U.S. patent application number 16/456813 was filed with the patent office on 2020-12-31 for head up display system for underwater face plate.
The applicant listed for this patent is United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy. Invention is credited to DENNIS GALLAGHER, WILLIAM HUGHES, RICHARD MANLEY, BRIAN WENTWORTH, ALLIE WILLIAMS.
Application Number | 20200409160 16/456813 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005272699 |
Filed Date | 2020-12-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200409160 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WILLIAMS; ALLIE ; et
al. |
December 31, 2020 |
Head Up Display System for Underwater Face Plate
Abstract
A head up display system includes first and second optical
waveguides. A bracket holds the optical waveguides in a
spaced-apart fixed relationship to one another such that their
optical axes are separated by a distance of 63.5-65 millimeters.
The optical waveguides are angularly disposed with respect to one
another to produce a binocular image whose focal plane is located
out at a distance of 2-4 meters. The bracket also specifically
positions the optical waveguides adjacent to a transparent face
plate of a dive helmet or dive mask.
Inventors: |
WILLIAMS; ALLIE; (PANAMA
CITY BEACH, FL) ; MANLEY; RICHARD; (PANAMA CITY
BEACH, FL) ; WENTWORTH; BRIAN; (PANAMA CITY, FL)
; GALLAGHER; DENNIS; (LYNN HAVEN, FL) ; HUGHES;
WILLIAM; (LYNN HAVEN, FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the
Navy |
Arlington |
VA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005272699 |
Appl. No.: |
16/456813 |
Filed: |
June 28, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63C 2011/121 20130101;
G02B 27/0172 20130101; B63C 11/12 20130101; G02B 2027/0132
20130101; G02B 27/0176 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G02B 27/01 20060101
G02B027/01; B63C 11/12 20060101 B63C011/12 |
Goverment Interests
ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention described herein may be manufactured and used
by or for the Government of the United States of America for
Governmental purposes without payment of any royalties.
Claims
1. A head up display system, comprising: a first optical waveguide
having a first optical axis; a second optical waveguide having a
second optical axis; and a bracket for holding said first optical
waveguide and said second optical waveguide in a spaced-apart fixed
relationship to one another, wherein said first optical axis and
said second optical axis are separated by a distance of 63.5-65
millimeters at said waveguides, said first optical waveguide and
said second optical waveguide being angularly disposed with respect
to one another to produce a binocular image whose focal plane is
located at a distance of 2-4 meters from said first optical
waveguide and said second optical waveguide, said bracket adapted
to position said first optical waveguide and said second optical
waveguide adjacent to a transparent face plate, said bracket
adapted to position said first optical waveguide and said second
optical waveguide 29-31 millimeters from the transparent face
plate, and said bracket adapted to position said first optical axis
and said second optical axis 49-52 millimeters below a top of the
transparent face plate.
2. A head up display system as in claim 1, wherein said first
optical waveguide is identical to said second optical
waveguide.
3. A head up display system as in claim 1, wherein said bracket
includes a nose bridge disposed between said first optical
waveguide and said second optical waveguide.
4. A head up display as in claim 1, wherein said first optical
waveguide and said second optical waveguide comprise see-through
optical waveguides.
5. A head up display as in claim 1, wherein an angle by which said
first optical waveguide and said second optical waveguide are
angularly disposed with respect to one another is
174.degree.-176.degree..
6. A head up display system, comprising: a first optical waveguide
having a first optical axis; a second optical waveguide having a
second optical axis; and a bracket for holding said first optical
waveguide and said second optical waveguide in a spaced-apart fixed
relationship to one another, wherein said first optical axis and
said second optical axis are separated by a distance of 63.5-65
millimeters at said waveguides, said first optical waveguide and
said second optical waveguide being angularly disposed with respect
to one another by an angle of 174.degree.-176.degree., said bracket
adapted to position said first optical waveguide and said second
optical waveguide adjacent to a transparent face plate, said
bracket adapted to position said first optical waveguide and said
second optical waveguide 29-31 millimeters from the transparent
face plate, and said bracket adapted to position said first optical
axis and said second optical axis 49-52 millimeters below a top of
the transparent face plate.
7. A head up display system as in claim 6, wherein said first
optical waveguide is identical to said second optical
waveguide.
8. A head up display system as in claim 6, wherein said bracket
includes a nose bridge disposed between said first optical
waveguide and said second optical waveguide.
9. A head up display as in claim 6, wherein said first optical
waveguide and said second optical waveguide comprise see-through
optical waveguides.
10. A head up display system, comprising: a first optical engine
that includes a first see-through optical waveguide having a first
optical axis; a second optical engine that includes a second
see-through optical waveguide having a second optical axis; and a
bracket for holding said first optical engine and said second
optical engine in a spaced-apart fixed relationship to one another,
wherein said first optical axis and said second optical axis are
separated by a distance of 63.5-65 millimeters at said waveguides
and wherein said first see-through optical waveguide and said
second see-through optical waveguide produce a binocular image at a
focal plane distance of 2-4 meters, said bracket adapted to
position said first optical engine and said second optical engine
adjacent to a transparent face plate, said bracket adapted to
position said first see-through optical waveguide and said second
see-through optical waveguide 29-31 millimeters from the
transparent face plate, and said bracket adapted to position said
first optical axis and said second optical axis 49-52 millimeters
below a top of the transparent face plate.
11. A head up display system as in claim 10, wherein said first
optical engine is identical to said second optical engine.
12. A head up display system as in claim 10, wherein said bracket
includes a nose bridge disposed between said first see-through
optical waveguide and said second see-through optical
waveguide.
13. A head up display as in claim 10, wherein said first
see-through optical waveguide and said second see-through optical
waveguide are angularly disposed with respect to one another by an
angle of 174.degree.-176.degree..
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates generally to head up displays, and
more particularly to a head up display system disposed within an
underwater dive helmet or dive mask.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] By their very nature, underwater dive missions are difficult
and inherently dangerous. Furthermore, the complexity of underwater
missions can make it difficult or impossible for a diver to retain
all pre-mission briefing information. For these reasons, it is
critical for underwater divers to have access to environmental data
and mission data while in the water. However, in low visibility
water environments, divers can rarely see handheld displays or
gauges. Accordingly, divers are generally supplied with
audio-communicated information from a topside location. The
topside-supplied information can include descriptions of sonar
images, blueprints, maps, pictures, etc. Unfortunately, it can be
very difficult and confusing for a diver to interpret a topside
personnel's audio description of the topside personnel's visual
interpretation. Combining this with unreliable audio communication
can lead to mission failures or disasters.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide an underwater diver with real-time visual information
available to topside personnel.
[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide
real-time visual information to an underwater diver for viewing in
water environments irrespective of water visibility levels.
[0006] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become more obvious hereinafter in the specification and
drawings.
[0007] In accordance with the present invention, a head up display
system includes first and second optical waveguides. The first
optical waveguide has a first optical axis and the second optical
waveguide has a second optical axis. A bracket holds the first
optical waveguide and second optical waveguide in a spaced-apart
fixed relationship to one another such that the first optical axis
and second optical axis are separated by a distance of 63.5-65
millimeters. The first optical waveguide and second optical
waveguide are angularly disposed with respect to one another to
produce a binocular image whose focal plane is located at a
distance of 2-4 meters from the first optical waveguide and second
optical waveguide. The bracket also positions the first optical
waveguide and second optical waveguide within an underwater dive
helmet or dive mask having a transparent face plate. More
specifically, the bracket positions the first optical waveguide and
second optical waveguide 29-31 millimeters from the transparent
face plate, and positions the first optical axis and second optical
axis 49-52 millimeters below a top of the transparent face
plate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent upon reference to the following
description of the preferred embodiments and to the drawings,
wherein corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding
parts throughout the several views of the drawings and wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a head up display system
coupled to a transparent face plate of an underwater dive helmet or
dive mask in accordance with in embodiment of the present
invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the head up display
system's position relative to the transparent face plate taken
along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is an isolated view of the head up display system's
optical waveguides illustrating their relative spacing and angular
orientation in accordance with the present invention; and
[0012] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a signal handling scheme for
use with the head up display system in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS.
1-2, a head up display (HUD) system in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention is shown and is referenced
generally by numeral 10. HUD system 10 is coupled to a transparent
face plate 100 of an underwater dive helmet or dive mask.
Transparent face plate 100 defines the view port of an underwater
dive helmet or dive mask whose face plate supporting portion is
referenced by numeral 200. It is to be understood that the
particular choice of dive helmet or dive mask and its transparent
face plate are not part of or limitations on HUD system 10. By way
of a non-limiting example, a dive helmet that can be equipped with
HUD system 10 is the model KM37 dive helmet available from Kirby
Morgan Dive Systems, Inc., Santa Maria, Calif.
[0014] HUD system 10 is disposed within a dive helmet or dive mask
such that a user thereof views face plate 100 through HUD system
10. When activated and supplied with visual data, HUD system 10
provides a user of the dive helmet or dive mask with a binocular
image of the visual data overlaid on the scene visible to the user
through face plate 100. When not activated, HUD system 10 presents
the user with an unobstructed see-through path to and past face
plate 100.
[0015] In the illustrated embodiment, HUD system 10 supports and
positions two optical waveguides in a fixed configuration that
requires no adjustments by the user. That is, by simply wearing the
dive helmet, the user can take advantage of the above-described
activated and non-activated attributes of HUD system 10.
Accordingly, HUD system 10 provides a user with seamless transition
capability between the HUD system's activated and non-activated
states.
[0016] HUD system 10 includes first and second (or right and left
as viewed by a user) optical engines referenced generally by
numerals 20 and 30 respectively. In the illustrated embodiment,
optical engines 20 and 30 are identical devices. Each optical
engine includes an optical waveguide 22 or 32 and supporting
electronics 24 or 34, respectively, coupled thereto. Each
supporting electronics package receives remotely-supplied
signal/video data (e.g., from a topside location in the case of
underwater dive applications) for presentation to the respective
optical waveguide. Such optical engines are available commercially
from, for example, Lumus, Ness Ziona, Israel. In the illustrated
embodiment, each optical waveguide 22 and 32 is a see-through
optical waveguide that receives visual data from its side-mounted
supporting electronics 24 and 34, respectively.
[0017] Optical engines 20 and 30 are fixed relative to one another
by a bracket 40 that can be coupled to face plate 100 and/or
portions of the dive helmet or dive mask without departing from the
scope of the present invention. For example, bracket 40 can include
a central portion 40A coupled to an upper central portion of face
plate 100, and can include side portions 40B coupled to side
regions of face plate 100. Bracket 40 can incorporate a nose bridge
42 disposed between optical waveguides 22 and 32 to insure proper
positioning of a user's face/eyes for use of HUD system 10. Nose
bridge 42 is configured to allow a user's nose (not shown) to pass
thereunder without touching bracket 40 to assure that alignment of
waveguides 22 and 32 remains undisturbed during use.
[0018] Bracket 40 can be of modular construction and made from
multiple materials. Bracket 40 can be made to be attachable and
removable from face plate 100 (or the face plate's surrounding
structure) without disturbing the waveguides. The portion of
bracket 40 that frames the waveguides can be made of a rigid
material such as, but not limited to, stainless steel, to
facilitate tight tolerances in the positioning of the waveguides.
The other portions of bracket 40 can be made from, but not limited
to, robust plastic materials.
[0019] Bracket 40 also fixes/positions optical waveguides 22 and 32
adjacent to face plate 100 in order to support operation of HUD
system 10 as will now be explained with additional reference to
FIG. 3. Each optical waveguide has a respective optical axis 26 and
36. Bracket 40 supports and fixes optical waveguides 22 and 32 such
that the distance "X" between optical axes 26 and 36 where they
intersect their respective waveguides is 63.5-65 millimeters. In
addition, bracket 40 angularly disposes optical waveguides 22 and
32 relative to one another as defined by an angle ".alpha." that is
between 174.degree.-176.degree.. By doing so, a focal plane
distance "f" is equal to 2-4 meters as a user views an image
through HUD system 10. The focal plane distance of 2-4 meters
facilitates the working distance of a diver. That is, divers
frequently work in turbid waters with limited range of visibility
where most of a diver's visual interest lies within the range of
the above-referenced focal plane distance. This focal plane
distance also provides an increased ability for users to converge
individual images into one binocular image given a fixed focal
length and fixed interpapillary distance of the display.
[0020] Bracket 40 also establishes the positioning of optical
waveguides 22 and 32 relative to face plate 100. More specifically,
bracket 40 positions optical waveguides 22 and 32 such that each
optical waveguide at its optical axis is spaced apart from face
plate 100 by a distance "Z" that is 29-31 millimeters. Further,
bracket 40 positions optical waveguides 22 and 32 such that each
respective optical axis 26 and 36 is positioned below a top 102 of
face plate 100 by a distance "Y" that is 49-52 millimeters. By
adhering to these parameters, the waveguides were as close to all
user's eyes as possible without limiting the use of the display to
those with a shorter eye relief between the face plate and the
eye.
[0021] As mentioned above, HUD system 10 receives signal/video data
from a topside location. FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a
signal handling scheme for use with HUD system 10. A topside
controller 50 (e.g., located on a surface vessel) converts various
video data 52 to a subsea transport format 54. For example, subsea
transport format 54 can be standard "video over internet protocol"
such as "h.264" which is known for its ability to transmit video
data via cable (e.g., cable 56) with minimal signal degradation.
Data in format 54 is transmitted via cable 56 to a subsea
controller 58 located with the user of HUD system 10. The primary
function of subsea controller 58 is to convert data in format 54 to
a low voltage signal format 60 typically required by the optical
engines onboard HUD system 10. Since such low voltage signals are
susceptible to signal losses over longer transmission schemes,
subsea controller 58 is located with the user of HUD system 10. The
low voltage format data is then supplied to HUD system 10 by what
will be a short cable 62.
[0022] The advantages of the present invention are numerous. A
variety of visual data can be provided to a diver in real-time to
eliminate the confusion and mistakes associated with a
topside-relayed audio or vocal interpretation of visual data. The
fixed and specific positioning of the HUD system requires no
adjustment or fine tuning. The see-through features of the optical
waveguides provide for seamless inclusion or exclusion of visual
image data on an "as needed" basis.
[0023] There are numerous variations and modifications of the
embodiments described herein that will be readily apparent to those
skilled in the art. It should be understood that, within the scope
of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than
as specifically described.
* * * * *