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 field of view generated by an image display, wherein a user views digital content in the field of view and sees through the field of view to view a surrounding environment; and   b. A processor adapted to generate two types of content, wherein the two types of content are presented in the field of view;   c. Wherein the first type of content is world-locked content with a field of view position that is dependent on a place in the surrounding environment, wherein an appearance of the first type of content is diminished as it approaches an edge of the field of view; and   d. wherein the second type of content is not world-locked, wherein the second type of content maintains a substantially constant appearance as it approaches the edge of the field of view.   
     
     
         2 . The head-worn display of  claim 1 , wherein the diminished appearance comprises a reduction in resolution. 
     
     
         3 . The head-worn display of  claim 1 , wherein the diminished appearance comprises a reduction in brightness. 
     
     
         4 . The head-worn display of  claim 1 , wherein the diminished appearance comprises a reduction in contrast. 
     
     
         5 . The head-worn display of  claim 1 , wherein the diminished appearance is regulated by a display driver. 
     
     
         6 . The head-worn display of  claim 1 , wherein the diminished appearance is regulated by an application processor. 
     
     
         7 . The head-worn display of  claim 1 , wherein the diminished appearance is regulated by altered pixels of a display that generates the field of view. 
     
     
         8 . The head-worn display of  claim 1 , further comprising, a secondary field of view generated by the image display 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 generated 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 16 , wherein the see-through panel is an OLED. 
     
     
         20 . The head-worn display of  claim 16 , wherein the see-through panel is an edge lit LCD. 
     
     
         21 . 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. 
     
     
         22 . The head-worn display of  claim 21 , wherein the prediction is at least in part based on an eye-image.