JP5062432B2 - Head mounted display - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a head mounted display that is mounted on a user's head and displays an image.

Conventionally, as a system for displaying an image, a head mounted display (HMD) in the shape of glasses has been proposed. In such a head mounted display, a method of changing the brightness, contrast, hue, and the like of an image according to the external brightness has been proposed as a method for increasing the visibility depending on the external situation. For example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-92423) discloses a head mounted display having two liquid crystal displays.
JP-A-7-92423

  By the way, in the case of a see-through type head mounted display, it is possible to observe an image (virtual image) without disturbing the surrounding visual field, so it is possible to superimpose objects and images placed around them. It is.

  However, if the surrounding surface is in the same position as the image where the image is raised and the image is raised, you can see both at the same time, but if the focus position is shifted, observe while moving the focus of the eyes. There was a problem that had to be done.

  Also, when an object is in front of the focus position of the image, there is a problem that it is difficult to observe because the image appears to be deep in the object.

The present invention is for solving the above-described problems, and for that purpose, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to an image display unit that generates image light, and image light from the image display unit by an observer. A head-mounted display having a hologram part that leads to eyes, wherein the hologram part is composed of a plurality of types of hologram elements having different optical characteristics , and each hologram element enables or disables a function as a hologram as it can be of is used et is, the hologram unit is strip-shaped plural kinds of the hologram element, characterized in that it is constituted by being arranged in a plane.

The invention according to claim 2 is a head-mounted display comprising: a video display unit that generates video light; and a hologram unit that guides the video light from the video display unit to the eyes of an observer. parts are together constituted by a plurality of types of hologram elements having different optical properties, each hologram element is capable ones used et been possible to enable or disable the function as a hologram, the hologram unit is circumferential A plurality of types of hologram elements are configured by being arranged in a plane .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the head-mounted display according to the first or second aspect, the head mounted display includes a tilt sensor that acquires the tilt angle of the hologram unit, and the tilt angle acquired by the tilt sensor is adjusted. Accordingly, it is characterized by determining which hologram element of the plurality of types of hologram elements is to be validated or invalidated.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the head mounted display according to any one of the first to third aspects, the hologram element is a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal.

  According to the head mounted display according to the embodiment of the present invention, since a virtual image having a plurality of focus positions can be reproduced by a plurality of hologram elements, a plurality of surrounding mono (real image) focus positions and a head It becomes possible to match the focus position of the virtual image by the mount display, and it is possible to improve user convenience.

  In addition, according to the head mounted display according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to solve the problem that it is difficult to observe because the virtual image appears in the back of the object by changing the focus position of the virtual image. .

  Further, according to the head mounted display according to claim 2 of the present invention, since a plurality of hologram elements are stacked, there is little light loss when diffracting image light in the hologram portion.

  According to the head mounted display of the third aspect of the present invention, the hologram unit has a configuration in which a plurality of hologram elements are arranged in a plane, and only one hologram element needs to be manufactured. It is possible to go down.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external view of a head mounted display according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 10 is a circuit unit, 11 is a main switch, 12 is a focus position change switch, 13 is a cable, 20 is a video display unit, 40 is a transparent substrate, 50 is a hologram unit, and 100 is a head-mounted display. ing.

  The head mounted display 100 includes a glasses-like main body portion and a circuit portion 10 connected to the main body portion by a cable 13. The head mounted display 100 is used when the user wears the main body portion like normal glasses. In the main body portion of the head mounted display 100, a portion corresponding to the right lens of normal glasses is provided with a transparent base material 40 in which a hologram unit 50 is embedded, as shown. The hologram unit 50 functions as a combiner, so that the user can see the surrounding real image and the virtual image generated by the video light generated by the video display unit 20.

  The hologram unit 50 plays a role of guiding the image light generated by the image display unit 20 to the eyes of the user of the head mounted display 100. The hologram unit 50 is composed of a plurality of hologram elements. As the hologram element of the hologram unit 50, one capable of enabling or disabling the function as a hologram—for example, a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal—is used. In the head-mounted display of the present invention, a plurality of hologram elements can be used. In the present embodiment, a description will be given by taking a hologram unit 50 including two hologram elements as an example.

  The circuit unit 10 includes a main switch 11 capable of turning on and off a function as a head mounted display, a focus position switching switch 12 for switching a focus position of a virtual image viewed by a user of the head mounted display, and a video display unit 20. A video data source for the video light generated in the above, a video data receiving device for the video light, or the like is provided.

  Next, an optical system configured between the video display unit 20 and the user's eye E will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the optical system of the head mounted display according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, 21 is an LED light source, 22 is a liquid crystal display, and 51 and 52 are hologram elements.

  The video data transmitted from the circuit unit 10 is visualized by the liquid crystal display 22 and becomes video light when irradiated by the LED light source 21. This image light is guided to the user's eye E by the hologram unit 50. Here, the hologram unit 50 is constituted by two holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystals of hologram elements 51 and 52.

  The hologram element 51 and the hologram element 52 have different optical characteristics (the orientation angle φ and the pitch p shown in FIG. 3 are different), and when the hologram element 51 is activated as a hologram, the hologram The function of the element 52 as a hologram is invalidated. Further, when the hologram element 51 is disabled as a hologram function, the hologram element 52 is enabled as a hologram function. Thereby, the hologram unit 50 exhibits two different optical characteristics.

  The holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal used in the hologram unit 50 of the head mounted display will be described. 3 and 4 are diagrams schematically showing the principle of a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal used as a hologram element of the head mounted display of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a state where no voltage is applied to the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal, and FIG. 4 shows a state where a voltage is applied.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal has a structure in which droplets 62 in which liquid crystal molecules 63 are accommodated in a curable resin 64 are aligned. ing. As shown in the figure, both ends of this structure are sandwiched between transparent electrodes 60 and 60 'and glass substrates 61 and 61', and a predetermined voltage is applied to transparent electrodes 60 and 60 'or not. Thus, the state of the liquid crystal molecules 63 is aligned or non-aligned.

  FIG. 3 shows a state in which no voltage is applied to the transparent electrodes 60, 60 ', and at this time, the diffracted light can be observed as a normal hologram. FIG. 4 shows a state in which a voltage is applied to the transparent electrodes 60, 60 '. At this time, the function of the hologram is lost and light is transmitted as it is.

  Next, a voltage application relationship between the hologram element 51 and the hologram element 52 composed of holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a circuit diagram around the hologram portion of the head mounted display of the present invention. Note that only the electrodes are shown in the hologram element 51 and the hologram element 52 of FIG. The circuit diagram shows a circuit relating only to the on / off of the hologram element, and does not show the circuit of the entire circuit unit 10.

  As shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 5, when the focus position change-over switch 12 is set to the (A) side, in the hologram unit 50, the hologram element 51 is turned off (the function as a hologram is effective), and the hologram element 52 is turned on ( The function as a hologram is invalid). Further, when the focus position changeover switch 12 is set to the (B) side, in the hologram unit 50, the hologram element 51 is turned on (function as a hologram is invalid) and the hologram element 52 is turned off (function as a hologram is valid). Become.

  A visual state of the user's eye E accompanying the operation of the hologram unit 50 as described above will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a visual effect by the hologram portion of the head mounted display of the present invention.

  FIG. 6A shows a state in which the hologram element 51 is effective and the hologram element 52 is ineffective. At this time, the user feels that the focus position of the virtual image is A by the optical characteristics of the hologram element 51. It is what you have.

  FIG. 6B shows a state in which the hologram element 51 is invalid and the hologram element 52 is valid. At this time, depending on the optical characteristics of the hologram element 52, the user has a different virtual image focus position from A. It has the effect of feeling that.

  According to the configuration as described above, a virtual image having a plurality of focus positions (A, B) can be reproduced by the plurality of hologram elements 51, 52. Therefore, a plurality of surrounding mono (real images) focus positions It becomes possible to match the focus position of the virtual image by the head mounted display, and it is possible to improve the convenience for the user.

  Further, according to the configuration of the head mounted display as described above, it is possible to solve the problem that it is difficult to observe the virtual image by changing the focus position of the virtual image because the virtual image appears to appear in the back of the object.

  Further, in the present embodiment as described above, since the hologram unit 50 has a configuration in which the plurality of hologram elements 51 and 52 are stacked, there is an advantage that there is little loss of light amount when diffracting image light in the hologram unit 50. .

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a hologram unit 50 of a head mounted display according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the previous embodiment, the plurality of hologram elements 51 and 52 in the hologram unit 50 are configured to be stacked. In the present embodiment, the hologram elements 51 and 52 are arranged in a plane. Is done. By switching the validity and invalidity of the hologram elements 51 and 52 in the same manner as in the previous embodiment, a virtual image having a plurality of focus positions (A, B) can be reproduced.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a hologram unit 50 of a head mounted display according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a plurality of hologram elements 51 and 52 are arranged on the circumference. According to such an embodiment, the same effect as the previous embodiment can be obtained.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the hologram unit 50 has a configuration in which a plurality of hologram elements 51 and 52 are arranged in a plane, and only one hologram element needs to be manufactured. Compared to the type, the cost can be reduced.

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an external view of a head mounted display according to another embodiment of the present invention. As the hologram unit 50 in the present embodiment, any one described so far can be used. Moreover, the structure which attached | subjected the same reference number as previous embodiment has shown the same thing.

  In the present embodiment, the tilt sensor 30 is provided in the spectacle-shaped main body, and information relating to the tilt of the main body (that is, the hologram unit 50) can be acquired. Here, the inclination angle acquired by the inclination sensor 30 may be an angle θ formed by the user's line-of-sight direction A-A ′ with respect to the vertical line V-V ′ in FIG. 9.

Next, the operation of the hologram unit 50 in the head mounted display 100 ′ according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. Also in this embodiment, the hologram functions of the hologram element 51 and the hologram element 52 of the hologram unit 50 are validated and invalidated. In this embodiment, according to the tilt angle acquired by the tilt sensor 30. Which hologram element 51 or 52 of the hologram elements 51 or 52 is to be validated or invalidated is determined.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a head mounted display according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the block diagram shown in FIG. 10, a configuration for operating the hologram unit 50 is shown, and a configuration for operating the video display unit 20 is not shown.

  In the present embodiment, the main control unit 15 controls on / off of the hologram elements 51 and 52 of the hologram unit 50. The main control unit 15 is a general-purpose information processing mechanism that includes a CPU and a ROM that holds programs that run on the CPU, a RAM that functions as a work area for the CPU, and interface means for connecting to other devices. In addition, the tilt sensor 30 is configured to input data relating to the acquired tilt angle to the main control unit 15.

  Next, the control process of the hologram unit 50 of the head mounted display 100 ′ configured as described above will be described. FIG. 11 is a view showing a flowchart of the control processing of the hologram portion of the head mounted display according to another embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 11, when the control process of the hologram unit 50 is started in step S100, the process proceeds to step S101, and the tilt sensor 30 acquires the tilt angle θ of the main body of the head mounted display 100 '.

  In step S102, it is determined whether or not the acquired inclination angle θ is smaller than a predetermined inclination angle θo. When the determination result of step S102 is YES, the process proceeds to step S103, and when the determination result of step S102 is NO, the process proceeds to step S105.

  In step S103, in the hologram unit 50, the hologram function of the hologram element 51 is validated, the hologram function of the hologram element 52 is invalidated, and the focus position of the virtual image is set to A.

  In S105, in the hologram unit 50, the hologram function of the hologram element 51 is disabled, the hologram function of the hologram element 52 is enabled, and the focus position of the virtual image is set to B.

  In step S104, it is determined whether or not the main switch 11 is turned off. When the determination result of step S104 is NO, the process returns to step S101. When the determination result is YES, the process proceeds to step S106, and the control process of the hologram unit 50 is terminated.

  Next, an actual usage example of the head mounted display 100 ′ having the hologram unit 50 controlled as described above will be described. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a usage pattern of a head mounted display 100 ′ according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 shows a state in which a user wearing the head mounted display 100 ′ according to the present embodiment refers to a virtual image video display of the head mounted display 100 ′ while alternately referring to a desk document and a blackboard. Yes.

When the user wearing the head-mounted display 100 ′ is referring to a document on the desk, the user faces down. At this time, the predetermined inclination angle θo is set so that the inclination angle θ acquired by the inclination sensor 30 is smaller than θo. Therefore, the hologram unit 50 is controlled by step S103 in the previous flowchart. It has become so. That is, when the user refers to a document on the desk, a virtual image having the focus position (A) near the document on the desk is reproduced. FIG. 12A shows this state.

  Further, when the user wearing the head-mounted display 100 'turns to the front to refer to the blackboard, the predetermined inclination angle θo is set so that the inclination angle θ is equal to or greater than θo. That is, when the user refers to the blackboard, a virtual image having a focus position (B) near the document on the desk is reproduced. FIG. 12B shows this state.

  According to a form such as the head-mounted display 100 ′, when the user refers to the document on the desk, a virtual image having the focus position (A) near the document on the desk is reproduced, and when the user refers to the blackboard, A virtual image having a focus position (B) near the blackboard is reproduced. In other words, the focus position of a plurality of surrounding objects (real images) and the focus position of the virtual image by the head-mounted display 100 ′ are automatically matched as necessary, so that the user can match the real image and the virtual image of the eye. It is possible to watch at the same time without adjusting the focus.

  As described above, according to the head mounted display according to the embodiment of the present invention, a virtual image having a plurality of focus positions can be reproduced by a plurality of hologram elements, and thus a plurality of surrounding mono (real images) focus positions and It becomes possible to match the focus position of the virtual image by the head mounted display, and it is possible to improve the convenience for the user.

  In addition, according to the head mounted display according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to solve the problem that it is difficult to observe because the virtual image appears in the back of the object by changing the focus position of the virtual image. .

It is a figure which shows the external view of the head mounted display which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the outline of the optical system of the head mounted display which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically the principle of the holographic polymer dispersion | distribution liquid crystal used for the head mounted display of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically the principle of the holographic polymer dispersion | distribution liquid crystal used for the head mounted display of this invention. It is a figure which shows the circuit diagram of the hologram part periphery of the head mounted display of this invention. It is a figure which shows the visual effect by the hologram part of the head mounted display of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the hologram part of the head mounted display which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the hologram part of the head mounted display which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the external view of the head mounted display which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the block configuration of the head mounted display which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the control processing of the hologram part of the head mounted display which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the usage pattern of the head mounted display which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Circuit part, 11 ... Main switch, 12 ... Focus position changeover switch, 13 ... Cable, 15 ... Main control part, 20 ... Video display part, 21 ... LED Light source, 22 ... Liquid crystal display, 30 ... Tilt sensor, 40 ... Transparent substrate, 50 ... Hologram part, 51, 52 ... Hologram element, 60, 60 '... Transparent electrode, 61, 61 '... glass substrate, 62 ... droplet, 63 ... liquid crystal molecule, 64 ... curable resin, 100, 100' ... head mounted display,

Claims (4)

An image display unit for generating image light;
A head mounted display having a hologram part for guiding the image light from the image display part to the eyes of an observer,
Wherein with the hologram unit consists of a plurality of types of hologram elements having different optical properties, each hologram element is capable ones used et been possible to enable or disable the function of the hologram,
The hologram section is constituted by arranging a plurality of kinds of strip-shaped hologram elements in a plane . An image display unit for generating image light;
A head mounted display having a hologram part for guiding the image light from the image display part to the eyes of an observer,
Wherein with the hologram unit consists of a plurality of types of hologram elements having different optical properties, each hologram element is capable ones used et been possible to enable or disable the function of the hologram,
2. The head mounted display according to claim 1, wherein the hologram unit is configured by arranging a plurality of kinds of circumferential hologram elements in a plane . An inclination sensor for acquiring an inclination angle of the hologram portion;
3. The hologram element of which hologram element of a plurality of types of hologram elements is to be validated or invalidated according to an inclination angle acquired by the inclination sensor. The described head mounted display. The head-mounted display according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the hologram element is a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal.

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