Head-mounted image video display

• US 6,680,802 B1
• Filed: 01/28/2002
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Ichikawa, Hirotoshi, Ueno, Fuminori, Hanayama, Ryotaro
• Primary Examiner(s): Mack, Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas, Brandi N
• Application Number:
  US10/048,015
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 359/630, 359/632, 359/505, 359/629
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features

Abstract

A one-eye viewing type head-mounted image display device (1) that is compact and comfortably wearable consists mainly of a viewer (2) and an elastic member (38). The viewer includes an LCD (13), a main prism (32), a see-through prism (33), a frame (10), and a microphone (18). The main prism conducts an image, which is displayed on the LCD, to make the image viewable with either the user'"'"'s right eye or left eye. The see-through prism is bonded to the main prism, transmits extraneously light, and conducts the light to a users eye. The frame bears the LCD at a predetermined position relative to the prisms. The microphone is mounted in the frame. The elastic member includes a nose rest (38a) which supports the viewer so that the viewer will be located at a predetermined position in front of the user'"'"'s eye.

Claims

1. A head-mounted image display device having a viewer located in front of a user'"'"'s eye to make an image viewable wherein:

said viewer comprises;

an image display element,

an optical system for forming an image, said image being displayed on said image display element allowing said image to be viewed, and

a frame member for bearing said image display element at a predetermined position relative to said optical, system;

said head-mounted image display device further comprising;

an electric circuit board for a display element on which said image display element is mounted,

an illuminating member for illuminating said image display element,

an electric circuit board for illumination on which said illuminating member is mounted, and

a connector through which said electric circuit board for a display element and said electric circuit board for illumination are connected and disconnected from each other;

wherein said electric circuit board for illumination is held in at least one of said frame member and an illuminating member-fixing member that is fixed in said frame member, and;

a surface of a portion of said frame member of illuminating member-fixing member that holds said electric circuit board for illumination is formed as a diffusing/reflecting surface that homogenizes and reflects light emanating from said illuminating member.

2. A head-mounted image display device of a monocular type, comprising,

a viewer having an image display element;

an optical system for forming an image displayed on said image display element so that said image can be viewed;

a frame member for bearing said image display element so that said image display element will be located at a predetermined position relative to said optical system;

an arm which bears said viewer so that an eyepiece window of said viewer may be located in front of one of a user'"'"'s right and left eyes; and

a support member which is used to wear said arm on a user'"'"'s head;

wherein a region of said user'"'"'s head on which said support member is worn may be reversed laterally as said user may wish such that said eyepiece window of said viewer may be located in front of the other of said user'"'"'s right and left eyes with which said user is allowed to view said image.

3. The head-mounted image display device according to claim 2, wherein:

said arm and said support member are joined using a rotatable joint mechanism.

4. The head-mounted image display device according to claim 3, further comprising:

at least one circuit board for said image which is to be displayed on said image display element, said image being rotated 180°

at least one of vertically and laterally.

5. The head-mounted image display device according to claim 4, wherein:

a microphone is provided in said frame member.

6. The head-mounted image display device according to claim 2, further comprising:

at least one circuit board for said image which is to be displayed on said image display element, said image being rotated 180°

at least one of vertically and laterally.

7. The head-mounted image display device according to claim 6, wherein:

a microphone is provided in said frame member.