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

• US 7,355,795 B1
• Filed: 02/23/2000
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• 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:
  US09/511,243
• Time in Patent Office: 2,967 Days
• Field of Search: 359/630, 359/631, 359/633, 359/637
• US Class Current: 359/630
• 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:

means for forming an image to be observed; and

an ocular optical system for leading said image to an observer'"'"'s eyeball,

said ocular optical system including, in order from said image side, a third surface which forms an entrance surface, a first surface which forms both a reflecting surface and an exit surface, and a second surface which forms a reflecting surface, said first to third surfaces being integrally formed with a medium disposed therebetween,

wherein said means for forming an image is an image display device for forming an image for observation,

said device being disposed at a position facing said third surface,

said optical apparatus further comprising means for fitting both said device and said ocular optical system to an observer'"'"'s head,

wherein at least said first surface in said ocular optical system is formed from a rotationally asymmetric curved surface so as to correct aberrations produced by a decentered surface having an optical action.

2. An optical apparatus according to claim 1, a combination of said device and said ocular optical system being provided for each of observer'"'"'s left and right eyeballs so as to lead an image to each of the observer'"'"'s left and right eyeballs.

3. An optical apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a see-through optical system disposed in the vicinity of the second surface of said ocular optical system to transmit a bundle of light rays from an outside world and lead it to the second surface of said ocular optical system; and

a shutter provided at a side of said see-through optical system which is closer to the outside world, said shutter allowing light to be selectively transmitted or shut off.

4. An optical apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a surface of said see-through optical system on which outside world light is incident has a configuration approximated to the first surface of said ocular optical system, and a surface of said see-through optical system from which outside world light emanates has a configuration approximated to the second surface of said ocular optical system.

5. An optical apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a see-through optical system disposed in the vicinity of the second surface of said ocular optical system to transmit a bundle of light rays from an outside world and lead it to the second surface of said ocular optical system; and

a shutter provided at a side of said see-through optical system which is closer to the outside world, said shutter allowing light to be selectively transmitted or shut off.

6. An optical apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a surface of said see-through optical system on which outside world light is incident has a configuration approximated to the first surface of said ocular optical system, and a surface of said see-through optical system from which outside world light emanates has a configuration approximated to the second surface of said ocular optical system.

27. An optical apparatus according to any one of claims 1 through 16, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

7. An optical apparatus comprising:

a device for displaying an image; and

an ocular optical system for projecting an image formed by said device and for leading the 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,

said device being disposed at a position facing said third surface,

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

wherein at least said first surface in said ocular optical system is formed from a rotationally asymmetric curved surface so as to correct aberrations produced by a decentered surface having an optical action.

8. An optical apparatus according to claim 7, a combination of said device and said ocular optical system being provided for each of observer'"'"'s left and right eyeballs so as to lead an image to each of the observer'"'"'s left and right eyeballs.

9. An optical apparatus according to claim 8, wherein internal reflection from said first surface is total reflection.

10. An optical apparatus according to claim 7, wherein internal reflection from said first surface is total reflection.

11. An optical apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein any one of said first, second and third surfaces is a decentered aspherical surface.

12. An optical apparatus according to claim 11, wherein any one of said first, second and third surfaces is an anamorphic surface.

22. An optical apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 10 and 13 to 20, further comprising means for positioning both said device and said ocular optical system with respect to an observer'"'"'s head.

23. An optical apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 10 and 13 to 20, further comprising means for supporting both said device 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.

24. An optical apparatus according to any one of claims 7, 10, 13, and 18 to 20, further comprising means for supporting a pair of said optical apparatuses at a predetermined distance.

26. An optical apparatus according to any of one claims 7 to 10 and 13 to 20, wherein said ocular optical system is used as an imaging optical system.

28. An optical apparatus according to any one of claims 7 through 20, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

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

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

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

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

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

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

13. An optical apparatus comprising:

an image display device; and

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

said ocular optical system including a decentered optical element comprising at least first, second, and third surfaces, in which a space defined by said surfaces is filled with a medium, said surfaces including, from said observer'"'"'s eyeball side toward said image display device, said first surface serving as both a refracting surface and a totally reflecting surface, said 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 said third surface serving as a refracting surface closest to said image display device,

said image display device being disposed at a position facing said third surface,

said ocular optical system further including at least one optical surface having refracting action, said decentered optical element and said at least one optical surface being disposed in an optical path which extends from said image display device to said observer'"'"'s eyeball,

wherein at least said first surface in said ocular optical system is formed from a rotationally asymmetric curved surface so as to correct aberrations produced by a decentered surface having an optical action.

14. An optical apparatus according to claim 13, a combination of said device and said ocular optical system being provided for each of observer'"'"'s left and right eyeballs so as to lead an image to each of the observer'"'"'s left and right eyeballs.

15. An optical apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said at least one optical surface is disposed between said observer'"'"'s eyeball and the first surface of said decentered optical element.

16. An optical apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said at least one optical surface is disposed between the third surface of said decentered optical element and said image display device.

17. An optical apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said at least one optical surface is decentered with respect to said observer'"'"'s visual axis.

18. An optical apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said at least one optical surface is disposed between said observer'"'"'s eyeball and the first surface of said decentered optical element.

19. An optical apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said at least one optical surface is disposed between the third surface of said decentered optical element and said image display device.

20. An optical apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said at least one optical surface is decentered with respect to said observer'"'"'s visual axis.

21. An optical apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 20, wherein said at least one optical surface and said decentered optical element form an air lens.

25. An optical apparatus according to any one of claims 8, 9, and 14 to 17, further comprising means for supporting said combinations at a predetermined distance.

31. An optical apparatus according to any of claims 13 through 30, wherein said medium is acrylic resin or glass.

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

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

38. An optical apparatus comprising:

an image-forming member that forms an image to be observed, and

an ocular optical system provided to lead said image to an eyeball of an observer,

wherein said ocular optical system includes, in order from an image side thereof, a third surface that forms an entrance surface, a first surface that forms both a reflecting surface and an exit surface, and a second surface that forms a reflecting surface, said first, second and third surfaces being integrally formed to face each other across a medium, and

wherein at least one of said first, second and third surfaces is formed from a rotationally asymmetric curved surface that corrects aberration produced by a decentered surface.

39. An optical apparatus according to claim 38, further comprising:

an optical member located between said image-forming member and the eyeball of said observer, said optical member consisting of a material differing in dispersion from a material of said medium.

40. An optical apparatus according to claim 39, further comprising:

a fitting member fitted to a head of said observer to retain said image-forming member, said ocular optical system and said optical member being in front of said observer.

41. An optical apparatus according to claim 39 or 40, wherein said optical member is placed between the first surface of said ocular optical system and the eyeball of said observer.

42. An optical apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said optical member comprises at least one optical surface having refracting action.

43. An optical apparatus according to claim 39 or 40, wherein said optical member is located between the third surface of said ocular optical system and an image display device.

44. An optical apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said optical member comprises at least one optical surface having refracting action.

45. An optical apparatus according to claim 39 or 40, wherein reflection at the first surface of said ocular optical system is total reflection.

46. An optical apparatus according to claim 39 or 40, wherein the second surface of said ocular optical system is a reflecting surface arranged to give a positive power to a light beam by reflection.

47. An optical apparatus according to claim 39 or 40, wherein the first, second and third surfaces of said ocular optical system are each formed from a rotationally asymmetric curved surface that corrects aberration due to decentration.

48. In an optical apparatus comprising an image-forming member that forms an image to be observed, and an ocular optical system provided to lead said image to an eyeball of an observer,

the improvement wherein said ocular optical system includes, in order from an image side thereof, a third surface that forms an entrance surface, a first surface that forms both a reflecting surface and an exit surface, and a second surface that forms a reflecting surface, said first, second, and third surfaces being integrally formed to face each other across a medium,

at least one of said first, second, and third surfaces is formed from a rotationally asymmetric curved surface that corrects aberration produced by a decentered surface, and

an optical member is placed between said ocular optical system and the eyeball of said observer, said optical member transmitting light exiting from said ocular optical system.

49. An optical apparatus according to claim 48, further comprising:

a fitting member fitted to a head of said observer to retain said image-forming member, said ocular optical system and said optical member in front of said observer.

50. An optical apparatus according to claim 48 or 49,

wherein said optical member includes an entrance surface and an exit surface, which face each other across a medium, said entrance surface being placed on a side of said optical member closer to said ocular optical system, said exit surface being placed on a side of said optical member closer to the eyeball of said observer.

51. An optical apparatus according to claim 48 or 49,

wherein reflection at the first surface of said ocular optical system is total reflection.

52. An optical apparatus according to claim 48 or 49,

wherein the second surface of said ocular optical system is a reflecting surface arranged to give a positive power to a light beam by reflection.

53. An optical apparatus according to claim 48 or 49,

wherein the first, second, and third surfaces of said ocular optical system are each formed from a rotationally asymmetric curved surface that corrects aberration due to decentration.