Display apparatus and optical apparatus

• US 10,642,040 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2015
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Mukawa, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Wills-Burns, Chineyere D
• Application Number:
  US14/640,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20150260995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,887 Days
• Field of Search: 345 8
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/14 Viewfinders for photographic apparatus G03B13/02
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/144 using partially transparent surfaces without spectral selectivity G02B27/147 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/10 Intensity circuits

Abstract

A display apparatus includes a frame, an image display device, and a dimming device. The frame is mounted onto a head of an observer. The image display device is attached to the frame. The dimming device is configured to adjust the amount of outside light that comes from the outside. Light transmittance of a partial area of the dimming device is changed based on a signal for displaying an image on the image display device.

Claims

1. An optical apparatus, comprising:

a mounting frame configured to be mounted onto a head of an observer;

an image display device configured to be attached to the mounting frame;

an imaging device configured to be attached to the mounting frame to acquire an image of a spatial area within a field of view of the observer;

a light dimming device configured to control the amount of outside light that comes from the outside to the field of view of the observer;

a controller configured to change light transmittance of at least a first region and a second region on the light dimming device based on a signal for displaying an image on the image display device, wherein the light transmittance of the first region is different from the light transmittance of the second region; and

a transmitted-light illumination measurement sensor configured to measure light that passes through the dimming device from the outside environment,

wherein the controller is configured to change a difference in light transmittance between the first region and the second region of the light dimming device in response to the signal for displaying the image on the image display device, before the image is displayed.

2. The optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image display device includes

an image forming unit, and

a light guide unit to input, guide, and output light that is output from the image forming unit.

3. The optical apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the light guide unit includes

a light guide plate to output light after input light is propagated inside the light guide plate by total reflection,

a first deflection unit to deflect at least part of the light input to the light guide plate, to totally reflect the light input to the light guide plate inside the light guide plate, and

a second deflection unit to deflect the light propagated inside the light guide plate by total reflection, to output, from the light guide plate, the light propagated inside the light guide plate by total reflection.

4. The optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the signal for displaying the image on the image display device is received from the outside.

5. The optical apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a communication unit.

6. The optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the image display device is configured to store the signal for displaying the image on the image display device.

7. The optical apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to measure brightness in an outside environment, wherein

the light transmittance of a partial area of the dimming device is further changed based on a measurement result of the brightness in the outside environment by the sensor.

8. The optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the dimming device is attached to the image display device.

9. The optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the dimming device is attached to the mounting frame.

10. The optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to correct a position of an area of the dimming device, the area corresponding to the spatial area imaged by the imaging device.

11. The optical apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a receiving device,

wherein the dimming device further adjusts the amount of outside light that comes from the outside to the field of view of the observer based on a signal received by the receiving device.

12. The optical apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a receiving device,

the image display device displaying an image based on data acquired via the receiving device, and the dimming device further changing light transmittance of at least a third portion of the dimming device before the image display device displays the image.

13. The optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein first and second regions of the dimming device are independently dimmable and wherein the second region of the dimming device surrounds the first region of the dimming device.

14. The optical apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the light transmittance of the first region of the dimming device corresponding to the spatial area imaged by the imaging device within the field of view of the observer is made higher than the light transmittance of the second region of the dimming device corresponding to a region outside of the spatial area imaged by the imaging device within the field of view of the observer.

15. The optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller generates a border in the light dimming device that indicates an outer edge of the spatial area imaged by the imaging device.

16. The optical apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the border comprises an area in the light dimming device in which an image frame is displayed around the spatial area imaged by the imaging device.

17. The optical apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a protection member disposed between the light dimming device and the image display device.

18. The optical apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the protection member protects the image display device.

19. The optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light dimming device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a first electrode configured to be disposed on the first substrate, a second electrode configured to be disposed on the second substrate and a light-transmission control material layer between the first electrode and the second electrode.

20. The optical apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the first substrate and the protection member are one specific member, and for shared use.

21. The optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmitted-light illumination measurement sensor is disposed between the light dimming device and the observer and is disposed to face the light dimming device.