Head-mounted image display apparatus

• US 7,019,715 B1
• Filed: 07/13/2000
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Nagata, Hideki, Tanijiri, Yasushi, Kasai, Ichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, DAVID LEE
• Application Number:
  US09/615,233
• Time in Patent Office: 2,084 Days
• Field of Search: 345/7, 345/8, 345/87, 348/42, 348/51, 348/52, 348/54, 348/59, 348/53, 359/13, 359/630, 359/631, 359/477, 359/632, 340/461, 349/11
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0152 involving arrangement aiming to get lighter or better balanced devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/30 Polarising elements light-modulating devices with active elements G02F1/00

Abstract

A head-mounted image display apparatus is provided with: an image display element; a projection optical system that projects an image displayed by the image display element, so as to be enlarged; a reflective screen onto which the image is projected by the projection optical system; and a combiner disposed between the projection optical system and the screen. The combiner transmits the image light from the projection optical system and directs it to the screen, and reflects the image light reflected at the screen and directs it to the user'"'"'s pupil.

Claims

1. A head-mounted image display apparatus comprising:

an image display element;

a projection optical system that projects an image displayed by said image display element;

a screen on which the image projected by said projection optical system is formed;

a combiner disposed between said projection optical system and said screen;

an eyepiece optical system disposed between said combiner and the user, said eyepiece optical system enlarging the image projected onto said screen; and

an optical element disposed on an external side of said combiner with respect to said eyepiece optical system, a composite optical power of said eyepiece optical system and said optical element being substantially zero,

wherein said combiner transmits image light from said projection optical system and directs it to said screen, and reflects the image light reflected at the screen while simultaneously transmitting external light.

2. A head-mounted image display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said screen is disposed above or below a user'"'"'s pupil.

3. A head-mounted image display apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein said image display apparatus has a plurality of units each including said image display element and said projection optical system.

4. A head-mounted image display apparatus as claimed in claim 3,

wherein said units form images corresponding to the user'"'"'s left and right pupils.

5. A head-mounted image display apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein said screen has a retroreflection characteristic.

6. A head-mounted image display apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein said combiner is a half mirror or a polarization separation member.

7. A head-mounted image display apparatus comprising:

an image display element;

a projection optical system that projects an image displayed by said image display element;

a screen on which the image projected by said projection optical system is formed;

a combiner that reflects image light reflected at said screen, and simultaneously transmits external light;

an eyepiece optical system disposed between said combiner and a user, said eyepiece optical system enlarging the image projected onto said screen; and

an optical element disposed on an external side of said combiner with respect to said eyepiece optical system, a composite optical power of said eyepiece optical system and said optical element being substantially zero.

8. A head-mounted image display apparatus as claimed in claim 7,

wherein said combiner further transmits image light from said projection optical system and directs it to said screen.

9. A head-piece adapted to be worn on a head of a wearer, the head of the wearer having a face, the head-piece comprising:

a hood, said hood adapted to be positioned on the head of the wearer;

a visor having a first end and a second end, said first end of said visor rotatably mounted to said hood such that said visor rotates from a first position, substantially covering the face of the wearer, to a second position not substantially covering the face of the wearer;

an image display apparatus comprising;

an image display element;

a projection optical system that projects an image displayed by said image display element;

a screen on which the image projected by said projection optical system is formed;

a combiner that reflects image light reflected at said screen, and transmits external light;

an eyepiece optical system disposed between said combiner and the wearer,

wherein said eyepiece optical system enlarges the image projected onto said screen; and

an optical element disposed on an external side of said combiner with respect to said eyepiece optical system,

wherein a composite optical power of said eyepiece optical system and said optical element is substantially zero, and

wherein said image display apparatus is positioned substantially at said second end of said visor.