See-Through Near Eye Display Optical Dithering

Abstract

According to embodiments of the invention, the invention is an augmented reality system that utilizes a near eye see-through optical module that comprises a transparent or semi-transparent see-through near eye display that is in optical alignment with a micro-lens array. According to certain embodiments of the invention, the augmented reality system comprises generating a virtual image as perceived by an eye of a wearer of the augmented reality system when looking at an object in space having a location in the real world that forms a real image. When utilizing a certain embodiment of the invention the virtual image changes, by way of example only, one or more of its shape, form, depth, 3D effect, location due to the eye or eyes shifting its (their) fixation position due to changing the location of different lighted pixels of the see-through near eye display(s). The invention further discloses various mechanisms to improve the quality of the virtual image and that of the augmented reality image while utilizing a near eye see-through optical module that comprises a see-through near eye display and distance separated and aligned micro-lens array.

1 . A see-through near eye display comprising pixels, wherein the pixels are in optical communication with a micro-lens array comprising micro-lenses, wherein one of the pixels, the micro-lens array, the micro-lenses, a patch comprising a plurality of pixels, or combinations thereof, are dithered, and wherein the x and/or y axis locations of one of the pixels, the micro-lens array, the micro-lenses, the patch comprising a plurality of pixels, or combinations thereof, are varied by an amount smaller than a pitch of the respective pixels, micro-lens array, micro-lenses, patch comprising a plurality of pixels, or combinations thereof 
     
     
         2 . The see-through near eye display of  claim 1 , wherein the see-through near eye display provides an offset of overlapping images on a retina of a wearer/user of the see-through near eye display. 
     
     
         3 . The see-through near eye display of  claim 1 , wherein the see-through near eye display provides a complete overlapping of images on a retina of a wearer/user of the see-through near eye display. 
     
     
         4 . The see-through near eye display of  claim 1 , wherein the dithering of the pixels, the micro-lens array, the micro-lenses, the patch comprising a plurality of pixels, or combinations thereof, is provided by modifying a pitch of the micro-lens array and/or the micro-lenses. 
     
     
         5 . The see-through near eye display of  claim 1 , wherein the dithering of the pixels, the micro-lens array, the micro-lenses, the patch comprising a plurality of pixels, or combinations thereof, is provided by modifying a pitch of the pixels and/or the patch comprising a plurality of pixels. 
     
     
         6 . The see-through near eye display and micro-lens array of  claim 1 , wherein the see-through near eye display and micro-lens array allow an eye of a wearer/user of the see-through near eye display to see or perceive a virtual image, and wherein a movement of the x and/or y axis location of the eye of the wearer is caused by a change of the virtual image as seen or perceived by the eye of the wearer/user. 
     
     
         7 . The see-through near eye display of  claim 1 , wherein the dithering of the pixels, the micro-lens array, the micro-lenses, the patch comprising a plurality of pixels, or combinations thereof, increases a brightness of a retinal image as seen or perceived by an eye of a wearer/user of the see-through near eye display. 
     
     
         8 . The see-through near eye display of  claim 1 , wherein the dithering of the pixels, the micro-lens array, the micro-lenses, the patch comprising a plurality of pixels, or combinations thereof, increases a resolution of a retinal image as seen or perceived by an eye of a wearer/user of the see-through near eye display. 
     
     
         9 . The see-through near eye display and micro-lens array of  claim 1 , wherein the pixels and the micro-lenses are in optical communication with one another, and wherein the pixels and a corresponding micro-lens are misaligned along the x and/or y axis. 
     
     
         10 . The see-through near eye display and micro-lens array of  claim 1 , wherein an eye of a wearer/user of the see-through near eye display sees, perceives, or experiences augmented reality when looking at and through the combination of the pixels and the micro-lenses. 
     
     
         11 . The see-through near eye display of  claim 10 , wherein the augmented reality as seen, perceived, or experienced by the eye of the wearer/user of the see-through near eye display is enhanced or improved by two or more of the following:
 a. Providing an increased amount of smaller pixels;   b. Providing aspheric micro-lenses;   c. Providing a light aperture around the pixels or the patch comprising a plurality of pixels;   d. Providing a light aperture around the micro-lenses;   e. Providing a light block to prevent light loss projecting away from the eye of the wearer/user;   f. Dithering of the pixels or the patch comprising a plurality of pixels of the see-through near eye display;   g. Dithering the micro-lenses of the micro-lens array;   h. Providing a curved or faceted see-through near eye display;   i. Turning off pixels or patches comprising a plurality of pixels to provide an enhanced image border on a retina of the eye of the wearer/user;   j. Magnifying an image created by the pixels, the micro-lens array, the micro-lenses, and/or the patch comprising a plurality of pixels by less than 8×;   k. Recessing each pixel or each patch comprising a plurality of pixels within a transparent substrate and metallizing a surface of one or more sides of the recess; and/or   l. Increasing a number of pixels for filling an image on a fovea, and lowering a number of pixels for filling an image on a macular area other than the fovea.