Prism optical system
First Claim
1. A prism optical system comprising, in order from an image surface side along an optical path:
- a first transparent surface;
a concave first reflecting surface;
a second reflecting surface; and
a second transparent surface;
said first transparent surface, said first reflecting surface, said second reflecting surface, and said second transparent surface are disposed so that the four surfaces form surrounding surfaces of a single prism that face each other across said medium;
a space between said first transparent surface, which is disposed at said image surface side, and said second transparent surface, which is disposed at a pupil side of said prism optical system, being filled with a medium having a refractive index not less than 1.3;
the concavity of said first reflecting surface facing said medium;
said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface being tilted with respect to a chief ray, said chief ray being a light ray which emanates from a center of an image surface of said prism optical system, which is reflected by said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface, and which is perpendicularly incident on a pupil position of said prism optical system;
said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are tilted relative to each other so as to diverge toward at least one of said image surface of said prism optical system and said pupil position in a plane in which an optical axis of said prism optical system bends;
said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are disposed so that a light ray emanating from said image surface of said prism optical system approximately intersects a light ray emanating from said second transparent surface and enters said pupil position; and
an angle θ
between said chief ray and a line normal to at least one of said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface satisfies the following condition;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">12.5°
<
θ
<
32.5°
.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A prism optical system for use as an ocular optical system of a visual display apparatus, which has a compact size as a whole, causes a minimal reduction of the light intensity in the ocular optical system, provides a wide field angle and a large exit pupil diameter, and is effectively corrected for off-axis aberrations. The prism optical system has two transparent surfaces (6 and 7), and two reflecting surfaces (2 and 3). The space between the first transparent surface (6) and the second transparent surface (7) is filled with a medium having a refractive index not smaller than 1.3. Assuming that a light ray which emanates from the center of an image surface (1) and is perpendicularly incident on a pupil position (5) is defined as a chief ray, the two reflecting surfaces (2 and 3) are disposed such that both the reflecting surfaces are tilted with respect to the chief ray, and that the two reflecting surfaces (2and 3) are tilted relative to each other so as to diverge toward the image surface (1) or the pupil position (5) in a plane in which the optical axis bends. At the same time, the two reflecting surfaces (2 and 3) are disposed so that a light ray emanating from the image surface (1) approximately intersects a light ray which emanates from the second transparent surface (7) and enters the pupil position (5).
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A prism optical system comprising, in order from an image surface side along an optical path:
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a first transparent surface; a concave first reflecting surface; a second reflecting surface; and a second transparent surface; said first transparent surface, said first reflecting surface, said second reflecting surface, and said second transparent surface are disposed so that the four surfaces form surrounding surfaces of a single prism that face each other across said medium; a space between said first transparent surface, which is disposed at said image surface side, and said second transparent surface, which is disposed at a pupil side of said prism optical system, being filled with a medium having a refractive index not less than 1.3; the concavity of said first reflecting surface facing said medium; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface being tilted with respect to a chief ray, said chief ray being a light ray which emanates from a center of an image surface of said prism optical system, which is reflected by said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface, and which is perpendicularly incident on a pupil position of said prism optical system; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are tilted relative to each other so as to diverge toward at least one of said image surface of said prism optical system and said pupil position in a plane in which an optical axis of said prism optical system bends; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are disposed so that a light ray emanating from said image surface of said prism optical system approximately intersects a light ray emanating from said second transparent surface and enters said pupil position; and an angle θ
between said chief ray and a line normal to at least one of said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface satisfies the following condition;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">12.5°
<
θ
<
32.5°
. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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2. A prism optical system comprising, in order from an image surface side along an optical path:
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a first transparent surface; a concave first reflecting surface; a second reflecting surface; and a second transparent surface; a space between said first transparent surface, which is disposed at said image surface side, and said second transparent surface, which is disposed at a pupil side of said prism optical system, being filled with a medium having a refractive index not less than 1.3; said first transparent surface, said first reflecting surface, said second reflecting surface, and said second transparent surface are disposed so that the four surfaces form surrounding surfaces of a single prism that face each other across said medium, the concavity of said first reflecting surface facing said medium; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface being tilted with respect to a chief ray, said chief ray being a light ray which emanates from a center of an image surface of said prism optical system, which is reflected by said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface, and which is perpendicularly incident on a pupil position of said prism optical system; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are tilted relative to each other so as to diverge toward at least one of said image surface of said prism optical system and said pupil position in a plane in which an optical axis of said prism optical system bends; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are disposed so that a light ray emanating from said image surface of said prism optical system approximately intersects a light ray emanating from said second transparent surface and enters said pupil position; and a relative tilt angle φ
between said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface satisfies the following condition;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">35°
<
φ
<
55°
. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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3. A prism optical system for use as an ocular optical system of a visual display apparatus, said prism optical system comprising:
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an image forming means for observation, said image forming means being locatable in front of an observer'"'"'s face; and an ocular optical system for projecting an image of said image forming means in air as an enlarged image, said ocular optical system comprising, in order from an image forming means side; a first transparent surface disposed in opposition to said image forming means, a first reflecting surface, a second reflecting surface, and a second transparent surface, a space between said first transparent surface, which is disposed at said image forming means side of said ocular optical system, and said second transparent surface, which is disposed at an observer'"'"'s eyeball side of said ocular optical system, being filled with a medium having a refractive index not less than 1.3; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface being tilted with respect to a chief ray, said chief ray being a light ray which emanates from a center of said image forming means, which is reflected by said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface, and which is perpendicularly incident on a pupil position of said prism optical system; and said first transparent surface, said first reflecting surface, said second reflecting surface, and said second transparent surface are disposed so that the four surfaces form surrounding surfaces of a single prism that face each other across said medium; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are tilted relative to each other so as to diverge toward at least one of said image forming means and an observer'"'"'s eyeball in a plane in which an optical axis of said prism optical system bends; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are disposed so that a light ray emanating from said image forming means approximately intersects a light ray emanating from said ocular optical system and enters said observer'"'"'s eyeball; and an angle θ
between said chief ray and a line normal to at least one of said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface satisfying the following condition;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">12.5°
<
θ
<
32.5°
,wherein at least one of said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface is a reflecting surface having positive power. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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4. A prism optical system for use as an ocular optical system of a visual display apparatus, said prism optical system comprising:
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an image forming means for observation, said image forming means being locatable in front of an observer'"'"'s face; and an ocular optical system for projecting an image of said image forming means in air as an enlarged image, said ocular optical system comprising, in order from an image forming means side; a first transparent surface disposed in opposition to said image forming means, a first reflecting surface, a second reflecting surface, and a second transparent surface, a space between said first transparent surface, which is disposed at said image forming means side of said ocular optical system, and said second transparent surface, which is disposed at an observer'"'"'s eyeball side of said ocular optical system, being filled with a medium having a refractive index not less than 1.3; said first transparent surface, said first reflecting surface, said second reflecting surface, and said second transparent surface are disposed so that the four surfaces form surrounding surfaces of a single prism that face each other across said medium, said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface being tilted with respect to a chief ray, said chief ray being a light ray which emanates from a center of said image forming means, which is reflected by said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface, and which is perpendicularly incident on a pupil position of said prism optical system; and said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are tilted relative to each other so as to diverge toward at least one of said image forming means and an observer'"'"'s eyeball in a plane in which an optical axis of said prism optical system bends; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are disposed so that a light ray emanating from said image forming means approximately intersects a light ray emanating from said ocular optical system and enters said observer'"'"'s eyeball; and a relative tilt angle φ
between said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface satisfies the following condition;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">35°
<
φ
<
55°wherein at least one of said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface is a reflecting surface having positive power.
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5. A prism optical system for use as an ocular optical system of a visual display apparatus, said prism optical system comprising:
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an image forming means for observation, said image forming means being locatable in front of an observer'"'"'s face; an ocular optical system for projecting an image of said image forming means in air as an enlarged image, said ocular optical system comprising, in order from an image forming means side; a first transparent surface disposed in opposition to said image forming means, a first reflecting surface, a second reflecting surface, and a second transparent surface, a space between said first transparent surface, which is disposed at said image forming means side of said ocular optical system, and said second transparent surface, which is disposed at an observer'"'"'s eyeball side of said ocular optical system, being filled with a medium having a refractive index not less than 1.3; said first transparent surface, said first reflecting surface, said second reflecting surface, and said second transparent surface are disposed so that the four surfaces form surrounding surfaces of a single prism that face each other across said medium, and support means for positioning a pair of said ocular optical system with respect to each other, said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface being tilted with respect to a chief ray, said chief ray being a light ray which emanates from a center of said image forming means, which is reflected by said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface, and which is perpendicularly incident on a pupil position of said prism optical system; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are tilted relative to each other so as to diverge toward at least one of said image forming means and an observer'"'"'s eyeball in a plane in which an optical axis of said prism optical system bends, said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are disposed so that a light ray emanating from said image forming means approximately intersects a light ray emanating from said ocular optical system and enters said observer'"'"'s eyeball, and an angle θ
between said chief ray and a line normal to at least one of said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface satisfying the following condition;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">12.5°
<
θ
<
32.5°
. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
-
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6. A prism optical system for use as an ocular optical system of a visual display apparatus, said prism optical system comprising:
-
an image forming means for observation, an image forming means being locatable in front of an observer'"'"'s face; an ocular optical system for projecting an image of said image forming means in air as an enlarged image, said ocular optical system comprising, in order from an image forming means side; a first transparent surface disposed in opposition to said image forming means, a first reflecting surface, a second reflecting surface, and a second transparent surface, a space between said first transparent surface, which is disposed at said image forming means side of said ocular optical system, and said second transparent surface, which is disposed at an observer'"'"'s eyeball side of said ocular optical system, being filled with a medium having a refractive index not less than 1.3; said first transparent surface, said first reflecting surface, said second reflecting surface, and said second transparent surface are disposed so that the four surfaces form surrounding surfaces of a single prism that face each other across said medium; and support means for positioning a pair of said ocular optical system with respect to each other, said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface being tilted with respect to a chief ray, said chief ray being a light ray which emanates from a center of said image forming means, which is reflected by said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface, and which is perpendicularly incident on a pupil position of said prism optical system, and said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are tilted relative to each other so as to diverge toward at least one of said image forming means and an observer'"'"'s eyeball in a plane in which an optical axis of said prism optical system bends, said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are disposed so that a light ray emanating from said image forming means approximately intersects a light ray emanating from said ocular optical system and enters said observer'"'"'s eyeball, and a relative tilt angle φ
between said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface satisfies the following condition;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">35°
<
φ
<
55°
.
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25. A prism optical system comprising, in order from an image surface side along an optical path:
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a first transparent surface; a concave first reflecting surface; a second reflecting surface; and a second transparent surface; a space between said first transparent surface, which is disposed at said image surface side, and said second transparent surface, which is disposed at a pupil side of said prism optical system, being filled with a medium having a refractive index not less than 1.3; the concavity of said first reflecting surface facing said medium; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface being tilted with respect to a chief ray, said chief ray being a light ray which emanates from a center of an image surface of said prism optical system, which is reflected by said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface, and which is perpendicularly incident on a pupil position of said prism optical system; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are tilted relative to each other so as to diverge toward at least one of said image surface of said prism optical system and said pupil position in a plane in which an optical axis of said prism optical system bends; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are disposed so that a light ray emanating from said image surface of said prism optical system approximately intersects a light ray emanating from said second transparent surface and enters said pupil position; and an angle θ
between said chief ray and a line normal to at least one of said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface satisfies the following condition;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">12.5°
<
θ
<
32.5°
,wherein both said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are reflecting surfaces having positive power.
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26. A prism optical system comprising, in order from an image surface side along an optical path:
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a first transparent surface; a concave first reflecting surface; a second reflecting surface; and a second transparent surface; a space between said first transparent surface, which is disposed at said image surface side, and said second transparent surface, which is disposed at a pupil side of said prism optical system, being filled with a medium having a refractive index not less than 1.3; the concavity of said first reflecting surface facing said medium; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface being tilted with respect to a chief ray, said chief ray being a light ray which emanates from a center of an image surface of said prism optical system, which is reflected by said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface, and which is perpendicularly incident on a pupil position of said prism optical system; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are tilted relative to each other so as to diverge toward at least one of said image surface of said prism optical system and said pupil position in a plane in which an optical axis of said prism optical system bends; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are disposed so that a light ray emanating from said image surface of said prism optical system approximately intersects a light ray emanating from said second transparent surface and enters said pupil position; and a relative tilt angle φ
between said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface satisfies the following condition;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">35°
<
φ
<
55°
,wherein both said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are reflecting surfaces having positive power.
-
-
27. A prism optical system for use as an ocular optical system of a visual display apparatus, said prism optical system comprising:
-
an image forming means for observation, said image forming means being locatable in front of an observer'"'"'s face; and an ocular optical system for projecting an image of said image forming means in air as an enlarged image, said ocular optical system comprising, in order from an image forming means side; a first transparent surface disposed in opposition to said image forming means, a first reflecting surface, a second reflecting surface, and a second transparent surface, a space between said first transparent surface, which is disposed at said image forming means side of said ocular optical system, and said second transparent surface, which is disposed at an observer'"'"'s eyeball side of said ocular optical system, being filled with a medium having a refractive index not less than 1.3; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface being tilted with respect to a chief ray, said chief ray being a light ray which emanates from a center of said image forming means, which is reflected by said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface, and which is perpendicularly incident on a pupil position of said prism optical system; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are tilted relative to each other so as to diverge toward at least one of said image forming means and an observer'"'"'s eyeball in a plane in which an optical axis of said prism optical system bends; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are disposed so that a light ray emanating from said image forming means approximately intersects a light ray emanating from said ocular optical system and enters said observer'"'"'s eyeball; and an angle θ
between said chief ray and a line normal to at least one of said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface satisfying the following condition;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">12.5°
<
θ
<
32.5°
,wherein at least one of said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface is a reflecting surface having positive power, and both said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are reflecting surfaces having positive power.
-
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28. A prism optical system for use as an ocular optical system of a visual display apparatus, said prism optical system comprising:
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an image forming means for observation, said image forming means being locatable in front of an observer'"'"'s face; and an ocular optical system for projecting an image of said image forming means in air as an enlarged image, said ocular optical system comprising, in order from an image forming means side; a first transparent surface disposed in opposition to said image forming means, a first reflecting surface, a second reflecting surface, and a second transparent surface, a space between said first transparent surface, which is disposed at said image forming means side of said ocular optical system, and said second transparent surface, which is disposed at an observer'"'"'s eyeball side of said ocular optical system, being filled with a medium having a refractive index not less than 1.3; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface being tilted with respect to a chief ray, said chief ray being a light ray which emanates from a center of said image forming means, which is reflected by said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface, and which is perpendicularly incident on a pupil position of said prism optical system; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are tilted relative to each other so as to diverge toward at least one of said image forming means and an observer'"'"'s eyeball in a plane in which an optical axis of said prism optical system bends; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are disposed so that a light ray emanating from said image forming means approximately intersects a light ray emanating from said ocular optical system and enters said observer'"'"'s eyeball; and a relative tilt angle φ
between said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface satisfies the following condition;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">35°
<
φ
<
55°wherein at least one of said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface is a reflecting surface having positive power, and both said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are reflecting surfaces having positive power.
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29. A prism optical system comprising, in order from an image surface side along an optical path:
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a first transparent surface; a concave first reflecting surface; a second reflecting surface; and a second transparent surface; a space between said first transparent surface, which is disposed at said image surface side, and said second transparent surface, which is disposed at a pupil side of said prism optical system, being filled with a medium having a refractive index not less than 1.3; the concavity of said first reflecting surface facing said medium; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface being tilted with respect to a chief ray, said chief ray being a light ray which emanates from a center of an image surface of said prism optical system, which is reflected by said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface, and which is perpendicularly incident on a pupil position of said prism optical system; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are tilted relative to each other so as to diverge toward at least one of said image surface of said prism optical system and said pupil position in a plane in which an optical axis of said prism optical system bends; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are disposed so that a light ray emanating from said image surface of said prism optical system approximately intersects a light ray emanating from said second transparent surface and enters said pupil position; and an angle θ
between said chief ray and a line normal to at least one of said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface satisfies the following condition;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">12.5°
<
θ
<
32.5°
,wherein both said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are toric surfaces.
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30. A prism optical system comprising, in order from an image surface side along an optical path:
-
a first transparent surface; a concave first reflecting surface; a second reflecting surface; and a second transparent surface; a space between said first transparent surface, which is disposed at said image surface side, and said second transparent surface, which is disposed at a pupil side of said prism optical system, being filled with a medium having a refractive index not less than 1.3; the concavity of said first reflecting surface facing said medium; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface being tilted with respect to a chief ray, said chief ray being a light ray which emanates from a center of an image surface of said prism optical system, which is reflected by said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface, and which is perpendicularly incident on a pupil position of said prism optical system; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are tilted relative to each other so as to diverge toward at least one of said image surface of said prism optical system and said pupil position in a plane in which an optical axis of said prism optical system bends; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are disposed so that a light ray emanating from said image surface of said prism optical system approximately intersects a light ray emanating from said second transparent surface and enters said pupil position; and a relative tilt angle φ
between said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface satisfies the following condition;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">35°
<
φ
<
55°
,wherein both said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are toric surfaces.
-
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31. A prism optical system for use as an ocular optical system of a visual display apparatus, said prism optical system comprising:
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an image forming means for observation, said image forming means being locatable in front of an observer'"'"'s face; and an ocular optical system for projecting an image of said image forming means in air as an enlarged image, said ocular optical system comprising, in order from an image forming means side; a first transparent surface disposed in opposition to said image forming means, a first reflecting surface, a second reflecting surface, and a second transparent surface, a space between said first transparent surface, which is disposed at said image forming means side of said ocular optical system, and said second transparent surface, which is disposed at an observer'"'"'s eyeball side of said ocular optical system, being filled with a medium having a refractive index not less than 1.3; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface being tilted with respect to a chief ray, said chief ray being a light ray which emanates from a center of said image forming means, which is reflected by said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface, and which is perpendicularly incident on a pupil position of said prism optical system; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are tilted relative to each other so as to diverge toward at least one of said image forming means and an observer'"'"'s eyeball in a plane in which an optical axis of said prism optical system bends; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are disposed so that a light ray emanating from said image forming means approximately intersects a light ray emanating from said ocular optical system and enters said observer'"'"'s eyeball; and an angle θ
between said chief ray and a line normal to at least one of said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface satisfying the following condition;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">12.5°
<
θ
<
32.5°
,wherein at least one of said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface is a reflecting surface having positive power, and both said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are toric surfaces.
-
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32. A prism optical system for use as an ocular optical system of a visual display apparatus, said prism optical system comprising:
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an image forming means for observation, said image forming means being locatable in front of an observer'"'"'s face; and an ocular optical system for projecting an image of said image forming means in air as an enlarged image, said ocular optical system comprising, in order from an image forming means side; a first transparent surface disposed in opposition to said image forming means, a first reflecting surface, a second reflecting surface, and a second transparent surface, a space between said first transparent surface, which is disposed at said image forming means side of said ocular optical system, and said second transparent surface, which is disposed at an observer'"'"'s eyeball side of said ocular optical system, being filled with a medium having a refractive index not less than 1.3; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface being tilted with respect to a chief ray, said chief ray being a light ray which emanates from a center of said image forming means, which is reflected by said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface, and which is perpendicularly incident on a pupil position of said prism optical system; and said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are tilted relative to each other so as to diverge toward at least one of said image forming means and an observer'"'"'s eyeball in a plane in which an optical axis of said prism optical system bends; said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are disposed so that a light ray emanating from said image forming means approximately intersects a light ray emanating from said ocular optical system and enters said observer'"'"'s eyeball; and a relative tilt angle φ
between said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface satisfies the following condition;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">35°
<
φ
<
55°
,wherein at least one of said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface is a reflecting surface having positive power, and both said first reflecting surface and said second reflecting surface are toric surfaces.
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Specification