JP5614386B2 - Head mounted display - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention provides a see-through head-mounted display that displays an image to an observer in a head-mounted state mounted on the observer's head, and allows the observer to observe the displayed image together with the actual outside world ( Hereinafter, it abbreviates as “HMD”.) In particular, it relates to a technique for reducing the feeling of obstruction and pressure felt by the observer from the HMD during use of the HMD.

  There is already known an HMD that is worn on the observer's head in order to project image light representing an image to be displayed on the observer's eyes. According to the HMD, an observer can directly observe an image without using a screen on which the image is projected.

  When the HMD is classified according to the image light forming method, it is spatially modulated, that is, from light emitted from a light source using a spatial modulation element (for example, liquid crystal or organic EL (electroluminescence)) that operates according to an image signal. The method for forming the image light and the scanning type, that is, the method for forming the image light by scanning the light emitted from the light source and having the intensity corresponding to the image signal. .

  Further, when the HMDs are classified according to the display image observation method, a see-through method, that is, a method in which the observer can observe the display image by the HMD superimposed on the actual outside world, and a sealed method, that is, It is classified into a method in which the incident of external light representing the actual outside world is completely or partially blocked (for example, only for one eye), and the observer can mainly observe only the display image by the HMD. Is done.

  In any case, this type of HMD generally (a) a display unit that displays the image to the observer by projecting image light according to the image signal for displaying the image onto the eye of the observer. And (b) a member to be mounted on the head of the observer (for example, a spectacle frame, a spectacle-shaped dedicated frame, a helmet, a band, goggles, or one ear, which is mounted on the observer's head. And an attachment for attaching the display unit to the attached member by holding the display unit. An example of a specific format of the display unit is a monocular system that displays the image to the observer by projecting the image light onto an observation eye that is one of the eyes of the observer.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a see-through HMD having a monocular display unit. Further, Patent Document 1 discloses that when a long display unit arranged in front of an observation eye is projected in the line-of-sight direction of the observation eye, the width dimension of the projected figure is smaller than the pupil size of the observation eye. In other words, a technique is disclosed that is designed so as to be 4 mm or less so that the visual field of the observer for observing the actual outside world is not shielded as much as possible by the display unit.

JP 2006-3879 A

  When an image is displayed to an observer using the HMD, the physical presence of the HMD is present in the observer's field of view in order to fulfill the essential function of the HMD, that is, the function of projecting image light onto the observation eye. It cannot be avoided that it is arranged. Further, since the HMD is a head-mounted type, there is a strong tendency to be placed at a position close to the observer's eyes. Therefore, when the HMD is a see-through type, the observer's field of view for observing the actual outside world is obstructed by the HMD, and as a result, the observer feels a sense of occlusion and pressure from the HMD during use of the HMD. there is a possibility.

  In contrast, the present inventor conducted an experiment in which the HMD was mounted on the observer's head while changing the geometric conditions such as the position, orientation, size, and shape of the HMD. Depending on the conditions, it has been found that the feeling of obstruction and pressure felt by the observer from the HMD during use of the HMD is reduced or increased. That is, the present inventor determines that the degree of occlusion or pressure felt by the observer from the HMD during use of the HMD is the human visual characteristics described later (for example, the relative position of the object with respect to the observation eye, I noticed that it depends on the relationship between the ability of humans to identify objects and determine their existence.

  Furthermore, the present inventor is using the HMD by reducing the width of the projected figure when the long display unit arranged in front of the observation eye is projected in the line of sight of the observation eye. Furthermore, it was confirmed that the feeling of obstruction and pressure felt by the observer from the HMD was reduced. At the same time, the inventor has a limit in miniaturizing the HMD as described above. For example, if the display unit is simply miniaturized as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the display unit It has also been found that the size of the displayable image, that is, the angle of view is reduced, and the image display function that is an essential function of the HMD is limited.

  That is, the present inventor has noticed that there is a trade-off relationship between the angle of view achieved by the HMD and the degree of occlusion or pressure that the observer feels from the HMD while using the HMD. is there.

  Based on some knowledge explained above, the present invention is a see-through type HMD, and the observer can observe the HMD while using the HMD while ensuring an appropriate angle of view of the display image of the HMD. It is an object to provide an object that reduces the feeling of obstruction and pressure felt by people.

In order to solve the problem, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an image is displayed to an observer in a head-mounted state mounted on the observer's head, and the observer displays the displayed image together with the actual outside world. A see-through head-mounted display that enables observation,
A monocular display unit that displays the image to the observer by projecting image light corresponding to an image signal for displaying the image onto one of the observer's eyes;
An attachment that is attached to a member to be attached to an observer's head and holds the display unit, thereby attaching the display unit to the member to be attached;
Including
The display unit generally has a shape extending in the longitudinal direction, and is arranged so as to extend in a direction intersecting with the front-rear direction with respect to the observer in front of the observer in the face-mounted state.
In the display unit, a main body portion that accommodates an image light forming portion that forms the image light and an emission portion that emits the formed image light toward the observation eye are aligned with each other along the longitudinal direction. And have
The body portion has a horizontally long cross section extending in the front-rear direction with respect to the observer in the head-mounted state,
The emission portion has a horizontally long cross section extending in the front-rear direction with respect to the observer in the head-mounted state, and the shape of the horizontally long cross section is a horizontally long shape that the observer perceives the image displayed by the display unit. Reflects the shape of the rectangular image display area,
The vertical dimension of the horizontal cross section of the emission part is set to be smaller than the vertical dimension of the horizontal cross section of the main body part,
The display unit has a generally hollow housing extending in its longitudinal direction;
The image light forming unit is a spatial light modulation element which is disposed in the housing and generates the image light by two-dimensional spatially modulating incident light, and has a cross-section of the emission portion. Including those having a shape larger than the shape,
The spatial light modulation element has an optical axis direction coinciding with the longitudinal direction of the image light forming portion, and is supported in the housing so as to be displaceable in the optical axis direction.
The image light forming unit further includes a focus adjustment mechanism that is disposed in the housing and adjusts a focus position of the image light by displacing the spatial light modulation element back and forth in the optical axis direction,
The spatial light modulator and the focus adjustment mechanism are accommodated in the main body portion,
The attachment has the display unit for the observer in the head-mounted state, and the emission portion is generally entirely in front of the observation eye and inside the stable focus area for the observation eye. While present, a head mounted display is provided that retains the body portion so that it is generally entirely outside the stable field of view area.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is a see-through head mounted display,
A monocular display unit having a hollow housing extending in the longitudinal direction;
An attachment that is attached to a member to be attached to an observer's head and holds the display unit, thereby attaching the display unit to the member to be attached;
Including
The display unit extends in the longitudinal direction and has a main body portion that accommodates an image light forming portion that forms the image light, and the formed image light is directed toward an observation eye that is one of the eyes of the observer And an outgoing part to be emitted so as to be aligned with each other along the longitudinal direction,
The main body portion has a horizontally long cross section extending in the front-rear direction with respect to the observer,
The emission portion has a horizontally long cross section extending in the front-rear direction with respect to the observer, and the shape of the horizontal cross section reflects the shape of the image display area that forms a horizontally long rectangular shape of the image displayed by the display unit. And
The image light forming unit is a spatial light modulation element which is disposed in the housing and generates the image light by two-dimensional spatially modulating incident light, and has a cross-section of the emission portion. Including those having a shape larger than the shape,
The spatial light modulator has an optical axis direction coinciding with the longitudinal direction of the image light forming portion,
The spatial light modulation element is accommodated in the main body portion,
The vertical dimension of the horizontal cross section of the emission part is set to be smaller than the vertical dimension of the horizontal cross section of the main body part,
When the attachment is in a head-mounted state in which the display unit is mounted on the observer's head with respect to the observer, the emission portion is in front of the observation eye and a stable focus field for the observation eye A head mounted display is provided that is generally present inside the region while the body portion is generally present outside the stable field of view region.
The following aspects are obtained by the present invention. Each aspect is divided into sections, each section is numbered, and is described in the form of quoting the section numbers of other sections as necessary. In this way, each section is referred to the section number of the other section. By describing in the format, the technical features described in each section can be appropriately made independent according to the properties.

(1) This is a see-through type head mounted display that displays an image to the observer with the head mounted on the observer's head and allows the observer to observe the displayed image together with the actual outside world. And
A monocular display unit that displays the image to the observer by projecting image light corresponding to an image signal for displaying the image onto one of the observer's eyes;
An attachment that is attached to an attachment member attached to an observer's head and holds the display unit to attach the display unit to the attachment member;
The display unit generally has a shape extending in the longitudinal direction, and in the head-mounted state, in a direction intersecting with the front-rear direction with respect to the observer in front of the observer's face (for example, substantially left-right direction, substantially vertical direction) Arranged to extend,
In the display unit, a main body portion that accommodates an image light forming portion that forms the image light and an emission portion that emits the formed image light toward the observation eye are aligned with each other along the longitudinal direction. And have
The main body portion has a horizontally long cross section (for example, a horizontally long rectangle, a horizontally long ellipse, etc.) extending in the front-rear direction with respect to the observer in the head-mounted state.
The emission portion has a horizontally long cross section (for example, a horizontally long rectangle, a horizontally long circle, etc.) extending in the front-rear direction with respect to the observer in the head-mounted state, and the shape of the horizontally long cross section is displayed by the display unit. Reflecting the shape of the image display area (for example, a horizontally long rectangle) that forms a horizontally long rectangle perceived by the viewer.
The vertical dimension of the horizontal cross section of the emission part is set to be smaller than the vertical dimension of the horizontal cross section of the main body part,
The attachment has the display unit for the observer in the head-mounted state, and the emission portion is generally entirely in front of the observation eye and inside the stable focus area for the observation eye. A head-mounted display that, while present, holds the body portion generally generally outside the stable field of view area.

  In order to correspond to the “see-through type” HMD in this section, the HMD only needs to have a function that allows the observer to observe the display image together with the actual outside world. Therefore, in this see-through type HMD, a partial reflection / partial transmission optical element such as a half mirror is used, and the image light forming the display image is put along the same optical axis together with the external light representing the actual external environment. In addition to the see-through type HMD in the narrow sense to be incident on the observer's eyes, such a partial reflection / partial transmission optical element is replaced with a complete reflection type or full transmission type optical element such as a full mirror. An HMD of a type that should be referred to as a sea-around type in which a display image is observed on a full mirror and at the same time an actual external environment is observed around the full mirror is also applicable.

  The “display unit” in this section has an upstream portion and a downstream portion with respect to the traveling direction of the image light. In addition, the “display unit” has a large large portion LP and a small small portion SP with respect to the vertical dimension (in the head-mounted state) of the cross section (outer shape). Therefore, in the “display unit”, the portion on the upstream side and having at least the large size portion LP of the large size portion LP and the small size portion SP is defined as the “main body portion” in the same section. The portion on the downstream side that has at least the small dimensional portion SP out of the large dimensional portion LP and the small dimensional portion SP can be defined as the “outgoing portion” in the same term.

(2) Furthermore, an adjustment mechanism for adjusting at least one of a relative position and an angle of the main body portion with respect to the mounted member is included,
The attachment is the head mounted display according to (1), wherein the attachment mechanism holds the adjustment mechanism so as to be located outside a guidance visual field region for the observation eye in the head-mounted state.

(3) the display unit has a generally hollow housing extending in a longitudinal direction thereof;
The image light forming unit is a spatial light modulation element which is disposed in the housing and generates the image light by two-dimensional spatially modulating incident light, and has a cross-section of the emission portion. Including those having a shape larger than the shape,
The spatial light modulation element has an optical axis direction coinciding with the longitudinal direction of the image light forming portion, and is supported in the housing so as to be displaceable in the optical axis direction.
The image light forming unit further includes a focus adjustment mechanism that is disposed in the housing and adjusts a focus position of the image light by displacing the spatial light modulation element back and forth in the optical axis direction,
The head mounted display according to (1) or (2), wherein the spatial light modulation element and the focus adjustment mechanism are accommodated in the main body portion.

(4) The head mounted display according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the emission part includes an optical element that reflects the image light formed by the image forming unit toward the observation eye.

  As described above, the present inventor has a trade-off relationship between the angle of view achieved by the HMD and the degree of occlusion or pressure felt by the observer from the HMD during use of the HMD. I noticed. Furthermore, the present inventor, in spite of the existence of such a trade-off, determines the geometric characteristics of the cross section of the display unit along the longitudinal direction according to the function to be realized for each part of the display unit. If the relative arrangement position with respect to the observation eye is determined for each part of the display unit in consideration of human visual characteristics depending on the position of the object, it is achieved by the HMD. It has also been realized that both the securing of the angle of view and the reduction of the feeling of obstruction and pressure felt by the observer from the HMD during use of the HMD can be realized.

  Based on such knowledge, according to the present invention, the geometric characteristics of the cross section of the display unit are made different between the main body portion and the emission portion constituting the display unit, and then the main body portion and The exit portions are arranged in a plurality of different visual field regions for the observation eye based on the respective functions.

  As a result, according to the present invention, it becomes easy to reduce the feeling of occlusion and pressure felt by the observer from the HMD while using the HMD, while ensuring an appropriate angle of view of the display image of the HMD.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a head-mounted display (HMD) according to an embodiment of the present invention in a left-eye observation mode and with a frame used for mounting on an observer's head. 2A is a front view showing the HMD shown in FIG. 1 in a left-eye observation mode, and FIG. 2B is a front view showing the HMD in a right-eye observation mode. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the HMD shown in FIG. 1 in the left eye observation mode with the display unit removed. 4A is a perspective view showing the frame side member shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 4B is a bottom view partially showing the lower plate of the frame side member shown in FIG. 4A. 4 (c) is a perspective view showing the intermediate member shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 4 (d) is a perspective view showing the intermediate member at an angle different from FIG. 4 (c). 4 (e) is a perspective view showing the intermediate member at an angle different from both of FIG. 4 (c) and FIG. 4 (d). FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing a back surface portion of the display unit shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5B is a front view showing the engaging portion of the display unit taken out and enlarged. FIG.5 (c) is a perspective view which shows the back part of HMD shown in FIG. 1 in an assembly state. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the display unit shown in FIG. FIG. 7A is a side view showing the focus adjustment mechanism shown in FIG. 6 with the LCD adjuster removed, and FIG. 7B shows the focus adjustment mechanism with the LCD adjuster assembled. FIG. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the display unit shown in FIG. FIG. 9A is a plan view showing the display unit shown in FIG. 8 in an assembled state, and FIG. 9B shows the display unit rotated about the vertical axis with respect to the main body part. FIG. 9C is a plan view showing the display unit in a state where the emission part is separated from the main body part by translational motion. FIG. 10A is a partial side cross-sectional view showing the coupling mechanism shown in FIG. 8 in an enlarged state with the convex portion engaged with the concave portion, and FIG. It is a partial side surface sectional view expanding and showing in the state where the above-mentioned convex part is going to get over the slant side wall surface of the above-mentioned concave part. FIG. 11 is a side view showing the display unit shown in FIG. 1 in use, together with the eyeball of the observation eye and a plurality of visual field regions for the observation eye. 12 (a) and 12 (b) are a plan view and a side view, respectively, showing that the exit portion of the display unit shown in FIG. 1 exists inside the stable focus area for the observation eye, FIG. 12C and FIG. 12D are a plan view and a side view, respectively, showing that the main body portion of the display unit exists outside the stable focus area for the observation eye. FIG. 13 is a plan view showing that the eye reliefs of the HMD shown in FIG. 1 coincide with each other between the left eye observation mode and the right eye observation mode. FIG. 14 is a side view showing that the vertical position adjustment mechanism shown in FIG. 1 is configured to adjust the position of the display unit in a direction inclined with respect to the vertical line.

  Hereinafter, one of the more specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a head mounted display (hereinafter abbreviated as “HMD”) 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The HMD 10 includes a see-through display unit 12 and an attachment 14.

  The display unit 12 is a monocular type, and is configured to project image light representing an image onto an observation eye that is one of the eyes of the observer (the other eye is a non-observation eye). The display unit 12 generally has a shape extending in the longitudinal direction, and in the state of being mounted on the observer's head (hereinafter referred to as “head mounted state”), in front of the observing eye and before and after the observer It arrange | positions so that it may extend in the direction (this embodiment substantially horizontal direction) which cross | intersects a direction.

  The display unit 12 adopts a see-through type as a display image observation method, that is, a method that allows the observer to observe the actual outside world superimposed on the display image by the display unit 12.

  A frame 20 as a member to be mounted is mounted on the observer's head, and as shown in FIG. 1, the attachment 14 is mounted on the frame 20, and the display unit 12 is mounted on the attachment 14. As a result, the display unit 12 is attached to the frame 20 via the attachment 14.

  First, the frame 20 will be described. The frame 20 is attached to the observer's head in a state of being put on both ears of the observer, although not shown. In the present embodiment, the frame 20 functions as a dedicated frame for observing a display image by the HMD 10. However, it is possible to substitute normal glasses (for example, near-sighted / far-sighted glasses, sunglasses, working protective glasses) worn by the observer for vision correction and eyeball protection as the frame 20. In this embodiment, a spectacle-shaped frame 20 is used as an example of the mounted member. Instead, another type of mounted member, for example, a helmet mounted on the head of an observer. , Bands, goggles, etc. can be used.

  Focusing on the fact that the basic shape of the frame 20 resembles that of normal glasses worn on the observer's head, the frame 20 can be referred to as a glasses-type frame. The frame 20 is a pair of lenticular transparent bodies 22 and 22 (for example, dummy lenses imitating eyeglass lenses) positioned in front of each of the eyes of the observer in the head-mounted state. Is provided for physically protecting both eyes of the observer from the HMD 10.

  The pair of lens-like transparent bodies 22 and 22 are connected to each other by a bridge 24, and the pair of lens-like transparent bodies 22 and 22 and the bridge 24 constitute a front portion 26 of the frame 20. A pair of temples 34, 34 extend from the left side 30L and the right side 30R of the front part 26, respectively. The frame 20 is placed on both ears of the observer by a pair of temples 34 and 34.

  The front portion 26 further includes a pair of pads 36 and 36 that come into contact with the observer's nose from both sides in the head-mounted state. The pair of pads 36 and 36 come into contact with the observer's nose, so that the frame 20 is positioned relative to the observer's nose and eventually both eyes (front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction as viewed from the observer). ) Is determined at almost the same position.

  Next, the attachment 14 will be described. In the attachment 14, the display unit 12 is attached to the right side 30 </ b> R of the frame 20 in order to realize a right eye observation mode in which the right eye of the observer is an observation eye according to the selection of the observer. The display unit 12 is switched to a state in which the display unit 12 can be attached to the left side 30L of the frame 20 in order to realize the left eye observation mode in which the left eye of the observer is the observation eye.

  1 and 2A show the HMD 10 used in the left-eye observation mode, while FIG. 2B shows the HMD 10 used in the right-eye observation mode. Is shown in a state. The attachment 14 allows the display unit 12 to be used by being replaced between the right side portion 30R and the left side portion 30L of the frame 20.

  As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the display unit 12 is used with its orientation reversed between the right eye observation mode and the left eye observation mode. Specifically, the direction in which the display unit 12 is mounted on the frame 20 via the attachment 14 is set between the right-eye observation mode and the left-eye observation mode with respect to the left-right direction of the observer in the head-mounted state. They are reversed with respect to each other in a vertical plane that is substantially parallel.

  As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the attachment 14 includes a left eye frame side member 40L fixed to the left side 30L of the frame 20 and a right side fixed to the right side 30R of the frame 20. And an ophthalmic frame side member 40R. The left-eye frame side member 40L and the right-eye frame side member 40R have a planar shape extending substantially in the left-right direction in the head-mounted state. The left-eye frame side member 40L and the right-eye frame side member 40R have a structure that is symmetrical with respect to the front-rear center line of the frame 20 in the head-mounted state.

  As shown in FIG. 3 and FIGS. 4 (c), 4 (d) and 4 (e), the attachment 14 is further common to the right-eye frame side member 40R and the left-eye frame side member 40L. An intermediate member 50 is provided. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the intermediate member 50 is used by being replaced between the right-eye frame side member 40R and the left-eye frame side member 40L.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the frame member 40L for the left eye has an engaging portion 60L, and the engaging portion 60L is detachable and slidable on the intermediate member 50 as shown in FIG. It is attached to. Although not shown, similarly, the right eye frame side member 40R has an engaging portion 60R similar to the engaging portion 60L, and the engaging portion 60R is detachably and slidably attached to the intermediate member 50. The

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4A, the left-eye frame-side member 40L has an upper plate 66 and a lower plate 68 that are parallel to each other. The upper plate 66 has an upper slot 70 that is open. On the other hand, on the lower side, a lower slot 72 having a width wider than that of the upper slot 70 is opened so as to be positioned on the same vertical plane as the upper slot 70. The upper slot 70 and the lower slot 72 have openings 74 and 76 at the end on the same side. Through these openings 74 and 76, the intermediate member 50 is inserted into the left-eye frame side member 40L, and the intermediate member 50 is detached from the left-eye frame side member 40L.

  The upper plate 66 and the lower plate 68, and the upper slot 70 and the lower slot 72 constitute the engaging portion 60L of the left eye frame side member 40L. Although not shown, similarly, the engaging portion 60R of the right eye frame side member 40R has an upper plate 66 and a lower plate 68, and an upper slot 70 and a lower slot 72, which are the right eye frame. An engaging portion 60R of the side member 40R is configured. In FIG. 4B, the lower slot 72 of the left eye frame side member 40L is enlarged and shown in a bottom view.

  As shown in FIGS. 4C, 4D, and 4E, the intermediate member 50 has a generally rod shape. The intermediate member 50 is an engaging portion 60 (60L or 60R) of a selected frame side member 40 (40L or 40R) selected by an observer from the right eye frame side member 40R and the left eye frame side member 40L. In addition, it is slidable and detachable in a substantially left-right direction of the observer in the head-mounted state.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4C, 4D, and 4E, the intermediate member 50 includes a head portion 80, a neck portion 82, and a trunk portion 84 in a generally axial direction, and their They are arranged in order. In the present embodiment, the body portion 84 extends linearly in the longitudinal direction thereof, but with respect to the head portion 80 and the neck portion 82 that are linearly aligned with each other, in the head-mounted state and in a side view, It is bent backwards. The reason will be described later.

  The first engaging portion 90 is formed on the neck portion 82 so as to extend in the lateral direction of the intermediate member 50, while the second engaging portion 92 is formed on the trunk portion 84 so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate member 50. . As shown in FIG. 3, the first engagement portion 90 is a portion that is detachably and slidably engaged with the engagement portion 60 of the selection frame side member 40. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the second engagement portion 92 is a portion that is detachably and slidably engaged with the engagement portion 100 of the display unit 12.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the head 80 of the intermediate member 50 is on the left eye frame side in a state where the first engagement portion 90 of the intermediate member 50 is engaged with the engagement portion 60 </ b> L of the left eye frame side member 40 </ b> L. The exposed head 80 is exposed from the upper surface of the member 40L (the cross-sectional shape thereof can be a convex cross section such as a triangular cross section, a rectangular cross section, and a semicircular cross section, or a concave cross section. ) Is moved in the left-right direction with respect to the observer by the finger of the user who is the observer.

  More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4C, 4 </ b> D, and 4 </ b> E, the first engagement portion 90 of the intermediate member 50 is the engagement portion 60 of the selection frame side member 40. The upper slide portion 110 is slidably fitted in the upper slot 70 of the first frame, and the lower slide portion 112 is slidably fitted in the lower slot 72 of the engagement portion 60 of the selection frame side member 40.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, a thin plate-like first elastic member 116 (typically, for example, a urethane pad, a rubber pad or the like is flattened on the downward surface 114 of the upper plate 66 of the selection frame side member 40. A member having a shape, which may be replaced by a member having a curved surface, such as a leaf spring, is mounted so as to extend along the upper slot 70. The exposed surface of the first elastic member 116 slidably contacts a slide surface (upward surface) 118 of the first engagement portion 90 in a state where the intermediate member 50 is mounted on the selection frame side member 40. As a result, a frictional force is generated between the intermediate member 50 and the selected frame side member 40 in substantially the left-right direction.

  The frictional force acts as a first resistance force against the movement during the movement of the intermediate member 50 sliding in one direction with respect to the selected frame side member 40. As a result, the intermediate member 50 can be stopped at an arbitrary position in the substantially left-right direction for the observer with respect to the selected frame side member 40. When the user applies an operation force large enough to overcome the first resistance force to the intermediate member 50, the intermediate member 50 is moved relative to the selected frame side member 40 in a direction selected from the substantially left-right direction.

  That is, the engaging portion 60 of the selection frame side member 40 and the first engaging portion 90 of the intermediate member 50 cooperate with each other to set the relative position of the display unit 12 with respect to the observer's observation eye in a substantially horizontal direction. In this position adjustment direction, the left-right position adjustment mechanism 120 that adjusts according to the operation of the observer is configured.

  As shown in FIG. 4 (b), the lower slot 72 of the selection frame side member 40 has a protrusion 122 at its opening 76. The lower slot 72 has a pair of side wall surfaces 124, 124 extending in the front-rear direction. The pair of side wall surfaces 124 and 124 have their width directions coinciding with the vertical direction. The protrusion 122 is configured as an obstacle that protrudes perpendicularly from the side wall surface 124 on only one of the pair of side wall surfaces 124, 124. The first engaging portion 90 has a pair of slide surfaces 126 and 126 that slidably contact the pair of side wall surfaces 124 and 124 in a state where the intermediate member 50 is mounted on the selection frame side member 40.

  As shown in FIG. 4E, the first engaging portion 90 of the intermediate member 50 has the second elastic member 130 removed in order to prevent the intermediate member 50 from detaching from the selected frame side member 40. I have. As shown in FIGS. 4B and 4E, the second elastic member 130 is engaged with the selected frame side member 40 among the pair of slide surfaces 126 and 126 of the first engagement portion 90. In this state, the selection frame side member 40 that is in contact with the side wall surface 124 having the projection 122 protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the slide surface 126 and is exposed.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the second elastic member 130 is a plate spring having a wave shape in this embodiment, but can be replaced with a spring having another shape. FIG. 4 (e) shows a state in which the corrugated leaf spring is exposed from the slide surface 126 at one peak portion thereof. The leaf spring has a shape and arrangement similar to a corrugated leaf spring as a fourth elastic member described later.

  In a state in which the intermediate member 50 is mounted on the selection frame side member 40, the second elastic member 130 is elastically pressed against the one slide surface 126 or is not pressed, The second elastic member 130 is pressed against the protrusion 122 before the member 50 slides with respect to the engaging portion 60 of the selection frame side member 40 and attempts to disengage from the engaging portion 60. As a result, a second resistance force that opposes the sliding movement of the intermediate member 50 is generated.

  The second resistance force is generated as a force larger than the first resistance force. When the user is adjusting the left / right position without intending to remove the intermediate member 50, the protrusion 122 gets over the second elastic member 130 unless an operation force greater than the second resistance force is applied to the intermediate member 50. Therefore, the detachment of the intermediate member 50 and the drop-off of the display unit 12 against the user's will are prevented.

  In other words, the protrusion 122 and the second elastic member 130 cause the intermediate member 50 to slide to the right or left with respect to the selected frame side member 40 and disengage from the selected frame side member 40 against the will of the user. The left-right direction separation preventing mechanism 132 is configured to prevent this.

  As shown in FIGS. 4C, 4D, and 4E, the second engaging portion 92 of the intermediate member 50 has a shape that extends linearly in a cross section that is generally T-shaped. ing. Specifically, the second engaging portion 92 is a plate-like bottom portion 140 that extends linearly, and corresponds to a lateral stroke of the T-shape, and is integrally formed on one surface of the bottom portion 140. The vertical wall 142 is formed in the T-shape and corresponds to the vertical stroke of the T-shape. The vertical wall portion 142 extends along a vertical plane that extends in the longitudinal direction of the bottom portion 140 and bisects the bottom portion 140.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5A, the engaging portion 100 of the display unit 12 is a surface constituting the back surface in the head-mounted state among a plurality of surfaces constituting the outer surface of the display unit 12. Are integrally formed so as to extend in the vertical direction. The engaging portion 100 has an engaging groove 144 that extends linearly in a cross section that is generally T-shaped. The engagement groove 144 includes a bottom surface 146, a pair of wide side wall surfaces 148 and 148 that define an internal space corresponding to a horizontal stroke of the T shape along the longitudinal direction, and a vertical stroke of the T shape. And a pair of narrow side wall surfaces 150 and 150 defining an internal space corresponding to the length along the longitudinal direction. In FIG. 5B, the pair of narrow side wall surfaces 150 and 150 are enlarged and shown in a front view. The second engaging portion 92 of the intermediate member 50 is slidably fitted into the engaging groove 144 having such a shape.

  The engagement groove 144 is open at both ends 154 and 156 thereof. The intermediate member 50 is inserted into the engagement groove 144 for shifting to the left-eye observation mode through one of both end portions 154 and 156 of the engagement groove 144, and the other end portions 154 and 156 are inserted. Then, the intermediate member 50 is inserted into the engagement groove 144 for shifting to the right eye observation mode.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, a thin plate-like third elastic member 160 (typically a member having a flat shape such as a urethane pad or a rubber pad, for example, is formed on the bottom surface 146 of the engagement groove 144. A member having a curved surface, such as a leaf spring, may be substituted to extend along the engagement groove 144. The exposed surface of the third elastic member 160 slidably contacts the front end surface (rear facing surface) 162 of the bottom portion 140 of the second engaging portion 92 in a state where the intermediate member 50 is mounted on the display unit 12. Thus, a frictional force is generated between the intermediate member 50 and the display unit 12 in a substantially vertical direction.

  The frictional force acts as a third resistance force that counters the movement during the movement of the intermediate member 50 sliding in one direction with respect to the display unit 12. As a result, the intermediate member 50 can be stopped at an arbitrary position in the substantially vertical direction for the observer with respect to the display unit 12. When the user applies an operation force large enough to overcome the third resistance force to the intermediate member 50, the intermediate member 50 is moved relative to the display unit 12 in a direction selected substantially in the vertical direction.

  That is, the second engagement portion 92 of the intermediate member 50 and the engagement portion 100 of the display unit 12 cooperate with each other, and the relative position of the display unit 12 with respect to the observer's observation eye is substantially in the vertical direction. In the position adjustment direction, a vertical position adjustment mechanism 170 that adjusts according to the operation of the observer is configured.

  In short, in the present embodiment, the horizontal position adjustment mechanism 120 and the vertical position adjustment mechanism 170 are used as adjustment mechanisms for adjusting at least one of the relative position and angle of the display unit 12 with respect to the frame 20. Have. The left and right position adjustment mechanism 120 and the vertical position adjustment mechanism 170 constitute a position adjustment mechanism 172 in cooperation with each other.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the pair of narrow side wall surfaces 150, 150 shown on the right side in the drawing are positioned on the upper side in the left-eye observation mode among the both ends 154, 156 of the engagement groove 144. In what is to be done, a projection 176 is formed. Further, in the pair of narrow side wall surfaces 150 and 150 shown on the left side in the drawing, the projections 178 are formed in the two ends 154 and 156 of the engagement groove 144 positioned on the upper side in the right eye observation mode. Has been. The former protrusion 176 prevents the display unit 12 from sliding down from the display unit 12 against the intermediate member 50 against the intention of the observer in the left-eye observation mode (prevents falling off). On the other hand, the latter protrusion 178 is for preventing the display unit 12 from falling off in the right-eye observation mode.

  As shown in FIGS. 4E and 5C, the second engaging portion 92 has the fourth elastic member 180 removed in order to prevent the intermediate member 50 from being detached from the display unit 12 in an unsteady manner. I have. The fourth elastic member 180 is exposed from one of the side surfaces 182 and 182 of the vertical wall portion 142 of the second engagement portion 92 that is located on the right side in the left-eye observation mode, and protrudes from the side surface 182 at a right angle. Thus, the second engagement portion 92 is attached. In the present embodiment, the fourth elastic member 180 is a leaf spring having a wave shape as shown in FIG. 5C, but it can be replaced with a spring having another shape.

  In a state where the intermediate member 50 is mounted on the display unit 12, the fourth elastic member 180 is elastically pressed against the one wide side wall surfaces 148 and 148 or is not pressed. The fourth elastic member 180 is pressed against the protrusion 176 or 178 before the display unit 12 slides downward with respect to the intermediate member 50 and is about to be detached from the intermediate member 50. As a result, a fourth resistance force that opposes the sliding movement of the display unit 12 is generated.

  The fourth resistance force is generated as a force larger than the third resistance force. When the user is adjusting the vertical position without intending to remove the intermediate member 50, the protrusion 176 or 178 causes the fourth elastic member 180 to be moved unless an operation force greater than the third resistance force is applied to the intermediate member 50. Therefore, the display unit 12 can be prevented from falling off (the intermediate member 50 remains on the selection frame side member 40) against the user's will.

  In other words, the protrusions 176 and 178 and the fourth elastic member 180 prevent the display unit 12 from sliding and moving away from the intermediate member 50 against the user's will. The prevention mechanism 186 is configured.

  Although the attachment 14 of the HMD 10 has been described above, the display unit 12 will be described next.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the display unit 12 has a housing 200 that is generally hollow extending in the longitudinal direction thereof. The housing 200 is made of synthetic resin. An image light forming unit 202 (see FIG. 6) for forming the image light is accommodated in the housing 200. The display unit 12 includes a main body portion 210 that accommodates the image light forming unit 202, and an emission port portion 214 in which an emission port 212 that emits image light formed by the image light formation unit 202 toward the observation eye is formed. So as to be aligned with each other along the longitudinal direction.

  The main body portion 210 has a horizontally long cross section extending in the front-rear direction with respect to the observer in a head-mounted state. Similarly, the exit portion 214 has a horizontally long cross section that extends in the front-rear direction with respect to the observer in a head-mounted state. The shape of the horizontally long cross section reflects the shape of the image display area that forms a horizontally long rectangle in which the viewer perceives the image displayed by the display unit 12. In addition, the vertical dimension of the horizontally long cross section of the exit port portion 214 is set to be smaller than the vertical dimension of the horizontally long cross section of the main body portion 210.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the image light forming unit 202 includes an LCD 220 as a generally plate-shaped spatial light modulation element that generates incident image light by two-dimensionally modulating incident light. The LCD 220 is a liquid crystal display in which a plurality of pixels are arranged two-dimensionally.

  In addition, in the present embodiment, the display unit 12 is a spatial light modulation type. However, the retinal scanning type, that is, a light beam from a light source such as a laser is scanned by a scanner, and the scanned light beam is observed by an observer. You may change to what is projected on the retina.

  The image light forming unit 202 further includes a plate-like drive circuit 222. The drive circuit 222 is electrically connected to the LCD 220 via a cable (not shown). The drive circuit 222 drives the LCD 220 based on an image signal input from the outside, and thereby emits image light representing an image to be displayed to the observer from the LCD 220. The LCD 220 includes a backlight light source, but a light source independent of the LCD 220 may be used instead of the light source. The drive circuit 222 and the LCD 220 (including a focus adjustment mechanism 230 described later) are housed in a portion of the housing 200 that belongs to the main body portion 210.

  The LCD 220 has a rectangular image display surface composed of a pair of opposing long sides and a pair of opposing short sides, and the LCD 220 is a pair of image display surfaces in a head-mounted state. Are arranged in the image light forming unit 202 such that the long sides of the are extended in the front-rear direction.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the image light forming unit 202 further includes a focus adjustment mechanism 230 that adjusts the focus position of the image light by displacing the LCD 220 back and forth in the optical axis direction. The focus adjustment mechanism 230 includes an LCD holder 232, a support mechanism 234, an LCD adjuster 236 (operation unit), and a motion conversion mechanism 238. The focus adjustment mechanism 230 is housed in a part of the housing 200 belonging to the main body part 210, as with the LCD 220.

  The LCD 220 has an optical axis direction that coincides with the longitudinal direction of the image light forming unit 202, and is supported in the housing 200 so as to be displaceable in the optical axis direction. Specifically, the LCD 220 is held by an LCD holder 232 so as to be integrally rotatable and movable, and the LCD holder 232 is a part of the housing 200 or another member fixed to the housing 200 (in this embodiment, The support member 234 provided on the stationary member 240) is supported so as to be movable in the optical axis direction and not rotatable.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the LCD adjuster 236 is installed in the housing 200 so as to be coaxial with the optical axis and surround the outer periphery of the LCD holder 232. The LCD adjuster 236 is supported by the housing 200 so that it cannot move in the optical axis direction and can rotate coaxially. Thereby, the LCD adjuster 236 is rotated by a necessary angle in accordance with a user operation at a fixed position in the optical axis direction. In order to allow the user to access the LCD adjuster 236, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5C, the LCD adjuster 236 has a front portion and a rear portion in the head-mounted state. Are exposed from the front surface and the rear surface of the plurality of surfaces constituting the housing 200. A plurality of teeth are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the LCD adjuster 236 in order to improve the operability for the user.

  The motion conversion mechanism 238 is associated with the LCD adjuster 236 and the LCD holder 232. The motion conversion mechanism 238 converts the rotational motion of the LCD adjuster 236 into the linear motion of the LCD holder 232, thereby moving the LCD 220 to a desired position along the optical axis direction. In this embodiment, the motion conversion mechanism 238 is formed on the spiral cam groove 242 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the LCD holder 232 and the inner peripheral surface of the LCD adjuster 236 as shown in FIG. And a drive pin (not shown) extending in the radial direction. The drive pin is engaged with the cam groove 242 without any change, and is relatively moved along the cam groove 242 in the engaged state. When the LCD adjuster 236 is rotated, the drive pin performs a circular motion around the optical axis, and the circular motion is converted into a linear motion of the LCD holder 232 by the joint action of the cam groove 242 and the support mechanism 234. .

  However, the motion conversion mechanism 238 can perform necessary motion conversion by a mechanism other than the cam mechanism. For example, the motion conversion mechanism 238 can be a screw mechanism (for example, a screw formed on the inner peripheral surface of the LCD adjuster 236 and the LCD holder 232. May be employed that is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner thread of the female screw and the female screw is screwed together.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the display unit 12 further includes an eyepiece optical system 246. The eyepiece optical system 246 is configured as a one-dimensional array in which a plurality of lenses as a plurality of optical elements are arranged in series. These lenses share the same optical axis. The optical axis extends in a straight line parallel to the longitudinal direction of the housing 200 and without being bent by a component such as a mirror. The eyepiece optical system 246 is accommodated in a portion of the housing 200 that belongs to the main body portion 210.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the drive circuit 222, the LCD 220, the focus adjustment mechanism 230, and the eyepiece optical system 246 that are arranged in a line are all housed in the main body portion 210.

  Of the plurality of lenses in the eyepiece optical system 246, the most downstream lens (hereinafter referred to as “terminal lens”) 248 may accidentally touch the terminal lens 248 unless special measures are taken. There is. When the user touches the terminal lens 248, the terminal lens 248 becomes dirty, which may cause deterioration of the display image.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, the eyepiece optical system 246 includes a protective transparent body (for example, a transparent disc made of synthetic resin) 250 disposed downstream of the terminal lens 248. The protective transparency 250 functions to prevent direct access to the end lens 248 by the user, thereby protecting the end lens 248 without degrading the image quality. The user can prevent loss of image light and thus deterioration of image quality by cleaning or replacing the protective transparent body 250 as necessary.

  The exit portion 214 is a half mirror as an example of a partial reflection / partial transmission optical element that bends the image light emitted from the eyepiece optical system 246 and guides it to the observation eye (an example of a deflection member that deflects the image light toward the observation eye). 260. The half mirror 260 is attached to the distal end portion of the emission port portion 214 so as to be rotatable about the vertical axis. The half mirror 260 can be rotated between a storage position and a deployment position (use position). The half mirror 260 is rotatably mounted on the exit port portion 214 in a posture protruding from the exit port portion 214 toward the observation eye.

  The image light emitted from the eyepiece optical system 246 is reflected by the half mirror 260, passes through the pupil of the observation eye, and enters the retina (not shown). Thereby, the observer can observe the two-dimensional image as a virtual image. Not only the image light reflected by the half mirror 260 but also light (external light) from the actual outside world passes through the half mirror 260 and enters the observation eye. As a result, the observer can observe the actual outside world in parallel with the observation of the image displayed by the image light.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the display unit 12 is divided into a part called a main body part 210 and a part called an exit port part 214, and these parts are connected to each other so as to be separable from each other. When the exit port portion 214 is separated from the main body portion 210, the user can access the protective transparent body 250 for cleaning.

  The display unit 12 further includes a connecting mechanism 270 that removably connects the main body portion 210 and the emission port portion 214 to each other. As shown in FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b), the coupling mechanism 270 is such that, when the head is mounted, the exit port portion 214 (for example, the tip of the half mirror 260) is placed on the face of the observer. , A tool that protects the observation eye by being positioned in front of the observation eye or its vicinity or in front of the observation eye (in this embodiment, the lens-like transparent bodies 22 and 22 in front of the observation eye) (hereinafter referred to as “ When a first external force is applied to the exit port portion 214 in response to contact with a “latent contact object”, the exit port portion 214 can be detached from the main body portion 210 by the first external force. It is comprised so that.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, even if the exit port portion 214 may come into contact with the potential contact object during use of the HMD 10, the exit port portion is not in contact with the potential contact object. As a result, the safety of the HMD 10 during use is improved.

  Specifically, the coupling mechanism 270 is a moment generated in the exit port portion 214 by the first external force acting on the exit port portion 214 from the potential contact object, and the exit port portion 214 is connected to the main body portion 210. The output port portion 214 can be detached from the main body portion 210 by the rotation of the contact point with the contact point. The coupling mechanism 270 is connected to the first outlet end portion 272 that is joined to the main body portion 210 in the connected state to the main body portion 210 in the emission port portion 214, and is connected to the emission port portion 214 in the main body portion 210. In FIG. 2, the second outlet end portion 274 and the second outlet end portion 274 that are joined to the outlet portion 214 are disposed.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the first joint end 272 of the exit port portion 214 and the second joint end 274 of the main body portion 210 both have a generally rectangular shape in cross section, and the first joint end 272. And the end surface of the second joint end 274 are generally parallel to each other and upper and lower horizontal edges 276 and 278 extending in the front-rear direction in the head-mounted state, and generally parallel to each other and the head. It has front and rear vertical edges 280 and 282 extending in the vertical direction in the mounted state. As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, when the first external force acts on the exit port portion 214 from the face of the observer, the exit port portion 214 is a pair of vertical edges 280 with respect to the main body portion 210. , 282 are relatively rotated around the front vertical edge 280 (contact point between the exit port portion 214 and the main body portion 210) far from the observer.

  As shown in FIG. 9C, when the second external force in the direction of pulling the emission port portion 214 from the main body portion 210 acts on the emission port portion 214, the coupling mechanism 270 emits the light by the second external force. The mouth portion 214 is configured to be able to be detached from the main body portion 210.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when it is necessary to perform maintenance such as cleaning the protective transparent body 250 on the display unit 12, the user easily removes the emission port portion 214 from the main body portion 210. As a result, the ease of maintenance of the HMD 10 is improved.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the coupling mechanism 270 is configured such that the removal of the exit port portion 214 by the first external force is easier than the removal of the exit port portion 214 by the second external force. Specifically, for example, in the coupling mechanism 270, the first external force necessary for the separation by the rotation of the emission port portion 214 is the first force necessary for the separation by the translational movement of the emission port portion 214. It is comprised so that it may become smaller than 2 external forces. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, even if the emission port portion 214 may come into contact with the potential contact object, the safety design that prevents the contact from continuing is provided in the display unit 12. It is realized with higher priority than the design that improves maintainability.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the coupling mechanism 270 has a convex portion 290 and a concave portion 292 that can be engaged and disengaged with each other. One of the convex portion 290 and the concave portion 292 is formed in the main body portion 210, and the other is formed in the emission port portion 214.

  Specifically, in the present embodiment, the convex portion 290 is cantilevered to the upper plate 294 and the lower plate 296 that are opposed to each other in the vertical direction in the first joint end portion 272 of the emission port portion 214. And hooks 300, 300 formed integrally with each other. Each hook 300 is formed in a thin plate shape with a laterally long cross section, and extends substantially in the left-right direction from the emission port portion 214 toward the main body portion 210 in the head-mounted state. The upper and lower convex portions 290 and 290 protrude at the same position in a plan view and in opposite directions in a side view.

  Each hook 300 is made of a synthetic resin, and can be elastically deformed in a direction perpendicular to the surface thereof, whereby each convex portion 290 is substantially in the vertical direction relative to the emission port portion 214. It is possible to be elastically displaced. That is, each hook 300 functions as a cantilever elastic beam.

  Correspondingly, the concave portion 292 is cantilevered and integrally formed on the upper plate 302 and the lower plate 304 facing each other in the vertical direction in the second joint end portion 274 of the main body portion 210. The receiving portions 310 and 310 are formed. The upper and lower recesses 292 open at the same position in a plan view and in opposite directions in a side view. Similar to the hook 300, the receiving portion 310 extends from the main body portion 210 toward the emission port portion 214 in the substantially left-right direction in the head-mounted state.

  Similar to the hook 300, the receiving portion 310 extends from the main body portion 210 in a cantilevered manner, but unlike the hook 300, the receiving portion 310 is not substantially elastically deformed due to the material mechanical structure of the receiving portion 310. That is, the receiving portion 310 acts as a stationary member, while the hook 300 acts as a movable member.

  In FIG. 10A, the upper convex portion 290 formed at the first joint end portion 272 of the emission port portion 214 is in the upper concave portion 292 formed at the second joint end portion 274 of the main body portion 210. Is engaged. In the engaged state, the convex portion 290 and the concave portion 292 are in contact with each other on the slopes 312 and 314 formed respectively. In the engaged state, when the first external force or the second external force is applied to the emission port portion 214, and thus the convex portion 290, the convex portion 290 causes the concave portion 292 and the convex portion 290, as shown in FIG. The convex portion 290 and the concave portion 292 are overcome by elastic displacement in the opposing direction (in the example shown in FIG. 10, the vertical direction), so that the convex portion 290 is detached from the concave portion 292.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, in the outer wall surface of the convex portion 290, when the convex portion 290 gets over the concave portion 292, the portion in which the convex portion 290 comes into contact with the concave portion 292 can be detached. Inclined slope 312 is formed. On the other hand, a slope 314 inclined in the direction in which the convex portion 290 can be detached is formed in a portion of the inner wall surface of the concave portion 292 that comes into contact with the convex portion 290 when the convex portion 290 gets over the concave portion 292. Has been. Each of the inclined surfaces 312 and 314 has an orientation that helps the convex portion 290 get over the concave portion 292. As a result, it is necessary for the exit port portion 214 to be separated from the main body portion 210 as compared with the case where a vertical surface is adopted instead of the inclined surface in the portion where the convex portion 290 and the concave portion 292 contact each other in the engaged state. Force is reduced, thereby avoiding the situation where the exit portion 214 is not or is difficult to separate when it should be separated from the body portion 210.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in the present embodiment, the upper and lower convex portions 290 are the corresponding ones of the upper plate 294 and the lower plate 296 of the exit port portion 214, and the head mounted state of the HMD 10. Are symmetrically arranged at positions that are generally central in the front-rear direction (left-right direction in FIG. 8) with respect to the observer.

  Thanks to its symmetrical arrangement, when the exit portion 214 is about to rotate about any vertical edge 280, 282 with respect to the body portion 210, the convex portion 290 is detached from the concave portion 292. The required force is the same. That is, when the convex portion 290 is disposed so as to approach one of the vertical edges 280 and 282, the principle of separation of the convex portion 290 by the rotation around the vertical edge 280 or 282 close to the convex portion 290 is used. However, it is difficult to separate the convex portion 290 by turning around the vertical edge 280 or 282 far from the convex portion 290 because this principle cannot be used. The force necessary for detaching 214 from the main body portion 210 depends on the direction of rotation of the exit port portion 214. On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, the force necessary for the exit port portion 214 to be detached from the main body portion 210 does not depend on the rotation direction of the exit port portion 214.

  In FIG. 12A, the division position where the display unit 12 is divided into the emission port portion 214 and the main body portion 210 is shown in a plan view in relation to the position of the observation eye 320. As shown in FIG. 8, when the emission port portion 214 is separated from the main body portion 210, the second joint end 274 of the main body portion 210 is exposed. The exposed second joint end 274 may come into contact with the potential contact object (in this embodiment, the lenticular transparent body 22 in front of the observation eye).

  As shown in FIG. 12A, in the present embodiment, the division position is determined so as not to be positioned directly in front of the observation eye 320 in the head mounted state of the HMD 10. As a result, when the emission port portion 214 is separated from the main body portion 210, the second joint end 274 of the main body portion 210 is exposed, and the exposed second joint end 274 is exposed to the potential contact object ( In particular, the possibility of touching the observation eye 320) is reduced, and this also improves the safety of the HMD 10 during use to the user.

  Among the plurality of components of the HMD 10, the display unit 12 and the attachment 14 (including the position adjustment mechanism 172) may be disposed in front of the observation eye 320 in the head-mounted state.

  On the other hand, in the design of the see-through type HMD 10, an image display function (including securing of the image display area, realization of a target resolution, and a focus adjustment function) and a position adjustment function (of the position adjustment mechanism 172) to the extent that the user's request is satisfied. It is desirable to ensure that the viewer feels as much as possible of the visual oppressive feeling received from the physical presence of the HMD 10 when the HMD 10 is mounted on the head while securing the occupied space necessary for realizing the function. .

  Against this background, in the present embodiment, the shape and size of the main body portion 210 and the emission port portion 214 of the display unit 12, and the main body portion 210, the emission port portion 214, and the position adjustment mechanism 172, respectively. The relative arrangement with respect to the observation eye 320 is set.

  First, the design of the HMD 10 for ensuring the image display function will be described. In the present embodiment, the target shape (the horizontal rectangle and the target aspect ratio) and the target size (the image of the HMD 10) of the image display area are described. In order to ensure a size suitable for the corners), the display unit 12 is designed such that the exit portion 214 has a horizontally long cross section extending in the front-rear direction with respect to the observer in a head-mounted state.

  As described above, the shape of the horizontally long cross section of the exit portion 214 is set so as to reflect the shape of the image display area. The horizontally long cross section of the emission port portion 214 is a cross section obtained by virtually cutting the emission port portion 214 along a vertical plane extending in the front-rear direction in the head-mounted state. In order for the cross section to be horizontally long so as to extend in the front-rear direction, for example, the cross section may be a horizontally long rectangle or a horizontally long ellipse (including an ellipse).

  According to this embodiment, since the exit port portion 214 is arranged with respect to the observation eye so as to have a horizontally long cross section in a side view, the aspect ratio of the cross section of the exit port portion 214 is more square than the horizontally long cross section. Compared with a case where the cross-sectional shape is close to, the area where the observer's front view is shielded by the exit portion 214 is reduced.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the vertical dimension of the horizontal cross section of the exit port portion 214 (in this embodiment, the vertical dimension in the head-mounted state) is the vertical dimension of the horizontal cross section of the main body portion 210 (this embodiment). In the form, it is set to be smaller than the vertical dimension in the head-mounted state. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, compared to the case where the vertical dimension of the horizontal cross section of the exit port portion 214 is equal to or larger than the vertical dimension of the horizontal cross section of the main body portion 210, the observer's front field of view is larger. The area shielded by the exit portion 214 is reduced.

  Next, in order to describe the design of the HMD 10 for ensuring the resolution of the display image, in this embodiment, the size of the LCD 220 (the size of the display surface) is set to the emission port portion 214 in order to ensure the resolution of the display image. It is designed to be larger than the size of the cross section. Future advances in technology and mass production effects may lead to the creation of LCDs 220 that are smaller LCDs that can be implemented at lower cost, but are relatively large at this time. With the design of the size of the LCD 220, the size of the cross section of the main body portion 210 that accommodates the LCD 220 is designed to be larger than the size of the cross section of the emission port portion 214.

  However, according to the present embodiment, since the main body portion 210 is arranged with respect to the observation eye so as to have a horizontally long cross section in a side view, the aspect ratio of the cross section of the main body portion 210 is larger than that of the horizontally long cross section. Compared to the case where the cross-sectional shape is close to a square cross section, the area where the front view of the observer is shielded by the main body portion 210 is reduced.

  Next, in order to describe the design of the HMD 10 for securing the position adjustment function, in this embodiment, as described above, a front-rear position adjustment mechanism that adjusts the display unit 12 in the front-rear direction with respect to the observation eye 320 is provided. The function of the position adjusting mechanism 172 is simplified so that the size thereof is smaller than the position adjusting mechanism of the type having such a front and rear position adjusting mechanism. However, it is difficult to reduce the size of the position adjustment mechanism 172 to the same size as the vertical size of the LCD 220, and the position adjustment mechanism 172 is inevitably larger than the main body portion 210 of the display unit 12. .

  That is, in the present embodiment, when the vertical size of the main body portion 210 and the emission port portion 214 and the position adjustment mechanism 172 of the display unit 12 are compared with each other in the head mounted state of the HMD 10, the emission port portion 214 and the main body portion are compared. The size is increased in the order of 210 and the position adjustment mechanism 172.

  By the way, when an obstacle that at least partially blocks light is present in front of the observation eye 320, a human feels uncomfortable feeling such as a feeling of pressure or a blockage from the obstacle. However, the degree of such discomfort is not the same regardless of the relative position of the obstacle with respect to the observation eye 320, and varies depending on the position of the obstacle. Some locations feel strong discomfort while others do not feel so much discomfort. It is desirable to determine the relative position of each part of the HMD 10 with respect to the observation eye 320 in consideration of such human visual field characteristics (perception characteristics).

  FIG. 11 is a side view showing well-known four visual field regions for the observation eye 320. These visual field areas have an effective visual field area located at the center, a stable visual field area located outside the effective visual field area, a guide visual field area located further outside, and an auxiliary visual field area located further outside. According to one published definition, the field of view classification is as follows:

1. Effective visual field region This is a region in which an object can be captured only by eye movements and a target object (visual information) can be received from noise, and an observation eye 320 when a human is looking straight ahead Is about 15 degrees left and right, about 8 degrees above, and about 12 degrees below.

2. Stable field-of-view area This is an area where it is possible to gaze at the object without difficulty by accompanying the movement of the observer's head to the eye movement, and about 30-45 degrees on the left and right with respect to the line of sight during the forward observation of the observation eye 320 It is an area within about 20-30 degrees above and about 25-40 degrees below.

3. Guided visual field region The object presented cannot be identified and only its presence can be determined, but it is a region that affects the human space coordinate sense. It is an area within about 30-100 degrees on the left and right and about 20-85 degrees on the top and bottom.

4). Auxiliary visual field region The perception of the presented object is extremely low, and is a region that works to induce a gaze action to a strong stimulus or the like. It is an area within 200 degrees and approximately 85-135 degrees above and below.

  In the present embodiment, the relative position of each part of the HMD 10 with respect to the observation eye 320 is determined in consideration of the above-described human visual characteristics.

  In addition, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 12, the main body portion 210 has an upstream portion US and a downstream portion DS with respect to the traveling direction of the image light, and an end of the downstream portion DS. The main body portion 210 is detachably connected to the emission port portion 214 in the portion. Further, the main body portion 210 has a larger vertical size than the downstream portion DS in the upstream portion US. This is because the LCD 220 which is an optical element larger than the other optical elements is accommodated in the upstream portion US.

1. Position of the exit port portion 214 of the display unit 12 As shown in the side view of FIG. 11, the exit port portion 214 has to play an essential role of projecting image light onto the observation eye 320. It must be placed within the effective visual field area. In addition, in view of the vertical size of the exit port portion 214, the entire exit port portion 214 cannot be disposed within the effective visual field region, and the plan view of FIG. 12A and the side view of FIG. As shown, the exit portion 214 and a portion of the downstream portion DS extend to the stable viewing area, but are arranged outside the stable viewing area, that is, not to the guidance viewing area. . This condition is satisfied in the entire movable range of the display unit 12 by the position adjusting mechanism 172.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the discomfort experienced by the observer from the exit port portion 214 during use of the HMD 10 is reduced compared to the case where even a part of the exit port portion 214 exists in the guidance visual field region.

2. Position of Main Body Part 210 of Display Unit 12 As shown in the side view of FIG. 11, the main body part 210 protrudes in the vertical direction with respect to the emission port part 214. More precisely, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the upstream portion US of the main body portion 210 has a downstream portion DS and an exit portion 214 (substantially the same vertical size). ) In the vertical direction. This is because the main body portion 210 accommodates the LCD 220 and the focus adjustment mechanism 230 that are larger than the size of the image display area. As shown in the plan view of FIG. 12 (a), the side view of FIG. 12 (b), the plan view of FIG. 12 (c), and the side view of FIG. The US and a part of the downstream portion DS do not exist at all in the stable focus field area, and are arranged so as to straddle the guidance visual field area and the auxiliary visual field area. This condition is satisfied in the entire movable range of the display unit 12 by the position adjusting mechanism 172.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when the HMD 10 is used, the observer receives less from the main body portion 210 during use of the HMD 10 than when the upstream portion US of the main body portion 210 is partly present in the stable gaze area. Pleasure is reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the upstream portion US and the downstream portion DS of the main body portion 210 together form an example of the “main body portion” in the above section (1). A part of the downstream portion DS of the main body portion 210 and the emission port portion 214 cooperate with each other to constitute an example of the “emission portion” in the above item (1).

3. Position Adjustment Mechanism 172 As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 1 and the side view of FIG. 11, the position adjustment mechanism 172 is located behind the main body portion 210 in the head mounted state of the HMD 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the position adjustment mechanism 172 has a portion that is disposed on the back surface of the display unit 12 and protrudes upward from the display unit 12 in a side view. Therefore, although not shown in FIGS. 11 and 12A to 12D, the position adjustment mechanism 172 has a larger vertical size than the main body portion 210 of the display unit 12.

  As shown in FIGS. 11, 12 (c) and 12 (d), the position adjusting mechanism 172 is entirely present in the auxiliary visual field region, and is not present in the guiding visual field region inside the auxiliary visual field region. do not do. This condition is satisfied in the entire movable range of the movable portion of the position adjusting mechanism 172.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the discomfort experienced by the observer from the position adjustment mechanism 172 during use of the HMD 10 is reduced compared to the case where even a part of the position adjustment mechanism 172 exists in the guidance visual field region.

  Next, the eye relief setting of the HMD 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, in order to switch the observation mode of the HMD 10 between the left-eye observation mode and the right-eye observation mode, the same display unit 12 includes the left-eye frame side member 40L and the right-eye frame. It is replaced with the side member 40R. In the present embodiment, a movement is performed between the display unit 12 and the frame 20 to change the distance in the front-rear direction between the display unit 12 and the frame 20 (a factor that affects the length of the eye relief described later). No members are present. Therefore, it is avoided that the distance in the front-rear direction between the display unit 12 and the frame 20 differs between the left-eye observation mode and the right-eye observation mode, depending on the user's replacement operation.

  Further, as described above, in this embodiment, the observer selects the position of the display unit 12 relative to the frame 20 in the front-rear direction for the observer in the position in the left-right direction and the direction in the up-down direction. Unlike position, it cannot be adjusted. This means that there is no individual difference (for example, preference difference) between the observers in the front-rear direction position as much as the left-right direction position and the up-down direction position, so the necessity for adjustment for each observer is not so high. And the structure of the HMD 10 ensures that the relative position of the display unit 12 relative to the frame 20 is common between the left-eye observation mode and the right-eye observation mode. means.

  Further, in the present embodiment, since the frame 20 is eyeglass type, the pair of pads 36, 36 of the frame 20 is not observed by the observer without paying special attention to the observer's own head. By simply wearing the nose so as to be in contact with both sides of the nose, the relative position of the frame 20 with respect to the observation eye 320 is determined to be almost one. That is, the relative position of the frame 20 with respect to the observation eye 320 is constant during each use of the HMD 10 and is maintained constant during each use.

Then, as shown in FIG. 13, the eye relief of the HMD 10, that is, the final point of the optical path of the image light in the display unit 12 (the point where the image light enters the half mirror 260, and the image light is observed from the half mirror 260. The distance between the exit pupil of HMD 10 (the vicinity of the pupil position in observation eye 320) and the left eye observation mode and the right eye observation mode are common to each other. It is guaranteed. That is, the eye relief ER _L for the left eye observation mode, and the eye relief ER _R for the right eye observation mode, always is being guaranteed to be consistent with each other.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the left-right difference of the eye relief of the HMD 10, that is, the eye relief is prevented from being different between the left-eye observation mode and the right-eye observation mode. The situation where the observer feels uncomfortable due to the cause is avoided.

  Next, referring to FIG. 14, the setting of the orientation of the display unit 12 with respect to the line of sight of the observation eye 320 in the side view and the setting of the position adjustment direction of the display unit 12 by the vertical position adjustment mechanism 170 will be described. As shown in FIG. 14, a unit reference line RL extending in the front-rear direction of the display unit 12 is set for the display unit 12. Further, the line of sight of the observation eye 320 when the observer looks straight ahead is the above-described line of sight SL during forward observation.

  Conventionally, the display unit 12 is generally positioned with respect to the observation eye 320 so that the unit reference line RL and the forward observation line of sight SL coincide with each other or are parallel to each other in a side view. .

  However, according to the study by the present inventors, when the observer looks straight ahead, a certain amount of tension is generated in the muscles of the observation eye 320. Therefore, the display of the HMD 10 is maintained while maintaining the actual line of sight at the line of sight SL during the forward observation. It has been found that the observation eye 320 is easily fatigued when the image is continuously observed.

  Further, the present inventors may maintain the same line of sight when the observer looks at the direction of a straight line slightly inclined downward as moving away from the observation eye 320 with respect to the line of sight SL during forward observation. The fact that the observation eye 320 is not easily fatigued was also found.

  Based on these findings, in the present embodiment, the unit reference line RL of the display unit 12 has a downward angle θ (for example, about approximately) as it moves away from the observation eye 320 with respect to the front observation line of sight SL in a side view. The HMD 10 is designed so that the attachment 14 holds the display unit 12 so as to be inclined by 10 degrees.

  In order to arrange the display unit 12 so as to be inclined with respect to the forward viewing line of sight SL in a side view, as shown in FIGS. 4 (c) to 4 (e), display is performed. The body portion 84 that engages with the unit 12 so as to be slidable substantially vertically extends linearly in the longitudinal direction thereof, but is linearly aligned with each other on the same intermediate member 50 in the head-mounted state and in a side view. The bent head 80 and neck 82 are bent backward.

  As a result, according to the present embodiment, the observer can observe the display image of the HMD 10 without tensing the muscles of the observation eye 320 so that the observer can continuously display the display image of the HMD 10. The observation eye 320 does not become so tired.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, in conjunction with the above-described setting of the unit reference line RL, the vertical position adjustment mechanism 170 is downward from the observation eye 320 with respect to the vertical line VL passing in front of the observation eye 320 in a side view. It is designed to adjust the position of the display unit 12 in the vertical position adjustment direction, with the direction of a straight line inclined backward by an angle ψ as moving away from the vertical direction. The angle ψ is the smaller of the two angles formed between the vertical position adjustment direction and the direction of the vertical line VL. The vertical position adjustment mechanism 170 translates the display unit 12 in a side view. As a result, according to the present embodiment, at any position of the display unit 12 in the vertical position adjustment direction, the angle formed by the actual line of sight of the observation eye 320 and the unit reference line RL in the side view is the angle θ. Maintained. In the present embodiment, the angle θ is selected so as to coincide with the angle ψ, but can be selected differently.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, the display unit 12 is disposed close to the front surface of the lenticular transparent body 22 positioned in front of the observation eye 320 in a side view. The lenticular transparent body 22 has a forward tilt angle ψ, similar to the display unit 12 in the head-mounted state. Basically, the lenticular transparent body 22 and the display unit 12 have substantially the same forward tilt angle ψ. Have.

  Therefore, the display unit 12 is displaced by the vertical position adjustment mechanism 170 substantially parallel to a straight line that approximates the lenticular transparent body 22 in a side view. This means that the display unit 12 is transparent in the entire range of movement of the display unit 12 as long as the necessary distance is secured between the display unit 12 and the front surface of the lens-like transparent body 22. It is guaranteed that there is no contact in front of the body 22, ie no interference.

  In addition, in this embodiment, the display unit 12 is linearly displaced in the vertical position adjustment direction by the vertical position adjustment mechanism 170, but the display is displayed along an arc centered on the center of the observation eye 320. The vertical position adjustment mechanism 170 may be changed so as to displace the unit 12. This also applies to the left / right position adjustment mechanism 120.

  As mentioned above, although one embodiment of the present invention was described in detail based on a drawing, this is an illustration, and it is various based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art including the mode described in the above-mentioned [Summary of invention] section. The present invention can be implemented in other forms that have been modified or improved.

Claims (5)

A see-through head-mounted display that displays an image to the observer in a head-mounted state attached to the observer's head, and enables the observer to observe the display image together with the actual outside world,
A monocular display unit that displays the image to the observer by projecting image light corresponding to an image signal for displaying the image onto one of the observer's eyes;
An attachment that is attached to an attachment member attached to an observer's head and holds the display unit to attach the display unit to the attachment member;
The display unit generally has a shape extending in the longitudinal direction, and is arranged so as to extend in a direction intersecting with the front-rear direction with respect to the observer in front of the observer in the face-mounted state.
In the display unit, a main body portion that accommodates an image light forming portion that forms the image light and an emission portion that emits the formed image light toward the observation eye are aligned with each other along the longitudinal direction. And have
The body portion has a horizontally long cross section extending in the front-rear direction with respect to the observer in the head-mounted state,
The emission portion has a horizontally long cross section extending in the front-rear direction with respect to the observer in the head-mounted state, and the shape of the horizontally long cross section is a horizontally long shape that the observer perceives the image displayed by the display unit. Reflects the shape of the rectangular image display area,
The vertical dimension of the horizontal cross section of the emission part is set to be smaller than the vertical dimension of the horizontal cross section of the main body part,
The display unit has a generally hollow housing extending in its longitudinal direction;
The image light forming unit is a spatial light modulation element which is disposed in the housing and generates the image light by two-dimensional spatially modulating incident light, and has a cross-section of the emission portion. Including those having a shape larger than the shape,
The spatial light modulation element has an optical axis direction coinciding with the longitudinal direction of the image light forming portion, and is supported in the housing so as to be displaceable in the optical axis direction.
The image light forming unit further includes a focus adjustment mechanism that is disposed in the housing and adjusts a focus position of the image light by displacing the spatial light modulation element back and forth in the optical axis direction,
The spatial light modulator and the focus adjustment mechanism are accommodated in the main body portion,
The attachment has the display unit for the observer in the head-mounted state, and the emission portion is generally entirely in front of the observation eye and inside the stable focus area for the observation eye. A head-mounted display that, while present, holds the body portion generally generally outside the stable field of view area. And an adjustment mechanism that adjusts at least one of a relative position and an angle of the main body portion with respect to the mounted member.
The head-mounted display according to claim 1, wherein the attachment holds the adjustment mechanism so as to be positioned outside a guidance visual field region for the observation eye in the head-mounted state. The head-mounted display according to claim 1 , wherein the emission part includes an optical element that reflects the image light formed by the image forming unit toward the observation eye . A see-through head-mounted display,
A monocular display unit having a hollow housing extending in the longitudinal direction;
An attachment that is attached to a member to be attached to an observer's head and holds the display unit, thereby attaching the display unit to the member to be attached;
Including
The display unit extends in the longitudinal direction and has a main body portion that accommodates an image light forming portion that forms the image light, and the formed image light is directed toward an observation eye that is one of the eyes of the observer And an outgoing part to be emitted so as to be aligned with each other along the longitudinal direction,
The main body portion has a horizontally long cross section extending in the front-rear direction with respect to the observer,
The emission portion has a horizontally long cross section extending in the front-rear direction with respect to the observer, and the shape of the horizontal cross section reflects the shape of the image display area that forms a horizontally long rectangular shape of the image displayed by the display unit. And
The image light forming unit is a spatial light modulation element which is disposed in the housing and generates the image light by two-dimensional spatially modulating incident light, and has a cross-section of the emission portion. Including those having a shape larger than the shape,
The spatial light modulator has an optical axis direction coinciding with the longitudinal direction of the image light forming portion,
The spatial light modulation element is accommodated in the main body portion,
The vertical dimension of the horizontal cross section of the emission part is set to be smaller than the vertical dimension of the horizontal cross section of the main body part,
When the attachment is in a head-mounted state in which the display unit is mounted on the observer's head with respect to the observer, the emission portion is in front of the observation eye and a stable focus field for the observation eye A head-mounted display that is generally present inside a region, while the body portion is generally generally present outside the stable field of view region . The image light forming unit further includes a focus adjustment mechanism that is disposed in the housing and adjusts a focus position of the image light,
  The head mounted display according to claim 4, wherein the focus adjustment mechanism is accommodated in the main body portion.

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