VIRTUAL IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE

• US 20190094550A1
• Filed: 09/27/2018
• Published: 03/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: TAKAGI, Masayuki, KOMATSU, Akira, TAKEDA, Takashi, MIYAO, Toshiaki, YAMAGUCHI, Tokito
• Granted Patent: US 10,642,350 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/011 comprising device for correcting geometrical aberrations, distortion
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133514 Colour filters
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements

Abstract

An eyepiece optical system is configured to form a non-telecentric optical system together with an image display unit serving as an image element, and to include the pixels in which a pixel in a peripheral region and the like on an image display has a larger size than a pixel in a central region on the image display. Accordingly, the central region that supports a wide angle of view and is of the image display on the image element having an effective field of view with a good performance of information capacity, makes it possible to retain image formation with high resolution, and to prevent an image from being degraded in the peripheral region, thus making it possible to ensure high-quality visibility.

Claims

1. A virtual image display device comprising:

an image element in which a pixel in a peripheral region on an image display has a larger size than a pixel in a central region on the image display; and

an eyepiece optical system disposed downstream of an optical path of the image element, the eyepiece optical system forming a non-telecentric system together with the image element to allow an image displayed by the image element to be viewed as a virtual image.

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

an optical surface of the eyepiece optical system has a larger size than an image display region of the image element.

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

the image element is a micro display having an image display region with a side of 2.5 inches or less.

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

in the image element, the pixels are arranged in an arrangement, in which a pixel size increases from a central side to a peripheral side of the image element, and a variation in the size corresponds to a variation in an emission angle of a light beam emitted from the corresponding pixel.

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

in the image element, the pixels are arranged in an arrangement, in which a pixel size varies intermittently or continuously in a horizontal direction corresponding to a direction of alignment of the eyes of an observer.

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

in the image element, the pixels are arranged in an arrangement, in which a pixel size varies intermittently or continuously in a vertical direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction.

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

in the image element, the pixels are arranged in an arrangement, in which a pixel size varies but the pixels have an identical pixel size according to a predetermined distance from a reference position in an image display region.

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

in the image element, the pixels are arranged in an arrangement, in which a pixel size does not vary in a first display region having an angle of view of at least not greater than 10°

and not less than −

10°

, but varies in a second display region having a wider angle of view than the first display region.

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

in the image element, in the horizontal direction, pixels that are arranged in a single line have an identical vertical size, and, in a vertical direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction, pixels that are arranged in a single line have an identical horizontal size.

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

the image element includes color filter layers configured to transmit a light beam to be emitted, the color filter layers being arranged in an arrangement, in which a size increases from a central side to a peripheral side of the image element.

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

in the image element, the pixel includes a plurality of sub-pixels, at least one of the sub-pixels constituting a pixel corresponding to at least the central-side region has different lengths between a vertical direction and a horizontal direction, and, in an arrangement in a direction of a side with a smaller length of the sub-pixel between the lengths of the sub-pixel in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, the pixels being arranged in an arrangement, in which a length of the side with a smaller length of the sub-pixel increases from a central side to a peripheral side of the image element.

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

in the image element, the pixels are arranged to be symmetric in size with respect to a central position of an image display region as a reference position.

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

in the image element, the pixels are arranged to be symmetric in size with respect to a position shifted from a central position of an image display region in a horizontal direction corresponding to a direction of alignment of the eyes of an observer, as a reference position.

14. The virtual image display device according to claim 13, wherein

the reference position is shifted in the horizontal direction to set an angle of convergence at the eyes of the observer to from 0°

to 2°

.

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

the image element and the eyepiece optical system display an image with a maximum angle of view of 50°

or greater.

16. The virtual image display device according to claim 1, having a head tracking function.