged in a curved configuration to accommodate curvature of a user's face.  
     
     
         39 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 33 , further comprising a frame wearable on a user's head, the right eye display assembly and the left eye display assembly mounted to the frame.  
     
     
         40 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 39 , further comprising a right eyeglass lens and a left eyeglass lens detachably mountable to the frame.  
     
     
         41 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 33 , further comprising a frame wearable on a user's head, the frame including temple pieces, audio transducers attached to the temple pieces.  
     
     
         42 . The binocular viewing system of  claim 33 , further comprising a frame wearable on a user's head, the frame including temple pieces, a microphone attached to at least one of the temple pieces.