Head mounted display

• US 6,727,865 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2000
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yonezawa, Hiroki
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dharia, Prabodh M.
• Application Number:
  US09/722,546
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 345/7, 345/8, 345/9, 345/158, 345/169, 345/130, 359/629, 359/630, 359/53, 348/158
• US Class Current: 345/7
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features

Abstract

A head mounted display apparatus includes two display units for the respective eyes of an observer, images being provided from the display units to the observer, and a head mount mechanism mounted on the observer'"'"'s head in such a manner that the two display units are disposed in front of the observer. The head mount mechanism is capable of separating the display units from each other and connecting them together at a position corresponding to the front of the observer when he wears the two display units.

Claims

1. A head mounted display comprising:

a head mount mechanism having an annular structure to enable the head mounted display to be mounted on a head of an observer; and

two display units provided on said head mount mechanism and driven by electric power to provide left and right eyes of the observer with images supplied from an external image supply device,

wherein said head mount mechanism includes connection means between said two display units and in front of the observer, and said head mount mechanism is configured to be annular in shape by attaching said connection means so as to enable the head mounted display to be mounted on the head of the observer, and said connection means is detached to break the annular configuration so as to enable the head mounted display to be removed from the head of the observer.

2. A head mounted display according to claim 1, further comprising optical systems for guiding the images displayed on said display units for left and right eyes toward the respective eyes of the observer.

3. A head mounted display according to claim 1, further comprising:

a detecting mechanism for detecting an attaching state of said connection means; and

a power supply control unit for controlling supply of electric power to said display units, wherein when said detecting mechanism detects that said connection means is attached, said power supply control unit supplies said display units with electric power, and when said detecting mechanism detects that said connection means is detached, said power supply control unit cuts off electric power to said display units.

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

a detecting mechanism for detecting an attaching state of said connection means; and

an output unit for outputting an electric signal indicative of the attached state of said connection means detected by said detecting mechanism.