JPH10325940A - Head mounted display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a head mounted display device capable of selecting brightness of a display image and an image from the outside according to a use state by a user. SOLUTION: A virtual image forming optical system 3 whose external form is constituted of an upper part casing 15 and a lower part casing 16, and the lower part casing 16 is made attachable/detachable to/from the upper part casing 15. An image display means 7 consisting of a liquid crystal panel 5 and a back-light 6 for irradiating it from the rear is housed in the upper part casing 15, and a translucent type reflection mirror 9 and a translucent type concave mirror 8 are housed in the lower part casing 16. When the lower part casing 16 is detached form the upper part casing 15, and the attaching positions of the translucent type reflection mirror 9 and translucent type concave mirror 8 are changed, the brightness of the display image and the image from the outside world are selected optionally.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a head mounted optical system in which a virtual image forming optical system for enlarging a virtual image of an image formed by an image display element is housed in an apparatus main body, and the apparatus main body is mounted on the head to observe the image. The present invention relates to a type image display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, head-mounted display devices have been proposed in order to respond to a demand for enhancing portability of video and data displays. As typical examples, for example, JP-A-3-188777 and JP-A-6-105256
There is a binocular head-mounted display device as shown in FIG. These are a display capable of simultaneously observing these two image lights by synthesizing image light from the outside world and image light from the image display means whose virtual image has been enlarged by the concave mirror by a semi-transmissive reflection mirror. is there. In the former, a semi-transmissive concave mirror is arranged in front of the user's eyes, and a semi-transmissive reflective mirror is provided between the semi-transmissive concave mirror and the user's eyes. On the other hand, in the latter, a concave mirror is arranged below the user's eyes with the concave surface facing upward, and a semi-transmissive reflection mirror is provided in front of the user's eyes.

[0003]

In the above head-mounted display device, the brightness of each image light reaching the user's eye is determined by the product of the transmissivity of the transflective concave mirror and the transflective reflective mirror. It is determined.

In the former head mounted display device, image light from the outside passes through a semi-transmissive concave mirror and further passes through a semi-transmissive reflective mirror to reach the user's eyes. On the other hand, the image light from the image display means is reflected by the semi-transmissive reflecting mirror, then reflected again by the semi-transmissive concave mirror to the semi-transmissive reflecting mirror side, and further transmitted through the semi-transmissive reflecting mirror to allow the user Reach the eyes. Therefore, for example, assuming that the transmittance of the semi-transmissive concave mirror and the semi-transmissive reflective mirror is 50% in the former head-mounted display device,
Only 25% of the image light from the outside reaches 12.5% of the display image light emitted from the image display means.

On the other hand, in the latter head-mounted display device, the concave mirror is a total reflection type concave mirror (100% reflectivity), so that 50% of the image light from the outside world and the display image light emitted from the image display means. Reaches the observer's eye. Therefore, there is an advantage that the image can be brighter than the former head mounted display.

However, in the latter head-mounted display device, the concave mirror is arranged below the user's eyes with the concave surface facing up. Therefore, the downward view of the user is obstructed, which is dangerous. In an optical arrangement such as the latter head-mounted display device, the housing for fixing the concave mirror and the transflective reflecting mirror is inevitably large, and is always in front of the user, so that a sense of oppression is intense. There is a problem.

On the other hand, in the former head mounted display device, the downward view of the user is not hindered and there is no feeling of oppression.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conflicting problems and advantages, and has as its object to realize a head-mounted display device in which a user can freely select one of them according to the use situation.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a head-mounted display device according to the present invention comprises: an image display means for forming a display image; and a display image formed by the image display means. A head-mounted display device comprising: an enlargement optical unit for enlarging a virtual image, and an image synthesizing unit for synthesizing a display image enlarged by a virtual image by the enlarging optical unit and an image from the outside. By transmitting light and image light from the outside through the image combining means,
A first state in which the virtual image enlarged display image and the image from the outside world are combined, and display image light is reflected by the image combining unit, and image light from the outside passes through the image combining unit. Thus, the display image and the image from the outside world can be switched to a second state in which the image is synthesized.

[0010] According to the above configuration, by switching between the first state and the second state, the user can freely select one of them according to the use situation. The brightness of the image and the brightness of the display image can be arbitrarily selected.

In the head mounted display device, it is possible to switch between the first state and the second state by changing mounting positions of the magnifying optical means and the image synthesizing means. is there. This comprises a first housing for housing the image display means, and a second housing for housing the enlarging optical means and the image synthesizing means, wherein the second housing is the first housing. The first state and the second state can be switched by changing the attachment position of the second case with respect to the first case. It can be realized by the configuration.

According to such a configuration, it is possible to switch from the first state to the second state while maintaining the positional relationship and the distance between the magnifying optical means and the image synthesizing means. Therefore, switching from the first state to the second state or from the second state to the first state has no effect on the enlargement operation of the display image.

[0013] In the above head mounted display device,
It is also possible to switch between the first state and the second state by changing the mounting position of the magnifying optical means. This comprises a housing for housing the image display means and the image synthesizing means, and a support frame for housing the enlarging optical means, and by changing a mounting position of the support frame to the housing, the 1
And the second state can be switched.

[0014] With this configuration, the first optical system and the image synthesizing unit can be kept in the first position while maintaining the positional relationship and the distance.
The state can be switched to the second state. Therefore, switching from the first state to the second state or from the second state to the first state does not affect the enlargement operation of the displayed image.

Further, in this configuration, if the support frame is rotatably supported with respect to the housing, the first state can be changed to the second state without removing the support frame.
Alternatively, it is possible to switch from the second state to the second state. That is, switching can be performed with a simple configuration.

In the above-mentioned head-mounted display device, there is provided a partially transmissive element for removing a component of light reflected by the image synthesizing means from image light from the outside at least in the second state. For example, it is possible to prevent a phenomenon in which image light from the outside is reflected to the display means side by the image combining means, and it is possible to improve the visibility of the displayed image. It also contributes to protection of the image combining means.

In the above-mentioned head-mounted display device, if the magnifying optical means is a semi-transmissive concave mirror, in the first state, a downward view of the user can be ensured and the visibility of the displayed image can be improved. While improving, an image from the outside in the same direction as that is also visible. Also, in the second state, the user can visually recognize the lower field of view through the magnifying optical means.

In the above head-mounted display device, if the magnifying optical means is a total reflection concave mirror, in the first state, an image from the outside in front of the user is not transmitted. Immersion can be achieved, and a high sense of reality can be obtained. Also, since the maximum display luminance is obtained, the visibility is high. In addition, both the lower field of view and the display image can be clearly recognized. In the second state, a display image having the maximum luminance in this optical configuration is obtained, and both the front view and the display image can be clearly recognized.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to examples.

(Embodiment 1) A first embodiment of a head mounted display according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are views showing the appearance and use of the head-mounted display device of this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus main body 1 has a virtual image forming optical system 3 in front of either the left or right eye of the user 2 or both eyes. The virtual image forming optical system 3 extends in the direction of the eye width of the user 2 and is frictionally fitted to the apparatus main body 1 via the shaft 4 having a substantially cylindrical cross section. This is to make the virtual image forming optical system 3 movable in the interpupillary direction of the user 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus main body 1 is mounted on the head of the user 2 by a holding section 19 via a hinge section 18. The holding portion 19 has a configuration in which a frame made of a spring steel plate such as SUS304 is inserted almost entirely, and the vicinity of the top is covered with a protective cover. When the holding portion 19 is viewed from above, the holding portion 19 has a substantially U-shape along the head of the user 2 and is stretchable in the longitudinal direction. Holder 1
Reference numeral 9 extends to the vicinity of the temporal region along the forehead of the user 2 and bends downward from the temporal region, for example, from the upper position of both ears. Further, a forehead pad (not shown) is provided near the top corresponding to the forehead of the user 2, and a head pad (not shown) is provided at the end corresponding to the head behind both ears. Because the frame exerts elastic force on the head side,
The forehead pad and the head pad are held in pressure contact with the head.

The holding section 19 includes an arm 20 having at least a contact section with the head having a substantially cylindrical cross section. The arm 20 is a substantially U-shaped elastic body along the upper head of the user 2 and is extendable and contractible in the longitudinal direction. The arm 20 is rotatable about the fulcrum 25 in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions.

FIG. 3 shows the internal configuration of the virtual image forming optical system 3. The outer shape of the virtual image forming optical system 3 is constituted by an upper housing 15 and a lower housing 16, and the lower housing 16 is detachable from the upper housing 15. An image display unit 7 including a liquid crystal panel 5 and a backlight 6 for irradiating the liquid crystal panel 5 from behind is stored in the upper housing 15. In the lower housing 16, a transflective reflecting mirror 9 as an image synthesizing unit and a transflective concave mirror 8 as an enlarging optical unit are provided.
And are stored.

In the head-mounted display device of this embodiment, the virtual image forming optical system 3 can be switched from the first state to the second state and from the second state to the first state. This is shown in FIG. First, the lower housing 16 is pulled out of the upper housing 15 in the direction of arrow a, and rotated 180 degrees as indicated by arrow b. Further, the lower housing 16 is rotated by 90 degrees as shown by the arrow c, and is inserted from below the upper housing 15 in the direction of the arrow d. Note that a claw-shaped protrusion (not shown) is formed on the upper housing 15, and a corresponding groove (not shown) is formed on the lower housing 16, and these protrusions and grooves are combined with each other. The two housings are friction-fitted. This is the process of switching from the first state to the second state, and if this is traced back, the second state is switched to the first state.
It is possible to switch to the state.

Here, the first state means that, as shown in FIG. 3A, the display image light 10 and the image light 11 from the outside pass through the semi-transmissive reflection mirror 9 which is an image synthesizing means. By doing so, it indicates a state in which the virtual image enlarged display image and the image from the outside world are combined. Also, the second state is
The display image light 10 is reflected by the transflective reflection mirror 9 serving as an image synthesizing unit, and the image light 11 from the outside passes through the transflective reflection mirror 9, so that the virtual image is enlarged and the display image is enlarged from the outside. Refers to a state where is synthesized.

The transflective reflecting mirror 9 is arranged in the lower housing 16 such that the normal to the reflecting surface thereof is at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the optical axis 13 of the virtual image forming optical system 3. The transflective mirror 9 is made of a material having a transmittance and a reflectance of 50%, for example. Also,
On the reflecting surfaces of the transflective mirror 9 and the transflective concave mirror 8, in order to prevent ghost and unnecessary reflection from occurring,
Has an anti-reflection coating.

In the first state, as shown in FIG. 3A, the semi-transmissive concave mirror 8 has its central axis on its reflecting surface parallel to the optical axis 13 of the virtual image forming optical system 3. In the second state, as shown in FIG. 3B, the central axis of the reflection surface is arranged to be perpendicular to the optical axis 13 of the virtual image optical system 3. In addition,
The transflective concave mirror 8 is formed of, for example, a material having a transmittance and a reflectance of 50%.

An opening 26 having substantially the same area as the image display area of the liquid crystal panel 5 is provided in a housing portion corresponding to the back surface of the semi-transmissive concave mirror 8, so that the image light 11 from the outside can be taken in. ing.

At this time, the image forming surface of the image display means 7 is arranged closer to the semi-transmissive concave mirror 8 than the object-side focal point of the semi-transmissive concave mirror 8, and the eye 12 is arranged near the image-side focal point of the semi-transmissive concave mirror 8. With this configuration, the enlarged virtual image 14 of the display image can be visually recognized on the extension of the optical axis 13 of the virtual image forming optical system 3 by the image forming action of the transflective concave mirror 8.

In the first state shown in FIG.
The display image light 10 is reflected by the transflective reflecting mirror 9 toward the transflective concave mirror 8, and the display image is enlarged around the optical axis 13 by the transflective concave mirror 8. The display image light 10 reflected by the semi-transmissive concave mirror 8 passes through the semi-transmissive reflective mirror 9 and reaches the user's eye 12 together with the image light 11 from the outside transmitted through the semi-transmissive concave mirror 8. At this time, the display image and the image from the outside world are synthesized and formed into the user's eye 12. As a result, the user 2 perceives that the enlarged virtual image 14 of the display image formed by the image display means 7 is superimposed on the image from the outside.

On the other hand, in the second state in FIG. 3B, the display image light 10 passes through the transflective reflection mirror 9 and reaches the transflective concave mirror 8, and the display image is transmitted by the transflective concave mirror 8. It is enlarged around the optical axis 13. The display image light 10 reflected by the semi-transmissive concave mirror 8 is reflected by the semi-transmissive reflective mirror 9 toward the eyes of the user 2 and used together with the image light 11 from the outside transmitted through the semi-transmissive reflective mirror 9. Reaches the eye 12 of the person. At this time, the display image and the image from the outside world are synthesized and formed into the user's eye 12. As a result, the user 2 perceives that the enlarged virtual image 14 of the display image formed by the image display means 7 is superimposed on the image from the outside.

In the first state, the image light 11 from the outside is darkened by the influence of the reflection of the transflective concave mirror 8, which is the magnifying optical means, so that the visibility of the displayed image is increased. Further, as is clear from FIG. 3 (A), the field of view in front of the user's eyes is ensured, which is safe. On the other hand, in the second state,
Since the image light 11 from the outside only passes through the transflective reflection mirror 9 as the image combining means, the visibility of the image light 11 from the outside increases.

As described above, by making it possible to switch between the first state and the second state, it becomes possible for the user to freely select one of them according to the use situation.

Further, in the first state, the image display means 7
12.5% of the light emitted from the camera reaches the user's eye 12, and 25% of the image light from the outside reaches the user's eye 12. On the other hand, in the second state, 12.5% of the light emitted from the image display means 7 reaches the user's eye 12, and 50% of the image light from the outside reaches the user's eye 12. Therefore, when the image from the outside in front of the user is bright, the image from the outside in front of the user can be darkened by selecting the first state, and conversely, from the outside in front of the user. Is dark, it is possible to brighten an image from the outside in front of the user by selecting the second state. That is, by enabling the switching between the first state and the second state, it is possible to easily balance the brightness of the image from the outside with the brightness of the display image.

Further, in this embodiment, the transflective concave mirror 8 and the transflective reflecting mirror 9 are housed in a lower housing 16, and the lower housing 16 is configured to be detachable from the upper housing 15. Therefore, it is possible to switch from the first state to the second state while maintaining the positional relationship and the distance between the transflective concave mirror 8 and the transflective reflective mirror 9. Therefore, switching from the first state to the second state or from the second state to the first state has no effect on the enlargement operation of the display image.

In the head-mounted display device of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3B, the user of the upper housing 15 sandwiches the transflective reflection mirror 9 as the image synthesizing means. If a partially transmissive element 23 that removes a component of light reflected by the semi-transmissive reflective mirror 9 from image light from the outside is arranged on a surface located on the side opposite to the eye 12,
In the second state, it is possible to prevent the phenomenon that the image light 11 from the outside is reflected toward the display unit 17 by the transflective reflection mirror 9, and the visibility of the display image formed by the image display unit 7 is improved. It is possible to further improve. It also contributes to protection of the transflective reflection mirror 9.

In the head-mounted display device of this embodiment, it is also possible to employ a total reflection type concave mirror instead of the transflective type concave mirror 8 as the magnifying optical means. In this case, by switching between the first state and the second state, transmission or blocking of the image light 11 from the outside can be selected.

For example, assuming that the reflectivity of the total reflection type concave mirror is ideally 100%, in the first state, the image light 11 from the outside is cut off. Immersion, and a high sense of reality can be obtained. The transflective mirror 9
Only twice, the brightness of the display image is 25% of the brightness of the light emitted from the image display means 7, the maximum display luminance is obtained, and the visibility is improved. Also, in the second state, the light only passes through the transflective reflecting mirror 9 twice, and the light 25
% Is incident on the user's eye 12, so that a display image with the maximum brightness in this optical configuration is obtained. In addition, both the external image and the display image can be clearly recognized.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a head-mounted display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of the virtual image forming optical system, and also partially shows the arrangement of the internal optical system. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals,
The description is omitted.

In the same figure, the virtual image forming optical system 27 is similar to the virtual image forming optical system 3 of the first embodiment, and the image display means 7,
A transflective concave mirror 8 and a transflective reflective mirror 9 are provided.

The virtual image forming optical system 27 is a fan-shaped side surface (a surface parallel to the paper) that supports the image display means 7 and the transflective reflecting mirror 9 and the transflective concave mirror 8.
And a triangular cover 21. The support frame 17 and the cover 21 are rotatably supported on the side surface of the first housing 24 by pins 22 so as to be rotatable with respect to the housing 24.

As is clear from FIG. 5, the pin 22 is the center of a rotation operation for switching between the first state shown in FIG. 5A and the second state shown in FIG. 5B. In the first state and the second state, the image display means 7
And the semi-transmissive concave mirror 8 are provided at a position where the distance between them is equal. In the second state, the cover 21 shields the side surface between the transflective concave mirror 8 and the user's eye in order to prevent external light from entering from the side surface of the virtual image forming optical system 3. Things. The housing 24 includes a side wall 28 for shielding the side surface between the image display means 7 and the transflective mirror 9 in the second state.

In the above configuration, by rotating the support frame 17 and the cover 21 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 5A, respectively, the first state shown in FIG.
It is possible to switch to the second state shown in FIG. At this time, unlike the case of the first embodiment, since the transflective reflection mirror 9 does not move, the image light from the image display means 7 is back-reflected in either the first or second state. If the deviation of the optical axis is taken into consideration, the influence on the reflection characteristics is small.

As described above, if the switching means is configured to move only the semi-transmissive concave mirror 8, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained with a simple structure without affecting the enlarging operation. It becomes possible.

In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the semi-transmissive concave mirror 8 can be a reflective concave mirror.

Also, in the present embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the surface of the housing 24 located on the side opposite to the user's eye 12 with the transflective mirror 9 as the image synthesizing means interposed therebetween. If a partially transmissive element that removes a component of light reflected by the transflective reflecting mirror 9 from image light from the outside is arranged, the transflective reflecting mirror 9 can be used in the second state by the transflective reflecting mirror 9. Image light 11 from the display means 17
The phenomenon of reflection to the side can be prevented, and the visibility of the display image formed by the image display means 7 can be further improved.

[0050]

As described above, the head-mounted display device of the present invention comprises an image display means for forming a display image, and a virtual image for enlarging the display image formed by the image display means. What is claimed is: 1. A head-mounted display device comprising: an enlargement optical unit; and an image combining unit configured to combine a display image enlarged by a virtual image with the enlargement optical unit and an image from the outside world. By transmitting light through the image synthesizing unit, the first state in which the virtual image enlarged display image and the image from the outside world are synthesized, and the display image light is reflected by the image synthesizing unit,
By transmitting image light from the outside through the image combining means, the display image and the second state in which the image from the outside world are combined can be switched, so that the user can use the display image. One can be freely selected according to the situation, the brightness of the image from the outside in front of the user,
In addition, the brightness of the display image can be arbitrarily selected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an optical system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a switching method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an optical system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body 2 User 3 Virtual image formation optical system 4 Axis 5 Liquid crystal panel 6 Backlight 7 Image display means 8 Semi-transmissive concave mirror 9 Semi-transmissive reflective mirror 10 Display image light 11 Image light from the outside 12 Eye 13 Optical axis 14 Virtual image 15 Upper housing 16 Lower housing 17 Support frame 18 Hinge part 19 Holding part 20 Arm 21 Cover 22 Pin 23 Partially transmissive element 24 Housing 25 Support 26 Opening 27 Virtual image forming optical system 28 Side wall

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An image display unit for forming a display image, an enlargement optical unit for enlarging a virtual image of a display image formed by the image display unit, and a display image enlarged by a virtual image by the enlargement optical unit. A head-mounted display device comprising: an image combining unit that combines an image from the outside world. The virtual image is enlarged by transmitting display image light and image light from the outside world through the image combining unit. The first state in which the displayed image and the image from the outside world are combined, and the display image light is reflected by the image combining unit, and the image light from the outside passes through the image combining unit,
A second method in which the display image and the image from the outside world are combined;
Characterized by being configured to be switchable between a head mounted display and a head mounted display. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first state and the second state can be switched by changing a mounting position of the magnifying optical unit and the image combining unit. Head-mounted display device. 3. The second case according to claim 2, further comprising: a first case that houses the image display unit; and a second case that houses the magnifying optical unit and the image combining unit. The body is configured to be detachable from the first housing, and the first state and the second state are changed by changing a mounting position of the second housing with respect to the first housing. And a head-mounted display device. 4. The head mounted device according to claim 1, wherein the first state and the second state can be switched by changing a mounting position of the magnifying optical unit. Type display device. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a housing that houses the image display unit and the image synthesizing unit; and a support frame that houses the enlargement optical unit. The head mounted display device, wherein the first state and the second state can be switched by changing the state. 6. The head-mounted display device according to claim 5, wherein the support frame is rotatably supported by the housing. 7. A partial transmission element according to claim 1, wherein at least in the second state, a component of light reflected by the image combining means is removed from image light from the outside. A head-mounted display device characterized by the following.