JP2007251890A - Head-mounted video display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a head-mounted video display device which is capable of easily switching a display part to a single-eye specification or a double-eye specification in accordance with a purpose and improves functionality. <P>SOLUTION: A first display unit and a second display unit each comprising a display part for displaying a video image are freely attachably and detachably linked by frames provided therein, respectively and the first display unit or the second display unit is freely attachably and detachably linked with a transparent substrate unit comprising a transparent substrate by frames provided therein, respectively. Two of the first display unit, the second display unit and the transparent substrate unit are linked and mounted on the head or on the face. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a video display device, and more particularly to a head-mounted video display device.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, head-mounted video display devices for the purpose of viewing content videos (images) such as movies and videos and remote control of industrial equipment or medical equipment, that is, HMD (Head Mount Display) have been developed. .

  The HMD is provided with a display unit including an image display element such as a liquid crystal display element or an organic EL, and an eyepiece optical system for guiding an image obtained from the image display element to the eyeball of the wearer of the HMD.

  The HMD directly projects the image obtained from the image display element by the eyepiece optical system onto the wearer's eyeball, thereby enabling observation of a virtual image as if the image was magnified and projected in the air. ing.

  The HMD having such a configuration usually has one or two display units and provides an image to one eye or both eyes.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a single-eye HMD technique that provides video only to one eye. On the other hand, Patent Document 2 discloses a technology of a binocular HMD that provides video to both eyes.
JP 2002-156600 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-331731

  As described above, various studies have been made on a single-eye HMD provided with a display unit for only one eye or a binocular HMD provided on both eyes.

  However, in the binocular HMD as disclosed in Patent Document 2, for example, content images such as movies and videos are projected directly on the left and right eyeballs to freely enjoy powerful images on a large screen. On the other hand, in the case of an HMD having such a configuration, for an observer who uses the HMD, that is, an observer who is observing an image with the HMD attached to the head, Since the eyeballs of both sides are covered together, the external environment is completely shielded from view, and it can be said that it is extremely dangerous when considering the surrounding environment.

  On the other hand, in the one-eye HMD as disclosed in Patent Document 1, if you want to fully enjoy the content video in a safe environment such as indoors, the video is provided only to one eye, It is considered difficult to appreciate realistic images.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and according to the purpose, the display unit can be easily switched to a single-eye specification or a binocular specification, and a head-mounted image display excellent in functionality. An object is to provide an apparatus.

  The above object is achieved by the invention described in 1 below.

1. It has two display parts that display video,
A first display unit comprising: the one display unit; and a frame that supports the display unit in the vicinity of the right eyeball of the wearer so as to face the eyeball when worn;
A second display unit comprising: the other display unit; and a frame that supports the display unit in the vicinity of the left eyeball of the wearer so as to face the eyeball when worn,
A transparent substrate unit comprising a transparent substrate, and a frame that supports the substrate so as to face the right or left eyeball of the wearer and to face the eyeball when worn,
The first display unit and the second display unit are detachably connected by a frame provided on each,
The transparent substrate unit and the first display unit or the second display unit are detachably connected by a frame provided on each,
Any one of the first display unit, the second display unit, and the transparent substrate unit is connected to be mounted on a head or a face, and is mounted on a head. apparatus.

  According to the present invention, any two of the first display unit, the second display unit, and the transparent substrate unit are detachably connected so that they can be attached to the head or the face. Therefore, for example, if you want to fully enjoy content video in a safe environment such as indoors, by connecting the first display unit and the second display unit and providing video to both eyes, You can appreciate the video with a sense of reality. On the other hand, when it is necessary to consider the surrounding environment such as outdoors, the transparent substrate unit and the first display unit or the second display unit are connected to provide an image only to one eye, and the other By making it possible to observe the outside scene through a transparent substrate, the user can view the video while ensuring safety.

  In addition, for the narrowed field of view that narrows the effective field of view, and for low-sighted people, a clear image taken with an electronic camera is provided to one eye, and the other eye can observe an external scene through a transparent substrate. Therefore, it can be used as a visual aid device.

  Hereinafter, an HMD (Head Mount Display) which is one of representative embodiments of a head-mounted image display device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the overall configuration of the HMD 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 1 (a) and 1 (b) are perspective views of the first display unit 2 and the second display unit 3 in the HMD 1 according to the present invention as seen from the front right, respectively, FIG. 1 (c) and FIG. d) is a perspective view of the first transparent substrate unit 4 and the second transparent substrate unit 5 in the HMD 1 according to the present invention as viewed from the front right.

  The HMD 1 is a head-mounted video display device that is used in the vicinity of a wearer's eyeball. As shown in FIGS. 1A to 1D, the HMD 1 includes a first display unit 2, a second display unit 3, a first transparent substrate unit 4, a second transparent substrate unit 5, and the like.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the first display unit 2 and the second display unit 3 include frames 201 and 301, transparent substrates 202 and 302, bridges 203 and 303, and a display unit, respectively. 204, 304, etc., and images taken by a camera unit (not shown), content videos such as video and television captured from an external I / F, etc. are displayed on the display unit 204 and the display unit 304.

  The frames 201 and 301 are long members made of a flexible elastic material or the like, and are respectively hooked on the right ear, left ear, or right and left heads of the wearer. It is for performing the holding | maintenance to the head with respect to the wearer of this, and adjustment of a mounting position. The frames 201 and 301 are configured to be rotatable in the directions of arrows P and Q in the rotating portions 201a and 301a. When the HMD 1 is not used, the frames 201 and 301 are rotated in the directions of arrows P and Q. It can be made compact by moving it along the transparent substrates 202 and 302 described later.

  The transparent substrates 202 and 302 are substantially flat transparent bodies that form U-shaped spaces 202 s and 302 s at positions corresponding to the right and left eyeballs, respectively. In addition, display units 204 and 304 described later are fitted in U-shaped spaces 202 s and 302 s formed by being surrounded by the transparent substrates 202 and 302.

  The display units 204 and 304 correspond to the display unit in the present invention, and each have an LCD display unit and an eyepiece optical system (not shown). For example, a video signal generated by the camera unit or captured from an external I / F is used. Based on content video signals such as video and television, the video generated by the LCD display unit is guided to the eyeball of the wearer by the eyepiece optical system.

  The bridges 203 and 303 detachably connect the first display unit 2 and the second display unit 3, and the relative positions of the transparent substrates 202 and 302 provided at the time of connection through a certain gap are connected. It is to hold in the relationship. The first display unit 2 and the second display unit 3 are detachable by inserting a rod-like pin 303a provided in the connection part of the bridge 303 into the elongated hole 203a provided in the connection part of the bridge 203 in the vertical direction. Connected to Similarly, the first display unit 2 and a second transparent substrate unit 5 to be described later are detachably connected through elongated holes 203a provided in the respective bridges 203 and 503 and pins 503a. The second display unit 3 and a first transparent substrate unit 4 described later are detachably connected to each other through pins 303a and long holes 403a provided on the bridges 303 and 403, respectively.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 1C and FIG. 1D, the first transparent substrate unit 4 and the second transparent substrate unit 5 do not have a display unit, and can display an external scene through the transparent substrates 402 and 502. Can be observed. In addition, since the principal part of the 1st transparent substrate unit 4 and the 2nd transparent substrate unit 5 is substantially the same as the above-mentioned 1st display unit 2 and the 2nd display unit 3, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the HMD 1 having such a configuration, the present invention relates to the first display unit 2, the second display unit 3 having the display units 204 and 304, the first transparent substrate unit 4 having no display unit, and the second display unit 4. In the transparent substrate unit 5, two units that can be connected to each other are selected and connected according to the purpose, and are attached to the head or the face, so that images are provided to both eyes or only one eye. It is to make it.

  Here, an example in which two units are combined will be described with reference to FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the state in which the first display unit 2 and the second display unit 3 are connected as seen from the front right, and FIG. 1B is the first display unit 2 and the second transparent substrate. It is the perspective view which looked at the state where unit 5 was connected from the front right.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the first display unit 2 and the second display unit 3 are connected by a connecting portion S via bridges 203 and 303, respectively. In this way, the first display unit 2 and the second display unit 3 each having the display units 204 and 304 are connected to each other and attached to the head or face, thereby providing images to both eyes. It becomes like.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the first display unit 2 and the second transparent substrate unit 5 are connected by a connecting portion S via bridges 203 and 503, respectively. In this way, the first display unit 2 having the display unit 204 and the second transparent substrate unit 5 having no display unit are connected to each other and attached to the head or face, so that the right eye An image is provided and the left eye can observe an external scene through the transparent substrate 502.

  As described above, in the HMD according to the present invention, two units that can be connected to each other in two display units having a display unit and two transparent substrate units that do not have a display unit are selected according to the purpose. By selecting and connecting and attaching to the head or face, video can be easily provided to both eyes or only one eye. Further, when the HMD is not used, it can be divided into two units, so that it can be stored compactly.

  The present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be changed or improved as appropriate. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the frame and the bridge provided in each unit are composed of different members. However, the frame is extended along the end surface of the transparent substrate so as to be integrated with the bridge. You may form in. Further, the bridge provided in each unit may be configured to be hinged so as to be rotatably connected. Thus, the two units can be folded so that the front surfaces of the transparent substrates are opposed to each other with the connecting portion as an axis, and can be stored compactly.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an HMD according to the present invention. It is a joint block diagram of HMD concerning the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 HMD
2,3 1st display unit, 2nd display unit 4,5 1st transparent substrate unit, 2nd transparent substrate unit 201,301,401,501 Frame 202,302,402,502 Transparent substrate 203,303,403,503 Bridge 204,304 Display B Bridge

Claims (1)

It has two display parts that display video,
A first display unit comprising: the one display unit; and a frame that supports the display unit in the vicinity of the right eyeball of the wearer so as to face the eyeball when worn;
A second display unit comprising: the other display unit; and a frame that supports the display unit in the vicinity of the left eyeball of the wearer so as to face the eyeball when worn,
A transparent substrate unit comprising a transparent substrate, and a frame that supports the substrate so as to face the right or left eyeball of the wearer and to face the eyeball when worn,
The first display unit and the second display unit are detachably connected by a frame provided on each,
The transparent substrate unit and the first display unit or the second display unit are detachably connected by a frame provided on each,
Any one of the first display unit, the second display unit, and the transparent substrate unit is connected to be mounted on a head or a face, and is mounted on a head. apparatus.

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