Image display apparatus

• US 6,515,638 B2
• Filed: 06/17/1999
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ishino, Toshiki, Chigira, Tatsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Xiao
• Application Number:
  US09/334,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20020036597A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: 345/7, 345/8, 345/9, 359/630, 359/631
• US Class Current: 345/7
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• 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: G02F 1/13452 Conductors connecting driver circuitry and terminals of panels
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7491 of head mounted projectors

Abstract

An image display apparatus includes a display element for displaying a video image, a backlight source for illuminating the display element, and a sculptured surface prism for guiding light from the display element. The sculptured surface prism enlarges the video image on the display element and presents the video image to an observer. The display element and the sculptured surface prism are supported by a holding member. An electrical circuit board is provided to drive the display element. The electrical circuit board and the display element are electrically connected. The electrical circuit board is arranged behind the display element, behind the sculptured surface prism when viewed from the observer, or on one side of the sculptured surface prism when viewed by the observer.

Claims

1. An image display apparatus comprising:

a display element displaying a video image;

a light source illuminating said display element;

a free-form surface prism guiding light of the video image from said display element, said free-form surface prism enlarging the video image on said display element and presenting the video image to an observer, said free-form surface prism having an incidence surface of which the light of the video image from said display element is incident, said incidence surface being tilted with respect to a visual axis toward the observer by a predetermined angle;

a holding member supporting said display element and said free-form surface prism; and

an electrical circuit board driving said display element,

wherein said electrical circuit board and said display element are separated from each other but are electrically connected, and said electrical circuit board is arranged behind said display element, behind said free-form surface prism when viewed from the observer, or on at least one side of said free-form surface prism when viewed from the observer.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said electrical circuit board and said display element are electrically connected through a flexible flat cable bent at least once.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said electrical circuit board is fixed to said holding member at one portion.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said apparatus further comprises a cover, and

said electrical circuit board is fixed to said cover.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said electrical circuit board is fixed to at least one side surface of said holding member.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said apparatus is electrically connected and mechanically attached to a portable telephone main body.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light source is a backlight source which is fixed to a rear surface of said display element, and said electrical circuit board is set on a side of said backlight source opposite to said display element.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said display element comprises a liquid crystal display element.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said electrical circuit board comprises a flexible printed board.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electrical circuit board and said display element are electrically connected through a flexible flat cable, and a central position of said flexible flat cable on said electrical circuit board substantially matches a central position of said free-form surface prism.

11. An image display apparatus comprising:

two display elements displaying video images corresponding to left and right eyes, respectively;

two light sources illuminating said two display elements, respectively;

two free-form surface prisms guiding lights of the video images from said two display elements to the left and right eyes, respectively, said free-form surface prisms enlarging the video images on said two display elements and presenting the video images to an observer, said two free-form surface prisms having incidence surfaces on which the lights of the video images from the corresponding display elements are incident, each of said incidence surfaces being tilted with respect to a visual axis toward the observer by a predetermined angle;

a holding member supporting said two display elements and said two free-form surface prisms; and

at least one electrical circuit board driving said two display elements,

wherein said electrical circuit board and said display elements are separated from each other but are electrically connected, and said electrical circuit board is arranged behind said display elements, behind said free-form surface prisms when viewed from the observer, or on at least one side of said free-form surface prisms when viewed from the observer.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

said electrical circuit board and said display elements are electrically connected through flexible flat cables bent at least once.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

said electrical circuit board is fixed to said holding member at one portion.

14. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

said apparatus further comprises a cover, and

said electrical circuit board is fixed to said cover.

15. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

said electrical circuit board comprises one electrical circuit board fixed to a side surface of said holding member.

16. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

said electrical circuit board comprises two electrical circuit boards fixed to two side surfaces of said holding member, respectively.

17. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said light sources are backlight sources which are fixed to rear surfaces of said display elements, respectively, and said electrical circuit board is set on a side of said backlight sources opposite to said display elements.

18. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said display elements comprise liquid crystal display elements.

19. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

said electrical circuit board comprises a flexible printed board.

20. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said electrical circuit board and said display elements are electrically connected through flexible flat cables, and a central position of said flexible flat cable on said electrical circuit board substantially matches a central position of said free-form surface prism.

21. An image display apparatus comprising:

a display element displaying a video image;

a light source illuminating said display element;

a free-form surface prism guiding light of the video image from said display element, said free-form surface prism enlarging the video image on said display element and presenting the video image to an observer, said free-form surface prism having an incidence surface on which the light of the video image from said display element is incident, said incidence surface being tilted with respect to a visual axis toward the observer by a predetermined angle;

a holding member supporting said display element and said free-form surface prism, said holding member supporting said display element substantially parallel to said tilted incidence surface of said free-form surface prism; and

an electrical circuit board driving said display element,

wherein said electrical circuit board and said display element are separated from each other but are electrically connected, and said electrical circuit board is arranged substantially parallel to said display element.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein

said electrical circuit board and said display element are electrically connected through a flexible flat cable.

23. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein

said flexible flat cable is bent at least once.

24. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein

said electrical circuit board is fixed to said holding member at one portion.

25. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein

said apparatus further comprises a cover, and

said electrical circuit board is fixed to said cover.

26. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said light source is a backlight source.

27. An image display apparatus comprising:

two display elements displaying video images corresponding to left and right eyes, respectively;

two light sources illuminating said two display elements, respectively;

two free-form surface prisms guiding light of the video images from said two display elements to the left and right eyes, respectively, said free-form surface prisms enlarging the video images on said two display elements and presenting the video images to an observer, said two free-form surface prisms having incidence surfaces on which the lights of the video images from the corresponding display elements are incident, each of said incidence surfaces being tilted with respect to a visual axis toward the observer by a predetermined angle;

a holding member supporting said two display elements and said free-form surface prisms, said holding member supporting each of said display elements substantially parallel to said tilted incidence surface of said corresponding free-form surface prism; and

at least one electrical circuit board driving said two display elements,

wherein said electrical circuit board and said two display elements are separated from each other but are electrically connected, and said electrical circuit board is arranged substantially parallel to said display elements.

28. An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein

said electrical circuit board and said display elements are electrically connected through flexible flat cables.

29. An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said two light sources are two backlight sources.

30. An image display apparatus comprising:

a display element displaying a video image;

a light source illuminating said display element;

a free-form surface prism guiding light of the video image from said display element, said free-form surface prism enlarging the video image on said display element and presenting the video image to an observer, said free-form surface prism having an incidence surface on which the light of the video image from said display element is incident, said incidence surface being tilted with respect to a visual axis toward the observer by a predetermined angle;

a holding member supporting said display element and said free-form surface prism, said holding member supporting said display element substantially parallel to said tilted incidence surface of said free-form surface prism;

an electrical circuit board driving said display element; and

a cover having a portion for observing the light of the video image from said free-form surface prism, said cover covering said display element, said light source, said free-form surface prism, said holding member and said electrical circuit board, wherein

said electrical circuit board and said display element are separated from each other but are electrically connected, and said electrical circuit board is disposed between said cover and said display element or between said cover and said free-form surface prism.

31. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said portion of said cover for observing the light of the video image is an opening.

32. An image display apparatus comprising:

two display elements displaying video images corresponding to left and right eyes, respectively;

two light sources illuminating said two display elements, respectively;

two free-form surface prisms guiding lights of the video images from said two display elements to the left and right eyes, respectively, said free-form surface prisms enlarging the video images on said two display elements and presenting the video images to an observer, said two free-form surface prisms having incidence surfaces on which the lights of video images from the corresponding display elements are incident, each of said incidence surfaces being tilted with respect to a visual axis toward the observer by a predetermined angle;

a holding member supporting said two display elements and said two free-form surface prisms, said holding member supporting each of said display elements substantially parallel to said tilted incidence surface of the corresponding free-form surface prism;

at least one electrical circuit board driving said two display elements; and

a cover having two portions for observing the lights of the video images from said free-form surface prisms, said cover covering said two display elements, said two light sources, said two free-form surface prisms, said holding member and said electrical circuit board, wherein

said electrical circuit board and said display elements are separated from each other but are electrically connected, and said electrical circuit board is disposed between said cover and said display elements or between said cover and said free-form surface prisms.

33. An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said portions of said cover for observing the lights of video images are openings.

34. An image display apparatus comprising:

a display element displaying a video image;

a light source illuminating said display element;

a free-form surface prism guiding light of the video image from said display element, said free-form surface prism enlarging the video image on said display element and presenting the video image to an observer, said free-form surface prism having an incidence surface on which the light of the video image from said display element is incident;

an electrical circuit board driving said display element; and

a cover having a portion for observing the light of the video image from said free-form surface prism, said cover covering said display element, said light source, said free-form surface prism, and said electrical circuit board, wherein

said electrical circuit board and said display element are separated from each other but are electrically connected, and said electrical circuit board is disposed between said cover and said display element or between said cover and said free-form surface prism.

35. An image display apparatus comprising:

a display element displaying a video image;

a light source illuminating said display element;

a free-form surface prism guiding light of the video image from said display element, said free-form surface prism enlarging the video image on said display element and presenting the video image to an observer, said free-form surface prism having an incidence surface on which the light of the video image from said display element is incident;

an electrical circuit board driving said display element;

a cover having a portion for observing the light of the video image from said free-form surface prism, said cover covering said display element, said light source, said free-form surface prism, and said electrical circuit board; and

a flexible printed board through which said display element and said electrical circuit board are electrically connected, wherein

said electrical circuit board is disposed between said cover and said display element or between said cover and said free-form surface prism, and wherein said flexible printed board is so disposed as to have a configuration corresponding to an outside appearance of said free-form surface prism.

36. An image display apparatus comprising:

two display elements displaying video images corresponding to left and right eyes, respectively;

two light sources illuminating said two display elements, respectively;

two free-form surface prisms guiding light of video images from said two display elements to the left and right eyes, respectively, said free-form surface prisms enlarging the video images on said two display elements and presenting the video images to an observer, said two free-form surface prisms having incidence surfaces on which the light of the video images from the corresponding display elements are incident;

one or two electrical circuit boards driving said two display elements; and

a cover having two portions for observing the light of the video images from said free-form surface prisms, said cover covering said display elements, said light sources, said fee-form surface prisms and said electrical circuit board, wherein

said electrical circuit board and said display elements are separated from each other but are electrically connected, and said electrical circuit board is disposed between said cover and said display elements or between said cover and said free-form surface prisms.

37. A portable phone apparatus having an image display function, comprising:

a display element displaying a video image;

a light source illuminating said display element;

a free-form surface prism guiding light of the video image from said display element, said free-form surface prism enlarging the video image on said display element and presenting the video image to an observer, said free-form surface prism having an incidence surface on which the light of the video image from said display element is incident;

an electrical circuit board driving said display element; and

a cover having a portion for observing the light of the video image from said free-form surface prism, said cover covering said display element, said light source, said free-form surface prism, and said electrical circuit board, wherein

said electrical circuit board and said display element are separated from each other but are electrically connected, and said electrical circuit board is disposed between said cover and said display element or between said cover and said free-form surface prism.

38. A portable phone apparatus having an image display function comprising:

a display element displaying a video image;

a light source illuminating said display element;

a free-form surface prism guiding light of the video image from said display element, said free-form surface prism enlarging the video image on said display element and presenting the video image to an observer, said free-form surface prism having an incidence surface on which the light of the video image from said display element is incident;

an electrical circuit board driving said display element;

a cover having a portion for observing the light of the video image from said free-form surface prism, said cover covering said display element, said light source, said free-form surface prism, and said electrical circuit board; and

a flexible printed board through which said display element and said electrical circuit board are electrically connected, wherein

said electrical circuit board is disposed between said cover and said display element or between said cover and said free-form surface prism, and wherein said flexible printed board is so disposed so as to have a configuration corresponding to an outside appearance of said free-form surface prism.

39. A portable apparatus having an image display unit and a portable phone unit to which the image display unit is electrically connected and is mechanically attached, said portable apparatus comprising:

a display element displaying a video image;

a light source illuminating said display element;

a free-form surface prism guiding light of the video image from said display element, said free-form surface prism enlarging the video image on said display element and presenting the video image to an observer, said free-form surface prism having an incidence surface on which the light of the video image from said display element is incident;

an electrical circuit board driving said display element;

a cover having a portion for observing the light of the video image from said free-form surface prism, said cover covering said display element, said light source, said free-form surface prism, and said electrical circuit board; and

a flexible printed board through which said display element and said electrical circuit board are electrically connected, wherein

said electrical circuit board is disposed between said cover and said display element or between said cover and said free-form surface prism, and wherein said flexible printed board is so disposed so as to have a configuration corresponding to an outside appearance of said free-form surface prism.

40. An image display apparatus comprising:

a display element displaying an image;

a light source illuminating said display element;

a free-form surface prism guiding light of the image from said display element, said free-form surface prism enlarging the image on said display element and presenting the image to an observer, said free-form surface prism having an incidence surface on which the light of the image from said display element is incident;

an electrical circuit board driving said display element; and

a cover having a portion for observing the light of the image from said free-form surface prism, said cover covering said display element, said light source, said free-form surface prism, and said electrical circuit board, wherein

said electrical circuit board and said display element are separated from each other but are electrically connected, and said electrical circuit board is disposed between said cover and said free-form surface prism.

41. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said display element is disposed between said electrical circuit board and said free-form surface prism.

42. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said electrical circuit board is a flexible printed board.

43. An image display apparatus comprising:

a display element displaying an image;

a light source illuminating said display element;

a free-form surface prism guiding light of the image from said display element, said free-form surface prism enlarging the image on said display element and presenting the image to an observer, said free-form surface prism having an incidence surface on which the light of the image from said display element is incident;

an electrical circuit board driving said display element;

a cover having a portion for observing the light of the image from said free-form surface prism, said cover covering said display element, said light source, said free-form surface prism, and said electrical circuit board; and

a flexible printed board through which said display element and said electrical circuit board are electrically connected, wherein

said electrical circuit board is disposed between said cover and said free-form surface prism, and wherein said flexible printed board is so disposed as to have a configuration corresponding to an outside appearance of said free-form surface prism.

44. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said display element is disposed between said electrical circuit board and said free-form surface prism.

45. An image display apparatus comprising:

two display elements displaying images corresponding to left and right eyes, respectively;

two light sources illuminating said two display elements, respectively;

two free-form surface prisms guiding light of the images from said display elements to the left and right eyes, respectively, said free-form surface prisms enlarging the images on said display elements and presenting the images to an observer, said free-form surface prims having incidence surfaces on which the light of the images from the corresponding display elements are incident;

an electrical circuit board driving said display elements; and

a cover having two portions for observing the light of the images from said free-form surface prims, said cover covering said display element, said light sources, said free-form surface prisms, and said electrical circuit board, wherein

said electrical circuit board and said display elements are separated from each other but are electrically connected, and said electrical circuit board is disposed between said cover and said free-form surface prisms.

46. An apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said display element is disposed between said electrical circuit board and said free-form surface prisms.

47. An apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said electrical circuit board consists of a first electrical circuit board and a second electrical circuit board, and said first electrical circuit board is electrically connected to one of said display elements and said second electrical circuit board is electrically connected to the other of said display elements.

48. A portable phone apparatus having an image display function, comprising:

a display element displaying an image;

a light source illuminating said display element;

a free-form surface prism guiding light of the image from said display element, said free-form surface prism enlarging the image on said display element and presenting the image to an observer, said free-form surface prism having an incidence surface on which the light of the image from said display element is incident;

an electrical circuit board driving said display element; and

a cover having a portion for observing the light of the image from said free-form surface prism, said cover covering said display element, said light source, said free-form surface prism, and said electrical circuit board, wherein

said electrical circuit board and said display element are separated from each other but are electrically connected, and said electrical circuit board is disposed between said cover and said free-form surface prism.

49. An apparatus according to claim 48, wherein said display element is disposed between said electrical circuit board and said free-form surface prism.

50. A portable phone apparatus having an image display function, comprising:

a display element displaying an image;

a light source illuminating said display element;

a free-form surface prism guiding light of the image from said display element, said free-form surface prism enlarging the image on said display element and presenting the image to an observer, said free-form surface prism having an incidence surface on which the light of the image from said display element is incident;

an electrical circuit board driving said display element;

a cover having a portion for observing the light of the image from said free-form surface prism, said cover covering said display element, said light source, said free-form surface prism, and said electrical circuit board; and

a flexible printed board through which said display element and said electrical circuit board are electrically connected, wherein

said electrical circuit board is disposed between said cover and said free-form surface prism, and wherein said flexible printed board is so disposed as to have a configuration corresponding to an outside appearance of said free-form surface prism.

51. An apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said display element is disposed between said electrical circuit board and said free-form surface prism.

52. A portable apparatus having an image display unit and a portable phone unit to which the image display unit is electrically connected and is mechanically attached, said portable apparatus comprising:

a display element displaying an image;

a light source illuminating said display element;

a free-form surface prism guiding light of the image from said display element, said free-form surface prism enlarging the image on said display element and presenting the image to an observer, said free-form surface prism having an incidence surface on which the light of the image from said display element is incident;

an electrical circuit board driving said display element;

a cover having a portion for observing the light of the image from said free-form surface prism, said cover covering said display element, said light source, said free-form surface prism, and said electrical circuit board; and

a flexible printed board through which said display element and said electrical circuit board are electrically connected, wherein

said electrical circuit board is disposed between said cover and said free-form surface prism, and wherein said flexible printed board is so disposed as to have a configuration corresponding to an outside appearance of said free-form surface prism.

53. An apparatus according to claim 52, wherein said display element is disposed between said electrical circuit board and said free-form surface prism.