Image Display device

• US 5,682,173 A
• Filed: 08/30/1995
• Issued: 10/28/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Endre Nagykalnai, Laszlo Holakovszky, Laszlo Kezi
• Original Assignee: Endre Nagykalnai, Laszlo Holakovszky, Laszlo Kezi
• Inventors: Nagykalnai, Endre, Holakovszky, Laszlo, Kezi, Laszlo
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung, Kee M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US08/513,938
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 345/7, 345/8, 345/9, 348/53, 359/13, 359/630, 359/633
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0136 with a single image source for both eyes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/015 involving arrangement aiming to get less bulky devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/08 Mirrors vehicle mirrors involving special optical features B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/339 using spatial multiplexing H04N13/337 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 with head-mounted left-right displays

Abstract

A head worn image display device, particularly TV picture display device, includes a TV screen or an image holder, and optical elements for transmitting a light beam from the screen or image to the eyes. The essence of the invention is that the device comprises optical elements dividing the beam starting from the screen (4) or image into beam branches, and directing the beam branches towards the eyes of a user of the device; optical elements reflecting the beam branches into the pupils (14,15); and focusing elements arranged between the reflecting optical elements and the pupils, and/or between the dividing optical elements and the reflecting optical elements.

Claims

1. Head worn image display device, particularly for displaying TV pictures, having a screen (4) or image holder being arranged in front of the ridge of nose or the middle part of the forehead of the person wearing the device, in the theoretical imaginary median plane of the head (1), perpendicularly to said median plane, said device comprising

light beam dividing optical elements (8,9) having reflecting surfaces symmetrical in relation to said median plane (x) of the user'"'"'s head (1) and dividing said light beam into beam branches (f₁, f₂) and directing them towards the user'"'"'s eyes;

optical elements (12,13) reflecting said beam branches (f₁, f₂) into the pupils (14,15) of the user'"'"'s eyes; and

focusing elements (16,17) characterized by

a first light beam reflecting optical element (10) directing the light beam starting outwards from the screen (4) or image upwards or downwards in relation to the user'"'"'s head; and

a second light beam reflecting optical element (11) directing the light beam starting from said first reflecting optical element (10) to said light beam dividing optical elements (8,9).

2. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said focusing elements (16,17) being arranged between said light beam dividing optical elements (8,9) and said optical elements (12,13) reflecting beam branches (f₁, f₂) into the pupils (14,15).

3. Device as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first light beam reflecting optical element (10) consists of a first common mirror;

and the second light beam reflecting optical element (11) consists of a second common mirror.

4. Device as in claim 3, characterized in that the common mirrors (10, 11) have a shape preferably like a lying rectangle and/or trapezium, said common mirrors are in planes being perpendicular to the median plane (X) of the head (1), and forming an angle (w) of 90°

±

35°

between each other and angles (β

)--preferably equal in size--with the plane of the screen (4) or image.

5. Device as in any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the reflecting optical elements, except the optical elements reflecting the beam branches into the pupils (14, 15), the focusing elements as well as the screen (4) or image, the light-source (5) and the parabolic mirror (6), possibly enclosed in an inner cover (7), are placed in a common outer cover (18) having an opening or openings and/or light transmitting surface or Surfaces;

and said outer cover (18) is attached to a frame (2), preferably spectacle-frame, fixable on the head (1), e.g. to the ears (24).

6. Device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that a fixing element (19), e.g. screw, hook, clip or the like, is provided for joining the outer cover (18) to the frame in a detachable manner.

7. Device as in claim 4 or 5, characterized in that consoles (20, 21) protruding on both sides toward the eyes, and preferably made of a transparent plastic plate, are fixed to--or possibly formed integrally with--the outer cover (18);

and optical elements, preferably separate mirrors (12,

     13), reflecting the part-beams into the pupils (14,

     15) are connected to said consoles on the portion protruding into the surroundings of the eyes.

8. Device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the optical elements, preferably separate mirrors (12, 13), are connected to the consoles (20, 21) by means of slides (22, 23).

9. Device as in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that LCD light shutters (27, 28) are placed in the track of the beam branches between the screen (4) or image and the pupils (14,15).

10. Device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the LCD light shutters (27, 28) are placed directly in front of the optical element(s) splitting the light beam into beam branches, preferably in front of the joined edges of the dividing mirrors (8,9), in a plane perpendicular to the median plane (X) of the head (1).

11. Device as in claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the LCD light shutters (27,28) belonging to the left side and right side beam branches have common glass plates with the liquid crystal between, but the LCD light shutters (27, 28) are connected in a manner enabling an individual voltage control.

12. Device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the optical elements reflecting the beam branches into the pupils (14,15) consist of separate mirrors (12,13;

29,30)--preferably having the shape of a trapezium--, the planes of said separate mirrors form an angle (γ

) preferably of about 90°

between each other, and each of said separate mirrors is about 3 to 4 cm distant from the corresponding pupil (14,15).

13. Device as claimed in any one of claims 12 and 1 to 4, characterized in that the focusing elements are lenses (16,17).

14. Device as claimed in any one of claim 12, 13, and 4 characterized in that the image or screen is placed above or below the optical element(s)--preferably dividing mirrors (8,9)--dividing the light beam into part-beams.

15. Device as claimed in any one of claims 12, 13, 1, to 4, characterized in that a light-source (5), preferably a transilluminating light, and a parabolic mirror (6) are placed behind the screen (4) or image in an inner cover (7).

16. Device as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15 and 1 to 11, characterized in that a controlling-driving unit is provided, which is connected with the screen (4) or image, and possibly with the light-source (5), by means of an electric cable (26) passing the supply voltage and/or video signal and/or control informations.

18. Device as claimed in any one of claims 12, 15, 16 to 17 and 1-11, characterized in that two optical elements, preferably separate mirrors (31,29;

32,30), reflecting the beam branches into the pupils (14,15) are placed in each path of the beam branches.

19. Device as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18 and 5 to 11, characterized in that the outer cover (18) is fixed to the frame, preferably spectacle-frame, in an indetachable manner, or it is formed integrally with said frame.

20. Device as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 19 and 7 to 11, characterized in that the consoles (20,21) have an elongated, broken-line part reaching behind the ears (24);

and the outer cover (18) is provided with a nose support.

21. Device as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 20 and 5 to 11, characterized in that a darkened transparent or non-transparent additional cover is placed on the frame (2), preferably spectacle-frame, said additional cover having a spacial form disclosing the outer cover (18) and the consoles (20,21).

22. Device as claimed in claim 21, characterized in that the additional cover is joined to the frame (2), preferably spectacle-frame, or to the outer cover (18) by means of a hinge.

23. Device as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 22 and 5 to 11, characterized in that the lenses (33,34) in the spectacle-frame are made of darkened glass or plastics.

24. Device as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 22 and 5 to 11, characterized in that the lenses (33,34) have--regarding spectacles being worn--parts between the pupil (14,15) and the optical element reflecting a beam branch into the pupil, made of a material clear as water or cut out;

and the other parts of the lenses are made preferably of a material darkening when exposed to light.

25. Device as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15, 16 to 24 and 1 to 11, characterized in that the reflecting optical elements and the focusing elements are arranged symmetrically to the theoretical imaginary median plane of the head (1) of the user.

17. Device as claimed in any one of 12 to 15, 16, and 1 to 11, characterized in that an earphone/loudspeaker is provided, which is connected to the electric system of the device.