The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 18, 2000
Filed:
May. 09, 1997
Ichiro Kosugi, Tokyo, JP;
Daiji Takahashi, Kanagawa, JP;
Yoshio Okoshi, Kanagawa, JP;
Akira Ogihara, Kanagawa, JP;
Atsushi Koide, Tokyo, JP;
Isao Sawachika, Kanagawa, JP;
Sony Corporation, , JP;
Abstract
An optical visualizing apparatus for use in a head mounted display unit contains a liquid crystal shutter designed to allow a viewer to see both an image display and scenery outside of the image display at the same time. The apparatus contains a screen placed in front of the viewer's eyes, an optical visualizing unit to display an image on the screen, a mounting unit for supporting the optical visualizing unit in front of the viewer's face, and a control unit that can either suspend transmission of the image and allow clear sighting through the screen without the image or, if desired, simultaneous display of the image and sighting of scenery outside of the image. The control unit preferably controls a liquid crystal shutter that can adjust the amount of external light entering the display apparatus over two ranges, one range corresponding to the image area and the other range corresponding to the area surrounding the image area, so that the user can view a displayed image and external scenery clearly and simultaneously.