Head-mounted image display apparatus

• US 5,739,893 A
• Filed: 06/22/1995
• Issued: 04/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Karasawa, Joji, Uchiyama, Shoichi, Ishizawa, Shoichi, Miyazawa, Yoko
• Primary Examiner(s): DANG, HUNG XUAN
• Application Number:
  US08/416,893
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 351/158, 351/41, 351/49, 2/6, 2/413, 2/421
• US Class Current: 351/158
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0154 with movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0159 with mechanical means other than scaning means for positioning the whole image
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0149 characterised by mechanical features G02B27/0176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/06 Focusing binocular pairs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/12 Adjusting pupillary distance of binocular pairs
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/307 by helmet-mounted projector or display G09B9/36 takes precedence; optical parts of head-up displays G02B27/01

Abstract

In a head-mounted image display apparatus (1) for viewing images on a liquid crystal display means virtually enlarged by an enlarging lens while worn on the head, main apparatus (10) comprises a front case (2), which is positioned at the frontal region side when said main apparatus is worn on the head, and a back case (3), which is positioned at the occipital region. In addition, an air bag (8), which inflates to cause the frontal region to contact a buffer pad affixed to the inside surface of the front case (2), is provided on the inside of the back case (3). The back case (3) is able to rotate on connecting member 5 to the front case (2). Adjustment mechanisms for moving the optical system in the pupil distance direction and in the direction of the optical axes is disposed inside main apparatus (10), and the knobs therefor are centrally disposed on the front of main apparatus (10).

Claims

1. A head-mounted image display apparatus for viewing an image comprising:

a main apparatus comprising image display means for forming an image, enlarging means for virtually enlarging an image, a frontal region support member which is to be positioned at the frontal region on the head, and an occipital region support member which is to be positioned at the occipital region on the head;

said main apparatus further comprising a lower gap positioned below an eye level when the display apparatus is mounted on the head, said gap providing an air flow and see-through area; and

securing means for holding the frontal region support member and the frontal region of the head in contact when the main apparatus is worn on the head.

2. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises an inflating/deflating member that can be switched between an inflated condition and a deflated condition at that part of the inside surface of the occipital region support member contacting the occipital region of the head.

3. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises a displacement mechanism for moving the position of the occipital region support member on the main apparatus toward the frontal region support member, thereby relatively pushing the frontal region of the head against the frontal region support member.

4. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the frontal region support member comprises a flexible member at a position contacting the frontal region.

7. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 5 wherein the inflating/deflating member is an air bag.

8. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 5 wherein the main apparatus comprises:

a front cover which houses the image display means, enlarging means, and frontal region support member;

an occipital region support cover which houses the occipital region support member; and

connecting members connecting the two covers at their two sides;

wherein the connecting members comprises support means for connecting the occipital region support cover to the front cover in such a manner that the occipital region support cover is rotatable on the support mechanism relative to the front cover.

9. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said connecting member comprises a slide mechanism whereby the occipital region support cover can slide toward the front cover while the occipital region support cover remains rotatable relative to the front cover.

10. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising speakers built into the connecting members, and

wherein frames of the speakers are used as the rotational axis of the support means connecting the occipital region support cover in a rotatable manner to the front cover.

11. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising speakers built into the connecting member and having at least an air hole passing through from the inside of the main apparatus to the outside.

12. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the front cover includes at least a ventilation hole.

13. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 5 wherein the image display means includes a pair of integrated image display units each comprising a transparent image display member and lighting means for illuminating the image display member from the back;

wherein each image display unit is integrated with an enlarging means in an optical unit, a pair of which is housed on right and left sides in the main apparatus; and

the main apparatus comprises pupil distance direction position adjustment means for moving the pair of optical units as a single unit to adjust the distance between the optical axes of the optical units.

14. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the main apparatus further include guide pins projecting from the optical units and guide channels which fit with the guide pins, wherein the pupil distance direction position adjustment means moves the optical units in the pupil distance direction by guiding the guide pins in the guide channels.

15. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the pupil distance direction position adjustment means includes an operating knob positioned at a front position of the main apparatus.

16. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the main apparatus includes at least a ventilation hole formed on the top of the optical unit in the main apparatus.

17. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the optical axes of the optical units are set to intersect on extensions of the optical axes to the front.

18. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 13 wherein each optical unit includes a reflecting mirror provided on the optical axis, and the optical axis of the optical unit is bent by the reflecting mirror.

19. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the transparent display member is a liquid crystal display.

20. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 5 wherein the image display means includes a pair of integrated image display units each comprising a transparent image display member and lighting means for illuminating the image display member from the back;

wherein each image display unit is integrated with an enlarging means in an optical unit, a pair of which is housed on right and left sides in the main apparatus; and

the main apparatus further comprises axial position adjustment means for moving the image display units along the optical axis of the optical unit independently in each optical unit.

21. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the axial position adjustment means includes operating knobs positioned at a front position of the main apparatus.

22. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the main apparatus includes at least a ventilation hole formed on the top of the optical unit in the main apparatus.

24. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 20 wherein each optical unit includes a reflecting mirror provided on the optical axis, and the optical axis of the optical unit is bent by the reflecting mirror.

25. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the transparent display member is a liquid crystal display.

26. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 5 wherein the image display means and the enlarging means form an optical system and the optical axis of the optical system forms an angle of depression relative to the eye'"'"'s horizontal line of vision.

27. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 26 whereto the angle of depression is 10°

or less.

28. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the angle of depression is 6°

or less.

29. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 5 wherein the image display means includes a pair of right and left liquid crystal display modules of liquid crystal display elements mounted on a circuit board, and is characterized by satisfying the equation

30. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 29 wherein the center-to-center distance between the right and left liquid crystal display elements is approximately 55 mm.

31. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 29 wherein the enlarging means comprises a single magnifying lens, and each liquid crystal display module satisfies the equation

32. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 29 wherein the equation

33. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 5 wherein the main apparatus has an open area corresponding to the top of the head.

34. A head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 5 wherein the main apparatus comprises:

a housing portion of an optical system containing the image display means and the enlarging means, and

wherein the front region support member includes a frontal region support cover extending from this optical system portion following the shape of the frontal region of the head.

35. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 5 wherein the main apparatus comprises:

a housing portion of an optical system containing the image display means and the enlarging means, and

a dividing wall separating this optical system housing portion from the face side; and

wherein the dividing wall includes a recessed member recessed toward the optical system housing portion in the area where the nose is positioned.

36. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 5 wherein a semi-transparent shade cover is provided at a lower front side of the main apparatus to minimize light coming from the lower side.

37. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 36 wherein the shade cover is of a size assuring a downward field of view outside the main apparatus.

38. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 5 wherein the main apparatus includes a drive circuit for the image display means, and a front cover for housing the image display means, enlarging means, and frontal region support member, and wherein the drive circuit is provided on a flexible circuit board which is disposed along a surface of the front cover inside the main apparatus.

5. A head-mounted image display apparatus for viewing an image comprising:

a main apparatus comprising image display means for forming an image, enlarging means for enlarging an image, a frontal region support member which is to be positioned at the frontal region on the head, and an occipital region support member which is to be positioned at the occipital region on the head; and

an inflating/deflating member, which can be switched between an inflated condition and a deflated condition, at least on the surface of at least one of the frontal region support member and the occipital region support member inside the main apparatus.

6. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 5 wherein inflation of the inflating/deflating member is greater at the occipital region support member side than at the frontal region support member side.

23. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to 20 wherein the optical axes of the optical units are set to intersect on extensions of the optical axes to the front.