Light reflecting member, light beam extension device, image display device, and optical device

• US 9,759,920 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2015
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Akutsu, Katsuyuki, Akao, Hirotaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, James
• Application Number:
  US14/604,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20150138647A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 359630-633
• 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 17/02 Catoptric systems, e.g. image erecting and reversing system
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0125 Field-of-view increase by wavefront division
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0018 Redirecting means on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer

Abstract

An image display device includes an image generating device, a light guide unit which includes a light guide plate and first and second deflection sections, and a light beam extension device which extends light incident from the image generating device, along a Z direction when an incident direction of light incident on the light guide plate is set to be an X direction and a direction of propagation of light in the light guide plate is set to be a Y direction, and emits the light to the light guide unit, wherein the light beam extension device includes a first reflecting mirror on which light from the image generating device is incident, and a second reflecting mirror which emits light incident from the first reflecting mirror to the light guide unit, and each of the first and second reflecting mirrors has a light reflecting surface having a sawtooth-shaped cross-sectional shape.

Claims

1. An image display device comprising:

an image generating device;

a light guide unit arranged to guide light provided by the image generating device and to emit the guided light; and

a reflecting mirror, having a first area, a second area, and a central area, disposed in an optical path between the image generating device and the light guide unit, wherein;

at least a portion of a cross-section of the reflecting mirror has a substantially sawtooth shape;

the central area is adjacent to the first area on a first edge and adjacent to the second area on a second edge;

a first side of the substantially sawtooth shape has a first slope, and is disposed in the first area adjacent to the first edge;

a second side of the substantially sawtooth shape has a second slope different from the first slope, and is disposed in the first area adjacent to the first side at a recessed portion of the substantially sawtooth shape at a 90 degree angle;

a third side of the substantially sawtooth shape has a third slope, and is disposed in the second area adjacent to the second edge;

a fourth side of the substantially sawtooth shape has a fourth slope different from the third slope, and is disposed in the second area adjacent to the third side at a recessed portion of the substantially sawtooth shape at a 90 degree angle;

the first side has a first length and the second side has a second length, wherein the first length is greater than the second length; and

the third side has a third length and the fourth side has a fourth length, wherein the third length is greater than the fourth length.

2. The image display device of claim 1, wherein the light guide unit includes a light guide plate configured to propagate light incident thereon by total reflection inside the light guide plate, and configured to emit the propagated light.

3. The image display device of claim 2, wherein the light guide unit includes a first deflection section disposed at the light guide plate and configured to deflect light incident on the light guide plate such that the light incident on the light guide plate is totally reflected inside the light guide plate.

4. The image display device of claim 2, wherein the light guide unit includes a second deflection section disposed at the light guide plate and configured to deflect the light propagated by total reflection inside the light guide plate two or more times such that the light propagated by total reflection inside the light guide plate is emitted from the light guide plate.

5. The image display device of claim 1, comprising a light beam extension device configured to extend a light beam provided by the image generating device along a first direction and configured to provide the light beam to the light guide unit, wherein the light beam is incident on the light guide unit from a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, and wherein a direction of propagation of light inside the light guide unit is a third direction substantially orthogonal to the first and second directions.

6. The image display device of claim 5, wherein the light beam extension device includes the reflecting mirror, and wherein light provided by the image generating device is incident on the reflecting mirror.

7. The image display device of claim 6, wherein the first slope extends between a protruding portion of the light reflecting surface and a recessed portion of the light reflecting surface, and wherein the protruding and recessed portions of the light reflecting surface extend in the first direction and are parallel in the first direction.

8. The image display device of claim 6, wherein the substantially sawtooth shape has a plurality of the first sides alternately juxtaposed with a respective plurality of the second sides, and wherein the first sides have a same height.

9. The image display device of claim 6, wherein when an incidence angle of light on the reflecting mirror is set to be η

₁ (degrees), an angle of inclination of the first slope is set to be ζ

₁ (degrees), and a direction of an incidence angle of light toward a side of the first slope on a basis of a top of the first slope is set to be a positive direction, a relationship of 2ζ

₁−

η

₁=90±

10 is satisfied.

10. The image display device of claim of claim 6, wherein a value of a first pitch between an apex of a first substantially sawtooth shape and an apex of a second substantially sawtooth shape, the first and second substantially sawtooth shapes being adjacent to each other and at a center of the reflecting mirror, differs from a value of a second pitch between an apex of a third substantially sawtooth shape and an apex of a fourth substantially sawtooth shape, the third and fourth substantially sawtooth shapes being adjacent to each other and at an end portion of the reflecting mirror.

11. The image display device of claim 6, wherein the reflecting mirror is a first reflecting mirror, wherein the light beam extension device includes a second reflecting mirror, wherein the first reflecting mirror is arranged to provide light incident on the second reflecting mirror, and wherein the second reflecting mirror is arranged to provide light to the light guide unit.

12. The image display device of claim 11, further comprising at least one planar reflecting member disposed between the first reflecting mirror and the second reflecting mirror.

13. The image display device of claim 5, wherein the light beam extension device includes the reflecting mirror, and wherein the reflecting mirror is arranged to provide light to the light guide unit.

14. The image display device of claim 13, wherein the first slope extends between a protruding portion of the light reflecting surface and a recessed portion of the light reflecting surface, and wherein the protruding and recessed portions of the light reflecting surface extend in the third direction and are parallel in the third direction.

15. The image display device of claim 13, wherein the substantially sawtooth shape has a plurality of the first sides alternately juxtaposed with a respective plurality of the second sides, and wherein the first sides have a same height.

16. The image display device of claim 13, wherein when an incidence angle of light on the reflecting mirror is set to be η

₂ (degrees), an angle of inclination of the second slope is set to be ζ

₂ (degrees), and a direction of an incidence angle of light toward a side of the second slope on a basis of a top of the second slope is set to be a positive direction, a relationship of 2η

₂−

ζ

₂=90±

10 is satisfied.

17. The image display device of claim of claim 13, wherein a value of a first pitch between an apex of a first substantially sawtooth shape and an apex of a second substantially sawtooth shape, the first and second substantially sawtooth shapes being adjacent to each other and at a center of the reflecting mirror, differs from a value of a second pitch between an apex of a third substantially sawtooth shape and an apex of a fourth substantially sawtooth shape, the third and fourth substantially sawtooth shapes being adjacent to each other and at an end portion of the reflecting mirror.

18. The image display device of claim 1, further comprising at least one planar reflecting member disposed between the image generating device and the reflecting mirror.