Head-mounted image display apparatus

• US 6,144,347 A
• Filed: 10/13/1998
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ito, Masahiko, Mizoguchi, Motoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): WU, XIAO MIN
• Application Number:
  US09/170,095
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 348/8, 348/7, 348/9, 348/4, 348/5, 348/6, 348/53, 348/42, 348/51, 351/158, 351/153
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0127 comprising devices increasing the depth of field
• 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 2027/0154 with movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0159 with mechanical means other than scaning means for positioning the whole image
• 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 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/12 Adjusting pupillary distance of binocular pairs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/327 Calibration thereof
• 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-mounted image display apparatus includes optical visual units mounted on a laterally disposed shaft and adjustable so as to be movable toward and away from each other for establishing a correct eye spacing for a user. LCD display panels are mounted within the optical visual units so as to be vertically movable while ocular lenses onto which images displayed by the LCDs are projected via an obliquely arranged mirror are positionally fixed relative the eyes of the user such that focus adjustment will not cause image dropout and so that focus and eye spacing may be established independently of each other. Sliders provided for effecting focus and eye spacing adjustment are mounted such that frictional force is applied thereto for providing smooth but sure movement of the sliders so that a set position of the sliders may be reliably maintained. The sliders may be mounted via a self lubricating mounting to improve adjustment smoothness and slide characteristics.

Claims

1. A head-mounted image display apparatus, comprising:

first and second optical visual units for displaying an image to respective left and right eyes of a user, each optical visual unit comprising an image display device and an ocular lens;

a frame supporting said optical visual units, said optical visual units being slidably adjustable toward and away from each other along a length of said frame for aligning the ocular lenses of the optical visual units with the left and right eyes of a user, respectively; and

an elongate backlight assembly supported by said frame, said elongate backlight assembly comprising an elongate lamp extending substantially parallel to the length of said frame such that said optical visual units remain at a substantially constant distance from said elongate lamp as said optical visual units are slidably adjusted toward and away from each other along the length of said frame, said backlight assembly being operable to illuminate the image display devices of both said first and second optical visual units.

2. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second optical visual units each further comprise a reflector positioned in an optical path between said elongate backlight assembly and said ocular lens.

3. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said elongate backlight assembly is supported by said frame above said optical visual units, and said reflectors are positioned below said elongate backlight assembly to reflect light emitted downwardly from said backlight assembly into a horizontal direction for passing through said ocular lenses.

4. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said image display devices are each movable in a vertical direction along an optical path between said reflectors and said elongate backlight assembly for adjusting a focus of said apparatus.

5. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said image display device of each optical visual unit is positioned in an optical path between said reflector of the optical visual unit and said elongate backlight assembly.

6. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image display devices are each movable along an optical path between said ocular lens and said elongate backlight assembly for adjusting a focus of said apparatus.

7. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image display devices are liquid crystal displays.

8. A head-mounted image display apparatus, comprising:

first and second optical visual units for displaying an image to respective left

and right eyes of a user each optical visual unit comprising an image display device and an ocular lens;

a frame supporting said optical visual units, said optical visual units being slidably adjustable toward and away from each other along a length of said frame for aligning the ocular lenses of the optical visual units with the left and right eyes of a user respectively; and

an elongate backlight assembly supported by said frame, said elongate backlight assembly comprising an elongate lamp extending over the length of said frame, said backlight assembly being operable to illuminate the image display devices of both said first and second optical visual units;

wherein said elongate backlight assembly further comprises an elongate reflector extending over a length of said elongate lamp for reflecting light emitted from said lamp toward said image display devices.

9. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising shielding plate means for blocking light from being emitted from the backlight assembly over a portion of a length thereof.

10. A head-mounted image display apparatus, comprising:

first and second optical visual units for displaying an image to respective left and right eyes of a user, each optical visual unit comprising a box-shaped housing, an image display device, an ocular lens, and a reflector plate positioned between said image display device and said ocular lens, said image display device being slidably adjustable along an optical path within said housing for adjusting a focus of said apparatus;

a frame having an elongate shaft supporting said optical visual units, said optical visual units being slidably adjustable toward and away from each other along a length of said shaft for aligning the ocular lenses of the optical visual units with the left and right eyes of a user, respectively; and

an elongate backlight assembly supported by said frame, said elongate backlight assembly comprising a lamp for illuminating the image display devices of both said first and second optical visual units, said backlight assembly and said optical visual units being arranged such that adjustment of said optical visual units toward and away from each other does not change a distance between said lamp and said image display devices.

11. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 10, wherein each of said optical visual units comprises a spring positioned between the image display device and the box-shaped housing to facilitate movement of the image display device relative to the box-shaped housing.

12. The head-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said image display devices are liquid crystal displays.

13. A head-mounted image display apparatus, comprising:

first and second optical visual units for displaying an image to respective left and right eyes of a user, each optical visual unit comprising a box-shaped housing, an image display device, an ocular lens, and a reflector plate positioned between said image display device and said ocular lens, said image display device being slidably adjustable along an optical path within said housing for adjusting a focus of said apparatus;

a frame having an elongate shaft supporting said optical visual units, said optical visual units being slidably adjustable toward and away from each other along a length of said shaft for aligning the ocular lenses of the optical visual units with the left and right eyes of a user, respectively;

a backlight assembly supported by said frame, said backlight assembly comprising an elongate lamp for illuminating the image display devices of both said first and second optical visual units said elongate lamp extending substantially parallel to said elongate shaft of said frame such that said optical visual units remain at a substantially constant distance from said elongate lamp as said optical visual units are slidably adjusted toward and away from each other along the length of said shaft;

a distance adjusting mechanism for effecting movement of said optical visual units toward and away from each other; and

a focus adjusting mechanism for effecting movement of said image display devices along said optical paths within said housings.

14. A head-mounted image display apparatus, comprising:

first and second optical visual units for displaying an image to respective left and right eyes of a user, each optical visual unit comprising a box-shaped housing, an image display device, an ocular lens, and a reflector plate positioned between said image display device and said ocular lens, said image display device being slidably adjustable along an optical path within said housing for adjusting a focus of said apparatus;

a frame having an elongate shaft supporting said optical visual units said optical visual units being slidably adjustable toward and away from each other along a length of said shaft for aligning the ocular lenses of the optical visual units with the left and right eyes of a user respectively;

a backlight assembly supported by said frame said backlight assembly comprising a lamp for illuminating the image display devices of both said first and second optical visual units;

a distance adjusting mechanism for effecting movement of said optical visual units toward and away from each other; and

a focus adjusting mechanism for effecting movement of said image display devices along said optical paths within said housings;

wherein said distance adjusting mechanism comprises a distance adjusting slider provided on an outer surface of a rear cabinet of said apparatus, said distance adjusting slider being seated firmly in a groove formed in said rear cabinet using a leaf spring fastened to a rear side of said slider so that a set position of the slider is reliably maintained by friction.

15. The head-mounted image display apparatus as set forth in claim 14, further comprising a backing plate interposed between said leaf spring and a surface of said rear cabinet, said backing plate being formed of a self-lubricating material for promoting smooth movement of the slider relative to said rear cabinet.

16. The head-mounted image display apparatus as set forth in claim 14, further comprising self-lubricating rib portions formed integrally on a surface of said rear cabinet, said leaf spring being engaged with said rib portions for promoting smooth movement of the slider relative to said rear cabinet.

17. A head-mounted image display apparatus, comprising:

first and second optical visual units for displaying an image to respective left and right eyes of a user, each optical visual unit comprising a box-shaped housing an image display device, an ocular lens, and a reflector plate positioned between said image display device and said ocular lens, said image display device being slidably adjustable alone an optical path within said housing for adjusting a focus of said apparatus;

a frame having an elongate shaft supporting said optical visual units. said optical visual units being slidably adjustable toward and away from each other along a length of said shaft for aligning the ocular lenses of the optical visual units with the left and right eyes of a user, respectively;

a backlight assembly supported by said frame said backlight assembly comprising a lamp for illuminating the image display devices of both said first and second optical visual units;

a distance adjusting mechanism for effecting movement of said optical visual units toward and away from each other; and

a focus adjusting mechanism for effecting movement of said image display devices along said optical paths within said housings;

wherein said focus adjusting mechanism comprises a focus adjusting slider provided on an outer surface of a rear cabinet of said apparatus, said focus adjusting slider being seated firmly in a groove formed in said rear cabinet using a leaf spring fastened to a rear side thereof so that a set position of the slider is reliably maintained by friction.

18. The head-mounted image display apparatus as set forth in claim 17, further comprising a backing plate interposed between said leaf spring and said rear cabinet, said backing plate being formed of a self-lubricating material for promoting smooth movement of the slider relative to said rear cabinet.

19. The head-mounted image display apparatus as set forth in claim 17, further comprising self-lubricating rib portions formed integrally on a surface of said rear cabinet, said leaf spring being engaged with said rib portions for promoting smooth movement of the slider relative to said rear cabinet.