JP3298081B2 - Head mounted display device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a head-mounted display device, and more particularly to a head-mounted display device for instructing left and right eyes of a person to separate three-dimensional images and performing three-dimensional display of moving images.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional head-mounted display device for performing three-dimensional display of an electrically rewritable moving image, a device using a flat display device, for example, a liquid crystal display device (LCD) and a convex lens, as shown in FIG. Are known.

In FIG. 1, images of a three-dimensional object a1 viewed from different directions (this is called a parallax image) are, for example, a camera a.
Images are taken with 2L and a2R. This camera a2L, a
Images from the 2R are displayed on the left and right LCDs a3L and a3R via electronic circuits (not shown). The observer observes different display images on the left and right LCDs a3L and a3R through separate convex lenses a4L and a4R, respectively, with the left and right eyes a5L and a5R. Thereby, the observer can observe the parallax image a6 with both eyes at the same time, and the stereoscopic viewing by the binocular parallax becomes possible.

[0004]

However, the head-mounted display device configured as described above can present binocular parallax in a certain range in the depth direction, but is required for natural stereoscopic vision. Vergence of both eyes,
It is difficult to make the focal length adjusting action of the eye and the binocular disparity consistent. That is, the focal point of the eye is the focal length of the convex lenses a4L and a4R and the LCDs a3L and a3L.
This is because it is fixed at a position determined by the position of R. Also, because the size of the LCDs a3L and a3R is limited, the amount of change in the convergence angle of both eyes cannot be made large.

[0005] Therefore, since inconsistency arises between the binocular parallax, the convergence, and the action of adjusting the focal length of the eye necessary for natural stereoscopic vision, the viewer feels a feeling of fatigue. I could not escape.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object the purpose of all of binocular parallax, binocular convergence, and focal length adjustment of the eyes, which are main factors for perceiving a stereoscopic effect. And an electrically rewritable head-mounted display device.

[0007] The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Among the inventions disclosed in the present application, typical ones are briefly described as follows.

Means 1. In a head-mounted display device attached to each of the left and right eyes of a person, an optical scanning device that scans a light beam or a display projection device that projects a flat display, and a plurality of scatter factor control devices that control the scatter factor of light. , is composed of a lens, the plurality of scattering rate control device, said display projection device
At a depth position corresponding to the display for each display projected to
Increase only the scattering rate of the placed scattering rate controller,
Characterized in that the scattering rate of the scattering control device is reduced .

Means 2. In the configuration of the means 1, the plurality of scattering rate control devices are arranged side by side at a predetermined distance in a direction away from the eyes, and the plurality of scattering rate control devices are gradually moved toward the center position of both eyes as approaching the eyes. At least one of a configuration in which the plurality of scattering ratio control devices are increased in size away from the eyes, and a configuration in which each of the plurality of scattering ratio control devices has a curvature for correcting aberration of the lens. It is characterized by having.

Means 3. In any one of the constitutions of the above means 1 and 2, the scattering rate control device comprises a transparent electrode and a variable refractive index medium or a mixture of a variable refractive index medium and a polymer. Is what you do.

[0012]

According to the construction of the means 1, the apparatus including the scattering rate control device is mounted on each of the right and left eyes of a person, and the position where the light displayed on the optical scanning device or the display projection device scatters is determined. By changing the scattering rate control device in the depth direction, a three-dimensional image that does not cause inconsistency in the binocular parallax, binocular convergence, and the focal length adjusting action of the eyes, which are the main elements that give a three-dimensional effect, is generated. It can be reproduced in a rewritable way.

Further, according to the configuration of the means 2, it is possible to perform accurate scattering rate control regardless of the distance of the image.

Further, according to the configuration such as the means 3, it is possible to obtain a scattering rate control device having a simple configuration.

[0015]

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

In each of the following embodiments, since the direction is such that the observer can easily feel a three-dimensional effect, the description will be mainly given in a plane including both eyes of the observer.

Embodiment 1 FIG . FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing one embodiment of a head mount display device according to the present invention.
FIG. 1A shows a perspective view, and FIG. 1B shows a view on a plane including both eyes of the observer. Is shown).

First, a head mount display device is a device 1a4R including an optical scanning device or display projection device 1a1R, a plurality of scattering rate control devices 1a2R and a lens 1a3R, and similarly an optical scanning device or display projection device. 1a1L, a device 1a4L including a plurality of scattering rate control devices 1a2L, and a lens 1a3L, and these devices 1a4R, 1a4L are mounted on the left and right eyes 1a5R, 1a5L of a person and used.

Then, light beams are scanned by the light scanning devices 1a1R and 1a1L toward the scattering rate control devices 1a2R and 1a2L, or a flat display is projected from the display projection devices 1a1R and 1a1L to the scattering rate control devices 1a2R and 1a2L. , According to this display, the scattering rate control device 1a2R,
By changing the scattering rate of 1a2L, a volume scanning type three-dimensional display can be realized.

Here, the optical scanning devices 1a1R, 1a1L
Is, for example, a light source (eg, a semiconductor laser, a lamp, an LE
D), a mirror and a mirror driving device,
A device composed of a combination of a light source and a light deflecting device is used, and the display projection devices 1a1R and 1a1L are, for example, a light source (for example, a semiconductor laser, a lamp, an LED, etc.) and a light transmittance control device (for example, a liquid crystal display device). A device including a combination or a light-emitting display device (for example, an LED display device, a plasma display device, a fluorescent tube display device, or the like) is used. The scattering rate control devices 1a2R and 1a2L are devices including, for example, a transparent electrode (for example, an ITO film or a ZnO _x film) and a variable refractive index medium (for example, a medium containing a liquid crystal, a material having an electro-optical effect, a chromic material, or the like). As the lenses 1a3R and 1a3L, a single lens or a combination lens including, for example, a convex lens, a concave lens, or an aspherical lens is used. It should be noted that each of the above-described devices can obviously be conceived with various other materials, devices, and combinations thereof having the same action.

The head-mounted display device configured as described above is an optical scanning device or a display projection device 1a.
1R, 1a1L, according to the display, the scattering rate control device 1a
That is, the scattering rates of 2R and 1a2L are changed.
As shown in FIG. 1B, when expressing an image at the position 1a6, a plurality of scattering rate control devices 1a2R, 1a2
L, the image 1a for the left and right eyes 1a5R, 1a5L
6 (lens 1a3R, 1a
(Determined by the focal length of 3L, etc.), the scattering rate of the light of 1a7R and 1a7L, for example, is set to be large, and the scattering rate of the other scattering rate control apparatuses is set to be small (for example, 20% or less). . As a result, the light, for example, 1a9R, 1a9L coming from the optical scanning device or the display projection device 1a1R, 1a1L is converted to the scattering rate control device 1a7R, 1a
It is scattered only at 7L and can express the depth position of the image 1a6. Further, the left and right positions of the image 1a6 are determined by the scattering rate control devices having increased scattering rates, for example, 1a7R and 1a7.
L and the image 1 for the left and right eyes 1a5R and 1a5L.
A position (lens 1a3R, 1a3L) corresponding to the position of a6
The optical scanning device 1a1
R, scanning or display projection device 1a by 1a1L
It can be expressed by projecting the flat display by 1R, 1a1L.

Therefore, in the embodiment described above, FIG.
The inconsistency between the focus adjustment effect of the eye and the binocular parallax or the convergence of both eyes, which has occurred in the conventional configuration shown in FIG. For this reason, the focus adjustment effect of the eyes, the binocular parallax, and the convergence of both eyes, which are the main factors for obtaining a stereoscopic effect, can be almost satisfied, and natural stereoscopic vision can be realized.

Here, in FIG. 1, the depth direction is set by selecting one of a plurality of scattering rate control devices fixedly arranged in the depth direction.
As shown in FIG. 2, the scattering rate control device 1b7 is
b8 to move in the depth direction, or
It goes without saying that the rotating device 1b9 may be attached and moved in the depth direction by rotation as shown in FIG. Devices that include such mechanical actions
Although it is inferior to FIG. 1 in terms of reliability and response speed, it has advantages such as reduction in the number of scattering rate control devices and improvement in light use efficiency.

In FIG. 1, the left and right eyes 1a5R, 1a
In each of the 5L devices 1a4R and 1a4L, 1
One scattering rate control device, for example, 1 for one image point 1a6
Although the case where the scattering rates of only the a7R and 1a7L are set large is shown, as shown in FIG. 1 (c), the scattering rates of two or more scattering rate control devices are increased so that a see-through material such as glass is used. The image 1c6 viewed through can also be expressed. That is, the left and right eyes 1c5R, 1c5L
The scattering control device 1c7R, which expresses the scattering image of the scattering device at a position corresponding to the image of the glass in front, for example, the scattering device of 1c8R, 1c8L, represents the image 1c6 of the back.
It can be expressed by setting it lower than the scattering rate of 1c7L and higher than the other scattering control devices.

In the above-described embodiment, since the number of scattering rate control devices is finite, the resolution of the depth position is limited. However, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), the focus adjustment of the human eye works only when the visual distance is short (about 2 m or less), and the depth resolution is the highest and 1/10 or more of the visual distance. 5B, and there is an allowable range between the angle of convergence and the convergence angle as shown in FIG. For this reason, if, for example, 20 to 40 or more scattering rate control devices are arranged in the depth direction, natural stereoscopic vision can be realized.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, an optical scanning device or a display projection device 1e1R, 1e1L is arranged on the same side as the eyes 1e5R, 1e5L with respect to the scattering rate control devices 1e7R, 1e7L, or as shown in FIG. Mirror 1e10R, 1
By using e10L to scan and display from the side closer to the eyes, it is easy to perform the scanning and the display of the displays, and the display near the eyes is more clearly displayed. By dividing the scanning range and the display range with respect to the scattering rate control device 1e7 by using a plurality of the projection devices 1e1, a configuration such as a method that can reduce the display speed on each optical scanning device and the display projection device 1e1 is conceivable.

Embodiment 2 FIG . FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the head mount display device according to the present invention. In the figure, a plurality of scattering rate control devices 2a2R, 2
The a2L is gradually shifted toward the center of the left and right eyes 2a5R and 2a5L as approaching the left and right eyes 2a5R and 2a5L. Thereby, when the image to be displayed is far, it is displayed on the scattering rate control device farther than the eye,
When the image to be displayed is close, by displaying the image on a scattering ratio display device close to the eye, a natural correspondence between the convergence angle and the focal point of the eye can be automatically created.

Next, FIG. 9 shows an embodiment for keeping the viewing angle in the depth direction as much as possible. As shown in the figure, the scattering rate control devices 2b2R and 2b2L are arranged so that the size increases as the distance from the left and right eyes 2b5R and 2b5L increases. This makes it possible to maintain the same viewing angle 2b8R, 2b8L as that of a near image, for example, even if the image is farther than the eye. In addition, even if the number of pixels displayed at one position is fixed, the viewing angle from the eye is kept substantially constant, so that there is an advantage that the display resolution is felt to be constant for the eye. In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, by increasing the sizes of the farthest scattering rate control devices 2c11R and 2c11L so as to cover almost the eyes, it is possible to greatly increase the sense of reality due to the effect of the approach.

Next, FIG. 11 shows an embodiment for correcting image distortion due to lens aberration. In the figure, for example, by setting the scattering rate control devices 2d2R and 2d2L to a curved surface in which image distortion hardly occurs due to lens aberration especially in the peripheral portion, the scattering rate control device 2d2R and 2d2L are particularly improved.
Even when d2R and 2d2L are increased, distortion of the entire display can be suppressed. Although only one scattering rate control device is shown on each of the left and right sides in FIG. 1, it is apparent that the same can be applied to a plurality of cases.

Here, it is apparent that the components of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 8 to 11 may be combined to form the head mount display device. Further, in each embodiment, the left and right scattering rate control device, and the optical scanning device or display projection device, etc.,
Near the center of the eyes, the left device is hidden and the right device is hidden, but the left device is not shown, but the left device is the left device or the right device of the right device. Obviously, it has a similar structure. In order to realize such a structure, for example, as shown in FIG.
It can be realized by staggering the left and right parts using e11L. Further, it is apparent that there are various structures other than the mirror, which can be realized by using a prism or the like instead of a mirror so as to expand in the left-right direction.

Embodiment 3 FIG . FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the head mounted display device according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the transparent electrode 5a1 of the scattering rate control device 5a2 is shaped like a strip, and the scattering rate control devices 5b2R and 5b2L are arranged as shown in FIG. 5 (b). In this case,
For example, after forming a three-dimensional position in the depth direction to be displayed by increasing the scattering rate at a desired position (for example, a dark-colored strip-shaped portion in the figure) of the strip-shaped electrode, the optical scanning device or the display projection device 5b1R is used. , 5b1L, three-dimensional display is possible. Thereby, there is an advantage that the driving speed of the scattering rate control devices 5b2R, 5b2L or the optical scanning device or the display projection devices 5b1R, 5b1L can be reduced.

Embodiment 4 FIG . FIG. 14 shows each embodiment of the scattering rate control device used in the head mount display device according to the present invention. First, as shown in FIG. 2A, a transparent electrode 3a1 (for example, an ITO film or a ZnO _x film) and a transparent electrode 3a2 (for example, an ITO film or a ZnO _x film).
And a combination of a polymer 3a4 and a variable refractive index medium 3a3 (for example, liquid crystal or polymer liquid crystal) therebetween. When the voltage is changed between the transparent electrode 3a1 and the transparent electrode 3a2, the refractive index of the refractive index variable medium 3a4 changes for the light 3a5 input to this device, and the polymer 3a
The refractive index and the refractive index difference of No. 3 change.

When the refractive index difference is large, the light is scattered largely. When the refractive index difference is small, the scattering is small. In particular, when there is almost no refractive index difference, the light is transmitted without any scattering. . That is, the light scattering rate can be changed thereby. Since the refractive index difference can be controlled by the voltage, the scattering rate can be changed by the voltage. Here, the refractive index variable medium 3a4
The use of a polymer liquid crystal has the advantage that the response speed is slower, but a large device can be easily manufactured. FIG.
(B) is a polymer 3a8 with respect to the refractive index variable medium 3a9.
Is an example showing that is in the form of particles.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 14C is an embodiment using only the variable refractive index medium 3b3 instead of the polymer and the variable refractive index medium. In the figure, the transparent electrode 3a
1 (for example, an ITO film or a ZnO _x film) and a transparent electrode 3a
2 (for example, an ITO film or a ZnO _x film) and a variable refractive index medium 3b3 (for example, a liquid crystal or a polymer liquid crystal) therebetween. Transparent electrode 3a1 and transparent electrode 3a
When a low-frequency voltage is applied between the two, the molecules constituting the variable-refractive-index medium move violently in response thereto, so that a non-uniform distribution of the refractive index occurs for the light 3b5 input to the device. When the difference in the refractive index distribution is large, the light is largely scattered, and when the difference in the refractive index distribution is small, the scattering is small. Thus, the light scattering rate can be changed, and the difference in the refractive index can be controlled by a voltage application method (frequency, etc.), so that the scattering rate can be electrically changed.

Each of the scattering index controllers shown in FIG. 14 described above changes the scattering index by a change in the refractive index by the variable index medium. However, the variable range and the center position of the scattering index are restricted by the variable range and shape of the variable refractive index material. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 15A, by combining with the fixed scatterer 3c6, the variable range can be widened and the variable center position can be set arbitrarily. It is clear that many combinations of the fixed scatterers are possible by mixing transparent media having different refractive indexes (for example, glass or a transparent polymer material). In this embodiment, the position of the transparent electrode is provided on the fixed scatterer.
It is clear that there are various structures that can achieve the same effect, for example, they can be provided at a position below.

The use of, for example, a liquid crystal as the variable-refractive-index medium has advantages in that the variable-refractive-index range is wide, the driving voltage is low, and the area can be easily increased.

Embodiment 5 FIG . FIG. 16 is a configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the above-described scattering rate control device. FIG.
6, 47 are made of a material containing a polymer. This configuration has the advantage that the weight of the entire apparatus can be reduced. Furthermore, since the substrate can be a substrate that can be processed into a curved surface or a flexible substrate, there is an advantage that a curved surface as described in the third embodiment can be provided to the apparatus.

As described above, the invention made by the present inventor is:
Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and it is needless to say that various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0039]

As is apparent from the above description,
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the head mounted display apparatus by this invention, the three-dimensional image which does not cause inconsistency in the binocular parallax, the convergence of both eyes, and the focal length adjustment of eyes which are the main elements which perceive a stereoscopic effect is electrically rewritten. You will be able to play it in any possible form.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing one embodiment of a head mounted display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment of the scattering rate control device used in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment of the scattering rate control device used in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a graph for explaining the effect of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the scattering rate control device used in the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the scattering rate control device used in the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the scattering rate control device used in the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the scattering rate control device used in the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional head mounted display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a6: image, 1a1: optical scanning device or display projection device, 1a2: scattering rate control device, 1a3: lens.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-9003 (JP, A) JP-A-8-136883 (JP, A) JP-A-63-39299 (JP, A) (58) Survey Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G02B 27/02 G02B 27/22

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A head-mounted display device which is mounted on the left and right eyes of a person, comprising: an optical scanning device for scanning light rays or a display / projection device for projecting a flat display; and a plurality of devices for controlling a light scattering rate. A plurality of scattering rate control devices, each of which includes a scattering rate control device and a lens;
At the depth position corresponding to the display
Only the scattering factor of the
A head mounted display device characterized in that the scattering rate of a rate control device is reduced . 2. A configuration in which a plurality of scattering rate control devices are arranged side by side at a predetermined distance in a direction away from an eye, and the plurality of scattering rate control devices are gradually shifted toward a center position of both eyes as approaching the eye. And at least one of a configuration in which the size of the plurality of scattering rate control devices increases as the distance from the eye increases, and a configuration in which each of the plurality of scattering rate control devices has a curvature for correcting the aberration of the lens. The head-mounted display device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The scattering rate control device according to claim 1, wherein the scattering index control device comprises a transparent electrode and a variable refractive index medium or a mixture of a variable refractive index medium and a polymer. Or a head-mounted display device according to any one of the preceding claims. 4. The head mounted display device according to claim 3, wherein the scattering rate control device has its transparent electrode divided into a plurality of strips. 5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the transparent electrode of the scattering rate control device is formed by being attached to a substrate, and the substrate is made of a material containing a polymer. The head-mounted display device according to any one of the above. 6. The head-mounted display device according to claim 1, wherein a medium containing liquid crystal is used as the variable refractive index medium.