VIRTUAL IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE

• US 20130083404A1
• Filed: 08/31/2012
• Published: 04/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: TAKAGI, Masayuki, TOTANI, Takahiro, MIYAO, Toshiaki, KOMATSU, Akira, TAKEDA, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 8,976,452 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/633
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0125 Field-of-view increase by wavefront division
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0169 Supporting or connecting means other than the external walls
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0149 characterised by mechanical features G02B27/0176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/08 with fibre bundle in form of plate

Abstract

A virtual image display device has a light guide device in which the half mirror layer (the semi-transmissive reflecting film) of the light guide member is formed on the partial area of the first junction surface, and the second junction surface of the light transmitting member is bonded to the first junction surface in at least the exceptional area. Therefore, it is possible to increase the bonding strength of the first junction surface and the second junction surface, namely the strength of the light guide device composed of the light guide member and the light transmitting member combined with each other even in the case in which the attachment force of the half mirror layer (the semi-transmissive reflecting film) with respect to the first junction surface is not sufficiently strong.

Claims

1. A virtual image display device comprising:

an image display device adapted to form an image light;

a projection optical system adapted to form a virtual image by the image light emitted from the image display device;

a light guide member including

a light entrance section adapted to take in the image light having passed through the projection optical system,

a light guide section adapted to guide the image light taken in from the light entrance section using total reflection by a first surface and a second surface opposed to each other, and

a light exit section adapted to take out the image light having passed through the light guide section; and

a light transmitting member adapted to make observation of external light possible by being bonded to the light guide member,

wherein the light guide member has a semi-transmissive reflecting film, which bends the image light and transmits the external light, disposed on a partial area of a first junction surface to be bonded to the light transmitting member, and

the light transmitting member has a second junction surface opposed to the first junction surface including an exceptional area excluding the partial area, and bonded to the first junction surface with an adhesive in at least the exceptional area.

2. The virtual image display device according to claim 1, wherein

at least one of the exceptional area of the first junction surface and an opposed area of the second junction surface corresponding to the exceptional area includes a nonsmooth surface having an undulation.

3. The virtual image display device according to claim 2, wherein

the nonsmooth surface is a rough surface provided with a fine undulation by a roughening process.

4. The virtual image display device according to claim 2, wherein

the nonsmooth surface provided to the first junction surface and the nonsmooth surface provided to the second junction surface fit each other.

5. The virtual image display device according to claim 2, wherein

the nonsmooth surface provided to the first junction surface and the nonsmooth surface provided to the second junction surface have undulation shapes reverse to each other.

6. The virtual image display device according to claim 1, wherein

in the first junction surface of the light guide member, the partial area adapted to support the semi-transmissive reflecting film is arranged in a central portion of the first junction surface with respect to a predetermined direction, and

the exceptional area in a periphery of the semi-transmissive reflecting film corresponds to a peripheral area sandwiching the partial area on both ends in the predetermined direction.

7. The virtual image display device according to claim 6, wherein

the first junction surface is bonded to the second junction surface as a whole, and

the peripheral area is the nonsmooth surface as a whole.

8. The virtual image display device according to claim 1, wherein

the light guide member has the light entrance section, the light guide section, and the light exit section as an integrated member,

the light entrance section has a third reflecting surface as a plane forming an obtuse angle with respect to either one of the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface, and

the first junction surface of the light exit section has a fourth reflecting surface as a plane forming an obtuse angle with respect to either one of the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface.

9. The virtual image display device according to claim 1, wherein

the light guide member, the light transmitting member, and the adhesive are formed of respective materials having roughly the same refractive indexes.