Abstract:
A body-mountable display system having a first structure for receiving an input signal and producing a video output in response thereto, a garment wearable by a user, and a second structure for operatively connecting the first structure to the garment to allow the first structure to be universally repositionable relative to the garment. The first structure includes a hand-holdable portable display including a housing having a viewing aperture for viewing the video output. The second structure includes a flexible element having spaced ends with one end mounted to the garment and the other end including a structure for detachably mounting the portable display to the flexible element. The portable display may include a portable virtual image display for focusing the video output at one of (a) infinity and (b) a desired finite distance viewable by an observer. The body-mountable display system may include, in combination, a computer producing the input signal.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a body-mountable display system and, more particularly, to a display system detachably and/or variably secured to a garment wearable by a user. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various body-worn or body-mountable computer and computer-type devices are currently in existence. These devices generally include head-mounted displays which allow the user to perform tasks with both hands while monitoring the display. Often times, the head-mounted displays are mounted to goggles, glasses and/or a helmet, which is worn on the head of a user. The head-mounted displays can be uncomfortable, and may produce undue strain on the neck muscles of a user. Further, the head-mounted displays limit a user&#39;s visibility when placed in an operative viewing position. This limited visibility in turn limits a user&#39;s ability to perform certain tasks in which visibility is required. Accordingly, such head-mounted displays would not be practical, for example, in military applications where a soldier would be required to perform a variety of tasks while easily and simultaneously viewing both the display and his/her surroundings. 
     Alternatively, hand-held displays are being used which can be holstered or hung on the body when not in use. A disadvantage to the hand-held display is that it requires the use of at least one hand, and often times both. This places the user, requiring the use of both hands while monitoring the display, at a disadvantage. Further, the holstered display, when not in use, may interfere with the user&#39;s ability to perform certain tasks. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is specifically directed to overcoming one or more of the above-enumerated problems in a novel and simple manner. 
     The present invention is directed toward a body-mountable display system including a first structure for receiving an input signal and producing a video output in response thereto, a garment wearable by a user, and a second structure for operatively connecting the first structure to the garment to allow the first structure to be universally repositionable relative to the garment. 
     The body-mountable display system may further include, in combination therewith, a computer that produces the input signal. 
     The first structure may include a hand-holdable portable display, and the second structure may include a structure for detachably mounting the portable display to the garment. 
     The second structure may include a flexible element having spaced ends with one end mounted to the garment and the other end including a structure for detachably mounting the portable display to the flexible element. 
     The portable display may include a housing having a viewing aperture for viewing the video output, and a manual control operably connected to the housing for selectively controlling the video output and operation of the computer. 
     The manual control may include a computer mouse including a track ball for universal positioning of a cursor on the video output, and a touch pad engageable by a user for activating the computer to perform certain functions relating to a location of the cursor on the video output. 
     The computer may have an audio interface, and the portable display may include an audio control operably connected to the housing for providing audio signals to the audio interface in response to receiving voice commands from a user for selectively controlling the video output and operation of the computer via the voice commands. 
     The audio display may include a microphone formed on the housing. 
     A switch may be provided selectively variable between (a) a first state wherein the computer mouse is enabled and (b) a second state wherein the audio control is enabled for selectively controlling the video output and operation of the computer. 
     The housing may include a front wall at which the viewing aperture is defined, a back wall and side walls. The flexible element may be detachably mounted to the housing at the back wall of the housing. 
     The portable display may include a raised tab formed on the back wall of the housing, and the structure for detachably mounting the portable display to the flexible element and may include a member attached to the other end of the flexible element having a cooperating slot for removably receiving the raised tab. The second structure may further include a dove-tail connection between the raised tab on the back wall of the housing and the cooperating slot on the member. 
     Cooperating detent structures may be provided on the raised tab and cooperating slot to allow the portable display to be releasably secured in a plurality of different positions relative to the member. 
     The video output may include a display image and the portable display may include a portable virtual image display for focusing the display image at one of (a) infinity and (b) a desired finite distance viewable by an observer. 
     The garment may substantially conform to and overlie a substantial area of a user&#39;s body. 
     The flexible element may include a gooseneck support to allow the portable display to be universally repositionable to an infinite number of different positions relative to the garment. 
     Other aspects, objects and advantages of the present invention can be obtained from a study of the application, the drawings, and the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a body-mountable display system according to the present invention including a display, a garment wearable by a user, and a flexible element connected between the display and garment; 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the display; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the display taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the display; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the display, flexible element and garment operably connected together and further including a member releasably securing the display to the flexible element; 
     FIG. 6 is the perspective view of the display, flexible element and garment of FIG. 5 taken from a different viewing position; 
     FIG. 7 is a plan view of the member releasably securing the display to the flexible element; 
     FIG. 8 is a top view of the member releasably securing the display to the flexible element; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the member releasably securing the display to the flexible element; 
     FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the display taken along line  10 — 10  in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 11 is a top view of the garment; 
     FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the garment; 
     FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the garment taken along line  13 — 13  in FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of a bottom segment of the flexible element; 
     FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the bottom segment of the flexible element; and 
     FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the display system of FIG. 5 taken from a viewing position at the underside of the garment, with the display omitted. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a body-mountable display system is shown generally at  10 . The display system  10  includes a display  12  attached to a garment  14  wearable by a user  16  via a flexible element  18 . The flexible element  18  permits the user  16  to universally reposition the display  12  relative to the garment  14 . This allows the user  16  to adjust the display  12  to a position for maximum readability through a viewing aperture  20  on the display  12 , or to stow the display  12  out of the way when not in use. The user  16  is thus able to monitor the display  12  while simultaneously performing tasks with both hands. Generally, any occupation in which “hands-free” operation is desired can benefit from the body-mountable display system  10  of the present invention. 
     The display  12  operably interfaces with a computer  22 . However, the display system  10  may be utilized with any device capable of outputting an audio and/or video signal. In a preferred embodiment, communication between the display  12  and computer  22  is accomplished via radio waves or other similar means. However, the invention also contemplates a cable connection (not shown) between the display  12  and the computer  22 . The cable connection would most likely be utilized when the system components of the computer  22  are configured for carrying and/or securing on a garment, such as a vest and the like. 
     In one preferred form, the display  12  includes a virtual image display focusing an image  24  viewed through the viewing aperture  20  near infinity. With the display image  24  focused near infinity, the user  16  can focus on the image  24  with the display  12  at any distance from his/her eye without having to change eye focus. Changing the distance of the display  12  to the eye has a negligible effect on the overall focus. This permits the user  16  to bring the display  12  as close to the eye as is needed to reduce the effects of the sun or other bright lights on the display  12 . Also, the virtual image display  12  will remain in focus regardless of the adjusted position of the display  12  or movement of the display  12  during walking or running. 
     FIGS. 2-4 depict one such virtual display  12 . The display  12  consists of a housing  26  which includes a front wall  28 , a back wall  30 , side walls  32 , 34  and end walls  36 , 38 . In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 2-4, an opening  40  is provided in the end wall  38  for a cable connection of the display  12  to the computer  22 . However, other connection configurations are also contemplated. 
     The front wall  28  of the housing  26  includes the viewing aperture  20  through which the image generated by the display  12  is viewable by an observer/user  16  as a display image  24  (see FIG.  1 ). The viewing aperture  20  preferably consists of a transparent material in a cut-out portion of the front wall  28  of the housing  26  to prevent dust and other foreign matter from entering the display  12 . However, if so desired, the transparent material may be excluded. While the preferred embodiment contemplates focusing the image at infinity, imaging objects could be utilized which create the virtual image at any comfortable viewing distance and at any desired size. 
     The housing  26  is preferably made of a black ABS plastic and is designed to be light-tight and small. For example, in one embodiment of the invention, the housing  26  is approximately 96.25 mm by 59.5 mm with a depth of 41.5 mm. Utilizing these housing dimensions, the viewing aperture  20  would be a rectangular hole for viewing the image  24 , approximately 32.99 mm by 47.39 mm. 
     The housing  26  is provided with computer control means permitting the user  16  to interface with a computer  22  to which the display  12  is operably connected. The control means generally includes a computer mouse  40  and a microphone/speaker  42 , both operably connected to the housing  26 . The computer mouse  40  is preferably formed on the front wall  28  of the housing  26 , and includes a mouse control  44  and mouse buttons  46 . The mouse control  44  includes a knob  48  projecting from the front wall  28  of the housing  26  with a track ball  50  universally rotatable within the knob  48 . It should be understood that other configurations of the control means are also contemplated. 
     The microphone/speaker  42  is also preferably formed on the housing  26  and can be advantageously used by any user requiring simultaneous access to both audio and video information. Further, the microphone/speaker  42  permits the user  16  to interface with and control operation of the computer  22 , which includes an audio interface  52  (see FIG. 1) permitting such use. 
     The display  26  also includes a switch  54  preferably disposed on the housing  26 . The switch  54  is selectively variable between first and second states enabling either the computer mouse  40  or the microphone/speaker  42  to be utilized to control operation of the computer  22 . 
     Referring more particularly to FIG. 3, the housing  26  generally at least partially encloses an image forming means shown generally at  56 . The image forming means  56  receives a video signal with video information from the computer  22  and displays the video information as a display image  24  into the line of sight of an observer/user  16 . The display image  24  is viewable by the observer/user  16  through the viewing aperture  20 . 
     More specifically, the image forming means  56  generally includes an LCD or electroluminescent display  58 , a beam splitter  60  and a spherical mirror  62 . The image forming means  56  operates according to the same general principles as disclosed in prior application Ser. No. 08/697,035 filed by one of the named inventors herein, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. Accordingly, a detailed description of the operation of the image forming means  56  is not necessary. 
     It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned image forming means  56  or its specific components. Many other electronic displays could be utilized as the image forming means  56 . These include such displays as miniature CRT&#39;s, electroluminescent displays, field emission displays, raster displays and others that are currently being developed. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5-6, the display  12  is shown operably connected to the garment  14  via the flexible element  18 . In a preferred embodiment, the flexible element  18  is made of black Delrin™ plastic and includes a gooseneck support. However, any type of flexible element permitting universal repositioning of the display  12  relative to the garment  14  may be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     The display  12  is detachably secured to the flexible element  18  via a member  64  which is attached to an end  66  of the flexible element  18 . In a preferred form, the member  64  is also made of black Delrin™ plastic and is snap fit into the end  66  of the flexible element  18 . However, other connection methods may also be used. 
     The member  64  is shown more particularly in FIGS. 7-9 and includes an angled top surface  68  and a substantially flat bottom surface  70 . An end wall  72  includes a bore  74  which receives the end  66  of the flexible element  18  when the member  64  is attached thereto. The bottom surface  70  includes a slot  76  defined therein. The slot  76  is defined by side walls  78 , 80 , having a dove-tail configuration, and an end wall  82 . The bottom surface  70  of the member  64  within the slot  76  includes a plurality of spaced bumps/protrusions  84 , the significance of which will become apparent. 
     As shown more clearly in FIGS. 3 and 10, the housing  26  includes a raised tab  84  formed on the back wall  30 . The raised tab  84  is defined by an outer wall  86  and side walls  88 , 90 , with the side walls  88 , 90  having a dove-tail configuration. The outer wall  86  includes a plurality of indentations  92  at spaced intervals along the length thereof. Attaching the display  12  to the member  64  consists of guidingly receiving the raised tab  84  into the slot  76 . The corresponding bumps  84  and indentations  92  engage as the raised tab  84  is slid into the slot  76 . The protrusions  84  and indentations  92 , in combination, provide a detent means securing the display  12  in a plurality of positions relative to the member  64 . Side movement of the display  12  relative to the member  64  is prohibited by the dove-tail connection between side walls  78 , 80  of the member  64  and side walls  88 , 90  of the raised tab  84 . The above attachment method permits a user  16  to readily remove the display  12  from and/or replace the display  12  on the member  64 , depending upon the type of application required. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 11-13, the garment  14  of the body-mountable display system  10  will now be described. The garment  14  includes a sheet of high density polyethylene  94  disposed in between nylon sheets  96 . The garment  14  is depicted as oval in shape, and its outer perimeter includes an acrylic awning canvas edging  98  holding the garment  14  together. The edging  98  may be attached by stitching or other conventional means. 
     The garment  14  is generally both rigid and flexible in that it will generally conform to and overlie a substantial area on a portion of the body of the user  16 . However, once conformed to a position, the garment  14  is designed to generally remain in that position until it is reconformed to a different position. The garment depicted in FIGS. 11-13 generally fits conveniently over the shoulder of a user and conforms to the shape thereof. 
     The garment  14  includes an aperture  100  which is designed to attach to the flexible element  18  as will be described hereinafter. 
     In the particular embodiment depicted in FIGS. 11-13, eyelets  102 , 104 , 106 , 108  are secured to the garment  14  at optimum positions for securing the garment  14  to the body of the user  16  via straps  110 , shown more particularly in FIG.  1 . More specifically, if the garment  14  depicted in FIG. 11 were placed over the right shoulder of a user  16 , the eyelets  102  and  108  would be connected via a strap  110  running under the right arm of the user  16 , while the eyelets  104  and  106  would be connected via a strap  110  running across the chest, under the left arm and across the back of the user  16 . 
     It should be understood that the garment  14  disclosed herein is merely one of a myriad of types of garments that are contemplated with the present invention. The garment may comprise a variety of shapes and sizes and may include, but by no means is meant to be limited to, such items as shoulder straps, vests, belts, shirts, arm straps, etc. Furthermore, the garment  14  may also be designed to be removably attached to the body of a user  16 . In this instance, the garment may be inserted into a pocket or slot on a vest or jacket of the user, or may alternatively include means, such as Velcro™-type fasteners or dual locking snaps, for releasable attachment to a jacket or vest of a user  16 . 
     Attachment of the flexible element  18  to the garment  14  will now be described with reference to FIGS. 14-16. The flexible element  18  has a bottom segment  112  which includes a threaded bore  114  centrally disposed therethrough. Similar to the flexible element  18 , the bottommost segment  112  is made of a black Delrin plastic. The segment  112  includes a bottom surface  116 , which when operably mounted, engages a surface  118  of the garment  14  with the bore  114  substantially aligned with the aperture  100 . A washer  120  is disposed on a surface  122  of the garment  14  opposite that of surface  118 , with the washer  120  having a diameter larger than the diameter of the aperture  100 . A screw  124  is passed through the washer  120  and is screwed into the bore  114  in the segment  112 . The screw  124  is tightened to an appropriate tightening torque sufficient to maintain the bottom surface  116  of the segment  112  flush against the surface  118  of the garment  14 . It should be noted, however, that other methods of mounting the flexible element  18  to the garment  14  are also contemplated by the present invention. 
     Furthermore, nonelectric versions are also contemplated. For example, a passive display consisting of a transparency in either an artificial light or sunlight can replace the LCD  58  and generate the required image. Applications could include high resolution maps, photographic slides, or microfiche reference sources. 
     Other aspects, objects and advantages of the present invention can be obtained from a study of the drawings, disclosure and appended claims.