Head-mounted image display device and data processing apparatus including the same

• US 5,977,935 A
• Filed: 02/12/1996
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Karasawa, Joji, Watanabe, Noriko, Yoneno, Kunio, Kamakura, Hiroshi, Kinebuchi, Tadashi, Uchiyama, Syoichi, Yasukawa, Masaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Chow, Dennis-Doon
• Application Number:
  US08/582,997
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• Field of Search: 345/8, 345/7, 345/9, 359/630, 359/631, 359/632, 359/13, 359/14, 364/708.1, 340/980, 348/78, 348/115
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0141 characterised by the informative content of the display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0198 System for aligning or maintaining alignment of an image in a predetermined direction
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1615 with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1639 the display being based on projection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• 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 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 : Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7491 : of head mounted projectors

Abstract

A head-mounted image display device with a good operability and a data processing apparatus including such a display device. A head-mounted image display device wherein a liquid crystal panel and an enlarging optical system are housed in a frame and wherein images generated on the liquid crystal display panel through the enlarging optical system are visible in the field of view in front of the frame comprises a first direction detection means (107) disposed in part of the frame (101) for detecting the direction of the user'"'"'s head; an observation point detection means (109) disposed in part of the frame for detecting the user'"'"'s line of sight; a trigger input means (4) for transmitting trigger signals; and an image generation means (3, 105) for controlling images generated on the liquid crystal display panel based on signals from the first direction detection, observation point detection, and trigger input means.

Claims

1. A head-mounted image display device wherein a liquid crystal display panel and an enlarging optical system are housed in a frame and wherein images generated on said liquid crystal display panel are visible through said enlarging optical system in the field of view in front of said frame, comprising:

a first direction detection means for detecting a direction of the head of a user of said device;

an observation point detection means for detecting said user'"'"'s line of sight;

an image generation means having functions for forming a virtual display screen displaying a plurality of virtual images in the field of view in front of said frame, scrolling said virtual display screen based on an output of said first direction detection means, selecting one virtual image from the plurality of virtual images on said virtual display screen based on an output of said observation point direction means, and moving the selected virtual image based on outputs of said observation point detection means and said first direction detection means; and

a trigger input means for determining the selection of one virtual image and the finish of moving said selected virtual image, in said image generation means.

2. A head-mounted image display device according to claim 1, wherein said image generation means further has a function for enlarging or reducing said selected virtual image determined by said trigger means.

3. head-mounted image display device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second direction detection means for detecting the direction of said user'"'"'s body, wherein scrolling said virtual display screen is forbidden based on an output of said second direction detection means.

4. A head-mounted image display device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a synthesizing optical means for synthesizing an image showing the exterior of said user and the virtual display screen visible through said enlarging optical system.

5. A head-mounted image display device according to claim 4, further comprising:

a real screen disposed in the direction in which enlarged virtual images are visible through said enlarging optical system, wherein said image showing the exterior of said user is the image of said real screen.

6. A head-mounted image display device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a connector for connecting the image display device to an image processing apparatus including a central processing unit and a keyboard.