An image display apparatus for a viewer to view a two-dimensional image demonstrated on an image display device as an enlarged virtual image by a virtual-image optical system. The image display apparatus includes a prism and a reflective transmitting surface for reflecting or transmitting image light incident from an incident optical surface. The image display apparatus also includes a reflective optical component for reflecting image light reflected from the reflective transmitting surface and radiated from a first planar optical surface towards the reflective transmitting surface as a collimated light beam and a phase difference optical component arranged on a light path between the first planar optical surface and the reflective optical component to the state of polarization of the image light.
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14. An image display apparatus comprising:
an image display device for demonstrating an image;
a relaying optical system for relaying image light of said image demonstrated on said image display device; and
a prism at least including a first curved optical surface, a second curved optical surface arranged substantially parallel to said first curved optical surface on a side towards an optical pupil, an incident optical surface on which is incident said image light relayed by said relaying optical system, and a reflective transmitting surface having a preset tilt relative to said first curved optical surface and said second curved optical surface and adapted for reflecting or transmitting said image light incident thereon from said incident curved optical surface;
a reflective optical component arranged on a side towards said first curved optical surface of said prism and configured for reflecting said image light reflected on said reflective transmitting surface and radiated from said first curved optical surface towards said reflective transmitting surface as a substantially collimated light beam; and
a phase difference optical component arranged on a light path of said first curved optical surface of said prism and said reflective optical component, sandwiching an air layer between the phase difference optical component and said first curved optical surface or said reflective optical component, said phase difference optical component transforming the state of polarization of said image light;
said prism guiding said image light, incident on and proceeding into said prism from said incident optical surface, up to said reflective transmitting surface, as said image light undergoes internal total reflection on said first curved optical surface.
11. An image display apparatus comprising:
an image display device for demonstrating an image;
a relaying optical system for relaying image light of said image demonstrated on said image display device; and
a prism at least including a first curved optical surface, a second curved optical surface arranged substantially parallel to said first curved optical surface on a side towards an optical pupil, an incident optical surface on which is incident said image light relayed by said relaying optical system, and a reflective transmitting surface having a preset tilt relative to said first curved optical surface and said second curved optical surface and adapted for reflecting or transmitting said image light incident thereon from said incident optical surface;
a reflective optical component arranged on a side towards said first curved optical surface of said prism and configured for reflecting said image light reflected on said reflective transmitting surface and radiated from said first curved optical surface towards said reflective transmitting surface as a substantially collimated light beam; and
a phase difference optical component arranged on a light path of said first curved optical surface of said prism and said reflective optical component, sandwiching an air layer between the phase difference optical component and said first curved optical surface or said reflective optical component, said phase difference optical component transforming the state of polarization of said image light;
said prism guiding said image light, incident on and proceeding into said prism from said incident optical surface, up to said reflective transmitting surface, as said image light undergoes internal total reflection on said first curved optical surface and on said second curved optical surface, an intermediate image of said image being formed in the course of the guiding of said image light.
6. An image display apparatus comprising:
an image display device for demonstrating an image;
a relaying optical system for relaying image light of said image demonstrated on said image display device; and
a prism at least including a first planar optical surface, a second planar optical surface arranged substantially parallel to said first planar optical surface on a side towards an optical pupil, an incident optical surface which has an optical axis including an angle of not less than 30 degrees and less than 90 degrees with a normal to said first planar optical surface or to a normal to said second planar optical surface and on which is incident said image light relayed by said relaying optical system, and a reflective transmitting surface having a preset tilt relative to said first planar optical surface or said second planar optical surface and adapted for reflecting or transmitting said image light incident thereon from said incident optical surface;
a reflective optical component arranged on a side towards said first planar optical surface of said prism and configured for reflecting said image light, reflected on said reflective transmitting surface and radiated from said first planar optical surface towards said reflective transmitting surface, as a substantially collimated light beam; and
a phase difference optical component arranged on a light path of said first planar optical surface of said prism and said reflective optical component, sandwiching an air layer between the phase difference optical component and said first planar optical surface or said reflective optical component, said phase difference optical component transforming the state of polarization of said image light;
said prism guiding said image light, incident on and proceeding into said prism from said incident optical surface, up to said reflective transmitting surface, as said image light undergoes internal total reflection on said first planar optical surface.
1. An image display apparatus comprising:
an image display device for demonstrating an image;
a relaying optical system for relaying image light of said image demonstrated on said image display device; and
a prism at least including a first planar optical surface, a second planar optical surface arranged substantially parallel to said first planar optical surface on a side towards an optical pupil, an incident planar optical surface which has an optical axis including an angle of not less than 30 degrees and less than 90 degrees with a normal to said first planar optical surface or to the second planar optical surface and on which is incident said image light relayed by said relaying optical system, and a reflective transmitting surface having a preset tilt relative to said first planar optical surface or said second planar optical surface and adapted for reflecting or transmitting said image light incident thereon from said incident optical surface;
a reflective optical component arranged on a side towards said first planar optical surface of said prism and configured for reflecting said image light reflected on said reflective transmitting surface and radiated from said first planar optical surface towards said reflective transmitting surface as a substantially collimated light beam; and
a phase difference optical component arranged on a light path of said first planar optical surface of said prism and said reflective optical component, sandwiching an air layer between the phase difference optical component and said first planar optical surface or said reflective optical component, said phase difference optical component transforming the state of polarization of said image light;
said prism guiding said image light, incident on and proceeding into said prism from said incident optical surface, up to said reflective transmitting surface, as said image light undergoes internal total reflection on said first planar optical surface and on said second planar optical surface, an intermediate image of said image being formed in the course of the guiding of said image light.
2. The image display apparatus according to
3. The image display apparatus according to
A=2C (1). 4. The image display apparatus according to
5. The image display apparatus according to
7. The image display apparatus according to
8. The image display apparatus according to
A32 2C (1). 9. The image display apparatus according to
10. The image display apparatus according to
12. The image display apparatus according to
13. The image display apparatus according to
15. The image display apparatus according to
16. The image display apparatus according to
0. 17. The image display apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:
a reflective optical component arranged on a side towards said first planar optical surface of said prism and configured for reflecting said image light reflected on said reflective transmitting surface and radiated from said first planar optical surface towards said reflective transmitting surface as a substantially collimated light beam; and
a phase difference optical component arranged on a light path of said first planar optical surface of said prism and said reflective optical component, sandwiching an air layer between the phase difference optical component and said first planar optical surface or said reflective optical component, said phase difference optical component transforming the state of polarization of said image light.
0. 18. The image display apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said image light, guided within the prism and reflected by reflective transmitting surface, is incident on said first planar optical surface at an angle that does not satisfy the condition of total reflection.
0. 19. The image display apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the following equation is satisfied:
15<C<45, with A=2C and 30<A<90, “A” being an angle between said optical axis of said incident planar optical surface and said normal to the first planar optical surface or said normal to the second planar optical surface, and
“C” being an angle between said reflective transmitting surface of said prism and said first planar optical surface.
0. 20. The image display apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the following equation is satisfied:
20<C<45, with A=2C and 30<A<90, “A” being an angle between said optical axis of said incident planar optical surface and said normal to the first planar optical surface or said normal to the second planar optical surface, and
“C” being an angle between said reflective transmitting surface of said prism and said first planar optical surface.
0. 21. The image display apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising:
a reflective optical component arranged on a side towards said first planar optical surface of said prism and configured for reflecting said image light reflected on said reflective transmitting surface and radiated from said first planar optical surface towards said reflective transmitting surface as a substantially collimated light beam; and
a phase difference optical component arranged on a light path of said first planar optical surface of said prism and said reflective optical component, sandwiching an air layer between the phase difference optical component and said first planar optical surface or said reflective optical component, said phase difference optical component transforming the state of polarization of said image light.
0. 22. The image display apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising:
a reflective optical component arranged on a side towards said first planar optical surface of said prism and configured for reflecting said image light reflected on said reflective transmitting surface and radiated from said first planar optical surface towards said reflective transmitting surface as a substantially collimated light beam; and
a phase difference optical component arranged on a light path of said first planar optical surface of said prism and said reflective optical component, sandwiching an air layer between the phase difference optical component and said first planar optical surface or said reflective optical component, said phase difference optical component transforming the state of polarization of said image light.
0. 23. The image display apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising:
a reflective optical component arranged on a side towards said first planar optical surface of said prism and configured for reflecting said image light reflected on said reflective transmitting surface and radiated from said first planar optical surface towards said reflective transmitting surface as a substantially collimated light beam; and
a phase difference optical component arranged on a light path of said first planar optical surface of said prism and said reflective optical component, sandwiching an air layer between the phase difference optical component and said first planar optical surface or said reflective optical component, said phase difference optical component transforming the state of polarization of said image light.
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with respect to the angle B, where B is an angle the first optical surface 15a makes with the first optical surface 15b.
This equation (1) needs to be met in order that the image light incident on and proceeding into the prism 15 from the incident optical surface 15a to get to the internal polarization beam splitter surface 16 as it undergoes total internal reflection will be reflected in a direction perpendicular to the optical surface 15b, so as to be then radiated to outside the prism 15.
On the other hand, since the angles B and A are geometrically equal to each other (B=A), the relation indicated by the equation (2):
A−2C=0 (2)
holds, so that the angle A may be prescribed using the angle C, as indicated by the following equation (3):
A32 2C (3).
For example, if the image display apparatus 10 is designed with the angle of field on the order of 15 degrees, a pupil diameter of the order of 4 mm, and with the eye relief of the order of 20 mm, the angle C must be on the order of 20 degrees at the minimum. Thus, from the equation (3), an angle of the order of 40 degrees or larger is needed as the angle A. The angle A, prescribed in this manner by the angular extent of not less than 30 degrees and less than 90 degrees, is further prescribed by the angle C, that is, the shape of the prism 15.
The light path of the image light of the virtual-image optical system of the image display apparatus 10, getting to the viewer, will now be explained. The image light demonstrated on the image display device 11 and radiated therefrom is first passed through the relay lenses 12 to 14 to be incident on the incident optical surface 15a of the prism 15.
The image light incident on and proceeding in the prism 15 undergoes a first internal total reflection on the first optical surface 15b, then undergoes a second internal total reflection on the second optical surface 15c and then undergoes a third internal total reflection on the first optical surface 15b again before being incident on the polarization beam splitter surface 16.
The polarization beam splitter surface 16 reflects the image light, as the S linearly polarized light, in a direction towards the first optical surface 15b. The image light, not satisfying the conditions for total reflection, is radiated to outside the prism 15 to fall on the quarter wave plate 17, which then transforms the S linearly polarized light into left-handed circularly polarized light. The image light, converted into the left-handed circularly polarized light, is reflected by the concave mirror 18 and turned into right-handed circularly polarized light so as to be again incident on the quarter wave plate 17. The image light, as the right-handed circularly polarized light, is converted by the quarter wave plate 17 into P linearly polarized light, which is then incident on the prism 15 and transmitted through the polarization beam splitter surface 16 to get to the optical pupil 19 where the viewer's pupil is.
With the above-described image display apparatus 10, in which the angle A the optical axis of the optical surface 15a of the prism 15 makes with the first optical surface 15b or the second optical surface 15c is set so as to be not less than 30 degrees and less than 90 degrees, the optical components of the virtual-image optical system may be arranged not on a straight line but so as to conform to the shape of the viewer's face.
Moreover, by guiding the image light by total internal reflection within the prism 15, the light utilization efficiency may be higher than in a virtual-image optical system in which light is guided by, e.g., a reflective mirror.
Referring to
The prism 21 is shorter in length than the prism 15, so that the image light radiated from the image display device 11 to fall on an incident optical surface 21 does not form an intermediate image within the prism 21 and undergoes internal total reflection only once by a first optical surface 21b, without undergoing internal total reflection on the second optical surface 21c, so as to be incident on the polarization beam splitter surface 16.
The angular extent of not less than 30 degrees and less than 90 degrees, as defined for the image display apparatus 10 of the previous embodiment, may directly be applied to the image display apparatus 20. Additionally, since the virtual-image optical system of the image display apparatus 20 is also the co-axial optical system, the relationship between the angles A and C, indicated by the above equation (3), similarly holds for the angle C between the polarization beam splitter surface 16 and the first optical surface 21b of the image display apparatus 20.
The light path of the image light reaching the viewer in the virtual-image optical system provided to the image display apparatus 20 will now be explained. The image light demonstrated on the image display device 11 and radiated therefrom is first passed through the relay lenses 12 to 14 to be incident on the incident optical surface 21a of the prism 21.
The image light incident on and proceeding into the prism 21 undergoes internal total reflection only once on the first optical surface 21b to then fall on the polarization beam splitter surface 16.
The polarization beam splitter surface 16 reflects the image light, as S linearly polarized light, towards the first optical surface 21b. The image light, not satisfying the conditions for total reflection, is radiated to outside the prism 21 to fall on the quarter wave plate 17, which then converts the S linearly polarized light into left-handed circularly polarized light. The image light, converted into the left-handed circularly polarized light, is reflected by the concave mirror 18 and turned into right-handed circularly polarized light so as to be again incident on the quarter wave plate 17. The image light, as the right-handed circularly polarized light, is converted by the quarter wave plate 17 into P linearly polarized light, which is then incident on the prism 15 and transmitted through the polarization beam splitter surface 16 to get to an optical pupil 22 where the viewer's pupil is.
With the above-described image display apparatus 20, in which the angle A, the optical axis of the optical surface 21a of the prism 21 makes with the first optical surface 21b or the second optical surface 21c, is set so as to be not less than 30 degrees and less than 90 degrees, the optical components of the virtual-image optical system may be arranged not on a straight line but so as to conform to the shape of the viewer's face.
Moreover, by guiding the image light by total internal reflection within the prism 15, the light utilization efficiency may be higher than in a virtual-image optical system in which light is guided by, e.g., a reflective mirror.
In addition, the image display apparatus 20, in which image light is guided so as to undergo total reflection in the prism 21 only once and so as not to form an intermediate image, may be reduced in size and weight as compared to the image display apparatus 10.
Referring to
The prism 31 is a prism in which image light incident on an incident optical surface 31a is guided, as the image light undergoes internal total reflection, by a first optical curved surface 31b and a second optical curved surface 31c, as parallel curved surfaces, instead of by the plan-parallel first and second optical surfaces 15b and 15c of the prism 15. An intermediate image is formed in the prism 31, as in the prism 15.
The virtual-image optical system, as the image display apparatus 30, having such prism 31 is not a co-axial optical system in which the optical axes of the optical components are all coincident, as in the image display apparatus 10, but is an offset optical system having offset optical axes. With the image display apparatus 30, such an optical arrangement conforming to the face shape of the viewer is realized by using the prism 31 having the first optical curved surface 31b and the second optical curved surface 31c in the virtual-image optical system.
The light path of the image light of the virtual-image optical system, provided to the image display apparatus 30, getting to the viewer, will now be explained. The image light demonstrated on the image display device 11 and radiated therefrom is first passed through the relay lenses 12 to 14 to be incident on the incident optical surface 31a of the prism 31.
The image light incident on and proceeding into the prism 31 undergoes a first internal total reflection on the first optical surface 31b, then undergoes a second internal total reflection on the second optical surface 31c and then undergoes a third internal total reflection on the first optical surface 31b again before being incident on the polarization beam splitter surface 16.
The polarization beam splitter surface 16 reflects the image light, as the S linearly polarized light, in a direction towards the first curved optical surface 31b. The image light, not satisfying the conditions for total reflection, is radiated to outside the prism 31 to fall on the quarter wave plate 17, which then transforms the S linearly polarized light into left-handed circularly polarized light. The image light, converted into the left-handed circularly polarized light, is reflected by the concave mirror 18 and turned into right-handed circularly polarized light so as to be again incident on the quarter wave plate 17. The image light, as the right-handed circularly polarized light, is converted by the quarter wave plate 17 into P linearly polarized light, which is then incident on the prism 31 and transmitted through the polarization beam splitter surface 16 to get to an optical pupil 32 where the viewer's pupil is.
With the image display apparatus 30 described above, there is provided the prism 31 having the first optical curved surface 31b and the second optical curved surface 32b, so that the optical components of the virtual-image optical system may be arranged not on a straight line but so as to conform to the shape of the viewer's face.
By guiding the image light by total internal reflection within the prism 31, the light utilization efficiency may be higher than in a virtual-image optical system in which light is guided by, e.g., a reflective minor.
Referring to
The prism 41 is shorter in length than the prism 31, so that the image light radiated from the image display device 11 to fall on an incident optical surface 41a through relay lenses 12 to 14 does not form an intermediate image within the prism 41 and undergoes internal total reflection only once by a first optical surface 41b, without undergoing internal total reflection on a second optical surface 41c, so as to be incident on the polarization beam splitter surface 16.
The virtual-image optical system of the image display apparatus 40 having such prism 41 is an offset optical system having offset optical axes, as in the image display apparatus 30. With the image display apparatus 40, such an optical arrangement conforming to the face shape of the viewer is realized by using the prism 41 having the first optical surface 41b and the second optical surface 41c in the virtual-image optical system.
The light path of the image light of the virtual-image optical system of the image display apparatus 40, getting to the viewer, will now be explained. The image light demonstrated on the image display device 11 and radiated therefrom, is first passed through the relay lenses 12 to 14 to be incident on the incident optical surface 41a of the prism 41.
The image light incident on and proceeding into the prism 41 is subjected to internal total reflection on the first optical surface 41b only once and incident on the polarization beam splitter surface 16.
The polarization beam splitter surface 16 reflects the image light, as S linearly polarized light, towards the first optical surface 41b. The image light departing from the conditions for total reflection is radiated to outside the prism 41 and incident on the quarter wave plate 17 where the S linearly polarized light is converted into left-handed circularly polarized light. The image light, thus converted into the left-handed circularly polarized light, is reflected by the concave mirror 18 where the light is converted into right-handed circularly polarized light, which is again incident on the quarter wave plate 17. The image light, as the right-handed circularly polarized light, is converted by the quarter wave plate 17 into P linearly polarized light, which then is incident on the prism 41 and transmitted through the polarization beam splitter surface 16 to get to the optical pupil 42 where the viewer's pupil is arranged.
With the above-described configuration of the image display apparatus 40 provided with the first optical surface 41b and the second optical surface 42b, the optical components of the virtual-image optical system may be arranged not on a straight line but so as to conform to the shape of the viewer's face.
Moreover, since the image light is guided by total internal reflection within the prism 41, the light utilization efficiency may be higher than in a virtual-image optical system in which light is guided by, e.g., a reflective mirror.
Although the incident optical surfaces 15a, 21a, 31a and 41a of the prisms 15, 21, 31 and 41 provided to the image display apparatus 10, 20, 30 and 40, respectively, are stated to be planar, these may also be spherically-shaped in order to improve aberration characteristics.
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment explained with reference to the drawings and, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, various changes, substitutions or equivalents may be attempted without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
Mukawa, Hiroshi, Sugano, Yasuyuki
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