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1993-04-16
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Date: Sat, 17 Apr 93 15:07:55 CET
From: diego@minerva.st.dsi.unimi.it (Diego Montefusco)
Subject: HARDWARE: List of All the HMDs on the market (hope so) - LONG!
Summary: %-) Thanks, Diego -- Mods.
Some days ago someone asked for a complete list of HMDs available on
the market. It happens I am exactly writing an article on this for my
newsletter, so here we go...
(Ehi Mark, I guess this can go in the FAQ, right?)
I hope it is as much detailed and complete as possible, and I hope
that if anybody else finds errors, or knows of things not listed here,
s/he too will make the effort to let us all (and ME, in particular!!)
know about.
NOTE: This list includes ONLY products available on the market (except
the EyePhone HRX, which I included as well), NOT products under
development or made in research centres.
Hope this will help out someone,
Diego
-----------------------------------------------------------------
| Diego Montefusco | Computer Science Department |
| Via Pirano 4 | University of Milan - Italy |
| 20127 Milano | |
| Italia | P L E A S E R E P L Y T O M E A T : |
|+39 (0)2 27001467 | montefus@ghost.dsi.unimi.it |
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LCD based HMDs - Resolutions are in primarly colored pixels, unless stated...
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VPL Research, EyePhone LX
Resolution: 442x238
FoV: 108H x 76V (86H per eye), custom FMT Fresnel optics
(previously they used LEEP optics for their first EyePhones)
Weight: 2.5 lbs
Video in: NTSC
Headphones: Yes
VPL Research, EyePhone HRX - DISCONTINUED
Resolution: 720x480 Active Matrix TFT technology
with <100 Micron elements, 275 DPI
FoV: 106H x 75V (86H per eye), custom FMT Fresnel optics
Weight: 2.5 lbs
Video in: RGB or NTSC
Headphones: Yes
NOTE: Both VPL systems use a proprietary diffusion element in front of
the screens to reduce (defocusing the image) the apparent granularity
of LCDs.
Virtual Research, Flight Helmet
Resolution: 360x240
FoV: 100H, LEEP optics
Weight: 3.7 lbs
Video in: NTSC
Headphones: Yes, Sony
Leep Systems Inc, CyberFace 2 Model 1 and 2 (different "hat")
Resolution: 479x234, 4" plates.
319x117 Color Groups (triads), ie Real Resolution.
FoV: 140H, LEEP clear (i.e. not Fresnel) lens.
The wider FoV induces significant distortion.
Weight: 4.25 lbs
Video in: NTSC, PAL, RGB
Headphones: Optional
Leep Systems Inc, CyberFace 3
Resolution: 720x240. Just one display: it is MONOSCOPIC (but higher res than
usual). Maybe it's the same Sharp LCD used by the Mirage (see
below) but I don't know. Just guessing...
FoV: ? (generically stated as WIDE! It can be 80H...)
Weight: ?
Video in: NTSC, PAL, RGB
Headphones: No
NOTE: It is boom mounted on the LEEP Freedom Arm, which gives mechanical
tracking on 3 or 6 DoF. 4 buttons are available for navigation.
W Industries, Visette
Resolution: 372x276 TFT monitors 60mm X 46mm
(Don't know how many inches it is!)
FoV: 90-120H (90 if 100% binocular overlap, 120 if 50%), custom 12.5D Plano
convex lens, 40mm diameter
Weight: 6.4 lbs
Video in: ?
Headphones: Yes
NOTE: this is part of the Virtuality system, and the visor is NOT sold
separately. This HMD too uses a trasparent film to defocus the image
VRontier worlds of Stoughton Inc, TIER 1 (Totally Immersive Exploration Realm)
Resolution: 479x234. Each screen can be indipently adjusted for color, tint
and brightness. They don't tell screen size, but state
their screens are 25% bigger than most HMD LCDs.
FoV: 112H custom optics called VRon (Virtual Reality optical non-distorting)
Weight: 3.2 lbs
Video in: NTSC
Headphones: ? (Optional I guess)
NOTE: Can accept also MONO input, and the same signal is split to both screens.
It can also detached for mounting on an arm or be hand held, since the
visor weights only 1.5 lbs
Liquid Image Corp, Mirage
Resolution: 720x240 Active Matrix Sharp TFT LCD, 5.7 inches. Just ONE screen:
it is MONOSCOPIC. RGB Delta pixel arrangement. Cold cathode backlight
Dot Pitch: 0.158mm x 0.365mm (HxV)
FoV: exceeding 110H, clear proprietary lens
Weight: ?
Video in: NTSC, PAL option available
Headphones: Yes, Sony model # MDRV200 digital
RPI Advanced Technology Group, HMSI (Preliminry specs)
Resolution: 412x210. (optional 640x480, 1024x768, 1280x1024!!)
FoV: 110H x 65V (82H per eye)
Weight: 0.8 lbs (eye wear) plus 0.8 lbs (power pack belt)
Video in: RGB, NTSC, PAL (SECAM optional)
Headphones: Yes, maybe optional
NOTE: Can be see-through.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CRTs based HMD
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Virtual Reality Group and Virtual Reality Inc. (the HMD is the SAME!)
Resolution: up to 1280x1024, 60MHz. Monochrome 1" CRTs
Pupil resolution: 2 arc minutes per pixel
Brightness: 25 foot-lambert
IPD Adjustment: mechanical, 62-74mm
FoV: 50 degrees diagonal (?).
Stereo overlap: 35%, 67.5%, 100%
Weight: 3.0 lbs
Video in: NTSC Hi Res, VGA, 1280x1024 workstation
Headphones: Optional
NOTE: the Video System inclues electronic geometry correction logic that
accounts for pixel distortion induced by the optical train in the
periphery of the field of view.
Can be configured to be see-through.
Fake Space Labs, BOOM2C
Resolution: 1280x1024 monochrome, half horizontal for color. Color use is
limited because only two, R&B, of the RGB components are available.
FoV: 90-100H, LEEP optics
Weight: ? (The boom arm counterbalance it, so it is not important)
Video in: ?
NOTE: The full color version should be coming soon. It is a boom mounted
device, with full 6 DoF tracking and 2 buttons on the handles. There are
lower resolution, monochrome versions available
Kaiser Electro-Optics, SimEye and/or AgilEye (!)
I don't have any info directly from them, yet. Just merging info from a LOT
of sources, so there may be confusion between the two models.
These displays are generally used as Head Up Display in military applications
(helicopters and figher jets). They are therefore see-through.
Resolution: 525, 875, 1024 lines. Monochrome 1" CRTs (SimEye)
Another source gives 1280x1024, 1024x1024, 1024x768 (It is
probably the AgilEye)
See through: 35%
FoV: 60V x 40H, (40 circular each eye), custom optics
IPD Adjustment: mechanical (?)
Stereo overlap: 0%, 50%, 100%
Another source gives Fixed 50%
Focusing: from 3.5 feet to infinity
Weight: 3.8 lbs
Video in: RGB
NOTE: I've been told there are also color versions. The most reliable info is
that the SimEye is cheaper (and maybe the one with 525, 875, 1024 resolution),
while the AgilEye is more expensive.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiber Optics HMD
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAE Electronics, FOHMD
Pupil resolution: 5 arc minutes for the background
1.5 arc minutes for the hi-res insert
Image source: Four liquid crystal light valve (LCLV) projectors. Images
are then "condensed" onto fiber optic bundels with 4M fibers
and delivered to the optical system on the HMD. The projectors
are 4 since there's the stereo Hi-Res insert.
There are smaller versions with 2 CRT
FoV: 127H x 66V, with 38H (24%) of stereo overlap. 82.5H x 66V each eye
Custom optics, called Pancake Windows(tm).
In the stereo overlap region there is an hi-resolution insert of
25H x 18.9V.
These numbers are for the hi-end versions of the HMD.
Brightness: from 20 to 50 foot-lambert
Contrast ratio: from 30:1 to 50:1
Weight: 5.0-6.0 lbs
Video in: RGB
NOTE: It is see-through. Its cost should be up to $1,000,000!
Eye tracking is available on the light valve version. Head tracking is
standard: 4 sensors mounted above the head track the movement of 6
LEDs on the helmet
Polhemus Laboratories, no name
This specs are back to last year (July), so things may have changed in the
meantime. The numbers are those of a system delivered to NASA Ames in June
92.
Resolution: 500 lines
Image source: 2 Sanyo PLC 200N color projectors, linked to Head Coupled
Sony cameras
FoV: 30H (each eye)
Focus: Infinity
Weight: 5.5 oz
Video in: depends on image source.
NOTE: Can be opaque or see-through.
Their plans were to develop a 800x600 pixel, 50H FoV system for the summer,
and then a 2000x2000 pixel, 60H FoV (per eye) device. They planned to match
HDTV in 18 months from then. I still have to call them to check.
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RUMORS
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Kaiser might be working on a lower cost color version of their product; it
may be LCDs based or Textronix Color CRTs, or there might be TWO new HMD
around. I still have to find it out.
Virtual Research is also working on a better system. Both VRI and VRG are
working on color version of their CRT HMD (probably field sequencing CRTs).
This time different products!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADDRESSES OF MENTIONED COMPANIES
ATTENTION: Not all the phone and fax numbers have been checked.
Some addresses might be old (I don't think, anyway...)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VPL Research, Inc.
ATTN: Jean Jacques Grimaud
3977 East Bayshore Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303
USA
Tel: (415) 988-2550
Fax: (415) 988-2557
Virtual Research
ATTN: Cathy Cullinane
1313 Socorro Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94089
USA
Tel: (408) 739-7114
Fax: (408) 739-8586
These numbers might be old. Recently someone on the net gave those numbers
but I haven't checked out.
Tel: (408) 748-8712
Fax: (408) 748-8714
Leep Systems, Inc.
ATTN: Eric Howlett
541 Crescent Street
Waltham, MA 02154-3425
USA
Tel: (617) 647-1395
Fax: (617) 899-9602
W Industries
ATTN: Linda Deal
3 Oswin Road
Brailsford Industrial Park
Leicester LE3 1HR
UK
Tel: (0533) 542127
Fax: (0533) 548222
VRontier World of Stoughton, Inc.
ATTN: Tom Hayward
809 E. South Street
Stoughton, WI 53589
USA
Tel and Fax: (608) 873-8523
Liquid Image Corporation
ATTN: Shannon O'Brian
582 King Edward Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Canada R3H OP1
Tel: (204) 772-0137
Fax: (204) 772-0239
RPI Advanced Technology Group
ATTN: Anthony Rider or David Reed
P.O. Box 14607
San Francisco, CA 94114
USA
Tel: (415) 495-4460
Fax: (415) 777-3226
Email: rpi@well.sf.ca.us
Virtual Reality Group (an Advanced Technology Systems Company)
ATTN: Chris Lewis
800 Follin Lane, Suite 270
Vienna, VA 22180
USA
Tel: (703) 242-0030
Fax: (703) 242-5220
Virtual Reality, Inc.
ATTN: Frederick Budelman
485 Washington Avenue
Pleasantville, NY 10570
USA
Tel: (914) 769-0900
Fax: (914) 769-7106
NOTE: Recently someone on the net said that one of those two companies, VRG
and VRI (I can't remember which) had changed its name into n-Vision.
Someone please confirm or deny. Thanks.
Fake Space Labs
ATTN: Mark Bolas
935 Hamilton Avenue
Menlo Park, CA 94025
USA
Tel: (415) 688-1940
Fax: (415) 688-1949
Kaiser Electro-Optics, Inc.
ATTN: Frank Hepburn
2752 Loker Avenue East
Carlsbad, CA 92008
USA
Tel: (619) 438-9255
Fax: (619) 438-6875
CAE Electronics, Ltd.
ATTN: J.W. Paterson
8585 Cote de Liesse
C.P. 1800
Saint Laurent, Quebec
Canada H4L 4X4
Tel: (514) 341-6780
Fax: (514) 341-7699
Polhemus Laboratories, Inc.
ATTN: Bill Polhemus
P.O. Box 5
Cambridge, VT 05444
USA
Tel: (802) 644-5569
Fax: (802) 644-2943
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ADDRESSES OF OTHER COMPANIES
ATTENTION: Not all the phone and fax numbers have been checked.
Some addresses might be old (I don't think, anyway...)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I still have to contact these companies, so I don't know much about their
products. If any volonteer (sp?) wants to contact them, then please let
us know!
Hughes Simulation Systems
ATTN: Ross Anderson
2200 Arlington Downs Road
Arlington, TX 76011
USA
Tel: (817) 640-5000
Fax: (817) 695-2222
They should build HMD for military elicopters (Apache)
Concept Vision Systems, Inc.
P.O. Box 786
Conway, WA 98238
USA
Tel: (206) 336-3948
They are builing a new HMD. Their old one, the Alternate Reality Vision
System had a VERY wide field of view (I've read of 270H x 120V) but
required the user to wear special contact lenses!! Gosh...
Spread Spectrum Technologies
I KNOW NUTHIN'!!! Just the name
There's also another company, which should release a color CRT HMD by
June, but I can't say anything, yet!
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THAT'S ALL (FOR NOW!)
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