HEAD MOUNTED DISPLAY DEVICE AND IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE

• US 20100103076A1
• Filed: 09/11/2007
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scalar Corporation
• Original Assignee: Scalar Corporation
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Masao
• Granted Patent: US 8,493,287 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features

Abstract

To improve a small image display device of the type to be attached to glasses so that positioning thereof can be made easily during use.

An image display device 100 comprises a body assembly 110 which can be fixed to a temple 210 of glasses 200, and an image display section 120 adapted to move from a standby position that is located close to the body assembly 110 to a service position just in front of lenses 220. The service position for the image display section 120 is previously determined, and the image display section 120 is automatically moved from the standby position to the service position. This allows the image display section 120 to be positioned at a proper position. The image display section 120 contains a display 125 and a free curved surface prism 126 therein. A user can view images enlarged from the images produced on the display 125 when the image display section 120 is at the service position.

Claims

1. A head mounted display device comprising a main body and an image display section, the main body having a shape of a pair of glasses having two temples with which the glasses are fixed in place to a part of the body of a user, the image display section being attached to an attachment temple which is at least one of said two temples,

said image display section being adapted to be positioned at a service position in front of one eye of the user which is located closer to said attachment temple when said main body is fixed to the part of the body of the user during the use of said head mounted display device, said image display section having display means that allows the user to view said image with the one eye, said image being presented within a display area which overlaps the field of vision of the one eye, by means of directing an imaging light of a predetermined image to said one eye,

said image display section being movable between a standby position on the side of said attachment temple and said service position, in such a manner that said image display section is able to be positioned at said service position.

2. The head mounted display device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a switch, and a driving mechanism that generates a driving force in response to the operation of said switch, said image display section being adapted to move from said standby position to said service position by means of the driving force generated by said driving mechanism when said switch is operated.

3. The head mounted display device as claimed in claim 2, comprising a rail extending from said standby position to said service position, and a bendable rod-shaped component which moves along the rail by means of the driving force generated by said driving mechanism, the rod-shaped component having said image display section attached thereto at a distal end thereof,

said image display section being adapted to move from said standby position to said service position according to the movement of said rod-shaped component.

4. The head mounted display device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said image display section is attached to the distal end of said rod-shaped component in such a manner that the angle formed between said image display section and said rod-shaped component can be varied.

5. An image display device which forms a head mounted display device in combination with a pair of glasses having two temples with which the glasses are fixed in place to a part of the body of a user, when said image display device is attached to an attachment temple which is at least one of said two temples,

said image display device comprising:

an image display section adapted to be positioned at a service position in front of one eye of the user which is located closer to said attachment temple when said glasses are fixed to the part of the body of the user during the use of said head mounted display device which is formed by means of combining the said image display device with the glasses, said image display section having display means that allows the user to view said image with the one eye, said image being presented within a display area which overlaps the field of vision of the one eye, by means of directing an imaging light of a predetermined image to said one eye, and

a body assembly is secured on one side of said attachment temple;

said image display section being movable between a standby position in front of said body assembly and on the side of said attachment temple and said service position, in such a manner that said image display section is able to be positioned at said service position.

6. The image display device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said body assembly comprising a switch, and a driving mechanism that generates a driving force in response to the operation of said switch, said image display section being adapted to move from said standby position to said service position by means of the driving force generated by said driving mechanism when said switch is operated.

7. The image display device as claimed in claim 6, comprising a rail extending from said standby position to said service position, the base of the rail being connected to said body assembly, and a bendable rod-shaped component which moves along the rail by means of the driving force generated by said driving mechanism, the rod-shaped component having said image display section attached thereto at a distal end thereof,

said image display section being adapted to move from said standby position to said service position according to the movement of said rod-shaped component.

8. The image display device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said image display section is attached to the distal end of said rod-shaped component in such a manner that the angle formed between said image display section and said rod-shaped component can be varied.