초록 ▼

An image augmentation apparatus for superimposing an overlay image on a portion of a field of view of a user looking through the apparatus at a scene external to the apparatus. The apparatus includes a display screen for generating the overlay image. An optical system creates a virtual image of the

An image augmentation apparatus for superimposing an overlay image on a portion of a field of view of a user looking through the apparatus at a scene external to the apparatus. The apparatus includes a display screen for generating the overlay image. An optical system creates a virtual image of the overlay image which appears to the user as covering a portion of the field of view. The apparatus utilizes a transmission screen having a two-dimensional array of pixels to block portions of the image of the external scene. The pixels of the transmission screen are either set to a first state in which the pixels are transparent or a second state in which the pixels are opaque. The transmission screen is located such that a pixel set to the opaque state blocks the user from viewing a portion of the field of view of the external scene allowing the user to view only the virtual image in that portion of the field of view. This results in the virtual image appearing to occlude the external scene in that portion of the field of view.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [6.] An apparatus for superimposing an overlay image on a portion of a field of view of a user looking through said apparatus at a scene external to said apparatus, said apparatus comprising:a display screen for generating said overlay image;an optical system for creating a vi

[ What is claimed is:] [6.] An apparatus for superimposing an overlay image on a portion of a field of view of a user looking through said apparatus at a scene external to said apparatus, said apparatus comprising:a display screen for generating said overlay image;an optical system for creating a virtual image of said overlay image which appears to said user as covering a portion of said field of view, said virtual image being in focus when said field of view is seen by said user as being in focus;a transmission screen having a two-dimensional array of pixels that may be set to a first state in which said pixels are transparent and a second state in which said pixels are opaque, said transmission screen being located such that a pixel set to said opaque state blocks the user from viewing a portion of said field of view of said external scene, allowing the user to view only said virtual image in that portion of said field of view, said transmission screen being located at a distance from said user such that said transmission screen is out of focus when said virtual image is seen as being in focus by said user; anda controller for receiving a signal specifying said overlay image and for setting said pixels in said transmission screen,wherein said overlay image comprises a two-dimensional array of pixels, each pixel in said overlay image having a corresponding pixel in said transmission screen, said controller setting the state of each pixel in said transmission screen based on the corresponding pixels in said overlay image,wherein said signal specifies a color for each pixel in said overlay image, and wherein said controller sets a pixel in said transmission screen corresponding to an overlay image pixel having a predetermined color to said first state.