The present disclosure relates to an optical engine for projection, and more particularly to a pair of projection glasses, a wearable projection apparatus, and a foldable optical engine.
A pair of conventional projection glasses (e.g., a pair of augmented reality glasses) includes a frame, two temples connected to the frame, and an optical engine. The optical engine is fixed to a corner area located between the frame and one of the two temples, however, such limitation of a position of the optical engine causes a front part of the conventional projection glasses to have a large volume.
In response to the above-referenced technical inadequacy, the present disclosure provides a pair of projection glasses, a wearable projection apparatus, and a foldable optical engine to effectively improve on the issues associated with conventional optical engines.
In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a pair of projection glasses, which includes a frame, at least one lens fixed to the frame, two temples, and a foldable optical engine. The two temples are pivotally connected to two end portions of the frame, respectively. One of the two temples is defined as a functional temple and is rotatable relative to the frame along a rotation axis between a wearing position and a folded position. The foldable optical engine includes a projection mechanism and a light emitting mechanism. The projection mechanism is fixed to the frame and is arranged adjacent to the at least one lens. The projection mechanism has a light input portion. The light emitting mechanism is fixed to the functional temple and has a light output portion that corresponds in position to the light input portion. The light emitting mechanism is rotatable relative to the projection mechanism along the rotation axis. When the functional temple is located at the wearing position, the light emitting mechanism is configured to emit a light beam from the light output portion toward the light input portion, so as to allow the projection mechanism to receive the light beam for projecting an image light into the at least one lens.
In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a wearable projection apparatus, which includes a wearable member, a lens corresponding in position to the wearable member, and a foldable optical engine. The foldable optical engine includes a projection mechanism and a light emitting mechanism. The projection mechanism is fixed to the lens and has a light input portion. The light emitting mechanism is fixed to the wearable member and has a light output portion that corresponds in position to the light input portion. The projection mechanism is pivotally connected to the light emitting mechanism along a rotation axis, so that the lens and the projection mechanism are jointly rotatable relative to the light emitting mechanism along the rotation axis between an operation position and a non-operation position. When the lens and the projection mechanism are located at the operation position, the light emitting mechanism is configured to emit a light beam from the light output portion toward the light input portion, so as to allow the projection mechanism to receive the light beam for projecting an image light into the lens.
In yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides a foldable optical engine, which includes a projection mechanism and a light emitting mechanism. The projection mechanism has a light input portion. The light emitting mechanism has a light output portion corresponding in position to the light input portion. The projection mechanism is pivotally connected to the light emitting mechanism along a rotation axis, so that the projection mechanism and the light emitting mechanism are rotatable relative to each other along the rotation axis. When the projection mechanism and the light emitting mechanism are rotated relative to each other to cause the light output portion to face toward the light input portion, the light emitting mechanism is configured to emit a light beam from the light output portion toward the light input portion, so as to allow the projection mechanism to receive the light beam for projecting an image light.
Therefore, in the projection glasses or the wearable projection apparatus provided by the present disclosure, the foldable optical engine can be assembled in a flexible manner through structural designs thereof (e.g., the light emitting mechanism being rotatable relative to the projection mechanism along the rotation axis), and the foldable optical engine can be applied to different wearable members (e.g., a pair of glasses or a hat) through structural configurations thereof.
These and other aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of the embodiment taken in conjunction with the following drawings and their captions, although variations and modifications therein may be affected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure.
The described embodiments may be better understood by reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present disclosure is more particularly described in the following examples that are intended as illustrative only since numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Like numbers in the drawings indicate like components throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, the meaning of “a”, “an”, and “the” includes plural reference, and the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on”. Titles or subtitles can be used herein for the convenience of a reader, which shall have no influence on the scope of the present disclosure.
The terms used herein generally have their ordinary meanings in the art. In the case of conflict, the present document, including any definitions given herein, will prevail. The same thing can be expressed in more than one way. Alternative language and synonyms can be used for any term(s) discussed herein, and no special significance is to be placed upon whether a term is elaborated or discussed herein. A recital of one or more synonyms does not exclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in this specification including examples of any terms is illustrative only, and in no way limits the scope and meaning of the present disclosure or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the present disclosure is not limited to various embodiments given herein. Numbering terms such as “first”, “second” or “third” can be used to describe various components, signals or the like, which are for distinguishing one component/signal from another one only, and are not intended to, nor should be construed to impose any substantive limitations on the components, signals or the like.
Referring to
It should be noted that the projection glasses 100a in the present embodiment is described by the above components, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, in other embodiments of the present disclosure, the two lenses 3 of the projection glasses 100a can be connected to each other so as to be regarded as one lens 3 fixed to the frame 2; or, the foldable optical engine 1 can be independently used (e.g., sold) or can be used in cooperation with other components.
Moreover, each of the two temples 4 is rotatable relative to the frame 2 along a rotation axis R between a wearing position (as shown in
In addition, in order to clearly describe the present embodiment, one of the two temples 4 (e.g., the temple 4 shown at the right side of
As shown in
Specifically, one of the two end portions 21 of the frame 2 (e.g., the functional end portion 21a) has an accommodating slot 211. The projection mechanism 11 is engaged in the accommodating slot 211, and the projection mechanism 11 does not protrude from the accommodating slot 211. The projection mechanism 11 in the present embodiment includes a front housing 113, a light permeable board 114 assembled to the front housing 113, and a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) module 115 that is assembled in the front housing 113, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
The front housing 113 is engaged and fixed in the accommodating slot 211 and has a light input portion 1131 that is arranged adjacent to an opening of the accommodating slot 211. The light permeable board 114 is disposed on one side of the front housing 113 away from the light input portion 1131. In other words, the light input portion 1131 and the light permeable board 114 are respectively located at two opposite sides of the front housing 113, and the light permeable board 114 is arranged adjacent to at least one of the lenses 3.
Moreover, the MEMS module 115 is located between the light input portion 1131 and the light permeable board 114, so that the MEMS module 115 can output an image light M from the light permeable board 114 by transforming a light L that enters into the projection mechanism 11 from the light input portion 1131. In other embodiments of the present disclosure not shown in the drawings, interior components of the MEMS module 115 can be adjusted or changed according to design requirements; or, the MEMS module 115 can be replaced by other modules according to design requirements.
As shown in
Moreover, the projection mechanism 11 is pivotally connected to the light emitting mechanism 12 along the rotation axis R, so that the projection mechanism 11 and the light emitting mechanism 12 can be rotatable relative to each other along the rotation axis R. The projection mechanism 11 has a pivotal side 111 and an aligning side 112 respectively arranged at two opposite sides of the light input portion 1131, and the light emitting mechanism 12 has a pivotal side 121 and an aligning side 122 respectively arranged at two opposite sides of the light output portion 1231. The pivotal side 111 of the projection mechanism 11 is pivotally connected to the pivotal side 121 of the light emitting mechanism 12, so that the light emitting mechanism 12 can be rotated relative to the projection mechanism 11 along the rotation axis R.
Specifically, in order to accurately align the light output portion 1231 and the light input portion 1131 with each other when the light emitting mechanism 12 and the projection mechanism 11 are rotated relative to each other, the aligning side 112 of the projection mechanism 11 and the aligning side 122 of the light emitting mechanism 12 preferably and respectively include a plurality of convex-concave fitting structures 1121, 1221 for being engaged with each other and/or a plurality of magnetic attraction structures 1122, 1222 for being magnetically attracted with each other. The magnetic attraction structures 1122, 1222 can be respectively embedded in the convex-concave fitting structures 1121, 1221, thereby effectively increasing the aligning effect.
When the functional temple 4a is located at the wearing position, the aligning side 112 of the projection mechanism 11 abuts against the aligning side 122 of the light emitting mechanism 12, and the light output portion 1231 and the light input portion 1131 can be accurately aligned with each other through the convex-concave fitting structures 1121, 1221 engaged with each other and/or the magnetic attraction structures 1122, 1222 magnetically attracted with each other.
In addition, when the functional temple 4a is located at the folded position, the aligning side 112 of the projection mechanism 11 is separate from the aligning side 122 of the light emitting mechanism 12; in other words, the convex-concave fitting structures 1121, 1221 are separate from each other, and the magnetic attraction structures 1122, 1222 are separate from each other.
Accordingly, when the functional temple 4a is located at the wearing position (or, when the projection mechanism 11 and the light emitting mechanism 12 are rotated relative to each other to cause the light output portion 1231 to face toward the light input portion 1131), the light emitting mechanism 12 (e.g., the light emitter 124) is configured to emit a light beam L from the light output portion 1231 toward the light input portion 1131, so as to allow the projection mechanism 11 (e.g., the MEMS module 115) to receive the light beam L for projecting an image light M from the light permeable board 114 into at least one of the two lenses 3.
It should be noted that the projection mechanism 11 and the light emitting mechanism 12 in the present embodiment are pivotally connected to each other by using one of the two shafts 5 that pivotally connects the functional end portion 21a and the functional temple 4a, thereby effectively reducing the possibility of relative movement between the projection mechanism 11 and the functional end portion 21a, and the possibility of relative movement between the light emitting mechanism 12 and the functional temple 4a. In other words, the pivotal side 111 of the projection mechanism 11 is pivotally connected to the pivotal side 121 of the light emitting mechanism 12 through one of the two shafts 5, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
For example, in other embodiments of the present disclosure not shown in the drawings, the projection mechanism 11 and the light emitting mechanism 12 are not connected to (or not in contact with) each other and are moved by the functional end portion 21a and the functional temple 4a, respectively; or, the projection mechanism 11 and the light emitting mechanism 12 can be directly formed to have structures that are pivotally connected to each other, so that the corresponding shaft 5 can be omitted.
In addition, the circuit module 13 is disposed in the functional temple 4a, and the circuit module 13 in the present embodiment includes a circuit board unit 131 and a bendable transmission cable 132 that is assembled to the circuit board unit 131. The circuit board unit 131 is electrically coupled to the light emitting mechanism 12, and the circuit board unit 131 in the present embodiment is a cable connector (not labeled) that is connected to the light emitter 124 for establishing an electrical connection therebetween, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, in other embodiments of the present disclosure not shown in the drawings, the light emitter 124 can be directly assembled to the circuit board unit 131.
Moreover, the bendable transmission cable 132 is connected to the pivotal side 111 of the projection mechanism 11 by being placed along the pivotal side 121 of the light emitting mechanism 12 and across the rotation axis R. In other words, when the functional temple 4a is rotated between the wearing position and the folded position, the bendable transmission cable 132 is synchronously bent.
The switch unit 14 is assembled to the circuit board unit 131 so as to be electrically coupled to the projection mechanism 11 and the light emitting mechanism 12. The switch unit 14 is triggerable to drive the light emitting mechanism 12 and the projection mechanism 11 when the functional temple 4a is located at the wearing position. Specifically, the triggering manner of the switch unit 14 can be adjusted or changed according to design requirements, and the switch unit 14 in the present embodiment is not limited to a specific type. In other words, the switch unit 14 can be a button, a trigger, a sensor, a wireless controller, or other components.
Referring to
The present embodiment provides a wearable projection apparatus 100b, which includes a wearable member 6, a lens 3 corresponding in position to the wearable member 6, and a foldable optical engine 1. The wearable member 6 in the present embodiment includes a hat 61 and a brim 62 that is connected to a front edge of the hat 61, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
Moreover, a structure of the foldable optical engine 1 of the present embodiment is substantially identical (or similar) to that of the first embodiment, and the following description only describes different features of the foldable optical engine 1 between the first and second embodiments for the sake of brevity. In the present embodiment, the light emitting mechanism 12 of the foldable optical engine 1 is fixed to at least one of the hat 61 and the brim 62, and the projection mechanism 11 is pivotally connected to the light emitting mechanism 12 along the rotation axis R, so that the lens 3 and the projection mechanism 11 can be jointly rotatable relative to the light emitting mechanism 12 along the rotation axis R between an operation position (as shown in FIG. 10) and a non-operation position (as shown in
It should be noted that the pivotal side 111 of the projection mechanism 11 is pivotally connected to the pivotal side 121 of the light emitting mechanism 12, so that the light emitting mechanism 12 can be rotated relative to the projection mechanism 11 along the rotation axis R. In order to accurately align the light output portion 1231 and the light input portion 1131 with each other when the light emitting mechanism 12 and the projection mechanism 11 are rotated relative to each other, the aligning side 112 of the projection mechanism 11 and the aligning side 122 of the light emitting mechanism 12 preferably and respectively include a plurality of convex-concave fitting structures 1121, 1221 for being engaged with each other and/or a plurality of magnetic attraction structures 1122, 1222 for being magnetically attracted with each other. The magnetic attraction structures 1122, 1222 can be respectively embedded in the convex-concave fitting structures 1121, 1221, thereby effectively increasing the aligning effect.
Accordingly, when the projection mechanism 11 is located at the operation position, the projection mechanism 11 is placed against the brim 62, the aligning side 112 of the projection mechanism 11 abuts against the aligning side 122 of the light emitting mechanism 12, and the light output portion 1231 and the light input portion 1131 can be accurately aligned with each other through the convex-concave fitting structures 1121, 1221 engaged with each other and/or the magnetic attraction structures 1122, 1222 magnetically attracted with each other.
In addition, when the projection mechanism 11 is located at the non-operation position, the projection mechanism 11 is separate from the brim 62, and the aligning side 112 of the projection mechanism 11 is separate from the aligning side 122 of the light emitting mechanism 12; in other words, the convex-concave fitting structures 1121, 1221 are separate from each other, and the magnetic attraction structures 1122, 1222 are separate from each other.
It should be noted that the projection mechanism 11 and the light emitting mechanism 12 in the present embodiment are pivotally connected to each other through one shaft 5, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, in other embodiments of the present disclosure not shown in the drawings, the projection mechanism 11 and the light emitting mechanism 12 can be directly formed to have structures that are pivotally connected to each other, so that the shaft 5 can be omitted.
In summary, when the lens 3 and the projection mechanism 11 are located at the operation position, the light emitting mechanism 12 is configured to emit a light beam (not shown in the drawings) from the light output portion 1231 toward the light input portion 1131, so as to allow the projection mechanism 11 to receive the light beam for projecting an image light (not shown in the drawings) into the lens 3.
The switch unit 14 of the foldable optical engine 1 is triggerable to drive the light emitting mechanism 12 and the projection mechanism 11 when the projection mechanism 11 is located at the operation position. In the present embodiment, the circuit module 13 can be assembled in the rear housing 123 of the light emitting mechanism 12, and the switch unit 14 is electrically coupled to the projection mechanism 11 and the light emitting mechanism 12 by being assembled to the circuit module 13. Furthermore, the triggering manner of the switch unit 14 can be adjusted or changed according to design requirements, and the switch unit 14 in the present embodiment is not limited to a specific type. In other words, the switch unit 14 can be a button, a trigger, a sensor, a wireless controller, or other components.
In conclusion, in the projection glasses or the wearable projection apparatus provided by the present disclosure, the foldable optical engine can be assembled in a flexible manner through structural designs thereof (e.g., the light emitting mechanism being rotatable relative to the projection mechanism along the rotation axis), and the foldable optical engine can be applied to different wearable members (e.g., a pair of glasses or a hat) through a suitable structural configurations thereof.
Moreover, in the foldable optical engine provided by the present disclosure, the light output portion and the light input portion can be accurately aligned with each other through various structural designs (e.g., the convex-concave fitting structures engaged with each other; the magnetic attraction structures magnetically attracted with each other; and the projection mechanism and the light emitting mechanism pivotally connected to each other by sharing one of the two shafts with the functional end portion and the functional temple).
The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.
The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the disclosure and their practical application so as to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the disclosure and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from its spirit and scope.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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111125839 | Jul 2022 | TW | national |
This application claims the benefit of priority to Taiwan Patent Application No. 111125839, filed on Jul. 11, 2022. The entire content of the above identified application is incorporated herein by reference. This application claims the benefit of priority to the U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/286,290 filed on Dec. 6, 2021, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Some references, which may include patents, patent applications and various publications, may be cited and discussed in the description of this disclosure. The citation and/or discussion of such references is provided merely to clarify the description of the present disclosure and is not an admission that any such reference is “prior art” to the disclosure described herein. All references cited and discussed in this specification are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties and to the same extent as if each reference was individually incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63286290 | Dec 2021 | US |