Head-up display device with curved optical surface having total reflection

• US 7,262,919 B1
• Filed: 10/24/1997
• Issued: 08/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Nishimura, Takeshi, Yamazaki, Shoichi
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHWARTZ, JORDAN MARC
• Application Number:
  US08/959,285
• Time in Patent Office: 3,595 Days
• Field of Search: 359/631, 359/630, 359/633, 359/15, 345/7, 345/8
• US Class Current: 359/631
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/011 comprising device for correcting geometrical aberrations, distortion
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0143 the two eyes not being equipped with identical nor symmetrical optical devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0198 System for aligning or maintaining alignment of an image in a predetermined direction
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/10 with curved faces

Abstract

A display device for displaying information is provided with an optical system for guiding the light of the display device to the eye, the optical system having, in the order in the proceeding direction of the light, an entrance face for receiving the light, a curved face for totally reflecting the light and a reflecting face concave to the eye side and adapted to reflect the light toward the eye. The reflected light is transmitted by the curved face and reaches the eye. Thus there is obtained a compact display device with satisfactorily suppressed aberrations.

Claims

1. An optical apparatus comprising:

a device for displaying an image; and

an ocular optical system for projecting an image formed by said device for displaying an image and for leading the image to an observer'"'"'s eyeball;

said ocular optical system comprising first, second and third surfaces, in which a space defined by said first, second and third surfaces is filled with a medium having a refractive index larger than 1;

said first, second and third surfaces including, in order from an observer'"'"'s eyeball side toward said device for displaying an image, a first surface serving as both a refracting surface and an internally reflecting surface, a second surface serving as a reflecting surface of positive power which faces said first surface and is decentered or tilted with respect to an observer'"'"'s visual axis, and a third surface serving as a refracting surface closest to said device for displaying an image, at least two of said at least three surfaces having a finite curvature radius;

wherein any one of said first, second and third surfaces is a decentered aspherical surface;

wherein any one of said first, second and third surfaces is an anamorphic surface;

wherein said optical apparatus satisfies the following condition in a case where a vertical plane containing said observer'"'"'s visual axis is defined as a YZ-plane, and a horizontal plane perpendicular to the YZ-plane is defined as an XZ-plane;

1<

|R_y2/R_x2|≦

1.921

where R_y2 is a curvature radius of said second surface in the YZ-plane, and R_x2 is a curvature radius of said second surface in the XZ-plane.

36. An optical apparatus according to any of claims 1, 2, and 20 through 29, wherein the following condition is met:

1.421≦

R_y2/R_x2≦

1.921.

37. An optical apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the following condition is met:

R_y2/R_x2=1.421, 1.921, 1.730, 1.732, 1.493, 1.921, 1.802 or 1.820.

38. An optical apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the following condition is met:

R_y2=−

57.595 and R_x2=−

40.526;

 

 

(a)

R_y2=−

63.157 and R_x2=−

32.870;

 

 

(b)

R_y2=−

67.136 and R_x2=−

38.803;

 

 

(c)

R_y2=−

66.938 and R_x2=−

38.651;

 

 

(d)

R_y2=−

63.546 and R_x2=−

42.575;

 

 

(e)

R_y2=−

63.157 and R_x2=−

32.870;

 

 

(f)

R_y2=−

65.701 and R_x2=−

36.469;

or 

 

(g)

R_y2=−

65.600 and R_x2=−

36.035. 

 

(h)

39. An optical apparatus according to any of claims 1, 2, and 20 through 29, wherein the XZ-plane passes through the vertex of said second surface and is perpendicular to the tangent at the vertex.

40. An optical apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the XZ-plane passes through the vertex of said second surface and is perpendicular to the tangent at the vertex.

41. An optical apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the XZ-plane passes through the vertex of said second surface and is perpendicular to the tangent at the vertex.

42. An optical apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the XZ-plane passes through the vertex of said second surface and is perpendicular to the tangent at the vertex.

43. An optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

78. An optical apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

79. An optical apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

80. An optical apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

81. An optical apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

82. An optical apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

83. An optical apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

84. An optical apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

2. An optical apparatus comprising:

a device for displaying an image; and

an ocular optical system for projecting an image formed by said device for displaying an image and for leading the image to an observer'"'"'s eyeball;

said ocular optical system comprising first, second and third surfaces, in which a space defined by said at least first, second and third surfaces is filled with a medium having a refractive index larger than 1;

said first, second and third surfaces including, in order from observer'"'"'s eyeball side toward said device for displaying an image, a first surface serving as both a refracting surface and an internally reflecting surface, a second surface serving as a reflecting surface of positive power which faces said first surface and is decentered or tilted with respect to an observer'"'"'s visual axis, and a third surface serving as a refracting surface closest to said device for displaying an image, at least two of said at least first, second and third surfaces having a finite curvature radius;

wherein any one of said first, second and third surfaces is a decentered aspherical surface;

wherein any one of said first, second and third surfaces is an anamorphic surface;

wherein said optical apparatus satisfies the following condition in a case where a vertical plane containing said observer'"'"'s visual axis is defined as a YZ-plane, and a horizontal plane perpendicular to the YZ-plane is defined as an XZ-plane;

1<

|R_y2/R_x2|≦

1.921

where R_y2 is a curvature radius of said second surface in the YZ-plane, and R_x2 is a curvature radius of said second surface in the XZ-plane,

wherein internal reflection that is performed by said first surface is total reflection.

44. An optical apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

3. An optical apparatus comprising:

a device for displaying an image; and

an ocular optical system for projecting an image formed by said device for displaying an image and for leading the image to an observer'"'"'s eyeball,

said ocular optical system comprising first, second and third surfaces, in which a space defined by said at least first, second and third surfaces is filled with a medium having a refractive index larger than 1,

said first, second and third surfaces including, in order from an observer'"'"'s eyeball side toward said device for displaying an image, a first surface serving as both a refracting surface and an internally reflecting surface, a second surface serving as a reflecting surface of positive power which faces said first surface and is decentered or tilted with respect to an observer'"'"'s visual axis, and a third surface serving as a refracting surface closest to said device for displaying an image, at least two of said at least first, second and third surfaces having a finite curvature radius; and

wherein said first surface is a reflecting surface having a convex surface directed toward said second surface.

5. An optical apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein either one of said first and third surfaces of said ocular optical system is tilted or decentered with respect to said observer'"'"'s visual axis.

6. An optical apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising means for positioning both said device for displaying an image and said ocular optical system with respect to an observer'"'"'s head.

7. An optical apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising means for supporting both said device for displaying an image and said ocular optical system with respect to an observer'"'"'s head so that said optical apparatus can be fitted to said observer'"'"'s head.

8. An optical apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising means for supporting a pair of said optical apparatuses at a predetermined spacing.

9. An optical apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said ocular optical system is used as an imaging optical system.

10. An optical apparatus according to claim 5, which satisfies the following condition:

θ

=27.5, 33.4, 26.4, 27.3, 28.2, or 25.6,

where θ

is an angle between said visual axis and a line normal to said second surface of said ocular optical system in the vicinity of an intersection between said observer'"'"'s visual axis and said second surface.

11. An optical apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising means for positioning both said device for displaying an image and said ocular optical system with respect to an observer'"'"'s head.

12. An optical apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising means for supporting both said device for displaying an image and said ocular optical system with respect to an observer'"'"'s head so that said optical apparatus can be fitted to said observer'"'"'s head.

13. An optical apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising means for supporting a pair of said optical apparatuses at a predetermined spacing.

14. An optical apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said ocular optical system is used as an imaging optical system.

15. An optical apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said device for displaying an image has a display surface which is tilted with respect to said observer'"'"'s visual axis.

16. An optical apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising means for positioning both said device for displaying an image and said ocular optical system with respect to an observer'"'"'s head.

17. An optical apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising means for supporting both said device for displaying an image and said ocular optical system with respect to an observer'"'"'s head so that said optical apparatus can be fitted to said observer'"'"'s head.

18. An optical apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising means for supporting a pair of said optical apparatuses at a predetermined spacing.

19. An optical apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said ocular optical system is used as an imaging optical system.

45. An optical apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

47. An optical apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

48. An optical apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

49. An optical apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

50. An optical apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

51. An optical apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

52. An optical apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

53. An optical apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

54. An optical apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

55. An optical apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

56. An optical apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

57. An optical apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

58. An optical apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

59. An optical apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

60. An optical apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

61. An optical apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

4. An optical apparatus comprising:

a device for displaying an image; and

an ocular optical system for projecting an image and for leading the image to an observer'"'"'s eyeball,

said ocular optical system comprising first, second and third surfaces, in which a space defined by said at least first, second and third surfaces is filled with a medium having a refractive index larger than 1,

said first, second and third surfaces including, in order from an observer'"'"'s eyeball side toward said device for displaying an image, a first surface serving as both a refracting surface and an internally reflecting surface, a second surface serving as a reflecting surface of positive power which faces said first surface and is decentered or tilted with respect to an observer'"'"'s visual axis, and a third surface serving as a refracting surface closest to said device for displaying an image, at least two of said at least first, second and third surfaces having a finite curvature radius;

wherein internal reflection that is performed by said first surface is total reflection, and

wherein said first surface is a reflecting surface having a convex surface directed toward said second surface.

46. An optical apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

20. An optical apparatus comprising:

a device for displaying an image; and

an ocular optical system for projecting an image formed by said device for displaying an image and for leading said image to an observer'"'"'s eyeball,

said ocular optical system comprising at least first, second and third surfaces, in which a space defined by said surfaces is filled with a medium having refractive index larger than 1,

said device for displaying an image being disposed at a position facing said third surface,

said first, second and third surfaces including, in order from an observer'"'"'s eyeball side toward said device for displaying an image, said first surface serving as both a refracting surface and an internally reflecting surface, said second surface serving as a reflecting surface of a positive power which faces said first surface and is decentered or tilted with respect to an observer'"'"'s visual axis, and said third surface serving as a refracting surface closest to said device for displaying an image, at least two of said at least first, second and third surfaces having a finite curvature radius,

wherein any one of said first, second and third surfaces is a decentered aspherical surface,

wherein any one of said first, second and third surfaces is an anamorphic surface, and

said optical apparatus satisfies the following condition in a case where a vertical plane containing said observer'"'"'s visual axis is defined as a YZ-plane, and a horizontal plane perpendicular to said YZ-plane is defined as an XZ-plane;

1<

|R_y2/R_x2|≦

1.921

where R_y2 is a curvature radius of said second surface in said YZ-plane, and R_x2 is a curvature radius of said second surface in said XZ-plane.

21. An optical apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising means for positioning both said device for displaying an image and said ocular optical system with respect to an observer'"'"'s head.

22. An optical apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising means for supporting both said device for displaying an image and said ocular optical system with respect to an observer'"'"'s head so that said optical apparatus can be fitted to said observer'"'"'s head.

23. An optical apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising means for supporting a pair of said optical apparatuses at a predetermined spacing.

24. An optical apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said ocular optical system is used as an imaging optical system.

62. An optical apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

63. An optical apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

64. An optical apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

65. An optical apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

66. An optical apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

25. An optical apparatus comprising:

a device for displaying an image; and

an ocular optical system for projecting an image formed by said device for displaying an image and for leading said image to an observer'"'"'s eyeball,

said ocular optical system comprising at least first, second and third surfaces, in which a space defined by said surfaces is filled with a medium having a refractive index larger than 1,

said device for displaying an image being disposed at a position facing said third surface,

said first, second and third surfaces including, in order from an observer'"'"'s eyeball side toward said device for displaying an image, said first surface serving as both a refracting surface and an internally reflecting surface, said second surface serving as a reflecting surface of a positive power which faces said first surface and is decentered or tilted with respect to an observer'"'"'s visual axis, and said third surface serving as a refracting surface closest to said device for displaying an image, at least two of said at least first, second and third surface having a finite curvature radius,

wherein internal reflection that is performed by said first surface is total reflection, wherein any one of said first, second and third surfaces is a decentered aspherical surface,

wherein any one of said first, second and third surfaces is an anamorphic surface, and

said optical apparatus satisfies the following condition in a case where a vertical plane containing said observer'"'"'s visual axis is defined as a YZ-plane, and a horizontal plane perpendicular to said YZ-plane is defined as an XZ-plane;

1<

|R_y2/R_x2|≦

1.921

where R_y2 is a curvature radius of said second surface in said YZ-plane, and R_x2 is a curvature radius of said second surface in said XZ-plane.

26. An optical apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising means for positioning both said device for displaying an image and said ocular optical system with respect to an observer'"'"'s head.

27. An optical apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising means for supporting both said device for displaying an image and said ocular optical system with respect to an observer'"'"'s head so that said optical apparatus can be fitted to said observer'"'"'s head.

28. An optical apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising means for supporting a pair of said optical apparatuses at a predetermined spacing.

29. An optical apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said ocular optical system is used as an imaging optical system.

67. An optical apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

68. An optical apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

69. An optical apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

70. An optical apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

71. An optical apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

30. An optical apparatus comprising:

a device for displaying an image; and

an ocular optical system for projecting an image formed by said device for displaying an image and for leading said image to an observer'"'"'s eyeball,

said ocular optical system comprising at least first, second and third surfaces, in which a space defined by said surfaces is filled with a medium having a refractive index larger than 1,

said device for displaying an image being disposed at a position facing said third surface,

said first second and third surfaces including, in order from an observer'"'"'s eyeball side toward said device for displaying an image, said first surface serving as both a refracting surface and an internally reflecting surface, said second surface serving a reflecting surface of a positive power which faces said first surface and is decentered or tilted with respect to an observer'"'"'s visual axis, and said third surface serving as a refracting surface closest to said device for displaying an image, at least two of said at least first, second and third surfaces having a finite curvature radius,

wherein said first surface is a reflecting surface having a convex surface directed toward said second surface.

32. An optical apparatus according to claim 30 or 31, further comprising means for positioning both said device for displaying an image and said ocular optical system with respect to an observer'"'"'s head.

33. An optical apparatus according to claim 30 or 31, further comprising means for supporting both said device for displaying an image and said ocular optical system with respect to an observer'"'"'s head so that said optical apparatus can be fitted to said observer'"'"'s head.

34. An optical apparatus according to claim 30 or 31, further comprising means for supporting a pair of said optical apparatuses at a predetermined spacing.

35. An optical apparatus according to claim 30 or 31, wherein said ocular optical system is used as an imaging optical system.

72. An optical apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

74. An optical apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

75. An optical apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

76. An optical apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

77. An optical apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

31. An optical apparatus comprising:

a device for displaying an image; and

an ocular optical system for projecting an image formed by said device for displaying an image and for leading said image to an observer'"'"'s eyeball,

said ocular optical system comprising at least first, second and third surfaces, in which a space defined by said surfaces is filled with a medium having a refractive index larger than 1,

said device for displaying an image being disposed at a position facing said third surface,

said first, second and third surfaces including, in order from an observer'"'"'s eyeball side toward said device for displaying an image, said first surface serving as both a refracting surface and an internally reflecting surface, said second surface serving as a reflecting surface of a positive power which faces said first surface and is decentered or tilted with respect to an observer'"'"'s visual axis, and said third surface serving as a refracting surface closest to said device for displaying an image, at least two of said at least first, second and third surfaces having a finite curvature radius,

wherein internal reflection that is performed by said first surface is total reflection, and

wherein said first surface is a reflecting surface having a convex surface directed toward said second surface.

73. An optical apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.