JP5983703B2 - Image display method for head mounted display - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image display method in a head mounted display (HMD).

  A virtual image display device (image display device) for allowing an observer to observe a two-dimensional image formed by an image forming device as an enlarged virtual image by a virtual image optical system is known from, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-162767.

  As shown in a conceptual diagram in FIG. 1, the image display apparatus 100 includes an image forming apparatus 111 having a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, and collimated light emitted from the pixels of the image forming apparatus 111. A collimating optical system 112, and an optical device (light guiding means) 120 that receives the light that is collimated by the collimating optical system 112, is guided, and is emitted. The optical device 120 includes a light guide plate such that after incident light propagates through the interior through total reflection, the emitted light guide plate 121 and the light incident on the light guide plate 121 are totally reflected inside the light guide plate 121. First deflecting means 130 (for example, comprising a single layer of light reflecting film) that reflects the light incident on 121, and second light that causes light propagating through the interior of the light guide plate 121 to be emitted from the light guide plate 121. The deflecting unit 140 (for example, a light reflecting multilayer film having a multilayer laminated structure) is used. For example, if an HMD is configured by such an image display apparatus 100, the apparatus can be reduced in weight and size.

  Alternatively, a virtual image display device (image display device) using a hologram diffraction grating to allow an observer to observe a two-dimensional image formed by an image forming device as an enlarged virtual image by a virtual image optical system is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-2007. -94175.

  As shown in a conceptual diagram in FIG. 15, the image display apparatus 300 basically receives an image forming apparatus 111 that displays an image, a collimating optical system 112, and light displayed on the image forming apparatus 111. And an optical device (light guide means) 320 that guides to the pupil 41 of the observer. Here, the optical device 320 includes a light guide plate 321, and a first diffraction grating member 330 and a second diffraction grating member 340 made of a reflective volume hologram diffraction grating provided on the light guide plate 321. Then, light emitted from each pixel of the image forming apparatus 111 is incident on the collimating optical system 112, and parallel light is generated by the collimating optical system 112 and is incident on the light guide plate 321. Parallel light enters and exits from the first surface 322 of the light guide plate 321. On the other hand, a first diffraction grating member 330 and a second diffraction grating member 340 are attached to a second surface 323 of the light guide plate 321 that is parallel to the first surface 322 of the light guide plate 321.

  Also, a caption display device for displaying captions, which uses a head-mounted display and is mounted in front of a spectator by a mounting means and assists a theater, is known from, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-018158. The caption display device disclosed in this patent publication includes information output means for creating and storing document information for caption display and outputting the information as caption information, and a signal transmission means for transmitting caption information superimposed on a signal transmission medium. And a signal receiving means for taking out the caption information from the signal transmission medium and outputting it, and a caption display means for displaying the caption based on the caption information arranged in front of the audience.

JP 2006-162767 A JP2007-94175 JP2002-018158

  Incidentally, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-018158 does not disclose any processing when reception of caption information transmitted from a signal transmission unit fails for some reason in the signal reception unit. In particular, when such a problem occurs when subtitle information transmitted from one signal transmission means is received by a plurality of signal reception means, the same subtitle cannot be displayed simultaneously by a plurality of subtitle display means. The subtitle display means cannot display subtitles. Further, when the audience is a foreigner, it is desirable to display captions in the language used by the audience, but Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-018158 does not disclose any measures for such a request. Furthermore, depending on the seat position, there may be an imbalance between the size of the characters that are subject to viewing in the theater and the size of the subtitle characters, and there is an optimal convergence angle depending on the seat position. However, no reference is made to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-018158 regarding these matters.

  Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide an image display method in a head-mounted display that can reliably display an image even when reception of data transmitted from a transmission device fails once in the control means. It is to provide. A second object of the present invention is to provide an image display method in a head-mounted display that is unlikely to cause an imbalance between the size of the object to be viewed and the size of the image to be displayed. Furthermore, a third object of the present invention is to provide an image display method in a head-mounted display that enables image display in a language used by an observer. A fourth object of the present invention is to provide an image display method in a head-mounted display that can easily adjust an optimal convergence angle depending on the distance between an observer and an observation object. .

The image display method in the head-mounted display according to the first aspect, the second aspect, or the third aspect of the present invention includes:
(A) a glasses-type frame that is worn on the observer's head;
(B) an image display device attached to the frame, and
(C) control means for controlling image display in the image display device;
With
The image display device
(A) an image forming apparatus, and
(B) an optical device in which light emitted from the image forming apparatus is incident, guided, and emitted;
An image display method in a head mounted display having Note that one image display device may be provided (one eye type) or two image display devices (binocular type).

An image display method in the head-mounted display according to the first aspect of the present invention for achieving the first object (hereinafter referred to as “image display method according to the first aspect of the present invention”). )
The storage means provided in the control means stores a data group composed of a plurality of data,
Each data composing the data group is given a data identification code,
The designated identification code and display time information are sent from the outside to the control means at predetermined time intervals,
In the control means, data in which the designated identification code sent and the data identification code match are read from the storage means, and an image based on the data is displayed on the image forming apparatus for a time corresponding to the sent display time information. To do.

Also, an image display method in a head-mounted display according to the second aspect of the present invention for achieving the second object (hereinafter referred to as “image display method according to the second aspect of the present invention”). )
The storage means provided in the control means stores a data group composed of a plurality of data,
Each data composing the data group is given a data identification code,
Each data consists of multiple different sizes and display data with different display sizes.
A designated identification code is sent from the outside to the control means,
Depending on the distance between the object to be observed and the head-mounted display among the data in which the specified identification code and the data identification code that have been sent match, the control means 1 from a plurality of different size / display data. One different size / display data is read from the storage means, and an image based on the one different size / display data is displayed on the image forming apparatus.

Also, an image display method in a head-mounted display according to the third aspect of the present invention for achieving the third object (hereinafter referred to as “image display method according to the third aspect of the present invention”). )
The storage means provided in the control means stores a data group composed of a plurality of data,
Each data composing the data group is given a data identification code,
Each data consists of multiple different languages and display data with different display languages.
A designated identification code is sent from the outside to the control means,
In the control means, one of the different languages / display data is read out from the storage means from among the plurality of different languages / display data out of the data whose designated identification code matches the data identification code, and the one different language / display is displayed. An image based on the data is displayed on the image forming apparatus. As a method of selecting what language as the display language, for example, a button or switch is provided in the control means, and a method of manually selecting as the display language can be mentioned.

An image display method in a head-mounted display according to the fourth aspect of the present invention for achieving the fourth object (hereinafter referred to as “image display method according to the fourth aspect of the present invention”). )
(A) a glasses-type frame that is worn on the observer's head;
(B) Two image display devices for the right eye and left eye attached to the frame, and
(C) control means for controlling image display in the image display device;
With
Each image display device
(A) an image forming apparatus, and
(B) an optical device in which light emitted from the image forming apparatus is incident, guided, and emitted;
An image display method in a head-mounted display having:
The storage means provided in the control means stores a data group composed of a plurality of data,
Each data composing the data group is given a data identification code,
A designated identification code is sent from the outside to the control means,
In the control means, by reading out the data in which the specified identification code and the data identification code that have been sent match from the storage means, and performing data processing depending on the distance between the observation object and the head-mounted display, An image based on the data is displayed on the image forming apparatus with the convergence angle controlled. Note that, based on the distance from the head-mounted display to the observation target, image processing may be performed on the data to the image forming apparatus that constitutes at least one of the image display apparatuses.

  In the image display method according to the first aspect of the present invention, the designation identification code and the display time information are sent from the outside to the control means at a predetermined time interval, and the designation identification code sent from the control means is sent to the control means. Data having the same data identification code is read from the storage means, and an image based on this data is displayed on the image forming apparatus for a time corresponding to the transmitted display time information. Therefore, even if reception of the specified identification code and / or display time information sent from the outside fails for some reason in the control means, it is tried again or repeatedly to receive the specified identification code and display time information. Therefore, the designated identification code and the display time information can be reliably received. As a result, for example, even when the designation identification code and the display time information are received in a plurality of head-mounted displays, the same image can be reliably displayed simultaneously on the plurality of head-mounted displays. It is possible to reliably avoid the problem that the image cannot be displayed on the part-mounted display.

  In the image display method according to the second aspect of the present invention, in the control means, among the data in which the designated identification code and the data identification code that have been sent coincide, Depending on the distance between them, one different size / display data is read from the storage means from a plurality of different sizes / display data, and an image based on this one different size / display data is displayed on the image forming apparatus. An imbalance is unlikely to occur between the size of the object being visually observed and the size of the image.

  In the image display method according to the third aspect of the present invention, in the control means, one of a plurality of different languages / display data is selected from among the data in which the designated identification code and the data identification code sent are the same. The language / display data is read from the storage means, and the image based on the one different language / display data is displayed on the image forming apparatus, so that the image can be easily displayed in the language used by the observer (audience). .

  In the image display method according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the convergence angle is adjusted in accordance with the distance from the head-mounted display to the observation object, whereby the observation object and the observer ( The distance between the viewer and the virtual image distance of the image displayed by the image display device can be made equal to each other, or can be made as equal as possible, and an observer (spectator) who looks at the observation object The image displayed by the image display device can be viewed (observed) naturally without changing or changing the focus. In other words, as long as such a state is achieved, it can be said that the distance between the observation object and the observer (audience) is equal to the virtual image distance of the image displayed by the image display device.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an image display device in a head mounted display according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating light propagation in the light guide plate constituting the image display device in the head-mounted display according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the head-mounted display of Example 1 as viewed from above. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the head-mounted display of Example 1 as viewed from the side. FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the head-mounted display of Example 1 as viewed from the front. FIG. 6 is a view of the state in which the head-mounted display of Example 1 is mounted on the viewer's head from above (however, only the image display device is shown, and the frame is not shown). FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of a state in which the head-mounted display of Example 1 is used. FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram of a state in which the head-mounted display of Example 1 is used. FIG. 9 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a file structure of data constituting the data group in the first embodiment. FIGS. 10A and 10B are a system configuration block diagram of a transmission apparatus and a system configuration block diagram of a head-mounted display, respectively, in the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the flow of transmission processing in the transmission apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the flow of reception processing on the head-mounted display in the first embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram schematically illustrating a specified identification code, a data group, a plurality of data constituting the data group, and a total display time, which are contents displayed on the display device constituting the transmission device in the first embodiment. It is. FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram of an image display device in a head mounted display according to the second embodiment. FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram of an image display device in a head mounted display according to the third embodiment. FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram of an image display device in the head mounted display of the fourth embodiment. 17A and 17B are diagrams schematically showing light propagation in the light guide plate constituting the image display device in the head-mounted display of Example 5, and the arrangement state of the light guide plate and the like. FIG. FIG. 18 is a schematic view of a head-mounted display in Example 5 as viewed from the side. 19A and 19B are diagrams schematically showing light propagation in the light guide plate constituting the image display device in the head-mounted display of Example 6, and the arrangement state of the light guide plate and the like. FIG. FIG. 20 is a schematic view of the head-mounted display of Example 7 as viewed from the front. FIG. 21 is a schematic view of the head-mounted display of Example 7 as viewed from above. FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram for explaining the adjustment of the convergence angle corresponding to the distance from the head-mounted display to the observation object. FIG. 23 is a schematic view of a head-mounted display according to the first embodiment as viewed from the side.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on examples with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the examples, and various numerical values and materials in the examples are examples. The description will be given in the following order.
1. 1. General description of image display method for head mounted display according to first to fourth aspects of the present invention Example 1 (Image display method in a head-mounted display according to the first aspect of the present invention)
3. Example 2 (Modification of Example 1)
4). Example 3 (another modification of Example 1)
5). Example 4 (Modification of Example 3)
6). Example 5 (Modification of Examples 1 to 4)
7). Example 6 (Modification of Example 5)
8). Example 7 (another modification of Example 1)
9. Example 8 (Image Display Method According to Second Aspect of the Present Invention, Image Display Method According to Aspect 1-A of the Present Invention)
10. Example 9 (Image Display Method According to Third Aspect of the Present Invention, Image Display Method According to Aspect 1-A ′ of the Present Invention, Image Display Method According to Aspect 1-B of the Present Invention, Present Invention Image display method according to the 2-A aspect)
11 Example 10 (Image Display Method in Head-Mounted Display According to Fourth Aspect of the Present Invention, Image Display Method According to Aspect 1-C of the Present Invention, Image According to Aspect 4-A of the Present Invention) Display method, image display method according to aspect 4-A ′ of the present invention, image display method according to aspect 4-B of the present invention), etc.

[Description of General Image Display Method for Head-Mounted Display According to First to Fourth Aspects of the Present Invention]
In the image display method according to the first aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the second object in addition to the first object,
Each data consists of multiple different sizes and display data with different display sizes.
Depending on the distance between the object to be observed and the head-mounted display among the data in which the specified identification code and the data identification code that have been sent match, the control means 1 from a plurality of different size / display data. One different size / display data is read from the storage means, and an image based on the one different size / display data is displayed on the image forming apparatus. Such a form is referred to as “an image display method according to the first-A aspect of the present invention” for convenience.

In the image display method according to the first-A aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the third object in addition to the first object and the second object,
Each different size / display data consists of multiple different languages / display data with different display languages,
Depending on the distance between the object to be observed and the head-mounted display among the data in which the specified identification code and the data identification code that have been sent match, the control means 1 from a plurality of different size / display data. One different size / display data is selected, and in the one different size / display data, one different language / display data is read from the storage means from a plurality of different languages / display data, and the one different language / display data is displayed. An image based on the data can be displayed on the image forming apparatus. Such a form is referred to as “an image display method according to the first-A ′ aspect of the present invention” for convenience.

Alternatively, in the image display method according to the first aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the third object in addition to the first object,
Each data consists of multiple different languages and display data with different display languages.
In the control means, one of the different languages / display data is read out from the storage means from among the plurality of different languages / display data out of the data whose designated identification code matches the data identification code, and the one different language / display is displayed. An image based on the data can be displayed on the image forming apparatus. Such a form is referred to as “an image display method according to the first-B aspect of the present invention” for convenience.

In the image display method according to the first aspect of the present invention, including the image display method according to the first-A aspect, first-A ′ aspect, and first-B aspect of the present invention described above, Furthermore, in order to achieve the fourth purpose,
It has two image display devices for right eye and left eye,
By performing data processing depending on the distance between the observation object and the head-mounted display in the control means, an image can be displayed on the image forming apparatus in a state where the convergence angle is controlled. Such a form is referred to as “an image display method according to the first-C aspect of the present invention” for convenience. Note that, based on the distance from the head-mounted display to the observation target, image processing may be performed on the data to the image forming apparatus that constitutes at least one of the image display apparatuses.

Further, in the image display method according to the second aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the third object in addition to the second object,
Each different size / display data consists of multiple different languages / display data with different display languages,
Depending on the distance between the object to be observed and the head-mounted display among the data in which the specified identification code and the data identification code that have been sent match, the control means 1 from a plurality of different size / display data. One different size / display data is selected, and in the one different size / display data, one different language / display data is read from the storage means from a plurality of different languages / display data, and the one different language / display data is displayed. An image based on the data can be displayed on the image forming apparatus. Such a form is referred to as “an image display method according to the 2-A aspect of the present invention” for convenience.

In addition to the fourth object, in the image display method according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the second object,
Each data consists of multiple different sizes and display data with different display sizes.
Depending on the distance between the object to be observed and the head-mounted display among the data in which the specified identification code and the data identification code that have been sent match, the control means 1 from a plurality of different size / display data. Two different sizes and display data are read from the storage means, and the data processing depending on the distance between the observation object and the head-mounted display is performed, so that the one different size and An image based on the display data can be displayed on the image forming apparatus. Such a form is referred to as “an image display method according to a 4-A aspect of the present invention” for convenience.

In the image display method according to the 4-A aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the third object in addition to the fourth object and the second object,
Each different size / display data consists of multiple different languages / display data with different display languages,
Depending on the distance between the object to be observed and the head-mounted display among the data in which the specified identification code and the data identification code that have been sent match, the control means 1 from a plurality of different size / display data. One different size / display data is selected, and in the one different size / display data, one different language / display data is read from a plurality of different languages / display data from the storage means, and the observation object and the head are mounted. By performing data processing depending on the distance to the type display, an image based on the one different language / display data can be displayed on the image forming apparatus while the angle of convergence is controlled. Note that such a form is referred to as “an image display method according to the fourth-A ′ aspect of the present invention” for convenience.

Alternatively, in the image display method according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the third object in addition to the fourth object,
Each data consists of multiple different languages and display data with different display languages.
Depending on the distance between the object to be observed and the head-mounted display among the data in which the specified identification code and the data identification code match in the control means, 1 from a plurality of different language / display data Two different languages and display data are read out from the storage means, and data processing depending on the distance between the observation object and the head-mounted display is performed, so that the one different language An image based on the display data can be displayed on the image forming apparatus. Note that such a form is referred to as “an image display method according to a 4-B aspect of the present invention” for convenience.

  In the image display method according to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention including the various preferred embodiments described above, the image is displayed on the image forming apparatus in a state where the brightness is controlled by the brightness information. can do.

  The luminance information can be sent from the outside to the head-mounted display. Note that the luminance information may be transmitted from the outside to the head-mounted display by radio. Alternatively, the head-mounted display further includes a light receiving sensor, which is displayed on the optical device based on the luminance information of the environment (the head mounted display or the atmosphere in which the observation object is placed) obtained by the light receiving sensor. The brightness of the image to be controlled can be controlled. Specific examples of the light receiving sensor include a photodiode and a light receiving element for exposure measurement provided in a camera or an imaging device described later.

In addition, in the image display methods according to the second to fourth aspects of the present invention including the various preferable modes and configurations described above,
The designated identification code and display time information are sent from the outside to the control means at predetermined time intervals,
An image can be displayed on the image forming apparatus for a time corresponding to the display time information sent.

  Furthermore, in the image display methods according to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention including the various preferable modes and configurations described above, the designated identification code and the display time information are transmitted wirelessly from the transmission device. Furthermore, the transmission device includes a display device, and the display device displays a designated identification code, a data group, and the total display time of each data or each display data. It can be configured. However, the present invention is not limited to this and can be wired.

  Furthermore, in the image display methods according to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention including the various preferable modes and configurations described above, it is desirable that the optical device be a transflective type (see-through type). . Specifically, it is desirable that at least a portion of the optical device facing both eyes of the observer is made semi-transmissive (see-through) so that the outside scene can be viewed through these portions of the optical device.

  Image display method according to aspect 1-A of the present invention, image display method according to aspect 1-A 'of the present invention, image display method according to aspect 1-C of the present invention, Image display method according to aspect 2, Image display method according to aspect 2-A of the present invention, Image display method according to aspect 4 of the present invention, Image display according to aspect 4-A of the present invention In the method, the image display method according to the 4-A ′ aspect of the present invention, or the image display method according to the 4-B aspect of the present invention, the distance between the observation object and the head-mounted display With regard to the above, distance information from the head-mounted display to the observation object can be sent from the outside to the head-mounted display. The distance information may be transmitted from the outside to the head-mounted display by radio. Alternatively, the head-mounted display further includes a distance measuring device that measures the distance from the head-mounted display to the observation object, and distance information can be obtained by the distance measuring device. Specifically, as a distance measuring device, a camera with an autofocus function or an imaging device (for example, irradiating an observation target with infrared rays or ultrasonic waves, and detecting the distance based on the time until the reflected wave returns and the irradiation angle. An active distance measuring device, a camera or an imaging device having a passive distance measuring device), and a distance measuring device for cameras with an autofocus function (active distance measuring device) can be given. Alternatively, a button or a switch may be provided in the control means, and the distance from the head-mounted display to the observation object may be manually set.

  In the image display methods according to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention including the various preferable modes and configurations described above, the control means itself may have a well-known circuit configuration, or the storage means itself. May be a well-known storage means, for example, a memory card. Further, the transmission device itself may be a known transmission device, and the display device provided in the transmission device may be a known display device.

  Furthermore, the number of data groups is essentially arbitrary, and the number of data constituting the data group and the number of display data constituting the data are essentially arbitrary. As the data structure of the data or display data, for example, text data including a character string can be used, or image data using a character string as an image can be used. The display data with different display sizes can be text data composed of character strings with different font sizes, or image data with character strings with different font sizes as images. The display language in the display data is essentially arbitrary.

  The designated identification code and the data identification code can be any codes as long as they can identify data, and examples thereof include numbers, alphabets, and combinations of numbers and alphabets.

The designated identification code and the display time information are sent from the outside to the control means at a predetermined time interval. Here, assuming that the total display time is T _total , the display time information is T _Inf , and the predetermined time interval is T _int ,
T _Inf (m) = T _total − (m−1) × T _int
Can be expressed as Note that “m” is a positive integer and represents the number of times that the designated identification code and the display time information are sent from the outside to the control means. For example,
T _total = 10.0 seconds T _int = 0.1 seconds
The display time information T _Inf (m) when the designated identification code and the display time information are sent from the outside to the control means in the first time (m = 1) is
T _Inf (1) = 10.0 seconds. Also, the display time information T _Inf (m) when the designated identification code and the display time information are sent from the outside to the control means at the second time (m = 2) and the eleventh time (m = 11) is
T _Inf (2) = 9.9 seconds T _Inf (11) = 9.0 seconds. Then, during the time corresponding to the display time information T _Inf (m), an image based on the data or one display data is displayed on the image forming apparatus.

Here, once image display is started in the image forming apparatus, even if the same designation identification code and different display time information are subsequently sent from the outside to the control means, the control means What is necessary is just to continue displaying an image ignoring an identification code and display time information. In such an operation, the control means may set a kind of flag (reception completion flag). On the other hand, from the first time to the (m′−1) th time, the control means fails to receive the designated identification code and / or the display time information from the outside for some reason. If the control means succeeds in receiving the designated identification code and display time information,
T _Inf (m ′) = T _total − (m′−1) × T _int
During this time, an image based on the data or one display data may be displayed on the image forming apparatus.

  Image display methods according to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention including the various preferred modes and configurations described above (hereinafter, these may be collectively referred to as “the present invention” in some cases). In this case, for example, the first (m = 1) designation identification code and the instruction to send the display time information may be given by an operator, based on the control of a computer, etc. May be performed based on the movement of the player, a change in the voice of the theatrical player as the observation object, a change in the environment occupied by the observation object (for example, a change in lighting or sound), and the like.

In the image display device constituting the head-mounted display in the present invention (hereinafter simply referred to as “image display device in the present invention”), the optical device is:
(A) A light guide plate that is emitted after incident light propagates through the interior by total reflection;
(B) first deflecting means for deflecting the light incident on the light guide plate so that the light incident on the light guide plate is totally reflected inside the light guide plate; and
(C) a second deflecting means for deflecting the light propagated through the light guide plate by total reflection a plurality of times in order to emit the light propagated through the light guide plate by total reflection from the light guide plate;
It can be set as the structure provided with. The term “total reflection” means total internal reflection or total reflection inside the light guide plate. The same applies to the following. The center point of the first deflecting means corresponds to the center point of the optical device.

  Note that a center ray emitted from the center of the image forming apparatus and passing through the image forming apparatus side node of the optical system is incident on the optical apparatus as an optical apparatus center point, passes through the optical apparatus center point, and is an axis of the optical apparatus. An axis parallel to the direction is defined as the X axis, and an axis that passes through the optical device center point and coincides with the normal of the optical device is defined as the Y axis. Here, the optical system is disposed between the image forming apparatus and the optical apparatus, and the light emitted from the image forming apparatus is converted into parallel light. Then, the light beam converted into parallel light by the optical system is incident on the optical device, guided, and emitted.

  In the image display device according to the present invention, although not limited thereto, the central ray can be configured to intersect with the XY plane at an angle (θ) other than 0 degrees. There is less restriction on the mounting angle of the image display device when it is mounted on the mounting portion of the frame, and a high degree of design freedom can be obtained. In this case, it is preferable that the central ray is included in the YZ plane from the viewpoint of handling and setting of the image display device and ease of attachment. Further, the optical axis of the optical system is included in the YZ plane and can intersect with the XY plane at an angle other than 0 degrees, or the optical axis of the optical system is parallel to the YZ plane. In addition, the image forming apparatus can be configured to pass through a position that is parallel to the XY plane and deviated from the center of the image forming apparatus. When it is assumed that the XY plane coincides with the horizontal plane, the angle θ at which the central ray intersects the XY plane can be an elevation angle. That is, it can be configured such that the central ray is directed from the lower side of the XY plane toward the XY plane and collides with the XY plane. In this case, the XY plane preferably intersects with the vertical plane at an angle other than 0 degrees, and further, the XY plane preferably intersects with the vertical plane at an angle θ ′. The maximum value of θ ′ is not limited, but can be 5 degrees. Here, the horizontal plane is a line of sight when an observer looks at an object positioned in the horizontal direction (for example, a horizontal object, an object at infinity, a horizon or a horizontal line) ("observer's horizontal line of sight"). And a plane containing two pupils of the observer positioned horizontally. The vertical plane is a plane perpendicular to the horizontal plane. Alternatively, when the observer looks at an object located in the horizontal direction (for example, a horizontal object, an object at infinity, a horizon or a horizontal line), a central ray emitted from the optical device and incident on the pupil of the observer Can be in the form of a depression. As the depression angle with respect to the horizontal plane, for example, 5 to 45 degrees can be exemplified.

  Here, the first deflecting means reflects the light incident on the light guide plate, and the second deflecting means transmits and reflects the light propagated through the light guide plate by total reflection over a plurality of times. can do. In this case, the first deflecting unit functions as a reflecting mirror, and the second deflecting unit functions as a semi-transmissive mirror.

  In such a configuration, the first deflecting means is made of, for example, a metal containing an alloy, and reflects light incident on the light guide plate (a kind of mirror) or light incident on the light guide plate. A diffraction grating (for example, a hologram diffraction grating film) to be diffracted can be used. Further, the second deflecting means can be constituted by a multilayer laminated structure in which a large number of dielectric laminated films are laminated, a half mirror, a polarization beam splitter, or a hologram diffraction grating film. The first deflecting unit and the second deflecting unit are disposed inside the light guide plate (incorporated inside the light guide plate), but in the first deflecting unit, the parallel light incident on the light guide plate is provided. The parallel light incident on the light guide plate is reflected or diffracted so that the light is totally reflected inside the light guide plate. On the other hand, in the second deflecting means, the parallel light propagated by total reflection inside the light guide plate is reflected or diffracted multiple times and emitted from the light guide plate in the state of parallel light.

  Alternatively, the first deflecting means diffracts the light incident on the light guide plate, and the second deflecting means diffracts the light propagating through the light guide plate by total reflection over a plurality of times. Can do. In this case, the first deflecting means and the second deflecting means can be formed of a diffraction grating element. Further, the diffraction grating element is composed of a reflection type diffraction grating element, or alternatively, a transmission type diffraction grating. Alternatively, one diffraction grating element can be a reflection type diffraction grating element, and the other diffraction grating element can be a transmission type diffraction grating element. An example of the reflective diffraction grating element is a reflective volume hologram diffraction grating. The first deflecting means composed of the reflective volume hologram diffraction grating is referred to as a “first diffraction grating member” for convenience, and the second deflecting means composed of the reflective volume hologram diffraction grating is referred to as “second diffraction grating member” for convenience. Sometimes called.

  The image display device according to the present invention can display an image of a single color (for example, green). However, when displaying a color image, the first diffraction grating member or the second diffraction grating member can be set to different P types (for example, , P = 3, and in order to correspond to diffraction reflection of P types of light having three wavelength bands (or wavelengths) of red, green, and blue), a P layer composed of a reflective volume hologram diffraction grating is formed. A structure in which diffraction grating layers are stacked may be employed. Each diffraction grating layer is formed with interference fringes corresponding to one type of wavelength band (or wavelength). Alternatively, in order to cope with diffraction reflection of P types of light having different P types of wavelength bands (or wavelengths), P is applied to the first diffraction grating member or the second diffraction grating member formed of one diffraction grating layer. It can also be set as the structure in which the kind of interference fringe is formed. Alternatively, for example, the angle of view can be divided into three equal parts, and the first diffraction grating member or the second diffraction grating member can be configured by laminating diffraction grating layers corresponding to each angle of view. By adopting these configurations, the diffraction efficiency increases when the light having each wavelength band (or wavelength) is diffracted and reflected by the first diffraction grating member or the second diffraction grating member, and the diffraction acceptance angle is increased. Increase and optimization of the diffraction angle can be achieved.

  As a material constituting the first diffraction grating member and the second diffraction grating member, a photopolymer material can be cited. The constituent materials and basic structure of the first diffraction grating member and the second diffraction grating member made of the reflective volume hologram diffraction grating may be the same as those of the conventional reflective volume hologram diffraction grating. The reflection type volume hologram diffraction grating means a hologram diffraction grating that diffracts and reflects only + 1st order diffracted light. Interference fringes are formed on the diffraction grating member from the inside to the surface, and the method for forming the interference fringes itself may be the same as the conventional forming method. Specifically, for example, a member constituting the diffraction grating member is irradiated with object light from a first predetermined direction on one side to a member constituting the diffraction grating member (for example, photopolymer material), and at the same time Is irradiated with reference light from a second predetermined direction on the other side, and interference fringes formed by the object light and the reference light may be recorded inside the member constituting the diffraction grating member. By appropriately selecting the first predetermined direction, the second predetermined direction, the wavelength of the object light and the reference light, the desired pitch of the interference fringes on the surface of the diffraction grating member, the desired inclination angle of the interference fringes ( Slant angle) can be obtained. The inclination angle of the interference fringes means an angle formed between the surface of the diffraction grating member (or the diffraction grating layer) and the interference fringes. In the case where the first diffraction grating member and the second diffraction grating member are formed of a laminated structure of P-layer diffraction grating layers made of a reflective volume hologram diffraction grating, such a diffraction grating layer is laminated with a P-layer diffraction grating. After each layer is produced separately, the P diffraction grating layer may be laminated (adhered) using, for example, an ultraviolet curable adhesive. In addition, after producing a single diffraction grating layer using a photopolymer material having adhesiveness, the photopolymer material having adhesiveness is sequentially attached thereon to produce a diffraction grating layer, whereby the P layer A diffraction grating layer may be produced.

  Alternatively, in the image display device according to the present invention, the optical device may be configured to include a semi-transmissive mirror that receives the light emitted from the image forming device and emits the light toward the observer's pupil. it can. The light emitted from the image forming apparatus may be structured to propagate in the air and enter the semi-transmissive mirror. For example, a transparent member such as a glass plate or a plastic plate (specifically, described later) A structure may be adopted in which the light propagates through the inside of a member made of the same material as the material constituting the light guide plate and enters the semi-transmissive mirror. The transflective mirror may be attached to the image forming apparatus via this transparent member, or the transflective mirror may be attached to the image forming apparatus via a member different from the transparent member.

  In the image display apparatus according to the present invention including the various preferable forms and configurations described above, the image forming apparatus may have a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix. Note that such a configuration of the image forming apparatus is referred to as an “image forming apparatus having a first configuration” for convenience.

  As an image forming apparatus having the first configuration, for example, an image forming apparatus including a reflective spatial light modulator and a light source; an image forming apparatus including a transmissive spatial light modulator and a light source; and organic EL (Electro Luminescence) An image forming apparatus composed of a light emitting element such as an inorganic EL or a light emitting diode (LED) can be given. Among them, an image forming apparatus composed of a reflective spatial light modulator and a light source is preferable. Examples of the spatial light modulator include a light valve, for example, a transmissive or reflective liquid crystal display device such as LCOS (Liquid Crystal On Silicon), and a digital micromirror device (DMD), and a light emitting element as a light source. be able to. Furthermore, the reflective spatial light modulator reflects a part of light from the liquid crystal display device and the light source to the liquid crystal display device, and passes a part of the light reflected by the liquid crystal display device. In this case, a polarization beam splitter that leads to the optical system can be used. Examples of the light emitting element that constitutes the light source include a red light emitting element, a green light emitting element, a blue light emitting element, and a white light emitting element, or red light emitted from the red light emitting element, the green light emitting element, and the blue light emitting element. Alternatively, white light may be obtained by mixing green light and blue light with a light pipe and performing luminance uniformity. Examples of the light emitting element include a semiconductor laser element, a solid state laser, and an LED. The number of pixels may be determined based on specifications required for the image display device. Specific values of the number of pixels are 320 × 240, 432 × 240, 640 × 480, 1024 × 768, 1920 × 1080, and the like. Can be illustrated.

  Alternatively, in the image display apparatus according to the present invention including the preferable modes and configurations described above, the image forming apparatus may include a light source and a scanning unit that scans the parallel light emitted from the light source. it can. Note that such a configuration of the image forming apparatus is referred to as an “image forming apparatus having a second configuration” for convenience.

  Examples of the light source in the image forming apparatus having the second configuration include a light emitting element, and specifically include a red light emitting element, a green light emitting element, a blue light emitting element, and a white light emitting element, or a red light emitting element. White light may be obtained by mixing red light, green light, and blue light emitted from the light-emitting element, green light-emitting element, and blue light-emitting element, and using a light pipe for color mixing and luminance equalization. Examples of the light emitting element include a semiconductor laser element, a solid state laser, and an LED. The number of pixels (virtual pixels) in the image forming apparatus having the second configuration may also be determined based on specifications required for the image display apparatus. As a specific value of the number of pixels (virtual pixels), 320 * 240, 432 * 240, 640 * 480, 1024 * 768, 1920 * 1080 etc. can be illustrated. In addition, when color image display is performed and the light source is composed of a red light emitting element, a green light emitting element, and a blue light emitting element, it is preferable to perform color composition using, for example, a cross prism. Examples of the scanning means include a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) and a galvanometer mirror having a micromirror that can rotate in a two-dimensional direction.

  In the image forming apparatus having the first configuration or the image forming apparatus having the second configuration, an optical system (an optical system in which outgoing light is parallel light, which may be referred to as “parallel light outgoing optical system”) For example, collimated optical system or relay optical system) makes a plurality of parallel lights incident on the light guide plate. Such a request for the parallel light is that these lights are directed to the light guide plate. This is based on the fact that the light wavefront information at the time of incidence needs to be preserved even after being emitted from the light guide plate via the first deflecting means and the second deflecting means. In order to generate a plurality of parallel lights, specifically, for example, the light emitting part of the image forming apparatus may be positioned at the position (position) of the focal length in the parallel light emitting optical system, for example. . The parallel light emission optical system has a function of converting pixel position information into angle information in the optical system of the optical device. As the parallel light emitting optical system, an optical system having a positive optical power as a whole, which is a single lens or a combination of a convex lens, a concave lens, a free-form surface prism, and a hologram lens, can be exemplified. A light shielding member having an opening may be disposed between the parallel light emitting optical system and the light guide plate so that undesired light is emitted from the parallel light emitting optical system and does not enter the light guide plate.

  The light guide plate has two parallel surfaces (a first surface and a second surface) extending in parallel with the axis (X axis) of the light guide plate. When the surface of the light guide plate on which light is incident is the light guide plate entrance surface, and the surface of the light guide plate on which light is emitted is the light guide plate exit surface, the light guide plate entrance surface and the light guide plate exit surface are configured by the first surface. Alternatively, the light guide plate entrance surface may be configured by the first surface, and the light guide plate exit surface may be configured by the second surface. As a material constituting the light guide plate, glass containing optical glass such as quartz glass or BK7, or plastic material (for example, PMMA, polycarbonate resin, acrylic resin, amorphous polypropylene resin, styrene resin containing AS resin) ). The shape of the light guide plate is not limited to a flat plate, and may have a curved shape.

  In the head-mounted display according to the present invention, the frame includes a front part disposed in front of the observer and two temple parts rotatably attached to both ends of the front part via hinges. can do. A modern portion is attached to the tip of each temple portion. Although the image display device is attached to the frame, specifically, for example, the image forming device may be attached to the temple portion.

  Furthermore, in the head mounted display according to the present invention, a nose pad may be attached. That is, when the entire head mounted display according to the present invention is viewed, the assembly of the frame and the nose pad has substantially the same structure as normal glasses. Note that the rim portion may or may not be provided. The material constituting the frame can be composed of the same material as that constituting normal glasses such as metal, alloy, plastic, and a combination thereof. The nose pad can also have a known configuration and structure.

  As described above, the imaging device may be attached to the center portion of the front portion. Specifically, the imaging device is configured by a solid-state imaging device and a lens made up of, for example, a CCD or a CMOS sensor. The wiring from the imaging device may be connected to, for example, one image display device (or image forming device) via the front portion, and is further included in the wiring extending from the image display device (or image forming device). That's fine.

  In the head-mounted display according to the present invention, wiring (signal lines, power supply lines, etc.) from one or two image display devices (or image forming devices) from the viewpoint of design or ease of mounting. ) Is preferably extended from the tip of the modern part to the outside through the inside of the temple part and the modern part and connected to the control means (control device, control circuit). Furthermore, each image display device (or image forming device) includes a headphone unit, and the headphone unit wiring from each image display device (or image forming device) passes through the inside of the temple unit and the modern unit. And it can also be set as the form extended from the front-end | tip part of a modern part to a headphone part. Examples of the headphone unit include an inner ear type headphone unit and a canal type headphone unit. More specifically, the headphone part wiring preferably has a form extending from the tip part of the modern part to the headphone part so as to wrap around the back side of the auricle (ear shell).

  The head-mounted display in the present invention includes, for example, display of subtitles such as movies; display of explanatory texts and closed captions related to video synchronized with video; play, kabuki, Noh, kyogen, opera, music festival, ballet, Display of various explanations about observation objects in various plays, amusement parks (musement parks), art museums, sightseeing spots, resorts, sightseeing guides, etc., explanations to explain the contents, progress, background, etc .; various devices Various explanations during operation, operation, maintenance, disassembly, etc. of observation objects such as symbols, signs, signs, marks, marks, designs, etc .; various explanations, symbols, signs, etc. regarding observation objects such as people and articles , Marks, marks, designs, etc .; can be used to display closed captions. For play, kabuki, Noh, kyogen, opera, music festival, ballet, various theatres, amusement parks, museums, sightseeing spots, resorts, tourist information, etc. What is necessary is just to display the character as a related image in an image display apparatus. Specifically, for example, according to the progress of a movie or the like, or according to the progress of a play or the like, based on a predetermined schedule and time allocation, by an operator's operation, or under the control of a computer or the like. The designated identification code is sent to the control means, and the image (character) is displayed on the image display device.

  As described above, the information to the image forming apparatus includes, for example, luminance information (luminance data) regarding characters to be displayed, chromaticity information (chromaticity data), or luminance information and chromaticity information. be able to. The luminance information (luminance data) can be luminance information corresponding to the luminance of a predetermined area including the observation object viewed through the optical device, and the chromaticity information (chromaticity data) is viewed through the optical device. The chromaticity information corresponding to the chromaticity of a predetermined area including the observation object can be obtained. In this way, the brightness (brightness) of the displayed character can be controlled by including the luminance information regarding the character, and the chromaticity ( The color (color) can be controlled, and the luminance (brightness) and chromaticity (color) of the displayed character can be controlled by including the luminance information and chromaticity information regarding the character. In the case of luminance information corresponding to the luminance of the predetermined area including the observation object viewed through the image display device, the luminance of the image increases as the luminance value of the predetermined area including the observation object viewed through the image display device increases. The value of the luminance information may be set so that the value of is high (that is, the image is displayed brighter). Further, when the chromaticity information corresponding to the chromaticity of the predetermined area including the observation object viewed through the image display device is displayed, the chromaticity information of the predetermined area including the observation object viewed through the image display device is displayed. The value of the chromaticity information may be set so that the chromaticity of the power image is approximately complementary. Complementary color refers to a combination of colors in the opposite relationship in the color circle. It is also a complementary color, such as green for red, purple for yellow, orange for blue. Mixing a certain color with another color at an appropriate ratio, such as white for light and black for object, it may be a color that causes desaturation, but it complements the visual effect when paralleled. Complementarity when mixed with sex is different. Also called extra color, contrast color, or opposite color. However, while the opposite color directly indicates the color to which the complementary color is opposed, the range indicated by the complementary color is slightly wider. The combination of complementary colors has a synergistic effect of complementing each other, which is called complementary color harmony.

  Example 1 is an image display method in the head-mounted display according to the first aspect of the present invention (hereinafter, “image display method in the head-mounted display” may be abbreviated as “image display method”). About. The conceptual diagram of the image display apparatus in the head mounted display of Example 1 is shown in FIG. Further, in the head-mounted display of Example 1, the propagation of light in the light guide plate constituting the image display device is schematically shown in FIG. 2, and a schematic view of the head-mounted display viewed from above is shown in FIG. FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram viewed from the side. Furthermore, the schematic diagram which looked at the head mounted display of Example 1 from the front is shown in FIG. 5, The figure which looked at the state which mounted | wore the observer's head with the head mounted display of Example 1 from the upper direction (However, only the image display device is shown and the illustration of the frame is omitted) is shown in FIG. 6, and conceptual diagrams in a state where the head-mounted display of Example 1 is used are shown in FIGS. Moreover, the data structure of the data which comprises the data group in Example 1 is notionally shown in FIG. Furthermore, the system configuration block diagram of the transmission apparatus in the first embodiment and the system configuration block diagram of the head-mounted display are shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, respectively, and the transmission apparatus in the first embodiment is shown. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the flow of transmission processing in FIG. 11, and FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the flow of reception processing on the head-mounted display in the first embodiment.

The head mounted display of Example 1 or Example 2 to Example 10 described later is:
(A) a glasses-type frame 10 attached to the head of the observer 40;
(B) Two image display devices 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 for the right eye and left eye attached to the frame 10, and
(C) control means 18 for controlling image display in the image display devices 100, 200, 300, 400, 500;
It has. Each image display device 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 is
(A) Image forming apparatuses 111, 211, and
(B) Optical devices (light guiding means) 120, 320, 520, in which light emitted from the image forming apparatuses 111, 211 is incident, guided, and emitted.
It has. In addition, each image display apparatus 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 further includes
(C) Optical systems (parallel light emitting optical systems) 112, 254 that convert light emitted from the image forming apparatuses 111, 211 into parallel light,
It has. Here, the optical systems 112 and 254 are disposed between the image forming apparatuses 111 and 211 and the optical apparatuses 120, 320, and 520. Then, the light beams converted into parallel light by the optical systems 112 and 254 are incident on the optical devices 120, 320, and 520, guided, and emitted. The image forming apparatuses 111 and 211 display a single color (for example, green) image. The optical devices 120, 320, and 520 are transflective types (see-through types). Specifically, at least a portion of the optical device that faces both eyes of the observer 40 (more specifically, light guide plates 121 and 321 and second deflecting means 140 and 340 described later) is semi-transmissive (see-through). is there. In Example 1 or Examples 2 to 9 to be described later, a binocular type having two image display devices is used. However, depending on the case, one image display device is provided. It may be a one-eye type.

  In Example 1 or Examples 2 to 10 to be described later, a central ray CL that is emitted from the centers of the image forming apparatuses 111 and 211 and passes through the image forming apparatus side nodes of the optical systems 112 and 254 is the optical apparatus 120. , 320, 520 is the optical device center point O, passes through the optical device center point O, the axis parallel to the axial direction of the optical devices 120, 320, 520 passes through the X axis, and passes through the optical device center point O. An axis line that coincides with the normal line of the optical devices 120, 320, and 520 is taken as a Y axis. The center point of the first deflection means 130 and 330 described below is the optical device center point O.

And the optical devices 120 and 320 of Example 1 or Example 2 to Example 6 described later are:
(A) After the incident light propagates through the interior by total reflection, the light guide plates 121 and 321 are emitted.
(B) first deflecting means 130, 330 for deflecting the light incident on the light guide plates 121, 321 so that the light incident on the light guide plates 121, 321 is totally reflected inside the light guide plates 121, 321; as well as,
(C) In order to emit from the light guide plates 121 and 321, the light propagated through total reflection in the light guide plates 121 and 321, the light propagated through total reflection in the light guide plates 121 and 321 is deflected multiple times. Second deflection means 140, 340,
It has.

Here, in the first embodiment, the first deflection unit 130 and the second deflection unit 140 are disposed inside the light guide plate 121. The first deflecting unit 130 reflects the light incident on the light guide plate 121, and the second deflecting unit 140 transmits and reflects the light propagated through the light guide plate 121 by total reflection over a plurality of times. To do. That is, the first deflecting unit 130 functions as a reflecting mirror, and the second deflecting unit 140 functions as a semi-transmissive mirror. More specifically, the first deflecting means 130 provided inside the light guide plate 121 is made of aluminum (Al), and is composed of a light reflecting film (a kind of mirror) that reflects light incident on the light guide plate 121. Has been. On the other hand, the second deflecting means 140 provided inside the light guide plate 121 is composed of a multilayer laminated structure in which a large number of dielectric laminated films are laminated. The dielectric laminated film is composed of, for example, a TiO ₂ film as a high dielectric constant material and an SiO ₂ film as a low dielectric constant material. A multilayer laminated structure in which a large number of dielectric laminated films are laminated is disclosed in JP-T-2005-521099. In the drawing, a six-layer dielectric laminated film is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. A thin piece made of the same material as that constituting the light guide plate 121 is sandwiched between the dielectric laminated film and the dielectric laminated film. In the first deflecting unit 130, the parallel light incident on the light guide plate 121 is reflected (or diffracted) so that the parallel light incident on the light guide plate 121 is totally reflected inside the light guide plate 121. . On the other hand, in the second deflecting unit 140, the parallel light propagated through the light guide plate 121 by total reflection is reflected (or diffracted) a plurality of times, and the pupil of the observer 40 is reflected from the light guide plate 121 in the parallel light state. 41 is emitted.

  The first deflecting unit 130 cuts a portion 124 of the light guide plate 121 where the first deflecting unit 130 is provided, thereby providing the light guide plate 121 with an inclined surface on which the first deflecting unit 130 is to be formed, and vacuuming the light reflecting film on the inclined surface. After vapor deposition, the cut out portion 124 of the light guide plate 121 may be bonded to the first deflecting means 130. In addition, the second deflecting unit 140 is formed by laminating a large number of the same material (for example, glass) as that constituting the light guide plate 121 and a dielectric laminated film (for example, it can be formed by a vacuum deposition method). A multilayer laminated structure is produced, and a portion 125 of the light guide plate 121 where the second deflecting means 140 is provided is cut out to form a slope, and the multilayer laminated structure is bonded to the slope and polished to adjust the outer shape. That's fine. Thus, the optical device 120 in which the first deflection unit 130 and the second deflection unit 140 are provided inside the light guide plate 121 can be obtained.

  Here, in Example 1 or Examples 2 to 6 to be described later, the light guide plates 121 and 321 made of optical glass or plastic material have a light propagation direction (X axis) due to total internal reflection of the light guide plates 121 and 321. It has two parallel surfaces (the 1st surface 122,322 and the 2nd surface 123,323) extended in parallel. The first surfaces 122 and 322 and the second surfaces 123 and 323 are opposed to each other. Then, parallel light enters from the first surfaces 122 and 322 corresponding to the light incident surface, propagates through the interior by total reflection, and then exits from the first surfaces 122 and 322 corresponding to the light emitting surface. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the light incident surface may be configured by the second surfaces 123 and 323, and the light output surface may be configured by the first surfaces 122 and 322.

  In Example 1 or Example 3 described later, the image forming apparatus 111 is an image forming apparatus having a first configuration, and includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix. Specifically, the image forming apparatus 111 includes a reflective spatial light modulator 150 and a light source 153 including a light emitting diode that emits white light. Each image forming apparatus 111 as a whole is housed in a housing 113 (indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 1 or FIG. 15), and the housing 113 is provided with an opening (not shown). Light is emitted from an optical system (parallel light emitting optical system, collimating optical system) 112 through the opening. The reflective spatial light modulator 150 reflects part of the light from the liquid crystal display device (LCD) 151 composed of LCOS as a light valve and the light source 153 and leads it to the liquid crystal display device 151, and the liquid crystal The polarizing beam splitter 152 is configured to pass a part of the light reflected by the display device 151 and guide the light to the optical system 112. The liquid crystal display device 151 includes a plurality of (for example, 640 × 480) pixels (liquid crystal cells) arranged in a two-dimensional matrix. The polarization beam splitter 152 has a known configuration and structure. Unpolarized light emitted from the light source 153 collides with the polarization beam splitter 152. In the polarization beam splitter 152, the P-polarized component passes and is emitted out of the system. On the other hand, the S-polarized component is reflected by the polarization beam splitter 152, enters the liquid crystal display device 151, is reflected inside the liquid crystal display device 151, and is emitted from the liquid crystal display device 151. Here, among the light emitted from the liquid crystal display device 151, the light emitted from the pixel displaying “white” contains a lot of P-polarized components, and the light emitted from the pixel displaying “black” is S-polarized light. Contains many ingredients. Accordingly, among the light emitted from the liquid crystal display device 151 and colliding with the polarization beam splitter 152, the P-polarized component passes through the polarization beam splitter 152 and is guided to the optical system 112. On the other hand, the S-polarized component is reflected by the polarization beam splitter 152 and returned to the light source 153. The optical system 112 is composed of, for example, a convex lens, and the image forming apparatus 111 (more specifically, the liquid crystal display device 151) is disposed at a focal position (position) in the optical system 112 in order to generate parallel light. Has been.

  The frame 10 includes a front portion 11 disposed in front of the observer 40, two temple portions 13 rotatably attached to both ends of the front portion 11 via hinges 12, and tip portions of the temple portions 13. A modern part (also called a tip cell, an ear pad, or an ear pad) 14 attached to the head. A nose pad 10 'is attached. That is, the assembly of the frame 10 and the nose pad 10 'basically has substantially the same structure as normal glasses. Further, each housing 113 is attached to the temple portion 13 by the attachment member 19. The frame 10 is made of metal or plastic. Each housing 113 may be detachably attached to the temple portion 13 by the attachment member 19. For an observer who owns and wears glasses, each housing 113 may be detachably attached to the temple part of the frame of the glasses owned by the observer by the attachment member 19.

  Furthermore, wirings (signal lines, power supply lines, etc.) 15 extending from the image forming apparatuses 111A and 111B extend from the distal end portion of the modern portion 14 to the outside through the temple portion 13 and the modern portion 14, and are controlled. It is connected to means (control circuit, control device) 18. Further, each of the image forming apparatuses 111A and 111B includes a headphone unit 16, and a headphone unit wiring 16 'extending from each of the image forming devices 111A and 111B is provided through the temple unit 13 and the modern unit 14. The head portion 16 extends from the tip of the modern portion 14. More specifically, the headphone unit wiring 16 ′ extends from the tip of the modern unit 14 to the headphone unit 16 so as to wrap around the back side of the auricle (ear shell). By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to provide a clean head mounted display without giving an impression that the headphone unit 16 and the headphone unit wiring 16 ′ are randomly arranged.

  Further, in the central portion 11 ′ of the front portion 11, an imaging device 17 composed of a solid-state imaging device composed of a CCD or CMOS sensor and a lens (these are not shown) is attached to an appropriate mounting member (not shown). Is attached by. A signal from the imaging device 17 is sent to the image forming apparatus 111 </ b> A via a wiring (not shown) extending from the imaging device 17.

  In the image display method of the first embodiment, it is assumed that the conversation of the performer in the play is displayed on the head-mounted display. Data groups are stored in storage means (not shown) including a memory card provided in the control means 18 having a known circuit configuration. Here, in the first embodiment, the data group includes, for example, a set of data that is image data in which a character string is an image obtained by editing, for example, one scene, one scene, etc. did. The file format of image data is essentially arbitrary. FIG. 9 conceptually shows the data structure of data constituting the data group. Here, a designation identification code is attached to each data constituting the data group. The designated identification code is made up of numbers, for example.

  A system configuration block diagram of the transmission device (transmission means) 51 in the first embodiment and a system configuration block diagram of the control means 18 in the head-mounted display are shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, respectively. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the flow of transmission processing in the transmission apparatus 51 in the first embodiment, and FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the flow of reception processing in the control means 18 in the first embodiment.

The transmission device 51 having a known circuit configuration includes, for example, a personal computer 52 and a display device 53 having a known liquid crystal display device. As shown in FIG. 13, the display device 53 displays, for example, a designation identification code, a plurality of data constituting a data group, a total display time of each data, and luminance information. . The display device 53 is further provided with an area for displaying display data (different size / display data and different language / display data) constituting the data, and receives various information from the transmission device 51. An area for displaying the number of head mounted displays to be displayed is also provided. Furthermore, an area for displaying the ratio of the display time information T _{Inf to} the _total display time T _total by “horizontal bars” is also provided. In the “display area for the designation identification code and the like”, the hatched portion indicates a line where the cursor is placed and the display color is inverted.

  Then, immediately before the start of a certain conversation of the performer in the play, a designated identification code and display time information are sent from the outside to the control means 18 at predetermined time intervals. Specifically, for example, when a worker operates a pointing device or a keyboard (not shown) provided in the personal computer 52, a designated identification code and a data group displayed on the display device 53 are configured. By specifying a plurality of data and a row in which the total display time of each data is displayed, the personal computer 52 reads the specified designation code and the total display time, obtains display time information, and displays the display packet. The designated identification code and the display time information are transmitted to the control means 18 in the head-mounted display together with the synchronization signal. Examples of the pointing device include a joystick, a pointing stick (track point), a touch pad, a touch panel, a stylus pen, a data glove, a track ball, a pen tablet, a mouse, a light pen, and a joy pad.

Specifically, as described above, the display time information T _Inf uses the total display time T _total and the predetermined time interval T _int ,
T _Inf (m) = T _total − (m−1) × T _int
Can be expressed as Then, the designated identification code and the display time information T _Inf are sent from the outside (transmitting device 51) to the control means 18 at a predetermined time interval T _int . For example,
When T _total = 10.0 seconds and T _int = 0.1 seconds, the designated identification code and the display time information are sent to the control means 18 from the outside (transmitting device 51) for the first time (m = 1). Display time information T _Inf (m) of
T _Inf (1) = 10.0 seconds.

Within transmitting apparatus 51 checks whether a T _Inf = 0 (seconds), if T _Inf is not 0 sec, as a timer waiting (specifically, 0.1 second) T _Inf T _int reduced by , After T _int (specifically 0.1 seconds) has passed,
As T _Inf (2) = 9.9 seconds, the designated identification code and the display time information T _Inf (2) are transmitted. This is repeated until T _Inf = 0 (seconds).

When the control unit 18 receives the specified identification code and the data identification code, the control unit 18 reads out from the storage unit the data in which the transmitted specified identification code and data identification code match. An image based on this data is displayed on the image forming apparatuses 111A and 111B for a time corresponding to the display time information T _Inf sent. Here, when image display is started in the image forming apparatuses 111A and 111B, the same designated identification code and different display time information T _Inf are sent to the control means 18 from the outside (transmitting apparatus 51) thereafter. Even so, the control means 18 ignores the designated identification code and the display time information T _Inf and continues to display the image. In such an operation, the control means 18 may set a flag (reception completion flag). On the other hand, from the first time to the (m′−1) th time, the control means 18 fails to receive the designated identification code and / or the display time information T _Inf from the transmission device 51 for some reason, and the m′th time. First, when the control means 18 succeeds in receiving the designated identification code and the display time information T _Inf (m ′) from the transmission device 51,
T _Inf (m ′) = T _total − (m′−1) × T _int
During this time, images based on the data are displayed on the image forming apparatuses 111A and 111B.

  As described above, in the image display method according to the first embodiment, even when reception of the designation identification code and / or display time information sent from the outside fails in the control means, the designation identification is repeated again or repeatedly. Attempts to receive code and display time information can be made. Therefore, the designated identification code and the display time information can be reliably received. As a result, for example, even when the designation identification code and the display time information are received in a plurality of head-mounted displays, the same image can be reliably displayed simultaneously on the plurality of head-mounted displays. It is possible to reliably avoid the problem that the image cannot be displayed on the part-mounted display.

  In the first embodiment, an image can be displayed on the image forming apparatuses 111A and 111B in a state where the luminance is controlled by the luminance information. Specifically, in addition to the designated identification code and the display time information, the luminance information of the image to be displayed on the optical device is transmitted from the outside (transmitting device 51) to the head-mounted display, thereby displaying the displayed image. Visibility can be improved. Alternatively, a light receiving sensor is further provided, and the brightness of the image to be displayed on the optical device is determined based on the brightness information of the environment (head mounted display or atmosphere in which the observation target is placed) obtained by the light receiving sensor. It can also be set as the structure controlled. Specific examples of the light receiving sensor include a photodiode and a light receiving element for exposure measurement provided in the imaging device 17.

  As described above, in the head-mounted display according to the first embodiment, if the luminance information (luminance data) and the chromaticity information (chromaticity data) related to the character to be displayed are included, the character indicating conversation or the like is displayed on the background of the character. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the viewing from becoming difficult. In addition, as luminance information, luminance information corresponding to the luminance of a predetermined area (for example, an area corresponding to the lower third of the entire stage) including an observation object (a character or a background) viewed through the image display device. Can be illustrated. Further, the chromaticity information can be chromaticity information corresponding to the chromaticity of a predetermined region including the observation object viewed through the image display device. In particular, subtitles, screens, stages, etc., unless the brightness of the screen or stage seen through a transflective (see-through) optical device and the brightness and color of characters displayed on the optical device are within a certain range. Although it may be difficult to observe the image in a good manner, the brightness and color of the character to be displayed can be matched to the screen, the stage, etc., and the character can be visually recognized well. That is, it is possible to reliably prevent a character for explanation of an observation object or the like viewed by an observer (audience) from being difficult to see depending on the background of the character.

In addition, in the head mounted display of Example 1 or Example 2 to Example 7 described later,
The storage means provided in the control means stores a data group composed of a plurality of data,
Each data composing the data group is given a data identification code,
The control means receives the designation identification code and the display time information sent from the outside at a predetermined time interval, reads out from the storage means the data that matches the designation identification code sent and the data identification code,
During the time corresponding to the display time information sent, an image based on this data is displayed on the image forming apparatus.

The second embodiment is a modification of the image display device according to the first embodiment. As shown in conceptual diagrams of the image display devices 200 and 400 in the head-mounted display of Example 2 or Example 4 to be described later, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 16, the image forming apparatus 211 is an image forming apparatus having the second configuration. It is composed of That is, a light source 251 and scanning means 253 that scans the parallel light emitted from the light source 251 are provided. More specifically, the image forming apparatus 211 is
Light source 251,
A collimating optical system 252 that collimates the light emitted from the light source 251;
Scanning means 253 for scanning parallel light emitted from the collimating optical system 252, and
A relay optical system 254 that relays and emits parallel light scanned by the scanning means 253;
It is composed of Note that the entire image forming apparatus 211 is housed in a housing 213 (indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIGS. 14 and 16), and the housing 213 is provided with an opening (not shown). Light is emitted from the relay optical system 254 through the opening. Each casing 213 is attached to the temple portion 13 by an attachment member 19.

  The light source 251 includes a light emitting element that emits white light. Then, the light emitted from the light source 251 enters the collimating optical system 252 having a positive optical power as a whole, and is emitted as parallel light. Then, the parallel light is reflected by the total reflection mirror 256, the micromirror can be rotated in a two-dimensional direction, and the scanning means 253 made of MEMS capable of two-dimensionally scanning the incident parallel light can be horizontally scanned and Vertical scanning is performed to form a kind of two-dimensional image, and virtual pixels (the number of pixels can be the same as in the first embodiment, for example) are generated. Then, the light from the virtual pixel passes through a relay optical system (parallel light emitting optical system) 254 configured with a well-known relay optical system, and a light beam converted into parallel light enters the optical device 120.

  The optical device 120 in which the light beam that has been converted into parallel light by the relay optical system 254 is incident, guided, and emitted has the same configuration and structure as the optical device described in the first embodiment. Omitted. Further, the head-mounted display of the second embodiment has the same configuration and structure as the head-mounted display of the first embodiment except for the above differences, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The third embodiment is also a modification of the image display device according to the first embodiment. The conceptual diagram of the image display apparatus 300 in the head mounted display of Example 3 is shown to (A) of FIG. FIG. 15B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an enlarged part of the reflective volume hologram diffraction grating. In the third embodiment, the image forming apparatus 111 is configured by the image forming apparatus having the first configuration as in the first embodiment. The optical device 320 has the same basic configuration and structure as the optical device 120 of the first embodiment, except that the configuration and structure of the first deflecting unit and the second deflecting unit are different.

  In the third embodiment, the first deflecting unit and the second deflecting unit are disposed on the surface of the light guide plate 321 (specifically, the second surface 323 of the light guide plate 321). The first deflection unit diffracts the light incident on the light guide plate 321, and the second deflection unit diffracts the light propagated through the light guide plate 321 by total reflection over a plurality of times. Here, the first deflecting unit and the second deflecting unit include a diffraction grating element, specifically a reflective diffraction grating element, and more specifically a reflective volume hologram diffraction grating. In the following description, the first deflecting means composed of the reflection type volume hologram diffraction grating is referred to as “first diffraction grating member 330” for convenience, and the second deflection means composed of the reflection type volume hologram diffraction grating is referred to as “first diffraction means for convenience. This is referred to as “2 diffraction grating member 340”.

  In Example 3 or Example 4 to be described later, the first diffraction grating member 330 and the second diffraction grating member 340 are configured by laminating one diffraction grating layer. Each diffraction grating layer made of a photopolymer material is formed with interference fringes corresponding to one type of wavelength band (or wavelength), and is produced by a conventional method. The pitch of the interference fringes formed in the diffraction grating layer (diffractive optical element) is constant, the interference fringes are linear, and are parallel to the Z axis. In addition, the axis line of the 1st diffraction grating member 330 and the 2nd diffraction grating member 340 is parallel to the X axis, and the normal line is parallel to the Y axis.

  FIG. 15B is an enlarged schematic partial cross-sectional view of the reflective volume hologram diffraction grating. In the reflection type volume hologram diffraction grating, interference fringes having an inclination angle φ are formed. Here, the inclination angle φ refers to an angle formed between the surface of the reflective volume hologram diffraction grating and the interference fringes. The interference fringes are formed from the inside to the surface of the reflection type volume hologram diffraction grating. The interference fringes satisfy the Bragg condition. Here, the Bragg condition refers to a condition that satisfies the following formula (A). In equation (A), m is a positive integer, λ is the wavelength, d is the pitch of the grating plane (the interval in the normal direction of the imaginary plane including the interference fringes), and Θ is the angle of incidence of the incident on the interference fringes To do. In addition, when light enters the diffraction grating member at the incident angle ψ, the relationship among Θ, the tilt angle φ, and the incident angle ψ is as shown in Expression (B).

m · λ = 2 · d · sin (Θ) (A)
Θ = 90 °-(φ + ψ) (B)

  As described above, the first diffraction grating member 330 is disposed (adhered) to the second surface 323 of the light guide plate 321, and the parallel light incident on the light guide plate 321 from the first surface 322 is reflected on the light guide plate 321. The parallel light incident on the light guide plate 321 is diffracted and reflected so as to be totally reflected inside. Further, as described above, the second diffraction grating member 340 is disposed (adhered) to the second surface 323 of the light guide plate 321, and a plurality of the parallel lights propagated through the light guide plate 321 by total reflection. Diffracted and reflected once, and is emitted from the first surface 322 as parallel light from the light guide plate 321.

  Even in the light guide plate 321, parallel light is emitted after propagating through the interior by total reflection. At this time, since the light guide plate 321 is thin and the optical path traveling inside the light guide plate 321 is long, the total number of reflections until reaching the second diffraction grating member 340 differs depending on the angle of view. More specifically, out of the parallel light incident on the light guide plate 321, the number of reflections of the parallel light incident with an angle in a direction approaching the second diffraction grating member 340 has an angle in a direction away from the second diffraction grating member 340. This is less than the number of reflections of parallel light incident on the light guide plate 321. This is parallel light that is diffracted and reflected by the first diffraction grating member 330, and parallel light incident on the light guide plate 321 with an angle in a direction approaching the second diffraction grating member 340 is opposite to this angle. This is because the angle formed by the normal line of the light guide plate 321 when the light propagating through the light guide plate 321 collides with the inner surface of the light guide plate 321 is smaller than the parallel light incident on the light guide plate 321. Further, the shape of the interference fringes formed inside the second diffraction grating member 340 and the shape of the interference fringes formed inside the first diffraction grating member 330 are on a virtual plane perpendicular to the axis of the light guide plate 321. There is a symmetrical relationship.

  A light guide plate 321 in Example 4 described later also basically has the same configuration and structure as the configuration and structure of the light guide plate 321 described above. The head-mounted display of the third embodiment has the same configuration and structure as the head-mounted display of the first embodiment except for the above differences, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The fourth embodiment is a modification of the image display device according to the third embodiment. FIG. 16 shows a conceptual diagram of the image display device in the head mounted display of the fourth embodiment. The light source 251, the collimating optical system 252, the scanning unit 253, the parallel light emitting optical system (relay optical system 254), and the like in the image display device 400 of the fourth embodiment have the same configuration and structure (image of the second configuration) as the second embodiment. Forming apparatus). Further, the optical device 320 in the fourth embodiment has the same configuration and structure as the optical device 320 in the third embodiment. The head-mounted display of Example 4 has substantially the same configuration and structure as the head-mounted display of Example 1 and Example 2 except for the above differences, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted. .

  The fifth embodiment is a modification of the image display device according to the first to fourth embodiments. FIGS. 17A and 17B are conceptual diagrams showing the arrangement state of the light guide plate and the like constituting the image display device in the head-mounted display of the fifth embodiment. FIG. 18 shows a schematic view of the above viewed from the side.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, in the image display apparatuses 100 and 300, the light is emitted from the centers of the image forming apparatuses 111 and 211, and the optical systems 112 and 254 are on the image forming apparatus side. The central ray CL that has passed through the nodes is designed to collide with the light guide plates 121 and 321 perpendicularly. That is, the central ray CL is designed to enter the light guide plates 121 and 321 at an incident angle of 0 degree. In this case, the center of the displayed image coincides with the perpendicular direction of the first surfaces 122 and 322 of the light guide plates 121 and 321.

  That is, in such an image display apparatus represented by the image display apparatus 100, as shown in FIG. 2, the central ray CL emitted from the center of the image forming apparatus 111 on the optical axis of the collimating optical system 112 is used. Is converted into substantially parallel light by the collimating optical system 112 and then vertically incident on the first surface (incident surface) 122 of the light guide plate 121. Then, the light travels along the propagation direction A while being totally reflected between the first surface 122 and the second surface 123 by the first deflecting means 130. Subsequently, the central ray CL is reflected and diffracted by the second deflecting unit 140, is emitted perpendicularly from the first surface 122 of the light guide plate 121, and reaches the pupil 41 of the observer (audience) 40.

  In a see-through type head-mounted display, in order to prevent the optical devices 120, 320, and 520 from getting in the way when an observer (audience) looks at an observation object positioned in the horizontal direction, observation is performed. It is preferable that the optical devices 120, 320, and 520 be shifted downward from the horizontal line of sight of the viewer (observer's horizontal line of sight). In such a case, the image display devices 100 and 300 are disposed below the observer's horizontal line of sight. By the way, in such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 23, it is necessary to incline the entire image display apparatus 100 by an angle θ ″, and a glasses-type frame for mounting on the observer's head. The angle θ ″ at which the image display device 100 can be tilted may be limited or the degree of freedom in design may be reduced due to the relationship with the attachment portion (temple portion). Therefore, it is more desirable to provide an image display device that can be arranged with a high degree of freedom and that has a high degree of design freedom so as not to obstruct the observer's horizontal line of sight.

  In Example 5, the central ray CL intersects the XY plane at an angle (θ) other than 0 degrees. Further, the central ray CL is included in the YZ plane. Furthermore, in Example 5 or Example 6 described later, the optical axes of the optical systems 112 and 254 are included in the YZ plane and intersect with the XY plane at an angle other than 0 degrees, specifically, at an angle θ. (See FIGS. 17A and 17B). In Example 5 or Example 6 described later, when it is assumed that the XY plane coincides with the horizontal plane, the angle θ at which the central ray CL intersects the XY plane is an elevation angle. That is, the central ray CL is directed from the lower side of the XY plane toward the XY plane and collides with the XY plane. The XY plane intersects with the vertical plane at an angle other than 0 degrees, specifically, at an angle θ.

  In Example 5, θ = 5 degrees. More specifically, in such a configuration, the central ray CL (indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 18) is included in the horizontal plane. The optical devices 120, 320, and 520 are inclined by an angle θ with respect to the vertical plane. In other words, the optical devices 120, 320, and 520 are inclined by an angle (90-θ) degrees with respect to the horizontal plane. Further, a central ray CL ′ (indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 18) emitted from the optical devices 120, 320, and 520 is inclined by an angle 2θ with respect to the horizontal plane. That is, when the observer looks at an object in the horizontal direction and at infinity, the central ray CL ′ emitted from the optical devices 120, 320, and 520 and incident on the pupil of the observer has a depression angle θ ′ (= 2θ). Eggplant (see FIG. 18). The angle formed by the central ray CL ′ and the normal line of the optical device 120, 320, 520 is θ. In FIG. 17A or later-described FIG. 19A, the point at which the central ray CL ′ is emitted from the optical device 120, 320, 520 is indicated by “O ′”, and X that passes through the point O ′. The axes parallel to the axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis are represented by the X ′ axis, the Y ′ axis, and the Z ′ axis.

In the image display apparatus according to the fifth embodiment, the central ray CL intersects the XY plane at an angle (θ) other than 0 degrees. Here, the central ray CL ′ emitted from the optical device and incident on the pupil of the observer (audience) forms a depression angle θ ′.
θ ′ = 2θ
Are in a relationship. On the other hand, in the example shown in FIG. 23, in order to obtain the same depression angle, it is necessary to incline the entire image display apparatus by an angle θ ″. Here, the relationship between θ ″ and θ is
θ ”= 2θ
After all, in the example shown in FIG. 23, the optical device must be tilted by 2θ with respect to the vertical plane. On the other hand, in the fifth embodiment, the optical device may be inclined by θ with respect to the vertical plane, and the image forming apparatus may be held horizontally. Therefore, there are few restrictions on the attachment angle of the image display device when attaching the image display device to the attachment part of the spectacle-shaped frame, and a high degree of freedom in design can be obtained. In addition, since the inclination of the optical device with respect to the vertical plane is smaller than that in the example shown in FIG. 23, a phenomenon in which external light is reflected by the optical device and incident on the pupil of the observer (audience) hardly occurs. Therefore, a higher quality image can be displayed.

  Since the head-mounted display of Example 5 has the same configuration and structure as the head-mounted display of Examples 1 to 4 except for the above differences, detailed description is omitted.

  The sixth embodiment is a modification of the image display device according to the fifth embodiment. FIGS. 19A and 19B are conceptual diagrams showing arrangement states of light guide plates and the like constituting the image display device in Example 6. FIG. Here, in Example 6, the optical axis of the optical system (parallel light emitting optical system, collimating optical system) 112 is parallel to the YZ plane, parallel to the XY plane, and the image forming apparatus 111. Passes a position off the center of the. With such a configuration, the central ray CL is included in the YZ plane and intersects the XY plane at an elevation angle θ. Since the head-mounted display of Example 6 has the same configuration and structure as the head-mounted display of Examples 1 to 5 except for the above differences, detailed description is omitted.

  The seventh embodiment is also a modification of the image display device in the first embodiment. A schematic diagram of the head mounted display of Example 7 as viewed from the front is shown in FIG. 20, and a schematic diagram as viewed from above is shown in FIG.

  In the seventh embodiment, the optical device 520 includes a semi-transmissive mirror that receives the light emitted from the image forming apparatuses 111 </ b> A and 111 </ b> B and emits the light toward the pupil 41 of the observer 40. In the seventh embodiment, the light emitted from the image forming apparatuses 111A and 111B propagates through a transparent member 521 such as a glass plate or a plastic plate and enters the optical device 520 (semi-transmissive mirror). However, a structure that propagates in the air and enters the optical device 520 may be employed. Further, the image forming apparatus can be the image forming apparatus 211 described in the second embodiment.

  Each of the image forming apparatuses 111A and 111B is attached to the front unit 11 using, for example, screws. A member 521 is attached to each of the image forming apparatuses 111 </ b> A and 111 </ b> B, and an optical device 520 (semi-transmissive mirror) is attached to the member 521. Since the head-mounted display of Example 7 has substantially the same configuration and structure as the head-mounted display of Examples 1 to 6 except for the above differences, detailed description is omitted. .

  Example 8 relates to an image display method according to the second aspect of the present invention, and further relates to an image display method according to the 1-A aspect of the present invention, which is a modification of the image display method of Example 1. In the eighth embodiment, the head-mounted display and the image display device described in the first to seventh embodiments can be applied. However, in Example 8, in order to set the distance between the observation object and the head-mounted display, the control means 18 is provided with a switching button (see FIG. 10B) and a switch. . Then, the distance from the head-mounted display to the object to be observed is set manually, that is, by operating a switching button or switch according to the seat on which the observer (audience) sits. As an example, four types of distance settings such as “short distance”, “medium distance”, “far distance”, and “far distance” can be exemplified as the distance from the head mounted display to the observation object. .

  In the image display method according to the eighth embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the storage unit provided in the control unit 18 stores a data group composed of a plurality of data, and configures the data group. A data identification code is attached to each piece of data.

  However, unlike the first embodiment, each data is composed of a plurality of different size / display data having different display sizes. Specifically, in the eighth embodiment, the display data having different display sizes is image data in which character strings having different font sizes are used as images. The data structure of one different size / display data can be the same as that shown in FIG. 9, and each data is given a data identification code as in the first embodiment.

  Even in the eighth embodiment, the designated identification code is sent from the outside (transmitting device 51) to the control means 18 as in the first embodiment. Then, in the control means 18, depending on the distance between the observation object and the head-mounted display among the data in which the designated identification code and the data identification code that have been sent coincide, Depending on the distance from the head-mounted display set to the object to be observed, which is set by operating the switching button or switch provided on the means 18, one different size / display data from a plurality of different sizes / display data. Are read from the storage means, and an image based on the one different size / display data is displayed on the image forming apparatus.

In the eighth embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the designation identification code and the display time information T _Inf are sent from the outside (transmitting device 51) to the control means 18 at a predetermined time interval T _int and sent. The image display method according to the first-A aspect of the present invention may display an image on the image forming apparatus for a time corresponding to the display time information T _Inf that has been displayed.

  Note that distance information from the head-mounted display to the observation target can be transmitted from the outside to the head-mounted display wirelessly. Alternatively, the head-mounted display further includes a distance measuring device that measures the distance from the head-mounted display to the observation object, and the distance information can be obtained by the distance measuring device. As the distance measuring device, for example, the imaging device 17 may be an imaging device with an autofocus function (an imaging device having a passive distance measuring device).

  As described above, in the image display method according to the eighth embodiment, the control unit, between the observation object and the head-mounted display, among the data in which the designated identification code and the data identification code that have been sent match. Depending on the distance, one different size / display data is read from the storage means from a plurality of different sizes / display data, and an image based on the one different size / display data is displayed on the image forming apparatus. An imbalance is unlikely to occur between the visual size of the object and the size of the image.

In the head-mounted display of Example 8,
The storage means provided in the control means stores a data group composed of a plurality of data,
Each data composing the data group is given a data identification code,
Each data consists of multiple different sizes and display data with different display sizes.
The control means receives the designated identification code sent from the outside, and depends on the distance between the observation object and the head-mounted display among the data in which the sent designation identification code and the data identification code match. Then, one different size / display data is read from the storage means from a plurality of different sizes / display data,
An image based on the one different size / display data is displayed on the image forming apparatus.

The head mounted display according to the eighth embodiment, which is suitable for execution of the image display method according to the first-A aspect of the present invention, is described in the first embodiment. In the head mounted display explained in
Each data consists of multiple different sizes and display data with different display sizes.
The control means selects one of a plurality of different size / display data depending on the distance between the observation object and the head-mounted display among the data in which the designated identification code matches the data identification code. Read out the different size / display data from the storage means,
An image based on the one different size / display data is displayed on the image forming apparatus.

  Example 9 relates to an image display method according to the third aspect of the present invention. Furthermore, the image display method according to the first-B aspect of the present invention, which is a modification of the image display method according to Example 1, the present invention. The present invention relates to an image display method according to the 2-A aspect of the present invention, which is a modification of the image display method according to the 1-A ′ aspect of the present invention and the image display method according to the eighth embodiment. Even in the ninth embodiment, the head-mounted display and the image display device described in the first to seventh embodiments can be applied.

  Even in the image display method of the ninth embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the storage means provided in the control means 18 stores a data group composed of a plurality of data. A data identification code is attached to each data constituting the.

  However, unlike the first embodiment, each data is composed of a plurality of different language / display data having different display languages. For example, languages such as Chinese, Korean, and English can be cited. Specifically, in the ninth embodiment, the display data is different from the display language, but the display data is image data using character strings in different languages as images. The data structure of one different language / display data can be the same as that shown in FIG. 9, and each data is given a data identification code as in the first embodiment.

  Even in the ninth embodiment, as in the first embodiment, a designated identification code is sent from the outside (transmitting device 51) to the control means 18. Then, the control means 18 reads out one different language / display data from the plurality of different languages / display data from the storage means out of the data in which the designated identification code and the data identification code coincide with each other. An image based on the language / display data is displayed on the image forming apparatus. A switching button (see FIG. 10B) and a switch may be provided in the control means 18, and the display language may be manually selected.

  As described above, in the image display method according to the ninth embodiment, in the control unit, one of a plurality of different languages / display data and one different language among the data in which the designated identification code and the data identification code that have been sent match. Since the display data is read from the storage means and an image based on this one different language / display data is displayed on the image forming apparatus, the image can be easily displayed in the language used by the observer (audience).

Even in the ninth embodiment, the image display method described in the first embodiment can be applied. That is, the image display method according to the first-B aspect of the present invention can be applied. Specifically, in the ninth embodiment, in the same way as in the first embodiment, the control means 18 selects one of the data in which the designated identification code and the data identification code sent from the different languages / display data match. The different language / display data is read from the storage means, and an image based on the one different language / display data is displayed on the image forming apparatus. That is, the designated identification code and the display time information T _Inf are sent from the outside (the transmission device 51) to the control means 18 at a predetermined time interval T _int , and the image is displayed for a time corresponding to the sent display time information T _Inf. Are displayed on the image forming apparatus.

Further, the image display method of the ninth embodiment and the image display method of the eighth embodiment can be combined. That is, the image display method according to the first-A ′ aspect of the present invention, which is a modification of the image display method of the first embodiment, or the second 2-A of the present invention, which is a modification of the image display method of the eighth embodiment. In other words, each different size / display data is composed of a plurality of different languages / display data having different display languages. Depending on the distance between the observation object and the head-mounted display among the data whose code and data identification code match, one different size / display data is selected from a plurality of different sizes / display data, Further, in the one different size / display data, one different language / display data is read from the storage means from a plurality of different languages / display data, and an image based on the one different language / display data is read by the image forming apparatus. It may be displayed. In this case, the designated identification code and the display time information T _Inf are sent from the outside (the transmission device 51) to the control means 18 at a predetermined time interval T _int and the time corresponding to the display time information T _Inf sent is sent. Meanwhile, the image is displayed on the image forming apparatus.

In addition, in the head-mounted display of Example 9,
The storage means provided in the control means stores a data group composed of a plurality of data,
Each data composing the data group is given a data identification code,
Each data consists of multiple different languages and display data with different display languages.
The control means receives the designated identification code sent from the outside, and selects one different language / display data from a plurality of different languages / display data among the data in which the sent designation identification code matches the data identification code. Read from the storage means,
An image based on the one different language / display data is displayed on the image forming apparatus.

The head mounted display according to the ninth embodiment, which is suitable for execution of the image display method according to the first-B aspect of the present invention, is described in the first embodiment. In the head mounted display explained in
Each data consists of multiple different languages and display data with different display languages.
The control means reads out one different language / display data from a plurality of different languages / display data from the storage means among the data in which the designated identification code and the data identification code are sent,
An image based on the one different language / display data is displayed on the image forming apparatus.

Further, in such a head-mounted display of Example 9, which is suitable for execution of the image display method according to the first-A ′ aspect of the present invention, the Example In the head-mounted display described in 1,
Each different size / display data consists of multiple different languages / display data with different display languages,
The control means selects one of a plurality of different size / display data depending on the distance between the observation object and the head-mounted display among the data in which the designated identification code matches the data identification code. One different size / display data is selected, and in this one different size / display data, one different language / display data is read from a plurality of different languages / display data from the storage means,
An image based on the one different language / display data is displayed on the image forming apparatus.

Further, in such a head mounted display of Example 9, which is suitable for execution of the image display method according to the aspect 2-A of the present invention,
Each different size / display data consists of multiple different languages / display data with different display languages,
The control means selects one of a plurality of different size / display data depending on the distance between the observation object and the head-mounted display among the data in which the designated identification code matches the data identification code. One different size / display data is selected, and in this one different size / display data, one different language / display data is read from a plurality of different languages / display data from the storage means,
An image based on the one different language / display data is displayed on the image forming apparatus.

  Example 10 relates to the image display method according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, and further, the image display method according to the first-C aspect of the present invention, which is a modification of the image display method of Example 1, the present invention. The present invention relates to an image display method according to the 4-A aspect of the present invention, an image display method according to the 4-A ′ aspect of the present invention, and an image display method according to the 4-B aspect of the present invention. Even in the tenth embodiment, the head-mounted display and the image display device described in the first to seventh embodiments can be applied.

  Even in the image display method of the tenth embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the storage means provided in the control means 18 stores a data group composed of a plurality of data. A data identification code is attached to each data constituting the. Each data has the same data structure as that described in the first embodiment, and is given a data identification code as in the first embodiment.

  In the tenth embodiment as well, as in the first embodiment, a designated identification code is sent from the outside (transmitting device 51) to the control means 18. Then, the control means 18 reads out the data whose sent identification identification code matches the data identification code from the storage means, and performs data processing depending on the distance between the observation object and the head-mounted display. Thus, an image based on this data is displayed on the image forming apparatus in a state where the convergence angle is controlled. Note that, based on the distance from the head-mounted display to the observation object, image processing may be performed on the data to the image forming apparatus constituting at least one of the image display apparatuses. Image processing is performed on data to the image forming apparatus constituting the display device.

  Here, the setting of the distance between the observation object and the head-mounted display may be the same as described in the eighth embodiment.

Based on FIG. 22, data processing depending on the distance between the observation object and the head-mounted display, that is, adjustment of the convergence angle corresponding to the distance from the head-mounted display to the observation object will be described. . Here, a virtual image distance of an image (character) based on data displayed by the image display device is “a”, and a convergence angle with respect to the image at this time is “α”. Further, “γ” is a convergence angle in the image when the virtual image distance a is away from the virtual image distance a by “c”, and “β” is a convergence angle in the image when the virtual image distance a is approached by “b”. Furthermore, the distance between the left and right pupils is “D”. Here, tentatively
D = 61.5mm
a = 4000mm
Then,
α = 53 minutes (53 ′)
It becomes.

One pixel in the image forming apparatus is defined as 3 minutes (3 ′). Here, if the image display position is shifted inward by one pixel from the predetermined position in the horizontal direction,
β = 56 minutes (56 ′)
And
b = 225mm
It becomes. On the other hand, if the image display position is shifted outward from the predetermined position by one pixel in the horizontal direction,
γ = 50 minutes (50 ′)
And
c = 228mm
It becomes. Also,
a = 8000mm
If the image is shifted by one pixel, the virtual image distance can be shifted by about 1 m.

  Thus, the convergence angle can be adjusted by shifting the image display position by a desired pixel in the horizontal direction from the predetermined position. In other words, the data to the image forming apparatuses 111A and 111B constituting the two image display apparatuses 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 for the right eye and the left eye are used as the convergence angle control signal (the image display position is set). By controlling the number of pixels in the horizontal direction by a signal for shifting outward or inward), the convergence angle can be accurately adjusted according to the distance from the head-mounted display to the observation target. As a result, the distance between the observation object and the observer (audience) 40 and the virtual image distance of the image (for example, characters) displayed by the image display device can be made equal, or can be made as equal as possible. The observer (audience) 40 who looks at the observation object can naturally see the image displayed by the image display device without changing or changing the focus. .

  When a head-mounted display is used in a theater, for example, it is only necessary to display an explanatory text for explaining the contents, progress, background, etc. of the play as an image on the head-mounted display. A desired distance is required. That is, the distance between the observation object and the observer (audience) and the virtual image distance of an image (for example, a character) displayed by the image display device vary depending on the position where the theater person sits. Therefore, it is necessary to optimize the virtual image distance depending on the position of the theater player. In the head-mounted display of the tenth embodiment, the distance from the head-mounted display to the observation object is set. Since the corresponding convergence angle can be optimized, the virtual image distance is optimized depending on the position of the theater person. In some cases, the virtual image distance may be changed depending on the scene. In such a case, the distance information from the head-mounted display to the object to be observed can be transmitted from the outside to the head-mounted display, for example. Can be easily dealt with.

  Alternatively, the observer (user) can set the virtual image distance to a desired distance, or can set the virtual image position to a desired position. Specifically, a virtual image can be arranged at a desired distance or position by arranging a changeover switch or button on the control means 18 and operating it by an observer. For example, when the background changes, the virtual image distance and the virtual image position can be arbitrarily changed. Such an operation may be performed by an observer as appropriate, for example, when observing an observation object. Specifically, such an operation is an operation of adding a convergence angle control signal to data in the control means 18. . Thus, for example, it is possible to reliably read characters such as subtitles without moving the line of sight so much, and subtitles suitable for each audience can be easily and simultaneously displayed. .

  Furthermore, it is said that eyes are tired when the virtual image position is fixed. This is because the movement of the eyeball is reduced when the focus is fixed. Therefore, there is an effect of reducing eye fatigue by appropriately changing the virtual image distance or moving the virtual image position. That is, the position of the virtual image formed by the two optical devices or the distance (virtual image distance) from the two optical devices of the virtual image formed by the two optical devices may be changed with time.

Even in the tenth embodiment, the image display method described in the first embodiment can be applied. That is, the image display method according to the 1-C aspect of the present invention can be applied. Specifically, in the tenth embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the control unit 18 reads out data that matches the transmitted identification identification code and the data identification code from the storage unit, and creates an image based on this data. Although displayed on the forming apparatus, a designated identification code and display time information T _Inf are sent from the outside (transmitting apparatus 51) to the control means 18 at a predetermined time interval T _int and correspond to the display time information T _Inf sent. During the time, the image is displayed on the image forming apparatus.

Further, the image display method of the tenth embodiment and the image display method of the eighth embodiment can be combined. That is, if it demonstrates according to the image display method concerning the 4th -A mode of the present invention,
Each data consists of multiple different sizes and display data with different display sizes.
Depending on the distance between the object to be observed and the head-mounted display, among the data in which the designated identification code and the data identification code that have been sent are matched in the control means 18, a plurality of different sizes and display data are used. One different size / display data is read from the storage means, and data processing depending on the distance between the object to be observed and the head-mounted display is performed. An image based on the display data can be displayed on the image forming apparatus.

Alternatively, the image display method of the tenth embodiment can be combined with the image display methods of the eighth and ninth embodiments. That is, according to the image display method according to the 4-A ′ aspect of the present invention,
Each different size / display data consists of multiple different languages / display data with different display languages,
Depending on the distance between the object to be observed and the head-mounted display, among the data in which the designated identification code and the data identification code that have been sent are matched in the control means 18, a plurality of different sizes and display data are used. One different size / display data is selected, and in this one different size / display data, one different language / display data is read from a plurality of different languages / display data from the storage means, and the object to be observed and the head By performing data processing depending on the distance to the wearable display, an image based on this single different language / display data can be displayed on the image forming apparatus in a state in which the angle of convergence is controlled. .

Alternatively, the image display method of the tenth embodiment and the image display method of the ninth embodiment can be combined. That is, if it explains according to the image display method concerning the 4th -B aspect of the present invention,
Each data consists of multiple different languages and display data with different display languages.
Depending on the distance between the object to be observed and the head-mounted display, among the data in which the designated identification code and the data identification code that have been sent are matched in the control means 18, a plurality of different languages and display data are used. By reading one different language / display data from the storage means and performing data processing depending on the distance between the observation object and the head-mounted display, this one different language is controlled in a state in which the angle of convergence is controlled. An image based on the display data can be displayed on the image forming apparatus.

In addition, in the head mounted display of Example 10,
The storage means provided in the control means stores a data group composed of a plurality of data,
Each data composing the data group is given a data identification code,
The control means receives the designation identification code sent from the outside, reads out the data having the same designation identification code and data identification code sent from the storage means, and between the observation object and the head-mounted display Data processing depends on distance,
An image based on this data is displayed on the image forming apparatus with the convergence angle controlled.

The head-mounted display according to the tenth embodiment, which is suitable for executing the image display method according to the first-C aspect of the present invention, is described in the first embodiment. In the head mounted display explained in
The control means performs data processing depending on the distance between the observation object and the head-mounted display, so that an image is displayed on the image forming apparatus in a state where the convergence angle is controlled.

Further, in the head mounted display of Example 10 as described above, which is suitable for execution of the image display method according to the 4-A aspect of the present invention,
Each data consists of multiple different sizes and display data with different display sizes.
The control means selects one of a plurality of different size / display data depending on the distance between the observation object and the head-mounted display among the data in which the designated identification code matches the data identification code. Two different sizes and display data are read from the storage means, and data processing depending on the distance between the observation object and the head-mounted display is performed.
In a state where the convergence angle is controlled, an image based on the one different size / display data is displayed on the image forming apparatus.

Further, in such a head-mounted display of Example 10, which is suitable for execution of the image display method according to the fourth-A ′ aspect of the present invention,
Each different size / display data consists of multiple different languages / display data with different display languages,
The control means selects one of a plurality of different size / display data depending on the distance between the observation object and the head-mounted display among the data in which the designated identification code matches the data identification code. Select one different size / display data, and in this one different size / display data, read one different language / display data from a plurality of different languages / display data from the storage means, and mount the observation object and head Data processing depending on the distance to the display,
An image based on the one different language / display data is displayed on the image forming apparatus in a state where the convergence angle is controlled.

Further, in such a head-mounted display of Example 10, which is suitable for execution of the image display method according to the 4-B aspect of the present invention,
Each data consists of multiple different languages and display data with different display languages.
The control means selects one of a plurality of different language / display data depending on the distance between the object to be observed and the head-mounted display among the data in which the designated identification code matches the data identification code. Read out two different languages and display data from the storage means, perform data processing depending on the distance between the observation object and the head-mounted display,
An image based on the one different language / display data is displayed on the image forming apparatus in a state where the convergence angle is controlled.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on the preferable Example, this invention is not limited to these Examples. The configurations and structures of the head-mounted display and the image display device described in the embodiments are examples and can be changed as appropriate. For example, a surface relief hologram (see US 20040062505A1) may be disposed on the light guide plate. In the optical device 320 according to the third or fourth embodiment, the diffraction grating element can be a transmission diffraction grating element, or any one of the first deflection means and the second deflection means. One may be configured by a reflection type diffraction grating element, and the other may be configured by a transmission type diffraction grating element. Alternatively, the diffraction grating element can be a reflective blazed diffraction grating element.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Frame, 10 '... Nose pad, 11 ... Front part, 12 ... Hinge, 13 ... Temple part, 14 ... Modern part, 15 ... Wiring (signal line and Power line etc.), 16 ... headphone part, 16 '... headphone part wiring, 17 ... imaging device, 18 ... control means (control device, control circuit), 19 ... mounting member, 40 ... observer, 41 ... pupil, 51 ... transmission device (transmission means), 52 ... personal computer, 53 ... display device, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 ... Image display device 111, 111A, 111B, 211 ... image forming device, 112 ... optical system (collimating optical system), 113, 213 ... housing, 120, 320, 520 ... optical device ( Light guiding means), 121, 321... Light guide plate, 122, 322 ... First surface of light guide plate, 123, 323 ... Second surface of light guide plate, 124, 125 ... Part of light guide plate, 130 ... First deflecting means, 140 ... Second deflecting means, 330 ... First deflecting means (first diffraction grating member), 340 ... Second deflecting means (second diffraction grating member), 150 ... Reflective spatial light modulator 151 ... Liquid crystal display (LCD) 152 ... Polarizing beam splitter 153 ... Light source 251 ... Light source 252 ... Collimating optical system 253 ... Scanning means 254 ...・ Optical system (relay optical system), 255 ... cross prism, 256 ... total reflection mirror

Claims (2)

(A) a glasses-type frame that is worn on the observer's head;
(B) Two image display devices for the right eye and left eye attached to the frame, and
(C) control means for controlling image display in the image display device;
With
Each image display device
(A) an image forming apparatus, and
(B) a transflective optical device in which light emitted from the image forming apparatus is incident, guided, emitted, and viewed from an observation object;
An image display method in a head-mounted display having:
The storage means provided in the control means stores a data group composed of a plurality of data,
Each data composing the data group is given a data identification code,
A designated identification code is sent from the outside to the control means,
In the control means, the data that matches the specified identification code and the data identification code sent is read from the storage means and based on the distance information sent from the outside to the head-mounted display or from the head-mounted display Based on distance information obtained by a distance measuring device that measures the distance from the head-mounted display to the observation object or manually set from the head-mounted display to the observation object By performing data processing based on the distance setting, an image based on the data is displayed on the image forming apparatus in a state in which the angle of convergence is controlled ,
Each data consists of multiple different sizes and display data with different display sizes.
The control means reads out one different size / display data from a plurality of different sizes / display data from among the data whose specified identification code matches the data identification code, and mounts the head from outside by radio. Based on the distance information sent to the mold display, or based on the distance information provided in the head-mounted display and obtained by the distance measuring device for measuring the distance from the head-mounted display to the observation object, or An image based on the one different size / display data in a state in which the convergence angle is controlled by performing data processing based on the setting of the distance from the head-mounted display set to the observation target manually set For displaying an image on a head-mounted display for displaying an image on an image forming apparatus . Each different size / display data consists of multiple different languages / display data with different display languages,
In the control means, one different size / display data is selected from a plurality of different sizes / display data out of the data in which the designated identification code matches the data identification code, and the one different size / display data is further selected. In the data, by reading one different language / display data from a plurality of different languages / display data from the storage means, and performing data processing depending on the distance between the observation object and the head mounted display, the convergence angle 2. The image display method for a head-mounted display according to claim 1 , wherein an image based on the one different language / display data is displayed on the image forming apparatus in a state in which control is performed.