Heads up display systems for swimming goggles

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a heads up display (HUD) system configured for use with a pair of swimming goggles comprising first and second eye cups, a nose bridge connected to inner sides of the eye cups, and strap mounting portions on outer sides of the eye cups. The HUD system comprises an electronics and optics modules. The electronics module comprises a water tight housing and a processor, memory, power supply, sensors and a display within the water tight housing. The processor processes signals from the sensors to determine swimming performance data and controls the display to generate an image containing the swimming performance data. The optics module is mounted on one of the eye cups and is coupled to the electronics module for receiving the image from the display. The optics module extends from the electronics module and has one or more light directing features for redirecting the image toward an eye of a user to generate a redirected image.

1 . A heads up display (HUD) system configured for use with a pair of swimming goggles comprising first and second eye cups, a nose bridge connected to an inner side of each of the first and second eye cups, and a strap mounting portion on an outer side of each of the first and second eye cups, the HUD system comprising:
 an electronics module comprising a water tight housing and a processor, memory, power supply, one or more sensors and a display within the water tight housing, wherein the processor processes signals from the one or more sensors to determine swimming performance data and controls the display to generate an image containing the swimming performance data; and   an optics module extending from the electronics module for receiving the image from the display, the optics module mounted on one of the first and second eye cups and comprising an outer transparent surface and one or more light directing features for redirecting the image toward an eye of a user to generate a redirected image, wherein the optics module has a gap between the one or more light directing features and the outer transparent surface to allow for total internal reflection of light from the display.   
     
     
         2 . The HUD system of  claim 1  wherein the optics module is integrated into one of the first and second eye cups. 
     
     
         3 . The HUD system of  claim 2  wherein the one of the first and second eye cups comprises a mounting portion adapted to receive the electronics portion. 
     
     
         4 . The HUD system of  claim 2  wherein the optics module comprises:
 a collimating optic along an optical axis of the display, the collimating optic having a first freeform surface facing the display and a second freeform surface facing away from the display; 
 a waveguide having a third freeform surface facing the second freeform surface, opposed front and back surfaces at obtuse angles to an optical axis of the third freeform surface, and a beam splitter surface between the opposed front and back surfaces; and, 
 a corrective optic having a beam splitter surface conforming to the beam splitter surface of the waveguide, and having opposed front and back surfaces co-planar with the front and back surfaces of the waveguide. 
 
     
     
         5 . The HUD system of  claim 4  wherein the one of the first and second eye cups comprises an inner wall, and a flange extending outwardly from around a periphery of the inner wall to define a cavity for the optical module, wherein the optical module comprises a cap attached to the flange, the cap comprising the outer transparent surface, and wherein the waveguide is held captive between the cap and the inner wall with the gap defined between the front surface of the waveguide and the cap and a second gap defined between the back surface of the waveguide and the inner wall. 
     
     
         6 . The HUD system of  claim 5  wherein the cap is ultrasonically welded to the flange. 
     
     
         7 . The HUD system of  claim 1  wherein the optics module comprises an inner transparent surface, and wherein the one or more light directing features are held in place between the inner transparent surface and the outer transparent surface with a second gap between the one or more light directing features and the inner transparent surface. 
     
     
         8 . The HUD system of  claim 1  wherein the optics module comprises a holographic waveguide. 
     
     
         9 . The HUD system of  claim 1  wherein the electronics module is configured to determine a current pace based on acceleration signals from the one or more sensors, determine an expected interval finish time based on the current pace, and display the expected interval finish time in the image in real time. 
     
     
         10 . The HUD system of  claim 9  wherein the electronics module stores a plurality of pre-recorded feedback messages, and is configured to display one of the pre-recorded feedback messages in the image in response to detecting a triggering event in the swimming performance data. 
     
     
         11 . The HUD system of  claim 10  wherein the electronics module is configured to determine a stroke type based on acceleration signals from the one or more sensors, compare a detected stroke profile to an ideal stroke profile for the determined stroke type to generate stroke technique feedback, and display the stroke technique feedback in the image in real time. 
     
     
         12 . The HUD system of  claim 11  wherein the electronics module is configured to determine a distance travelled and display the distance travelled in the image in real time. 
     
     
         13 . The HUD system of  claim 12  wherein the electronics module is configured to determine an underwater distance travelled and display a warning in the image when the underwater distance travelled approaches a maximum allowed underwater distance. 
     
     
         14 . The HUD system of  claim 13  wherein the electronics module comprises a GPS sensor and is configured to display waypoint position and heading indicators in the image based on GPS signals. 
     
     
         15 . The HUD system of  claim 14  wherein the electronics module is configured to automatically determine a current swimming direction and display heading indicators in the image to alert the user of deviations from the current swimming direction. 
     
     
         16 . A pair of swimming goggles comprising first and second eye cups, a nose bridge connected to an inner side of each of the first and second eye cups, a strap mounting portion on an outer side of each of the first and second eye cups, and a heads up display (HUD) system integrated into one of the first and second eye cups, the HUD system comprising:
 an electronics module comprising a water tight housing and a processor, memory, power supply, one or more sensors and a display within the water tight housing, wherein the processor processes signals from the one or more sensors to determine swimming performance data and controls the display to generate an image containing the swimming performance data; and   an optics module extending from the electronics module for receiving the image from the display, the optics module integrated into one of the first and second eye cups and comprising one or more light directing features for redirecting the image toward an eye of a user to generate a redirected image.   
     
     
         17 . The pair of swimming goggles of  claim 16  wherein the one or more light directing features comprise a beamsplitter, the optics module is configured to totally internally reflect light from the display until the light reaches the beam splitter. 
     
     
         18 . The pair of swimming goggles of  claim 17  wherein the beamsplitter comprises one or more of a partially-reflective surface formed by a thin metal coating, a holographic optical element, and a diffractive optical element. 
     
     
         19 . The pair of swimming goggles of  claim 18  wherein the optics module comprises an additional optical element on the opposite side of the beamsplitter from the eye, the additional optical element affecting the inverse of the optical change of the display image affected by the beamsplitter. 
     
     
         20 . The pair of swimming goggles of  claim 17  wherein the optics module comprises:
 a collimating optic along an optical axis of the display, the collimating optic having a first freeform surface facing the display and a second freeform surface facing away from the display; 
 a waveguide having a third freeform surface facing the second freeform surface, opposed front and back surfaces at obtuse angles to an optical axis of the third freeform surface, and a beam splitter surface between the opposed front and back surfaces; and, 
 a corrective optic having a beam splitter surface conforming to the beam splitter surface of the waveguide, and having opposed front and back surfaces co-planar with the front and back surfaces of the waveguide. 
 
     
     
         21 . The pair of swimming goggles of  claim 19  wherein the one of the first and second eye cups comprises an inner wall, and a flange extending outwardly from around a periphery of the inner wall to define a cavity for the optical module, wherein the optical module comprises a cap attached to the flange, and wherein the waveguide is held captive between the cap and the inner wall with a first gap between the front surface of the waveguide and the cap and a second gap between the back surface of the waveguide and the inner wall.