JP3077166B2 - Glasses-type image display device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an eyeglass-type image display device.

[Summary of the Invention] In the eyeglass-type image display device of the present invention, a liquid crystal display unit is attached to, for example, one side of an eyeglass frame, and a video output displayed on the liquid crystal display unit is deflected by a mirror to an eyepiece unit. A glasses-type image display device that allows a user to watch an image while wearing glasses by introducing the liquid crystal panel, and in particular, a liquid crystal panel in a glasses-type frame on a front surface, and changes transmittance of the liquid crystal panel. This makes it possible to adjust the amount of intrusion light from the outside (hereinafter, referred to as outside light).

[Related Art] In recent years, helmet-type and goggle-type image monitor devices have been developed for the purpose of enjoying a large-screen image by one person, and of being able to carry the image outdoors and view the image. ing.

For example, as a goggle type device, as shown in FIG. 4, a liquid crystal display device 2 having a backlight 2a is provided above a goggle 1 having a concave mirror on the inside, and an image displayed on the liquid crystal display device 2 is mirrored. With this, the light is projected inside the goggles 1. Then, since the inside of the goggles 1 is a concave mirror, the user A can see an image as shown by a dashed line D.

With such a video monitor device, the power of a large screen video can be obtained with a small display device, and even when used outdoors, the external light is blocked, so the image is too bright to see well Also does not occur.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, goggle-type or helmet-type video monitor devices have limited applications because external light is blocked. That is, it is actually dangerous to use it outdoors where the surroundings cannot be seen, and it is limited to use indoors and in a state where the user can concentrate on images.

Therefore, there is a problem that such a video monitor device is unsuitable for being used outdoors to enjoy a video or to work while watching a monitor video.

On the other hand, in order to enable outdoor or portable use, an eyepiece corresponding to only one eye is provided so that the surroundings can be seen with the other eye, or the image is projected as a glasses type It is conceivable to make the surroundings somewhat visible even when the camera is mounted by using a half mirror for the part other than the eyepiece, but it is difficult to see the image due to external intrusion light, and the realism is significantly impaired. Therefore, there is a problem that it is not suitable when it is desired to concentrate on the video.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has been made in view of such problems, for example, when the user wants to concentrate on a powerful image indoors, or when carrying the camera outdoors, the surroundings and the image screen are displayed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a spectacles-type video display device which is suitable for any case of viewing both of them.

That is, in a spectacle type image display device in which an image displayed on the liquid crystal display portion is deflected by a mirror to form an optical path and is introduced into both eyepiece portions, a liquid crystal panel formed in a front spectacle type frame. Light amount detection means provided on the outer surface side of the liquid crystal panel, volume means for manually adjusting the transmittance of the liquid crystal panel, and changing the transmittance of the liquid crystal panel based on the operation state of the volume means It is possible to further change the transmittance of the liquid crystal panel based on both the operation state of the volume means and the output of the light amount detection means, from outside the glasses-type image display device And a transmittance varying means for adjusting the amount of the invading light.

Alternatively, the light amount detecting means is provided on the inner surface side of the liquid crystal panel.

[Operation] By automatically or manually changing the transmittance of the liquid crystal panel by providing a transmittance varying means, the amount of invading light from the outside fluctuates, so that the surroundings can be seen or the ambient light can be adjusted according to the purpose of use. Can be adjusted.

Further, according to the value detected by the light amount detecting means,
By controlling the transmittance, the amount of transmitted light can be kept constant irrespective of a change in external brightness.

Embodiments FIGS. 1 (a), 1 (b), and 1 (c) are a plan view, a front view, and a side view showing an embodiment of an internal mechanism of a glasses-type image display device 10 of the present invention.

In these figures, reference numeral 11 denotes a spectacle frame, and 12 denotes a liquid crystal display unit attached to one side of the spectacle frame 11, which includes a liquid crystal display 12a, a backlight 12b provided behind the liquid crystal display 12a, and the like. .
Although a video source such as a tuner and a video signal processing circuit system thereof may be built in the liquid crystal display unit 12,
For miniaturization, it is preferable to provide a connector terminal and to input a video signal from a separate device (a separate small tuner or the like). Also, for example, an eyeglass-type frame 11
A tuner may be attached to the other side of the device so that the received video signal can be displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 12.

M is a mirror, and ₁₁ mirrors M _{1 to} M 11 are provided to form an optical path B. L is a lens, it is provided seven to L ₁ ~L _7. The lens L ₁ is movable back and forth in the optical path R direction for diopter adjustment.

13 is a half mirror which light passing through the lens L ₃ is incident, the optical path R _R to eyepiece 14R optical path R is corresponding to the right eye by the half mirror 13, corresponding to the left eye eyepiece The light is branched into an optical path _RL to the unit 14L. Incidentally, Mirror M ₁₀ in the eyepiece section 14L has also the eyepiece 14R is M
₁₁ is arranged, as shown in FIG. 1 (c), the user will see the image that is projected on the mirror M _10, M ₁₁ directly.

A portion where the optical path R and R _R , _RL are formed, that is, a portion where the liquid crystal display unit 12, the mirror M, the lens L, and the half mirror 13 are disposed is an optical path frame formed along the eyeglass type frame 11. The image light, which is covered by the liquid crystal display unit 15 and is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 12, travels inside the optical path frame 15 while being shielded from external light, and reaches the eyepiece units 14R and 14L.

That is, in the optical path frame 15, the output image light of the liquid crystal display unit 12 is reflected by the mirror M ₁ as shown in FIG.
→ lens L ₁ → and proceeds mirror M ₂ is deflected along a glasses-type frame 11, and further drawing the lens as shown in (b) L ₂ → mirror M ₃ → mirror M ₄ → lens L ₃ → Proceeds to the half mirror 13.

The branches the transmitted light and the reflected light at the half mirror 13, transmitted light mirror M ₅ → mirror M ₇ → lens L ₅ → mirror
M ₉ → lens L ₇ → the progress mirror M _11, the optical path R _R to the eyepiece portion 14R of the right eye is formed.

On the other hand, the light reflected by the half mirror 13 is mirror M ₆ →
Lens L ₄ → Mirror M ₈ → Lens L ₆ → Mirror M ₁₀
An optical path _RL to the eyepiece 14L of the left eye is formed.

Incidentally, the half mirror 13, the length of each eyepiece 14R, the optical path distance to the mirror M _10, M ₁₁ of 14L, that is, the optical path R _R, R _L are coincident.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a liquid crystal panel formed in the front frame of the spectacle frame 11. That is, in the eyeglass-type frame 11 in the present embodiment, the lens portion of the normal sunglasses is formed by the liquid crystal panel 16.

The liquid crystal panel 16 is formed of a TN mode transmission type liquid crystal, and its structure is shown in FIG. 16a and 16e are polarizing plates, 16b and 16d are transparent electrodes (and alignment films), and 16c is a liquid crystal. In other words, when no voltage is applied to the transparent electrodes 16b and 16d, only the vertical polarization component of natural light is transmitted by the polarizer 16a, and the polarization plane is rotated by 90 ° by the liquid crystal 16c and transmitted through the polarizer 16e. When a sufficient voltage is applied to the transparent electrodes 16b and 16d, the molecules of the liquid crystal 16c align in the voltage direction and lose optical rotation, so that the vertical polarization component of natural light transmitted through the polarizing plate 16a is cut off by the polarizing plate 16e. . Therefore, the liquid crystal panel 16 can freely control the amount of transmitted light by adjusting the applied voltage.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a photo sensor for detecting external light, and the liquid crystal panel 16
It is provided above.

In this embodiment, the driving circuit system of the liquid crystal panel 16 is configured as shown in FIG. 3A, for example, so that the transmitted light of the liquid crystal panel 16, that is, the external light can be adjusted automatically or manually. An example of a specific circuit configuration using a C-MOS inverter as the liquid crystal panel drive circuit 19 is shown in FIG. 3 (b).

First, when the external light adjustment is performed in the automatic adjustment mode, the terminal a is connected by a switch circuit. Then the photo sensor 17
The information on the amount of light outside the glasses-type image display device obtained by the above is supplied to the liquid crystal panel driving circuit 19, and the liquid crystal panel driving circuit
19 applies a predetermined voltage to the liquid crystal panel 16 based on the level of external light. That is, when the outside is bright, the transmittance is reduced, and when the outside is dark, the transmittance is increased. Therefore, even if the amount of external light changes greatly by going out of the room to the outdoors while wearing the glasses-type image display device, the external light level felt by the user is kept constant at a predetermined value.

At this time, depending on the manner of use of the glasses-type image display device, when it is desired to make the surroundings visible, when it is desired to completely block external light, or when the surroundings need only be seen a little, the transmission of the liquid crystal panel 16 may occur. It is necessary to set various rates, but in that case, it is sufficient to adjust with the manual volume 20.

That is, in the automatic adjustment mode, if the desired external light amount is first set by the manual volume 20, the transmittance of the liquid crystal panel 16 is always set to the specified external light amount based on the external light amount information from the photo sensor 17 described above. It will be controlled to be kept at the light level.

Next, when you want to adjust the ambient light only by manual adjustment,
The switch circuit 18 is connected to the terminal b. In this case, only the operation of the manual volume 20 sets the voltage applied to the liquid crystal panel 16 by the liquid crystal panel drive circuit 19. Therefore, the user only needs to make the outside visible or block or block external light according to the purpose of use.

In the manual adjustment mode, the transmittance of the liquid crystal panel 16 does not change even if the external brightness changes, so that the user can perceive the change in the external brightness.

In this embodiment, as described above, the external light level perceived by the user at the time of wearing can be freely adjusted, so that a very versatile use is possible.

When you want to concentrate on the image indoors, you can fully enjoy the image projected on the eyepieces 14L and 14R by completely blocking the external light, and when using it outdoors, the surroundings are LCD panels It is safe to make it visible through 16, and there is no hindrance to use while walking, working, or inside a train.
Furthermore, it is also conceivable that the transmittance is made relatively high so that the outside scene can be mainly visually recognized rather than the images of the eyepieces 14L and 14R, and used, for example, as a viewfinder of a video camera.

Further, in the present embodiment, it is possible to set the external light level at which the image is most visible according to the external brightness and the luminance of the projected image. In particular, when an image with low luminance is output, the image can be easily viewed by blocking external light. In this case, since it is not necessary to improve the visibility of the image by increasing the image brightness, power consumption can be significantly reduced as a whole, and there is an advantage that the device is very suitable as a portable device powered by a battery.

Next, as another embodiment of the present invention, a photo sensor 17 is provided inside the liquid crystal panel 16 (on the face side of the user) so that the photo sensor 17 detects the amount of light transmitted through the liquid crystal panel 16. Constitute. The driving circuit of the liquid crystal panel 16 is the same as that shown in FIG.

In this case, since the amount of transmitted light is directly detected and the transmittance of the liquid crystal panel 16 is controlled based on the detection information, the transmission amount set by the manual volume 20 is always independent of the temperature characteristics of the liquid crystal panel 16 and the like. The external light amount can be obtained appropriately.

By the way, the sound is not described, but an earphone may be provided in a frame portion which comes into contact with the ear when the present glasses-type image display device is mounted so that the sound can be heard.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the spectacle-type image display device of the present invention includes the liquid crystal panel provided in the front-type spectacle-type frame so that the transmittance can be freely set. Has an effect that it can be used in various modes according to very various purposes.

Particularly, manual adjustment for changing the transmittance of the liquid crystal panel based on the operation state of the volume means and automatic adjustment for changing the transmittance of the liquid crystal panel based on both the operation state of the volume means and the output of the light amount detection means are possible. Because of this, it is possible to set the transmittance according to the user's preference and situation.

In addition, since the visibility of an image can be improved by adjusting the amount of external light without adjusting the image luminance, there is an advantage that power consumption is reduced and the device is suitable as a portable device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 (a), 1 (b) and 1 (c) are a plan view, a front view, and a side view showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a structure of a liquid crystal panel, and FIGS. FIG. 4B is a block diagram and circuit diagram showing an example of a driving circuit system of the liquid crystal panel, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional goggle type video monitor. 10 is an eyeglass type image display device, 11 is an eyeglass type frame, 12 is a liquid crystal display unit, 13 is a half mirror, 14L and 14R are eyepieces, 15 is an optical path frame, 16 is a liquid crystal panel, 17 is a photo sensor,
18 switch circuit, 19 is a liquid crystal panel drive circuit, 20 a manual volume, M ₁ ~M ₁₁ is a mirror, L ₁ ~L ₇ shows a lens.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5/64 511 G02C 11/00 G09G 3/18 H04N 5/66 102 H04N 5/74

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An eyeglass-type image display device in which an image displayed on a liquid crystal display is deflected by a mirror to form an optical path and is introduced into both eyepieces. A liquid crystal panel, an amount of light detecting means provided on the outer surface side of the liquid crystal panel, a volume means for manually adjusting the transmittance of the liquid crystal panel, and a transmission of the liquid crystal panel based on an operation state of the volume means. And the transmittance of the liquid crystal panel can be changed based on both the operation state of the volume means and the output of the light amount detection means, and the glasses-type image display device A spectacle-type image display device, comprising: a transmittance changing unit that adjusts a light amount of invading light from the outside of the eyeglasses. 2. An eyeglass-type image display device wherein an image displayed on a liquid crystal display portion is deflected by a mirror to form an optical path and is introduced into both eyepiece portions. A liquid crystal panel, an amount of light detecting means provided on the inner surface side of the liquid crystal panel, a volume means for manually adjusting the transmittance of the liquid crystal panel, and a transmission of the liquid crystal panel based on an operation state of the volume means. And the transmittance of the liquid crystal panel can be changed based on both the operation state of the volume means and the output of the light amount detection means, and the glasses-type image display device A spectacle-type image display device, comprising: a transmittance changing unit that adjusts a light amount of invading light from the outside of the eyeglasses.