JPH0882762A - On-head type video display device and video display system using it - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an on-head type video display device capable of simply, correctly and rapidly adjusting a position of a video display part matching width between-eyes every individual and similarly adjusting an angle of the video display part to the eyes also. CONSTITUTION: Video display units 50R, 50L of respective eyes are supported by shafts 66A, 66B respectively. The shaft 66A supports the base end side of the video display unit, and the shaft 66B supports the tip side of the video display unit. A pair of the reverse screws are formed on these shafts 66A, 66B. Further, motors 62A, 62B are connected to respective shafts 66A, 66B. By rotating the motors 62A, 62B, the video display units 50R, 50L screwed to the shafts 66A, 66B are moved along the shafts 66A, 66B.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a head-mounted image display device and an image display system using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the development of electronic equipment and video equipment, a video display system has been provided which is capable of widening a viewing angle and recognizing a stereoscopic video. As a display device often used in this type of system, a head-mounted image display device,
Also known as head mounted display (hereinafter referred to as "HM
"D". ) Can be illustrated.

This kind of HMD is equipped with liquid crystal panels which are close to the left and right eyes, respectively, to display an image on each liquid crystal panel, and by tilting the liquid crystal panel with respect to the eyes, the lines of sight of both eyes are artificially displayed. Give an angle (convergence angle)
It can be the same as a state of gazing at a distance of 1 to 2 meters, and a predetermined viewing angle (horizontal angle of view) can be given by supplying an image of a liquid crystal panel through a lens. . As a result, it is possible to reproduce a wide-angle image or a stereoscopic image with a wide viewing angle while synthesizing images displayed by the left and right eyes as binocular images.
For example, if one horizontally long image is divided into left and right parts, and each divided image is projected to the left and right eyes, the human eye joins these images together and captures the original horizontally long image. Can be recognized. On the other hand, when the same image is projected on the left and right eyes, the human eye recognizes an image with a narrow width because these images are captured in a superimposed manner. When the left and right images that overlap each other represent a stereoscopic image, the human eye can recognize the combined image as a stereoscopic image.

By using the HMD configured as described above, for example, the user can experience a game composed of a three-dimensional coordinate space, or three-dimensionally simulate the interior of a building. It becomes possible to recognize the virtual reality space.

[0005]

Width of both eyes of a person (eye width)
Since there are individual differences in the positions, it is necessary to adjust the positions of the left and right liquid crystal panels in the HMD according to the eye width of each individual. Further, the position on the liquid crystal panel gazed by the HMD wearer varies depending on whether the combined screen is wide or narrow. For example,
When the combined image is a wide-angle image, the left end of the right liquid crystal panel and the right end of the left liquid crystal panel correspond to the center image of the combined wide-angle image. Therefore, the right eye looks at the left end of the right liquid crystal panel, and the left eye looks at the right end of the left liquid crystal panel. That is, during wide-angle video playback,
The angle formed by the left and right lines of sight (convergence angle) tends to increase. Further, the left and right lines of sight pass through the peripheral portion of the lens provided in front of the liquid crystal panel. In general, the optical characteristics of the peripheral portion of the lens are inferior to those of the central portion, so that optical distortion or the like is likely to occur in the composite image.

On the other hand, when the composite image is a stereoscopic image, the HMD wearer captures the left and right images in an overlapping manner, so the angle of view of the image becomes narrow. Since the central part of the composite image corresponds to the central parts of the left and right liquid crystal panels, the right eye gazes at the center of the right liquid crystal panel and the left eye gazes at the center of the left liquid crystal panel. Therefore, the vergence angle tends to be small when the stereoscopic image is reproduced.

However, in the conventional HMD,
Generally, the position of the liquid crystal panel is fixed, and even if these adjustments are possible, only manual adjustment is made, so the position of the liquid crystal panel should be adjusted according to the individual eye width. It is difficult to adjust quickly and accurately.

Further, there is a similar problem in adjusting the angle formed by the liquid crystal panel with respect to the eyes of the viewer of the reproduction screen.
It is difficult to switch in real time to an appropriate stereoscopic image, a wide image, or a combined image of the two, depending on the content and type of the image.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the position of the image display portion can be easily, accurately and quickly adjusted according to the eye width of each individual, and the angle of the image display portion with respect to the eyes can be similarly adjusted. An object is to provide an on-board image display device.

Another object is to use the head-mounted image display device to quickly obtain an appropriate stereoscopic image, wide image, or a combined image of the two, depending on the content and type of the image. It is an object of the present invention to provide a video display system that can be used.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, a head-mounted image display device according to the present invention comprises a first display device for displaying an image for the right eye and an image for the left eye. A second display device for displaying, a support mechanism for supporting the first display device in a position facing the right eye, and a second display device in a position facing the left eye, and the first display device. It is characterized by including a position adjusting mechanism of the display device and the second display device, and an electric mechanism for driving the position adjusting mechanism.

The position adjusting mechanism includes a moving mechanism for moving the first display device and the second display device so as to approach or separate from each other, an angle of the first display device with respect to a right eye, and a first and second display devices. A rotation mechanism that changes the angle of the second display device with respect to the left eye.

Further, the support mechanism is composed of a shaft having a pair of reverse screws formed therein, to which the electric motor which is the electric mechanism is connected, and the first display device and the second display device. Is supported by being screwed into each of the pair of reverse screws, and the first display device and the second display device are rotated by the rotation of the electric motor.
It is configured to move back and forth along the shaft.

Also, the first and second shafts are provided,
The first shaft supports the tip end sides of the first display device and the second display device, and the second shaft is the first display device.
Of the display device and the second display device are supported, and an electric motor for rotating the shaft is connected to the end of each shaft.

Further, a moving mechanism and a rotating mechanism, and a drive motor for driving each of these mechanisms are provided for each of the first display device and the second display device.

The video display system according to the present invention further comprises: the head-mounted video display device; video control means for outputting a video signal to the first display device and the second display device; And a drive mechanism control unit that determines the drive signal for the drive mechanism and outputs the drive signal to the drive mechanism.

The electric mechanism control means obtains a rotation amount of the first display device and the second display device according to the image signal, and outputs a drive signal corresponding to the rotation amount to the electric mechanism.

Further, it is provided with a storage means for storing, for each individual, the interval between the first display device and the second display device, which is adapted to the eye width of each individual.

Further, the electric mechanism control means is as follows.
It is also possible to control (1) to (3).

(1) Estimate the width of the composite image that will be composited to the left and right eyes according to the size of the overlapping portion of the images projected on the first display device and the second display device, respectively.

(2) The angle formed by the optical axes of the first display device and the second display device is determined in proportion to the width of the composite image.

(3) According to the determined angle, the first
The rotation amounts of the display device and the second display device are determined.

Further, there is provided storage means for storing the amount of rotation corresponding to the type of the image projected on each of the first display device and the second display device.

[0024]

According to the head-mounted image display device of the present invention, the position adjustment of the display device for the right eye and the display device for the left eye is performed by the electric mechanism in order to obtain a predetermined wide-angle image or stereoscopic image. To be executed. As a result, the intervals between these display devices can be adjusted easily, accurately and quickly according to the eye width that differs for each individual. Also, by changing the angle of the display device according to the width of the angle of view of the composite video, the sense of distance from the eye to the composite video can be made constant. For example, when the combined image is a wide-angle image, the left and right lines of sight move to the inside of both display devices. At this time, it is possible to prevent the convergence angle from changing by rotating both display devices in a direction (outside) in which the tips of the left and right display devices are opened.

Further, the optical system (lens) constituting the display device often has different optical characteristics between the peripheral portion and the central portion thereof. Therefore, in the conventional head-mounted image display device, the center position of the combined image on the lens changes as the angle of view of the combined image changes, and it is difficult to stably obtain a good image. It was However, in the head-mounted image display device according to the present invention, since the angle of the display device can be changed according to the change in the angle of view of the composite image, the center position of the lens and the center position of the composite image can be changed. It is possible to match and. This makes it possible to always obtain stable images.

Further, according to the present invention, since the interval and angle of the display device are adjusted by the electric mechanism, the work load on the user can be reduced as compared with the case of manual adjustment. Moreover, the adjustment work can be performed quickly and accurately by performing the adjustment using the electric mechanism.

Further, since the angles formed by these display devices with respect to the eyes can be adjusted in the same manner, a desired wide-angle image, stereoscopic image, or a combined image of them can be reproduced simply, accurately and quickly. .

Since the distance between the display devices and the adjustment amount of the angle can be determined by the rotation amount of the electric motor, accurate position adjustment is possible.

When the electric motor connected to the shaft is rotated in a predetermined direction, the action of the reverse screw causes the first display device and the second display device to approach each other and shortens the distance between them. On the other hand, when the electric motor is rotated in the opposite direction, the two are separated from each other and the distance is increased. Therefore,
With such a simple configuration, the distance between the first display device and the second display device can be adjusted according to the individual eye width.

Further, the rotation amounts of the electric motors respectively connected to the first shaft and the second shaft are controlled separately on the first shaft side and the second shaft side so that the rotation amounts of the two are different. By controlling, the movement amount can be made different between the front end side and the base end side of each display device, and as a result, the angle formed by each display device with respect to the eye is adjusted to a predetermined value.

Further, by providing a moving mechanism, a rotating mechanism, and a drive motor for driving each of the first display device and the second display device, the position and angle are adjusted for each display device. can do.

According to the image display system of the present invention, the drive signal for the electric mechanism is obtained according to the image signal and is output to the electric mechanism. Therefore, the position of each display device is set according to the content and type of the image. To do. In particular, the angle of convergence can be kept constant regardless of the angle of view of the composite video by setting the angle formed by both display devices with respect to the eye to a predetermined value according to the video signal.

Further, by storing the interval between the display devices according to the eye width of each individual for each individual, the position and angle of the image display device can be adjusted quickly and accurately. it can.

[0034]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a video display system according to the present invention.

The video display system 1 is roughly composed of a video control device 2 and a head mounted video display device (HMD) 3 connected to the video control device 2 via a cable 4.

The video control device 2 calculates a video signal and outputs it to the video display unit 5 arranged so as to face each of the left and right eyes of the HMD. The configuration is such that a display unit position adjustment signal for controlling the rotational movement is output.

Further, the video control device 2 is provided with an operation panel (described later in FIG. 9) for outputting an operation signal for linear movement of the video display unit 5. As will be described in detail later, the linear movement of the image display unit 5 means a linear movement in which the left and right units approach or separate from each other, and the rotational movement thereof means the image display unit 5 for the left and right eyes. A movement for adjusting the angle of.

Next, the HMD 3 will be described in detail.

The HMD 3 has an annular shape capable of enclosing the head and is provided with a front frame 12, a rear frame 14, connecting devices 30A, 30B and the like. The front part frame 12 covers both eyes and both ears, and the inside thereof is formed with a phase corresponding to the shape of the frontal part. The rear frame 14 can surround the occipital region, and a surface corresponding to the shape of the occipital region is formed inside thereof. Frames 32A and 32B are provided at both ends of the front frame 12.
Is fixed, and the frame 3 is attached to both ends of the rear frame 14.
4A and 34B are fixed. The frames 32A and 34A are slidably coupled to each other via the coupling device 30A, and the frames 32B and 34B are slidably coupled to each other via the coupling device 30B. Therefore, the front frame 12 and the rear frame 14 can be moved in the front-back direction of the head in accordance with the head circumference of the user.

The front frame 12 is provided with image display units 5 facing the left and right eyes, and speakers 8 are provided at positions facing the respective ears.
Front ends of a pair of belts 16A and 16B, which are provided around the temporal region, are fixed to the inside of the front frame 12 at positions corresponding to the temples of the head.
H near the ends of the belts 16A and 16B
Pad members 18A and 18B, which are pressed against both temples when the MD3 is mounted on the head, are formed to project inward.

At the center of the front frame 12, a support portion 22 extending from the forehead to the crown is provided. A pad material 24 is provided at the tip of the support portion 22 on the parietal side so as to be in pressure contact with the parietal portion. Further, a pad member 26 that can be pressed into contact with the forehead is provided in a portion of the front frame 12 corresponding to the forehead (especially the forehead).

At a portion corresponding to the occipital region of the rear frame 14, a pad material 28 which can be pressed against the occipital region is provided. Further, a cable 4 for supplying a video signal from the video control device to the display unit 5 is arranged at a substantially central portion of the rear frame 14.

The belt fastening / releasing device 40 is the belt 16
The fastening and releasing of A and 16B are performed. The belt fastening / releasing device 40 includes a handle 36 protruding from a housing 38. User handles 3
When 6 is rotated clockwise when viewed from the front, the belts 16A and 16B move in the direction of tightening the head. On the other hand, when the user rotates the handle 36 in the opposite direction, the belts 16A and 16B move in the direction in which they are released from the head. When the user tightens the belts 16A and 16B and releases the belts, the frames 32A and 34A and the frames 32B and 34B slide in the front-back direction of the head.

2 and 3 show the video display unit 5. FIG. 2 is a top view in which a part of the video display unit 5 in which the left and right video display units are separated is cut away.
FIG. 3 is a top view of the video display unit 5 in which the left and right video display units are arranged close to each other.

In these figures, the image display unit for the right eye is indicated by the reference numeral 50R, and the image display unit for the eye is indicated by the reference numeral 50L. In the following description, “R” at the end of the reference numeral indicates that it is a member for the right eye, and the same “L” indicates that it is a member for the left eye.

The left and right image display units 50R and 50L have a cylindrical shape, and their front ends (on the front side of the HMD3).
Are provided with liquid crystal display panels 7R and 7L. Further, magnifying lenses 52R and 52L are provided at the eye-side ends of the image display units 50R and 50L.

A video signal is input to the left and right liquid crystal panels 7R and 7L from the video control device 2 via the cable 4 (see FIG. 1), and a predetermined video is reproduced and displayed. This image is displayed on the left and right eyes via the magnifying lenses 52R and 52L.

Reference numerals 54A and 54B denote support mechanisms for supporting the left and right image display units 50R and 50L. These support mechanisms 54A and 54B are provided with two shafts 66A and 66B that are juxtaposed substantially in parallel, and support panels 56A and 56B for these shafts. In the following description, "A" at the end of the reference numeral indicates that it is a member or the like on the base end side of the image display unit,
“B” indicates a member on the tip side or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the end surface 53A of the support panel 56A on the right-eye image display unit 50R side is fixed to the small panel 100A, and the electric motor 62A is fixed to the small panel 100A. There is. Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a side end surface 53B of the support panel 56B on the left-eye image display unit 50L side.
Is fixed to the small panel 100B, and the electric motor 62B is fixed to the small panel 100B. 6 and 7, the display of each video display unit is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 4, the support panel 56A.
A bearing 102A is formed at the end of the. Shaft 6
The small diameter portion 104A formed at one end of 6A is the bearing 102.
It is axially supported by A, and the other end is connected to a rotary shaft 106A of a motor 62A via a joint 108A. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2, 6 and 7, the support panel 5
A bearing 102B is formed at the end of 6B. The small diameter portion 104B formed at one end of the shaft 66B is the bearing 1
02A is pivotally supported, and the other end is connected to a rotary shaft 106B of a motor 62B via a joint 108B.
With such a configuration, the shafts 66A and 66B rotate as the electric motors 62A and 62B rotate.

The shaft 66A is the image display unit 50.
Shaft 66B that supports the base end side (eye side) of R and 50L
Is the tip side of the image display units 50R and 50L (HMD3
Front side of). That is, as shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, each video display unit 50R. 5
The shaft 55 is provided on the upper surface on the distal end side and the proximal end side of 0L.
Fixing pieces 72A, 74A, 72B for suspending and supporting the respective image display units 50R, 50L on A, 66B,
74B is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, fitting holes 78A, 76A, 78B and 76B are formed at the lower ends of the respective fixing pieces 72A, 74A, 72B and 74B. That is, a fitting hole 76A is formed in the fixed piece 74A, and a fitting hole 78A is formed in the fixed piece 72A. Also,
A fitting hole 76B is formed in the fixed piece 74B, and the fixed piece 72B is formed.
A fitting hole 78B is formed in B. These fitting holes 7
Protrusions 80R, 80L, 82R, and 82L (see FIGS. 4 and 8) formed on the top and proximal ends of the image display units 50R and 50L are freely rotatable in 6A, 76B, 78A, and 78B. Has been inserted into. This makes it possible to adjust the angle formed by the image display units 50R and 50L.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7.
At both ends of the shafts 66A and 66B, positive direction male threads 68A and 68B having a reverse thread relationship and opposite direction male threads 70A and 70B are formed respectively. The fixing piece 72 is attached to the male screw 68A of the shaft 66A.
A is screwed, and the male screw 70A is screwed with the fixing piece 74A. A fixing piece 72B is screwed onto the male screw 68B of the shaft 66B, and a fixing piece 74B is screwed onto the male screw 70B.

The video display unit 5 thus constructed
In, the shafts 66A and 66B rotate by rotating the motors 62A and 62B. Then, the fixing pieces 72A, 74A, 72B, 74B screwed into the male screws 68A, 68B of the shafts 66A, 66B move on the shafts 66A, 66B. Therefore, the left and right image display units 50R and 50L can be moved toward or away from each other along the shafts 66A and 66B by controlling the rotation direction of the motor. That is, the linear movement of the image display units 50R and 50L can be controlled. Further, the left and right image display units 50R and 50L can be controlled so as to rotate based on the shafts 66A and 66B.

FIG. 9 shows a block configuration of the video display system of this embodiment.

As described above, the video display system 1 is composed of the video control device 2 and the HMD 3.

The video control device 2 is composed of, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) and a necessary memory, and realizes the respective functional means shown in the drawing. Video processing unit (CGB) 9
0 indicates that by executing a predetermined arithmetic process based on a predetermined program and predetermined data in the memory 91,
The video signals Svr and Svl are calculated and output.

The video processing unit 90 calculates the position control signal Sc of the video display unit 5 according to the processing content and outputs it to the video display unit controller 92. The controller 92 outputs motor rotation drive currents Da and Db to the drive motors 62A and 62B of each display unit from the control signal Sc.

The driver circuits 94R and 94L are circuits for amplifying the video signals Svr and Svl and outputting the video signals Vr and Vl. The video signals Vr and Vl are output to the liquid crystal panels 7R and 7L of the video display units 50R and 50L, respectively. As a result, the right-eye image and the left-eye image are displayed on the liquid crystal panels 7R and 7L, respectively.

The operation panel 9 is connected to the controller 92. The linear movement of the image display units 50R and 50L is controlled by the operation input input from the operation panel 9,
Video display unit 50R. It is possible to match the distance between 50L to the eye width of each person.

The operation of the embodiment thus constructed will be described.

<Adjustment of Eye Width> The operation of the HMD 3 when adjusting the distance between the image display units 50R and 50L according to the eye width will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 10 (a).

First, after the user mounts and fixes the HMD 3 on the head, the video processing unit 90 (see FIG. 9) displays the standard video signal including, for example, a marker on the video display unit 50.
Output to the R and 50L liquid crystal panels 7L and 7R. As a result, the standard video screen is displayed on the liquid crystal panels 7L and 7R (S201).

The user (the wearer of the HMD3) looks at the standard image screens individually displayed on the left and right eyes, and adjusts the marker to the positions of the left and right eyes.
The operation panel 9 is operated (S202).

The controller 92 separately supplies the drive currents Da and Db corresponding to the operation signal from the operation panel 9 to the motors 62A and 62B of the left and right image display units 50R and 50L, respectively. Rotate a fixed amount (S203).

That is, when the operation signal given from the operation panel 9 is a forward rotation command, the controller 92 rotates the motors 62A and 62B forward, or the operation signal given from the operation panel 9 is a reverse rotation instruction. At times, the controller 92 causes the motors 62A and 62B to rotate in reverse.

For example, when the user's eyes are narrow, the operation panel 9 is operated to operate both motors 62A and 62B.
Rotate forward. Since the male screw 68A and the male screw 70A have an inverse screw relationship with each other, the supporting pieces 72A, 74
A linearly moves on the shaft 66A in a direction in which they approach each other. Similarly, since the male screw 68B and the male screw 70B have an inverse screw relationship with each other, the supporting pieces 72B, 74B are
Move linearly on the shaft 66B in the directions approaching each other (see FIG. 11). As a result, the image display unit 50
R and 50L approach each other. For example, when the distance between the display units (this distance corresponds to the eye width) is set to 75 mm as shown in FIG. 12, the distance between the image display units 50R and 50L is as shown in FIG. 5
5 mm. On the other hand, image display units 50R and 50L
When increasing the distance between both motors 62A, 62B
Can be rotated in the opposite direction.

Even if the display units 50R and 50L are linearly moved by operating the operation panel 9 in this way, when the marker displayed on the liquid crystal panels 7R and 7L does not match the eye position (S204; NO). The user continues to operate the operation panel 9. As a result, the controller 92 rotates the motors 62A and 62B according to the operation signal (S2
02-204).

When the user operates the operation panel 9 and the marker displayed on the liquid crystal panels 7A and 7B coincides with the eye position (S204; YES), the user stops the operation of the operation panel 9 ( S205). By the above operation, the user can operate the video display units 50R and 50L.
It is possible to accurately recognize that the distance between them matches the pupil distance of the user.

It is also possible to measure the eye width for each individual in advance and input this measured value to the display unit side via the operation panel 9. Further, when the eye width is known in advance, this numerical value may be directly input. Furthermore, a physical marker may be used as the marker, and the eye width may be adjusted while viewing this with each eye.

The predetermined memory 91 of the display system shown in FIG.
The distance between the image display units 50R and 50L for each individual,
That is, if the eye width is stored and then the ID for each individual is specified, the stored eye width can be immediately reproduced.

<Manual Adjustment of Angle of Image Display Unit> Next, the procedure for manually setting the angle formed by the image display units 50R and 50L (angle formed by the optical axes of the image display units 50R and 50L) will be described with reference to FIG. ) Will be described with reference to the flowchart.

As described above, the video display unit 50
After the distance between R and 50L is adjusted according to the interpupillary distance, when an image is to be displayed, the processing of S300 and subsequent steps is further executed. When the angles of both units are determined in advance according to the image, this angle is input to the operation panel 9 (S301). The controller 92 forms the drive currents Da and Db according to the input angle and outputs the drive currents D and Db.
Supply a and Db to the motors 62A and 62B (S30
2). As a result, the image display units 50R and 50L rotate, and the angle formed by both units matches the angle input from the operation panel 9.

This operation is realized as follows, for example. That is, the controller 92 uses the motor 62A
Stop or slightly rotate the motor 62
B is reversely or normally rotated by a predetermined amount. Then, the base end sides of the image display units 50R and 50L approach or separate from each other, and the image display units 50R and 50L
Rotates like arrow X or arrow Y in FIG. As a result, the angles of the image display units 50R and 50L with respect to the eyes can be set to desired values. In addition, you may make it rotate the front end side of each image display unit 50R, 50L, or a front end side and a base end side.

That is, by supplying the drive currents Da and Db from the controller 92 to the motors 62A and 62B, the motors 62A and 62B continue to rotate (S30).
2, S303; NO). And the motors 62A and 62B
Rotates by a predetermined rotation amount, and each image display unit 50R,
When 50L is tilted by a predetermined angle with respect to each of the left and right eyes (S303; YES), the controller 92 stops the supply of the drive currents Da and Db to the motors 62A and 62B (S304).

As a result, as shown in FIG. 14 or 15, the image display units 50R and 50L are set at a predetermined angle. Here, FIG. 14 shows an example of a display unit in which the both-screen ratio is 5: 3 and the eye width is set to 75 mm, and FIG. 15 is, for example, both-screen ratio 5: 3 and the eye width is 55 mm. Shows the display unit set to.

Next, a case where the image display units 50R and 50L are set at a predetermined angle will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 16 shows the video display units 50R and 50.
A case where L is set to a mesh width of 65 mm and an angle of 13.66 degrees will be described.

When the image display units 50R and 50L are set to the illustrated angle (13.66 degrees), the right eye gaze 110R and the left eye gaze 11 along the direction of the image display unit.
0L is determined. As a result, the convergence angle can always be kept constant (about 3.72 degrees), and the sense of distance from the eye to the image can be prevented from changing.

When the liquid crystal panels 7R and 7L are placed near the focal length of the magnifying lens, the horizontal angle of view 63.
27 degree video (code 112R is right eye video, code 112L
Is the left-eye image. ) Is obtained. The images of each of these eyes are combined to form a combined image 11 1000 mm ahead of the viewpoint.
4 is set. At this time, a screen with a width of 1232 mm (screen ratio of 4: 3, equivalent to 60 inches) is displayed on one eye, but the combined image is a combination of the images of each eye and a certain area of the image of each eye overlaps. However, it is 1526mm as a whole
The screen has a width of (the screen ratio is 5: 3, and is equivalent to 70 inches). The screen can be viewed as a stereoscopic image in a certain overlapping portion. Focal length of magnifying lens, and
The distance between the liquid crystal panel and the magnifying lens is preset so that a visual characteristic such as a predetermined horizontal angle of view (for example, each characteristic shown in FIG. 16) can be obtained.

As shown in FIG. 17, the image display unit 50 set to the angle formed by both units and the eye width as described above.
When a video signal is applied from the video processing unit 90 to the R and 50L liquid crystal panels 7R and 7L through the driver circuits 94R and 94L, the right eye video 112R and the left eye video are displayed on the respective liquid crystal panels 7R and 7L. 112L is displayed.

Image 112L displayed on the liquid crystal panel 7L
, There is a character 501L substantially in the center of the screen, and the image 112R of the liquid crystal panel 7R also has this character 501R. In addition, a part 502 of the character 502R in the image 112R is included in the image 112L.
L exists, and the video 112R includes a part 503R of the character 503L existing in the video 112L. That is, some of the images 112R and 112L overlap each other.

The images 112R and 112L are recognized by the user (wearing the HMD 3) as the combined binocular image 114. The image 114 is recognized as a wide screen in which the viewing angle (the addition angle of the horizontal angle of view of the left and right eyes, θ in FIG. 16) is enlarged, and each character is completely combined,
It is recognized as the completed characters 501 to 503. Of these, the part surrounded by the broken line is recognized as a stereoscopic image because the images displayed on the left and right eyes are combined. That is, it is recognized that the combined image of the two-dimensional image and the three-dimensional image is projected on the apparent same screen.

FIG. 18 shows the video display units 50R and 50.
This shows a case where L is set to a mesh width of 65 mm and an angle of 3.72 degrees, for example. Display unit 50R, 50L
Each horizontal angle of view of is set to 46.76 degrees,
If it is projected 0 mm ahead, it will be 8
A screen with a width of 65.5 mm (equivalent to 42.6 inches) will be obtained. Then, almost all areas of each eye image are overlapped, and the entire binocular image is recognized as one stereoscopic image. At this time, the vergence angle remains 3.72 degrees. .

FIG. 20 shows the display units 50R and 50L.
However, for example, an eye width of 65 mm, an angle 43.
This shows a case where the angle is set to 28 degrees. If the horizontal angle of view of each of the display units 50R and 50L is set to 46.76 degrees and the image is projected about 1000 mm ahead, a screen having a width of 1608.7 mm (67.
7 inches equivalent) will be obtained. At this time, the composite image is recognized as a completely wide state (completely flat image) having no overlapping portion.

The adjustment of the angle of each display unit with respect to the eye is realized by adjusting the angle of each display unit with respect to the basic axis. This basic axis is appropriately selected including the shafts 66A and 66B. By adjusting this angle, the sense of distance from the eye to the image can be kept constant regardless of the width of the eye, the width of the image, and the like.
Further, since the line of sight always passes through the approximate center of the lens, a good image without optical distortion can be obtained.

<Automatic Adjustment of Angle of Video Display Unit> Next, regarding automatic setting of the angle of the video display unit, FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of 0 (c).

As described above, after adjusting each of the left and right image display units 50R and 50L to the value of the eye gap, an automatic angle setting routine for both units is executed. First, S400
In, the video processing unit 90 reproduces the video signals Svr and Svl by executing the video display program and reading the data from the memory 91, and outputs them to the liquid crystal panels 7R and 7L of the respective display units. This video signal Svr, Svl
The reproduction command of is given from the operation panel 9, for example. The video processing unit 90 amplifies the video signals Svr and Svl by the driver circuits 94R and 94L and then outputs them to the respective liquid crystal panels (S401).

In the memory 91, in addition to the image data, information such as the positions and orientations of the two cameras for forming the image signal from the image data is stored. In this information is the angle between the lines of sight of the two cameras,
There is a camera convergence angle.

The image processing unit 90 calculates the angle formed by the image display unit based on the information on the angle of convergence of the camera, forms the display unit position control signal Sc based on this, and sends it to the display unit drive controller 92. Give (S40
2).

The controller 92 calculates the drive current of each motor from this control signal, and generally, the angle formed by each display unit is set to the rotational movement of each display unit 50R, 50L according to the convergence angle of the camera in the program. To control.

The video processing section 90 determines whether or not the reproduction of the video information stored in the memory is completed (S40).
3) If not all finished (S403; NO), S
The processing after 401 is repeatedly executed. As a result, the angle formed by both units can be appropriately set according to the video signal, and both units can be accurately and quickly rotated in the direction most suitable for the content and type of the reproduced video.

Video signals Vr, V from the video control device 2
1 and the driving currents Da and Db are, for example, as shown in FIGS.
When it is supplied to the display units 50R and 50L set to the eye width (for example, 65 mm) as shown in FIG.
The following images are recognized by the wearer of MD3.

That is, the image processing section 90 estimates the angle of view (horizontal width) of the composite image based on the image signal, and calculates the angle formed by both units (the angle formed by the optical axes) corresponding to this horizontal width. Then, the rotation amounts of both units are determined according to the calculated angle. For example, when the video signals Svr and Svl reproduced by the video processing unit 90 are perfect stereoscopic video data, the video processing unit 90 causes the video signals Svr and Svl to be reproduced.
Is supplied to the driver circuits 94R and 94L, and a predetermined angle control signal Sc is supplied to the controller 92.

The controller 92 controls the angle change control signal S
The drive currents Da and Db based on c are supplied to the motors 62A and 62B.
Supply to. Since the drive currents Da and Db are in opposite directions, the motors 62A and 62B rotate in opposite directions, and the image display units 50R and 50L tilt by a predetermined angle.

When the image to be projected is a perfect stereoscopic image (the left and right images are all overlapped), the predetermined drive currents Da and Db are applied to the motors 62A and 62B.
Is given, the angle formed by the image display units 50R and 50L is as shown in FIG. Therefore, for example, the display units 50R, 50 having the eye width set to 65 mm
When the drive currents Da and Db are supplied to the motors 62A and 62B in the case of L, the left eye image display unit 50L rotates in the X direction and the right eye image display unit 50L as shown in FIG. 50R rotates in the Y direction. And FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8, the screen seen by both eyes has a width of 865.5 mm. As a result, the images of both eyes are almost overlapped with each other, and a stereoscopic screen is visible at all positions on the screen. Even in this state, the vergence angle of both eyes of the wearer of the HMD 3 is kept constant (for example, 3.72 degrees).

Next, when the video signals Svr and Svl reproduced by the video processing unit 90 are data for forming a partial stereoscopic video and a wide-angle video, the video processing unit 90
These video signals Svr and Svl are transferred to driver circuits 94R and 9R.
Give to 4L. As a result, the composite image becomes a wide-angle image of 1526 mm as shown in FIG. 16, and only the overlapping central portion is recognized as a stereoscopic image by the HMD wearer. Then, the image processing unit 690 supplies the left and right motors 62A and 62B with a control signal Sc that makes the convergence angle constant (about 3.72 degrees) when reproducing a partially stereoscopic image.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, the left-eye display unit 50L rotates in the Y direction and the right-eye display unit 50R rotates in the X direction. Therefore, the convergence angle is 3.
The angle between both units is 1 so that 72 degrees is maintained.
It is set to 3.66 degrees (Fig. 16).

If the video signals Svr and Svl are data for forming a complete wide screen, the video processing section 90 reproduces the video signals Svr and Svl to drive the video signals Svr and Svl. It is given to the circuits 94R and 94L. As a result, the binocular video combined by the liquid crystal panels 7A and 7B of the display units 50R and 50L becomes a video in a completely wide state with no overlapping portion. At this time, the image processing unit 90 rotates the left-eye image display unit 50L in the Y direction more than in the case of partial stereoscopic image, and the right-eye image display unit 50R further in comparison with the case of partial image display image. Rotate in the X direction.

As described above, when the video signals Svr and Svl are created, the information regarding the line of sight of the camera is also stored as the angle control signal. When the video signals Svr and Svl are reproduced, the angle control signal Sc is generated at the same time, and the drive currents Da and Db corresponding to the angle control signal Sc are supplied to the motor 62A,
Give to 62B. As a result, the angle formed by both units is automatically changed based on the video signals Svr and Svl. That is, the angle formed by both units is automatically changed according to the angle of view of the composite image, so that the angle of convergence can always be kept constant and the sense of distance from the eye to the composite image does not fluctuate. It becomes possible to do.

<Other Embodiments> FIG. 19 shows the display unit 5.
FIG. 11 is a front view showing another example of the position adjusting mechanism 6 of the above.

The position adjusting mechanism 6'shown in FIG. 19 differs from that of the above embodiment in that the left and right image display units 50R,
Moving mechanism 120R, 120L for adjusting the distance between 50L
And rotation mechanisms 130R, 13 for adjusting the angle with respect to the eyes
It is because 0L is provided independently.

Here, the moving mechanism 120R is constructed as follows. A motor fixed end 122R and a bearing end 123R are provided at both ends of the support panel 121R formed of a rectangular thin plate. This motor fixed end 122
A motor 124R is fixed to R.
A shaft 126R is provided between the rotary shaft of 24R and the bearing 125R of the bearing end 123R. A male screw 127R is screwed on the shaft 126R. A fixing piece 128R for supporting the right-eye image display unit is screwed to the male screw 127R, and the shaft 126R is provided.
The fixing piece 128R moves to the left and right in the drawing in accordance with the rotation direction of.

The moving mechanism 120L for the left eye has the same structure as the moving mechanism 120R for the right eye.

On the other hand, the rotating mechanism 13 for the left and right display units
Each of 0L and 130R includes an electric motor provided between the fixed piece and each display unit. Therefore, by rotating the rotating shaft of this electric motor,
Each display unit pivotally supported by this rotation shaft can be rotated by a predetermined amount.

According to such an embodiment, since the positions of the display units 50R and 50L and the angles with respect to the eyes can be adjusted individually, the display unit 50 can be adjusted according to individual differences.
The interval between R and 50L and the angle formed by both units with respect to the eye can be finely adjusted.

In the above embodiments, as each image display unit, a liquid crystal panel is provided on the front end side and a magnifying lens is provided on the base end side, but the present invention is not limited to this. , A liquid crystal that opens and closes in synchronism with the screen switching timing of the screen instead of the liquid crystal panel, for obtaining a stereoscopic image by alternately displaying the image for the right eye and the image for the left eye on the screen It can also be applied to those equipped with a shutter.

[0109]

As described above, according to the head-mounted image display device of the present invention, the distance between the left and right display devices can be adjusted according to the pupil distance, so that the best image for all users can be obtained. Can be provided. In addition, by adjusting the angles of the left and right display devices according to the size of the combined image, fluctuations in the vergence angle (the angle formed by the left and right lines of sight) are suppressed, and the sense of distance from the eye to the combined image is kept constant. You can For example, when the combined image is a wide-angle image, the left and right lines of sight move to the inside of both display devices. At this time, by rotating both display devices so that the tips of the left and right display devices are opened, it is possible to prevent the convergence angle from varying.

Further, the optical system (lens) constituting the display device often has different optical characteristics between the peripheral portion and the central portion thereof. Therefore, in the conventional head-mounted image display device, the center position of the combined image on the lens changes as the angle of view of the combined image changes, and it is difficult to stably obtain a good image. It was However, according to the present invention, since the angle of the display device can be changed according to the change in the angle of view of the combined image, it is possible to match the center position of the lens with the center position of the combined image. This makes it possible to always obtain stable images.

Further, according to the present invention, since the distance and angle of the display device are adjusted by the electric mechanism, the work burden on the user can be reduced as compared with the case of manual adjustment. Moreover, the adjustment work can be performed quickly and accurately by performing the adjustment using the electric mechanism.

That is, when the electric motor connected to the shaft is rotated in a predetermined direction, the action of the reverse screw causes
The first display device and the second display device come close to each other and the distance between them is shortened. On the other hand, when the electric motor is rotated in the opposite direction, the two are separated from each other and the distance therebetween increases. Therefore, with such a simple configuration, the distance between the first display device and the second display coarse device can be adjusted according to the eye width of the individual.

Further, the rotation amounts of the electric motors respectively connected to the first shaft and the second shaft are controlled separately on the first shaft side and the second shaft side so that the rotation amounts of the two are different. By controlling, it is possible to make the amount of movement different between the front end side and the base end side of each display device, and as a result, the angle formed by each display device with respect to the eye can be easily, accurately, and quickly. Can be adjusted.

Further, by providing a moving mechanism and a rotating mechanism and a drive motor for driving each of these mechanisms for each of the first display device and the second display device, the position and angle of each display device can be obtained. Can be adjusted, and a wide-angle image and a stereoscopic image can be displayed in more various ways. Further, according to the video display system of the present invention, the drive signal for the electric mechanism is obtained according to the video signal and is output to the electric mechanism, so that the position of each display device can be accurately adjusted according to the content and type of the video. Can be set up quickly, and easily.

In particular, by setting the angle formed by both display devices according to the video signal, the convergence angle is kept constant regardless of the content of the video (wide-angle video, stereoscopic video, or a combined video of both). be able to. Further, by storing the interval between the display devices according to the eye width of each individual for each individual, the position and angle of both display devices can be adjusted quickly and accurately.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a video display system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view of the image display unit.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an image display unit.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a right side view of the video display unit.

6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG.

7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the principle of adjusting the positions of the image display units for the left and right eyes.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a video display system.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the video display system.

FIG. 11 is a front view showing the position adjustment principle of the image display units for the left and right eyes.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the display unit showing an eye width adjusting operation.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the display unit showing the eye width adjustment operation.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a display unit showing an angle adjusting operation.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a display unit showing an angle adjusting operation.

FIG. 16 is a principle diagram of image synthesis by the image display unit.

17 is an explanatory diagram of a video screen obtained by the video compositing operation shown in FIG.

FIG. 18 is a principle diagram relating to another example of image synthesis by the image display unit.

FIG. 19 is a front view showing another example of the video display unit.

FIG. 20 is a plan view of a display unit showing an angle adjusting operation.

[Explanation of Codes] 1 video display system 2 video control device 3 head-mounted video display device 5 video display unit (50R right-eye video display unit 50L left-eye video display unit) 54A, 54B support mechanism 62A, 62B electric Motor 66A, 66B Shaft 68A, 68B, 70A, 70B Reverse screw 90 Image processing unit 92 Electric motor controller

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A first display device for displaying an image for the right eye, a second display device for displaying an image for the left eye, and a support for the first display device at a position facing the right eye. And a support mechanism for supporting the second display device at a position facing the left eye, a position adjusting mechanism for the first display device and the second display device, and an electric mechanism for driving the position adjusting mechanism. Head mounted video display device. 2. The position adjusting mechanism includes a moving mechanism that moves the first display device and the second display device so as to approach or separate from each other, and an angle of the first display device with respect to the right eye. The head-mounted image display device according to claim 1, further comprising: a rotation mechanism that changes an angle of the second display device with respect to the left eye. 3. The support mechanism comprises a shaft having a pair of reverse screws formed therein, the electric motor being the electric mechanism being connected to the shaft, and the first display device and the second display device. Is supported by being screwed into each of the pair of reverse screws, and the first display device and the second display device are configured to move along the shaft by the rotation of the electric motor. The head-mounted image display device according to item 1 or 2. 4. A first shaft and a second shaft are provided, the first shaft supports the tip side of the first display device and the second display device, and the second shaft is the first shaft. 4. The head-mounted image display device according to claim 3, wherein the display device and the second display device are supported on the base end side, and an electric motor for rotating the shaft is connected to the end of each shaft. 5. The head according to claim 2, wherein the moving mechanism and the rotating mechanism and a drive motor for driving each of the moving mechanism and the rotating mechanism are provided for each of the first display device and the second display device. Wearable video display device. 6. The head-mounted image display device according to claim 1 or 2, an image control means for outputting an image signal to the first display device and the second display device, and, in accordance with the image signal. An image display system comprising: an electric mechanism control unit that obtains the electric mechanism drive signal and outputs the drive signal to the electric mechanism. 7. The electric mechanism control means obtains a rotation amount of the first display device and the second display device according to a video signal, and outputs a drive signal according to the rotation amount to the electric mechanism. The video display system according to claim 6. 8. The storage means for storing, for each individual, the interval between the first display device and the second display device, which is adapted to the eye width of each individual. The video display system described in the item. 9. The image display system according to claim 7, wherein the electric mechanism control means performs the following control. (1) Estimate the width of the composite video that will be composited to the left and right eyes according to the size of the overlapping portion of the video projected on each of the first display device and the second display device. (2) The angle formed by the optical axes of the first display device and the second display device is determined in proportion to the width of the composite image. (3) The rotation amounts of the first display device and the second display device are determined according to the determined angle. 10. A storage unit for storing the rotation amounts of the first display device and the second display device corresponding to the types of images projected on the first display device and the second display device, respectively. 8. The image display system according to claim 7, wherein the electric mechanism control means rotates the first display device and the second display device based on the rotation amount stored in the storage means.