Display apparatus

• US 6,259,565 B1
• Filed: 07/17/1998
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Yoshinori, Matsui, Takeshi, Hashimoto, Shunichi, Kawamura, Akira, Nakatsue, Takeshiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lester, Evelyn A.
• Application Number:
  US09/117,050
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 359/462, 359/464, 359/466, 359/471, 359/472, 359/476, 359/477, 359/630, 359/632, 359/631, 359/633, 345/7, 345/8, 345/32, 348/46, 348/121, 434/4, 248/917
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0125 Field-of-view increase by wavefront division
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0154 with movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0149 characterised by mechanical features G02B27/0176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/30 Polarising elements light-modulating devices with active elements G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/111 Transformation of image signals corresponding to virtual viewpoints, e.g. spatial image interpolation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/158 Switching image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/167 Synchronising or controlling image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/204 using stereoscopic image cameras stereoscopic photography G03B35/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/289 Switching between monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/322 using varifocal lenses or mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/324 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/337 using polarisation multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 with head-mounted left-right displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 : using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/366 : using viewer tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 : Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/597 : specially adapted for multi-view video sequence encoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7491 : of head mounted projectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 : Video display screen support

Abstract

A semi-spherical system holding mechanism 8 such as to cover the head portion of the user is provided in the upper portion of a user holding mechanism 9 such as chair, sofa, or the like. A display apparatus 7 is fixed in the system holding mechanism 8. In the display apparatus 7, a video image displayed on a display panel 14 is enlarged by a lens 13, so that a virtual image is formed. The virtual images which are observed by the right and left eyes of the user are arranged at the same position in a space.

Claims

1. A display apparatus having a video image providing apparatus for providing a video image to a user, said video image providing apparatus comprising:

display means for displaying the video image;

an enlargement optical system for forming a virtual image by enlarging the video image displayed on said display means and for arranging, at a position in a space, a right eye image presented to the right eye of the user and a left eye image presented to the left eye of the user, said enlargement optical system including a left eye optical system for the left eye and a right eye optical system for the right eye which have different optical axes, said enlargement system further including a concave surface mirror; and

fixing means for fixing said video image providing apparatus to a predetermined object other than the user,

wherein each of said left eye optical system and said right eye optical system includes at least one lens for enlarging the video image.

2. A display apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said video image providing apparatus provides a 2-dimensional virtual image.

3. A display apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said video image providing apparatus has left eye display means for the left eye and right eye display means for the right eye as said display means and

allows the left eye display means and the right eye display means to display a left eye video image for the left eye and a right eye video image for the right eye, thereby providing a stereoscopic virtual image.

4. A display apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said display means including a self light emitting device for displaying the video image by light emitting elements for emitting light on a pixel unit basis.

5. A display apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said display means including a transmitting light control device for displaying the video image by controlling transmission of light.

6. A display apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said display means including a reflecting light control device for displaying the video image by controlling reflection of light.

7. A display apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that entry of external light is allowed into said video image providing apparatus.

8. A display apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the left eye optical system and the right eye optical system have optical axes different than an enlargement optical axis.

9. A display apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that said video image providing apparatus further has incident means for individually inputting said video image which is displayed by said display means into said left eye optical system and said right eye optical system.

10. A display apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance between the lens adjacent the left eye and the lens adjacent the right eye is equal to about 2 to 8 mm.

11. A display apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said video image providing apparatus further has curving means for curving a surface on which the virtual image that is formed by said enlargement optical system is arranged.

12. A display apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said fixing means can move said video image providing apparatus to a predetermined position.

13. A display apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said video image providing apparatus provides a video image in which a horizontal angle of visibility is equal to or larger than 15°

.

14. A display apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said enlargement optical system projects the video image displayed on said display means onto a reflecting screen to form a projected virtual image.

15. A display apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said enlargement optical system projects the video image displayed on said display means onto a translucent screen to form a projected virtual image.

16. A display apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said enlargement optical system forms a virtual image of an aerial image of the video image displayed on said display means.

17. A display apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that

said apparatus further has user holding means for holding the user, and

said fixing means fixes said video image providing apparatus to said user holding means.

18. A display apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that said user holding means can change a user holding state.

19. A display apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that said user holding means vibrates in correspondence to an acoustic signal.

20. A display apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that said user holding means holds the user in a sitting state.

21. A display apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that said enlargement optical system is constructed in a manner such that at least in a range where a head portion of the user held in said user holding means is movable, the virtual image is observable in its entirety.

22. A display apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that said fixing means is constructed so as to cover a head portion of the user in a state where the user is held in said user holding means and said video image providing apparatus is fixed in said fixing means.

23. A display apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that said fixing means including a device in which a transmittance of light is variable.

24. A display apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that said user holding means holds the user so that an interval between a head portion of the user and said video image providing apparatus lies within 45 cm.

25. A display apparatus having a video image providing apparatus for providing a video image to a user, said video image providing apparatus comprising:

display means for displaying the video image, said display means including a backlight that emits light onto the rear of a transmitting light control device, said transmitting light control device, having pixels formed therein, displaying the video image on the front of the transmitting light control device by controlling the pixels;

an enlargement optical system for forming a virtual image by enlarging the video image displayed on said display means and for arranging at a position in a space, a right eye image presented to the right eye of the user and a left eye image presented to the left eye of the user, said enlargement optical system including a concave surface mirror, and fixing means for fixing said video image providing apparatus to a predetermined object other than the user.

26. A display apparatus having a video image providing apparatus for providing a video image to a user, said video image providing apparatus comprising:

display means for displaying the video image, said display means including a reflecting light control device for displaying the video image, said reflecting light control device having elements corresponding to pixels, reflection of light from each of said elements being controlled in correspondence to a video signal;

an enlargement optical system for forming a virtual image by enlarging the video image displayed on said display means and for arranging at a position in a space, a right eye image presented to the right eye of the user and a left eye image presented to the left eye of the user and fixing means for fixing said video image providing apparatus to a predetermined object other than the user.

27. A display apparatus having a video image providing apparatus for providing a video image to a user, said video image providing apparatus comprising:

display means for displaying the video image;

an enlargement optical system for forming a virtual image by enlarging the video image displayed on said display means and for arranging at a position in a space, a right eye image presented to the right eye of the user and a left eye image presented to the left eye of the user, and fixing means for fixing said video image providing apparatus to a predetermined object other than the user,

wherein said video image providing apparatus includes a shutter apparatus allowing entry of external light into said video image providing apparatus.

28. A display apparatus having a video image providing apparatus for providing a video image to a user, said video image providing apparatus comprising:

display means for displaying the video image;

an enlargement optical system for forming a virtual image by enlarging the video image displayed on said display means and for arranging at a position in a space, a right eye image presented to the right eye of the user and a left eye image presented to the left eye of the user, said enlargement optical system being an optical system of one optical axis and including a concave surface mirror, and fixing means for fixing said video image providing apparatus to a predetermined object other than the user.

29. A display apparatus having a video image providing apparatus for providing a video image to a user, said video image providing apparatus comprising:

a display means for displaying the video image;

an enlargement optical system for forming a virtual image by enlarging the video image displayed on said display means and for arranging said virtual image at a position in a space, said enlargement optical system including an optical system for the left eye and an optical system for the right eye and further including a concave surface mirror;

incident means for individually inputting said video image which is displayed by said display means into said optical system for the left eye and said optical system for the right eye, and fixing means for fixing said video image providing apparatus to a predetermined object other than the user.

30. A display apparatus having a video image providing apparatus for providing a video image to a user, said video image providing apparatus comprising:

display means for displaying the video image;

an enlargement optical system for forming a virtual image by enlarging the video image displayed on said display means and for arranging at a position in a space, a right eye image presented to the right eye of the user and a left eye image presented to the left eye of the user, said enlargement optical system including a left eye optical system for the left eye and a right eye optical system for the right eye, and fixing means for fixing said video image providing apparatus to a predetermined object other than the user, and

wherein the distance between the lens adjacent the left eye and the lens adjacent the right eye is equal to about 2 to 8 mm.

31. A display apparatus having a video image providing apparatus for providing a video image to a user, said video image providing apparatus comprising:

display means for displaying the video image;

an enlargement optical system for forming a virtual image by enlarging the video image displayed on said display means and for arranging at a position in a space, a right eye image presented to the right eye of the user and a left eye image presented to the left eye of the user;

curving means for curving a surface on which the virtual image that is formed by said enlargement optical system is arranged, and fixing means for fixing said video image providing apparatus to a predetermined object other than the user.

32. A display apparatus having a video image providing apparatus for providing a video image to a user, said video image providing apparatus comprising:

display means for displaying the video image;

an enlargement optical system for forming a virtual image by enlarging the video image displayed on said display means and for arranging said virtual images which are observed by the right and left eyes of the user at a same position in a space;

user holding means for holding the user wherein said user holding means vibrates in correspondence to an acoustic signal; and

fixing means for fixing said video image providing apparatus to said user holding means.

33. A display apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said user holding means can change a user holding state.

34. A display apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said user holding means holds the user in a sitting state.

35. A display apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said enlargement optical system is constructed in a manner such that at least in a range where a head portion of the user held in said user holding means is movable, the whole virtual image can be observed.

36. A display apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said user holding means holds the user so that an interval between a head portion of the user and said video image providing apparatus lies within 45 cm.

37. A display apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said fixing means is constructed so as to cover a head portion of the user in a state where the user is held in said user holding means and said video image providing apparatus is fixed in said fixing means.

38. A display apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said fixing means including a device in which a transmittance of light is variable.

39. A display apparatus having a video image providing apparatus for providing a video image to a user, said video image providing apparatus comprising:

display means for displaying the video image;

an enlargement optical system for forming a virtual image by enlarging the video image displayed on said display means and for arranging at a position in a space, a right eye image presented to the right eye of the user and a left eye image presented to the left eye of the user; and

means for (1) fixing said video image providing apparatus to a user holding means, wherein said user holding means vibrates in correspondence to an acoustic signal and (2) moving said video image providing apparatus to a predetermined position.

40. A display apparatus having a video image providing apparatus for providing a video image to a user, said video image providing apparatus comprising:

display means for displaying the video image;

an enlargement optical system for forming a virtual image by enlarging the video image displayed on said display means and for arranging at a position in a space, a right eye image presented to the right eye of the user and a left eye image presented to the left eye of the user; and

fixing means for fixing said video image providing apparatus to a user holding means,

wherein said video image providing apparatus provides a video image in which a horizontal angle of visibility is equal to or larger than 15°

.

41. A display apparatus having a video image providing apparatus for providing a video image to a user, said video image providing apparatus comprising:

display means for displaying the video image;

an enlargement optical system for forming a virtual image by enlarging the video image displayed on said display means and for arranging at a position in a space, a right eye image presented to the right eye of the user and a left eye image presented to the left eye of the user; and

fixing means for fixing said video image providing apparatus to a user holding means,

wherein a backlight that emits light onto the rear of a translucent light control unit, said translucent light control unit, having pixels formed therein, displaying the video image on the front of the translucent light control device by controlling the pixels.

42. A display apparatus having a video image providing apparatus for providing a video image to a user, said video image providing apparatus comprising:

display means for displaying the video image;

an enlargement optical system for forming a virtual image by enlarging the video image displayed on said display means and for arranging at a position in a space, a right eye image presented to the right eye of the user and a left eye image presented to the left eye of the user; and

fixing means for fixing said video image providing apparatus to a user holding means,

wherein said enlargement optical system forms a virtual image of an aerial image of the video image displayed on said display means.