Eyeglasses type image display apparatus

• US 6,483,483 B2
• Filed: 03/15/1999
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kosugi, Ichiro, Okoshi, Yoshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Nitin
• Application Number:
  US09/268,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20020067367A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• Field of Search: 345/7, 345/8, 345/9
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted

Abstract

An eyeglasses type image display apparatus can be connected to a computer having a large amount of information so that it can display information from the computer on a large screen. The apparatus is adapted to be mounted on a head of a user to display an image in front of eyes of the user, and includes a connector capable of receiving information from a computer, a processor for processing the information, and a display unit for displaying an image based on the information processed. The connector includes a wire or a radio section for transmitting information. The display unit can display an image and has a see-through function for allowing the user to see the external world therethrough.

Claims

1. An eyeglasses type image display apparatus for being mounted on a head of a user to display an image in front of eyes of the user, the apparatus comprising:

a) connector configured to receive information from a computer therethrough;

b) a processor configured to process the information received through said connector; and

c) a display assembly configured to display an image based on the information processed by said processor while allowing the user to see the external world, the display assembly including;

1) a display screen that emits an original image;

2) a first half-mirror that is configured and arranged to partially reflect the original image from the display screen toward a second half-mirror, and to partially transmit toward the user'"'"'s eye, an enlarged image that is returned from the second half-mirror;

3) the second half-mirror, constituting a curved half-mirror that is configured and arranged to enlarge the original image reflected by the first half-mirror and to return the enlarged image toward the first half-mirror;

4) a second display screen that emits a second original image;

5) a third half-mirror that is configured and arranged to partially reflect the second original image from the second display screen toward a fourth half-mirror, and to partially transmit toward the user'"'"'s second eye, a second enlarged image that is returned from the fourth half-mirror; and

6) the fourth half-mirror, constituting a second curved half-mirror that is configured and arranged to enlarge the second original image reflected by the third half-mirror and to return the second enlarged image toward the third half-mirror;

wherein the user can see both the enlarged returned image and the external world through the first and second half-mirrors; and

wherein the user can see both the second enlarged returned image and the external world through the third and fourth half-mirrors.

2. An eyeglass type image display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a ring-shaped mounting section configured to be fitted with a head of the user, said ring-shaped mounting section including a pad for being pressed against the head of the user to mount said eyeglasses type image display apparatus in position on the head of the user;

wherein said display assembly is connected to said ring-shaped mounting section so as to be positioned in front of the eyes of the user when said eyeglass type image display apparatus is mounted in position on the head of the user.

3. An eyeglasses type image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said connector includes a wire configured to transmit information therethrough.

4. An eyeglasses type image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said connector includes a wireless transmission device configured to convey the information, the wireless transmission device including:

a light receiver configured to receive data conveyed by infrared rays and to send the data to a display processing section.