JP6021507B2 - Head-mounted display device - Google Patents

Description

    The present invention relates to a head-mounted display device.

Conventionally, in a head-mounted display device, a technique in which a display unit that forms an image is supported by a holder that can be mounted on the head via a support arm made of a tube-shaped flexible member (for example, , See Patent Document 1).
In recent years, some head-mounted display devices are made wireless by receiving video signals or the like via radio.
In this head-mounted display device, the display unit emits image display light toward the user's eyes by a drive signal sent from an image source such as an external computer via a cable or wirelessly.

  By the way, in the head-mounted display device as described above, the position of the display unit is set with respect to the user's eyes by appropriately bending the support arm made of a flexible member with the user mounting the holder on the head. Adjust to an appropriate position.

JP 2000-224519 A

When the display unit position is adjusted to the position of the user's eyes by the support arm made of a flexible member, the display unit position is adjusted if the support arm in the non-bent state is not in an appropriate position with respect to the user's eyes. May be difficult.
Ideally, the display unit need only be bent once and the display unit can be positioned at an appropriate position. However, if the position of the support arm cannot be positioned at an appropriate position with respect to the eye position, the support arm is repeated many times. There is a problem that it is necessary to bend the support arm in an S shape, for example, and it takes time to adjust the position of the display unit.
In particular, the above problem is significant in the case of frequently switching between the state in which the display unit performs display and the state in which the display unit is retracted from the front of the user's field of view and the display unit does not perform display. It will be a thing.
Alternatively, the display unit is used by switching frequently between the case where the display unit is arranged above the user's field of view and the case where the display unit is arranged below the user's field of view according to the surrounding environment. Even in such a case, the above problem becomes serious.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a head-mounted display device capable of easily adjusting the position of a display unit.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following means.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a head mounting portion mounted on a user's head, a first housing held by the head mounting portion, and a display unit having a display element. 2, a support arm made of a flexible member that connects the first casing and the second casing, and a position where the angle of the first casing with respect to the head mounting portion can be adjusted. An adjustment unit , and the position adjustment unit rotatably supports the first casing with respect to the head mounting unit and is movable in the vertical direction with respect to the head mounting unit. This is a head-mounted display device having a support shaft .
When the angle of the first housing relative to the head mounting portion is adjusted in the position adjusting unit, the angles of the support arm and the second housing are changed together with the first housing, and the orientation of the display unit with respect to the user is changed. Can do.
In order to direct the image display light emitted from the display unit toward the user's eyeball, the position adjustment unit may adjust the angles of the first housing, the support arm, and the second housing. In addition, when the display unit is retracted from a state in which the image display light emitted from the display unit is directed to the user's eyeball to a position that does not hinder the user's field of view, the position adjustment unit also includes the first housing. The angles of the body, the support arm, and the second housing may be adjusted.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a head mounting portion mounted on a user's head, a first housing held by the head mounting portion, and a display unit having a display element. Two housings, a support arm made of a flexible member having flexibility and shape maintaining property for connecting the first housing and the second housing, and the head mounting of the first housing A head-mounted display device comprising: a position adjusting unit capable of adjusting an angle with respect to the unit; and a restraining member through which the support arm is inserted and restrains deformation of the support arm at the inserted position.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a head mounting portion to be mounted on a user's head, a first housing held by the head mounting portion, and a display unit having a display element. Two housings, a support arm made of a flexible member having flexibility and shape maintaining property for connecting the first housing and the second housing, and the head mounting of the first housing A head-mounted display device comprising: a position adjusting unit capable of adjusting an angle with respect to the unit; and a restraining member provided so as to be able to project and retract from the first housing toward the support arm and restraining deformation of the support arm. is there.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a head mounting portion mounted on a user's head, a first housing held by the head mounting portion, and a display unit having a display element. Two housings, a support arm made of a flexible member having flexibility and shape maintaining property for connecting the first housing and the second housing, and the head mounting of the first housing A head-mounted display device comprising: a position adjusting unit capable of adjusting an angle with respect to the unit; and a constraining member that is detachable from the support arm and has a C-shaped cross section and restrains deformation of the support arm.
In the said aspect, the said position adjustment part may have a support shaft which supports the said 1st housing | casing so that rotation with respect to the said head mounting part is possible.
By rotating the first housing around the support shaft, the angles of the first housing, the support arm, and the second housing with respect to the head mounting portion can be adjusted.

  In the said aspect, the said support shaft may be movable to an up-down direction with respect to the said head mounting part. Thereby, the height of the first casing, the support arm, and the second casing can be adjusted.

  In the above aspect, it is preferable that the support arm in a non-bent state can be adjusted to a position overlapping with the center of the eyeball by adjustment of the position adjustment unit in a side view with the head mounted. By doing in this way, position adjustment of a display unit can be performed easily.

  In the above aspect, the position adjustment unit is configured to be attached to the head mounting unit of the first casing so that the emission direction of the display image on the display unit of the second casing is directed to the user's eyeball. The angle may be adjustable.

In the said aspect, the said support arm may consist of a flexible member which has a softness | flexibility and shape maintenance property.
Thereby, in addition to the angle adjustment in the position adjustment unit, the direction of the display unit can be adjusted by bending the support arm.

In the above aspect, a deformation of the front Symbol support arm may comprise a restraint member for restraining.
When the deformation of the support arm is constrained by the restraining member, the support arm is deformed in the vicinity of the end portion of the support arm, and the deformation position can be stabilized.

  In the above aspect, the restraining member may be provided so as to be able to protrude from the first housing to the support arm side. Thereby, the deformation position of the support arm can be adjusted.

  In the above aspect, the restraining member may have a C-shaped cross section and be detachable from the support arm.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily adjust the position of the display unit.

FIG. 2 is a plan view, a side view, and a side view showing the configuration of the position adjusting unit, showing the appearance of the head-mounted display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the components layout structure of the head mounted display apparatus concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A), (b) is the side view and sectional drawing which show the example of the support arm of the head mounted display apparatus concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention, (c) is 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional side view which shows the other example of the support arm of this head mounted display apparatus. (A) is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the head mounted display apparatus concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention, (b) is position adjustment of the head mounted display apparatus concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the structure of a part. (A) is a side view which shows the external appearance of the head mounted display apparatus concerning 3rd Embodiment of this invention, (b), (c) is the head mounted display apparatus concerning 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows operation | movement of this position adjustment part. It is a figure which shows the modification of the head mounted display apparatus concerning the 1st-3rd embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the other modification of the head mounted display apparatus concerning the 1st-3rd embodiment of this invention.

A head-mounted display device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 1, the head-mounted display device 1 </ b> A according to the first embodiment of the present invention has a display device body 5 that supports a display unit 21 and is mounted on a user's head.

  The display device body 5 includes a first housing 10 provided with a head mounting portion 11 for locking to a user's head (for example, an ear), and a second housing provided with a display unit 21. 20, and a support arm 30 made of a flexible member that connects the first housing 10 and the second housing 20.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first housing 10 generates a signal for driving the display unit 21 and a wireless communication circuit 12a that receives a signal transmitted from the outside via wireless communication such as Bluetooth. The electronic board 12 including the drive circuit 12b, the control circuit 12c, and the like for output is accommodated. Further, a battery 13 for supplying electric power to the electronic board 12 is accommodated in the battery unit 10b.

As shown in FIG. 1, the head mounting portion 11 includes a base portion 11 a and a hook 11 b provided on the base portion 11 a and lockable to the user's head, for example, the user's ear. Yes.
The detailed shape and configuration of the head mounting portion 11 are not limited to those described above.

The cross-sectional area of the second housing 20 gradually increases from the end on the support arm 30 side, and an eyepiece optical system 22 constituting the display unit 21 is provided on the opposite end.
The eyepiece optical system 22 is within the range of the user's field of view when the user wears the head-mounted display device 1A on the head in the direction in which the support arm 30 and the second housing 20 extend. It is arranged to be located.

As shown in FIG. 2, the second housing 20 incorporates a display element 23 such as an LCD constituting the display unit 21 and an illumination system 24.
As shown in FIG. 1, the support arm 30 has a rod shape having a substantially constant outer diameter from the first housing 10 side to the second housing 20 side.

The support arm 30 is made of a flexible member, and has flexibility that the user can freely bend by hand and shape maintenance that can maintain the shape as it is when the hand is released.
As shown in FIG. 2, the support arm 30 is provided with a wiring 35 that electrically connects the electronic substrate 12 of the first housing 10 and the display unit 21 of the second housing 20. Yes.

As such a support arm 30, as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b), an outer surface of a metal core 31 is covered with a coating layer 32 made of a resin material or a rubber-based material. Can be used. The core material 31 preferably has an outer diameter of about 0.5 mm to 1.2 mm.
In this case, the wiring 35 may be embedded in the coat layer 32 by insert molding, or the resin material is inserted into a flexible outer tube made of a rubber material together with the core material 31 having the coat layer 32. It may be arranged.

Moreover, as shown in FIG.3 (c), the flexible tube 33 formed by winding a metal wire helically can be used. The flexible tube 33 is formed into a coil spring shape in which a wire rod 33a having a circular cross section made of metal is spirally wound. It can also be set as the structure which wound the (wedge-shaped) wire 33b. The flexible tube 33 preferably has an inner diameter of 2.5 mm or more and an outer diameter of 4.5 mm or less.
The flexible tube 33 may be covered with the sleeve 34 by insert molding.
In this case, the wiring 35 is preferably inserted into the flexible tube 33.

As shown in FIG. 1, the head-mounted display device 1 </ b> A according to the present embodiment includes a first housing 10, a second housing 20, and a support arm 30 with respect to the head-mounted unit 11. The display device main body 5 is provided with a position adjustment unit 40A that allows the position of the eyepiece optical system 22 of the display unit 21 to be adjusted.
As shown in FIG. 1C, the position adjusting unit 40 </ b> A includes a slide groove 41 formed in the base portion 11 a of the head mounting portion 11, and a support shaft provided to be slidable along the slide groove 41. 42.

The slide groove 41 is formed to be continuous in the vertical direction in a state where the user wears the head-mounted display device 1A. Thereby, the position of the support shaft 42 can be adjusted in the vertical direction. Further, as in the example shown in FIG. 1 (c), the slide groove 41 is provided in front of the display unit 21 as it goes upward in a state where the user wears the head-mounted display device 1A. It is also preferable to form it inclined toward the surface. Thereby, the position of the support shaft 42 can be adjusted not only in the vertical direction but also in the front-rear direction.
The support shaft 42 has an axis in the horizontal direction and in a direction orthogonal to the direction connecting the first housing 10 and the second housing 20 with the user wearing the head-mounted display device 1A. It is provided as follows. The display device body 5 is provided so as to be rotatable about the axis of the support shaft 42.

  Such a position adjustment unit 40A is in a state where the head-mounted display device 1A is mounted on the user's head by the head mounting unit 11, and the display device body 5 is supported by the position adjustment unit 40A. The position in the vertical direction and the front-rear direction can be adjusted, and can be rotated around the support shaft 42. Accordingly, the height of the eyepiece optical system 22 with respect to the user's eyeball E is changed by moving the display unit 21 at the tip of the display device body 5 up and down and changing the angle of the display unit 21 around the support shaft 42. And adjust the optical axis angle. Therefore, for example, in the side view with the head mounted, the position adjustment unit 40A is adjusted so that the support arm 30 in the non-bending state is adjusted to a position overlapping the center C of the eyeball E. Can do.

Furthermore, after adjusting the height and angle of the display unit 21 with the position adjustment unit 40A, the support arm 30 made of a flexible member is deformed as necessary, and the height and optical axis of the eyepiece optical system 22 with respect to the user's eyeball E Fine adjustment of the angle can be performed.
At this time, the position adjustment of the display device main body 5 in the position adjustment unit 40A is performed so that the image display light emitted from the eyepiece optical system 22 is directed to the user's eyeball E, more preferably toward the center C of the eyeball E. Is preferred.

  When the head-mounted display device 1A is not used, the display device body 5 is rotated around the support shaft 42 without deforming the support arm 30, and the display unit 21 does not interfere with the user's visual field. It can be retracted to the position. Thereafter, when the head-mounted display device 1 is used again, the display device main body 5 may be rotated around the support shaft 42 without deforming the support arm 30.

As described above, the position adjustment unit 40A allows the display device body 5 to be adjusted with respect to the head mounting unit 11, and the tilt, height, and position in the front-rear direction can be adjusted. Can be easily performed.
Furthermore, the position of the display unit 21 can be finely adjusted by the support arm 30 made of a flexible member.
In addition, switching between the use state in which the head-mounted display device 1A is used and the non-use state in which the head-mounted display device 1A is not used is performed by rotating the display device body 5 without deforming the support arm 30. Move it. Therefore, in such a case, the position adjustment of the display unit 21 can be performed particularly easily.

In the above embodiment, the support arm 30 is made of a flexible member. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the support arm 30 may be made of a material having rigidity that cannot be deformed.
Moreover, although the head mounting part 11 shall be mounted | worn with a user's ear, it is not restricted to this, It is set as the structure which locks the head mounting part 11 to the temple of the spectacles with which the user was mounted | worn. It is also possible.

  Next, other embodiments of the present invention will be described. In other embodiments described below, the description will focus on the configuration different from the configuration shown in the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals will be given to the configurations common to the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be given. Omitted.

[Second Embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 4, in the head mounted display device 1B according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the display device main body 5 is a headband that is mounted on the user's head via the position adjustment unit 40B. 50.
Here, the headband 50 has a substantially inverted U-shape provided so as to surround the user's head, and pads 51, 51 that abut against the user's head, for example, near the ears, are provided at both ends thereof. ing.

The position adjusting unit 40B includes slide grooves 41 formed at both ends thereof, and support shafts 42 provided so as to be slidable along the slide grooves 41, respectively.
Here, the slide groove 41 may be formed so as to be continuous in the vertical direction with the user wearing the head-mounted display device 1B, or similar to the example shown in FIG. It is also preferable that it is formed so as to be inclined so as to go forward as it goes upward in a state where the user wears it.

  According to such a configuration, the same effects as those in the first embodiment can be achieved.

[Third Embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 5A, in the head-mounted display device 1C according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the display device body 5 is mounted on the user's head via the position adjustment unit 40C. It is provided in the temple part 101 of the eyeglasses 100.

As shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, the position adjustment unit 40 </ b> C includes a base plate 45 provided on the temple unit 101 of the glasses 100. The base plate 45 can rotate around a rotation shaft 46 provided in the temple portion 101.
Further, the base plate 45 is formed with a guide groove 47 that is continuous in an arc shape around the rotation shaft 46, and a stopper shaft 48 provided in the temple portion 101 is disposed in the guide groove 47, so that the base plate The rotation range of 45 is regulated.

The display device body 5 is attached to the base plate 45. Thereby, the angle of the display device body 5 can be changed around the rotation shaft 46.
Here, the base plate 45 may be provided with a slide groove 49, and a guide protrusion (not shown) whose movement direction is guided by the slide groove 49 on the display device body 5 side may be provided. Thereby, the position of the display device body 5 can be adjusted in the front-rear direction while the user is wearing the head-mounted display device 1C on the head.

  Even in such a configuration, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

(Modification of the first to third embodiments)
In addition, the structure shown in the said 1st-3rd embodiment can also be set as the modification as shown below.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, in addition to the position adjustment in the position adjustment units 40A to 40C, the position adjustment is performed by the deformation of the support arm 30 made of the flexible member. In order to stabilize the position, it is possible to adopt the following configuration.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, a cylindrical sleeve (restraining member) 60 can be projected and retracted from the first housing 10 toward the support arm 30, and the support arm 30 is inserted into the sleeve 60. It can be configured. In such a configuration, the deformation of the support arm 30 is constrained by the sleeve 60. Therefore, when the support arm 30 is bent, the support arm 30 bends at the bent portion S in the vicinity of the distal end portion 60a of the sleeve 60. Therefore, the position of the bent portion S of the support arm 30 can be stabilized.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B and in the cases shown in FIGS. 6C and 6D, the protruding amount of the sleeve 60 from the first housing 10 is made different. Thus, the position of the bent portion S can be changed, and the position / angle adjustment of the display unit 21 can be performed more easily and reliably.

In the above example, the cylindrical sleeve 60 is used. Instead, as shown in FIG. 7, an attachment (restraining member) 70 having a substantially C-shaped cross section is fitted into the support arm 30 and attached. You can also.
Also in this case, the deformation of the support arm 30 is restrained by the attachment 70, the position of the bent portion S where the deformation of the support arm 30 occurs can be stabilized, and the same effect as described above can be obtained.

Here, in the example of FIG. 7 described above, the attachment 70 is provided only on the first housing 10 side of the support arm 30, but the attachment 70 can also be provided on the second housing 20 side. In this case, since the support arm 30 is deformed between the attachments 70, 70, the position of the bent portion S can be further stabilized.
Also in the example of FIG. 6, the sleeve 60 may be provided on each of the first housing 10 side and the second housing 20 side of the support arm 40, and in this case, the position of the bent portion S is It can be further stabilized.

  It should be noted that the configurations shown in the above embodiments can be appropriately changed, selected and combined, as long as they are within the scope of the present invention.

1A, 1B, 1C Head-mounted display device 5 Display device body 10 First housing 11 Head-mounted portion 12 Electronic board 12a Wireless communication circuit 12b Drive circuit 12c Control circuit 13 Battery 20 Second housing 21 Display unit 22 Eyepiece optical system 23 Display element 24 Illumination system 30 Support arm 31 Core material 32 Coat layer 33 Flexible tube 34 Sleeve 35 Wiring 40A, 40B, 40C Position adjustment part 41 Slide groove 42 Support shaft 45 Base plate 46 Rotation shaft 47 Guide groove 48 Stopper shaft 49 Slide groove 50 Headband 51 Pad 60 Sleeve (restraint member)
60a Tip 70 Attachment (restraint member)
100 Glasses 101 Temple part

Claims (12)

A head mounting part to be mounted on the user's head;
A first housing held by the head mounting portion;
A second housing provided with a display unit having a display element;
A support arm made of a flexible member connecting the first housing and the second housing;
A position adjustment unit capable of adjusting an angle of the first housing with respect to the head mounting unit;
Equipped with a,
The head having a support shaft that supports the first housing so that the position adjustment unit can rotate with respect to the head mounting unit and is movable in the vertical direction with respect to the head mounting unit. Part-mounted display device. The head-mounted display device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible member is a member having flexibility and shape maintenance. Head-mounted display device according to claim 2 comprising a restraining member for restraining the deformation of the front Symbol support arm. The head-mounted display device according to claim 3 , wherein the restraining member is provided so as to protrude from the first housing toward the support arm. The head-mounted display device according to claim 3 , wherein the restraining member has a C-shaped cross section and is detachable from the support arm. A head mounting part to be mounted on the user's head;
A first housing held by the head mounting portion;
A second housing provided with a display unit having a display element;
A support arm made of a flexible member having flexibility and shape maintaining property for connecting the first housing and the second housing;
A position adjustment unit capable of adjusting an angle of the first housing with respect to the head mounting unit;
A restraining member that is inserted through the support arm and restrains deformation of the support arm at the inserted position;
A head-mounted display device comprising: A head mounting part to be mounted on the user's head;
A first housing held by the head mounting portion;
A second housing provided with a display unit having a display element;
A support arm made of a flexible member having flexibility and shape maintaining property for connecting the first housing and the second housing;
A position adjustment unit capable of adjusting an angle of the first housing with respect to the head mounting unit;
A head-mounted display device comprising: a restraining member that is provided so as to be able to protrude from the first housing to the support arm side and restrains deformation of the support arm . A head mounting part to be mounted on the user's head;
A first housing held by the head mounting portion;
A second housing provided with a display unit having a display element;
A support arm made of a flexible member having flexibility and shape maintaining property for connecting the first housing and the second housing;
A position adjustment unit capable of adjusting an angle of the first housing with respect to the head mounting unit;
A head-mounted display device having a C-shaped cross section and detachable from the support arm, and a restraining member that restrains deformation of the support arm . The head-mounted display according to any one of claims 6 to 8 , wherein the position adjustment unit includes a support shaft that supports the first housing so as to be rotatable with respect to the head mounting unit. apparatus. The head-mounted display device according to claim 9 , wherein the support shaft is movable in a vertical direction with respect to the head-mounted unit. In a side view in a state of being mounted on the head, the adjustment of the support arm is the position adjusting section of the non-bent state, claim 1 is adjustable so as to overlap with the eyeball center to any one of 10 The head-mounted display device described. The position adjustment unit can adjust an angle of the first housing with respect to the head mounting portion so that an emission direction of a display image on the display unit of the second housing faces an eyeball of the user. The head-mounted display device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 .

Images