An image display apparatus which enables observation of a clear image at a wide field angle with substantially no reduction in the brightness of the observation image, and which is extremely small in size and fight in weight and hence unlikely to cause the observer to be fatigued. The image display apparatus includes an image display device and an ocular optical system for projecting an image formed by the image display device and for leading the projected image to an observer's eyeball. The ocular optical system (3) has three surfaces, and a space formed by the three surfaces is filled with a medium having a refractive index larger than 1. The three surfaces include, in the order in which light rays pass in backward ray tracing from the observer's eyeball (1) to the image display device (4), a first surface (5) which functions as both a refracting surface and an internally reflecting surface, a second surface (6) which is a reflecting surface facing the first surface (5) and decentered or tilted with respect to an observer's visual axis (2), and a third surface (7) which is a refracting surface closest to the image display device (4), so that reflection takes place three times in the path from the observer's eyeball (1) to the image display device (4).
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0. 2. An image display apparatus comprising an image display device for displaying an image, and an ocular optical system for projecting the image formed by said image display device and for leading the projected image to an observer's eyeball,
said ocular optical system being arranged such that light rays emitted from said image display device are reflected three times before reaching said observer's eyeball, and that a surface of said ocular optical system that is disposed immediately in front of said observer's eyeball is a refracting surface which internally reflects the light rays, and through which the light rays exit from said ocular optical system.
0. 1. An image display apparatus comprising an image display device for displaying an image, and an ocular optical system for projecting the image formed by said image display device and for leading the projected image to an observer's eyeball,
said ocular optical system being arranged such that light rays emitted from said image display device are reflected three or higher odd-numbered times before reaching said observer's eyeball, and that a surface of said ocular optical system that is disposed immediately in front of said observer's eyeball is a refracting surface which internally reflects the light rays, and through which the light rays exit from said ocular optical system.
0. 35. An imaging optical system wherein a light beam from an object is passed through a pupil to form an object image on an image plane, said imaging optical system comprising:
at least an optical member for one of converging and diverging the light beam, said optical member being provided between said pupil and said image plane, said optical member having at least three surfaces, wherein a space formed by said at least three surfaces is filled with a medium having a refractive index larger than 1, said at least three surfaces including, in an order in which light rays pass in ray tracing from said pupil to said image plane, a first surface which functions as both a refracting surface and an internally reflecting surface, a second surface which is a reflecting surface facing said first surface and decentered or tilted, and a third surface which is a refracting surface closest to said image plane, so that reflection takes place three times in a path from said pupil to said image plane.
3. An image display apparatus comprising an image display device for displaying an image, and an ocular optical system for projecting the image formed by said image display device and for leading the projected image to an observer's eyeball,
said ocular optical system having at least three surfaces, wherein a space formed by said at least three surfaces is filled with a medium having a refractive index larger than 1, said at least three surfaces including, in an order in which light rays pass in backward ray tracing from said observer's eyeball to said image display device, a first surface which functions as both a refracting surface and an internally reflecting surface, a second surface which is a reflecting surface facing said first surface and decentered or tilted with respect to an observer's visual axis, and a third surface which is a refracting surface closest to said image display device, so that reflection takes place three times in a path from said observer's eyeball to said image display device.
0. 36. An imaging optical system wherein a light beam from an object is passed through a pupil to form an object image on an image plane, said imaging optical system comprising:
at least an optical member for one of converging and diverging the light beam, said optical member being provided between said pupil and said image plane, said optical member having at least four surfaces, wherein a space formed by said at least four surfaces is filled with a medium having a refractive index larger than 1, said at least four surfaces including, in an order in which light rays pass in ray tracing from said pupil to said image plane, a first surface which functions as both a refracting surface and an internally reflecting surface, a second surface which is a reflecting surface facing said first surface and decentered or tilted, a third surface which is a reflecting surface facing said first surface and adjacent to said second surface, and a fourth surface which is a refracting surface closest to said image plane, so that reflection takes place three times in a path from said pupil to said image plane.
4. An image display apparatus comprising an image display device for displaying an image, and an ocular optical system for projecting the image formed by said image display device and for leading the projected image to an observer's eyeball,
said ocular optical system having at least four surfaces, wherein a space formed by said at least four surfaces is filled with a medium having a refractive index larger than 1, said at least four surfaces including, in an order in which light rays pass in backward ray tracing from said observer's eyeball to said image display device, a first surface which functions as both a refracting surface and an internally reflecting surface, a second surface which is a reflecting surface facing said first surface and decentered or tilted with respect to an observer's visual axis, a third surface which is a reflecting surface facing said first surface and adjacent to said second surface, and a fourth surface which is a refracting surface closest to said image display device, so that reflection takes place three times in a path from said observer's eyeball to said image display device.
5. An image display apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to
6. An image display apparatus according to
7. An image display apparatus according to any one of claims 3 or 4, wherein said second surface is a reflecting surface which is concave toward said first surface.
8. An image display apparatus according to any one of claims 3 or 4, wherein said first surface is a surface which functions as both a transmitting surface and a reflecting surface, said first surface being convex toward said second surface.
9. An image display apparatus according to any one of claims 3 or 4, wherein said first surface is a flat surface which functions as both a transmitting surface and a reflecting surface.
10. An image display apparatus according to
11. An image display apparatus according to
12. An image display apparatus according to
13. An image display apparatus according to
wherein θ2 is an incident angle of an axial principal ray at a first reflection by said second surface in the backward ray tracing.
14. An image display apparatus according to
wherein θ2 is an incident angle of an axial principal ray at a first reflection by said second surface in the backward ray tracing.
15. An image display apparatus according to
wherein θ1 is an incident angle of an axial principal ray at said first surface.
16. An image display apparatus according to
wherein θ1 is an incident angle of an axial principal ray at said first surface.
17. An image display apparatus according to
wherein θ3 is an incident angle of an axial principal ray at internal reflection by said first surface.
18. An image display apparatus according to
wherein θ3 is an incident angle of an axial principal ray at internal reflection by said first surface.
19. An image display apparatus according to
wherein θ4 is an incident angle of an axial principal ray when reflected for a second time in the backward ray tracing by said second surface of said ocular optical system comprising three surfaces, or θ4 is an incident angle of an axial principal ray at said third surface of said ocular optical system comprising four surfaces.
20. An image display apparatus according to
wherein θ4 is an incident angle of an axial principal ray when reflected for a second time in the backward ray tracing by said second surface of said ocular optical system comprising three surfaces, or θ4 is an incident angle of an axial principal ray at said third surface of said ocular optical system comprising four surfaces.
21. An image display apparatus according to
-30°C<θ5<40°C (9)
wherein θ5 is an incident angle of an axial principal ray at said third surface in said ocular optical system comprising three surfaces, or θ5 is an incident angle of an axial principal ray at said fourth surface in said ocular optical system comprising four surfaces.
22. An image display apparatus according to
wherein θi is an incident angle of an axial principal ray at a display surface of said image display device.
23. An image display apparatus according to
wherein θi is an incident angle of an axial principal ray at a display surface of said image display device.
24. An image display apparatus according to
where Nd is a refractive index for the spectral d-line of said medium having a refractive index larger than 1.
25. An image display apparatus according to
where Nd is a refractive index for the spectral d-line of said medium having a refractive index larger than 1.
26. An image display apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to
27. An image display apparatus according to
28. An image display apparatus according to
29. An image display apparatus according to
30. An image display apparatus according to
31. An image display apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to
32. An image display apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to
33. An image display apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to
34. An image display apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to
0. 37. A finder optical system comprising:
the imaging optical system of an imaging erecting optical system for erecting the object image formed on said image plane by said imaging optical system; and an ocular optical system for viewing said object time.
0. 38. A camera apparatus comprising:
the imaging optical system of
0. 39. An imaging optical system according to
0. 40. An imaging optical system according to
0. 41. An imaging optical system according to
0. 42. An imaging optical system according to
0. 43. An imaging optical system according to
0. 44. An imaging optical system according to
0. 45. An imaging optical system according to
0. 46. An imaging optical system according to
0. 47. An imaging optical system according to
where θ2 is an incident angle of an axial principal ray at a first reflection by said second surface in the ray tracing.
48. An imaging optical system according to
where θ2 is an incident angle of an axial principal ray at a first reflection by said second surface in the ray tracing.
49. An imaging optical system according to
where θ1 is an incident angle of an axial principal ray at said first surface.
50. An imaging optical system according to
where θ1 is an incident angle of an axial principal ray at said first surface.
51. An imaging optical system according to
where θ3 is an incident angle of an axial principal ray at internal reflection by said first surface.
52. An imaging optical system according to
where θ3 is an incident angle of an axial principal ray at internal reflection by said first surface.
53. An imaging optical system according to
where θ4 is one of (
54. An imaging optical system according to
where θ4 is one of (
55. An imaging optical system according to
where θ5 is one of (
56. An imaging optical system according to
where θi is an incident angle of an axial principal ray on said image plane.
57. An imaging optical system according to
where θi incident angle of an axial principal ray on said image plane.
58. An imaging optical system according to
where Nd is a refractive index for the spectral d-line of said medium having a refractive index larger than 1.
59. An imaging optical system according to
where Nd is a refractive index for the spectral d-line of said medium having a refractive index larger than 1.
60. An imaging optical system according to
61. An imaging optical system according to
62. An imaging optical system according to
63. An imaging optical system according to
64. A viewing optical system comprising:
image-forming means for forming an observation image on an image plane, and an ocular optical system for projecting said observation image and for leading the projected image to an observer's eyeball, said ocular optical system having at least three surfaces, wherein a space formed by said at least three surfaces is filled with a medium having a refractive index larger than 1, said at least three surfaces including, in an order in which light rays pass in backward ray tracing from said observer's eyeball to said observation image, a first surface which functions as both a refracting surface and an internally reflecting surface, a second surface which is a reflecting surface facing said first surface and decentered or tilted with respect to an observer's visual axis, and a third surface which is a refracting surface closest to said observation image, so that reflection takes place three times in a path from said observer's eyeball to said observation image.
65. A viewing optical system comprising:
image-forming means for forming an observation image on an image plane, and an ocular optical system for projecting said observation image and for leading the projected image to an observer's eyeball, said ocular optical system having at least four surfaces, wherein a space formed by said at least four surfaces is filled with a medium having a refractive index larger than 1, said at least four surfaces including, in an order in which light rays pass in backward ray tracing from said observer's eyeball to said observation image, a first surface which functions as both a refracting surface and an internally reflecting surface, a second surface which is a reflecting surface facing said first surface and decentered or tilted with respect to an observer's visual axis, a third surface which is a reflecting surface facing said first surface and adjacent to said second surface, and a fourth surface which is a refracting surface closest to said observation image, so that reflection takes place three times in a path from said observer's eyeball to said observation image.
66. A viewing optical system according to
where Nd is a refractive index for the spectral d-line of said medium having a refractive index larger than 1.
67. A viewing optical system according to
68. A viewing optical system according to
69. A viewing optical system according to
70. A viewing optical system according to
71. A viewing optical system according to
72. A viewing optical system according to
73. A viewing optical system according to
74. A viewing optical system according to
75. A viewing optical system according to
76. A viewing optical system according to
77. A viewing optical system according to
78. A viewing optical system according to
79. A viewing optical system according to
where θ2 is an incident angle of an axial principal ray at a first reflection by said second surface in the backward ray tracing.
80. A viewing optical system according to
where θ2 is an incident angle of an axial principal ray at a first reflection by said second surface in the backward ray tracing.
81. A viewing optical system according to
where θ1 is an incident angle of an axial principal ray at said first surface.
82. A viewing optical system according to
where θ1 is an incident angle of an axial principal ray at said first surface.
83. A viewing optical system according to
where θ3 is an incident angle of an axial principal ray at internal reflection by said first surface.
84. A viewing optical system according to
where θ3 is an incident angle of an axial principal ray at internal reflection by said first surface.
85. A viewing optical system according to
where θ4 is one of (
86. A viewing optical system according to
where θ4 is one of (
87. A viewing optical system according to
where θ5 is one of an incident angle of an axial principal ray at said third surface in said ocular optical system comprising three surfaces, and (
88. A viewing optical system according to
where θi is an incident angle of an axial principal ray on a surface of said observation image.
89. A viewing optical system according to
where θi is an incident angle of an axial principal ray on a surface of said observation image.
90. A viewing optical system according to
where Nd is a refractive index for the spectral d-line of said medium having a refractive index larger than 1.
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The present invention relates to an image display apparatus and, more particularly, to a head- or face-mounted image display apparatus that can be retained on the observer's head or face.
As an example of conventional head- or face-mounted image display apparatus, an image display apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Unexamined Publication (KOKAI) No. 3-101709 (1991) is known.
Japanese Patent Application Unexamined Publication (KOKAI) No. 62-214782 (1987) discloses another type of conventional image display apparatus. As shown in FIGS. 21(a) and 21(b), the conventional image display apparatus is designed to enable an image of an image display device to be directly observed as an enlarged image through an ocular lens.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,026,641 discloses another type of conventional image display apparatus. In the conventional image display apparatus, as shown in
U.S. Reissued Pat. No. 27,356 discloses another type of conventional image display apparatus. As shown in
However, an image display apparatus of the type in which an image of an image display device is relayed, as in the image display apparatus shown in
In a layout such as that shown in FIGS. 21(a) and 21(b), the amount to which the apparatus projects from the observer's face undesirably increases. Further, since an image display device and an illumination optical system are attached to the projecting portion of the apparatus, the apparatus becomes increasingly large in size and heavy in weight.
Since a head-mounted image display apparatus is fitted to the human body, particularly the head, if the amount to which the apparatus projects from the user's face is large, the distance from the supporting point on the head to the center of gravity of the apparatus is long. Consequently, the weight of the apparatus is imbalanced when the apparatus is fitted to the observer's head. Further, when the observer moves or turns with the apparatus fitted to his/her head, the apparatus may collide with something.
That is, it is important for a head-mounted image display apparatus to be small in size and light in weight An essential factor in determining the size and weight of the apparatus is the layout of the optical system.
However, if an ordinary magnifier alone is used as an ocular optical system, exceedingly large aberrations are produced, and there is no device for correcting them. Even if spherical aberration can be corrected to a certain extent by forming the configuration of the concave surface of the magnifier into an aspherical surface, other aberrations such as coma and field curvature remain. Therefore, if the field angle for observation is increased, the image display apparatus becomes impractical. Alternatively, if a concave mirror alone is used as an ocular optical system it is necessary to use not only ordinary optical elements (lens and mirror) but also a device for correcting field curvature by an image transfer device (fiber plate) having a surface which is curved in conformity to the field curvature produced, as shown in FIG. 22.
In a coaxial ocular optical system in which an object surface is projected on an observer's pupil by using a semitransparent concave mirror and a semitransparent plane mirror, as shown in
In view of the above-described problems of the conventional techniques, an object of the present invention is to provide an image display apparatus which enables observation of a clear image at a wide field angle with substantially no reduction in the brightness of the observation image, and which is extremely small in size and light in weight and hence unlikely to cause the observer to be fatigued.
To attain the above-described object, the present invention provides a first image display apparatus which includes an image display device for displaying an image, and an ocular optical system for projecting the image formed by the image display device and for leading the projected image to an observer's eyeball. The ocular optical system is arranged such that light rays emitted from the image display device are reflected three or higher odd-numbered times before reaching the observer's eyeball, and that a surface of the ocular optical system that is disposed immediately in front of the observer's eyeball is a refracting surface which internally reflects the light rays, and through which the light rays exit from the ocular optical system.
In addition, the present invention provides a second image display apparatus which includes an image display device for displaying an image, and an ocular optical system for projecting the image formed by the image display device and for leading the projected image to an observer's eyeball. The ocular optical system is arranged such that light rays emitted from the image display device are reflected three times before reaching the observer's eyeball, and that a surface of the ocular optical system that is disposed immediately in front of the observer's eyeball is a refracting surface which internally reflects the light rays, and through which the light rays exit from the ocular optical system.
In addition, the present invention provides a third image display apparatus which includes an image display device for displaying an image, and an ocular optical system for projecting the image formed by the image display device and for leading the projected image to an observer's eyeball.
The ocular optical system has at least three surfaces, and a space formed by the at least three surfaces is filled with a medium having a refractive index larger than 1. The at least three surfaces include, in the order in which light rays pass in backward ray tracing from the observer's eyeball to the image display device, a first surface which functions as both a refracting surface and an internally reflecting surface, a second surface which is a reflecting surface facing the first surface and decentered or tilted with respect to an observer's visual axis, and a third surface which is a refracting surface closest to the image display device, so that reflection takes place three times in the path from the observer's eyeball to the image display device.
In addition, the present invention provides a fourth image display apparatus which includes an image display device for displaying an image, and an ocular optical system for projecting the image formed by the image display device and for leading the projected image to an observer's eyeball. The ocular optical system has at least four surfaces, and a space formed by the at least four surfaces is filled with a medium having a refractive index larger than 1. The at least four surfaces include, in the order in which light rays pass in backward ray tracing from the observer's eyeball to the image display device, a first surface which functions as both a refracting surface and an internally reflecting surface, a second surface which is a reflecting surface facing the first surface and decentered or tilted with respect to an observer's visual axis, a third surface which is a reflecting surface facing the first surface and adjacent to the second surface, and a fourth surface which is a refracting surface closest to the image display device, so that reflection takes place three times in the path from the observer's eyeball, to the image display device.
The reasons for adopting the above-described arrangements in the present invention, together with the functions and effects thereof, will be explained below. The following explanation will be made on the basis of backward ray tracing in which light rays are traced from the observer's pupil position toward the image display device for the convenience of designing the optical system.
In the first image display apparatus according to the present invention, the ocular optical system is characterized in that light rays emitted from the image display device are reflected three or higher odd-numbered times before reaching the observer's eyeball, and that a surface of the ocular optical system that is disposed immediately in front of the observer's eyeball is a refracting surface which internally reflects the light rays, and through which the fight rays exit from the ocular optical system. Examples 1 to 10 (described later) correspond to the arrangement of the first image display apparatus.
In this apparatus, light rays emitted from the image display device are reflected at least three times in the ocular optical system, thereby enabling the light rays to be folded very effectively and favorably, and thus succeeding in minimizing the thickness of the ocular optical system and realizing reduction in both size and weight of the image display apparatus. In addition, because light rays emitted from the image display device are reflected an odd number of times, the image display device can be installed in such a manner that a side thereof which is reverse to its display surface faces the observer. Further, in the case of an image display device which is illuminated from behind it, e.g. an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a back light and other attachments are disposed behind the image display device. In this regard, the present invention enables these attachments to be disposed along the observer's face. Accordingly, no part of the image display device projects forwardly beyond the ocular optical system In other words, the whole image display apparatus can be arranged such that the amount to which the optical system projects from the observer's face is extremely small. Thus, a compact and lightweight head-mounted image display apparatus can be realized.
Further, a surface of the ocular optical system that is disposed immediately in front of the observer's face is adapted to perform both refraction and reflection. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of surfaces needed to constitute the ocular optical system and hence possible to improve productivity. In addition, if the angle of internal reflection at the first surface is set so as to be larger than the critical angle, it becomes unnecessary to provide the first surface with a reflective coating. Therefore, even if the transmitting and reflecting regions on the first surface overlap each other, the image of the image display device reaches the observer's eyeball without any problem. Accordingly, the ocular optical system can be arranged in a compact form, and the field angle for observation can be widened.
In the second image display apparatus according to the present invention, the ocular optical system is characterized in that light rays emitted from the image display device are reflected three times before reaching the observer's eyeball, and that a surface of the ocular optical system that is disposed immediately in front of the observer's eyeball is a refracting surface which internally reflects the light rays, and through which the light rays exit from the ocular optical system Examples 1 to 10 (described later) correspond to the arrangement of the second image display apparatus.
In this apparatus, light rays emitted from the image display device are reflected three times in the ocular optical system, thereby enabling the light rays to be folded very effectively and favorably, and thus succeeding in minimizing the thickness of the ocular optical system and realizing reduction in both size and weight of the image display apparatus. Light rays emanating from the observer's pupil is first reflected toward the observer's face. Then, by the second reflection, the light rays are reflected forwardly from the observer's face side. By the third reflection, the light rays are reflected toward the observer's face again to reach the image display device. Therefore, the image display device lies closer to the observer, and the image display device can be disposed in such a manner that a side thereof which is reverse to its display surface faces the observer. Accordingly, it is possible to realize a head-mounted image display apparatus which projects from the observer's face to an extremely small amount for the same reasons as set forth above with respect to the second image display apparatus according to the present invention. Although it is possible to obtain similar advantageous effects by arranging the ocular optical system such that the fight rays are reflected five or higher odd-numbered times, an increase in the number of reflections causes the distance from the image display device to the observer's pupil position to lengthen exceedingly. Consequently, it becomes necessary to use longer and larger optical elements. Further, it becomes difficult to ensure a wide field angle because the focal length of the ocular optical system becomes long. Accordingly, the use of the ocular optical system which allows the image of the image display device to reach the observer's eyeball by three reflections makes it possible to realize a well-balanced image display apparatus.
Further, a surface of the ocular optical system that is disposed immediately in front of the observer's face is adapted to perform both refraction and reflection. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of surfaces needed to form the ocular optical system and hence possible to improve productivity. In addition, if the angle of internal reflection at the first surface is set so as to be larger than the critical angle, it becomes unnecessary to provide the first surface with a reflective coating. Therefore, even if the transmitting and reflecting regions on the first surface overlap each other, the image of the image display device reaches the observer's eyeball without any problem. Accordingly, the ocular optical system can be arranged in a compact form, and the field angle for observation can be widened.
In the third image display apparatus according to the present invention, the ocular optical system has at least three surfaces, and a space formed by the at least three surfaces is filled with a medium having a refractive index larger than 1. The at least three surfaces include, in the order in which light rays pass in backward ray tracing from the observer's eyeball to the image display device, a first surface which functions as both a refracting surface and an internally reflecting surface, a second surface which is a reflecting surface facing the first surface and decentered or tilted with respect to an observer's visual axis, and a third surface which is a refracting surface closest to the image display device, so that reflection takes place three times in the path from the observer's eyeball to the image display device. Examples 1 to 5 (described later) correspond to the arrangement of the third image display apparatus.
In this apparatus, a space that is formed by the first, second and third surfaces of the ocular optical system is filled with a medium having a refractive index larger than 1, and light rays emitted from the image display device are reflected three times in the ocular optical system, thereby enabling the light rays to be folded very effectively and favorably, and thus succeeding in minimizing the thickness of the ocular optical system realizing reduction in both size and weight of the image display apparatus, and providing the observer with a clear observation image having a wide exit pupil diameter and a wide field angle.
By filling the space formed by the first, second and third surfaces with a medium having a refractive index larger than 1, light rays from the pupil are refracted by the first surface, and it is therefore possible to minimize the height at which extra-axial principal and subordinate rays are incident on the second surface. Consequently, the height of the principal ray at the second surface is low, and therefore, the size of the second surface is minimized. Thus, the ocular optical system can be formed in a compact structure. Alternatively, the field angle can be widened. Further, because the height of the subordinate rays is reduced, it is possible to minimize comatic aberrations produced by the second surface, particularly higher-order comatic aberrations.
Further, the actual optical path length is equal to the product of the apparent optical path length multiplied by the refractive index (e.g. 1.5) of the medium. Therefore, it become easy to ensure the distance from the observer's eyeball to the ocular optical system, or the distance from the ocular optical system to the image display device.
Further, unlike a conventional arrangement in which an observation image of an image display device is formed in the air as a real intermediate image by a relay optical system and projected into an eyeball as an enlarged image by an ocular optical system the image display apparatus according to the present invention is arranged to project the image of the image display device directly into an observer's eyeball as an enlarged image, thereby enabling the observer to see the enlarged image of the image display device as a virtual image. Accordingly, the optical system can be formed from a relatively small number of optical elements. Further, because the second surface of the ocular optical system, which is a reflecting surface, can be disposed immediately in front of the observer's face in a configuration conformable to the curve of his/her face, the amount to which the optical system projects from the observer's face can be reduced to an extremely small value. Thus, a compact and lightweight image display apparatus can be realized.
Further, because the ocular optical system comprises as small a number of surfaces as three, the mechanical design is facilitated, and the arrangement of the optical system is superior in productivity in the process of machining optical elements. Thus it is possible to realize an optical system of low cost and high productivity.
In the fourth image display apparatus, the ocular optical system has at least four surfaces, and a space formed by the at least four surfaces is filled with a medium having a refractive index larger than 1. The at least four surfaces include, in the order in which light rays pass in backward ray tracing from the observer's eyeball to the image display device, a first surface which functions as both a refracting surface and an internally reflecting surface, a second surface which is a reflecting surface facing the first surface and decentered or tilted with respect to an observer's visual axis, a third surface which is a reflecting surface facing the first surface and adjacent to the second surface, and a fourth surface which is a refracting surface closest to the image display device, so that reflection takes place three times in the path from the observer's eyeball to the image display device. Examples 6 to 10 (described later) correspond to the arrangement of the fourth image display apparatus.
In this apparatus, light rays emitted from the image display device are reflected three times in the ocular optical system in the same way as in the third image display apparatus, thereby enabling the light rays to be folded very effectively and favorably, and thus succeeding in minimizing the thickness of the ocular optical system realizing reduction in both size and weight of the image display apparatus, and providing the observer with a clear observation image having a wide exit pupil diameter and a wide field angle.
In the fourth image display apparatus, because the ocular optical system comprises four surfaces, only the first surface performs both transmission and reflection, and other reflecting and refracting functions are performed by respective surfaces which are independent of each other. Accordingly, these surfaces can correct each other's aberrations, and hence the arrangement is remarkably useful for aberration correction.
In a case where, as shown in
Examples 1 to 10 of image display apparatuses according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Constituent parameters of each example will be shown later. In the following description, the surface Nos. are shown as ordinal numbers in backward tracing from an observer's pupil position 1 toward an image display device 4 (image plane). A coordinate system is defined as follows: As shown in
In the constituent parameters (shown later), regarding each surface for which eccentricities Y and Z and inclination angle θ are shown, the eccentricity Y is a distance by which the vertex of the surface decenters in the Y-axis direction from the surface No. 1 (pupil position 1), which is a reference surface, and the eccentricity Z is a distance by which the vertex of the surface decenters in the Z-axis direction from the surface No. 1. The inclination angle θ is the angle of inclination of the central axis of the surface from the Z-axis. In this case, positive θ means counterclockwise rotation. It should be noted that the surface separation is meaningless.
The non-rotationally symmetric aspherical configuration of each surface may be expressed in the coordinate system defining the surface as follows:
where Ry is the paraxial curvature radius of each surface in the YZ-plane (the plane of the figure); Rx is the paraxial curvature radius in the XZ-plane; Kx is the conical coefficient in the XZ-plane; Ky is the conical coefficient in the YZ-plane; AR and BR are 4th- and 6th-order aspherical coefficients, respectively, which are rotationally symmetric with respect to the Z-axis; and AP and BP are 4th- and 6th-order aspherical coefficients, respectively, which are rotationally asymmetric with respect to the Z-axis.
It should be noted that the refractive index of the medium between a pair of surfaces is expressed by the refractive index for the spectral d-line. Lengths are given in millimeters.
FIGS. 1 to 10 are sectional views of image display apparatuses designed for a single eye according to Examples 1 to 10. In the sectional views of FIGS. 1 to 5, reference numeral 1 denotes an observer's pupil position, 2 an observer's visual axis, 3 an ocular optical system 4 an image display device (image plane), 5 a first surface of the ocular optical system 3, 6 a second surface of the ocular optical system 3, and 7 a third surface of the ocular optical system 3.
In the sectional views of
In these examples, the actual path of light rays is as follows: In Examples 1 to 5, a bundle of light rays emitted from the image display device 4 (image plane) enters the ocular optical system 3 while being refracted by the third surface 7 of the ocular optical system 3. Then, the ray bundle is reflected by the second surface 6, internally reflected by the first surface 5 and reflected by the second surface 6 again. Then, the ray bundle is incident on the first surface 5 and exits from the ocular optical system 3 while being refracted by the first surface 5 so as to be projected into the observer's eyeball with the observer's iris position or eyeball rolling center as the exit pupil 1.
In Examples 6 to 10, a bundle of light rays emitted from the image display device 4 (image plane) enters the ocular optical system 3 while being refracted by the fourth surface 14 of the ocular optical system 3. Then, the ray bundle is reflected by the third surface 13, internally reflected by the first surface 11 and reflected by the second surface 12. Then, the ray bundle is incident on the first surface 11 and exits from the ocular optical system 3 while being refracted by the first surface 11 so as to be projected into the observer's eyeball with the observer's iris position or eyeball rolling center as the exit pupil 1.
The following examples are all image display apparatuses for the right eye. An image display apparatus for the left eye can be realized by disposing the constituent optical elements of each example in symmetrical relation to the apparatus for the right eye with respect to the YZ-plane.
In an actual apparatus, needless to say, the direction in which the optical axis is beat by the ocular optical system may be any of the upward and sideward directions of the observer.
The following is an explanation of the field angle, pupil diameter, surface configuration of each surface, incident angle at each surface and refractive index of a transparent medium in each example.
Example 1 is one example of an ocular optical system comprising three surfaces as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 1. In this example, the horizontal field angle is 30°C, while the vertical field angle is 22.8°C, and the pupil diameter is 4 millimeters. The first surface (surface Nos. 2 and 4) 5, the second surface (surface Nos. 3 and 5) 6, and the third surface (surface No. 6) 7 are all anamorphic surfaces. Internal reflection at the first surface 5 is total reflection. Values for the conditions (1) to (13) are as follows:
Example 2 is one example of an ocular optical system comprising three surfaces as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 2. In this example, the horizontal field angle is 30°C, while the vertical field angle is 22.8°C, and the pupil diameter is 4 millimeters. The first surface (surface Nos. 2 and 4) 5 and the second surface (surface Nos. 3 and 5) 6 are anamorphic surfaces, and the third surface (surface No. 6) 7 is a spherical surface. Internal reflection at the first surface 5 is total reflection. Values for the conditions (1) to (13) are as follows:
Example 3 is one example of an ocular optical system comprising three surfaces as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 3. In this example, the horizontal field angle is 30°C, while the vertical field angle is 22.8°C, and the pupil diameter is 4 millimeters. The first surface (surface Nos. 2 and 4) 5 and the second surface (surface Nos. 3 and 5) 6 are anamorphic surfaces, and the third surface (surface No. 6) 7 is a spherical surface. Internal reflection at the first surface 5 is total reflection. Values for the conditions (1) to (13) are as follows:
Example 4 is one example of an ocular optical system comprising three surfaces as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 4. In this example, the horizontal field angle is 28°C, while the vertical field angle is 21.2°C, and the pupil diameter is 4 millimeters. The first surface (surface Nos. 2 and 4) 5 and the second surface (surface Nos. 3 and 5) 6 are anamorphic surfaces, and the third surface (surface No. 6) 7 is a spherical surface. Internal reflection at the first surface 5 is realized by mirror coating. Values for the conditions (1) to (13) are as follows:
Example 5 is one example of an ocular optical system comprising three surfaces as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 5. In this example, the horizontal field angle is 28°C, while the vertical field angle is 21.2°C, and the pupil diameter is 4 millimeters. The first surface (surface Nos. 2 and 4) 5 is an anamorphic surface. The second surface (surface Nos. 3 and 5) 6 is a flat surface, and the third surface (surface No. 6) 7 is a spherical surface. Internal reflection at the first surface 5 is realized by mirror coating. Values for the conditions (1) to (13) are as follows:
Example 6 is one example of an ocular optical system comprising four surfaces as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 6. In this example, the horizontal field angle is 30°C, while the vertical field angle is 22.8°C, and the pupil diameter is 4 millimeters. The first surface (surface Nos. 2 and 4) 11 is a flat surface, and the second surface (surface No. 3) 12, the third surface (surface No. 5) 13 and the fourth surface (surface No. 6) 14 are anamorphic surfaces. Internal reflection at the first surface 11 is total reflection. Values for the conditions (1) to (13) are as follows:
Example 7 is one example of an ocular optical system comprising four surfaces as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 7. In this example, the horizontal field angle is 30°C, while the vertical field angle is 22.8°C, and the pupil diameter is 4 millimeters. The first surface (surface Nos. 2 and 4) 11 is a spherical surface. The second surface (surface No. 3) 12 and the third surface (surface No. 5) 13 are anamorphic surfaces, and the fourth surface (surface No. 6) 14 is a spherical surface. Internal reflection at the first surface 11 is total reflection. Values for the conditions (1) to (13) are as follows:
Example 8 is one example of an ocular optical system comprising four surfaces as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 8. In this example, the horizontal field angle is 40°C, while the vertical field angle is 30.6°C, and the pupil diameter is 4 millimeters. The first surface (surface Nos. 2 and 4) 11, the second surface (surface No. 3) 12, the third surface (surface No. 5) 13 and the fourth surface (surface No. 6) 14 are all anamorphic surfaces. Internal reflection at the first surface 11 is total reflection. Values for the conditions (1) to (13) are as follows:
Example 9 is one example of an ocular optical system comprising four surfaces as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 9. In this example, the horizontal field angle is 30°C, while the vertical field angle is 22.6°C, and the pupil diameter is 4 millimeters. The first surface (surface Nos. 2 and 4) 11 is a spherical surface. The second surface (surface No. 3) 12 and the third surface (surface No. 5) 13 are anamorphic surfaces, and the fourth surface (surface No. 6) 14 is a spherical surface. Internal reflection at the first surface 11 is realized by mirror coating. Values for the conditions (1) to (13) are as follows:
Example 10 is one example of an ocular optical system comprising four surfaces as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 10. In this example, the horizontal field angle is 28°C, while the vertical field angle is 21.2°C, and the pupil diameter is 4 millimeters. The first surface (surface Nos. 2 and 4) 11 is a spherical surface. The second surface (surface No. 3) 12 and the third surface (surface No. 5) 13 are anamorphic surfaces, and the fourth surface (surface No. 6) 14 is a spherical surface. Internal reflection at the first surface 11 is realized by mirror coating. Values for the conditions (1) to (13) are as follows:
Values of constituent parameters in the above-described Examples 1 to 10 in backward ray tracing will be shown below.
| Abbe's | ||||||
| Sur- | Surface | Refractive | No. (In- | |||
| face | Radius of | separa- | index | clination | ||
| No. | curvature | tion | (Eccentricity) | angle) | ||
| Example 1 | ||||||
| 1 | ∞ (pupil) | |||||
| 2 | Ry | -210.566 | 1.6481 | 55.28 | ||
| Rx | -616.660 | Y | -26.631 | θ | 34.36°C | |
| Ky | 0 | Z | 3.827 | |||
| Kx | 0 | |||||
| AR | 0 | |||||
| BR | 0 | |||||
| AP | 0 | |||||
| BP | 0 | |||||
| 3 | Ry | -130.170 | 1.6481 | 55.28 | ||
| Rx | -131.141 | Y | 41.547 | θ | 10.87°C | |
| Ky | 0 | Z | 50.217 | |||
| Kx | 0 | |||||
| AR | -2.8856 × 10-10 | |||||
| BR | -2.3366 × 10-15 | |||||
| AP | -4.1410 | |||||
| BP | 5.4988 | |||||
| 4 | Ry | -210.566 | 1.6481 | 55.28 | ||
| Rx | -616.660 | Y | -26.631 | θ | 34.36°C | |
| Ky | 0 | Z | 3.827 | |||
| Kx | 0 | |||||
| AR | 0 | |||||
| BR | 0 | |||||
| AP | 0 | |||||
| BP | 0 | |||||
| 5 | Ry | -130.170 | 1.6481 | 55.28 | ||
| Rx | -131.141 | Y | 41.547 | θ | 10.87°C | |
| Ky | 0 | Z | 50.217 | |||
| Kx | 0 | |||||
| AR | -2.8856 × 10-10 | |||||
| BR | -2.3366 × 10-15 | |||||
| AP | -4.1410 | |||||
| BP | 5.4988 | |||||
| 6 | Ry | -139.371 | Y | -39.978 | θ | 49.40°C |
| Rx | 339.330 | Z | 67.618 | |||
| Ky | 0 | |||||
| Kx | 0 | |||||
| AR | 0 | |||||
| BR | 0 | |||||
| AP | 0 | |||||
| BP | 0 | |||||
| 7 | (display device) | Y | -46.520 | θ | 28.24°C | |
| Z | 41.317 | |||||
| Example 2 | ||||||
| 1 | ∞ (pupil) | |||||
| 2 | Ry | -161.656 | 1.5163 | 64.15 | ||
| Rx | -1301.410 | Y | 3.977 | θ | 26.73°C | |
| Ky | 0 | Z | 12.107 | |||
| Kx | 0 | |||||
| AR | 1.9502 × 10-7 | |||||
| BR | -1.0740 × 10-11 | |||||
| AP | 1.1334 | |||||
| BP | 2.0740 | |||||
| 3 | Ry | -136.884 | 1.5163 | 64.15 | ||
| Rx | -147.084 | Y | 4.315 | θ | 35.86°C | |
| Ky | -0.4474 | Z | 30.348 | |||
| Kx | -1.1088 | |||||
| AR | 5.6195 × 10-6 | |||||
| BR | -8.8973 × 10-15 | |||||
| AP | 2.6626 × 10-1 | |||||
| BP | 7.2753 | |||||
| 4 | Ry | -161.656 | 1.5163 | 64.15 | ||
| Rx | -1301.410 | Y | 3.977 | θ | 26.73°C | |
| Ky | 0 | Z | 12.107 | |||
| Kx | 0 | |||||
| AR | 1.9502 × 10-7 | |||||
| BR | -1.0740 × 10-11 | |||||
| AP | 1.1334 | |||||
| BP | 2.0740 | |||||
| 5 | Ry | -136.884 | 1.5163 | 64.15 | ||
| Rx | -147.084 | Y | 4.315 | θ | 35.86°C | |
| Ky | -0.4474 | Z | 30.348 | |||
| Kx | -1.1088 | |||||
| AR | 5.6195 × 10-6 | |||||
| BR | -8.8973 × 10-15 | |||||
| AP | 2.6626 × 10-1 | |||||
| BP | 7.2753 | |||||
| 6 | 192.794 | Y | -47.076 | θ | 79.13°C | |
| Z | 41.366 | |||||
| 7 | (display device) | Y | -56.120 | θ | 38.58°C | |
| Z | 39.788 | |||||
| Example 3 | ||||||
| 1 | ∞ (pupil) | |||||
| 2 | Ry | -51.348 | 1.7433 | 44.75 | ||
| Rx | -45.397 | Y | -8.790 | θ | 29.67°C | |
| Ky | -0.0909 | Z | 1.764 | |||
| Kx | 1.6087 | |||||
| AR | -2.7583 × 10-6 | |||||
| BR | -2.8974 × 10-10 | |||||
| AP | -2.4093 | |||||
| BP | 1.9705 | |||||
| 3 | Ry | -57.489 | 1.7433 | 44.75 | ||
| Rx | -53.053 | Y | 15.378 | θ | 32.14°C | |
| Ky | -0.1177 | Z | 40.450 | |||
| Kx | 0.1510 | |||||
| AR | -5.1413 × 10-9 | |||||
| BR | 4.8987 × 10-11 | |||||
| AP | -7.1903 | |||||
| BP | -4.2086 × 10-1 | |||||
| 4 | Ry | -51.348 | 1.7433 | 44.75 | ||
| Rx | -45.397 | Y | -8.790 | θ | 29.67°C | |
| Ky | -0.0909 | Z | 1.764 | |||
| Kx | 1.6087 | |||||
| AR | -2.7583 × 10-6 | |||||
| BR | -2.8974 × 10-10 | |||||
| AP | -2.4093 | |||||
| BP | 1.9705 | |||||
| 5 | Ry | -57.489 | 1.7433 | 44.75 | ||
| Rx | -53.053 | Y | 15.378 | θ | 32.14°C | |
| Ky | -0.1177 | Z | 40.450 | |||
| Kx | 0.1510 | |||||
| AR | -5.1413 × 10-9 | |||||
| BR | 4.8987 × 10-11 | |||||
| AP | -7.1903 | |||||
| BP | -4.2086 × 10-1 | |||||
| 6 | -17.021 | Y | -21.771 | θ | 72.83°C | |
| Z | 27.458 | |||||
| 7 | (display device) | Y | -35.479 | θ | 14.03°C | |
| Z | 30.627 | |||||
| Example 4 | ||||||
| 1 | ∞ (pupil) | |||||
| 2 | Ry | -408.985 | 1.5163 | 64.15 | ||
| Rx | -283.326 | Y | -14.922 | θ | 24.30°C | |
| Ky | 0 | Z | 12.616 | |||
| Kx | 0 | |||||
| AR | -6.5368 × 10-6 | |||||
| BR | 2.6628 × 10-11 | |||||
| AP | -4.2799 × 10-2 | |||||
| BP | 1.0453 | |||||
| 3 | Ry | -137.122 | 1.5163 | 64.15 | ||
| Rx | 109.735 | Y | 5.062 | θ | 35.80°C | |
| Ky | -3.3707 | Z | 32.532 | |||
| Kx | -2.6799 | |||||
| AR | 9.0123 × 10-6 | |||||
| BR | 5.8457 × 10-4 | |||||
| AP | -3.5746 × 10-2 | |||||
| BP | -9.1012 | |||||
| 4 | Ry | -408.985 | 1.5163 | 64.15 | ||
| Rx | -283.326 | Y | 14.922 | θ | 24.30°C | |
| Ky | 0 | Z | 12.616 | |||
| Kx | 0 | |||||
| AR | -6.5368 × 10-6 | |||||
| BR | 2.6628 × 10-11 | |||||
| AP | -4.2799 × 10-2 | |||||
| BP | 1.0453 | |||||
| 5 | Ry | -137.122 | 1.5163 | 64.15 | ||
| Rx | -109.735 | Y | 5.062 | θ | 35.80°C | |
| Ky | -3.3707 | Z | 32.532 | |||
| Kx | -2.6799 | |||||
| AR | 9.0123 × 10-6 | |||||
| BR | 5.8457 × 10-14 | |||||
| AP | -3.5746 × 10-2 | |||||
| BP | -9.1012 | |||||
| 6 | 39.708 | Y | -49.190 | θ | 66.30°C | |
| Z | 52.374 | |||||
| 7 | (display device) | Y | -50.195 | θ | 42.57°C | |
| Z | 47.677 | |||||
| Example 5 | ||||||
| 1 | ∞ (pupil) | |||||
| 2 | Ry | 155.857 | 1.5163 | 64.15 | ||
| Rx | 108.364 | Y | -20.000 | θ | 30.81°C | |
| Ky | 0 | Z | 30.000 | |||
| Kx | 0 | |||||
| AR | -1.1508 × 10-7 | |||||
| BR | 1.1468 × 10-10 | |||||
| AP | -1.3330 | |||||
| BP | -1.7019 | |||||
| 3 | ∞ | 1.5163 | 64.15 | |||
| Y | -1.565 | θ | 37.32°C | |||
| Z | 42.461 | |||||
| 4 | Ry | 155.857 | 1.5163 | 64.15 | ||
| Rx | 108.364 | Y | -20.000 | θ | 30.81°C | |
| Ky | 0 | Z | 30.000 | |||
| Kx | 0 | |||||
| AR | -1.1508 × 10-7 | |||||
| BR | 1.1468 × 10-10 | |||||
| AP | -1.3330 | |||||
| BP | -1.7019 | |||||
| 5 | ∞ | 1.5163 | 64.15 | |||
| Y | -1.565 | θ | 37.32°C | |||
| Z | 42.461 | |||||
| 6 | 70.244 | Y | -33.253 | θ | 62.66°C | |
| Z | 36.315 | |||||
| 7 | (display device) | Y | -44.749 | 0 | 60.09 | |
| Z | 55.961 | |||||
| Example 6 | ||||||
| 1 | ∞ (pupil) | |||||
| 2 | ∞ | 1.4870 | 70.40 | |||
| Y | 0.000 | θ | 7.70°C | |||
| Z | 33.232 | |||||
| 3 | Ry | -92.681 | 1.4870 | 70.40 | ||
| Rx | -91.368 | Y | 10.225 | θ | 37.34°C | |
| Ky | 2.9442 | Z | 34.669 | |||
| Kx | -6.4492 | |||||
| AR | 6.7868 × 10-6 | |||||
| BR | 1.2064 × 10-12 | |||||
| AP | 1.1032 × 10 | |||||
| BP | -3.6642 | |||||
| 4 | ∞ | 1.4870 | 70.40 | |||
| Y | 0.000 | θ | 7.70°C | |||
| Z | 33.232 | |||||
| 5 | Ry | -227.431 | 1.4870 | 70.40 | ||
| Rx | -73.582 | Y | 30.000 | θ | 48.36°C | |
| Ky | 0 | Z | 2.395 | |||
| Kx | 0 | |||||
| AR | 4.6395 × 10-7 | |||||
| BR | 1.1004 × 10-11 | |||||
| AP | 5.1263 × 10 | |||||
| BP | -3.0762 | |||||
| 6 | Ry | 66.981 | ||||
| Rx | 16.415 | Y | -36.765 | θ | 57.28°C | |
| Ky | 0 | Z | 69.400 | |||
| Kx | 0 | |||||
| AR | 2.2637 × 10-6 | |||||
| BR | -7.3017 × 10-8 | |||||
| AP | -3.7748 × 10-1 | |||||
| BP | -6.6901 × 10-1 | |||||
| 7 | (display device) | Y | -33.673 | θ | 45.00°C | |
| Z | 44.201 | |||||
| Example 7 | ||||||
| 1 | ∞ (pupil) | |||||
| -542.306 | 1.5163 | 64.15 | ||||
| Y | 70.778 | θ | 5.68°C | |||
| Z | 30.533 | |||||
| 3 | Ry | -105.705 | 1.4870 | 70.40 | ||
| Rx | -89.941 | Y | 10.225 | θ | 37.34°C | |
| Ky | -0.1753 | Z | 34.669 | |||
| Kx | -0.8315 | |||||
| AR | 3.6313 × 10-6 | |||||
| BR | 6.1440 × 10-12 | |||||
| AP | -8.7199 × 10-2 | |||||
| BP | -5.0996 × 10 | |||||
| 4 | -542.306 | 1.5163 | 64.15 | |||
| Y | 70.778 | 5.68°C | ||||
| Z | 30.533 | |||||
| 5 | Ry | -180.609 | 1.5163 | 64.15 | ||
| Rx | -1143.935 | Y | 40.198 | θ | 41.35°C | |
| Ky | 0.1463 | Z | 16.177 | |||
| Kx | -1488.0941 | |||||
| AR | 2.0564 × 10-6 | |||||
| BR | 5.2529 × 10-14 | |||||
| AP | -3.7942 × 10-2 | |||||
| BP | 3.6207 | |||||
| 6 | -74.701 | Y | -39.077 | θ | 34.94°C | |
| Z | 47.282 | |||||
| 7 | (display device) | Y | -36.693 | 24.18°C | ||
| Z | 36.463 | |||||
| Example 8 | ||||||
| 1 | ∞ (pupil) | |||||
| 2 | Ry | -245.203 | 1.5338 | 65.89 | ||
| Rx | -52.851 | Y | 0.000 | 20.00°C | ||
| Ky | 0 | Z | -1.281 | |||
| AR | 0 | |||||
| BR | 0 | |||||
| AP | 0 | |||||
| BP | 0 | |||||
| 3 | Ry | -59.102 | 1.5163 | 64.15 | ||
| Rx | -45.130 | Y | 4.315 | θ | 35.86°C | |
| Ky | -0.9559 | Z | 30.348 | |||
| Kx | -0.2970 | |||||
| AR | 6.4446 × 10-6 | |||||
| BR | 9.3898 × 10-14 | |||||
| AP | 7.4590 | |||||
| BP | -1.3817 × 10 | |||||
| 4 | Ry | -245.203 | 1.5338 | 65.89 | ||
| Rx | -52.851 | Y | 0.000 | θ | 20.00°C | |
| Ky | 0 | Z | -1.281 | |||
| AR | 0 | |||||
| BR | 0 | |||||
| AP | 0 | |||||
| BP | 0 | |||||
| 5 | Ry | -92.593 | 1.5338 | 65.89 | ||
| Rx | -71.241 | Y | 29.319 | θ | 41.82°C | |
| Ky | 0 | Z | -4.482 | |||
| Kx | 0 | |||||
| AR | 7.6834 × 10-7 | |||||
| BR | 1.6178 × 10-11 | |||||
| AP | 4.2887 × 10-1 | |||||
| BP | -3.0887 | |||||
| 6 | Ry | -72.841 | ||||
| Rx | 81.858 | Y | -28.655 | θ | 22.75°C | |
| Ky | 0 | Z | 36.867 | |||
| Kx | 0 | |||||
| AR | 6.7391 × 10-7 | |||||
| BR | -4.2424 × 10-10 | |||||
| AP | -1.1564 × 10 | |||||
| BP | -8.0054 | |||||
| 7 | (display device) | Y | -28.600 | 35.00°C | ||
| Z | 19.053 | |||||
| Example 9 | ||||||
| 1 | ∞ (pupil) | |||||
| 2 | 64.328 | 1.5163 | 64.15 | |||
| Y | -20.000 | θ | 30.00°C | |||
| Z | 27.699 | |||||
| 3 | Ry | 139.632 | 1.5163 | 64.15 | ||
| Rx | 277.392 | Y | 0.129 | 39.41°C | ||
| Ky | -10.6785 | Z | 35.000 | |||
| Kx | 20.0000 | |||||
| AR | -7.5208 × 10-6 | |||||
| BR | 9.3767 × 10-13 | |||||
| AP | 3.6868 | |||||
| BP | -6.5396 | |||||
| 4 | 64.328 | 1.5163 | 64.15 | |||
| Y | -20.000 | θ | 30.00°C | |||
| Z | 27.699 | |||||
| 5 | Ry | 61.956 | 1.5163 | 64.15 | ||
| Rx | 70.808 | Y | -2.352 | 36.43°C | ||
| Ky | 0 | Z | 27.385 | |||
| Kx | 0 | |||||
| AR | 3.5927 × 10-7 | |||||
| BR | -4.9429 × 10-10 | |||||
| AP | -1.7527 | |||||
| BP | -9.8564 × 10-2 | |||||
| 6 | 45.850 | Y | -33.382 | θ | 72.85°C | |
| Z | 36.018 | |||||
| 7 | (display device) | Y | -38.077 | θ | 84.87°C | |
| Z | 57.285 | |||||
| Example 10 | ||||||
| 1 | ∞ (pupil) | |||||
| 2 | 68.114 | 1.5163 | 64.15 | |||
| Y | -7.666 | θ | 30.00°C | |||
| Z | 24.886 | |||||
| 3 | Ry | 172.006 | 1.5163 | 64.15 | ||
| Rx | 230.352 | Y | 3.180 | θ | 39.16°C | |
| Ky | 20.0000 | Z | 40.000 | |||
| Kx | -20.0000 | |||||
| AR | 1.9117 × 10-6 | |||||
| BR | -8.7696 × 10-10 | |||||
| AP | -7.5555 × 10-1 | |||||
| BP | -1.2220 | |||||
| 4 | 68.114 | 1.5163 | 64.15 | |||
| Y | -7.666 | θ | 30.00°C | |||
| Z | 24.886 | |||||
| 5 | Ry | -150.750 | 1.5163 | 64.15 | ||
| Rx | -87.182 | Y | 3.180 | θ | 39.16°C | |
| Ky | -79.4956 | Z | 40.000 | |||
| Kx | -334.5455 | |||||
| AR | 8.5541 × 10-7 | |||||
| BR | -1.7073 × 10-10 | |||||
| AP | 4.0595 × 10-1 | |||||
| BP | 8.1476 × 10-2 | |||||
| -5.311 | Y | 30.000 | θ | 67.19°C | ||
| Z | 44.886 | |||||
| 7 | (display device) | Y | -36.353 | θ | 60.00 | |
| Z | 51.966 | |||||
Although in the above-described examples anamorphic surfaces, spherical surfaces and flat surfaces are used for the constituent surfaces, it should be noted that these surfaces may have other surface configurations, e.g. toric surfaces, rotationally symmetric aspherical and spherical surfaces, and free curved surfaces defined by the expression (14). It is also possible to use holographic surfaces for the constituent surfaces.
In the case of a surface configuration for which curvature, power, etc. cannot be defined, the curvature, power, etc. of the surface may be obtained by determining the curvature in an arbitrary region which is obtained from the differential of the configuration of a portion of the surface at the intersection between the surface and axial light rays extending on the visual axis to reach the image display device, along the axial light rays, and defining the obtained curvature as the curvature of that surface.
Incidentally, it is possible to form a portable image display apparatus, such as a stationary or head-mounted image display apparatus, which enables the observer to see with both eyes, by preparing a combination of an image display device and an ocular optical system according to the present invention, arranged as described above, for each of the left and right eyes, and supporting the two combinations apart from each other by the interpupillary distance, that is, the distance between the eyes. It should be noted that it is also possible to form an image display apparatus for a single eye in which an ocular optical system according to the present invention is disposed for a single eye of the observer.
To arrange the image display apparatus of the present invention as a head-mounted image display apparatus (HMD) 31, as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 17(a) and the perspective view of FIG. 17(b), the HMD 31 is fitted to the observer's head by using a headband 20, for example, which is attached to the HMD 31. In this example of use, the HMD 31 may be arranged such that the second surface 6 of the ocular optical system 3 is formed by using a semitransparent mirror (half-mirror), and a see-through compensating optical system 22 and a liquid crystal shutter 21 are provided in front of the half-mirror, thereby enabling an outside world image to be selectively observed or superimposed on the image of the image display device 4. In this case, the see-through compensating optical system 22 comprises a transparent prism member which has been set so that the power of the entire optical system is approximately zero with respect to light from the outside world.
Further, the ocular optical system of the image display apparatus according to the present invention can be used as an imaging optical system. For example, as shown in the perspective view of
Although the image display apparatus according to the present invention has been described by way of examples, it should be noted that the present invention is not necessarily limited to these examples and that various changes and modifications may be imparted thereto.
As will be clear from the foregoing description, the image display apparatus according to the present invention makes it possible to provide an image display apparatus which has a wide field angle for observation and is extremely small in size and light in weight.
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