Head-mounted display

• US 7,944,616 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2009
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Mukawa, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Mack; Ricky L
• Assistant Examiner(s): JONES, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US12/543,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20100046070A1
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 359/630, 359/633
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/10 Scanning systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/18 Diffraction gratings holographic optical elements G02B5/32, G03H; integrally combined with optical fibres G02B6/02057; for coupling light guides G02B6/34; integrally combined with optical integrated light guides G02B6/12; grating systems G02B27/44
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/30 Polarising elements light-modulating devices with active elements G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/00 Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings

Abstract

A head-mounted display includes a frame shaped like glasses to be worn on the head of an observer, two image display apparatuses respectively including image generating devices to be placed outside the eyes of the observer, and light guide devices attached to the image generating devices and provided closer to the center of the face of the observer than the image generating devices as a whole, light emitted from the image generating device entering the light guide devices, and being guided and emitted from the light guide devices toward the eyes of the observer, and a coupling member configured to couple the image generating devices and attached to a center portion of the frame between the eyes of the observer.

Claims

1. A head-mounted display comprising:

a frame shaped like glasses to be worn on the head of an observer;

two image display apparatuses respectively including image generating devices to be placed outside the eyes of the observer, and light guide means attached to the image generating devices and provided closer to the center of the face of the observer than the image generating devices as a whole, light emitted from the image generating devices entering the light guide means, and being guided and emitted from the light guide means toward the eyes of the observer; and

a coupling member configured to couple the image generating devices and attached to a center portion of the frame between the eyes of the observer,

wherein the following conditions are satisfied;

0.01×

L≦

α

≦

0.30×

L

0.35×

L≦

β

≦

0.65×

L, and

0.70×

L≦

γ

≦

0.99×

L

where α

represents the distance from a mount center of one of the image generating device to one end of the frame, β

represents the distance from the center of the coupling member to the one end of the frame, γ

represents the distance from a mount center of the other image generating device to the one end of the frame, and L represents the length of the frame.

29. The head-mounted display according to claim 1, wherein the light guide means are formed by semi-transmissive mirrors which are provided closer to the center of the face of the observer than the image generating devices and on which the light emitted from the image generating devices is incident and from which the light is emitted toward the eyes of the observer.

31. The head-mounted display according to claim 1,

wherein the frame includes a front portion to be placed in front of the observer, and two temple portions pivotally attached to opposite ends of the front portion via hinges, and

wherein the coupling member is attached to a center portion of the front portion between the two eyes of the observer.

2. A head-mounted display comprising:

a frame shaped like glasses to be worn on the head of an observer;

two image display apparatuses respectively including image generating devices to be placed outside the eyes of the observer, and light guide means attached to the image generating devices and provided closer to the center of the face of the observer than the image generating devices as a whole, light emitted from the image generating devices entering the light guide means, and being guided and emitted from the light guide means toward the eyes of the observer; and

a coupling member configured to couple the light guide means and attached to a center portion of the frame between the eyes of the observer,

wherein the following conditions are satisfied;

0.01×

L≦

α

≦

0.30×

L

0.35×

L≦

β

≦

0.65×

L, and

0.70×

L≦

γ

≦

0.99×

L

where α

represents the distance from a mount center of one of the image generating device to one end of the frame, β

represents the distance from the center of the coupling member to the one end of the frame, γ

represents the distance from a mount center of the other image generating device to the one end of the frame, and L represents the length of the frame.

30. The head-mounted display according to claim 2, wherein the light guide means are formed by semi-transmissive mirrors which are provided closer to the center of the face of the observer than the image generating devices and on which the light emitted from the image generating devices is incident and from which the light is emitted toward the eyes of the observer.

32. The head-mounted display according to claim 2,

wherein the frame includes a front portion to be placed in front of the observer, and two temple portions pivotally attached to opposite ends of the front portion via hinges, and

wherein the coupling member is attached to a center portion of the front portion between the two eyes of the observer.

3. A head-mounted display comprising:

a frame shaped like glasses to be worn on the head of an observer;

two image display apparatuses respectively including image generating devices to be placed outside the eyes of the observer, and light guide means attached to the image generating devices and provided closer to the center of the face of the observer than the image generating devices as a whole, light emitted from the image generating devices entering the light guide means, and being guided and emitted from the light guide means toward the eyes of the observer; and

a coupling member configured to couple the image generating devices and attached to a center portion of the frame between the eyes of the observer,

wherein each of the light guide means includes;

a light guide plate which is provided closer to the center of the face of the observer than the image generating device as a whole, light emitted from the image generating device being incident on the light guide plate, and being guided and emitted from the light guide plate toward the eye of the observer;

first deflecting means configured to deflect the light incident on the light guide plate so that the incident light is totally reflected in the light guide plate; and

second deflecting means configured to deflect the light, which has propagates in the light guide plate by total reflection, a plurality of times so as to emit the propagating light.

5. The head-mounted display according to claim 3, wherein the first polarizing means reflects the light incident on the light guide plate, and the second polarizing means transmits and reflects the light, which propagates in the light guide plate by total reflection, a plurality of times.

7. The head-mounted display according to claim 5, wherein the first polarizing means functions as a reflecting mirror, and the second polarizing means functions as a semi-transmissive mirror.

9. The head-mounted display according to claim 3, wherein the first polarizing means diffracts the light incident on the light guide plate, and the second polarizing means diffracts the light, which propagates in the light guide plate by total reflection, a plurality of times.

11. The head-mounted display according to claim 9, wherein the first polarizing means and the second polarizing means are formed by diffraction grating elements.

13. The head-mounted display according to claim 11, wherein each of the diffraction grating elements is a reflective diffraction grating element.

15. The head-mounted display according to claim 11, wherein each of the diffraction grating elements is a transmissive diffraction grating element.

17. The head-mounted display according to claim 11, wherein one of the diffraction grating elements is a reflective diffraction grating element, and the other diffraction grating element is a transmissive diffraction grating element.

19. The head-mounted display according to claim 3, wherein the light guide means are formed by semi-transmissive mirrors which are provided closer to the center of the face of the observer than the image generating devices and on which the light emitted from the image generating devices is incident and from which the light is emitted toward the eyes of the observer.

25. The head-mounted display according to Claim 3,

wherein the frame includes a front portion to be placed in front of the observer, and two temple portions pivotally attached to opposite ends of the front portion via hinges, and

wherein the coupling member is attached, to a center portion of the front portion between the two eyes of the observer.

4. A head-mounted display comprising:

a frame shaped like glasses to be worn on the head of an observer;

two image display apparatuses respectively including image generating devices to be placed outside the eyes of the observer, and light guide means attached to the image generating devices and provided closer to the center of the face of the observer than the image generating devices as a whole, light emitted from the image generating devices entering the light guide means, and being guided and emitted from the light guide means toward the eyes of the observer; and

a coupling member configured to couple the light guide means and attached to a center portion of the frame between the eyes of the observer,

wherein each of the light guide means includes;

a light guide plate which is provided closer to the center of the face of the observer than the image generating device as a whole, light emitted from the image generating device being incident on the light guide plate, and being guided and emitted from the light guide plate toward the eye of the observer;

first deflecting means configured to deflect the light incident on the light guide plate so that the incident light is totally reflected in the light guide plate; and

second deflecting means configured to deflect the light, which has propagates in the light guide plate by total reflection, a plurality of times so as to emit the propagating light.

6. The head-mounted display according to claim 4, wherein the first polarizing means reflects the light incident on the light guide plate, and the second polarizing means transmits and reflects the light, which propagates in the light guide plate by total reflection, a plurality of times.

8. The head-mounted display according to claim 6, wherein the first polarizing means functions as a reflecting mirror, and the second polarizing means functions as a semi-transmissive mirror.

10. The head-mounted display according to claim 4, wherein the first polarizing means diffracts the light incident on the light guide plate, and the second polarizing means diffracts the light, which propagates in the light guide plate by total reflection, a plurality of times.

12. The head-mounted display according to claim 10, wherein the first polarizing means and the second polarizing means are formed by diffraction grating elements.

14. The head-mounted display according to claim 12, wherein each of the diffraction grating elements is a reflective diffraction grating element.

16. The head-mounted display according to claim 12, wherein each of the diffraction grating elements is a transmissive diffraction grating element.

18. The head-mounted display according to claim 12, wherein one of the diffraction grating elements is a reflective diffraction grating element, and the other diffraction grating element is a transmissive diffraction grating element.

20. The head-mounted display according to Claim 4, wherein the light guide means are formed by semi-transmissive mirrors which are provided closer to the center of the face of the observer than the image generating devices and on which the light emitted from the image generating devices is incident and from which the light is emitted toward the eyes of the observer.

26. The head-mounted display according to Claim 4,

wherein the frame includes a front portion to be placed in front of the observer, and two temple portions pivotally attached to opposite ends of the front portion via hinges, and

wherein the coupling member is attached to a center portion of the front portion between the two eyes of the observer.

21. A head-mounted display comprising:

a frame shaped like glasses to be worn on the head of an observer;

two image display apparatuses respectively including image generating devices to be placed outside the eyes of the observer, and light guide means attached to the image generating devices and provided closer to the center of the face of the observer than the image generating devices as a whole, light emitted from the image generating devices entering the light guide means, and being guided and emitted from the light guide means toward the eyes of the observer; and

a coupling member configured to couple the image generating devices and attached to a center portion of the frame between the eyes of the observer,

wherein each of the image generating devices includes;

an image forming device having a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix; and

a collimating optical system configured to emit, as parallel light, light emitted from the pixels in the image forming device.

22. A head-mounted display comprising:

a frame shaped like glasses to be worn on the head of an observer;

two image display apparatuses respectively including image generating devices to be placed outside the eyes of the observer, and light guide means attached to the image generating devices and provided closer to the center of the face of the observer than the image generating devices as a whole, light emitted from the image generating devices entering the light guide means, and being guided and emitted from the light guide means toward the eyes of the observer; and

a coupling member configured to couple the light guide means and attached to a center portion of the frame between the eyes of the observer,

wherein each of the image generating devices includes;

an image forming device having a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix; and

a collimating optical system configured to emit, as parallel light, light emitted from the pixels in the image forming device.

23. A head-mounted display comprising:

a frame shaped like glasses to be worn on the head of an observer;

two image display apparatuses respectively including image generating devices to be placed outside the eyes of the observer, and light guide means attached to the image generating devices and provided closer to the center of the face of the observer than the image generating devices as a whole, light emitted from the image generating devices entering the light guide means, and being guided and emitted from the light guide means, toward the eyes of the observer; and

a coupling member configured to couple the image generating devices and attached to a center portion of the frame between the eyes of the observer,

wherein each of the image generating devices includes;

a light source;

a collimating optical system configured to convert light emitted from the light source into parallel light;

scanning means configured to scan the parallel light emitted from the collimating optical system; and

a relay optical system configured to relay and emit the parallel light scanned by the scanning means.

24. A head-mounted display comprising:

a frame shaped like glasses to be worn on the head of an observer;

two image display apparatuses respectively including image generating devices to be placed outside the eyes of the observer, and light guide means attached to the image generating devices and provided closer to the center of the face of the observer than the image generating devices as a whole, light emitted from the image generating devices entering the light guide means, and being guided and emitted from the light guide means toward the eyes of the observer; and

a coupling member configured to couple the light guide means and attached to a center portion of the frame between the eyes of the observer,

wherein each of the image generating devices includes;

a light source;

a collimating optical system configured to convert light emitted from the light source into parallel light;

scanning means configured to scan the parallel light emitted from the collimating optical system; and

a relay optical system configured to relay and emit the parallel light scanned by the scanning means.

27. A head-mounted display comprising:

a frame shaped like glasses to be worn on the head of an observer;

two image display apparatuses respectively including image generating devices to be placed outside the eyes of the observer, and light guide devices attached to the image generating devices and provided closer to the center of the face of the observer than the image generating devices as a whole, light emitted from the image generating device entering the light guide devices, and being guided and emitted from the light guide devices toward the eye of the observer; and

a coupling member configured to couple the image generating devices, and attached to a center portion of the frame between the eyes of the observer,

wherein the following conditions are satisfied;

0.01×

L≦

α

≦

0.30×

L

0.35×

L≦

β

≦

0.65×

L, and

0.70×

L≦

γ

≦

0.99×

L

where α

represents the distance from a mount center of one of the image generating device to one end of the frame, β

represents the distance from the center of the coupling member to the one end of the frame, γ

represents the distance from a mount center of the other image generating device to the one end of the frame, and L represents the length of the frame.

28. A head-mounted display comprising:

a frame shaped like glasses to be worn on the head of an observer;

two image display apparatuses respectively including image generating devices to be placed outside the eyes of the observer, and light guide devices attached to the image generating devices and provided closer to the center of the face of the observer than the image generating devices as a whole, light emitted from the image generating device entering the light guide devices, and being guided and emitted from the light guide devices toward the eye of the observer; and

a coupling member configured to couple the light guide devices, and attached to a center portion of the frame between the eyes of the observer,

wherein the following conditions are satisfied;

0.01×

L≦

α

≦

0.30×

L

0.35×

L≦

β

≦

0.65×

L, and

0.70×

L≦

γ

≦

0.99×

L

where α

represents the distance from a mount center of one of the image generating device to one end of the frame, β

represents the distance from the center of the coupling member to the one end of the frame, γ

represents the distance from a mount center of the other image generating device to the one end of the frame, and L represents the length of the frame.