JP2002258210A - Video monitor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a head attaching type video monitor where down sizing is achieved, any burden on a user is reduced and a high definition video image can be provided. SOLUTION: In the video monitor 1 provided with a display element 11 displaying the video, an eye piece optical system 2a installed before the eyes of the user and a spectacle part 6 with a translucent light conducting part 2 conducting the light from the display element 11 to the eye piece optical system 2a are provided, holding parts 2d and 2e holding the display element 11 are formed integrally from the same member as the light conducting part 2 and a light shielding film 16 is provided to the holding parts 2d and 2e.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a head mounted image observation apparatus for observing an image by wearing it on a head in the form of glasses.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional head-mounted image observation apparatus is shown in FIG.
Shown in The lenses 3 and 4 made of a translucent member are connected to the connecting portion 8.
To form the eyeglass unit 6. At both ends of the spectacles section 6 are ear hook sections 5L, 5R to be hung on the left and right ears of the user.
Is extended. Thus, the lenses 3 and 4 are arranged in front of the user.

A prism 2 is embedded in a part of the lens 3 for the right eye, and a display device 10 for displaying an image is mounted above the prism 2. The display device 10 is an image forming unit 10a that accommodates a display element 11 (see FIG. 6) described later.
And a circuit section 10b that houses a circuit board (not shown) for controlling the display element 11. A cable 7 for power supply and video signal supply is connected to the circuit unit 10b,
It is connected to a battery (not shown) and the like.

FIG. 6 shows a cross section of a side surface passing through the prism 2. The display device 10 is mounted so that the prism 2 is sandwiched by sandwiching portions 14 a and 14 b of a housing 14. Case 14
Is covered by a cap 15. The display element 11, the condenser lens 13, and the light source 12 are held by the housing 14 and the cap 15.

The display element 11 is composed of a transmissive liquid crystal panel, is positioned by a step 14 c formed on the end face of the housing 14, and is arranged obliquely with respect to the surfaces 2 b and 2 c of the prism 2. The light source 12 includes a light emitting diode or the like, and emits irradiation light of the display element 11. Condensing lens 13
Collects light from the light source 12 and irradiates the display element 11. The lower end of the prism 2 is inclined with respect to the surfaces 2b and 2c, and an eyepiece optical system 2a composed of a volume phase type hologram element is provided on the inclined surface.

When a video signal is sent from the cable 7 to the display element 11, the light source 12 emits light in synchronization with the video signal.
The light beam emitted from the light source 12 is applied to the display element 11 by the condenser lens 13 and modulated by the display element 11 to display an image. Since the image light enters the prism 2 while being inclined with respect to the surfaces 2b and 2c of the prism 2, the image light is guided while being reflected by the surfaces 2b and 2c inside the prism 2. And
The light is guided to the eyepiece optical system 2a, and is collimated and reflected by the eyepiece optical system 2a to be guided to the eye E of the user. This allows the user to observe the video as a virtual image.

Further, since the cable 7 hangs from the display device 10 in front of the user, it is troublesome for the user.
For this reason, as shown in FIG. 7, a video observation device in which a hollow portion 21 is provided in an ear hanging portion 5R and a cable 7 is inserted into the hollow portion 21 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-136598. As a result, the cable 7 is hung from behind the head of the user to reduce the trouble of the user.

[0008]

However, according to the conventional head-mounted image observation apparatus 1 described above, the housing 14
Sandwiches the prism 2. For this reason, the holding parts 14a and 14b corresponding to the thickness of the housing 14 are arranged in front of the user, which is troublesome for the user. Further, the holding portions 14a, 1
4b has a problem that the display device 10 is enlarged.

The display element 11 is provided on the step 14 of the housing 14.
c, the positioning accuracy of the display element 11 with respect to the prism 2 is low. For this reason, when the display element 11 is displaced from the predetermined position with respect to the prism 2, there is a problem that a fine image cannot be provided to the user.

Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-136598, when the cable 7 is inserted through the ear hook portion 5R, the ear hook portion 5R needs to have a predetermined thickness in order to maintain strength. I do. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 8, when the number of the conductors 7a in the cable 7 increases, the size of the ear hook portion 5R increases. For this reason, there is a problem that the image observation apparatus 1 becomes large and the user's feeling of wearing deteriorates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a head mounted image observation apparatus which can be reduced in size. It is another object of the present invention to provide a head-mounted image observation device capable of providing a high-definition image while reducing the trouble of the user. Another object of the present invention is to provide a head-mounted image observation apparatus that can improve the user's feeling of wearing.

[0012]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display device for displaying an image, an eyepiece optical system disposed in front of a user, and the display device. A spectacle unit having a translucent light guide unit that guides light from the eyepiece optical system, and an image observation apparatus that guides an image of the display element to a user's eyes. It is characterized in that the holding part for holding is formed integrally with the same member as the light guide part.

According to this configuration, the image observation device is mounted on the head of the user, and the image displayed by the display element is guided by the light guide section and guided to the user's eyes as a virtual image by the eyepiece optical system. . This allows the user to observe the video. The display element is positioned by a holding unit integrally formed of the same member as the light guide unit, and the image light is guided to a predetermined position of the eyepiece optical system.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image observation apparatus according to the first aspect, a light shielding process is performed on an outer surface of the holding unit. According to this configuration, intrusion of external light from the translucent holding unit integrated with the light guide unit is prevented.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display device for displaying an image, an eyepiece optical system arranged in front of a user, and light from the display device being guided to the eyepiece optical system. A spectacle section having a translucent light guide section, and a nose pad attached to the spectacle section and supported on the nose of a user to support the spectacle section; In the image observation device for guiding eyes, the display element is held by the nose pad.

According to this configuration, the nose pad is hung on the nose of the user, and the image observation device is mounted on the head of the user. The image displayed by the display element held by the nose pad is guided by the light guide section, and guided to the user's eyes as a virtual image by the eyepiece optical system. This allows the user to observe the video.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image observation apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, a display element for displaying an image and a video signal are transmitted to the display element. A cable, an eyepiece optical system arranged in front of a user, a spectacle unit having a light-transmitting light guide unit for guiding light from the display element to the eyepiece optical system, and supporting the spectacle unit And a mounting part to be mounted on the user's head, and wherein the periphery of the mounting part is covered by the cable in an image observation device for guiding an image of the display element to the eyes of the user. .

According to this configuration, the image observation device is mounted on the user's head by the mounting portion, and the display element displays an image by the video signal transmitted by the cable covering the periphery of the mounting portion and emits the image light. I do. The image light is guided through the light guide section and is guided to the user's eyes as a virtual image by the eyepiece optical system.
This allows the user to observe the video.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. For convenience of explanation, FIGS.
The same reference numerals are given to the same parts as. Figure 1
1 is a perspective view illustrating a video observation device according to a first embodiment. The lenses 3 and 4 made of a translucent member are connected by a connecting portion 8 to form a spectacle portion 6. At both ends of the spectacles portion 6, ear-hook portions (mounting portions) 5L and 5R to be hung on the left and right ears of the user.
Is extended. Thereby, the lenses 3 and 4 are arranged in front of the user.

A prism 2 is embedded in a part of the lens 3 for the right eye, and a display device 10 for displaying an image is mounted above the prism 2. The display device 10 includes an image forming unit 10a that houses a display element 11 (see FIG. 2) described later.
And a circuit section 10b that houses a circuit board (not shown) for controlling the display element 11. A cable 7 for power supply and video signal supply is connected to the circuit unit 10b,
It is connected to a battery (not shown) and the like.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the ear hook portion 5R. As shown in FIG. 2, a large number of conductors 7a in the cable 7 are arranged so as to cover the periphery of the ear hook portion 5R.
And the ear hanging part 5R are integrated. As a result, the cable 7 is hung from behind the head of the user to reduce the trouble of the user. Further, since the ear hook portion 5R has a predetermined thickness, the strength can be maintained, and even if the number of the conductive wires 7a in the cable 7 increases, the portion to be hooked on the ear (5R, 7).
However, the size is not increased and the wearing feeling of the user is not deteriorated.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the image observation apparatus 1 passing through the prism 2. At the upper end of the prism 2, holding portions 2 d and 2 e which are inclined with respect to the surfaces 2 b and 2 c of the prism 2 are provided. A hollow portion 2f is formed between the holding portions 2d and 2e arranged side by side. The display device 10 is mounted such that engagement claws (not shown) provided on a cap 15 that covers the display device 10 are engaged with the holding portions 2d and 2e.

A light-shielding paint is applied to the outer surfaces of the holding portions 2d and 2e to form a light-shielding film 16. Light shielding film 1
Numeral 6 blocks external light incident on the translucent holding portions 2d, 2e, thereby preventing ghosts due to the external light.
The light shielding film 16 may be formed by bonding colored members or the like.

The display device 10 has a display element 11, a condenser lens 13, a light source 12, and a circuit board (not shown).
The display element 11 is composed of a transmissive liquid crystal panel,
Positions are determined by steps 2g formed on the end faces of d and 2e, and held between holding parts 2d and 2e and cap 15. As a result, the display element 11 is
Are inclined with respect to the surfaces 2b and 2c.

The light source 12 is composed of a light emitting diode or the like, and emits irradiation light of the display element 11. The condenser lens 13 condenses the light from the light source 12 and irradiates the display element 11. The circuit board drives and controls the display element 11 and the light source 12, and is disposed in the cavity 2f in the circuit section 10b (see FIG. 1). The light source 12, the condenser lens 13, and the circuit board are the cap 1
5 attached.

An opening 15a is formed in the cap 15 near the light source 12. When the light source 12 is turned on, the light source 12 can be visually recognized from the opening 15a, so that a third party can easily recognize that the image is being observed. The opening 15a is provided in a portion where the display image is not affected by the external light because the external light enters.

The lower end of the prism 2 is inclined with respect to the surfaces 2b and 2c, and the eyepiece optical system 2a composed of a volume phase type hologram element is provided on the inclined surface. By making the eyepiece optical system 2a a hologram element, the eyepiece optical system 2
a can be formed to be translucent.

Therefore, when the user does not observe the image on the display element 11, the outside world can be observed through the eyepiece optical system 2a. At this time, since the lower end of the prism 2 is an inclined surface, the transmitted light of the external light is refracted, but the distortion is corrected by the lens 3.

In the video display device having the above configuration, when a video signal is sent from the cable 7 to the display element 11, the light source 12 emits light in synchronization with the video signal. The light beam emitted from the light source 12 is applied to the display element 11 by the condenser lens 13 and modulated by the display element 11 to display an image.

Since the image light enters the prism 2 while being inclined with respect to the surfaces 2b and 2c of the prism 2, the image light is guided while being reflected by the surfaces 2b and 2c in the prism 2. And
The light is guided to the eyepiece optical system 2a, and is collimated and reflected by the eyepiece optical system 2a to be guided to the eye E of the user. This allows the user to observe the video as a virtual image.

Incidentally, since the image light is reflected and guided inside the prism 2, it is almost the same as a normal spectacle lens (for example, 3 m).
m), the thickness of the prism 2 can be reduced. Thereby, the size and weight of the video observation device 1 can be reduced.

According to the present embodiment, the display element 11 is held by the holding portions 2d and 2e of the prism 2. Therefore, as in the conventional example (see FIG. 6), the holding portion 14 of the housing 14 is not required.
a is not provided, and the connecting portion between the display device 10 and the prism 2 is reduced in size. Thereby, the image observation device 1 can be reduced in size.

Since the holding portion 14a (see FIG. 6) protruding from the prism 2 toward the user's eye is not provided, the user's trouble is reduced. Further, the positioning accuracy of the display element 11 with respect to the prism 2 is improved. For this reason, the display element 11 does not deviate from the predetermined position with respect to the prism 2, and a high-definition image can be provided to the user.

Next, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an image observation apparatus according to the second embodiment. For convenience of description, the same parts as those in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the present embodiment, a nose pad 22 that hangs on the nose of the user is used.
R and 22L are provided integrally with the lenses 3 and 4.

The nose pad 22R comprises the same display device 10 as in the first embodiment (see FIG. 2), and the cap 15 is engaged with the holders 2d, 2e (2e not shown) of the prism 2. . Then, as shown in FIG.
The condenser lens 13 and the light source 12 are held by 5, and the display element 11 is held by being held by the holding sections 2 d and 2 e and the cap 15. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

The image light emitted from the display element 11 disposed inside the nose pad 22R (display device 10) enters the prism 2 while being inclined with respect to the surfaces 2b and 2c of the prism 2. The light is guided while being reflected by the surfaces 2b and 2c in the interior 2. Then, the image light is guided to the eyepiece optical system 2a, collimated and reflected by the eyepiece optical system 2a, and guided to the eye E of the user. This allows the user to observe the video as a virtual image. The circuit section 10b (see FIG. 1) of the display device 10 is provided separately from the nose pad 22R, and is connected by the cable 7.

According to the present embodiment, since the display element 11 is disposed in the nose holding portion 22R for putting the eyeglass portion 6 on the nose of the user, the display device 1 is provided above the lens 3 as in the first embodiment.
It is not necessary to provide 0, and the size of the video display device 1 can be reduced, and the display device 10 can be made inconspicuous.

[0038]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the display element is held by the holding portion formed integrally with the light guide portion by the same member. Therefore, the size of the connection between the display element and the light guide is reduced, so that the size of the image observation device can be reduced. In addition, since the connecting portion does not protrude to the user's eye side than the light guide unit, the user's trouble is reduced. Furthermore, since the positioning accuracy of the display element with respect to the light guide is improved, the display element does not shift from a predetermined position with respect to the light guide, and a high-definition image can be provided to the user.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the light-shielding process is performed on the holding portion, external light incident on the holding portion can be shielded, and a ghost due to the external light can be prevented.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the display element is arranged in the nose hook for putting the glasses on the nose of the user,
The size of the image display device can be reduced, and the display device including the display element can be made inconspicuous.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the periphery of the mounting portion is covered by the cable, the cable can be hung from behind the head of the user to prevent the user from being troubled. In addition, since the mounting portion has a predetermined thickness, strength can be maintained, and even if the number of conductors in the cable increases, the portion to be mounted on the head does not increase in size and does not degrade the user's feeling of mounting.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an image display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an ear hook portion of the image display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view passing through a prism of the image display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a video display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional video display device.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view passing through a prism of a conventional image display device.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an ear hook portion of a conventional video display device.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an ear hook portion of a conventional video display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 image display device 2 prism 2a hologram unit 2d, 2e holding unit 3, 4 lens 5R, 5L ear hook unit 6 eyeglass unit 7 cable 10 display device 11 display panel 12 light source 13 condenser lens 14 housing 15 cap 16 light shielding film 22R , 22L nose pad

Claims (4)

[The claims] 1. A display device for displaying an image, an eyepiece optical system disposed in front of a user, and a light transmitting portion for guiding light from the display device to the eyepiece optical system. And a spectacle unit having: a video observation device that guides an image of the display element to a user's eyes, wherein a holding unit that holds the display element is integrally formed by the same member as the light guide unit. Video observation device. 2. The image observation device according to claim 1, wherein a light-shielding process is performed on an outer surface of the holding unit. 3. A display element for displaying an image, an eyepiece optical system arranged in front of a user, and a light transmitting part for guiding light from the display element to the eyepiece optical system. A spectacle part having a nose pad attached to the spectacle part and hung on the nose of a user to support the spectacle part, comprising: a video observation device that guides an image of the display element to a user's eyes; An image observation device, wherein the display element is arranged in the nose pad. 4. A display element for displaying an image, a cable for transmitting a video signal to the display element, an eyepiece optical system disposed in front of a user, and light from the display element being transmitted to the eyepiece optical system. A spectacles section having a light-transmitting light guide section for guiding light, and a mounting section for supporting the spectacles section and mounting the spectacles section on a user's head, comprising: An image observation device for guiding, wherein the periphery of the mounting portion is covered by the cable.