Image displaying apparatus

• US 20050219671A1
• Filed: 03/25/2005
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Akira, Inoguchi, Kazutaka, Yamazaki, Shoichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,145,706 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/208.100
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/086 wherein the system is made of a single block of optical material, e.g. solid catadioptric systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/011 comprising device for correcting geometrical aberrations, distortion
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features

Abstract

Disclosed is a compact image displaying apparatus which is high in light utilizing efficiency. The image displaying apparatus is provided with a light source, a scanning member for two-dimensionally scanning with light from the light source, and an optical system for directing the light deflected by the scanning member for scanning to an observer. The optical system is provided with an optical element in which a plurality of optical surfaces including refracting surfaces and internal reflecting surfaces are formed on a medium. The light deflected by the scanning member for scanning forms a two-dimensional image on a predetermined surface through a portion of the plurality of optical surfaces formed in the optical element. The plurality of optical surfaces formed in the optical element are disposed so that an effective area of the incidence surface of the optical element and an effective area of the internal reflecting surface may not overlap each other.

Claims

1. An image displaying apparatus, comprising:

a light source;

a scanning member for two-dimensionally scanning with light from the light source; and

an optical system for directing the light deflected by the scanning member for scanning to an observer, the optical system being provided with an optical element in which a plurality of optical surfaces including refracting surfaces and internal reflecting surfaces are formed on a medium,

wherein the light deflected by the scanning member for scanning forms a two-dimensional image on a predetermined surface through a portion of the plurality of optical surfaces of the optical element; and

wherein the plurality of optical surfaces formed in the optical element are disposed so that an effective area of an incidence surface of the optical element and an effective area of the internal reflecting surface may not overlap each other.

2. An image displaying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined surface is located on or near an optical surface formed in said optical element.

3. An image displaying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said optical surface on or near which said predetermined surface is located is a curved surface.

4. An image displaying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said optical system further has a reflecting member including a reflecting surface, and said predetermined surface is located on or near the reflecting surface of the reflecting member.

5. An image displaying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined surface is located on a diffusing reflecting surface.

6. An image displaying apparatus, comprising:

a light source;

a scanning member for two-dimensionally scanning with light from the light source; and

an optical system for directing the light deflected by the scanning member for scanning to an observer, the optical system including a turn-back reflecting surface and an optical surface existing in optical paths before and after the turn-back reflecting surface,

wherein a two-dimensional image is formed on or near the turn-back reflecting surface by the light deflected by the scanning member for scanning.