Image display device

• US 20050243431A1
• Filed: 08/12/2003
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scalar Corporation
• Original Assignee: Scalar Corporation
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Masao
• Granted Patent: US 7,230,765 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/12 Adjusting pupillary distance of binocular pairs
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/00 Non-optical adjuncts; Attachment thereof G02C7/16 takes precedence

Abstract

To provide an image display device of the type that presents images in a certain part of the field of vision in which the image display device can be used for prolonged periods of time.

An image display device 1 includes a main body 10 having a shape of a glasses frame, a right-eye display device 20R and a left-eye display device 20L. Each of the right-eye display device 20R and the left-eye display device 20L is for displaying a predetermined image and is provided in such a manner that it is not very clearly visible for a user when the user wearing the main body 10 on his or her head looks straight ahead and that it becomes clearly visible for the user only when the user moves his or her forward-looking eyes away. The user can get a forward field of vision and can see the images displayed on the right-eye display device 20R and the left-eye display device 20L when he or she looks at 45 degrees down. The right-eye display device 20R and the left-eye display device 20L may be fixed to the main body 10 at a spacing corresponding to the distance between the eyes of the user.

Claims

1. An image display device comprising:

a main body that can be worn on the head of a user; and

display means for displaying a predetermined image, said display means being provided on or in said main body in such a manner that it is not very clearly visible for said user when said user wearing said main body on his or her head looks straight ahead, and that it becomes clearly visible for said user when said user moves his or her eyes down at an angle equal to or larger than 20 degrees;

said image display device offers good visibility for said user when said user wearing said main body on his or her head looks straight ahead.

2. The image display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display means is provided on or in said main body in such a manner that it becomes clearly visible for said user only when said user moves his or her eyes down at an angle between 20 degrees and 70 degrees, both inclusive.

3. The image display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display means is provided on or in said main body in such a manner that it becomes clearly visible for said user only whet said user moves his or her eyes down at approximately 45 degrees.

4. The image display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display means is provided on or in said main body in such a manner that it becomes clearly visible for said user only when said user moves his or her straight-looking eyes down.

5. The image display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display means comprises a display screen on which images are shown and an optical system to guide an image shown on said display screen to the eye(s) of said user, said display means being provided on or in said main body in such a manner that the optical axis of said optical system generally overlaps the line of sight of said user when said user moves his or her eyes down at an angle equal to or larger than 20 degrees and said display means becomes clearly visible for said user.

6. The image display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display means include right-eye display means for the right eye of said user and left-eye display means for the left eye of said user.

7. The image display device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said right-eye display means is provided on or in said main body in such a manner that it is caught by the right eye of said user only when said user moves his or her right eye down at an angle between 20 degrees and 70 degrees, both inclusive and wherein said left-eye display means is provided on or in said main body in such a manner that it is caught by the left eye of said user only when said user moves his or her left eye down at an angle between 20 degrees and 70 degrees, both inclusive.

8. The image display device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said right-eye display means is provided on or in said main body in such a manner that it is caught by the right eye of said user only when said user moves his or her right eye down at an angle of approximately 45 degrees and wherein said left-eye display means is provided oh or in said main body in such a manner that it is caught by the left eye of said user only when said user moves his or her left eye down at an angle of approximately 45 degrees.

9. The image display device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said right-eye display means is provided on or in said main body in such a manner that it is caught by the right eye of said user only when said user moves his or her forward-looking right eye down and said left-eye display means is provided on or in said main body in such a manner that it is caught by the left eye of said user only when said user moves his or her forward-looking left eye down.

10. The image display device as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of said right-eye display means and said left-eye display means comprises a display screen on which images are shown and an optical system to guide an image shown on said display screen to the eye(s) of said user;

said right-eye display means being provided on or in said main body in such a manner that the optical axis of said optical system generally overlaps the line of sight of the right eye of said user when said user moves his or her right eye down at an angle equal to or larger than 20 degrees and said right-eye display means is caught by the right eye of said user, said left-eye display means being provided on or in said main body in such a manner that the optical axis of said optical system generally overlaps the line of sight of the left eye of said user when said user moves his or her left eye down at an angle equal to or larger than 20 degrees and the left-eye display means is caught by the left eye of said user.

11. The image display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main body has a shape of glasses.

12. The image display device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said main body comprises a glasses frame having a lower segment,

said display means being provided on or in said lower segment of said glasses frame.

13. The image display device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said main body is fitted around lenses of said glasses,

said display means being provided at a lower end of said lens of said glasses.