JPH06194599A - Video display device of head mounting type - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate troublesome operation performed by an observer for adjusting the pupil of the observer to an exit pupil on a device side. CONSTITUTION:This video display device is constituted by providing a video display element 3 displaying a video, a projection optical system 1 projecting the video into the eyeball of the observer, and a pupil deviation designation part 2a provided on the outside of an image forming luminous flux 5 obtained until a light beam projected from the element 3 and guided by the optical system 1 reaches the exit pupil 4 and allowing the luminous flux 5 to pass near the outside of the exit pupil 4. Thus, the observer can confirm that both-eye viewing is attained in a state where both eyes are opened, and easily and accurately recognize an adjusting direction in the case the pupil of the observer is deviated from the exit pupil on the device side. Therefore, the operation of adjusting the pupils in the case the observer uses the video display device of head mounting type is easily performed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a head-mounted image display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a head-mounted type that is held on an observer's head for the purpose of individually enjoying a large-screen image and carrying the image outdoors. Video display devices have been devised. For example, FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an example of a conventional head-mounted image display device, which is used by an observer. In this head-mounted image display device 101, an image display element 102 mounted on the head of an observer and arranged in front of both eyes,
It has a sound reproducing element 103 for reproducing sound. The video display element 102 and the audio reproduction element 103 are composed of a video signal supply code 104 and an audio signal supply code 1.
The video / audio signal supply unit (not shown) is connected via 05.

A projection optical system 107 is mounted in the apparatus opening 106 at a position near the face of the image display element 102. The projection optical system 107 is arranged at a predetermined interval from the image display element 102 so as to enlarge the image displayed on the image display element 102 and project the image on the eyeball 108 of the observer. With such a head-mounted image display device, the power of a large-screen image can be obtained with a small image display element, and the image can be enjoyed in a comfortable posture for the observer without exposing the image information to the surroundings. However, since there are individual differences in the eye width of the observer, it may not be possible to satisfactorily guide the projection image by the projection optical system 107 into the eyeball 108.

Therefore, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-82175, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-26288, and Japanese Patent Application No. 4-267504, the right and left eyes of the projection optical system are adjusted according to individual differences in the distance between the two eyes. A head-mounted image display device has been devised in which the interval between the exit pupils is adjustable. On the other hand, since the head-mounted image display device is mounted on the observer's head, it is necessary to reduce the size and weight of the image display element in order to reduce fatigue and prevent danger, and liquid crystal is mainly used.

[0005]

However, the image display device using this liquid crystal has a viewing angle dependency. That is, in general, light emitted in a direction within a range of about 5 degrees from the normal direction of the liquid crystal display has a high contrast, and thus a good image can be obtained, but in other places, a good image can be obtained. It becomes difficult.

That is, as shown in FIG. 8, since the numerical aperture of light emitted from the image display element 102 is small, the exit pupil diameter of the exit pupil 109 by the projection optical system 107 is limited to be small. Further, if an attempt is made to enhance the light condensing property of the image display element by using a lens system or the like in order to increase the amount of light guided to the eyeball, the exit pupil is also limited to a small size.

Therefore, in order for the observer 110 to obtain a good image, it is necessary to receive light for obtaining a good image on the entire surfaces of the left and right pupils 111 and 112 of the observer. The observer's pupil must be placed within the good light-intersecting area of. FIG. 8 shows an observer 1.
Since the left eye pupil 111 of 10 overlaps the exit pupil 109, the left eye observes a good image, but the right eye pupil 1
12 is displaced from the exit pupil 109, a good image cannot be observed with the right eye, and a state in which binocular vision is not possible is shown.

Generally, the observer does not know whether he is observing with both eyes, and in order to confirm this, he must close one eye and confirm whether he can see with both eyes.
Also, it is difficult to know in which direction the device should be adjusted when the pupils are misaligned. Therefore, the observer has to perform complicated eye alignment when using the head-mounted image display device.

In view of the above problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to make it easy for an observer to perform a complicated eye-matching operation.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, the structure of the head-mounted image display apparatus of the present invention is such that an image display element for displaying an image and an observer viewing the image. The projection optical system for projecting into the eyeball of the eye, and provided outside the image-forming light beam to the exit pupil of the light beam emitted from the image display element guided by the projection optical system,
It is characterized in that it has a pupil misalignment instructing section for passing a light beam in the vicinity of the outside of the exit pupil.

[0011]

With the above structure, the light beam from the pupil misalignment instructing section passes near the outside of the exit pupil. Therefore, if the pupil of the observer and the exit pupil do not match each other, part or all of the light beam by the pupil misalignment instructing unit is projected into the eyeball of the observer.

[0012]

Embodiments of the head-mounted image display device of the present invention will be described below. First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The present embodiment is an example in which a transmission lens is used as the projection optical system 1. Further, the pupil shift instruction section 2a is arranged on the lens surface of the projection optical system 1 that is closest to the eye.

The pupil misalignment instructing section 2a is arranged in a ring-shaped manner so that the luminous flux necessary for obtaining a good image from the liquid crystal display element 3 comes into contact with the outside of the image-forming luminous flux 5 up to the exit pupil 4. There is. The pupil shift instruction section 2a is composed of red cellophane here. The high-contrast light flux emitted from the liquid crystal display element 3 passes through the exit pupil 4 formed by the projection optical system 1. By placing the observer's pupil near the exit pupil 4, an image can be formed on the retina in the observer's eyeball.

Then, the pupil shift instruction section 2a receives the light flux from the liquid crystal display element 3 which passes through the outside of the image-forming light flux 5, and the light flux which has passed through the pupil shift instruction section 2a becomes a red pupil shift instruction light flux 6. It passes near the outside of the exit pupil 4. This pupil shift instruction light beam 6 is guided into the eyeball when the pupil of the eyeball of the observer does not overlap with the exit pupil 4, so that the observer knows that the pupil of the eyeball and the exit pupil 4 do not match. .

The feature of this embodiment is that the observer can be informed that the pupil is displaced with a very simple structure. The observer may adjust the device so that the red light due to the pupil misalignment indicating light beam 6 cannot be seen. Although red cellophane is used as the pupil shift indicator here, the invention of the present application is not limited to this, and a filter or dichroic filter of another color, a dichroic mirror, a filter in which some holes are simply used, or the like is used. Good. Further, it may not be in contact with the outside of the image-forming light beam but may be in the vicinity thereof. Further, in addition to the ring-shaped arrangement, it may be arranged at some desired locations around the image-forming light flux. Further, although the example in which the pupil misalignment instructing section 2a is arranged on the lens surface of the projection optical system 1 that is closest to the eye side is shown, the disposition of the pupil misalignment instructing section is not limited to this position, and the lens misalignment in the middle of the optical path may be different. But well,
Further, the lens may be colored to serve as a pupil misalignment instruction section.

Further, when observing an image with both eyes, in order to know which of the exit pupils for the right eye and the left eye is deviated, for the right eye and the left eye of the previous pupil misalignment instructing section 2a. It is also possible to use a different color, for example.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Similar to the first embodiment, this embodiment is also an example in which a transmission lens is used as the projection optical system. The same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. The difference from the first embodiment is that the pupil shift instructing light beam 6 from the pupil misalignment instructing section 2b is made into another optical path without using the light beam from the liquid crystal display element 3.

The pupil misalignment instruction section 2b is composed of an instruction display section 7 for displaying an arrow, an instruction display projection lens 8 and a mirror of an instruction display reflection member 9. The instruction display unit 7
For example, what printed the arrow on the screen is used. The light beam emitted from the instruction display unit 7 is used as the pupil shift instruction light beam 6 via the instruction display projection lens 8 and the mirror of the instruction display reflection member 9 in the pupil shift instruction unit 2b. Here, external light is used as a light source that is illuminated from the rear surface of the instruction display unit 7.

Then, in the vicinity of the outside of the exit pupil 4 of the image-forming light beam 5 generated from the liquid crystal display device 3 generated by the projection optical system 1 as described in the first embodiment, the above-mentioned pupil misalignment indicating light beam is generated. Pass 6. By projecting the arrow of the instruction display unit 7 guided by the pupil shift instruction light beam 6 into the eyeball of the observer, the observer is notified in which direction the device should be adjusted when the pupil is displaced. You can
The observer only needs to adjust the device to see this display.

Further, due to the focal length of the instruction display projection lens 8, the image of the image guided into the eyeball and the image of the instruction display unit 7 can be viewed at the same time, and the adjustment of the apparatus becomes easier. The indication on the indication display unit 7 may be a symbol representing up, down, left, or right other than the arrow. Alternatively, a light bulb may be used as a light source illuminated from the rear surface of the instruction display unit 7.
A configuration other than those described here, such as a light emitting element such as an ED or an array of light emitting elements, may be used. Moreover, you may use the plasma display etc. which the instruction | indication display part 7 itself light-emits.

After the adjustment of the interpupillary distance, the pupil misalignment instructing light beam 6 is no longer necessary. Therefore, the pupil misalignment instructing light beam can be extinguished during normal observation by performing an operation such as turning off or blocking the illumination light. Although a mirror is used as the pointing display reflecting member here, the present invention is not limited to this, and a prism may be used, or a prism function may be used by using a decentered optical system or the like from the pointing display unit 7. The light flux of may be bent. Further, the pupil misalignment instructing section may be tilted so that the light flux from the instruction display section becomes the pupil misalignment instructing light without using the instruction display reflecting member. Further, the instruction display projection lens is not particularly required.

Further, the pupil misalignment indicating portion 2b need not be in contact with the outside of the image-forming light beam 5 and may be in the vicinity thereof, and the arrangement position is at some desired places around the image-forming light beam 5 as in the first embodiment. Good. Further, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, when observing an image with both eyes, in order to know which of the exit pupils for the right eye and the left eye is displaced, the one for the right eye of the pupil misalignment instructing unit 2b is selected. Use different colors for the left eye, left and right on the instruction display unit 7, LR
May be configured to be displayed.

A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The present embodiment is an example of the case where a reflective concave mirror 10 is used in the eyepiece as the projection optical system 1. Here, the plasma display 11 is used as an image display element. Further, a pupil shift instructing section 2c is arranged near the pupil position of the projection optical system 1. In the case of the present embodiment, the pupil shift instruction unit 2
The light bulb 12 is used as the light source used for c. Further, the reflection member 13 in the pupil misalignment indicator 2c has a configuration in which one end face of a transparent plastic prism is cut obliquely,
The light from the light bulb 12 is reflected and guided to the inside of the projection optical system 1 to form a pupil misalignment indicating light beam 6.

Further, the angle of the cut portion of the reflecting member 13 is adjusted so that the pupil deviation indicating light beam 6 is parallel to the optical axis near the exit pupil 4. The light emitted from the plasma display 11 is transmitted through the projection optical system 1 and reflected by the reflective concave mirror 10 in the projection optical system 1 to form an exit pupil 4. Further, by adjusting the angle of the cut portion of the reflecting member 13, the pupil misalignment indicating light beam 6 becomes parallel to the optical axis in the vicinity of the exit pupil 4, so that the pupil position of the observer shifts in the optical axis direction. The deviation indicating light beam 6 does not enter the eye and is not bothersome, but when the observer's pupil position deviates from the exit pupil 4 of the projection optical system 1 in the lateral direction (in the XY plane in the figure) with respect to the optical axis, the pupil The deviation indicating light beam 6 is guided into the eyeball.

In this embodiment, the light bulb 12 is used as the light source used for the pupil misalignment instruction section 2c. However, as in the second embodiment, the structure such as the ambient light, the light emitting element such as the LED, the array of the light emitting elements and the like is used. You may use. In the case of the present embodiment, the same effect can be obtained with the decentered optical system or optical fiber described above instead of the reflecting member 13 in the pupil shift indicator 2c.

A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Similar to the third embodiment, this embodiment is also an example of the case where the reflective concave mirror 10 is used in the eyepiece as the projection optical system 1.
A pupil shift instruction section 2d is arranged near the pupil position of the projection optical system 1. The pupil misalignment instruction section 2d guides the light bulb 13 as a light source, the light receiving element 14, and the light from the light bulb 13 into the projection optical system 1 and the light returned to the pupil misalignment instruction section 2d to the light receiving element 14. Half mirror 15 and mirror 1
It is composed of 6. Here, as an image display element,
The liquid crystal display element 3 is used.

The feature of this embodiment is that the observer uses the pupil pointing light beam 6
Instead of adjusting the exit pupil 4 of the projection optical system 1, the image formed by the light flux reflected by the observer's eye is formed by the pupil shift indicator 2
The light is received by the light receiving element 14 of d, and the device side automatically uses the pupil shift correction mechanism 17 on the device side at the position of the observer's pupil to exit the pupil 4
Will be combined. At the pupil position of the projection optical system 1, the light flux reflected by the observer's eyes forms an image, and an image as shown in FIG. 5 is formed. By arranging the pupil shift instructing section 2d including the light receiving element 14 described above, the brightness of the image near the eyes of the observer can be monitored. In general, human skin, the white eye, and the iris have high reflectance, so those images formed at the previous pupil positions are bright, and the retina seen through the observer's pupil has low reflectance, so the image formed is dark. ing. The light receiving element 14 reads the difference in brightness of the image.

A pupil shift instructing section 2 equipped with this light receiving element 14
By arranging a plurality of d in the vicinity of the previous pupil position and sending the signal of the light receiving element 14 to the pupil shift calculation device 18, how much the exit pupil 4 on the device side with respect to the observer's pupil is in what direction. It is possible to calculate if there is a deviation. Based on the calculation result, the device can be automatically moved by the pupil shift correction mechanism 17 so that the exit pupil 4 is superposed on the observer's pupil. As a method of correcting the pupil shift, for example, a method of moving the entire video display device for the right eye or the left eye,
Method of tilting the reflective concave mirror 10 of the projection optical system 1, method of decentering part of the lens of the projection optical system 1, liquid crystal display element 3
For example, a method of tilting the optical axis of light emitted from a light source (not shown) provided at the rear of the.

Of the several adjusting mechanisms for correcting the direction of deviation of the exit pupil 4, the amount of deviation, and the deviation,
It is also possible to display, on the liquid crystal display element 3, information on which adjustment mechanism should be adjusted, for example, to guide and inform the eyeball of the observer.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The arrangements of the projection optical system 1 and the liquid crystal display element 3 are basically the same as those in the third and fourth embodiments, and therefore their explanations are omitted.

Here, the reflective concave mirror used in the eyepiece of the projection optical system 1 is composed of a half mirror 19. Then, as shown in FIG.
Is arranged on the side facing away from the convex surface, and the pupil misalignment indicating light beam 6 is directed along the outer side of the image forming light beam 5 and passes near the outer side of the exit pupil 4. This pupil misalignment instruction light beam 6 can notify the observer that the pupil is displaced.

As described above, the pupil misalignment instructing section is provided in the projection optical system 1.
Since it is not necessary to provide it adjacent to the image forming light beam 5 according to the above, the pupil misalignment instructing unit can be arranged by the above configuration regardless of the production limitation that the pupil misalignment indicating unit cannot be arranged in the vicinity of the image forming light beam 5. In addition, as described above, since the reflecting concave mirror used for the eyepiece is the half mirror 19, the third embodiment, the fourth embodiment.
It is also possible to arrange so that the pupil misalignment indicating light beam 6 passes in the vicinity of the exit pupil 4 in parallel as in the embodiment.

Even if the reflecting concave mirror used in the eyepiece of the projection optical system 1 is not the half mirror 19, the surface on which the image-forming light beam 5 strikes is mirror-shaped, and the outer surface thereof forms the pupil misalignment indicating light beam 6. It may be a mirror configured to be transmitted, or may be configured to simply transmit the pupil misalignment instruction light beam 6 to the outside of the concave mirror. Of course, the location of the half mirror 19 is not limited to this location, and the half mirror 19 can be placed at any location in the optical path.

[0034]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to confirm whether or not an observer can see with both eyes.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of essential parts showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of essential parts showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a main part plan view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an essential part showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an image formed at a pupil position in the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an essential part showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which an observer is using a conventional head-mounted image display device.

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which the exit pupil of the head-mounted image display device and the observer's pupil are displaced.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Projection optical system 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e Pupil shift instruction part 3 Liquid crystal display device 4 Exit pupil 5 Imaging light beam 6 Pupil shift instruction light beam 7 Pointing display part 8 Pointing display projection lens 9 Pointing display reflecting member 10 Reflective concave mirror Reference Signs List 11 Plasma display 12 Light bulb 13 Reflecting member 14 Light receiving element 15 Half mirror 16 Mirror 17 Pupil shift correction mechanism 18 Pupil shift calculation device 19 Half mirror 101 Head-mounted video display device 102 Video display device 103 Audio playback device 104 Video signal supply Code 105 Audio signal supply code 106 Device opening 107 Projection optical system 108 Eyeball 109 Exit pupil 110 Observer 111 Eye of observer's left eye 112 Eye of observer's right eye

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image display device for displaying an image, a projection optical system for projecting the image into the eyeball of an observer, and an exit pupil of a light beam emitted from the image display device and guided by the projection optical system. A head-mounted image display device, characterized in that it has a pupil shift instructing section which is provided outside of the entire image forming light flux and allows the light flux to pass near the outside of the exit pupil.