JP2004040390A - Head-worn display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a head-worn display device, in which the adjustment of the arrangement of a display unit to the eyes in a state with the arrangement of a holder with respect to a head part is properly maintained can be easily executed. <P>SOLUTION: The display unit to be arranged, in front of either the right or the left eye is connected to the holder 2 for holding the head part freely rotatably around the vertical direction by a connection mechanism 4. The rotation of the display unit relative to the holder 2 is obstracted releasably by a rotation-obstructing mechanism 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a head-mounted display device suitable for visually recognizing an output image of a wearable computer or a personal computer, a television image, various images for performing various tasks, and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art A head-mounted display device including a head holding holder, a display unit arranged in front of one of the right and left eyes, and a connection mechanism for connecting the display unit to the holder is known. In such a head-mounted display device, it is difficult to visually recognize an image unless the display unit is properly arranged with respect to the eyes. Therefore, conventionally, the arrangement of the display unit with respect to the eyes has been adjusted by changing the arrangement of the holder with respect to the head.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the arrangement of the holder with respect to the head is changed, it is difficult to finely adjust the arrangement of the display unit with respect to the eyes. In particular, when adjusting the tilt of the display unit around the vertical direction with respect to the eyes, it is difficult to change the arrangement of the holder with respect to the head because the length of the head in the front-rear direction is usually larger than the length in the left-right direction. Was. Furthermore, when the arrangement of the display unit with respect to the eyes is adjusted by changing the arrangement of the holder with respect to the head from an appropriate state, the holder is easily displaced with respect to the head even by a slight vibration caused by moving the head. For this reason, the disposition of the display unit with respect to the eye is shifted from an appropriate position.
An object of the present invention is to provide a head-mounted display device that can solve the above problem.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The head-mounted display device of the present invention, a head holding holder, a display unit disposed in front of the left or right eye, a connection mechanism that connects the display unit to the holder rotatably in the vertical direction, A rotation preventing mechanism for releasably preventing rotation of the display unit with respect to the holder.
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the head-mounted display device of this invention, the display unit arrange | positioned in front of either right or left eyes can be rotated up and down. This makes it possible to adjust the arrangement of the display unit around the eye in the vertical direction without changing the arrangement of the holder with respect to the head from the proper state.
[0005]
The connection mechanism has a guide surface along a spherical surface, and the display unit is connected to the holder via the guide surface, and passes through the center of the spherical surface and the axis along the vertical direction, and passes through the center of the spherical surface. It is preferable that the display unit is rotatably connected to the holder around an axis extending in the left-right direction.
Thereby, not only the arrangement of the display unit around the eye in the vertical direction but also the arrangement around the horizontal direction can be adjusted. Moreover, the arrangement can be adjusted around an axis passing through the center of one spherical surface, so that the structure can be simplified.
[0006]
Preferably, the display unit is connected to the holder so as to be rotatable at least 180 degrees around an axis passing through the center of the spherical surface and extending in the front-rear direction, and the holder is preferably used upside down.
Thus, the display unit can be arranged outside the field of view when not in use by rotating the display unit around the eye in the front-rear direction. Since the rotation about the front-rear direction can be performed about the axis passing through the center of the one spherical surface, the structure can be simplified. Furthermore, since the display unit can be rotated by 180 degrees in the front-rear direction with respect to the holder and the holder can be used upside down, the display unit is arranged in front of one of the left and right eyes, and is arranged in front of the other right and left eyes. Can be changed to use.
[0007]
The connection mechanism has a support member attached to the holder and a receiving member attached to the display unit, the support member is provided with the guide surface, and the rotation preventing mechanism is configured to prevent the rotation of the receiving member. A pressing member which is attached so as to be relatively displaceable between a position and a rotation inhibition release position, and an elastic member which exerts an elastic force for positioning the rotation member at the rotation inhibition position by pressing the pressing member against the guide surface. It is preferable that the member can be displaced to the rotation inhibition release position against the elasticity by being pressed by a finger.
Thus, the rotation of the display unit with respect to the holder can be prevented simply by pressing the pressing member against the guide surface by elasticity, and the rotation preventing mechanism can be configured with a simple structure. In addition, since the pressing member is displaced to the rotation inhibition release position only by being pinched and pressed by a finger, and the rotation inhibition can be easily released with one hand, the arrangement of the display unit with respect to the eye can be easily adjusted.
[0008]
It is preferable that the connection mechanism is provided with a movement preventing mechanism that is attached to the holder so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, and that releasably blocks the front-rear movement of the connection mechanism with respect to the holder at at least two positions.
Thus, the display unit can be arranged close to the eyes when the spectacles are not used, and can be arranged away from the eyes when the spectacles are used. Further, the position of the display unit can be adjusted so that the user can easily see it.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A monocular head-mounted display device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 includes a head holding holder 2, a display unit 3 arranged in front of one of the left and right eyes E, and the display unit 3. A connection mechanism 4 is connected to the holder 2 so as to be rotatable around the vertical direction, and a rotation prevention mechanism 5 is configured to releasably prevent the rotation of the display unit 3 with respect to the holder 2. Note that the front, rear, up, down, left, and right directions of the head mounted display 1 in this specification are based on a user in an upright state wearing the head mounted display 1.
[0010]
The holder 2 has a front part 2a along at least a part of the frontal head, a rear part 2b along at least a part of the back head, and a side part 2c along one of the left and right heads. The front part 2a and the rear part 2b are continuous on one side of the left and right heads via the side part 2c. The front portion 2a and the rear portion 2b are separated from each other on the other side of the left and right heads so that at least a part of the other of the left and right heads is not held by the holder 2. Further, the front part 2a is formed along only a part of the forehead so that a part of the forehead is not held by the holder 2. The rear portion 2b extends along the left and right regions at the center of the occiput. Thus, the holder 2 has a substantially C-shape in which a part of an ellipse is missing in a plan view. The radius of curvature of the front part 2a of the holder 2 is preferably about 40 to 90 mm, and the radius of curvature of the rear part 2b is preferably about 60 to 100 mm. Pads 41a, 41b, and 41c made of an elastic material such as urethane sponge, elastomer, and rubber are attached to the inner periphery of the holder 2.
[0011]
Thereby, since at least a part of the left or right head and a part of the forehead are not held by the holder 2, it is possible to reduce the feeling of pressure on the head. In addition, since the rear portion 2b of the holder 2 extends along the left region and the right region at the center of the occipital region, it is possible to prevent the holder 4 from shifting with respect to the head. Since the holder 2 has a substantially C-shape and the display unit 3 is of a monocular type in which the display unit 3 is disposed in front of the left or right eye, it is possible to reduce the weight and size.
[0012]
The holder 2 of the present embodiment has first to fifth members 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15. The first member 11 is formed of a synthetic resin material and forms part of the front part 2a and the side part 2c. The second member 12 is formed by a leaf spring that can be elastically deformed in the left-right direction of the head, and forms a part of the side portion 2c. The third member 13 is formed of a synthetic resin material and forms a part of the side portion 2c. The fourth member 14 is formed of a synthetic resin material, and forms a part of the rear part 2b and a part of the side part 2c. The fifth member 15 is formed of a synthetic resin material and forms a part of the rear part 2b. One end of a leaf spring forming the second member 12 is fixed to the first member 11. As shown in FIG. 5, the other end of the leaf spring is inserted into the third member 13 so as to be movable back and forth. The third member 13 is connected to a portion of the fourth member 14 forming the side portion 2c by a screw 16 together with a leaf spring forming the second member 12. The axis of the screw 16 extends along the lateral direction. The fourth member 14 and the fifth member 15 are connected via a hinge 17. The axis of the hinge 17 extends vertically. The leaf spring constituting the second member 12 can be easily elastically deformed according to the individual difference of the head shape, and the displacement with respect to the head can be reliably prevented. The first, third to fifth members 11, 13, 14, 15 other than the second member 12 are also made of synthetic resin, so that they can be elastically deformed along the head shape. .
[0013]
The side 2c is extendable so that the front-to-rear distance between the front 2a and the rear 2b of the holder 2 can be adjusted. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of holes 12a into which the screws 16 can be inserted are formed at regular intervals in the front-rear direction with a leaf spring forming the second member 12. Thus, a mechanism for extending and contracting the side portion 2c by changing the attachment position of the second member 12 to the third and fourth members 13 and 14 via the screw 16 is configured. Thereby, the distance between the front part 2a and the rear part 2b of the holder 2 can be adjusted according to individual differences in the shape of the head, and it is possible to reliably prevent the head 2 from being displaced. An image signal is sent from the computer (not shown) to the display unit 3 via the cable 9 inserted through the third member 13. The cable 9 may be exposed outside the holder 2.
[0014]
The rear portion 2b of the holder 2 is connected with the fourth member 14 and the fifth member 15 via the hinges 17 as described above, so that the hinge portion extends vertically between the left region and the right region of the occiput. It is foldable. The fourth member 14 and the fifth member 15 do not rotate relative to each other in an opening direction than the state shown in FIG. The holder 2 has a third member 13 and a fourth member 14 rotatable by 180 degrees with respect to each other about a lateral axis of the screw 16 on the side 2c. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 6, when not in use, the rear part 2b of the holder 2 is folded and the third member 13 and the fourth member 14 constituting the side part 2c are rotated by 180 degrees with respect to each other, so that the holder 2 can be made compact.
[0015]
Note that the third member 13 and the fourth member 14 are slightly rotated about the axis of the screw 16 with respect to each other, and the holder 2 is mounted on the head with the rear portion 2b slightly inclined with respect to the front portion 2a. You may.
[0016]
7 and 8 show a modification of the mechanism for expanding and contracting the side portion 2c. In this modification, the screw 16 is not used. The columnar projection 13a formed on the third member 13 of the holder 2 is press-fitted into a recess 14a formed on a portion of the fourth member 14 constituting the side portion 2c, so that the third member 13 becomes a fourth member. 14. The third member 13 and the fourth member 14 are rotatable about the horizontal axis by 180 degrees with respect to each other via the outer periphery of the convex portion 13a and the inner periphery of the concave portion 14a. A compression coil spring 18 is inserted inside the third member 13. The spring 18 is sandwiched between the inner peripheral step 13b of the third member 13 and the bent portion 12b of the end of the leaf spring constituting the second member 12. The spring 18 generates an elastic force for pushing the second member 12 backward with respect to the third member 13, that is, an elastic force for reducing the side 2 c of the holder 2. When the holder 2 is mounted on the head, the front part 2a and the rear part 2b of the holder 2 are pressed against the front and back parts by the elasticity of the spring 18 respectively. Thereby, the displacement of the holder 2 with respect to the head can be prevented by the elasticity. Further, when not in use, the side portion 2c of the holder 2 can be reduced in size by elasticity to make it compact.
[0017]
The display unit 3 is connected to the front part 2 a of the holder 2. As the display unit 3, a known unit can be used. For example, an image display light generating unit such as a liquid crystal display, an aspheric lens system that guides the image display light to the eye E so that an image is formed on the retina, and the like. Of the optical system.
[0018]
As shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the connection mechanism 4 has a support member 21 attached to the holder 2 and a hollow receiving member 22 attached to the display unit 3. The support member 21 has a prismatic portion 21a and a spherical portion 21b integrated with one end of the prismatic portion 21a. The outer periphery of the spherical portion 21b is a guide surface 21c along a spherical surface. The display unit 3 is connected to the holder 2 via the guide surface 21c. That is, the prism portion 21a is inserted into the front portion 2a of the holder 2 so as not to rotate relatively, and the spherical portion 21b is covered by the receiving member 22. The display unit 3 is fixed to the lower surface of the receiving member 22. A receiving surface 22a is formed inside the receiving member 22 so as to be relatively slidable in contact with the guide surface 21c. The receiving member 22 is configured by, for example, bonding upper and lower members. Thereby, the display unit 3 is rotatable with respect to the holder 2 in the direction of the arrow A (yaw direction) in FIG. 9 around the axis passing through the center of the spherical surface forming the guide surface 21c and extending along the vertical direction. The rotation range is, for example, about ± 10 °. Further, the display unit 3 is rotatable with respect to the holder 2 in the direction of the arrow B (pitch direction) in FIG. 10 around an axis passing through the center of the spherical surface and extending along the left-right direction. The rotation range is, for example, about ± 15 °.
[0019]
By rotating the display unit 3 around the holder 2 in the up-down direction via the guide surface 21c, the display unit 3 can be positioned with respect to the eyes E without changing the arrangement of the holder 2 with respect to the head from an appropriate state. The arrangement around the vertical direction can be adjusted. Further, by rotating the display unit 3 around the holder 2 in the left-right direction, the arrangement of the display unit 3 around the left-right direction with respect to the eye E can be maintained without changing the arrangement of the holder 2 with respect to the head from an appropriate state. Can be adjusted.
[0020]
Further, the display unit 3 is rotatable at least 180 degrees with respect to the holder 2 about an axis passing through the center of the spherical surface constituting the guide surface 21c and extending in the front-rear direction, and is rotatable 360 degrees in the present embodiment. . Thereby, by rotating the display unit 3 around the front-back direction, it can be arranged outside the field of view when not in use. In addition, since the display unit 3 can be rotated around the axis passing through the center of one spherical surface, the rotation of the display unit 3 with respect to the holder 2 in the up-down direction, the left-right direction, and the front-back direction can be performed. Further, the holder 2 can be used upside down. Accordingly, the display unit 3 is rotated by 180 degrees around the front-rear direction with respect to the holder 2, and the holder 2 is used upside down. It can be placed in front of your eyes and used.
[0021]
The prism 21a is inserted into a connecting hole 19 formed in the holder 2 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, whereby the connecting mechanism 4 is attached to the holder 2 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. There is provided a movement preventing mechanism that releasably prevents the forward and backward movement of the connecting mechanism 4 with respect to the holder 2 at two positions. In the present embodiment, a protrusion 21d protruding from the outer periphery is provided on the prism 21a, and grooves 19a and 19b are provided on the inner periphery of the connection hole 19 at two positions spaced apart in front and rear. The protrusion 21d fits into each of the grooves 19a, 19b, thereby preventing the connecting mechanism 4 from moving back and forth with respect to the holder 2. The protrusion 21d is made of, for example, an elastic material, and is elastically deformed by a predetermined or more longitudinal force to be pulled out of the grooves 19a and 19b, whereby the prevention of the forward and backward movement of the connecting mechanism 4 with respect to the holder 2 is released. You. The distance between the grooves 19a and 19b corresponds to the difference in the distance between the eye E and the display unit 3 when the glasses are used and when they are not used. Thus, the display unit 3 can be arranged close to the eye E when the spectacles are not used, and can be arranged away from the eye E when the spectacles are used. Further, the position of the display unit 3 can be adjusted so that the user can easily see it. Instead of the protrusion 21d, a ball may be made to protrude from the prism 21a by the elastic force of the spring, and the ball may be immersed in the prism 21a by elastic deformation of the spring by a certain or more longitudinal force. Further, three or more positions for preventing the forward / backward movement may be used.
[0022]
The rotation preventing mechanism 5 has a pair of pressing members 31a and 31b, and elastic members 32a and 32b for applying elastic force to the pressing members 31a and 31b. Each of the pressing members 31a and 31b is attached to the receiving member 22 so as to be rotatable around the vertical direction via a support shaft 33 having a vertical axis inside the receiving member 22. One end of each of the pressing members 31a, 31b is formed of a rubber pad 31a ', 31b', and the other end is an operating portion 31a ", 31b" protruding outside the receiving member 22. Each of the pressing members 31a and 31b is relatively displaced between the rotation inhibition position and the rotation inhibition release position by rotation around the vertical direction. Each of the elastic members 32a and 32b is formed of a torsion spring, and exerts an elastic force for positioning the pressing members 31a and 31b at the rotation preventing position by pressing the pressing members 31a and 31b against the guide surface 21c. When the pressing members 31a and 31b located at the rotation preventing positions press the guide surface 21c, the rotation of the display unit 3 with respect to the holder 2 is prevented. By pressing the pressing members 31a and 31b by fingers, the members are displaced to the rotation inhibition release position against the elasticity of the elastic members 32a and 32b, and the pressing members 31a and 31b can be separated from the guide surface 21c. . When the pressing members 31a and 31b move away from the guide surface 21c, rotation inhibition of the display unit 3 with respect to the holder 2 is released. Accordingly, the rotation of the display unit 3 with respect to the holder 2 can be prevented only by pressing the pressing members 31a and 31b against the guide surface 21c with elasticity, and the rotation preventing mechanism 5 can be configured with a simple structure. In addition, since the pressing members 31a and 31b can be displaced to the rotation inhibition release position only by pressing them with a finger and the rotation inhibition can be easily released with one hand, the arrangement of the display unit 3 with respect to the eye can be easily adjusted. The pressing member may be a single member.
[0023]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is only necessary that the display unit is rotatably connected to the holder in the up-down direction by a connecting mechanism, and that the rotation can be releasably prevented by the rotation preventing mechanism.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the head-mounted display device of this invention, the adjustment of arrangement | positioning with respect to eyes of a display unit can be easily performed in the state which maintained the arrangement | positioning of the holder with respect to the head appropriately.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a head-mounted display device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a left side view of the head-mounted display device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 4 is a right side view of the head-mounted display device. FIG. 4 is a front view of the head-mounted display device in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of the head-mounted display device in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the head-mounted display device according to the embodiment of the present invention when it is not used. FIG. 7 is a partial plan cross-sectional view of the head-mounted display device according to a modified example of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a partial side sectional view of a head-mounted display device according to a modification. FIG. 9 is a plan sectional view of a coupling mechanism and a rotation preventing mechanism of the head-mounted display device according to a modification of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a side sectional view of a connection mechanism and a rotation prevention mechanism of the head-mounted display device in FIG. Front sectional view of the connection mechanism and the rotation preventing mechanism of the head-mounted display device according to a modification of the present invention Description of Reference Numerals]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Head-mounted display device 2 Holder 3 Display unit 4 Connection mechanism 5 Rotation prevention mechanism 19a, 19b Groove 21 Support member 21c Guide surface 21d Projection 22 Receiving members 31a, 31b Pressing members 32a, 32b Elastic member

Claims (5)

A head holder,
A display unit arranged in front of the left or right eye,
A head-mounted display device comprising: a connection mechanism for connecting the display unit to a holder so as to be rotatable about a vertical direction; and a rotation preventing mechanism for releasably preventing rotation of the display unit with respect to the holder. The coupling mechanism has a guide surface along a spherical surface,
The display unit is connected to the holder via the guide surface,
2. The head according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is rotatably connected to the holder around an axis passing through the center of the spherical surface and extending in the vertical direction and an axis passing through the center of the spherical surface and extending in the left-right direction. Part-mounted display device. The display unit is rotatably connected to the holder at least 180 degrees around an axis passing through the center of the spherical surface and extending in the front-rear direction;
The head-mounted display device according to claim 2, wherein the holder can be used upside down. The connection mechanism has a support member attached to the holder, and a receiving member attached to the display unit,
The support surface is provided with the guide surface,
The rotation preventing mechanism includes a pressing member attached to the receiving member so as to be relatively displaceable between a rotation preventing position and a rotation preventing release position, and an elastic force for pressing the pressing member against the guide surface to position the pressing member at the rotation preventing position. And an elastic member for acting
4. The head mounted display according to claim 2, wherein the pressing member is displaceable to a rotation inhibition release position against elasticity by being pressed by a finger. 5. The connection mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a movement prevention mechanism that is attached to the holder so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, and that releasably prevents the movement of the connection mechanism with respect to the holder in at least two positions. The head-mounted display device according to 1.

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