Optical device, and virtual image display

• US 9,541,762 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2016
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Mukawa, Hiroshi, Akutsu, Katsuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Lepisto, Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, Guy
• Application Number:
  US15/052,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20160170215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• Field of Search: 385/15, 385/31, 385/33, 359 13- 16, 359 31- 34
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/18 with lenses having one or more non-spherical faces, e.g. for reducing geometrical aberration G02B13/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/004 Systems comprising a plurality of reflections between two or more surfaces, e.g. cells, resonators multipass arrangements for optical cuvettes G01N21/031; laser resonators H01S3/05
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/006 Systems in which light light is reflected on a plurality of parallel surfaces, e.g. louvre mirrors, total internal reflection [TIR] lenses Fresnel mirrors G02B5/09, Fresnel lenses G02B3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0856 comprising a refractive element with a reflective surface, the reflection taking place inside the element, e.g. Mangin mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0116 comprising devices for correcting chromatic aberration
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0125 Field-of-view increase by wavefront division
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0174 holographic
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0081 with means for altering, e.g. enlarging, the entrance or exit pupil
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0103 comprising holographic elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/144 using partially transparent surfaces without spectral selectivity G02B27/147 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/4272 having plural diffractive elements positioned sequentially along the optical path
• 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 5/1842 Gratings for image generation G02B5/1847 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/00 Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0026 Wavelength selective element, sheet or layer, e.g. filter or grating
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0033 Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/005 : provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed on the light output side of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2848 : having refractive means, e.g. imaging elements between light guides as splitting, branching and/or combining devices, e.g. lenses, holograms
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/43 : Arrangements comprising a plurality of opto-electronic elements and associated optical interconnections

Abstract

An image display device with an image display element; an optical system; an optical waveguide having a light incident port at a first portion of the optical waveguide and a light outgoing port at a second portion of the optical waveguide, the optical waveguide configured to (a) receive light from the image display element via the optical system and (b) output the light via the light outgoing port; a light shielding element; a first element that deflects light received through the first portion of the optical waveguide; and a second element that deflects light conveyed in the optical waveguide to output the light through the second portion of the optical waveguide, wherein, the first portion and the second portion are at different positions along the optical waveguide, and the first element is between the light incident port of the optical waveguide and the light shielding element.

Claims

1. An image display device comprising:

an image display element;

an optical system;

an optical waveguide having a light incident port at a first portion of the optical waveguide and a light outgoing port at a second portion of the optical waveguide, the optical waveguide configured to (a) receive light from the image display element via the optical system and (b) output the light via the light outgoing port;

a light shielding element;

a first element that reflects light received through the first portion of the optical waveguide; and

a second element that reflects light conveyed in the optical waveguide to output the light through the second portion of the optical waveguide,

wherein,

the first portion and the second portion are at different positions along the optical waveguide,

the light incident port of the optical waveguide is between the first element and the optical system, and

the first element is between the light incident port of the optical waveguide and the light shielding element.

2. The image display device of claim 1, wherein the image display device is a head mounted display.

3. The image display device of claim 1, wherein the display element is a reflection-type spatial optical modulator.

4. The image display device of claim 1, wherein the display element is a transmission-type spatial optical modulator.

5. The image display device of claim 4, wherein the transmission type spatial optical modulator is a liquid crystal display.

6. The image display device of claim 1, wherein the display element is located on an optical path between a light source and the optical element.

7. The image display device of claim 6, wherein the light source includes a laser.

8. The image display device of claim 6, wherein the light is conducted via an optical fiber from the light source to the display element.

9. The image display device of claim 1, wherein the display element is a self-luminescent display panel.

10. The image display device of claim 9, wherein the display element is an organic electroluminescent display.

11. The image display device of claim 9, wherein the display element is an inorganic electroluminescent display.

12. The image display device of claim 1, wherein the optical system includes an aspheric optical lens.

13. The image display device of claim 1, wherein the optical system is configured to collimate a light from the display element.

14. The image display device of claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide has oppositely facing and parallel first and second surfaces.

15. The image display device of claim 1, wherein a part of the optical waveguide has a curved surface.

16. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the first element is a holographic optical element.

17. The image display device of claim 16, wherein the first element is a reflection volume hologram.

18. The image display device of claim 1, wherein the first element is a reflecting mirror.

19. The image display device of claim 1, wherein the second element is a holographic optical element.

20. The image display device of claim 19, wherein the first element is a reflection volume hologram.

21. The image display device of claim 1, wherein the second element has at least one translucent mirror.

22. The image display device of claim 1, wherein the second element has a group of translucent mirrors.

25. The image display device of claim 1, wherein the light shield is configured to prevent leakage of the light from the first element.

26. The image display device of claim 1, wherein an area of the second element is larger than an area of the first element.

23. An image display device comprising:

an image display element;

an optical system;

an optical waveguide having a light incident port at a first portion of the optical waveguide and a light outgoing port at a second portion of the optical waveguide, the optical waveguide configured to (a) receive light from the image display element via the optical system and (b) output the light via the light outgoing port;

a light shielding element;

a first element that deflects light received through the first portion of the optical waveguide; and

a second element that deflects light conveyed in the optical waveguide to output the light through the second portion of the optical waveguide,

wherein,

the first portion and the second portion are at different positions along the optical waveguide,

the first element is between the light incident port of the optical waveguide and the light shielding element, and

the display element generates pencil light groups and the optical system renders the pencil light group parallel.

24. An image display device comprising:

an image display element;

an optical system;

an optical waveguide having a light incident port at a first portion of the optical waveguide and a light outgoing port at a second portion of the optical waveguide, the optical waveguide configured to (a) receive light from the image display element via the optical system and (b) output the light via the light outgoing port;

a light shielding element;

a first element that deflects light received through the first portion of the optical waveguide; and

a second element that deflects light conveyed in the optical waveguide to output the light through the second portion of the optical waveguide,

wherein,

the first portion and the second portion are at different positions along the optical waveguide,

the first element is between the light incident port of the optical waveguide and the light shielding element, and

no image of the image display element is intermediate-formed inside the optical waveguide.

27. An image display device comprising:

an image display element;

an optical system;

an optical waveguide having a light incident port at a first portion of the optical waveguide and a light outgoing port at a second portion of the optical waveguide, the optical waveguide configured to (a) receive light from the image display element via the optical system and (b) output the light via the light outgoing port;

a light shielding element;

a first element that deflects light received through the first portion of the optical waveguide; and

a second element that deflects light conveyed in the optical waveguide to output the light through the second portion of the optical waveguide,

wherein,

the first portion and the second portion are at different positions along the optical waveguide,

the first element is between the light incident port of the optical waveguide and the light shielding element,

the image display device is a head mounted display;

the display element is a liquid crystal display;

the first element is a reflecting mirror; and

the second element has at least one translucent mirror.