Wearable display for stereoscopic viewing

Abstract

A wearable display apparatus for displaying an image has a source of modulated laser light and a scanning apparatus energizable to scan the modulated laser light from the source in a raster pattern and into the eye for forming an image. The scanning apparatus directs light into the eye of the viewer from a distance to the eye that is within the object focal length of the eye, positioned below the horizontal line of sight of the viewer, and disposed within a lower portion of the vertical peripheral field of view and substantially outside of the normal vertical field of view of the viewer. An optical fiber is disposed to direct the modulated laser light from the source to the scanning apparatus. A retaining band grips against the sides of the viewer's head and that seats the scanning apparatus against the viewer's face along or below the cheekbone.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A wearable display system for displaying an image to an eye of a viewer, said eye having a reference line of sight, said wearable display system comprising: a source of modulated laser light; and a scanning apparatus that is energizable to scan the modulated laser light from the source in a raster pattern and into the eye of the viewer for forming a virtual image, wherein the scanning apparatus is positioned within a distance of 16.7 mm from the eye of the viewer in a vertical peripheral vision field of the eye that is greater than 30 degrees below the reference line of sight and less than 75 degrees below the reference line of sight. 
     
     
         22 . The system as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the apparatus includes a retaining band that grips against sides of a viewer's head and that seats the scanning apparatus against a viewer's face along the cheekbone. 
     
     
         23 . The system as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the apparatus includes an optical fiber that is disposed to direct the modulated laser light from the source to the scanning apparatus. 
     
     
         24 . The system as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the source of modulated light, the scanning apparatus, and the optical fiber form a left optical system that forms an image for a left eye and wherein the left optical system is duplicated to form a right optical system that forms a corresponding image for a right eye. 
     
     
         25 . The system as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein a central portion of a retaining band between the scanning apparatus for the left and right eyes extends over the nasion. 
     
     
         26 . The system as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the scanning apparatus comprises a microelectromechanical optical system device. 
     
     
         27 . The system as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the scanning apparatus further comprises a folding mirror that lies along a light path to a scanning mirror. 
     
     
         28 . The system as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the scanning apparatus comprises a plurality of folding mirrors. 
     
     
         29 . The system as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the scanning apparatus further comprises a beam expander that expands a width of a beam of the modulated laser light. 
     
     
         30 . The system as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the scanning apparatus includes a relay lens that is disposed to direct light into the eye of the viewer from a distance to the eye that is no more than 16.7 mm. 
     
     
         31 . A wearable display system for displaying an image to an eye of a viewer, said eye having a reference line of sight, said wearable display system comprising: a source of modulated laser light; and a scanning apparatus that is energizable to scan the modulated laser light from the source in a raster pattern and into the eye of the viewer for forming a virtual image from a distance of no more than 16.7 mm, wherein the scanning apparatus is positioned in a vertical peripheral vision field of the eye that is below the reference line of sight. 
     
     
         32 . The system as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the apparatus includes a retaining band that grips against sides of a viewer's head and that seats the scanning apparatus against a viewer's face along the cheekbone. 
     
     
         33 . The system as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the apparatus includes an optical fiber that is disposed to direct the modulated laser light from the source to the scanning apparatus. 
     
     
         34 . The system as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the source of modulated light, the scanning apparatus, and the optical fiber form a left optical system that forms an image for a left eye and wherein the left optical system is duplicated to form a right optical system that forms a corresponding image for a right eye. 
     
     
         35 . The system as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein a central portion of a retaining band between the scanning apparatus for the left and right eyes extends over the nasion. 
     
     
         36 . The system as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the scanning apparatus comprises a microelectromechanical optical system device that is positioned within a distance of 16.7 mm from the eye of the viewer. 
     
     
         37 . The system as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the scanning apparatus further comprises at least one folding mirror that lies along a light path to a scanning mirror. 
     
     
         38 . The system as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the scanning apparatus further comprises a beam expander that expands a width of a beam of the modulated laser light. 
     
     
         39 . The system as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the scanning apparatus includes a relay lens that is disposed to direct light into the eye of the viewer from a distance to the eye that is no more than 16.7 mm. 
     
     
         40 . A wearable display system for displaying an image to an eye of a viewer, said eye having a reference line of sight and a normal usable vertical field of view below the reference line of sight, said wearable display system comprising: a source of modulated laser light; and a scanning apparatus that is energizable to scan the modulated laser light from the source in a raster pattern and into the eye of the viewer for forming a virtual image, wherein the scanning apparatus is positioned in a vertical peripheral vision field of the eye that is outside the normal usable vertical field of view below the reference line of sight, and wherein the scanning apparatus is disposed to direct light into the eye of the viewer from a distance to the eye that is no more than 16.7 mm.