Display apparatus provided with use-state detecting unit

• US 5,635,948 A
• Filed: 04/20/1995
• Issued: 06/03/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tonosaki, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung, Kee M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOW, DOON Y
• Application Number:
  US08/425,998
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 345/211, 345/212, 345/7, 345/8, 345/9, 345/156, 345/159, 382/103, 382/104, 348/77, 348/78, 348/115, 348/117, 348/633, 348/634, 340/825.19, 341/21, 351/209, 351/210, 258/220, 258/221, 381/183, 381/187, 359/630
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving

Abstract

The present invention concerns a display apparatus, which comprises a display device for displaying image information for the both eyes of an observer, a use-state detecting device for detecting a use state and a non-use state about whether or not the observer is observing the display device, a power supply device for supplying power to each element in the display apparatus, and a device for controlling the power supply device, based on a signal from the use-state detecting device.

Claims

1. A display apparatus to be mounted on the head of an observer, comprising:

display means for displaying image information for both eyes of said observer;

use-state detecting means for detecting a use state and a non-use state about whether or not said observer is observing said display means;

portable power supply means for supplying power to each element in said display apparatus; and

means for controlling said portable power supply means, based on a signal from said use-state detecting means.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said use-state detecting means comprises means for detecting information concerning an eye of said observer.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said information detecting means comprises means for detecting reflected light from a cornea of said observer.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said use-state detecting means comprises means for detecting the use state a plurality of times at predetermined time intervals and determines the use state, based on a number of use states or non-use states detected.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controlling means starts supplying said power to all elements when said controlling means receives a signal indicating said use state from said use-state detecting means.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising alarming means for generating an alarm signal to said observer, based on a signal indicating said non-use state from said use-state detecting means.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein after said alarming means gives an alarm and when after a lapse of a predetermined time therefrom a signal of non-use state is obtained from said use-state detecting means, said controlling means stops the power supply from said power supply means to all the elements.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display apparatus further comprises a main power switch and wherein if said main power switch is turned on, then said use-state detecting means performs use-state detection at the beginning.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controlling means stops power supply to a predetermined element when said controlling means receives a signal indicating the non-use state from said use-state detecting means.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display means comprises a first display for the left eye of the observer and a second display for the right eye of the observer.