JP4423776B2 - Video display device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a personal video display device that is used in front of a face and provides a magnified virtual image of a video displayed on a display unit by a magnified optical system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, a video display device that is used in front of the face and that guides the light of the video displayed on the display unit to the eyes by a magnifying optical system and provides an enlarged virtual image of the video has been proposed as a video providing means for an individual (one person). ing. Such a video display device is generally in the form of glasses or goggles, and is used by being worn on the head.
[0003]
The simplest arrangement for providing images is to provide one display unit and one magnifying optical system. However, with this configuration, it is difficult to achieve both widening the field of view of the provided video (virtual image) and increasing the definition of the provided video. The field of view becomes narrower if refinement is attempted.
[0004]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-51239 discloses that a plurality of display units are provided, and light from each display unit is incident on adjacent portions of the magnifying optical system and guided to the eyes through adjacent optical paths. A liquid crystal display is used as the display unit, and each liquid crystal display simultaneously displays different portions of the provided video. A holographic element is used as the magnifying optical system, and the diffraction characteristics of the holographic element are set so that light from different liquid crystal displays come into contact with each other and reach the eye. In this configuration, the field of view becomes wider according to the number of display units, and the individual display units correspond to only a part of the entire video to be provided, so that the definition is also improved.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the apparatus disclosed in the above publication can provide a wide field of view and high-definition video. However, since the apparatus includes a plurality of display units, the configuration is complicated, leading to an increase in size and weight of the apparatus, and a manufacturing cost. Get higher. Considering the form of use, it is not preferable to increase the size and weight of the device, and it is desirable that the device is as low as possible because it is a personal device.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to realize a video display device capable of providing a wide field of view and high-definition video while being small, light and low cost. To do.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a display unit that displays an image and uses the illumination light provided as image light that represents the image, and a display unit that receives illumination light from a plurality of directions, Illumination unit that emits image light in the direction of the image, magnifying optical system that guides the image light emitted in multiple directions from the display unit to the eyes through multiple optical paths for each image light, and multiple images on the display unit And a control unit that switches the optical path of the image light guided to the eye in accordance with the switching of the image display.
[0008]
This video display device has a plurality of optical paths of video light from the magnifying optical system to the eyes, and the direction of the video light with respect to the eyes differs for each optical path. The image light of the plurality of optical paths represents the same image at the same time. If the image light of the plurality of optical paths is simultaneously guided to the eyes, the user is provided with a plurality of images (virtual images) having the same contents. . Actually, the control unit switches and displays a plurality of images on the display unit, and switches the optical path in accordance with the switching of the display. Therefore, when the image light representing different images is different from different directions, it is guided to the eyes. It is burned. If the image display and the switching of the optical path are performed quickly, it becomes close to a state in which different images are provided simultaneously from different directions, and the image observed by the user has a wide field of view as a whole. In addition, since the definition of each video is high, the definition of the video as a whole is also high.
[0009]
The optical path of the image light guided to the eye may be switched by any method. For example, the control unit switches the optical path of the image light guided to the eye by causing the illumination unit to switch the direction of the illumination light. To. By changing the direction of the illumination light, the emission direction of the image light is changed, and the optical path is automatically switched. Specifically, for example, the lighting unit includes a plurality of light sources whose positions are different and all face the display unit, and lighting of each light source is switched. In this way, the optical path can be switched very quickly.
[0010]
The magnifying optical system may include a hologram element. Since the hologram element can freely set the diffraction characteristics, it becomes easy to guide the image light with different emission directions from the display unit to the eyes through different optical paths, and it is also possible to enlarge the image at an arbitrary magnification. it can. In addition, since the hologram element has little effect other than the diffracted light, it is possible to guide the light from the outside to the eye and provide an image of the outside on the video.
[0011]
You may make it the wavelength of the illumination light which an illumination part gives to a display part differ for every direction of illumination light. The color of the video represented by the video light is different for each optical path, and the video can be easily identified even when a plurality of videos are observed partially overlapping. In particular, in a configuration in which the magnifying optical system includes a hologram element, even if different image lights overlap each other on the hologram element, it is easy to set each image light to be guided in different directions.
[0012]
The plurality of optical paths through which the magnifying optical system guides the image light to the eye may be set to overlap each other at the eye position or may be set to be separated from each other at the eye position. In the former setting, the user can observe a plurality of images collectively, and in the latter setting, the user can observe a plurality of images individually by changing the direction of the line of sight.
[0013]
Said video display apparatus can be set as the structure provided with the transparent plate-shaped member which hold | maintains an expansion optical system and faces eyes. Light from the outside that has passed through the plate-like member also enters the user's eyes, and the outside can be observed together with the image. If the magnifying optical system is a hologram element, the outside world is not blocked by the image.
[0014]
It is preferable that the plate-like member guides the image light emitted from the display unit from the end part, reflects the image light inside, and guides it to the magnifying optical system. The plate-like member can be made large and thin so that the display unit can be positioned outside the visual field of the user, and a wide visual field can be secured with respect to the external world while suppressing the weight of the device.
[0015]
The plate member may have optical power. The diopter can be adjusted by the power of the plate-like member, and even a user with reduced visual acuity can clearly observe the outside world without using other correction means.
[0016]
You may make it provide the mounting member for mounting | wearing a user's head. There is no need to hold it by hand, and the device is easy to use.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of a video display device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows the configuration and optical path of the optical system of the video display device 1 of the first embodiment. 1A, 1B, and 1C are a front view, a side view, and a plan view of the video display device 1, respectively. In FIG. 1A, the video display device 1 reaches the user's eyes. In order to clearly show the optical path, the position of the eye is shifted.
[0018]
The video display device 1 includes two light emitting diodes (LEDs) 11a and 11b, two diffusion plates 12a and 12b, two convex lenses 13a and 13b, one transmissive liquid crystal display (LCD) 14, and one transparent plate 15. Two mirrors 16a and 16b are provided. In the video display device 1, the mirrors 16a and 16b are positioned immediately in front of one eye E of the user, the transparent plate 15 faces the eye E, the LEDs 11a and 11b, the diffusion plates 12a and 12b, the lenses 13a and 13b, and the mirror. 16a and 16b are used in a state where they are aligned in the left-right direction with respect to the eye E.
[0019]
The LCD 14 is a display unit that displays an image and displays the image light representing the image displayed by modulating the illumination light provided. The display of the image on the LCD 14 is controlled by the control unit 21 (see FIG. 2).
[0020]
The LEDs 11a and 11b, the diffusion plates 12a and 12b, and the lenses 13a and 13b are illumination units that give illumination light to the LCD 14 that is a display unit. The LEDs 11a and 11b are disposed at different positions, and each emit light of a predetermined wavelength toward the LCD 14. The light emission of the LEDs 11a and 11b is also controlled by the control unit 21. The diffusion plates 12a and 12b diffuse the light emitted from the LEDs 12a and 12b, respectively. The lenses 13a and 13b guide the light from the LEDs 11a and 11b transmitted through the diffusion plates 12a and 12b to the entire surface of the LCD 14, respectively.
[0021]
The LCD 14 is provided with illumination light from two different directions. Illumination light given from two different directions becomes image light that passes through the LCD 14 and is emitted in two different directions.
[0022]
The mirrors 16 a and 16 b are magnifying optical systems that guide the light from the LCD 14 to the eye E, and are provided inside the transparent plate 15. The image light enters the transparent plate 15 from its upper end surface. The transparent plate 15 totally reflects the incident image light several times on the front surface (surface far from the eye) and back surface (surface close to the eye) and guides it to the mirrors 16a and 16b.
[0023]
Light from the outside that passes through the transparent plate 15 also enters the eye E, and the user can also observe the outside. The transparent plate 15 has power, and even a person with myopia or hyperopia can clearly observe the outside world without using other vision correction means. In FIG. 1, the transparent plate 15 has a negative power so as to be suitable for a person with myopia.
[0024]
Since the image light is reflected a plurality of times inside the transparent plate 15 and guided to the mirrors 16a and 16b, the transparent plate 15 can be made large and thin. Thereby, it becomes possible to position LED11a, 11b to LCD14 out of a user's visual field, and can ensure a user's visual field widely with respect to the external world, without accompanying the weight of the apparatus 1. FIG.
[0025]
The mirrors 16a and 16b, which are the magnifying optical system, are concave mirrors, respectively, and provide an enlarged virtual image of the image displayed on the LCD 14. The virtual image is about ten times larger than the real image of the LCD 14 or more, and is located at a distance of 1 to several meters in front of the eye E. The mirrors 16a and 16b may be total reflection mirrors or half mirrors. If it is a total reflection mirror, a bright image can be provided, and if it is a half mirror, a portion of the outside world that overlaps the image can be observed. In the case of a half mirror, for example, by changing the power of the part of the transparent plate 15 facing the mirrors 16a and 16b, the refraction at the time of passing through the curved mirrors 16a and 16b is canceled and observed. Avoid distortion in the outside world.
[0026]
Image light derived from the LED 11a is incident on the mirror 16a, and image light derived from the LED 11b is incident on the mirror 16b. These image lights are guided to the eye E through two different optical paths. The mirrors 16a and 16b are set so that the two optical paths for guiding the image light overlap at the position of the eye E, that is, form a single exit pupil. However, due to the difference in the direction of the image light with respect to the eye E, the image represented by each image light is observed side by side and the horizontal viewing angle of the entire two images is approximately twice the viewing angle of each image. .
[0027]
Since the LCD 14 displays one image at a time, if the LEDs 11a and 11b are made to emit light simultaneously, the two image lights represent the same image. However, in the video display device 1, the video displayed on the LCD 14 is switched so that the video represented by each video light represents half of the entire video to be provided, and the optical path for guiding the video light to the eye E is switched. To switch in sync with.
[0028]
A configuration for this control is schematically shown in FIG. The video display device 1 includes a control unit 21 that controls the display operation of the LCD 14 and the light emission operation of the LEDs 11a and 11b. The control unit 21 provides two video signals S1 and S2 representing the left half and the right half of the entire video to be provided to the LCD 14 at different times, and the LCD 14 displays a video corresponding to the given video signal S1 or S2. To do. The control unit 21 also individually gives light emission signals L1 and L2 instructing light emission to the LEDs 11a and 11b, and the LEDs 11a and 11b emit light only while the light emission signals L1 and L2 are given.
[0029]
When the video signal S1 is given to the LCD 14, the control unit 21 gives the light emission signal L1 to the LED 11a and does not give the light emission signal L2 to the LED 11b. When the video signal S2 is given to the LCD 14, the control unit 21 gives the light emission signal L2 to the LED 11b. Thus, the light emission signal L1 is not given to the LED 11a. Therefore, the video light derived from the LEDs 11a and 11b corresponds to the video signals S1 and S2, respectively, and the optical path of the video light guided to the eye E is switched. The control unit 21 alternately repeats the supply of the signals S1 and L1 and the supply of the signals S2 and L2 with a short cycle (for example, 1/30 second). By this control, video light representing the left half and the right half of the entire video is alternately incident on the eye E.
[0030]
An example of the video provided by the video display device 1 is shown in FIG. The video to be provided is such that the left half and the right half represented by each video light are close to each other, and the video as a whole has a wide field of view. In addition, since the left half and the right half of the image are light from the entire LCD 14, the definition of the entire image is the same as the definition of each image. Since the optical paths of the two image lights overlap with each other in the eye E, a user whose line of sight is directed to the front can observe the entire wide-field image together.
[0031]
If the LEDs 11a and 11b emit light of the same wavelength, the entire image becomes a single color, and if the LEDs 11a and 11b emit light of different wavelengths, the color of the image is the left half and the right half. Is different. Each of the LEDs 11a and 11b includes three types that emit red (R) light, green (G) light, and blue (B), and can display a color image. For this purpose, each of the video signals S1 and S2 includes a signal representing the R component, G component, and B component of the video, and the light emission signals L1 and L2 are signals for instructing emission of R light, G light, and B light. And display and light emission may be performed in synchronization.
[0032]
In the video display device 1, two videos are arranged side by side to represent the entire video, but two videos may be arranged side by side to represent the entire video. FIG. 4 schematically shows this configuration and an image observed by the user. In this case, the LEDs 11a and 11b are arranged in the vertical direction. Although not shown, mirrors 16a and 16b, which are magnifying optical systems, are also arranged in the vertical direction.
[0033]
Other embodiments will be described below, but components having the same or similar functions as those of the components described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.
[0034]
FIG. 5 schematically shows the configuration and optical path of the optical system of the video display apparatus 2 of the second embodiment. 5, (a), (b), and (c) are a front view, a side view, and a plan view of the video display device 2, respectively, but (a) is used from the video display device 2 as in FIG. In order to clearly show the optical path to the person's eye, the position of the eye is shifted. The video display device 2 includes two reflective hologram elements 17a and 17b as an enlargement optical system instead of the mirrors 16a and 16b. Other configurations are the same as those of the video display device 1.
[0035]
The hologram elements 17a and 17b have a flat plate shape and are provided inside the transparent plate 15 so that the lower end is closer to the face than the upper end. The transparent plate 15 is manufactured by joining two pieces having inclined end faces, and the hologram elements 17a and 17b are attached to the inclined end faces that become the joining faces.
[0036]
The hologram elements 17a and 17 are produced by exposing the photosensitive material with light having the same wavelength as the light emitted from the LEDs 11a and 11b to form interference fringes on the photosensitive material. The hologram elements 17a and 17b can be produced integrally or can be arranged side by side as separate bodies. In order to provide a color image, the LEDs 11a and 11b include three types that emit R light, G light, and B light, and one photosensitive material may be sequentially exposed with each color light to form hologram elements 17a and 17b. Alternatively, the hologram elements 17a and 17b may be formed by laminating three photosensitive materials individually exposed with each color light.
[0037]
FIG. 6 schematically shows the relationship between the wavelength of incident light and the reflectance and transmittance of the hologram element. 6A shows an example in which G light having a wavelength of 530 nm is diffracted, and FIG. 6B shows an example in which R light, G light, and B light having wavelengths 620, 530, and 430 nm are diffracted. The hologram element can be easily set to diffract light having a desired wavelength with high selectivity. For example, when light having a wavelength of 530 nm is diffracted and reflected as in (a), it is possible to strongly diffract only the wavelength region of 520 to 540 nm and transmit almost all the light of other wavelength regions.
[0038]
In the video display device 2 in which the magnifying optical system is configured by the hologram elements 17a and 17b having such characteristics, it is possible not only to provide an image of the outside world on the video but also to guide all video light to the eyes. Provides a bright image and avoids darkening or coloring of the external image overlapping the image.
[0039]
The video display device 2 also includes the control unit 21 shown in FIG. 2, and controls the display of the video on the LCD 14 and the switching of the optical path of the video light guided to the eyes from the hologram elements 17a and 17b in the same manner as the video display device 1. To do. Therefore, the user can observe an image with a wide field of view and high definition.
[0040]
The configuration of the optical system and the optical path of the image display device 3 of the third embodiment are schematically shown in the plan view of FIG. This image display device 3 is obtained by modifying the image display device 2 of the second embodiment to change the optical path of image light guided to the eyes by the hologram elements 17a and 17b, which are magnification optical systems.
[0041]
Image light derived from the LED 11a is not only incident on the hologram element 17a but also partially incident on a portion of the hologram element 17b near the hologram element 17a. Similarly, the image light derived from the LED 11b is not only incident on the hologram element 17b but also partially incident on a portion of the hologram element 17a near the hologram element 17b. The hologram elements 17a and 17b are integrally manufactured by exposing a single photosensitive material from two directions so that the central portion is double-exposed. The double-exposed part is the part where the image light derived from both the LEDs 11a and 11b is incident.
[0042]
Although the optical paths of the image light guided to the eyes by the hologram elements 17a and 17b are different, the image light partially overlaps, and thus the images provided to the user also partially overlap. The control unit 21 makes a part of the two video signals S1 and S2 given to the LCD 14 the same so that the overlapping parts of the video become the same video. Therefore, the user does not feel uncomfortable even though the images to be observed overlap.
[0043]
The wavelengths of light emitted from the LEDs 11a and 11b are different. Thereby, the part into which the image light derived from both the LEDs 11a and 11b of the hologram elements 17a and 17b is incidentally set to diffract each image light in different directions. The wavelength of the light emitted from the LEDs 11a and 11b only needs to be about 20 nm or more, and can be, for example, 550 nm and 570 nm, or 450 nm and 550 nm.
[0044]
If the wavelengths of light emitted from the LEDs 11a and 11b are different, the colors of the two images to be observed are different, and the user can clearly identify the two images. In that case, the overlapping part of the images is observed as an intermediate color.
[0045]
FIG. 8 schematically shows the configuration and optical path of the optical system of the video display device 4 of the fourth embodiment. 8A and 8B are a side view and a plan view, respectively. The video display device 4 is obtained by modifying the video display device 2 to change the optical path of the video light guided to the eyes by the hologram elements 17a and 17b which are magnification optical systems.
[0046]
The hologram elements 17a and 17b are set so that each optical path for guiding the image light is separated at the position of the eye E, that is, individually forms an exit pupil. Therefore, the image light of the two optical paths does not enter the eye E almost simultaneously, and only one image is provided to the user whose line of sight is directed in one direction. However, if the user changes the direction of the line of sight, the other image can be observed.
[0047]
An example of an image provided by the image display device 4 is shown in FIG. This example is an image that is provided to a user who is driving a car, and includes a message that calls attention to driving. When the line of sight is directed to the left, only the left image VL is observed, and when the line of sight is directed to the right, only the right image VR is observed. Note that the automobile is provided with a camera that captures a wide range including the side and a video identification circuit that recognizes a moving object in the captured video, and gives the recognition result to the control unit 21. Video signals S1 and S2 representing messages are appropriately given to the LCD.
[0048]
The plan view of FIG. 10 schematically shows the configuration and optical path of the optical system of the video display device 5 of the fifth embodiment. This image display device 5 is obtained by modifying the image display device 3 of the third embodiment to change the optical path of image light guided to the eyes by the hologram elements 17a and 17b, which are magnification optical systems.
[0049]
The hologram elements 17a and 17b have portions that receive image light derived from both the LEDs 11a and 11b, as in the image display device 3. However, the hologram elements 17a and 17b, like the image display device 4 of the fourth embodiment, each separates the optical path for guiding the image light at the position of the eye E, that is, individually forms an exit pupil. Is set to Therefore, the image light of the two optical paths does not enter the eye E almost simultaneously, and only one image is provided to the user whose line of sight is directed in one direction.
[0050]
The control unit 21 gives the LCD 14 such that the image light derived from the LED 11a and incident on the hologram element 17b and the image light derived from the LED 11b and incident on the hologram element 17a represent the same image. The contents of the video signals S1 and S2 are partly the same. Therefore, even if the user changes the direction of the line of sight, a part of the observed image is the same.
[0051]
An example of an image provided by the image display device 5 is shown in FIG. This example is also an image provided to a user who is driving a car. When the line of sight is directed to the left, only the left image VL is observed, and when the line of sight is directed to the right, only the right image VR is observed, but the portion located at the center of the entire image remains unchanged.
[0052]
FIG. 12 schematically shows the configuration and optical path of the optical system of the video display device 6 of the sixth embodiment. In FIG. 12, (a), (b), and (c) are a front view, a side view, and a plan view of the video display device 6, respectively, but (a) shows the position of the eyes shifted as described above. Yes. The video display device 6 arranges the LEDs 11a and 11b of the video display device 2 of the second embodiment relatively close to each other and replaces the two diffusion plates 12a and 12b and the two lenses 13a and 13b with one diffusion. A plate 12 and one lens 13 are provided.
[0053]
The diffusion plate 12 diffuses the light from the LEDs 11a and 11b, and the lens 13 guides the light from the LEDs 11a and 11b transmitted through the diffusion plate 12 to the entire surface of the LCD 14, respectively. The hologram elements 17a and 17b, which are magnifying optical systems, have portions where both video light derived from the LED 11a and video light derived from the LED 11b are incident, as in the video display device 3 of the third embodiment. Further, the two optical paths through which the hologram elements 17a and 17b guide the image light overlap at the position of the eye E. The control by the control unit 21 for displaying the image on the LCD 14 and switching the optical path of the image light guided from the hologram elements 17 a and 17 b to the eyes is the same as the image display device 3.
[0054]
The configuration of the optical system and the optical path of the video display device 7 of the seventh embodiment are schematically shown in the plan view of FIG. In the video display device 7, the diffusion plates 12a and 12b and the transparent plate 15 are omitted from the video display device 2 of the second embodiment, and the video light is directly incident on the hologram elements 17a and 17b from an oblique direction. Is.
[0055]
A light shielding plate having a pinhole 18 is provided immediately before the LEDs 11a and 11b, and light emitted from the LEDs 11a and 11b passes through the pinhole 18 and becomes divergent light from a point light source. The lenses 13a and 13b are collimator lenses and guide the divergent light from the LEDs 11a and 11b that have passed through the pinhole 18 to the entire surface of the LCD 14 as parallel rays. The illumination light is converted into image light by the LCD 14, but the image light remains a parallel light beam and includes a large number of light beams having a small diameter representing individual points of the image on the LCD 14. Image lights emitted in two directions from the LCD 14 are incident on the hologram elements 17a and 17b, respectively, and guided to the eye E through different optical paths. The optical paths through which the hologram elements 17a and 17b guide the image light overlap at the position of the eye E.
[0056]
The hologram elements 17a and 17b guide the image light to the eye as convergent light, but do not change the positional relationship of the light beams representing individual points of the image. Therefore, in the video display device 7, although the optical paths overlap at the position of the eye E, many minute exit pupils are formed in the overlapping range. The luminous flux representing each point of the image continues on the retina, so that the user can recognize the entire image displayed on the LCD 14.
[0057]
The control by the control unit 21 for displaying the image on the LCD 14 and switching the optical path of the image light guided from the hologram elements 17 a and 17 b to the eyes is the same as that of the image display device 2. The video display device 7 having such a configuration can also provide a video with a wide field of view and high definition. Here, the pinhole 18 is provided in order to bring the light source closer to the point light source, and if the laser is used, the pinhole 18 is unnecessary.
[0058]
The external appearance of the video display device 8 of the eighth embodiment is shown in FIG. The video display device 8 includes a pair of left and right optical systems described in the first to sixth embodiments, and has a spectacle-like appearance. The video display device 8 has a pair of temples 22 and a pair of nose pads 23, and is used by being mounted on the head. The left and right transparent plates 15 are connected by a connecting portion 24, the temple 22 is attached to the end portion of the transparent plate 15, and the nose pad 23 is attached to the connecting portion 24.
[0059]
The LEDs 11 a and 11 b and the like included in the illumination unit and the LCD 14 as a display unit are accommodated in a housing 25 and fixed to the upper end of the transparent plate 15. The housing 25 is located outside the user's field of view and does not block the field of view. The control unit 21 is connected to the LEDs 11 a and 11 b in the housing 25 and the LCD 14 via the cable 26.
[0060]
FIG. 15 schematically shows the configuration and optical path of the optical system of the video display device 8. In both the left and right optical systems, illumination light is applied to the LCD 14 from different directions from the LEDs 11a and 11b, and image light emitted from the LCD 14 in different directions is guided to the eyes through different optical paths by the hologram elements 17a and 17b or the mirrors 16a and 16b. The control unit 21 synchronizes the display of the image and the switching of the optical path for each optical system, and provides a wide-field and high-definition image to each of the left and right eyes. It is also possible to provide a stereoscopic image by causing the control unit 21 to display an image with parallax on the LCD 14 of the left and right optical systems.
[0061]
A video display device 9 according to a ninth embodiment will be described. The video display device 9 is incorporated in a mobile phone, and provides received information, information to be transmitted, or information such as a stored map as a video to the user. FIG. 16 shows the appearance of a mobile phone 30 incorporating the video display device 9. The mobile phone 30 includes a main body 30a and a lid 30b, and can be folded so that the lid 30b overlaps the main body 30a when not in use.
[0062]
The main body 30a mainly manages the function of the telephone, incorporates a signal processing circuit, a plurality of keys 31 for inputting telephone numbers and the like, a liquid crystal display 32 for displaying the inputted telephone numbers, and radio waves. An antenna 33 for transmitting and receiving, a speaker 34 for outputting received sound, and the like are provided. The lid 30b includes a microphone 35 for voice input, and also includes a video display device 9. A window 30c is provided on the inner surface of the lid portion 30b, and a window facing the window 30c is also provided on the outer surface.
[0063]
FIG. 17 shows a cross section of the video display device 9 taken along the line XX ′ of FIG. The optical system of the video display device 9 has a configuration similar to that of the second to sixth embodiments, and includes LEDs 11a and 11b, an LCD 14, a transparent plate 15, and hologram elements 17a and 17b. However, reflectors 13 a ′ and 13 b ′ are provided instead of the lenses 13 a and 13 b, and the diffusion plates 12 a and 12 b are disposed immediately before the LCD 14. It should be noted that the constituent elements forming a pair such as the LEDs 11a and 11b and the hologram elements 17a and 17b are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG.
[0064]
The video display device 9 is arranged inside the lid portion 30b so that the transparent plate 15 faces the window 30c. While using the mobile phone 30 by hand so that the transparent plate 15 and the window 30c are positioned in front of the eyes and the speaker 34 of the main body 30a is positioned near the ear, the user can make a call. It is possible to observe an image of the outside world and an image overlapping therewith. Even when used in this state, the voice uttered by the user is detected by the microphone 35.
[0065]
Also in the video display device 9, illumination light is applied to the LCD 14 from different directions from the LEDs 11a and 11b, and video light emitted from the LCD 14 in different directions is guided to the eyes by the hologram elements 17a and 17b through different optical paths. The control unit 21 switches the video display and the optical path in synchronization. Accordingly, a wide field of view and high definition video is provided.
[0066]
In each of the above embodiments, an example in which image light is alternately guided to the eye from two optical paths has been shown. However, the image light is provided from three or more optical paths by providing three or more LEDs and hologram elements (or mirrors). You can also guide them in order. Also, here, the direction of the illumination light applied to the LCD is changed by changing the light emission timing of the LED, but a shutter is arranged on the optical path of the illumination light, and the direction of the illumination light is changed by opening and closing the shutter. It is also possible to change. Furthermore, the optical path may be switched by arranging a shutter on the optical path from the magnifying optical system to the eye.
[0067]
In each of the above embodiments, a head-mounted or hand-held device is used, but the present invention is not limited to such a small configuration. For example, as in the tenth embodiment shown in FIG. 18, a configuration in which large reflective hologram elements 17 a and 17 b are attached to a large transparent plate 19, and image light is projected onto these and guided to the eyes through a plurality of optical paths. It can also be. It is also possible to use a glass plate of a building window or a glass plate of a show window as the transparent plate 19.
[0068]
【The invention's effect】
The video display device of the present invention can provide a video with a wide field of view and high definition. In addition, since a plurality of display units are not required, the configuration is simplified, a small and lightweight device is obtained, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Therefore, it is suitable for the form used in front of the face and also suitable as a personal device.
[0069]
When the control unit switches the direction of the illumination light to the illumination unit to switch the optical path of the image light guided to the eye, it is not necessary to provide a means for switching the optical path after the display unit, and the design is easy. Become. In addition, it is possible to quickly switch the optical path, and it is possible to avoid making the user feel uncomfortable.
[0070]
If the magnifying optical system includes a hologram element, it becomes very easy to design and manufacture the magnifying optical system. It is also possible to provide an image of the outside world superimposed on the video.
[0071]
If the wavelength of the illumination light given to the display unit by the illumination unit is different for each direction of the illumination light, the color will be different between the images, even when multiple images are observed partially overlapping, Video identification becomes easy.
[0072]
Multiple optical paths that guide the image light to the eye through the magnifying optical system overlap at the eye position so that multiple images can be observed together, which is useful when users need to observe different images simultaneously It is.
[0073]
If the magnifying optical system separates the optical paths that guide the image light to the eye from each other at the position of the eye, it is possible to observe the images individually by changing the direction of the line of sight, and images with different users This is useful when there is no need to observe the two simultaneously.
[0074]
In the configuration including the magnifying optical system and the transparent plate-like member facing the eye, the outside can be observed together with the image, and the apparatus can be used at all times. If the magnifying optical system is composed of a hologram element, the outside world is not blocked by the image.
[0075]
When the plate-like member guides the image light emitted from the display unit from the end and reflects it internally to guide to the magnifying optical system, the plate-like member is enlarged and thinned so that the display unit can be viewed by the user. It can be located outside, and there is no hindrance to observation of the outside world, and the device is lightweight.
[0076]
When the plate-like member has optical power, even a user with reduced visual acuity can clearly observe the outside world without using other correction means. Moreover, in the structure provided with the attachment member for mounting | wearing a user's head, it becomes a user-friendly apparatus.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view, a side view, and a plan view schematically showing a configuration and an optical path of an optical system of a video display apparatus according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration for controlling switching between a display image and an optical path of the image display apparatus according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image provided by the image display apparatus according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a front view schematically showing a configuration of an optical system of a modified example of the video display apparatus according to the first embodiment and an example of a provided video.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are a front view, a side view, and a plan view schematically showing a configuration and an optical path of an optical system of a video display apparatus according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the relationship between the reflectance and transmittance of a hologram element and the wavelength of incident light.
FIG. 7 is a plan view schematically showing a configuration and an optical path of an optical system of a video display apparatus according to a third embodiment.
FIGS. 8A and 8B are a side view and a plan view schematically showing a configuration and an optical path of an optical system of a video display apparatus according to a fourth embodiment. FIGS.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an image provided by the image display apparatus according to the fourth embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a plan view schematically showing a configuration and an optical path of an optical system of a video display apparatus according to a fifth embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an image provided by the image display apparatus according to the fifth embodiment.
FIGS. 12A and 12B are a front view, a side view, and a plan view schematically showing a configuration and an optical path of an optical system of a video display apparatus according to a sixth embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a plan view schematically showing a configuration of an optical system and an optical path of a video display apparatus according to a seventh embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a video display device according to an eighth embodiment.
FIG. 15 is a front view schematically showing a configuration and an optical path of an optical system of an image display apparatus according to an eighth embodiment.
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a mobile phone incorporating a video display device according to a ninth embodiment.
FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration and an optical path of an optical system of a video display apparatus according to a ninth embodiment.
FIG. 18 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of an optical system and an optical path of a video display apparatus according to a tenth embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Video display device
11a, 11b Light emitting diode
12a, 12b, 12 Diffuser
13a, 13b, 13 lenses
14 Liquid crystal display
15 Transparent plate
16a, 16b mirror
17a, 17b Hologram element
18 pinhole
19 Transparent plate
21 Control unit
22 Temple
23 Nose pads
24 connecting part
25 body
26 Cable
30 Mobile phone
30a body
30b Lid
31 Input key
32 Liquid crystal display
33 Antenna
34 Speaker
35 microphone

Claims (10)

A display unit for displaying an image and using the illumination light provided as image light representing the image;
An illumination unit that gives illumination light to the display unit from a plurality of directions and emits image light from the display unit in a plurality of directions;
Magnifying optical system that guides the image light emitted in a plurality of directions from the display unit to the eyes through a plurality of optical paths different for each image light,
A video display device comprising: a control unit that switches a plurality of videos to be displayed on the display unit and switches an optical path of video light guided to the eye in accordance with switching of video display. The video display device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit switches the optical path of the video light guided to the eye by causing the illumination unit to switch the direction of the illumination light. The video display device according to claim 1, wherein the magnifying optical system includes a hologram element. 4. The video display device according to claim 1, wherein a wavelength of illumination light provided to the display unit by the illumination unit is different for each direction of illumination light. 5. 5. The video display device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of optical paths through which the magnifying optical system guides the video light to the eye overlap each other at the position of the eye. 5. The video display device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of optical paths through which the magnifying optical system guides the video light to the eye are separated from each other at a position of the eye. The video display device according to claim 1, further comprising a transparent plate-like member that holds the magnifying optical system and faces the eye. 8. The image display device according to claim 7, wherein the plate-like member guides the image light emitted from the display unit from the end, reflects the image light inside, and guides it to the magnifying optical system. The image display apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the plate-like member has optical power. The video display device according to claim 1, further comprising a mounting member that is mounted on a user's head.

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