JP2018017942A - Image display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To avoid the interference of optical systems for left and right eyes and expand a field angle while maintaining an eye relief.SOLUTION: An image formation device comprises: image display units 1-4 for displaying an original picture; a first optical system 10 for guiding a first left-eye image light from a first original picture for the left eye to a left exit pupil; a second optical system 9 for guiding a first right-eye image light from a first original picture for the right eye to a right exit pupil S1; and a third optical system 11 for causing a second left-eye image light from a second original picture for the left eye to pass through an area closer to the right exit pupil side than is an area where the first left-eye image light passes through when guided to the left exit pupil, and causing a second right-eye image light from a second original picture for the right eye to pass through an area closer to the left exit pupil side than is an area where the first right-eye image light passes through when guided to the right exit pupil.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image display device such as a head-mounted display (HMD) that presents an observation image to an observer by guiding light from an original image to the eye of the observer.

  Many HMDs that are mounted on the observer's head and present an observation image to the left and right eyes of the observer display the original image for the right eye and the original image for the left eye on display elements such as the left and right LCDs. The light (virtual image) from the original image for the left eye and the original image for the left eye is guided to the left and right eyes via the optical system for the right eye and the optical system for the left eye, respectively. An HMD capable of presenting an observation image with a wide angle of view is provided with a plurality of display elements for each of the left and right eyes, and displays original images corresponding to different angles of view (fields of view) on these display elements. The light from these original pictures is guided to the same eye. As a result, an observation image is presented as a combined image in which images with different angles of view are combined. An image display device capable of presenting such a wide-angle image is disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3.

JP 2009-145617 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2014-41280 JP-A-7-333551

However, in the HMD in which the optical system for the right eye and the optical system for the left eye are separately provided, the angle of view on the inner side (nose side) with respect to the left and right eyes is limited so that these optical systems do not interfere with each other. . If the distance between the left and right eyes (interocular distance) is W, the distance from each eye to the optical surface closest to the eye in the corresponding optical system is D, and the maximum value of the angle of view inside each eye is θ. The conditions that the optical system for the right eye and the optical system for the left eye do not interfere with each other are as follows:
D · tanθ <W / 2
It becomes. That is, the inner angle of view θ cannot exceed θ = atan (W / 2 / D).

  Since the interocular distance W is fixed, it is conceivable to reduce the distance (eye relief) D in order to increase the inner angle of view. However, if the distance D is reduced, it is difficult for an observer who uses glasses to wear the HMD while wearing the glasses.

  The present invention widens the angle of view inside the left and right eyes while avoiding interference between the left-eye and right-eye optical systems while ensuring necessary eye relief, that is, a wide angle of view for each eye. An image display device capable of presenting an image is provided.

  An image display device according to an aspect of the present invention displays a first left-eye original image, a first right-eye original image, a second left-eye original image, and a second right-eye original image in different display areas. An image display unit, a first optical system for guiding the first left-eye image light from the first left-eye original image to the left exit pupil, and a first right-eye image from the first right-eye original image The second optical system for guiding light to the right exit pupil, the second left eye image light from the second left eye original image, and the first left eye image light to the left exit pupil by the first optical system. The second right eye image light from the second original image for the right eye is guided by the second optical system while passing through the region on the right exit pupil side than the region passing through when guided and guided to the left exit pupil. And a third optical system for guiding the first right-eye image light to the right exit pupil through a region closer to the left exit pupil than a region through which the first right-eye image light is guided to the right exit pupil. To.

  According to the present invention, by providing the third optical system, it is possible to ensure eye relief while avoiding interference between the left-eye and right-eye optical systems, and to observe the observations positioned at the left and right exit pupils. An image display device capable of presenting a wide-angle image to the left and right eyes of the person can be realized.

1 is a top view schematically showing the configuration of an HMD that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an image dividing method according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the HMD according to the first embodiment. The top view which shows typically the structure of HMD which is Example 2 of this invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the HMD according to the second embodiment. The top view which shows typically the structure of HMD of Example 3 of this invention. FIG. 6 is a side view showing the configuration of Example 3. The schematic diagram which shows the structure of HMD of Example 4 of this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  In each embodiment, the angle of view for presenting the observation image to each of the left and right eyes of the observer is divided into at least two. That is, the angle of view of the observation image presented to the right eye is divided into a right outer angle of view and a right inner angle of view, and the angle of view of the observation image presented to the left eye is changed to the left outer angle of view and left inner angle of view. And split into The inner side is the nose side when viewed from the left and right eyes (left and right exit pupils), and the outer side is the opposite side. Note that the angle of view of the observation image presented to each eye may be divided into three or more by applying the configuration of each embodiment.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a head mounted display (HMD) as an image display apparatus that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows the horizontal direction in which the left and right eyes of the observer (left exit pupil and right exit pupil, which will be described later) are arranged, as the horizontal direction in the figure, and the front and back direction of the observer as the vertical direction in the figure. The structure in the horizontal cross section when it sees from is shown typically.

  In FIG. 1, 1 is a first right-eye display element that displays an original image for the right outer angle of view (hereinafter referred to as a first right-eye original image), and 2 is an original image for the left outer angle of view (hereinafter referred to as a first image for the left outer angle of view). , A first left eye display element). 3 is a second right-eye display element that displays an original image for the right inner angle of view (hereinafter referred to as a second right-eye original image), and 4 is an original image for the left inner angle of view (hereinafter referred to as a second image). This is a second left-eye display element that displays a left-eye original image).

  In the present embodiment, in the left-right direction, the second right-eye display element 3 and the second left-eye are located between the first right-eye display element 1 and the first left-eye display element 2 (inner side). A display element 4 is disposed. This is the same in other embodiments described later. However, in this embodiment, the first display element 2 for the left eye 2 and the second display element 3 for the right eye include the left exit pupil S2 in which the left eye 13 of the observer is disposed and the right eye 12 of the observer. Is arranged on the left exit pupil side of a plane (hereinafter referred to as a center plane) 14 passing through the center between the right exit pupil S1 and the right exit pupil S1. The left exit pupil side is also simply referred to as the left side in the following description. Further, the first right-eye display element 1 and the second left-eye display element 4 are arranged on the right exit pupil side (hereinafter also simply referred to as the right side) with respect to the center plane 14. In other words, the center plane 14 is a plane that passes through the midpoint of the line connecting the center of the left exit pupil S2 and the center of the right exit pupil S1 and is orthogonal to the line segment.

  Each of the display elements 1 to 4 includes a liquid crystal display element, an organic EL display element, or the like. The four display elements 1 to 4 constitute an image display unit.

  In this embodiment, the display elements 1 to 4 are described as separate display elements. However, if the above four original images are displayed separately in different display areas, the four display elements need not be used. Also good. For example, a single display element having four display areas corresponding to the display elements 1 to 4 may be used. Also, a single display element having two display areas corresponding to the display elements 1 and 4 and a single display element having two display areas corresponding to the display elements 2 and 3 may be used. Further, the display elements 1 and 2 may be configured by separate display elements, and a single display element having a display area corresponding to the display elements 3 and 4 may be used.

  Reference numeral 10 denotes a left-eye optical system that guides a light beam (hereinafter referred to as first left-eye image light) 6 from the first left-eye original image displayed on the first left-eye display element 2 to the left exit pupil S2. (First optical system). Reference numeral 9 denotes a right-eye optical system that guides a light beam (hereinafter referred to as first right-eye image light) 5 from the first right-eye original image displayed on the first right-eye display element 1 to the right exit pupil S1. (Second optical system).

  The left-eye optical system 10 and the right-eye optical system 9 are configured as optical systems independent from each other, and respectively cross the optical paths of the first left-eye image light 6 and the first right-eye image light 5 with each other. Without being guided to the left exit pupil S2 and the right exit pupil S1. Thus, optical images (virtual images) corresponding to the first left-eye original image and the first right-eye original image are formed on the left exit pupil S2 and the right exit pupil S1, respectively.

  FIG. 1 shows only light emitted from the pixels at the left and right ends of the display element (display region) as light from each display element, but actually light is emitted from all pixels on each display element. It has been.

  An inner optical system 11 as a third optical system is disposed between the left-eye optical system 10 and the right-eye optical system 9 in the left-right direction. The inner optical system 11 guides the second left eye image light 8, which is a light beam from the second original image for the left eye displayed on the second left eye display element 4, to the left exit pupil S <b> 2. The second right eye image light 7 that is a light flux from the second original image for the right eye displayed on the right eye display element 3 is guided to the right exit pupil S1. At this time, the inner optical system 11 guides the second left-eye image light 8 and the second right-eye image light 7 to the left exit pupil S2 and the right exit pupil S1, respectively, with their optical paths intersecting each other. Thus, the inner optical system 11 is an optical system shared by the second left eye image light 8 and the second right eye image light 7. Optical images (virtual images) corresponding to the second left-eye original image and the second right-eye original image are formed on the left exit pupil S2 and the right exit pupil S1, respectively.

  Furthermore, the inner optical system 11 is located on the inner side (right side) of the second left-eye image light 8 when the first left-eye image light 6 is guided by the left-eye optical system 10 to the left exit pupil S2. ) Is guided to the left exit pupil S2. Further, the inner optical system 11 is located on the inner side of the region through which the second right-eye image light 7 passes when the first right-eye image light 5 is guided to the right exit pupil S1 by the right-eye optical system 9 ( The left region is passed to the right exit pupil S1. As a result, an observation image in which optical images corresponding to the first and second left-eye original images are joined is formed on the left exit pupil S2, and the first and second right eyes are formed on the right exit pupil S1. An observation image in which optical images corresponding to the original images are joined together is formed.

  However, the optical image of the original image formed by the first image light (first left eye or right eye image light) and the second image light (second left eye or right eye image light) of the same exit pupil. The positions at which the first and second image lights are guided may overlap at the joint with the optical image of the original image formed by. In other words, the inner optical system 11 guides a part of the second image light by guiding most of the second image light to an area inside the exit pupil where the first image light is guided. The exit pupil may be guided to the same region as the region where the first image light is guided. This will be described in detail later.

  The first left-eye image light 6 and the second left-eye image light 8 guided to the left exit pupil S2 are respectively an image with an outer field angle and an image with an inner field angle with respect to the left eye of the observer. An observation image that is a composite image of Similarly, the first right-eye image light 5 and the second right-eye image light 7 guided to the left exit pupil S2 are respectively an image with an outer angle of view and an inner image with respect to the right eye of the observer. An observation image that is a composite image with a corner image is presented.

In FIG. 1, W is an interval (interocular distance) between the left exit pupil S2 and the right exit pupil S1, and D is a distance from each exit pupil to the final surface (the optical surface closest to the eye) of the corresponding optical system ( Eye relief). In this embodiment, the inner optical system 11 for presenting an observation image with an inner angle of view (hereinafter referred to as an inner angle of view image) to the left and right eyes is used as a second left to form the left and right inner angle of view images. The eye image light 8 and the second right eye image light 7 are shared. As a result, while avoiding the interference of the optical system provided for the left eye and the right eye respectively,
θ> atan (W / 2 / D)
Thus, that is, an observation image can be presented with a wide angle of view that exceeds atan (W / 2 / D).

  In this way, the present embodiment avoids interference between the optical systems provided for the left eye and the right eye, while ensuring sufficient eye relief, and cannot be realized by the optical system alone. Observation images can be presented to the left and right eyes with a wide angle of view.

  A part 8-i of the second left-eye image light 8 from the second left-eye display element 4 is incident on the inner optical system 11 on the right side of the center plane 14 and is used for the second right-eye image. A portion 7-i of the second right eye image light 7 from the display element 3 enters the inner optical system 11 on the left side of the center plane 14. This is an optically natural arrangement in view of the relationship between the distance D from each exit pupil (12, 13) to the inner optical system 11, the angle of view θ, and the position of each display element (3, 4). ing.

  In the configuration of this embodiment, the first and second left-eye display elements 2 and 4, the left-eye optical system 10 and the left exit pupil S2, and the first and second right-eye display elements 1 and 3 are used. The positional relationship between the right-eye optical system 9 and the right exit pupil S1 is symmetric with respect to the center plane 14. The arrangement of the left-eye optical system 10 and the right-eye optical system 9 and their optical characteristics such as the display angle of view and display magnification are also symmetric with respect to the center plane 14. As a result, the first left-eye display element 2, the first right-eye display element 1, the second left-eye display element 4, and the second right-eye display element 3 are displayed with the same size and the like. An element can be used. Further, when the left-eye optical system 10 and the right-eye optical system 9 are configured to be rotationally symmetric or have a plane-symmetric shape having the plane of the drawing as a symmetry plane, the left-eye optical system 10 and the right-eye optical system The system 9 can be composed of the same optical elements. Even when the left-eye optical system 10 and the right-eye optical system 9 are not rotationally symmetric or plane-symmetric with the plane of the drawing as a plane of symmetry, the design shape can be the same, and different parts can be formed from the same component. It becomes possible to produce by cutting off.

  On the other hand, the inner optical system 11 has a positional relationship with the left and right exit pupils S2 and S1 that is different from the optical systems 10 and 9 for the left and right eyes. Different from the optical systems for eyes 10 and 9. Note that “symmetry” does not have to be perfect (strict) symmetry, and deviation from perfect symmetry with an error such as tolerance is allowed.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 2, a method for presenting an observation image as a single composite image that is reliably continuous at a joint (boundary) between optical images formed by image light from different original images at each exit pupil. Will be described. FIG. 2 shows an outer optical image (vertical line portion surrounded by a dotted line) 15 formed by the first right eye image light 5 guided to the right exit pupil S1 and a second guided to the right exit pupil S1. An inner optical image (horizontal line portion surrounded by a two-dot chain line) 16 formed by the right eye image light 7 is shown. Reference numeral 14 denotes an observation image as a combined image in which the outer optical image 15 and the inner optical image 16 are combined, in other words, connected in the left-right direction.

  The outer optical image 15 and the inner optical image 16 have a portion (hereinafter referred to as an angle-of-view boundary line) where they overlap each other with a width of one pixel in the left-right direction. A point (image pixel) P located on the view angle boundary line is light from the display pixel P1 shown on the first right-eye display element 1 in FIG. 1 (part of the first right-eye image light 5). ) And light from the display pixel P3 shown on the second right-eye display element 3 (part of the second right-eye image light 7). That is, each of the display pixels P1 and P3 emits light that forms a point P in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the light from the display pixel P1 passes through the optical system 9 for the right eye and passes through the right exit pupil S1 as light 5-P from the point P on the virtual image formed at a predetermined distance toward the right exit pupil S1. To reach. Similarly, the light from the pixel P3 passes through the inner optical system 11 and enters the right exit pupil S1 as light 7-P from the point P on the virtual image formed at a predetermined distance to the right exit pupil S1. Thereby, the observer's right eye visually recognizes the point P on the view angle boundary in FIG. 2 as the same point by the light from both the two display elements 1 and 3. Similarly, all the points (image pixels) other than the point P on the view angle boundary are visually recognized as the same point by the light from both the two display elements 1 and 3. Thereby, even if the outer and inner optical images 15 and 16 are presented with light from the display elements 1 and 3 different from each other, a continuous observation image 14 having no seam can be presented. The same applies to the observation image for the left eye.

  In addition, here, a case has been described in which image pixels on an angle-of-view boundary line having a horizontal width of one pixel are presented by overlapping light from two display elements, but an angle of view having a horizontal width of two or more pixels. The image pixels in the boundary area may be presented with overlapping light from the two display elements.

  FIG. 3 shows a more specific example of the HMD shown in FIG. 1 and shows a result of performing a ray tracing simulation of light emitted from the display elements 1 to 4. In this embodiment, the right-eye optical system 9, the left-eye optical system 10, and the inner optical system 11 are constituted by two lenses L1 and L2. That is, each of the two lenses L1 and L2 is provided with three portions that constitute a part of each of the right-eye optical system 9, the left-eye optical system 10, and the inner optical system 11. Then, the right lens optical system 9, the left eye optical system 10, and the inner optical system 11 are configured by combining the two lenses L1 and L2 with an interval therebetween.

  Light emitted from the display elements 1 to 4 enters the right exit pupil S1 or the left exit pupil S2 through the right eye optical system 9 or the left eye optical system 10 and the inner optical system 11, respectively. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the configuration of the HMD schematically shown in FIG. 1 is actually realizable, and without interference of the optical systems provided for the left eye and the right eye, respectively. In addition, an observation image with a wide angle of view can be presented without reducing eye relief.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the exit surfaces 19 and 20 of the two lenses L <b> 1 and L <b> 2 described above are the three optical systems of the right-eye optical system 9, the left-eye optical system 10, and the inner optical system 11. Are common (continuous) optical surfaces. In particular, the optical surface 19 closest to each exit pupil is formed as an optical surface common to the three optical systems 9, 10, and 11, so that the view angle boundary line or view angle boundary region shown in FIG. Continuous observation images can be presented.

  In FIG. 4, the structure in the horizontal cross section of HMD which is Example 2 of this invention is shown. 4, as in FIG. 1, the horizontal direction parallel to the straight line connecting the left exit pupil S2 and the right exit pupil S1 is the horizontal direction in the figure, and the front-rear direction is the vertical direction in the figure, and the HMD is viewed from above. A configuration is schematically shown. In the present embodiment, the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment are given to the constituent elements common to the first embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the second right-eye display element 3 is arranged on the left side of the first right-eye display element 1, and the second left-eye display element 2 is placed on the right side of the first left-eye display element 2. The display element 4 is arranged, and the inner optical system 11 </ b> A is different from the first embodiment in that the reflective element 18 extends along the center plane 14. In other words, the inner optical system 11 </ b> A is divided into left and right by the reflecting portion 18.

  In the present embodiment, the first left-eye display element 2 and the second left-eye display element 4 are arranged on the left side of the center plane 14, and the first right-eye display element 1 and the second left-eye display element 1. The right-eye display element 3 is arranged on the right side of the center plane 14. The left-eye optical system 10 and the right-eye optical system 9 are respectively the same as the first embodiment, the first left-eye image light 6 from the first left-eye display element 2 and the first right-eye display. The first right-eye image light 5 from the element 1 is guided to the left exit pupil S2 and the right exit pupil S1 without crossing their optical paths.

  Also in the present embodiment, the display elements 1 to 4 may be separate display elements or may not be four display elements. For example, a single display element having four display areas corresponding to the display elements 1 to 4 may be used. Alternatively, a single display element having two display areas corresponding to the display elements 1 and 3 and a single display element having two display areas corresponding to the display elements 2 and 4 may be used.

  On the other hand, the inner optical system 11A reflects the second left-eye image light 8 from the second left-eye display element 4 on the left reflecting surface of the reflecting unit 18, and the second optical image from the second right-eye display element 3. The second right eye image light 7 is reflected by the right reflecting surface of the reflecting portion 18 and guided to the left exit pupil S2 and the right exit pupil S1, respectively. The optical paths of the second left-eye image light 8 and the second right-eye image light 7 that are respectively reflected by the left and right reflecting surfaces provided to face the opposite sides of the reflecting portion 18 do not intersect each other.

  Also in the present embodiment, the inner optical system 11A receives the second left eye image light 8 from the region through which the first left eye image light 6 is guided to the left exit pupil S2 by the left eye optical system 10. Is also guided to the left exit pupil S2 through the inner (right) region. In addition, the inner optical system 11A has the second right-eye image light 7 inside the region that passes when the first right-eye image light 5 is guided to the right exit pupil S1 by the right-eye optical system 9 ( The left region is passed to the right exit pupil S1.

Also in this example, while avoiding interference of the optical system provided for each of the left eye and the right eye, as the angle of view θ to the inside,
θ> atan (W / 2 / D)
An observation image can be presented with such a wide angle of view.

  In the present embodiment, a part 8-i of the second left-eye image light 8 from the second left-eye display element 4 is incident on the inner optical system 11A on the left side of the center plane 14. And reflected by the reflecting portion 18. Further, a part 7-i of the second right-eye image light 7 from the second right-eye display element 3 enters the inner optical system 11A on the right side of the center plane 14 and is reflected by the reflecting unit 18. . This is an optically natural arrangement in view of the relationship between the distance D from each exit pupil (S1, S2) to the inner optical system 11A, the angle of view θ, and the position of each display element (3, 4). ing.

Further, the HMD of the present embodiment includes the left-eye component (2, 4, 10, 11A) and the right-eye component (1, 3) with the reflector 18 arranged along the center plane 14 as a boundary. , 9, 11A) are arranged like a mirror image. For this reason, it is also possible to manufacture and combine the left-eye unit including the left-eye component and the right-eye unit including the right-eye component separately.
Moreover, it is also possible to use as one-eye HMD using only one of the left-eye unit and the right-eye unit.

  FIG. 5 shows a more specific example of the HMD shown in FIG. 3, and shows a result of performing a ray tracing simulation of light emitted from the display elements 1 to 4. In this embodiment, the right side of the reflecting portion (reflecting member) 18 of the right-eye optical system 9 and the inner optical system 11A is constituted by two lenses L11 and L12. Further, the left-side portion of the left-eye optical system 10 and the inner optical system 11A with respect to the reflecting member 18 is constituted by two lenses L21 and L22. The lenses L11 and L12 and the lenses L21 and L22 are joined with the reflecting member 18 as a center to constitute an HMD optical system.

  Light emitted from the display elements 1 to 4 passes through the right-eye optical system 9 or the left-eye optical system 10 and the inner optical system 11A including the reflecting member 18 to the right exit pupil S1 or the left exit pupil S2. Incident. As can be seen from FIG. 5, the configuration of the HMD schematically shown in FIG. 4 is actually realizable, and without interference of the optical systems provided for the left eye and the right eye, respectively. In addition, an observation image with a wide angle of view can be presented without reducing eye relief.

  In FIG. 6, the structure in the horizontal cross section of HMD which is Example 3 of this invention is shown. The HMD of the third embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment. In FIG. 6, as in FIG. 1, the horizontal direction parallel to the straight line connecting the left exit pupil S2 and the right exit pupil S1 is the horizontal direction in the figure, and the front-rear direction is the vertical direction in the figure, and the HMD is viewed from above. A configuration is schematically shown. In the present embodiment, the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment are given to the constituent elements common to the first embodiment.

  Also in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, among the optical surfaces constituting the left-eye optical system 10, the right-eye optical system 9, and the inner optical system 11, the exit surface 19 closest to each exit pupil is defined by these three. It is configured as a common (continuous) optical surface for two optical systems.

  FIG. 7 shows a configuration of the HMD shown in FIG. 6 viewed from the horizontal direction (right side) of FIG. In FIG. 7, constituent elements that do not appear to overlap in the depth direction are also given reference numerals. 6 and 7 show light rays obtained as a result of the light ray tracing simulation.

  The right-eye optical system 9, the left-eye optical system 10, and the inner optical system 11 are configured by one integrated optical element (prism) OE formed of an optical material such as resin or glass.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the right-eye optical system 9, the left-eye optical system 10, and the inner optical system 11 have symmetrical shapes and optical characteristics with respect to the center plane 14. The first and second right eye display elements 1 and 2 and the first and second left eye display elements 3 and 4 are also arranged symmetrically with respect to the center plane 14.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the light (5-8) emitted from each display element (1-4) passes through the first surface (refractive surface) C of the optical element OE and the optical element OE (9-11). ) And reaches the second surface A. Light from the first surface C enters the second surface A, which is an interface with air in the optical element OE, at an incident angle larger than the critical angle. For this reason, the light from the first surface C is totally reflected by the second surface A and travels toward the third surface B. The third surface B is a reflective surface on which a metal coating or the like is applied, and the light incident thereon is reflected and reaches the second surface A again. At this time, light from the third surface B is incident on the second surface A with an incident angle smaller than the critical angle, passes through the second surface A, and reaches the exit pupil (S1, S2).

  In FIG. 6, the first left-eye image light 6 and the first right-eye image light 5 emitted from the first left-eye display element 2 and the first right-eye display element 1 are respectively for the left eye. The left exit pupil S2 and the right exit pupil S1 are reached via the optical system 10 and the right-eye optical system 9. The second left-eye image light 8 emitted from the second left-eye display element 4 disposed on the right side with respect to the center plane 14 is incident on the inner optical system 11 at a portion on the right side of the center plane 14. After entering, the light exits from the left part of the inner optical system 11 beyond the central plane 14 and reaches the left exit pupil S2. Similar to the first embodiment, the second left-eye image light 8 emitted from the inner optical system 11 passes when the first left-eye image light 6 is guided to the left exit pupil S2 by the left-eye optical system 10. It is guided to the left exit pupil S2 through an area on the inner side (right side) of the area to be performed.

  On the other hand, the second right-eye image light 7 emitted from the second right-eye display element 3 disposed on the left side with respect to the central plane 14 is incident on the inner optical system 11 at a portion on the left side of the central plane 14. After entering, the light exits from the right side portion of the inner optical system 11 beyond the center plane 14 and reaches the right exit pupil S1. The second right-eye image light 7 emitted from the inner optical system 11 is located on the inner side (left side) of the region through which the first right-eye image light 5 passes when the right-eye optical system 9 guides the first right-eye image light 5 to the right exit pupil S1. ) And is guided to the right exit pupil S1.

  Also in the present embodiment, the optical surface 19 closest to each exit pupil in the optical element OE, that is, the second surface A, has three optical elements, a right-eye optical system 9, a left-eye optical system 10, and an inner optical system 11. It is a common (continuous) surface in the system.

  Also in this embodiment, it is possible to present an observation image with a wide angle of view without causing interference between optical systems provided for the left eye and for the right eye and without reducing the eye relief.

  In the first to third embodiments, the case where the inner optical systems 11 and 11 </ b> A are configured by members common to the second left eye image light 8 and the second right eye image light 7 has been described. However, a part of the second left eye image light 8 and a part of the second right eye image light 7 respectively emitted from the second left eye display element 4 and the second right eye display element 3 are the center. A part of the inner optical system may be constituted by a member that is not common until the surface 14 is exceeded.

  In FIG. 8, the structure in the horizontal cross section of the inner side optical system 11B is shown among HMD which is Example 4 of this invention. The second left eye image light 8 and the second right eye image light 7 respectively emitted from the second left eye display element 4 and the second right eye display element 3 are common to these lights. It transmits through the decentered lens members 11-R and 11-L which are optical elements which are not (separate). Thereafter, the light enters the lenses L31 and L32, which are optical members common to the second left-eye image light 8 and the second right-eye image light 7. Then, the second left eye image light 8 and the second right eye image light 7 pass through these lenses L31 and L32, respectively, and reach the left exit pupil S2 and the right exit pupil S1.

  Also in this embodiment, it is possible to present an observation image with a wide angle of view without causing interference between optical systems provided for the left eye and for the right eye and without reducing the eye relief.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the angle of view for presenting an observation image to one eye is divided into two regions, the outer region and the inner region, but the outer region or the inner region is further divided into a plurality of regions. Also good.

  In the above embodiments, the second right-eye display element and the second left-eye display element are provided between the first right-eye display element and the first left-eye display element in the left-right direction. The case where the third optical system (inner optical system) is arranged between the right eye and the left eye optical system has been described. However, this is only an example, and other configurations may be employed. For example, the first right-eye and left-eye display elements are arranged above the right-eye and left-eye optical system, the third optical system is arranged below the right-eye and left-eye optical system, The second right-eye and left-eye display elements may be arranged at positions that overlap the right and left-eye display elements in the vertical direction.

  Each embodiment described above is only a representative example, and various modifications and changes can be made to each embodiment in carrying out the present invention.

1-3 Display elements 5-8 Image light 9 Right-eye optical system 10 Left-eye optical system 11, 11A, 11B Inner optical system S1 Right exit pupil S2 Left exit pupil

Claims (12)

An image display unit for displaying the first left-eye original image, the first right-eye original image, the second left-eye original image, and the second right-eye original image in different display areas;
A first optical system for guiding first left-eye image light from the first left-eye original image to a left exit pupil;
A second optical system for guiding the first right eye image light from the first right eye original image to the right exit pupil;
The second left-eye image light from the second left-eye original image is more than the region through which the first left-eye image light passes when being guided to the left exit pupil by the first optical system. The second right-eye image light from the second original image for the right eye is guided to the left exit pupil through the region on the right exit pupil side, and the first right eye is transmitted by the second optical system. And a third optical system for guiding the image light to the right exit pupil through a region closer to the left exit pupil than a region through which image light is guided when guided to the right exit pupil. .   The third optical system is disposed between the first optical system and the second optical system in a left-right direction in which the left exit pupil and the right exit pupil are arranged. Item 4. The image display device according to Item 1.   The display area in which the second left-eye original image and the second right-eye original image are displayed in the image display unit, in the left-right direction in which the left exit pupil and the right exit pupil are aligned, 3. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the first left-eye original image and the first right-eye original image are positioned between the display areas where the first left-eye original image and the first right-eye original image are respectively displayed. The image display unit displays the first left-eye original image in the display area on the left exit pupil side than the center between the left exit pupil and the right exit pupil, and Displaying the first original image for the right eye in the display area on the right exit pupil side;
Each of the first optical system and the second optical system includes the first left eye without crossing the optical path of the first left eye image light and the optical path of the first right eye image light. 4. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the image light and the first right-eye image light are guided to the left exit pupil and the right exit pupil. 5. The image display unit displays the second original image for the right eye in the display area on the left exit pupil side with respect to the center between the left exit pupil and the right exit pupil, and Displaying the second left-eye original image in the display area on the right exit pupil side;
The third optical system crosses an optical path of the second left eye image light and an optical path of the second right eye image light so as to cross the second left eye image light and the second right eye. 5. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein image light is guided to the left exit pupil and the right exit pupil, respectively. 6. The image display unit displays the second left-eye original image in the display area on the left exit pupil side with respect to the center between the left exit pupil and the right exit pupil, and Displaying the second original image for the right eye in the display area on the right exit pupil side;
The third optical system reflects the second left-eye image light and the second right-eye image light with a reflection unit, thereby causing the optical path of the second left-eye image light and the second right-eye image light. 2. The second left-eye image light and the second right-eye image light are respectively guided to the left exit pupil and the right exit pupil without causing the optical paths of the eye image light to intersect each other. 5. The image display device according to any one of items 4 to 4. The third optical system has the reflecting portion along a plane passing through the center,
The reflecting unit reflects the second left eye image light and the second right eye image light by the reflecting surface on the left exit pupil side and the reflecting surface on the right exit pupil side, respectively. The image display device according to claim 6, wherein the image display device is guided to the right exit pupil.   The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image display apparatus has an optical surface common to all of the first, second, and third optical systems.   9. The image display according to claim 8, wherein the optical surface is an optical surface closest to the left and right exit pupils among optical surfaces constituting the first, second, and third optical systems. apparatus.   9. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein optical characteristics of the first and second optical systems are different from optical characteristics of the third optical system. 10.   11. The image display according to claim 1, wherein each of the first, second, and third optical systems includes an optical element having a refractive surface and a reflective surface. apparatus.   12. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first, second, and third optical systems is configured using at least one integral optical element. .