JP2002282299A - Image applying method and image applying device to eye diseased person - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image applying method and image applying device capable of applying a clear image to an eye diseased person. SOLUTION: An image projector device 11 is provided with a laser light source 11a, a collimator lens 11b for making light emitted from the laser light source 11a to be parallel light, a liquid crystal display panel 11c as a spatial light modulating element, a spatial filter 11d and a hologram converging element 11e as a converging element. When the focal distance f of the hologram converging element 11e is taken as f, the hologram converging element 11e is disposed at a distance f from the center of an observer's pupil, and the observer A observes the image by Maxwell view. Even in the case where the diseased part Ad is existent in the substantially center of retina of the eye Ae, the optical axis of projection is set obliquely to the central axis of the eye ball, whereby image light is guided to the non-diseased part outside the central area of the retina so that the eye diseased person having the diseased part Ad can clearly see the image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for providing an image to a person with an eye disease.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When there is a disease in a part of the retina, of the external light projected on the retina by a lens of an eyeball,
External light guided to the diseased part is not perceived, and an image at a position corresponding to the diseased part in the visual field will appear to be missing or the like, particularly when the diseased part is present in the center of the retina. , You will lose much of the important part of the information from the outside world. In addition, when there is a disease in the light transmittance of the crystalline lens, a pupil (hole) is artificially formed outside the crystalline lens, but a clear image cannot be viewed with the artificial pupil. In addition, when there is a disease in the focus adjusting function of the crystalline lens, eyeglasses are worn, but it is difficult to correspond to the distance without dividing one eyeglass into regions.
In addition, when the lens has lost its focus function, it is difficult to image external light on the retina, and it is difficult to clearly recognize an image even if the external light and dark can be recognized.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide an image providing method and an image providing apparatus for an eye disease patient who can give a clear image to the eye disease person.

[0004]

According to the present invention, there is provided a method for providing an image to a person with an eye disease (hereinafter referred to as a first method). Given to the light-collecting element, the light-condensing point of the image light by the light-collecting element is positioned at the center of the pupil of the eyeball of the eye diseased person, and the optical axis is set obliquely with respect to the central axis of the eyeball. The image light is directly projected on the non-disease part.

[0005] With the above configuration, an image generated by the spatial light modulator (for example, an image obtained by capturing the outside world with a CCD camera) is directly projected on the retina without being affected by the lens function of the eye lens. In other words, since this projection is performed on the non-diseased part avoiding the diseased part of the retina, it is possible to minimize the lack of the capture of the external information as much as possible.

[0006] The method of providing an image to a person with an eye disease according to the present invention (hereinafter referred to as a second method in this item) is a method for projecting parallel light to a spatial light modulator to obtain image light to a condenser. The light condensing point of the image light by the light condensing element is positioned at a non-center portion in an eyeball pupil of an eye diseased person, and the image light is directly projected onto a non-disease portion mainly off the center of the retina.

[0007] Even in such a configuration, the projection of the image light is performed on the non-diseased part avoiding the diseased part of the retina, so that the lack of the capture of the external world information can be minimized. Here, when the converging point of the image light due to the parallel rays is located at the non-center portion in the eye pupil of the eye diseased person, the parallel rays are affected by refraction by the eye lens, and the image is located at a position off the center of the retina. Will be guided.

[0008] In addition, the method of applying an image to a person with an eye disease according to the present invention (hereinafter referred to as a third method in this item) is a method in which image light obtained by projecting parallel rays onto a spatial light modulator is converged on a condenser. Given, while concentrating the image light by the light condensing element is located at the artificial pupil provided outside the eye lens of the eye diseased person, the optical axis is set obliquely with respect to the central axis of the eyeball,
It is characterized by projecting an image directly on the retina.

With this configuration, the image generated by the spatial light modulator is projected directly on the retina through the artificial pupil, and a clear image can be given.

[0010] Further, the method of imparting an image to a person with an eye disease according to the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as a fourth method in this item) provides image light obtained by projecting parallel rays onto a spatial light modulator, to a light condensing element. The light condensing point of the image light by the light condensing element is positioned on a crystalline lens of a person with an eye disease who has a poor light converging function, and an image is directly projected on a retina.

With this configuration, the image generated by the spatial light modulator is projected directly onto the retina without being affected by the lens function of the eye lens, so that the image can be satisfactorily obtained even if the light-condensing adjustment function is insufficient. Can be recognized.

Further, the method of providing an image to a person with an eye disease according to the present invention (hereinafter referred to as a fifth method in this item) is a method of projecting a parallel light beam onto a spatial light modulator to obtain a light beam width of image light. Focused on the light-collecting element, the light-condensing point of the image light by the light-collecting element is positioned on the lens of the light-impaired dysfunction of the eye diseased person, and the image is directly projected near the center on the retina. .

With this configuration, even if the width itself of the aperture (pixel) of the spatial light modulator is insufficient in resolution when viewed from the visual acuity near the center on the retina, the width of the light beam of the image light is reduced. Since the aperture is provided to the optical element, the width of the opening (pixel) on the retina is reduced, and the width can be adapted to the visual acuity near the center on the retina.

An image providing apparatus according to the present invention is a spatial light modulator, a light source device for projecting parallel rays to the spatial light modulator, and an image light obtained by projecting parallel rays to the spatial light modulator. A light-collecting element that focuses light on the image, and allows the observer to observe the image by Maxwell vision.The optical axis is oblique to the central axis of the observer's eyeball and attached to the observer. It is characterized in that it is configured as follows. With such a configuration, the above-described first method, second method,
And the third method can be realized.

Further, an image providing apparatus according to the present invention is obtained by projecting a spatial light modulator, a light source device for projecting a parallel beam onto the spatial beam modulator, and projecting a parallel beam onto the spatial beam modulator. A light-collecting device for converging the image light, wherein the image-providing device allows the observer to observe the image by Maxwell viewing, wherein the light-collecting device is arranged obliquely with respect to the optical axis. It is characterized by. Even in such a configuration, the above-described first method, second method, and third method can be realized.

Further, an image providing apparatus according to the present invention is obtained by projecting a spatial light modulator, a light source device for projecting parallel rays to the spatial light modulator, and projecting parallel rays to the spatial light modulator. A light condensing element for condensing image light, wherein the image providing device allows the observer to observe the image by Maxwell viewing, wherein the optical axis is parallel to the central axis of the eyeball of the observer and the central axis Characterized in that it is configured to be mounted on an observer with a shift of a distance equal to or less than half of the pupil diameter. With such a configuration, the above-described second method can be realized.

Further, an image providing apparatus according to the present invention is obtained by projecting a spatial light modulator, a light source device for projecting parallel rays to the spatial light modulator, and projecting parallel rays to the spatial light modulator. A light-gathering device that condenses image light, comprising: an image imparting device that allows an observer to observe an image by Maxwell viewing, comprising an optical system that narrows the width of a light beam of the image light. I do. With such a configuration, the above-described fifth method can be realized.

In these image providing apparatuses, detection means for detecting the position of the pupil of the observer, an actuator for adjusting the optical axis, and a state in which the optical axis coincides with the central axis of the eye based on the output of the detection means Drive control means for controlling the drive of the actuator so as to avoid the above.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A method and an apparatus for providing an image to an eye disease patient according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
It will be described based on.

The upper part of FIG. 1 shows the positional relationship between the main part and the observer A in the head-mounted image providing apparatus 1, and the lower part shows the head-mounted image providing apparatus 1. The image providing device 1 includes an image projector 11, a helmet-shaped head mounting device 12, and a support 13. The support 13 is a member that connects the image projector 11 to the head-mounted device 12 and that supports the image projector 11 to be rotatable in a horizontal plane (around a vertical axis) and in a vertical plane (around a horizontal axis). is there.

The support portion 13a of the support 13 is provided on the head mounting device 12 so as to be rotatable around a vertical axis. The support portion 13a is set on a vertical axis passing through the center of the pupil of the eye Ae of the observer A, and the center (optical axis) of the image light emitted from the image projector 11 always passes through the center of the pupil. I have. That is, in the state of the solid line shown in the figure, in a state where the observer A is looking straight ahead, the image light emitted from the image projector 11 passes through the center of the pupil of the eye Ae of the observer A and passes through the retina. The video light emitted from the video projector 11 is guided to the area on the left side of the central part, and when the viewer A is looking straight ahead in the state shown by the dotted line in the figure, Through the center of the pupil of Ae, the light is guided to a region on the right side of the central portion of the retina.

One end of a support rod 13b is connected to the support 13a so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis about the support 13a. Further, the other end of the support rod 13b is connected to a support 13c fixed to the video projector 11 so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis. Since the rotation around the horizontal axis can be performed at the two places, in a state in which the observer A is looking straight ahead, the image light emitted from the image projector 11 is passed through the center of the pupil of the observer A to the central portion of the retina. It can be guided to an area higher than the above, or to an area lower than the central part of the retina.

FIG. 2 shows a specific configuration of the image projector 11, and also shows how the emitted image light is guided to the eye Ae. The image projector 11 includes a laser light source 11a, a collimator lens 11b that converts light emitted from the laser light source 11a into parallel light, a liquid crystal display panel 11c that is a spatial light modulation element, a spatial filter 11d, and a light condensing element. And a hologram focusing element 11e. Assuming that the focal length of the hologram light-collecting element 11e is f, the hologram light-collecting element 11e is arranged at a distance of f from the center of the pupil of the observer, and the observer A observes an image by Maxwell's vision. Then, the liquid crystal display panel 11
The image displayed in c is given to the observer A with a deep depth of focus. Higher order diffracted light is included in the parallel light transmitted through the pixel (opening) of the liquid crystal display panel 11c. When the parallel light is directly incident on the hologram condensing element 11e, an image becomes a multiple image. In the form, the spatial filter 1
By arranging 1d, only the 0th-order light is taken out to avoid a multiple image. In the liquid crystal display panel 11c,
A signal based on an image captured by an imaging camera (not shown),
A video signal created by a computer is supplied.

Even when the diseased part Ad is located substantially at the center of the retina of the eye Ae, as shown in FIG. The image light is guided to the non-disease part, and thereby it becomes possible to give a clear image to the eye diseased person having the diseased part Ad.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show another example of the image providing apparatus. The image providing device 1A shown in FIG. 3A includes an image projector 11, a head mounting device 12, a mirror 14, and a mirror support rod 15. The image projector 11 is the head mounted device 1
2 on a vertical plane and a horizontal plane. The mirror 14 is provided so as to be rotatable around a vertical axis X and to be swingable about a horizontal axis Y at a distal end portion of the mirror support bar 15 (a position in front of the eye Ae). With such a configuration, the image light emitted from the image projector 11 is reflected by the mirror 14 and guided substantially below the center of the retina of the eye Ae. Also in this case, the projection optical axis is set obliquely with respect to the central axis of the eyeball, so that the image light is guided to a non-disease part other than substantially the center of the retina,
It is possible to give a clear image to an eye disease patient having the diseased part Ad. Also, the image providing device 1 shown in FIG.
B is substantially the same as the configuration of FIG. 3A, except that mirrors 14A, 14A,
14B. In such a configuration, the image projector 11
Is reflected by the mirrors 14A and 14B, and can be guided substantially above the center of the retina of the eye Ae.

FIG. 4 shows that the hologram light condensing element 11e locates the light condensing point of the image light at a non-center portion in the pupil of the eyeball Ae, and the optical axis is outside the center axis of the eyeball Ae and with respect to the center axis. The image light is guided parallel to the non-diseased part of the retina, mainly off the center, avoiding the diseased part Ad of the retina. According to this method as well, it is possible to clearly provide an image to an eye disease patient having the diseased part Ad. As an image providing apparatus for realizing such a method, for example, the configuration shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 3 is used, and the image projector 11 is attached to the head mounting device in parallel with a line connecting the centers of the pupils of both eyes of the observer A. It is only necessary to dispose the pupil 12 so as to be slidable within a range of 1/2 of the pupil diameter.

FIG. 5 shows the optical axis of the image projector 11 as the eyeball Ae.
Is set outside the central axis of the hologram and parallel to the central axis, and the hologram condensing element 11e is arranged to be inclined with respect to the optical axis, and the hologram condensing element 11e focuses the image light on the pupil of the eyeball Ae. The figure shows a state in which image light is guided to a non-diseased part mainly outside the center of the retina while avoiding a diseased part Ad of the retina while being located at a non-central part in the inside. According to this method as well, it is possible to clearly provide an image to an eye disease patient having the diseased part Ad. The image providing apparatus that realizes this method only needs to include a tilt holding member that holds the hologram condensing element 11e at an angle with respect to the optical axis in the image projector 11. Further, a holding member with an adjusting function for adjusting the inclination angle of the hologram condensing element 11e may be used.

FIG. 6 shows that the focus point of the image light by the hologram condensing element 11e is located at the artificial pupil Aa provided outside the eye lens of the eye diseased person, and the optical axis is oblique to the central axis of the eye ball Ae. Is set to guide video on the retina. Although the artificial pupil Aa is formed by a medical practice, the medical practice itself is not a constituent element of the present invention, and if the artificial pupil Aa is present, the configuration of FIG. 6 can be applied. It is just that. For example, the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 can be used as an image providing apparatus for realizing such a method.

FIG. 7A shows how image light is guided to the retina when the lens of the eyeball Ae has a normal light condensing function, and FIG. 7B shows the manner in which the lens of the eyeball Ae is collected. It shows how video light is guided to the retina when it has no light function. In the case of FIG. 6B, if the pixel (opening) of the liquid crystal display panel 11c has a width d, the stimulus width on the retina is also d. An example of the relationship between deviation from the fovea of the eye and visual acuity is shown in FIG. For example, if the visual acuity is 1.0 at the fovea, a difference of 1 minute in the fovea can be determined.
The resolution on the retina is 5-7 μm. Then, in the range of 10 degrees from the fovea, the visual acuity is equivalent to 0.2. In this range, the difference of the visual angle of 5 minutes can be determined, and the resolution on the retina becomes approximately 39 μm. Liquid crystal display panel 1
If the width d of the pixel (aperture) of 1c is 10 μm to 20 μm, and if the image light is to be guided to a region deviated by 10 degrees or more from the fovea, in view of a decrease in visual acuity in that region, It can be said that the fact that the pixel width d of the liquid crystal display panel 11c becomes the stimulus width d on the retina as it is is sufficient for recognizing an image. On the other hand, an eye diseased person who has a diseased part Ad in the retina part that controls the peripheral visual field or has no diseased part and the lens of the eyeball Ae does not have a light-collecting function is a fovea with high visual acuity. Since the image is guided to the area, if the pixel width d is 10 μm to 20 μm, the resolution is insufficient.

FIG. 8 shows an image providing apparatus provided with a telecentric optical system 16 for narrowing the width of a light beam of image light. The telecentric optical system 16 includes a pair of lenses 16a and 16b having different focal lengths and apertures, and can change the width of the light beam according to the ratio of the focal lengths.
In this image providing apparatus, it is assumed that the pixel width d is 15 μm, and the pixel width d is projected to the central fossa by narrowing it to approximately half, 7 μm. As a result, retinal projection with a visual acuity of 1.0 is performed. In addition, spatial filter (re-diffraction optical system)
11d is a lens having a stop placed between a pair of lenses, so that the telecentric optical system 16 and the re-diffraction optical system
d may be integrated.

In order to detect the position of the pupil of the observer A, the image providing apparatus shown in FIG.
A CD imaging unit 19 is provided. The video signal from the CCD imaging unit 19 is given to the drive control unit 20. Video projector 1
Numeral 1 is slidably disposed within a range of の of the pupil diameter on the head mounting device 12 in parallel with a line connecting the centers of the pupils of both eyes of the observer A. Actuator (motor, etc.) 2
Numeral 1 drives the video projector 11 to slide. Drive control unit 2
0 controls the drive of the actuator 21 so that the position of the pupil imaged by the CCD imaging unit 19 is kept away from the center of the screen by a predetermined distance in the right or left direction. As a result, a state in which the optical axis of the image projector 11 coincides with the central axis of the eye Ae of the observer A is automatically avoided, and the image can always be guided to a non-diseased part of the retina. The image projector 11 and the half mirror 1
Even when the 4 'is rotated, it is possible to realize an automatic control for automatically avoiding a state where the optical axis of the image projector 11 coincides with the center axis of the eye Ae of the observer A.

In the above description, the hologram condensing element 11e is shown as the condensing element, but a convex lens or a concave mirror can be used instead. In the case of a concave mirror, means for changing the optical axis (for example, a beam splitter (half mirror 14 ') or mirror 1
4, 14A, 14B). A transmissive liquid crystal display panel 11 is used as a spatial light modulator.
Although c is shown, other transmissive video display panels, reflective liquid crystal display panels, and other video display panels (DMD: digital micromirror device, etc.) can be used. Further, in the configuration shown in FIG.
(Or one of 14a and 14B in FIG. 3B) may have the function of the hologram focusing element 11e. Further, in the configuration shown in FIG. 9, instead of the half mirror 14 ', a transparent substrate having the function of the hologram focusing element 11e may be used. Further, the CCD imaging unit 19 that detects the pupil position of the observer A is provided, but the pupil position may be detected by detecting the potential of the muscle that moves the eyeball. In the present invention, a laser light source is used as a light source, but an LED, a small lamp, a white light source guided by an optical fiber, or the like may be used.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, the image generated by the spatial light modulator is not affected by its lens function even when passing through the eye lens, and passes through the artificial pupil. In some cases, the image is directly projected on the retina, and the image can be clearly recognized. Further, if the width of the light beam of the image light is narrowed and applied to the light-collecting element, the width of the aperture (pixel) of the spatial light modulator is considered to be insufficient in resolution when viewed from the eyesight near the center on the retina. Also, since the width of the light beam of the image light is narrowed and given to the light-collecting element, the width of the aperture (pixel) on the retina becomes small,
It can be made to correspond to the visual acuity near the center on the retina. Also, if it is a configuration that performs automatic control that automatically avoids a state where the optical axis of the image projector coincides with the center axis of the eye,
This eliminates the need for adjustment when mounting the image providing device,
This has the effect that the observer can automatically follow the eyes even if he moves his eyes.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship between a main part and a user in a head-mounted image providing apparatus in an upper part, and showing a head-mounted image providing apparatus in a lower part.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of providing an image to a person with an eye disease.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views each showing another example of the image providing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a method of providing an image to a person with an eye disease.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a method of providing an image to a person with an eye disease.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing another example of a method of giving an image to a person with an eye disease.

FIG. 7 (a) shows how the image light is guided to the retina when the lens of the eyeball has a normal light collecting function, and FIG. 7 (b) shows the case where the lens of the eyeball is focused. It is explanatory drawing which showed how the image light was guide | induced to the retina in the case where it does not have a function, and the same figure (c) is explanatory drawing which showed an example of the deviation from the fovea of an eye, and visual acuity. It is.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an image providing device having a telecentric optical system.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an image providing apparatus having a configuration for performing automatic control for automatically avoiding a state where the optical axis of the image projector coincides with the central axis of the eye.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image provision apparatus 11 Image projector 11a Laser light source 11b Collimator lens 11c Liquid crystal display panel 11d, spatial filter 11e Hologram condensing element 12 Head mounting implement 13 Support body 14 Mirror 16 Telecentric optical system

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Kunihiko Shiraki 3-5-13 Midorioka, Toyonaka City, Osaka Prefecture (72) Takahisa Ando 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. Inside

Claims (10)

[Claims] An image light obtained by projecting a parallel light beam onto a spatial light modulator is applied to a light condensing element, and a light condensing point of the image light by the light condensing element is positioned at the center of a pupil of an eyeball of an eye diseased person. A method for providing an image to a person with an eye disease, wherein the optical axis is set obliquely with respect to the center axis of the eyeball, and the image light is directly projected onto a non-diseased part mainly outside the center of the retina. 2. An image light obtained by projecting a parallel light beam onto a spatial light modulation element is provided to a light condensing element, and a condensing point of the image light by the light condensing element is set at a non-central portion in an eyeball pupil of an eye diseased person. And directly projecting image light onto a non-diseased part of the retina mainly off the center of the retina. 3. An image light obtained by projecting parallel light rays onto a spatial light modulator is provided to a light-collecting element, and a light-condensing point of the image light by the light-collecting element is provided outside an eye lens of an eye disease patient. An image providing method for an eye disease patient, comprising positioning an optical axis obliquely with respect to a central axis of an eyeball while projecting an image directly on a retina while being positioned at an artificial pupil. 4. A lens having a function of converging light of a person suffering from an eye disease, wherein image light obtained by projecting a parallel light beam onto the spatial light modulator is provided to a light condensing element, and the light condensing point of the image light by the light condensing element is insufficient for light condensing adjustment of an eye diseased person. And projecting the image directly on the retina. 5. A light beam bundle of image light obtained by projecting a parallel light beam onto a spatial light modulation element to provide a light beam to a light-collecting element by narrowing the width thereof. A method for providing an image to a person with an eye disease, characterized in that the image is positioned directly on a lens near the center of the retina, which is located on a lens having a condensed dysfunction. 6. A spatial light modulator, a light source device for projecting parallel light beams to the spatial light modulator device, and a light condensing device for condensing image light obtained by projecting parallel light beams to the spatial light modulator device. An image providing device comprising an element and allowing the observer to observe an image by Maxwell vision, wherein the optical axis is attached to the observer obliquely with respect to the center axis of the observer's eyeball. An image providing device characterized by the above-mentioned. 7. A spatial light modulator, a light source device for projecting parallel rays to the spatial light modulator, and a condenser for condensing image light obtained by projecting parallel rays to the spatial light modulator. An image providing apparatus, comprising: an element; and allowing an observer to observe an image by Maxwell viewing, wherein the light-collecting element is arranged obliquely with respect to an optical axis. 8. A spatial light modulator, a light source device for projecting parallel rays to the spatial light modulator, and a condenser for condensing image light obtained by projecting parallel rays to the spatial light modulator. An image providing apparatus comprising: an element; and an observer observing an image by Maxwell vision, wherein an optical axis is parallel to a central axis of an eyeball of the observer and a distance of not more than half of a pupil diameter from the central axis. An image providing apparatus characterized in that it is configured to be shifted and worn by an observer. 9. A spatial light modulator, a light source device for projecting parallel rays to the spatial light modulator, and a condenser for condensing image light obtained by projecting parallel rays to the spatial light modulator. An image providing device, comprising: an element; and allowing an observer to observe an image by Maxwell viewing, comprising: an optical system that reduces a width of a light beam of the image light. 10. The image providing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a detecting means for detecting a pupil position of an observer, an actuator for adjusting an optical axis, and an output of said detecting means. And a drive control means for controlling the drive of the actuator so as to avoid a state where the optical axis coincides with the central axis of the eye based on the above.