JP2952858B2 - Head mounted display - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a helmet mounted on a head and a head mounted display (hereinafter referred to as an HMD) having a display device supported by the helmet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When processing or manipulating contaminants such as radiation-emitting substances by using a remote control device, information for operation is displayed to an operator together with outside scenery light, or the outside scenery light is cut off to create an artificial reality (virtual). An HMD is used when displaying an image for experiencing the reality).

Conventionally, an HMD used for such remote control or artificial reality includes a housing, for example, a helmet (hereinafter, referred to as a helmet), an image display device supported by the helmet, and an image displayed on the image display device. It has an optical system that forms a virtual image in front of a combiner installed in front of the user's eyes, and the optical system is generally fixed in front of the helmet.

In such an HMD, when displaying the image from the image display device and the outside scene light together on the combiner, the combiner is of a transmissive type, and an image for allowing the user to experience artificial reality (virtual reality) is used. When displaying, make sure that the outside light does not enter the combiner. In general, the former type of HMD is a sheath type (a type in which an image displayed in front of a combiner is superimposed on an actual object, etc.), and the latter type is a closed type (in which only an image displayed in front of a combiner is viewed. The conventional HMD is a dedicated type of either the sheath type or the closed type, or an LCD shutter is provided in front of the combiner, and the LCD shutter is driven to block external light from entering and blocking the combiner. Some of them are controlled to use both the sheath type and the closed type.

[0005]

However, LCDs
In the case of controlling the incidence and blocking of outside scenery light to the combiner by driving the shutter, since the LCD shutter is always installed in front of the combiner, it is assumed that the LCD is driven so that the outside scenery light is transmitted. However, as compared with the dedicated device for the sheath type, the outside scene light transmittance is low, and it is difficult to recognize the image from the image display device and the outside scene light together.

Further, in order to drive the LCD, a dedicated driving circuit and a power supply are required, and when it is mounted on a helmet, the weight of the helmet becomes considerably large, and a burden is imposed on the user.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an HMD that can be used both as a sheath type and a closed type with a simple operation.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has a housing mounted on a user's head and an image fixed to the housing and emitting information in front of the user's eyes. In a head mounted display comprising a display device and an optical system for forming a virtual image of an image displayed on the image display device in front of a combiner installed in front of a user, a light shielding member is provided at a front end of the housing. Is installed so that it can rotate up and down with the installation point as a fulcrum,
The front surface of the combiner is covered by manual rotation of the light shielding member.

[0009] Here, the housing refers to, for example, a helmet, and generally refers to not only a helmet that covers the entire head, but also a general one that can be mounted and fixed on the head.
For example, a band-shaped thing wound around a head and a frame-shaped thing are included.

The image display device may have any shape as long as it can be fixed to the housing.
It is made of an RT, a liquid crystal panel, or the like, but any means may be used. The image display device may be attached to the housing by a method of being embedded in the housing or a method of attaching the image display device to the housing and fixing it with a tape or the like.

The combiner can be any material as long as it is a light-transmitting material. For example, glass, polyacryl, or the like can be used. The combiner is fixed to the front end of the housing with a pin, an adhesive tape, or the like so as to be in front of the user.

As the light shielding member, a visor having an outside scene light transmittance of 0% is used, and is installed in the housing so as to be in front of the combiner. The installation location is located at the front end of the housing. The light-shielding member can be put in and out by placing the light-shielding member at the front end of the housing and rotating the light-shielding member up and down with that point as a fulcrum. In addition, it is convenient for the user to manually put in and out.

[0013]

According to the present invention, it is possible to easily switch between the sheath type and the closed type by inserting and removing the light shielding member in front of the combiner.

[0014]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention.
H indicates a helmet worn by the user, and helmet H
Is provided with an inner shell 2 provided with a thin cushioning material 1 on the inner surface side, and an outer shell 4 provided outside the inner shell 2 with a cushioning material 3 interposed therebetween. The inner shell 2 is formed using a high-strength resin such as polycarbonate reinforced with glass fiber, and the outer shell 4 is formed using a lightweight resin such as polypropylene.

The helmet H is provided with a combiner 6 made of a transmissive material via a support member 9, and image display light from an image display device K described later enters the combiner 6. The image display device is housed in a left-eye case and a right-eye case arranged corresponding to the left and right eyes of the helmet wearer.

The image display device K is disposed at the upper front of the space between the inner shell 2 and the outer shell 4 of the helmet H. The display device K includes an image display section D and an optical member B. Are located.

The optical member B includes a plurality of lens systems B1 and B2.
The image display unit D includes a liquid crystal panel D1 and a backlight light source D2. Therefore, the image display light from the liquid crystal panel D1 is incident on the optical member B,
It is directed to the combiner 6 and forms a virtual image of the image.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a light shielding member (a visor having a transmittance of 0%) which is the gist of the present invention, which is a rotatable pin member 8 attached to a support member 9 installed at the front end of the helmet H, like the combiner 6. Installed by. Thus, the light shielding member 7 rotates in the direction of the arrow in the drawing with the pin member 8 as a support, and covers the front surface of the combiner 6 as necessary.

With the above configuration, the helmet H
When the HMD is used as a sheath type HMD, the light shielding member 7 is raised in front of the helmet as shown in FIG. 1 so that the outside scene light passes through the combiner.
Then, the image display light from the liquid crystal panel D1 and the outside scenery light are superimposed, and the various image images displayed on the liquid crystal panel D1 can be superimposed on the actual object.

When used as a closed-type HMD, if the light shielding member 7 is lowered to the position indicated by the dotted line in the figure, only the image display light from the liquid crystal panel D1 can be seen and the user can immerse himself in the world.

[0022]

According to the present invention, the HMD can be easily switched between the sheath type and the closed type by appropriately taking the light shielding member in and out of the HMD.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an HMD of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 D: Image display unit K: Image projection device 6: Combiner 7: Light shielding member

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A housing mounted on the head of the user;
An image display device fixed to the housing and emitting information in front of the user's eyes, and an optical system for forming a virtual image of an image displayed on the image display device in front of a combiner installed in front of the user's eyes In the head-mounted display, a light shielding member is provided at the front end of the housing so as to be rotatable up and down around an installation point, and the front surface of the combiner is covered by manual rotation of the light shielding member. Head mounted display.