Light weight head mounted image display device

• US 6,987,620 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2004
• Issued: 01/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Nagaoka, Toshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harrington, Alicia M.
• Application Number:
  US10/766,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20040190150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 359/630, 359/631, 359/632, 359/638, 359/640, 359/13, 359/14, 345 7- 9
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features

Abstract

An image display element 1 and an observation optical system 2 which forms an exit pupil 4 for observation of an image displayed on the image display element are included, wherein the observation optical system 2 has at least one surface 2₁ that has a lens function, and the following condition (1) is satisfied:
0.1<P·PD·ZD<5  (1)
where P is a pixel pitch (in μm) of the image display element, PD is a diameter (in mm) of the exit pupil, and ZD is a distance (in mm) from the display surface of the image display element to the first surface having a lens function. Whereby, weight reduction is achieved while good image quality is maintained regarding an image display apparatus that is used for magnifying observation of an image on a display element.

Claims

1. An image display apparatus comprising:

an image display element;

an observation optical system which has a positive refracting power and which forms an exit pupil for observation of an image displayed on the image display element; and

a frame member supporting the image display element and the observation optical system and having a clip section, the clip section being removably attachable to a user'"'"'s spectacle frame,

wherein the observation optical system comprises;

a first unit comprising at least one prism member having a positive refracting power; and

a second unit comprising a diffraction element that is given a lens function by diffraction effect,

wherein the prism member has an entrance surface via which bundles of rays emergent from the image display element enter the prism member, at least one reflecting surface that reflects the bundles of rays inside the prism member, and an exit surface via which the bundles of rays exit out of the prism member, and

wherein the diffraction element is arranged to satisfy;

0.5<

β

/β

′

<

1.5

where β

is an incident angle of a ray along an optical axis emergent from the exit surface of the prism member on the diffraction element, and β

′

is an emergent angle of the ray from the diffraction element.

2. An observation optical system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reflecting surface of the prism member has a curved surface shape to exert a power on bundles of rays, the curved surface shape being configured as a rotationally asymmetric shape to compensate for aberrations generated by decentering, and wherein the second unit of the observation optical system has an action of canceling chromatic aberration generated in the first unit.

3. An image display apparatus comprising:

an image display element;

an observation optical system which has a positive refracting power and which forms an exit pupil for observation of an image displayed on the image display element; and

a frame member supporting the image display element and the observation optical system and having a clip section, the clip section being removably attachable to a user'"'"'s spectacle frame,

wherein the observation optical system comprises;

a first unit comprising at least one prism member having a positive refracting power; and

a second unit comprising a diffraction element that is given a lens function by diffraction effect,

wherein the prism member has an entrance surface via which bundles of rays emergent from the image display element enter the prism member, at least one reflecting surface that reflects the bundles of rays inside the prism member, and an exit surface via which the bundles of rays exit out of the prism member, and

wherein the diffraction element is arranged to be substantially perpendicular to a ray along an optical axis emergent from the diffraction element to enter a user'"'"'s pupil.

4. An observation optical system according to claim 3, wherein the at least one reflecting surface of the prism member has a curved surface shape to exert a power on bundles of rays, the curved surface shape being configured as a rotationally asymmetric shape to compensate for aberrations generated by decentering, and wherein the second unit of the observation optical system has an action of canceling chromatic aberration generated in the first unit.