HEAD-MOUNTED TYPE IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE

• US 20100157432A1
• Filed: 12/16/2009
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: SUGIHARA, Ryohei, IBA, Yoichi, TATSUTA, Seiji
• Granted Patent: US 8,228,607 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features

Abstract

The present invention provides a novel head-mounted type image display device capable of displaying a lot of information with good viewability by multi-screens without impairing mobility of the device. The device comprises a plurality of eyepiece optical units 25Ru, 25Rd emitting image light to be displayed toward corresponding eye balls respectively and a head-mounting unit 11 for supporting the plurality of eyepiece optical units 25Ru, 25Rd and adapted to detachably attached to the head of an observer. The head-mounting unit 11 in a state where the unit is attached to the head of the observer supports the plurality of eyepiece optical units 25Ru, 25Rd such that an emitting optical axis of each eyepiece optical unit 25Ru, 25Rd substantially passes through the eyeball rolling center of the corresponding eyeball and, when the emitting optical axis of one eyepiece optical unit passes through a pupil of the corresponding eyeball thereof as a result of rolling of the eyes, the emitting optical axis of another eyepiece optical unit does not pass through a pupil of the corresponding eyeball thereof.

Claims

1. A head-mounted type image display device, comprising:

a plurality of eyepiece optical units for each emitting image light to be displayed toward a corresponding eye ball;

a head-mounting unit removably attachable to the head of an observer and adapted to hold the plurality of eyepiece optical units,

wherein the head-mounting unit in a state where the unit is attached to the head of the observer supports the plurality of eyepiece optical units such that an emitting optical axis of each eyepiece optical unit substantially passes through the eyeball rolling center of the corresponding eyeball and, when the emitting optical axis of one eyepiece optical unit passes through a pupil of the corresponding eyeball thereof as a result of rolling of the eyes, the emitting optical axis of another eyepiece optical unit does not pass through a pupil of the corresponding eyeball thereof.

2. The head-mounted type image display device of claim 1, wherein the head-mounting unit supports the plurality of eyepiece optical units such that an angle formed between the emitting optical axis of one eyepiece optical unit and the emitting optical axis of another eyepiece optical unit of the plurality of the eyepiece optical units is approximately 23 degrees or larger.

3. The head-mounted type image display device of claim 1 or 2, wherein, in a state where the head-mounting unit is attached to the head of the observer, the plurality of eyepiece optical units include an upper eyepiece optical unit and an lower eyepiece optical unit, which are supported to be apart from each other in a vertical direction.

4. The head-mounted type image display device of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein, in a state where the head-mounting unit is attached to the head of the observer, the plurality of eyepiece optical units include an eyepiece optical unit for left eye and an eyepiece optical unit for right eye, which are supported to be apart from each other in a horizontal direction.

5. The head-mounted type image display device of claim 4, wherein the eyepiece optical unit for left eye and the eyepiece optical unit for right eye are held at different positions in a vertical direction.

6. The head-mounted type image display device of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein a width of projection of a sectional shape in a direction of visual axis of the observer, of each of the plurality of eyepiece optical units, is equal to or less than 4 mm.

7. The head-mounted type image display device of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein each of the plurality of eyepiece optical units is supported at an emitting end of a bar-like light guiding unit for guiding image light.

8. The head-mounted type image display device of claim 7, wherein a width of projection of a sectional shape in a direction of visual axis of the observer, of the plurality of bar-like light guiding units, is equal to or less than 4 mm.

9. The head-mounted type image display device of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the head-mounting unit consists of an eyeglass frame.