See-through computer display systems

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to methods and systems for the see-through computer display systems with an extended field of view.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A head-worn see-through display, comprising:
 a. A see-through optical element mounted such that it is positioned in front of a user's eye when the head-worn see-through display is worn by the user;   b. A processor adapted to present digital content in a field of view on the see-through optical element, wherein the digital content has a position within the field of view that is dependent upon a position in the surrounding environment; and   c. The processor further adapted to predict when the digital content is going to shift out of the field of view due to a positional change of the head-worn see-through display and to modify the appearance of the content as the content approaches an edge of the field of view such that the content appears to disappear as the content approaches the edge of the field of view.   
     
     
         2 . The head-worn display of  claim 1 , wherein the prediction is based on a compass heading indicative of a forward facing direction of the head-worn see-through display. 
     
     
         3 . The head-worn display of  claim 1 , wherein the prediction is based on a tracked eye movement of the user, wherein the tracked eye movement is indicative that the user is going to turn the user's head. 
     
     
         4 . The head-worn display of  claim 1 , wherein the appearance modification is a change in the content's brightness. 
     
     
         5 . The head-worn display of  claim 1 , wherein the appearance modification is a change in the content's contrast. 
     
     
         6 . The head-worn display of  claim 1 , wherein the appearance modification is a change in the content's sharpness. 
     
     
         7 . The head-worn display of  claim 1 , wherein the appearance modification is a change in the content's resolution. 
     
     
         8 . The head-worn display of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further adapted to generate a secondary field of view in which the user views presented digital content and through which the user sees the surrounding environment, the processor further adapted to transition the content from the field of view to the secondary field of view. 
     
     
         9 . The head-worn display of  claim 8 , wherein the appearance of the content in the secondary field of view is diminished as compared to the appearance of the content in the field of view. 
     
     
         10 . The head-worn display of  claim 8 , wherein the secondary field of view has a lower resolution than a resolution of the field of view. 
     
     
         11 . The head-worn display of  claim 10 , wherein the secondary field of view is generated by reflecting image light onto a combiner that directs the image light directly to an eye of the user. 
     
     
         12 . The head-worn display of  claim 10 , wherein the secondary field of view is generated by reflecting image light onto a combiner that directs the image light towards a culminating partial mirror that reflects the image light to an eye of the user. 
     
     
         13 . The head-worn display of  claim 8 , wherein the secondary field of view is generated by an OLED that projects light onto a combiner. 
     
     
         14 . The head-worn display of  claim 8 , wherein the secondary field of view is generated by an LED array that projects light onto a combiner. 
     
     
         15 . The head-worn display of  claim 8 , wherein the secondary field of view is generated by an edge lit LCD that projects light onto a combiner. 
     
     
         16 . The head-worn display of  claim 8 , wherein the secondary field of view is presented by a see-through panel positioned directly in front of the eye of the user. 
     
     
         17 . The head-worn display of  claim 16 , wherein the panel is mounted on a combiner. 
     
     
         18 . The head-worn display of  claim 16 , wherein the panel is mounted vertically. 
     
     
         19 . The head-worn display of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further adapted to predict when the content is going to approach the edge of the field of view and to base the appearance transition at least in part on the prediction. 
     
     
         20 . The head-worn display of  claim 1 , wherein the prediction is at least in part based on an eye-image. 
     
     
         21 . The head-worn display of  claim 16 , wherein the see-through panel is an OLED. 
     
     
         22 . The head-worn display of  claim 16 , wherein the see-through panel is an edge lit LCD.