Head-mounted image display apparatus

• US 5,768,039 A
• Filed: 10/30/1995
• Issued: 06/16/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Togino, Takayoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Dzierzynski, Paul M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SIKDER, MOHAMMAD YUNUS
• Application Number:
  US08/549,997
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 359/850, 359/851, 359/852, 359/853, 359/364, 359/365, 359/366, 359/726, 359/727, 359/728, 359/839
• US Class Current: 359/850
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0804 using two curved mirrors G02B17/0864, G02B17/0896 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/086 wherein the system is made of a single block of optical material, e.g. solid catadioptric systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/011 comprising device for correcting geometrical aberrations, distortion
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features

Abstract

A head-mounted image display apparatus (HMD) including an ocular optical system, which has an F-number of 1.5 to 3 and enables a flat and clear image to be observed at a view angle of up to 60° or more with substantially no aberration. The HMD has at least two, surfaces and each having a concave surface directed toward the pupil. The two surfaces are disposed so that light rays from an image display device are reflected by the first surface, and the reflected light rays are reflected by the second surface and pass through the first surface to enter an observer'"'"'s eyeball.

Claims

1. A head-mounted image display apparatus comprising:

a device for displaying an image; and

an ocular optical system for leading said image to an observer'"'"'s eyeball,

said ocular optical system having, in order from the observer'"'"'s eyeball side, a first surface having a concave surface directed toward the observer'"'"'s eyeball side, and a second surface having a concave surface directed toward the observer'"'"'s eyeball side, wherein a medium having a refractive index n larger than 1 (n>

1) is disposed between said first and second surfaces,

said image display device having an image surface directed toward at least either one of intersections between an optical axis extending from said observer'"'"'s eyeball and said first surface and between said optical axis and said second surface, and said image display device being suitable to be disposed in front of an observer'"'"'s face,

said image display device and said ocular optical system being formed so that a bundle of light rays emitted from said image display device is reflected by said first surface, and the reflected light ray bundle is reflected by said second surface and then passes through said first surface to enter said observer'"'"'s eyeball, and satisfying the following condition;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">0.5<

|R.sub.1 /R.sub.2 |<

1.8

wherein R₁ is a radius of curvature of said first surface, and R₂ is a radius of curvature of said second surface.

2. A head-mounted image display apparatus comprising:

a device for displaying an image; and

an ocular optical system for leading said image to an observer'"'"'s eyeball,

said ocular optical system having, in order from the observer'"'"'s eyeball side, a first surface having a concave surface directed toward the observer'"'"'s eyeball side, and a second surface having a concave surface directed toward the observer'"'"'s eyeball side, wherein a medium having a refractive index n larger than 1 (n>

1) is disposed between said first and second surfaces,

said apparatus further comprising an optical element provided at said second surface side of said ocular optical system, said optical element having a refractive index n larger than 1 (n>

1), said image display device being suitable to be disposed in front of an observer'"'"'s face,

said image display device and said ocular optical system being formed so that a bundle of light rays emitted from said image display device is reflected by said first surface, and the reflected light ray bundle is reflected by said second surface and then passes through said first surface to enter said observer'"'"'s eyeball, and satisfying the following condition;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">0.5<

|R.sub.1 /R.sub.2 |<

1.8

wherein R₁ is a radius of curvature of said first surface, and R₂ is a radius of curvature of said second surface.

3. A head-mounted image display apparatus comprising:

a device for displaying an image; and

an ocular optical system for leading said image to an observer'"'"'s eyeball,

said ocular optical system having, in order from the observer'"'"'s eyeball side, a first surface having a concave surface directed toward the observer'"'"'s eyeball side, and a second surface having a concave surface directed toward the observer'"'"'s eyeball side, wherein with a medium having a refractive index n larger than 1 (n>

1) is disposed between said first and second surfaces,

said image display device having an image surface directed toward at least either one of intersections between an optical axis extending from said observer'"'"'s eyeball and said first surface and between said optical axis and said second surface, and said image display device being suitable to be disposed in front of an observer'"'"'s face,

said image display device and said ocular optical system being formed so that a bundle of light rays emitted from said image display device is reflected by said first surface, and the reflected light ray bundle is reflected by said second surface and then passes through said first surface to enter said observer'"'"'s eyeball, and satisfying the following condition;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">0.4<

|(D.sub.1 +D.sub.2)/R.sub.2 |<

1.7

where R₂ is a radius of curvature of said second surface;

D₁ is a distance from said observer'"'"'s eyeball position to said first surface; and

D₂ is a distance (along a visual axis) from said first surface to said second surface.

4. A head-mounted image display apparatus comprising:

a device for displaying an image; and

an ocular optical system for leading said image to an observer'"'"'s eyeball,

said ocular optical system having, in order from the observer'"'"'s eyeball side, a first surface having a concave surface directed toward the observer'"'"'s eyeball side, and a second surface having a concave surface directed toward the observer'"'"'s eyeball side, wherein a medium having a refractive index n larger than 1 (n>

1) is disposed between said first and second surfaces,

said apparatus further comprising an optical element provided at said second surface side of said ocular optical system, said optical element having a refractive index n larger than 1 (n>

1), said image display device being suitable to be disposed in front of an observer'"'"'s face,

said image display device and said ocular optical system being formed so that a bundle of light rays emitted from said image display device is reflected by said first surface, and the reflected light ray bundle is reflected by said second surface and then passes through said first surface to enter said observer'"'"'s eyeball, and satisfying the following condition;

5. 4<

|(D₁ +D₂)/R₂ <

1.7

where R₂ is a radius of curvature of said second surface;

D₁ is a distance from said observer'"'"'s eyeball position to said first surface; and

D₂ is a distance (along a visual axis) from said first surface to said second surface.

6. A head-mounted image display apparatus comprising:

a device for displaying an image; and

an ocular optical system for leading said image to an observer'"'"'s eyeball,

said ocular optical system having, in order from the observer'"'"'s eyeball side, a first surface having a concave surface directed toward the observer'"'"'s eyeball side, and a second surface having a concave surface directed toward the observer'"'"'s eyeball side, wherein with a medium having a refractive index n larger than 1 (n>

1) is disposed between said first and second surfaces,

said image display device having an image surface directed toward at least either one of intersections between an optical axis extending from said observer'"'"'s eyeball and said first surface and between said optical axis and said second surface, and said image display device being suitable to be disposed in front of an observer'"'"'s face,

said image display device and said ocular optical system being formed so that a bundle of light rays emitted from said image display device is reflected by said first surface, and the reflected light ray bundle is reflected by said second surface and then passes through said first surface to enter said observer'"'"'s eyeball, and satisfying the following condition;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">1<

|(|R.sub.1 |+D.sub.2)/R.sub.2 |<

1.8

where R₁ is a radius of curvature of said first surface;

R₂ is a radius of curvature of said second surface; and

D₂ is a distance from said first surface to said second surface along an observer'"'"'s visual axis.

7. A head-mounted image display apparatus comprising:

a device for displaying an image; and

an ocular optical system for leading said image to an observer'"'"'s eyeball,

said ocular optical system having, in order from the observer'"'"'s eyeball side, a first surface having a concave surface directed toward the observer'"'"'s eyeball side, and a second surface having a concave surface directed toward the observer'"'"'s eyeball side, wherein a medium having a refractive index n larger than 1 (n>

1) is disposed between said first and second surfaces,

said apparatus further comprising an optical element provided at said second surface side of said ocular optical system, said optical element having a refractive index n larger than 1 (n>

1), said image display device being suitable to be disposed in front of an observer'"'"'s face,

said image display device and said ocular optical system being formed so that a bundle of light rays emitted from said image display device is reflected by said first surface, and the reflected light ray bundle is reflected by said second surface and then passes through said first surface to enter said observer'"'"'s eyeball, and satisfying the following condition;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation"><

| (|R.sub.1 |+D.sub.2)/R.sub.2 |<

1.8

where R₁ is a radius of curvature of said first surface;

R₂ is a radius of curvature of said second surface; and

D₂ is a distance from said first surface to said second surface along an observer'"'"'s visual axis.

8. A head-mounted image display apparatus comprising:

a device for displaying an image; and

an ocular optical system for leading said image to an observer'"'"'s eyeball,

said ocular optical system having, in order from the observer'"'"'s eyeball side, a first surface having a concave surface directed toward the observer'"'"'s eyeball side, and a second surface'"'"'having a concave surface directed toward the observer'"'"'s eyeball side, wherein with a medium having a refractive index n larger than 1 (n>

1) is disposed between said first and second surfaces,

said image display device having an image surface directed toward at least either one of intersections between an optical axis extending from said observer'"'"'s eyeball and said first surface and between said optical axis and said second surface, and said image display device being suitable to be disposed in front of an observer'"'"'s face,

said image display device and said ocular optical system being formed so that a bundle of light rays emitted from said image display device is reflected by said first surface, and the reflected light ray bundle is reflected by said second surface and then passes through said first surface to enter said observer'"'"'s eyeball, and satisfying the following condition;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">|D.sub.1 /R.sub.1 |<

1.5

where R₁ is a radius of curvature of said first surface, and D₁ is a distance from said observer'"'"'s eyeball to said first surface.

9. A head-mounted image display apparatus comprising:

a device for displaying an image; and

an ocular optical system for leading said image to an observer'"'"'s eyeball,

said ocular optical system having, in order from the observer'"'"'s eyeball side, a first surface having a concave surface directed toward the observer'"'"'s eyeball side, and a second surface having a concave surface directed toward the observer'"'"'s eyeball side, wherein a medium having a refractive index n larger than 1 (n>

1) is disposed between said first and second surfaces,

said apparatus further comprising an optical element provided at said second surface side of said ocular optical system, said optical element having a refractive index n larger than 1 (n>

1), said image display device being suitable to be disposed in front of an observer'"'"'s face,

said image display device and said ocular optical system being formed so that a bundle of light rays emitted from said image display device is reflected by said first surface, and the reflected light ray bundle is reflected by said second surface and then passes through said first surface to enter said observer'"'"'s eyeball, and satisfying the following condition;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">|D.sub.1 /R.sub.1 |<

1.5

where R₁ is a radius of curvature of said first surface, and D₁ is a distance from said observer'"'"'s eyeball to said first surface.