Compact head mounted display devices with tilted/decentered lens element

• US 20060119951A1
• Filed: 09/01/2005
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synopsys Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Optical Research Associates (Synopsys Incorporated)
• Inventors: McGuire, James P. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,542,209 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/22 Telecentric objectives or lens 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 27/0081 with means for altering, e.g. enlarging, the entrance or exit pupil
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1026 for use with reflective spatial light modulators
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1033 having a single light modulator for all colour channels
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/14 operating by reflection only
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/143 using macroscopically faceted or segmented reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/144 using partially transparent surfaces without spectral selectivity G02B27/147 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/145 having sequential partially reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/283 used for beam splitting or combining
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/30 Polarising elements light-modulating devices with active elements G02F1/00

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention comprises a simplified light-weight head mounted displays comprising an off-axis combiner and imaging optics defining an optical path. The imaging optics comprises a lens group comprising a plurality of lenses in the optical path. The lens group has a first optical axis. Each of said plurality of lenses have optical axes collinear with the first optical axis. The imaging optics further comprises a single lens element in the optical path having a second optical axis that is different from the first optical axis. The single lens element has positive optical power and is the only lens element in the optical path between the lens group and the combiner that has an optical axis collinear with the second optical axis.

Claims

1. Apparatus for a head mounted display, said apparatus comprising:

imaging optics defining an optical path, said imaging optics comprising;

a lens group comprising a plurality of lenses elements in said optical path, said lens group having a first optical axis, each of said plurality of lenses having optical axes collinear with said first optical axis; and

a single lens element in said optical path having a second optical axis that is different from the first optical axis; and

an off-axis combiner in said optical path,

wherein said single lens element has positive optical power and is the only lens element in said optical path between said lens group and said combiner that has an optical axis collinear with the second optical axis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first optical axis is decentered with respect to the second optical axis.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first optical axis is tilted with respect to the second optical axis.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first optical axis is tilted and decentered with respect to the second optical axis.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said combiner has a third optical axis that is the same as said first optical axis.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said combiner has a third optical axis that is the same as said second optical axis.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said combiner has a third optical axis that is different from said first and second optical axes.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein imaging optics further comprises at least one reflective optical element in said optical path.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said reflective optical element comprises a fold mirror.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said lens elements in said lens group comprises a diffractive lens element, said diffractive lens element being a transmissive optical element that has optical power.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said diffractive lens element has an optical axis coincident with said first optical axis.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein none of said lens elements in said lens group comprises a diffractive lens element, said diffractive lens element being a transmissive optical element that has optical power.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein none of said lens elements in said optical path comprises a diffractive lens element.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein none of said lens elements in said optical path comprises a diffractive lens element having substantially planar front and rear surfaces.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said lens elements in said lens group has an aspheric surface defining an optical axis for said at least one lens.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said optical axis defined by said aspheric surface is collinear with said first optical axis.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said at least one of said lens elements in said lens group has front and rear surfaces having aspheric shapes that define axes and said axes are collinear with said first optical axis.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said optical axis defined by said aspheric surface is not collinear with said first optical axis.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said at least one of said lens elements in said lens group has front and rear surfaces having aspheric shapes that define axes, one of which is collinear with said first optical axis and one of which is not collinear with said first axis.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lens elements in said lens group comprises a plurality of aspheric lens elements each having an aspheric surface defining an optical axis that is collinear with said first optical axis.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said single lens element has at least one aspheric surface, said aspheric axis defining an optical axis.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said optical axis defined by said aspheric surface is not collinear with said first optical axis.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said optical axis defined by said aspheric surface is collinear with said first optical axis.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said single lens element has front and rear surfaces that have shapes that defining different optical axes.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said single lens element has front and rear surface having shapes that define axes and said axes are coincident.

107. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said lens elements in said lens group has front and rear surfaces that have shapes that defining different optical axes.

108. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said lens elements in said lens group has front and rear surface having shapes that define axes and said axes are coincident.

137. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said single lens element has front and rear surfaces that have shapes that defining different optical axes.

138. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said single lens element has front and rear surface having shapes that define axes and said axes are coincident.

26. A head mounted display device for displaying images comprising:

an image formation device comprising a plurality of pixels selectively adjustable for producing spatial patterns;

imaging optics disposed with respect to the image formation device to receive light from said plurality of pixels for forming an image thereof, said image formation device and said imaging optics defining an optical path, said imaging optics comprising;

a lens group comprising a plurality of lens elements in said optical path, said lens group having a first optical axis, each of said plurality of lenses having optical axes collinear with said first optical axis; and

a single lens element in said optical path having a second optical axis that is different from the first optical axis, said single lens element having positive optical power;

an off-axis combiner in said optical path, said combiner configured to reflect light from said imaging optics such that said image may be displayed; and

head gear that supports said image formation, imaging optics, and combiner,

wherein said single lens element in said imaging optics is the only lens element in said optical path between said image formation device and said combiner that has an optical axis collinear with the second optical axis.

113. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said first optical axis is decentered with respect to the second optical axis.

114. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said first optical axis is tilted with respect to the second optical axis.

115. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said first optical axis is tilted and decentered with respect to the second optical axis.

116. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said combiner has a third optical axis that is the same as said first optical axis.

117. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said combiner has a third optical axis that is the same as said second optical axis.

118. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said combiner has a third optical axis that is different from said first and second optical axes.

119. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein imaging optics further comprises at least one reflective optical element in said optical path.

120. The apparatus of claim 119, wherein said reflective optical element comprises a fold mirror.

121. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein at least one of said lens elements in said lens group comprises a diffractive lens element, said diffractive lens element being a transmissive optical element that has optical power.

122. The apparatus of claim 121, wherein said diffractive lens element has an optical axis coincident with said first optical axis.

123. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein none of said lens elements in said lens group comprises a diffractive lens element, said diffractive lens element being a transmissive optical element that has optical power.

124. The apparatus of claim 123, wherein none of said lens elements in said optical path comprises a diffractive lens element.

125. The apparatus of claim 123, wherein none of said lens elements in said optical path comprises a diffractive lens element having substantially planar front and rear surfaces.

126. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein at least one of said lens elements in said lens group has an aspheric surface defining an optical axis for said at least one lens.

127. The apparatus of claim 126, wherein said optical axis defined by said aspheric surface is collinear with said first optical axis.

128. The apparatus of claim 127, wherein said at least one of said lens elements in said lens group has front and rear surfaces having aspheric shapes that define axes and said axes are collinear with said first optical axis.

129. The apparatus of claim 126, wherein said optical axis defined by said aspheric surface is not collinear with said first optical axis.

130. The apparatus of claim 129, wherein said at least one of said lens elements in said lens group has front and rear surfaces having aspheric shapes that define axes, one of which is collinear with said first optical axis and one of which is not collinear with said first axis.

131. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said lens elements in said lens group comprises a plurality of aspheric lens elements each having an aspheric surface defining an optical axis that is collinear with said first optical axis.

132. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said single lens element has at least one aspheric surface, said aspheric axis defining an optical axis.

133. The apparatus of claim 132, wherein said optical axis defined by said aspheric surface is not collinear with said first optical axis.

134. The apparatus of claim 132, wherein said optical axis defined by said aspheric surface is collinear with said first optical axis.

135. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said single lens element has front and rear surfaces that have shapes that defining different optical axes.

136. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said single lens element has front and rear surface having shapes that define axes and said axes are coincident.

27. Apparatus for a head mounted display, said apparatus comprising:

imaging optics defining an optical path, said imaging optics comprising;

a single first lens element in said optical path having a first optical axis; and

a single second lens element in said optical path having a second optical axis that is different from the first optical axis; and

an off-axis combiner in said optical path,

wherein said single second lens element has positive optical power and is the only lens element in said optical path between said single first lens element and said combiner.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said single first lens element has an aspheric surface defining an optical axis for said at least one lens.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said optical axis defined by said aspheric surface is collinear with said first optical axis.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein said single first lens element has front and rear surfaces having aspheric shapes that define axes and said axes are collinear with said first optical axis.

31. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said optical axis defined by said aspheric surface is not collinear with said first optical axis.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said first single lens element has front and rear surfaces having aspheric shapes that define axes, one of which is collinear with said first optical axis and one of which is not collinear with said first axis.

33. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said single lens element has at least one aspheric surface, said aspheric axis defining an optical axis.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said optical axis defined by said aspheric surface is not collinear with said first optical axis.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said optical axis defined by said aspheric surface is collinear with said first optical axis.

36. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said single lens element has front and rear surfaces that have aspheric shapes that defining different optical axes.

37. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said single lens element has front and rear surface having shapes that define axes and said axes are coincident.

109. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said first single lens element has front and rear surfaces that have shapes that defining different optical axes.

110. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said first single lens element has front and rear surface having shapes that define axes and said axes are coincident.

111. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said second single lens element has front and rear surfaces that have shapes that defining different optical axes.

112. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said second single lens element has front and rear surface having shapes that define axes and said axes are coincident.

38. A head mounted display device for displaying images comprising:

an image formation device comprising a plurality of pixels selectively adjustable for producing spatial patterns;

imaging optics disposed with respect to the image formation device to receive light from said plurality of pixels for forming an image thereof, said image formation device and said imaging optics defining an optical path, said imaging optics comprising;

a first single lens element in said optical path having a first optical axis; and

a single lens element in said optical path having a second optical axis that is different from the first optical axis, said single lens element having positive optical power;

an off-axis combiner in said optical path, said combiner configured to reflect light from said imaging optics such that said image may be displayed; and

head gear for supporting said image formation, imaging optics, and combiner,

wherein said single lens element in said imaging optics is the only lens in said optical path between said image formation device and said combiner that has an optical axis collinear with the second optical axis.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said single second lens element is the only lens element in said optical path between said image formation device and said single first lens element.

40-106. -106. (canceled)

139. An optical system for displaying an image comprising:

an image formation device comprising a plurality of pixels selectively adjustable for producing spatial patterns;

imaging optics disposed with respect to the image formation device to receive light from said plurality of pixels for forming an image thereof, said image formation device and said imaging optics defining an optical path, said imaging optics comprising;

a lens group comprising a plurality of lens elements in said optical path, said lens group having a first optical axis, each of said plurality of lenses having optical axes collinear with said first optical axis; and

a single lens element in said optical path having a second optical axis that is different from the first optical axis, said single lens element having positive optical power; and

an off-axis combiner in said optical path, said combiner configured to reflect light from said imaging optics such that said image may be displayed;

wherein said single lens element in said imaging optics is the only lens element in said optical path between said image formation device and said combiner that has an optical axis collinear with the second optical axis.

140. Apparatus for a displaying images, said apparatus comprising:

imaging optics defining an optical path, said imaging optics comprising;

a lens group comprising a plurality of lenses elements in said optical path, said lens group having a first optical axis, each of said plurality of lenses having optical axes collinear with said first optical axis; and

a single lens element in said optical path having a second optical axis that is different from the first optical axis; and

an off-axis combiner in said optical path,

wherein said single lens element has positive optical power and is the only lens element in said optical path between said lens group and said combiner that has an optical axis collinear with the second optical axis.