Image display unit and projection optical system

• US 7,068,444 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2003
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kenji Nishi
• Original Assignee: Kenji Nishi
• Inventors: Nishi, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMPSON, TIMOTHY J
• Application Number:
  US10/528,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20060072215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 359/708, 359/630, 359/629, 359/631, 359/633, 359/632, 359/636, 359/637, 359/638, 359/639, 359/640, 345/7, 345/9
• US Class Current: 359/708
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/06 Panoramic objectives; So-called "sky lenses" including panoramic objectives having reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0615 off-axis or unobscured systems in wich all of the mirrors share a common axis of rotational symmetry
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/08 Catadioptric systems used in non-imaging applications G02B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0816 off-axis or unobscured systems in which not all of the mirrors share a common axis of rotational symmetry, e.g. at least one of the mirrors is warped, tilted or decentered with respect to the other elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/011 comprising device for correcting geometrical aberrations, distortion
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• 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 23/18 for binocular arrangements focusing binocular pairs G02B7/06; adjusting pupillary distance of binocular pairs G02B7/12
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features

Abstract

An intermediate image of an image from the LCD module 142 is deflected by reflection mirrors M1 and M2 via zoom automatic focus control system (g) and then is formed on diffusion glass 131 via relay lens (b) and reflection mirrors M3 and M4. The LCD image is projected on the retina of eyeballs via eyepiece lens 132 by the light flux diffused at an order of ±20 degrees by diffusion glass 131. One side of the eyepiece lens 132 close to the crystal balls 2 has an aspherical shape of a Conic surface and a Conic coefficient of the Conic surface is −1 and less. Thereby the optical system that has a viewing angle of 60 degrees and over and has a small aberration can be obtained.

Claims

1. An image display device comprising:

an optoelectric element of emitting light in a two-dimensional way that has a display surface orthogonal to a direction of emitted light flux; and

a fisheye-type optical system that projects light flux emitted from the optoelectric element inside at least one of eyeballs of a user and has an viewing angle of 60 degrees and over,

wherein the image display device is worn in front of the eyeball,

wherein the fisheye-type optical system forms an intermediate image,

wherein a closest optical element of optical elements arranged toward the eyeball from an position of forming the intermediate image to the eyeball is an aspherical optical element of a single lens element,

wherein a far surface shape of the optical element from the eyeball has a aspherical shape of a surface such that light flux entering a pupil of the eyeball enters a far surface of the optical element from the eyeball approximately at right angles and,

wherein a Conic coefficient of the Conic surface is less than −

1.

2. The image display device set forth in claim 1, wherein a second optical element of optical elements constituting the image display device from the eyeball is made up of a single lens element and a far surface of the optical element from the eyeball has a shape such that the light flux entering the pupil of the eyeball enters a far surface of the optical element from the eyeball approximately at right angles.

3. The image display device set forth in claim 1, wherein the fisheye-type optical system has a first lens group that includes a relay optical system and an eyepiece lens system that projects the intermediate image formed by the first lens group inside the eyeball.

4. The image display device set forth in claim 3, wherein the first lens group includes at least one or more aspheric optical element and over.

5. The image display device set forth in claim 3, wherein the first lens group includes at least one curved mirror that corrects telecentricity.

6. The image display device set forth in claim 4, wherein the first lens group includes at least one curved mirror that corrects telecentricity.