Compact head mounted display devices with tilted/decentered lens element

• US 7,542,209 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2005
• Issued: 06/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synopsys Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Optical Research Associates (Synopsys Incorporated)
• Inventors: McGuire, James P. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz; Jordan M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JONES, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US11/218,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20060119951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 359/630, 359/631
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/22 Telecentric objectives or lens systems
• 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 27/0081 with means for altering, e.g. enlarging, the entrance or exit pupil
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1026 for use with reflective spatial light modulators
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1033 having a single light modulator for all colour channels
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/14 operating by reflection only
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/143 using macroscopically faceted or segmented reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/144 using partially transparent surfaces without spectral selectivity G02B27/147 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/145 having sequential partially reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/283 used for beam splitting or combining
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/30 Polarising elements light-modulating devices with active elements G02F1/00

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention comprises a simplified light-weight head mounted displays comprising an off-axis combiner and imaging optics defining an optical path. The imaging optics comprises a lens group comprising a plurality of lenses in the optical path. The lens group has a first optical axis. Each of said plurality of lenses have optical axes collinear with the first optical axis. The imaging optics further comprises a single lens element in the optical path having a second optical axis that is different from the first optical axis. The single lens element has positive optical power and is the only lens element in the optical path between the lens group and the combiner that has an optical axis collinear with the second optical axis.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an image formation device comprising a plurality of pixels selectively adjustable for producing spatial patterns;

imaging optics defining an optical path, said imaging optics comprising;

a lens group comprising a plurality of lens elements in said optical path, said lens group having a first optical axis, each of said plurality of lens elements having optical axes collinear with said first optical axis; and

a single lens element in said optical path having a second optical axis that is different from the first optical axis;

an off-axis combiner in said optical path; and

a support structure configured to be worn on the head of a wearer and to dispose the combiner in front of the eye of the wearer,

wherein said single lens element has positive optical power and is the only lens element in said optical path between said lens group and said combiner that has an optical axis collinear with the second optical axis; and

wherein the apparatus does not include a mirror between the image formation device and the imaging optics.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first optical axis is decentered with respect to the second optical axis.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first optical axis is tilted with respect to the second optical axis.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first optical axis is tilted and decentered with respect to the second optical axis.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said combiner has a third optical axis that is the same as said first optical axis.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said combiner has a third optical axis that is the same as said second optical axis.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said combiner has a third optical axis that is different from said first and second optical axes.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein imaging optics further comprises at least one reflective optical element in said optical path.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said reflective optical element comprises a fold mirror.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said lens elements in said lens group comprises a diffractive lens element, said diffractive lens element being a transmissive optical element that has optical power.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said diffractive lens element has an optical axis coincident with said first optical axis.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein none of said lens elements in said lens group comprises a diffractive lens element, said diffractive lens element being a transmissive optical element that has optical power.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein none of said lens elements in said optical path comprises a diffractive lens element.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein none of said lens elements in said optical path comprises a diffractive lens element having substantially planar front and rear surfaces.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said lens elements in said lens group has an aspheric surface defining an optical axis for said at least one lens.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said optical axis defined by said aspheric surface is collinear with said first optical axis.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said at least one of said lens elements in said lens group has front and rear surfaces having aspheric shapes that define axes and said axes are collinear with said first optical axis.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said optical axis defined by said aspheric surface is not collinear with said first optical axis.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said at least one of said lens elements in said lens group has front and rear surfaces having aspheric shapes that define axes, one of which is collinear with said first optical axis and one of which is not collinear with said first axis.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lens elements in said lens group comprises a plurality of aspheric lens elements each having an aspheric surface defining an optical axis that is collinear with said first optical axis.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said single lens element has at least one aspheric surface, said aspheric axis defining an optical axis.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said optical axis defined by said aspheric surface is not collinear with said first optical axis.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said optical axis defined by said aspheric surface is collinear with said first optical axis.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said single lens element has front and rear surfaces that have shapes that define different optical axes.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said single lens element has front and rear surface having shapes that define axes and said axes are coincident.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said lens elements in said lens group has front and rear surfaces that have shapes that defines different optical axes.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said lens elements in said lens group has front and rear surface having shapes that define axes and said axes are coincident.

55. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said imaging optics and said combiner are configured to form said image at an eye of the wearer.

26. A head mounted display device for displaying images comprising:

an image formation device comprising a plurality of pixels selectively adjustable for producing spatial patterns;

imaging optics disposed with respect to the image formation device to receive light from said plurality of pixels for forming an image thereof, said image formation device and said imaging optics defining an optical path, said imaging optics comprising;

a lens group comprising a plurality of lens elements in said optical path, said lens group having a first optical axis, each of said plurality of lens elements having optical axes collinear with said first optical axis; and

a single lens element in said optical path having a second optical axis that is different from the first optical axis, said single lens element having positive optical power;

an off-axis combiner in said optical path, said combiner configured to reflect light from said imaging optics such that said image may be displayed; and

head gear that supports said image formation device, imaging optics, and combiner,

wherein said single lens element in said imaging optics is the only lens element in said optical path between said image formation device and said combiner that has an optical axis collinear with the second optical axis, and

wherein the device does not include a mirror in the optical path between the image formation device and the imaging optics.

29. The device of claim 26, wherein said first optical axis is decentered with respect to the second optical axis.

30. The device of claim 26, wherein said first optical axis is tilted with respect to the second optical axis.

31. The device of claim 26, wherein said first optical axis is tilted and decentered with respect to the second optical axis.

32. The device of claim 26, wherein said combiner has a third optical axis that is the same as said first optical axis.

33. The device of claim 26, wherein said combiner has a third optical axis that is the same as said second optical axis.

34. The device of claim 26, wherein said combiner has a third optical axis that is different from said first and second optical axes.

35. The device of claim 26, wherein said imaging optics further comprises at least one reflective optical element in said optical path.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein said reflective optical element comprises a fold mirror.

37. The device of claim 26, wherein at least one of said lens elements in said lens group comprises a diffractive lens element, said diffractive lens element being a transmissive optical element that has optical power.

38. The device of claim 37, wherein said diffractive lens element has an optical axis coincident with said first optical axis.

39. The device of claim 26, wherein none of said lens elements in said lens group comprises a diffractive lens element, said diffractive lens element being a transmissive optical element that has optical power.

40. The device of claim 39, wherein none of said lens elements in said optical path comprises a diffractive lens element.

41. The device of claim 39, wherein none of said lens elements in said optical path comprises a diffractive lens element having substantially planar front and rear surfaces.

42. The device of claim 26, wherein at least one of said lens elements in said lens group has an aspheric surface defining an optical axis for said at least one lens.

43. The device of claim 42, wherein said optical axis defined by said aspheric surface is collinear with said first optical axis.

44. The device of claim 43, wherein said at least one of said lens elements in said lens group has front and rear surfaces having aspheric shapes that define axes and said axes are collinear with said first optical axis.

45. The device of claim 42, wherein said optical axis defined by said aspheric surface is not collinear with said first optical axis.

46. The device of claim 45, wherein said at least one of said lens elements in said lens group has front and rear surfaces having aspheric shapes that define axes, one of which is collinear with said first optical axis and one of which is not collinear with said first axis.

47. The device of claim 26, wherein said lens elements in said lens group comprises a plurality of aspheric lens elements each having an aspheric surface defining an optical axis that is collinear with said first optical axis.

48. The device of claim 26, wherein said single lens element has at least one aspheric surface, said aspheric axis defining an optical axis.

49. The device of claim 48, wherein said optical axis defined by said aspheric surface is not collinear with said first optical axis.

50. The device of claim 48, wherein said optical axis defined by said aspheric surface is collinear with said first optical axis.

51. The device of claim 26, wherein said single lens element has front and rear surfaces that have shapes that defines different optical axes.

52. The device of claim 26, wherein said single lens element has front and rear surface having shapes that define axes and said axes are coincident.

53. An optical system for displaying an image comprising:

an image formation device comprising a plurality of pixels selectively adjustable for producing spatial patterns;

imaging optics disposed with respect to the image formation device to receive light from said plurality of pixels for forming an image thereof, said image formation device and said imaging optics defining an optical path, said imaging optics comprising;

a lens group comprising a plurality of lens elements in said optical path, said lens group having a first optical axis, each of said plurality of lens elements having optical axes collinear with said first optical axis; and

a single lens element in said optical path having a second optical axis that is different from the first optical axis, said single lens element having positive optical power;

an off-axis combiner in said optical path, said combiner configured to reflect light from said imaging optics such that said image may be displayed; and

a support structure configured to be worn on the head of a wearer and attached to said combiner and imaging optics such that said combiner and imaging optics form an image at the eye of a wearer of said support structure,

wherein said single lens element in said imaging optics is the only lens element in said optical path between said image formation device and said combiner that has an optical axis collinear with the second optical axis, and

wherein the optical system does not include a mirror in the optical path between the image formation device and the imaging optics.

57. The optical system of claim 53, wherein said first optical axis is decentered with respect to the second optical axis.

58. The optical system of claim 53, wherein said first optical axis is tilted with respect to the second optical axis.

59. The optical system of claim 53, wherein said first optical axis is tilted and decentered with respect to the second optical axis.

60. The optical system of claim 53, wherein said combiner has a third optical axis that is the same as said first optical axis.

61. The optical system of claim 53, wherein said combiner has a third optical axis that is the same as said second optical axis.

62. The optical system of claim 53, wherein said combiner has a third optical axis that is different from said first and second optical axes.

63. The optical system of claim 53, wherein imaging optics further comprises at least one reflective optical element in said optical path.

64. The optical system of claim 63, wherein said reflective optical element comprises a fold mirror.

65. The optical system of claim 53, wherein at least one of said lens elements in said lens group comprises a diffractive lens element, said diffractive lens element being a transmissive optical element that has optical power.

66. The optical system of claim 65, wherein said diffractive lens element has an optical axis coincident with said first optical axis.

67. The optical system of claim 53, wherein none of said lens elements in said lens group comprises a diffractive lens element, said diffractive lens element being a transmissive optical element that has optical power.

68. The optical system of claim 67, wherein none of said lens elements in said optical path comprises a diffractive lens element.

69. The optical system of claim 67, wherein none of said lens elements in said optical path comprises a diffractive lens element having substantially planar front and rear surfaces.

70. The optical system of claim 53, wherein at least one of said lens elements in said lens group has an aspheric surface defining an optical axis for said at least one lens.

71. The optical system of claim 70, wherein said optical axis defined by said aspheric surface is collinear with said first optical axis.

72. The optical system of claim 71, wherein said at least one of said lens elements in said lens group has front and rear surfaces having aspheric shapes that define axes and said axes are collinear with said first optical axis.

73. The optical system of claim 70, wherein said optical axis defined by said aspheric surface is not collinear with said first optical axis.

74. The optical system of claim 71, wherein said at least one of said lens elements in said lens group has front and rear surfaces having aspheric shapes that define axes, one of which is collinear with said first optical axis and one of which is not collinear with said first axis.

75. The optical system of claim 53, wherein said lens elements in said lens group comprises a plurality of aspheric lens elements each having an aspheric surface defining an optical axis that is collinear with said first optical axis.

76. The optical system of claim 53, wherein said single lens element has at least one aspheric surface, said aspheric axis defining an optical axis.

77. The optical system of claim 76, wherein said optical axis defined by said aspheric surface is not collinear with said first optical axis.

78. The optical system of claim 76, wherein said optical axis defined by said aspheric surface is collinear with said first optical axis.

79. The optical system of claim 53, wherein said single lens element has front and rear surfaces that have shapes that defines different optical axes.

80. The optical system of claim 53, wherein said single lens element has front and rear surface having shapes that define axes and said axes are coincident.

81. The optical system of claim 53, wherein at least one of said lens elements in said lens group has front and rear surfaces that have shapes that defines different optical axes.

82. The optical system of claim 53, wherein at least one of said lens elements in said lens group has front and rear surface having shapes that define axes and said axes are coincident.

54. Apparatus for a displaying images, said apparatus comprising:

an image formation device comprising a plurality of pixels selectively adjustable for producing spatial patterns;

imaging optics defining an optical path, said imaging optics comprising;

a lens group comprising a plurality of lens elements in said optical path, said lens group having a first optical axis, each of said plurality of lens elements having optical axes collinear with said first optical axis; and

a single lens element in said optical path having a second optical axis that is different from the first optical axis;

an off-axis combiner in said optical path; and

support structure configured to be worn on the head of a wearer and attached to said formation device, imaging optics, and said combiner,

wherein said single lens element has positive optical power and is the only lens element in said optical path between said lens group and said combiner that has an optical axis collinear with the second optical axis; and

wherein the apparatus does not included a mirror between the Image formation device and the imaging optics.

56. The optical system of claim 54, wherein said imagining optics and said combiner are configured to form an image in an eye of said wearer.

83. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein said first optical axis is decentered with respect to the second optical axis.

84. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein said first optical axis is tilted with respect to the second optical axis.

85. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein said first optical axis is tilted and decentered with respect to the second optical axis.

86. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein said combiner has a third optical axis that is the same as said first optical axis.

87. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein said combiner has a third optical axis that is the same as said second optical axis.

88. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein said combiner has a third optical axis that is different from said first and second optical axes.

89. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein imaging optics further comprises at least one reflective optical element in said optical path.

90. The apparatus of claim 89, wherein said reflective optical element comprises a fold mirror.

91. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein at least one of said lens elements in said lens group comprises a diffractive lens element, said diffractive lens element being a transmissive optical element that has optical power.

92. The apparatus of claim 91, wherein said diffractive lens element has an optical axis coincident with said first optical axis.

93. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein none of said lens elements in said lens group comprises a diffractive lens element, said diffractive lens element being a transmissive optical element that has optical power.

94. The apparatus of claim 93, wherein none of said lens elements in said optical path comprises a diffractive lens element.

95. The apparatus of claim 93, wherein none of said lens elements in said optical path comprises a diffractive lens element having substantially planar front and rear surfaces.

96. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein at least one of said lens elements in said lens group has an aspheric surface defining an optical axis for said at least one lens.

97. The apparatus of claim 96, wherein said optical axis defined by said aspheric surface is collinear with said first optical axis.

98. The apparatus of claim 97, wherein said at least one of said lens elements in said lens group has front and rear surfaces having aspheric shapes that define axes and said axes are collinear with said first optical axis.

99. The apparatus of claim 94, wherein said optical axis defined by said aspheric surface is not collinear with said first optical axis.

100. The apparatus of claim 97, wherein said at least one of said lens elements in said lens group has front and rear surfaces having aspheric shapes that define axes, one of which is collinear with said first optical axis and one of which is not collinear with said first axis.

101. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein said lens elements in said lens group comprises a plurality of aspheric lens elements each having an aspheric surface defining an optical axis that is collinear with said first optical axis.

102. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein said single lens element has at least one aspheric surface, said aspheric axis defining an optical axis.

103. The apparatus of claim 102, wherein said optical axis defined by said aspheric surface is not collinear with said first optical axis.

104. The apparatus of claim 102, wherein said optical axis defined by said aspheric surface is collinear with said first optical axis.

105. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein said single lens element has front and rear surfaces that have shapes that define different optical axes.

106. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein said single lens element has front and rear surface having shapes that define axes and said axes are coincident.

107. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein at least one of said lens elements in said lens group has front and rear surfaces that have shapes that define different optical axes.

108. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein at least one of said lens elements in said lens group has front and rear surface having shapes that define axes and said axes are coincident.