Wearable Heads-up Display With Integrated Finger-tracking Input Sensor

Abstract

Disclosed are systems, methods, and devices for interfacing with a wearable heads-up display via a finger-operable input device. The wearable heads-up display may include a display element for receiving and displaying display information received from a processor, and may also include a wearable frame structure supporting the display element and having a projection extending away from the display element. The projection may be configured to secure the heads-up display to a user's body in a manner such that the display element is disposed within a field of view of the user. A finger-operable input device secured to the wearable frame structure is configured to sense at least one of a position and movement of a finger along a planar direction relative to a surface of the input device, and to provide corresponding input information to the processor.

1 . A system comprising:
 a processor;   a display element, wherein the display element is configured to receive display information from the processor and to display the display information;   a wearable frame structure supporting the display element, the wearable frame structure comprising two projections disposed on opposite sides of a front portion and extending away from the front portion, wherein the wearable frame structure is configured to be worn in a position for viewing the display information displayed by the display element, and wherein the display element is coupled to a first projection of the two projections; and   a finger-operable input device secured to the first projection and configured to provide input information to the processor and sense at least one of a position and movement of a finger along a planar direction relative to a surface of the finger-operable input device.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to transmit new display information to the display element responsive to the processor receiving the input information. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the display information comprises at least one symbol indicating a possible input operation that may be made using the finger-operable input device and one of a function and a selection associated with the possible input operation. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the finger-operable input device is translucent. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second finger-operable input device secured to the wearable frame structure via at least one of the two projections and configured to provide input information to the processor and sense at least one of a position and movement of a finger along a planar direction relative to a surface of the second finger-operable input device. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the finger-operable input device comprises a glass substrate. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the finger-operable input device comprises a plastic substrate. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the display element comprises a projector element. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the finger-operable input device comprises a capacitive sensing, resistance sensing, and surface acoustic wave (SAW) touch sensitive pad. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the finger-operable input device comprises an optical imaging device. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 providing, by a processor, display information to a display element, wherein the display element is supported by a wearable frame structure comprising two projections disposed on opposite sides of a front portion and extending away from the front portion, wherein the wearable frame structure is configured to be worn in a position for viewing the display information displayed by the display element, and wherein the display element is coupled to a first projection of the two projections;   receiving, by the processor, input information provided by a finger-operable input device, wherein the finger-operable input device is configured to sense at least one of a position and movement of a finger along a planar direction relative to a surface of the finger-operable input device, wherein the input information is representative of the at least one of the position and movement of the finger along the planar direction, wherein the finger-operable input device is secured to the wearable frame structure via the first projection; and   providing, by the processor, new display information to the display element responsive to the processor receiving the input information.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the display information comprises at least one symbol indicating a possible input operation that may be made using the finger-operable input device and one of a function and a selection associated with the possible input operation, and
 wherein receiving input information comprises receiving an indication of the possible input operation.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the finger-operable input device is translucent. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving, by the processor, input information provided by a second finger-operable input device secured to the wearable frame structure via at least one of the two projections and configured to provide input information to the processor and sense at least one of a position and movement of a finger along a planar direction relative to a surface of the second finger-operable input device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising projecting the display information using a projector element in the display element. 
     
     
         16 . An article of manufacture including a computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:
 providing, by a processor, display information to a display element, wherein the display element is supported by a wearable frame structure comprising two projections disposed on opposite sides of a front portion and extending away from the front portion, wherein the wearable frame structure is configured to be worn in a position for viewing the display information displayed by the display element, and wherein the display element is coupled to a first projection of the two projections;   receiving, by the processor, input information provided by a finger-operable input device, wherein the finger-operable input device is configured to sense at least one of a position and movement of a finger along a planar direction relative to a surface of the finger-operable input device, wherein the input information is representative of the at least one of the position and movement of the finger along the planar direction, wherein the finger-operable input device is secured to the wearable frame structure via the first projection; and   providing, by the processor, new display information to the display element responsive to the processor receiving the input information.   
     
     
         17 . The article of manufacture of  claim 16 , wherein the display information comprises at least one symbol indicating a possible input operation that may be made using the finger-operable input device and one of a function and a selection associated with the possible input operation, and
 wherein receiving input information comprises receiving an indication of the possible input operation.   
     
     
         18 . The article of manufacture of  claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving, by the processor, input information provided by a second finger-operable input device secured to the wearable frame structure via at least one of the two projections and configured to provide input information to the processor and sense at least one of a position and movement of a finger along a planar direction relative to a surface of the second finger-operable input device. 
     
     
         19 . The article of manufacture of  claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise projecting the display information using a projector element in the display element. 
     
     
         20 . The article of manufacture of  claim 16 , wherein the finger-operable input device is translucent.