Abstract:
An optical apparatus for viewing one or more images including (i) an optical device for enhancing the one or more images and having a surface defining mechanical threads; (ii) a display device having a display for presenting information that is removably attached to the optical device, the display device including a surface defining mechanical threads for mating with the mechanical threads of the optical device; and (iii) a lock ring that is mounted to the mechanical threads of the optical device, said lock ring being positioned between the display device and the optical device, wherein the lock ring is rotatably positioned on the mechanical threads of the optical device to move toward and bear on a surface of the display device in order to either limit or prevent the display device from further rotation on the mechanical threads of the optical device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is directed to a head-up display device that is removably attached to an optical device. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    There exists head-up display (HUD) devices for displaying information on a transparent display. These HUD devices present data without requiring users to look away from their usual viewpoints. Most conventional HUD devices are either see-through or obscured. One problem with conventional HUD devices, however, is that they may not be used in conjunction with other optical devices (e.g., night vision devices) without requiring a device to be positioned on each of the user&#39;s eye. This positioning is not ideal, because it requires the user to mentally perform the work of overlaying the images of HUD device upon the image of the optical device. In view of the foregoing challenges, described hereinafter is a way to an optical device to accommodate a HUD device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    According to one aspect of the invention, an optical apparatus for viewing one or more images is provided. The optical apparatus includes (i) an optical device for enhancing the one or more images and having a surface defining mechanical threads; (ii) a display device, which includes a display for presenting information, that is removably attached to the optical device, the display device including a surface defining mechanical threads for mating with the mechanical threads of the optical device; and (iii) a lock ring that is mounted to the mechanical threads of the optical device, said lock ring being positioned between the display device and the optical device, wherein the lock ring is rotatably positioned on the mechanical threads of the optical device to move toward and bear on a surface of the display device in order to either limit or prevent the display device from further rotation on the mechanical threads of the optical device. 
         [0004]    According to another aspect of the invention, a method of retrofitting an optical device comprises the steps of coupling a display device, which has a display for presenting information, to the optical device by engaging mechanical threads on the display device with mechanical threads on the optical device; and rotating a lock ring that is positioned on the mechanical threads of the optical device toward the display device to either limit or prevent the display device from further rotation on the mechanical threads of the optical device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, with like elements having the same reference numerals. Included in the drawings are the following figures: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  depicts a side view of an optical apparatus of the present invention comprising an optical device and a display device that is removably mounted to the optical device. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  depicts an enlarged view of the circled portion of the optical apparatus depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIGS. 3A-3D  depict exemplary steps of retrofitting the display device of  FIG. 1  onto the optical device of  FIG. 1 , which is initially fitted with an eyepiece. Specifically,  FIG. 3A  depicts a perspective view of an eyepiece mounted to the optical device of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3B  depicts the eyepiece being detached from the optical device.  FIG. 3C  depicts the display device being assembled onto the optical device.  FIG. 3D  depicts the display device assembled onto the optical device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  depicts another perspective view of the optical apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    Referring generally to the overall assembly of optical apparatus  100 , the apparatus  100  of the present invention generally includes an optical device  102 , and a display device  104  that is removably mounted to the optical device  102 . In  FIG. 1 , it is shown that the display device  104  includes an eyecup  108 , however, the eyecup  108  is omitted from the remaining figures. 
         [0011]    Optical device  102  of the present invention is a device used to assist a user in viewing and/or capturing images. In a preferred embodiment, optical device  102  may be a device for viewing images at night, e.g., a night vision monocular. In other embodiments, optical device  102  may be used as a camera, a telescope, a microscope, or any other suitable device for assisting the user in viewing and capturing images. Optical device  102  of the present invention may function as a stand-alone device. Alternatively, optical device  102  may require or allow additional devices to be attached to optical device  102  to provide additional functionality. For example, as discussed below, display device  104  is a HUD device that may be attached to optical device  102  to provide head-up functionality. 
         [0012]    As indicated above, display device  104  is removably attached to optical device  102 . In a preferred embodiment, display device  104  may be a head-up display (HUD) device. In one embodiment of the present invention, display device  104  (as a HUD device) may include a transparent display for presenting data. The presented data may include, for example, spatially correlated information and navigational information. Further, display device  104  may display an augmented reality to the user. Additionally, or in conjunction with the above features, display device  104  may provide applications (“apps”) relating to optical device  102 . As indicated above, the data presented on display device  104  may be related to real-time information. Alternatively, the data presented on display device  104  may be other than real-time information, e.g., it may have been previously calculated. A complete description of HUD functionality is beyond the scope of this document. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand the many uses and configurations of HUD devices. 
         [0013]    As depicted in  FIG. 1 , display device  104  and optical device  102  may be monocular devices. Further, display device  104  may be attached to optical device  102  such that display device  104  is substantially in front of optical device  102  so that the display device  104  can be presented before a user&#39;s eye. In such an alignment, a single eye of a user may be used to view images of optical apparatus  100 . In this embodiment, the image presented by display device  104  will be overlaid upon the image produced by optical device  102 . This configuration provides an advantage over a conventional optical apparatus because it alleviates the user from having to mentally overlay the image of display device  104  upon the image provided by optical device  102 . 
         [0014]    In one embodiment, the information displayed by display device  104  will be presented using light, e.g. beams of light, rays of light, etc. This light, if left unencumbered, may be detected by those other than the user of optical apparatus  100 . Such detection may be problematic, because activities of users of certain embodiments of optical apparatus  100  may require that the apparatus be undetectable in low-light situations. A user of one embodiment of the present invention, for example, may be covertly using optical apparatus  100  as a night-vision goggle. In such cases, it would be counterproductive, and perhaps dangerous, for optical apparatus  100  to emit visible light that can be detected by those other than user of optical apparatus  100 . To prevent such situations, display device  104  (as well as other devices of optical apparatus  100 ) may provide light security. That is, optical apparatus  100 , and more particularly, display device  104  and optical device  102 , may be configured to ensure that a limited amount of light (and, preferably, no light) be detectable by those other than the user of optical apparatus  100 . 
         [0015]    In one embodiment, depicted in  FIG. 1 , eyecup  108  may be attached to display device  104  to provide light security. Eyecup  108  may be constructed of a hard material, flexible material, or any other type of suitable material for forming an eyecup  108 . Eyecup  108  is configured to press onto a user&#39;s face, thereby precluding light from being emitted beyond display device  104 , such that the light is not detectable outside the display of optical apparatus  100 . Thus, in one embodiment of the present invention, those other than the user of the optical apparatus  100  are prevented from detecting light that is emitted from optical apparatus  100 . As indicated above, eyecup  108  is only one way to provide light security with respect to optical apparatus  100 . Suitable other methods for providing light security, i.e., dimming the visible light or using different shades of visible light, will be understood by those skilled in the art. 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  depicts a detailed view of the circled portion of optical apparatus  100  in  FIG. 1 . In particular,  FIG. 2  depicts the mechanism for attaching, and detaching, display device  104  to the housing of optical device  102 . More specifically, the housing of optical device  102  includes an exterior surface that includes mechanical threads  202 . An annular lock ring  106  includes interior threads that engage with mechanical threads  202  of optical device  102 . The lock ring  106  may be referred to in the art as a lock nut or a jam nut. An interior surface of the housing of display device  104  includes mechanical threads  204 . The mechanical threads  204  of display device  104  may also be referred to herein as a connector. Like the threads of the lock ring  106 , the mechanical threads  204  of the display device  104  are also engaged with mechanical threads  202  of optical device  102 . 
         [0017]      FIGS. 3A-3D  depict exemplary steps of retrofitting the display device  104  of  FIG. 1  onto the optical device  102  of  FIG. 1 , which is initially fitted with an eyepiece  302 . As display devices, such as head-up displays, have gained in popularity, there exists a need to incorporate a head-up display into an existing optical device, such as a night vision monocular. The existing optical device, such as the optical device  102  shown in  FIG. 3A , may be fitted with a detachable eyepiece  302 . When attached to optical device  102 , eyepiece  302  enhance image(s) presented by optical device  102 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 3A  depicts a perspective view of the eyepiece  302  mounted to the optical device  102  of  FIG. 1 . Prior to attaching display device  104  onto optical device  102 , eyepiece  302  must be removed. 
         [0019]      FIG. 3B  depicts the eyepiece  302  being detached from the optical device  102 . Optical device  102  includes mechanical threads  202  that are engaged with interior threads (not shown) of eyepiece  302 . Using the devices&#39; respective threading, eyepiece  302  is rotated off of optical device  102  to detach those components from each other, as shown in  FIG. 3B . 
         [0020]      FIG. 3C  depicts display device  104  being assembled onto the optical device  102 . To attach the display device  104  to optical device  102 , the lock ring  106  is first threaded onto mechanical threads  202  of optical device  102  (assuming that the lock ring  106  is not already attached to the optical device  102 ). The internal threading  204  of display device  104  is then threaded onto the mechanical threads  202  of optical device  102  until a surface  205  of display device  104  bears on a surface of lock ring  106  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). The lock ring  106  is then rotated further toward the bearing surface  205  of display device  104  to prevent display device  104  from unintentionally disengaging (i.e., backing out) from optical device  102 . Openings  207  are defined on the perimeter of the lock ring  106  to accommodate a spanner wrench (not shown) that can be used to rotate the lock ring  106 . 
         [0021]    To detach display device  104 , the lock ring  106  is rotated in an opposite rotational direction to separate lock ring  106  from display device  104 . The lock ring  106  remains captivated to optical device  102 . Thereafter, display device  104  is rotated in an opposite rotational direction to detach display device  104  from optical device  102 . Display device  104  may be removably attached and/or locked to optical device  102  using other methods and devices not described above or depicted in  FIG. 2 , e.g., clips, clamps, fasteners, springs, knobs, adhesives, etc. Those skilled in the art will recognize other suitable ways in which display device  104  may be attached and locked to optical device  102 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 3D  depicts display device  104  assembled onto the optical device  102  to form optical apparatus  100 . As depicted in  FIG. 3D , display device  104  is attached to optical device  102  such that display device  104  is aligned substantially in front of optical device  102 . Thus, display device  104  and optical device  102  may share the same viewing space. In this embodiment, display device  104  may lay information over an image provided by optical device  102 . This is one advantage over conventional optical apparatuses, because it does not require the user to mentally overlay the information upon the image provided by the optical image. Alternatively, optical device  102  and display device  104  may present distinct images that are not overlaid upon each other. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 3A-D  depict embodiments of optical apparatus  100  wherein optical device  102  is detached from eyepiece  302  and thereafter attached to display device  104 . Those skilled in the art, however, will understand that many other embodiments of the present invention may exist. Optical device  102 , for example, may attach to and detach from other devices besides eyepiece  302  and display device  104 . Also, or alternatively, optical device  102  may simultaneously attach to display device  104  and other devices, including eyepiece  302 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  depicts another perspective view of display device  104  attached to optical device  102 . As depicted in  FIG. 4 , display device  104  includes an on/off button  402  and a port  404  to receive data, transmit data, or a combination of both. In one embodiment, the port  404  may be configured to receive and transmit data via a wire. Additionally, or alternatively, the port  404  may be configured to receive and transmit information wirelessly. 
         [0025]    Port  404  may be configured to communicate with any suitable device external to display device  104 , e.g., optical device  102 , a GPS device, etc. Such suitable external devices will be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art. Port  404  may also be configured to receive and transmit many types of information. Examples of information that may be received and transmitted by port  404  include video information, audio information, and data information. In particular, port  404  may be configured to accept or transmit video information, including video data using VGA (Video Graphics Array), SVGA (Super Video Graphics Array), and CVBS (Composite Video Broadcast Signal) standards. 
         [0026]    While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described herein, it will be understood that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes and substitutions will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such variations as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.