JPH11136598A - Head mounting type display device and information device containing the display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a head mounting type display device which can prevent the excessive force to be applied to its frame part when it's mounted, can prevent its discormection, etc., can improve the operability of its operating part and can reduce it's weight and also to provide an information device that contains the display device. SOLUTION: This display device is provided with the ear hooking parts 10a and 10b which are mounted on both ears of a user, a spectacle part 40 which covers both eyes and a frame part 20 which holds the part 40. The part 20 has a display means 70 which outputs the projective display images, the part 40 has a light reflecting part 42 which reflects the projective display images, and each of both parts 10 has an operation input means 14 to which the information necessary for the decision of display of the part 70 is inputted. The part 70 includes a display information output source, a display panel, a display control means which controls the display of the display panel and a power supply. The part 42 reflects the projective display images and leads them to the eyeballs of the user. Then the means 14 is connected to the display control means by wire or wireless.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

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

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in the field of image display devices, head mounted displays (HMs) have been used as devices for displaying images with more realistic sensation.
D) A head-mounted display device or the like called a device is known. In this HMD device, a display device, for example, an LCD display can be placed in the eyes of the wearer, and images and the like can be projected and displayed on an LCD display connected to a video supply source. It has been commercialized.

On the other hand, an HMD of a type in which an image of a display image is reflected by using a half mirror or the like installed in front of the eyes to synthesize with the outside scene and display both the outside scene and the image.
Devices are also known.

However, in any of the above HMD devices, the liquid crystal panel must be illuminated by using a light source, for example, a backlight. When the light source is mounted, it is heavy in weight, and the wearer's ears are painful. Heavy burden.

In the normal HMD device, a display unit on the head and an operation controller at another location, for example, around the waist of the wearer, are connected by wire, and the operation is performed by the operation controller. Poor. In addition, a display information source,
In many cases, the power supply, etc. is worn by the wearer at a place other than the head and supplied by external connection, so the wearer who wears the head-mounted display device must use it in conjunction with these peripheral devices. In addition, the number of components is large, and wiring and components infiltrate into the body even after mounting, which makes the wearer inconvenient.

Further, in this type of HMD device, if the HMD is forcibly mounted on the head due to a size problem such as a large head of the wearer, excessive force is applied to the frame portion of the HMD device, and Parts are easily broken. In addition, in the case of a device having a wiring structure inside, if a simple bent structure such as a frame of eyeglasses is used, the cord portion is exposed on the wiring and the cord is disconnected, so that the operation becomes impossible.

[0007] The applicant of the present invention has previously searched for a technique for solving the above-mentioned problem by using a search formula: FK = (glasses + glasses) using a prior art search (Patris) of the Japan Patent Information Organization (JAPIO). However, the technology for solving the above problem could not be found.

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, and has as its object the following.
A head that prevents excessive force from being applied to the frame during mounting, prevents disconnection, etc., and also improves the operability of the operating unit, making it easier for the wearer to use and reducing the weight. An object of the present invention is to provide a wearable display device and an information device including the same.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a head-mounted display device comprising two ear hooks respectively attached to both ears of a wearer, and covering both eyes of the wearer. And a frame portion which is disposed between the two ear hooks and holds the eyeglass portion, and which is worn by the wearer and is A head-mounted display device that displays a predetermined image in a specific area of a visible field of view, wherein the frame unit is based on display information.
The display unit has a display unit for displaying and outputting the projection display image, and the glasses unit includes a light reflection unit that reflects the projection display image,
At least one of the ear hooks has operation input means for inputting information necessary for display determination of the display means,
A display information output source for outputting the display information; a display panel for displaying and outputting the projection display image based on the display information from the display information output source; and displaying the display based on the display information. Display control means for controlling the display of the panel, the display information output source, the display panel, a power supply for supplying power to each of the display control means,
The light reflection unit reflects the projection display image at the position of the specific region and guides it to the eyeball of the wearer, and the operation input unit is connected to the display control unit by wire or wireless. It is characterized by.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the operation input means and the display means are integrally mounted on the head, a controller is mounted near the waist as in the prior art, and the head is connected by a cord. Compared to a device that supplies information to the display unit, it is easier and easier to operate, and operability is improved. In addition, since the display means can be displayed by external light and a light source is not required, the weight can be reduced. For example, in a sport or the like, due to lightness and mobility, a display full of reality can be seen while actually performing a sport. Can be.

Further, since the light reflecting portion is formed on the eyeglass portion, the apparatus can be simplified, and the light reflecting portion is
Because outside light can enter, the outside scene can be recognized along with the display,
There is no harm when the wearer plays sports or the like while wearing the wearer.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the head mounted display device according to the first aspect, the display device and the operation input device are disposed in a hollow portion formed in the frame portion and the ear hook portion. Means for connecting the frame portion and the ear hook portion to cover the cable, wherein a hinge region is formed between the frame portion and the ear hook portion. It is characterized by being formed by flexible connecting means for connecting.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the flexible connecting means covers the cable, the cable is protected, and disconnection, fatigue, deterioration, and the like of the cable can be prevented. In addition, since the hinge region can be flexibly bent between the ear hook portion and the frame portion according to the width of the face, an excessive force is not applied to the frame portion, thereby preventing the frame portion from being bent and damaged.

[0014] Conventionally, instead of passing the cable through the hinge area, the cable has only to be wired from the outside. On the other hand, according to the second aspect, since the operation input means provided in the ear hook and the display means near the eyes are connected via the cable arranged in the hollow part, the wiring is a hindrance for the wearer. It does not impair the appearance.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the head-mounted display device according to the first aspect, the frame portion is divided into a right eye region and a left eye region corresponding to the right eye and the left eye of the eyeglass portion, respectively. And flexible connecting means for connecting the respective frame parts is formed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the flexible connecting means can be formed between the right eye area and the left eye area. Thereby, a hinge can be formed between each region of the right eye and the left eye.

Further, it is sufficient to form the flexible connecting member at one place, and it is easier to assemble as compared with the case of forming two places while exhibiting the same operation and effect as the second aspect of the present invention.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a head-mounted display device according to the third aspect, wherein the display means is provided on one of the left and right divided frame portions and connected to the other frame portion. One of the ear hooks is provided with the operation input means, and each of the frame portions, the one ear hook, and the flexible connection means are disposed in a hollow portion formed therein,
It further comprises a cable connecting the display means and the operation input means.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the hinge region where the cable is disposed is formed by the flexible connecting means, the cable can be protected in this region.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the head mounted display device according to the first aspect, the entirety of the two ear hooks is formed of a flexible member.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the entire ear hook portion is formed and covered with a flexible member including the operation portion, and the ear hook portion itself is largely bent, so that an excessively small portion is locally formed. By preventing the force from being applied, it is possible to prevent the device body and the cables from being damaged.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a head-mounted display device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the head-mounted display device is mounted on at least one of the ear hooks and is associated with a display on the display panel. And a voice output unit for outputting voice information to be output.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the audio output means outputs the audio in synchronization with, for example, the display information, so that, for example, switching of display contents can be recognized by the audio.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a head mounted display according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein at least one of the ear hooks is provided, and the audio information is input. An input unit, and a voice-display conversion unit that is disposed on either the frame unit or the ear hook unit and converts the voice information from the voice input unit into display information related to the voice information. The display control means controls display of display information output from the audio-display conversion means on the display panel.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, by providing the voice-display conversion function, the present invention can be suitably used even when the wearer is a hearing impaired person, for example.

The head mounted display according to the invention of claim 8 is the display device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the head mounted display is located near the mouth of the wearer and the voice information of the wearer is provided. Voice input means, a transmission means for transmitting the voice information, and a voice for supplying the voice information to the transmission means and controlling the output of the voice information based on the voice information of the voice input means. Output control means.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, by using the transmitting means, the voice information of the wearer can be transmitted wirelessly to perform communication, so that the convenience is further improved.
Application to portable devices such as hands-free portable videophones is also possible.

The information device according to the invention of claim 9 is:
A head-mounted display device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which is connected to the head-mounted display device, and measures one or both of surrounding environment information and unique information unique to a wearer. Measuring means, and wherein the display control means controls display of the measurement result of the measuring means on the display panel.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the measurement results are displayed on the display panel in real time, thereby improving the convenience in sports and the like. The environmental information includes, for example, temperature, air pressure, altitude, ultraviolet light amount, and the like, and the unique information of the wearer includes pulse, step length (pitch), number of steps, walking distance, walking speed, and the like. .

[0030]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an example of a preferred embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

(Overall Configuration) First, the overall configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 prior to the configuration of a flexible connecting member which is a characteristic configuration of the present invention.

The head-mounted display device 1 of this embodiment is similar to that of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2A, a predetermined virtual image (for example, display I, II, III, or the like in FIG. ), Which are roughly divided into ear hooks 10 (10a and 10b), which are head-mounted members, a frame 20 as a mounted body in the front region, and both eyes in front of the forehead of the wearer 3. Eyeglass part 40 arranged at a position covering
And the frame part 20 and the ear hook part 10 are connected by a flexible connecting means 50. A belt-shaped fixing portion 60 attached to the back of the head is connected to each ear hook portion 10 so as to be fastened and fixed to the head.

The ear hooks 10 are provided so as to cross the head from both sides of the frame 20 and are made of, for example, a semi-rigid material such as plastic, and correspond to both ears for the right ear and the left ear, respectively. Ear hooks 10a and 10b are formed.
Note that a soft synthetic resin material having good adhesion to the skin, such as silicon rubber, may be attached to the ear hook portion 10.

On one ear hook portion 10b side, there is provided a sound output means 16 such as a small speaker, for example, which is arranged close to one ear of the wearer 3. The audio output means 16 is formed so as to sound, for example, an alarm based on the display content of the display means 70, and outputs audio information related to the display of the display means 70.

The audio output means 16 and the display means 70 are connected by a cable 62 which passes through a hollow part of the ear hook part 10 described later. Further, on the other side of the ear hook 10a, an operation input unit 14 that allows the user to easily control the display information of the display unit 70 with the hand of the wearer 3.
(14a, 14b, 14c) are provided, and the operation input means 14 and the display means 70 are also connected by a cable 62. The cable 62 is formed of an electric cable or an optical fiber cable, and connects the display unit 70, the audio output unit 16, and the operation input unit 14 to each other, and transmits a drive signal, power, a timing signal, an information signal, and the like.

The fixing portion 60 is formed of, for example, elastic tape or the like, but may be formed of a strap. The fixing portion 60 crosses the back of the wearer 1 to enable stable mounting. . Alternatively, a soft flexible material that can be worn comfortably for a long time may be used.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the frame portion 20 is formed of a durable material such as injection-molded plastic, and is formed at the upper edge of the spectacle portion 40 so as to extend toward the forehead. It has a part 22. The spectacles section 40 is a wide-type sunglasses, a so-called over-laying type, in which the front surface is formed into a cylindrical shape as a whole, and both ends are formed to be bent in the temporal direction, and can be smartly worn over the already-worn glasses. Formed and smartly configured in appearance. Note that the spectacles section 40 is formed of a dark transparent color and also has a function of sunglasses.

The display means 70 is horizontally disposed on the ceiling 22 at one upper position in front of the forehead of the wearer 3, and on the back side of the spectacles section 40, the display means 70 is located below the projection surface. A half mirror 42 as a light reflecting portion having a size that covers the projection surface diagonally from the upper front position to the lower front side is disposed in one of the front eye regions. The half mirror 42 is for displaying the image of the display means 70 as a specific area at a position distant from the eyes of the wearer 3 and also for recognizing the outside view of the visual field area. An image displayed on the means 70 is reflected by the half mirror 42 and an image of the outside scene transmitted through the half mirror 42 is included.

Further, the ceiling part 22 of the frame part 20
The light guide unit 28 guides external light toward the display unit 70 attached to the attachment hole 26 by reflection or total reflection. The light guide 28 may be formed of, for example, transparent white acrylic, and may have a function as a color filter by making the light guide 28 a desired color.
In this case, the color displayed on the display means 70 can be set by changing the color of the color filter. Further, the light guide means 28 may have a function of condensing external light toward the display means 70 and a function of diffusing light to the display means 70.

A cushion portion 29 is formed on the U-shaped side portion of the ceiling portion 22 of the frame portion 20. The cushion portion 29 is formed to be slightly curved in accordance with the shape of the forehead, and is provided with a soft pad or the like. It is preferable to use a sponge-like water-repellent material, a quick-drying member, or the like. Further, a ventilation hole 30 may be formed around the frame portion 20.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the display means 70 includes a liquid crystal display device 72 as a display unit, a power supply 92, a display information output source 94 having the function of a clock unit, a sound source 96 for an alarm, Various control means (display control means 81)
Display output control means 8 including mode switching control means 86
0, audio output control means 88, etc.). The liquid crystal display device 72 includes a liquid crystal display panel 73 and two polarizing plates (not shown). The liquid crystal display panel 73 is formed, for example, of a transmission type, and displays a projected display image in accordance with a display information signal from a display information output source 94. Since this image is output based on the light condensed through the light guide means 28 having a light condensing function, the contrast is very good, and the liquid crystal display panel can be constituted by a color dot matrix (or line matrix). , Color display is also possible. The display control means 81 controls the display of the liquid crystal display panel 73 based on the power from the power supply 92. In this example, the display output control means 80 is constituted by the display control means 81 and various control means.
Further, in this example, the display information output source 84 has a function of a clock unit, and the clock unit includes an oscillation unit that generates a reference signal,
The display control unit 81 includes a frequency dividing unit that divides the frequency into a desired cycle. The display information is output to the liquid crystal display panel 73 by the display control unit 81.

Although the configuration of the present apparatus is classified as described above in terms of function, the configuration in which the timer unit 94, the liquid crystal display device 72, the display output control means 80, and the like are all integrally formed on the hardware is described below. Various configurations such as a configuration in which the power supply 92 and the power supply 92 are separated from the liquid crystal display device 72 are possible.

The operation input means 14, as shown in FIG.
It is provided in at least one ear hook part 10 and controls the operation of the display information of the display control means 81. In this example, a plurality of, for example, three operation buttons 14a, 14b, and 14c allow various controls. Specifically, the first operation button 14a functions as an operation unit for mode conversion for converting a mode on the liquid crystal display panel 73. Second
The operation button 14b functions as a start or stop operation unit in the stopwatch mode.
The third operation button functions as an operation unit for adjustment such as time adjustment in a normal time mode. In this example, three types of operation units are formed. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and operation units having various functions can be added.

(About Flexible Connecting Means) Here, the flexible connecting means which is a characteristic structure of the present invention is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the head-mounted display device 1 of this embodiment, hollow portions 12 and 24 are formed in the frame portion 20 and the ear hook portions 10 (10a and 10b), and the hollow portions 12 and 24 communicate with each other. I have. A cable 62 for connecting the display means 70 and the operation input means 14 (14a, 14b, 14c) is inserted through the hollow portions 12, 24. With this cable 62, the display information of the display means 70 located in the eye area of the wearer can be operated and controlled by the operation input means 14 in the ear area of the wearer.

The flexible connecting means 50 is provided between the frame portion 20 and the ear hook portion 10 so as to cover the cable 62.
(50a, 50b) are formed. That is, the hollow portion 52 through which the cable 62 is inserted
And a first engaged portion 54-1 to be engaged with the first engaging portion 13 of the ear hook portion 10 is formed on one end side, and a frame portion is formed on the other end side. 20 second engagement portion 25
Is formed with the second engaged portion 54-2.

In this manner, the frame section 20 and the flexible connecting means 50 are connected by the engagement of the second engaging section 25 and the second engaged section 54-2, and each hollow section is connected to the hollow section. The cable 62 is arranged between the sections. On the other hand, ear hook 1
0 and the flexible connecting means 50, the first engagement portion 13 and the first
Is engaged with the engaged portion 54-1, and the cable 62 is arranged between the hollow portions.

Therefore, the hollow portion 52 of the flexible connecting means 50
The cable 62 can be protected by inserting the cable 62 therein. In addition, since the flexible connecting means 50a and 50b are interposed between the frame portion 20 and one ear hook portion 10a and between the frame portion 20 and the other ear hook portion 10b, respectively, the frame portion 20 and each ear hook portion are interposed. Since it is flexibly deformed when it is bent, it can be deformed to a state where it can be easily mounted.

The flexible connecting means 50 is made of a material which is flexible and retains its shape after fluctuation, such as urethane, and has a bellows portion 56 formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof. It is free. Flexible connecting means 50
Is formed due to differences in the distance between the ears and eyes of the wearer and the distance between the cheekbones, but is preferably formed in the hinge region at the time of wearing. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the cable and the main body from being damaged when an excessive force is applied at the time of bending, and it is possible to smoothly bend the cable and the body smoothly without difficulty. Further, since the flexible connecting means has a shape retaining property to some extent after the deformation, the flexible connecting means can be satisfactorily adhered according to the size of the wearer.

In the flexible connecting means 50 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3C, a cable 62 in which various wiring cords are bundled into one hollow portion 52 is inserted. However, as shown in FIG.
-1, 52-2, 52-3 may be formed, and each cable 62-1, 62-2, 62-3 may be inserted into each. Note that the entire two ear hooks 10 may be formed of a flexible member, and in this case, the wearability of the wearer is further improved.

Further, since the distance between the ear and the nose differs depending on each wearer, in this example, the flexible hooking means 50 between the frame portion 20 and the ear hook portion 10 includes the ear hook portion 10 with respect to the frame portion. By adjusting the angle stepwise, the half mirror 4
An angle adjustment mechanism (not shown) is provided to allow the wearer to set the virtual image blur and the virtual image display position with respect to the visual field by changing the distance between the eye 2 and the eye and the angle of the half mirror 42. By changing the optical distance by this angle adjusting mechanism, the wearer can set and adjust the optimal virtual image display position to a desired position, and can adjust the virtual image so that the virtual image can be easily viewed regardless of the size of the wearer. As the angle adjusting mechanism, for example, it is preferable to use a universal joint or the like that can adjust steplessly in all directions in three dimensions.

(Regarding Light Reflecting Portion) In this example, the half mirror 4 having a sufficiently large area as the light reflecting portion with respect to the liquid crystal display panel 73 and being formed integrally with or separately from the eyeglass portion 40.
2 are provided. The half mirror 42 is configured to project the virtual image from the display means 70 in the direction of the line of sight and to superimpose the virtual image on the outside world. In order to form the virtual image of the display means 70 at infinity or a finite distance from the eyes, It has a substantially concave shape, and is formed by a curved half mirror having a concave surface on the eye side, and also functions as a lens. Here, the image is enlarged in the horizontal direction by the curvature in the horizontal direction, and is seen as a horizontally widened image in the field of view, giving a wide impression to the wearer. In addition, the image is enlarged in the vertical direction due to the curvature in the vertical direction, and an image that is expanded in the vertical direction can be seen.

When the wearer wants to view a virtual image, a projected display image is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 73 by a display output signal input sequentially through the display information output source 94, the cable 62, and the display means 70. . The projection display image output from the liquid crystal display panel 73 is arranged to be inclined with respect to the line of sight by transmitting the external light 2 shown in FIG. 2A through the polarizing plate / liquid crystal display panel 73 in the display means 70. In addition to being reflected by the half mirror 42, the projected display image is enlarged by the curvature of the half mirror 42 and is incident on the eyeball. On the other hand, light from the outside world passes through the half mirror 42 and enters the eyes. Therefore, a virtual image shown in FIG. 2B, which is an enlarged image of the image output from the liquid crystal display panel 73, is given to the wearer.
It is recognized in a specific area within the visual field area, and a virtual image can be visually superimposed on the outside scene.

When the wearer wants to view the outside scenery, the display output from the display means 70 may be stopped by the operation input means 14. Accordingly, external light incident from the viewing area passes through the spectacle unit 40 and the half mirror 42, and only the outside scene can be viewed.

The half mirror may be formed by a hologram lens, and a hologram pattern is previously recorded on the hologram lens so that a virtual image is formed at an infinite or finite distance from the eye. .

(Regarding Transmittance Adjusting Means) In this example, the transmittance of the lens of the half mirror / eyeglass unit is set to 50/5.
Although set to 0, the present invention is not limited to this, and the transmittance may be set to 40/60 in advance. Moreover, a transmittance changing means that can freely change the ratio of each transmittance may be provided.

As an example of such transmittance changing means,
A plurality of, for example, two half mirrors having different transmittances are rotatably mounted on the spectacles section, and the two half mirrors are set to a small transmittance state where the two half mirrors overlap and a large transmittance state of only one half mirror. And the like.
By adopting a configuration in which the transmittance is changed in this way, the transmittance can be easily changed according to the brightness of the outside scenery, the sharpness of the virtual image can be adjusted, and the burden on the eyes and the stress can be reduced. A virtual image can be displayed realistically.

It is also possible to provide a density adjusting means for detecting the amount of ambient light with an optical sensor and adjusting the density of the spectacles located on the outside based on the detection result. If a semi-black reflective sheet is attached to the back side of the half mirror 42, the display can be clearly seen without changing the transmittance.

(Regarding the mounting structure of the display unit) In this example,
Mounting holes 26a and 26b as openings are formed in the right eye region and the left eye region of the ceiling portion 22, respectively. Therefore, by forming the display unit 70 including the unitized liquid crystal display device so as to be detachable from the mounting hole 26, the display unit 70 can be switched between left and right as necessary. In this way, if the user continues to view the display on only one of them, switching to the other can reduce the burden on the eyes.

In this case, the half mirror 4 as a light reflecting portion
It is preferable that the second and the like be attached to either of the openings or both. Further, the wiring such as a cable is formed in advance so that the display means 70 is attached to any of the attachment holes 26, and the operation input means 14 and the sound output means 16 are used to connect the two attachment holes 26a and 26b in advance. By wiring to surrounding contacts, the contact of the mounting hole 26 and the display means 7
There is a configuration in which current can be supplied by contact with a zero contact.

As described above, since the display means is detachably formed with respect to the mounting portion, the module of the display means can be freely changed, and the function of the display means can be easily upgraded.

Further, both mounting holes 26a and 26b
The display means 70 may be fixedly mounted on each of them, and both right and left sides may be switched by switching means such as a switch. In this case, both can be displayed at the same time, and a horizontally long display can be shown as a virtual image in the field of view. Alternatively, a groove may be provided in the mounting hole 26 so that the display means 70 can slide in the horizontal direction. Thereby, the position between the left and right display means 70 can be adjusted, adjusted according to the width of the eyes of the wearer, or made to look horizontally long or short.

(Optimal Virtual Image Position) In this example, the optimal virtual image display position in the visual field area is set to an area below the horizontal direction and having an angle of 7 ° to 13 ° with the horizontal direction. Therefore, it is preferable to set the distance between the half mirror 42 and the display means 70 and the vertical and horizontal curvatures of the half mirror 42. Thereby, in the case of a person riding a bicycle, a virtual image can be easily viewed and displayed well without interrupting the field of view.

Also, the distance between the half mirror 42 and the display means 70 and the half mirror are set so that the angle between the half mirror 42 and the display means 70 is set in advance in the upper region with respect to the horizontal direction, and the angle between the horizontal direction and the horizontal direction is set at 7 ° to 13 °. It is preferable to set the curvature of each of the vertical and horizontal directions. As a result, in the case of a running person such as a marathon runner, the virtual image is easy to see without obstructing the field of view, can be seen almost on a horizontal line, and can be displayed well.

As described above, in this example, the distance between the half mirror and the display means and the vertical and horizontal curvatures of the half mirror can be set in advance as necessary, and the virtual image display position can be changed. , Because the display position of the virtual image is output slightly above or slightly below the front, without blocking the view,
It can be set to the best position that is easy to see. In addition, by setting such an optimal position, the stress applied to the eyes can be reduced as compared with the case where an image is always displayed directly in front of the field of view as in the related art. In particular, when used outdoors, it is preferable to set it in the lower region because it is easier to see visually. The reason for this is that if the virtual image is directly in front, the view will be obstructed, and if the virtual image is set on the upper side, the outside will be bright and the display will disappear, and the display will float if you are looking at a dark place such as the ground as much as possible. Because it looks natural.

Further, in the present embodiment, the half mirror 62 is set so that the image can be seen as a virtual image at a distance of about 5 m in front of the eyes so as not to cause eyestrain. Here, the position where the virtual image appears is determined by the vertical and horizontal curvatures of the half mirror 42, the display means 90 and the half mirror 42.
The distance is determined by the relationship between the distance and the distance. If the image is projected far away, the distance is increased and the curvature is increased. In addition, the set position of the distance from the front of the virtual image is preferably 5 m or more, more preferably 8 m or more, and further preferably 10 m or more. Also, by setting to infinity, the virtual image is displayed so as to melt into the outside scenery space.

It is preferable that the set positions are set differently for each sport type. For example,
For a bicycle rider (about 30 km / h), 8
It is preferable to set the position where the virtual image is displayed 5 m ahead in the case where the virtual image is displayed 5 m ahead, in a marathon event or the like (about 20 km / h). By setting in this manner, the display of the virtual image can be easily viewed in the field of view according to the sporting event, and the virtual image is displayed in an easily readable manner.
In addition, by setting the field of view far, the device of this example can be used for outdoor use. Note that a plurality of half mirrors may be prepared, and the curvature of the half mirror may be adjusted in a unit form.

(Lighting of Display) In this example, it is possible to switch between displaying the virtual image continuously and displaying it intermittently. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the operation input means 14 is a switching operation means for switching between the continuous display mode and the intermittent display mode so that the display is periodically turned off for intermittent display. 14-1 and a period setting operation means 14 for operating the adjustment of the display period and the non-display period, respectively.
-4.14-5. Here, the output of the display information is controlled so as to switch the display output control means 80 by a switch of the operation input means 14. When the switch is turned on, the wearer can view the virtual image, and when the switch is turned off, the wearer can view the virtual image. Display can be stopped.

The display output control means 80 includes the operation means 14
The mode switching control means 87 for controlling the display control means 81 by switching between the continuous display mode and the intermittent display mode based on -1 and the ON period (display period) and the OFF period (non-display period) of the control switch The display control means 81 adjusts based on a reference signal from a display information output source 94 which is a timer.
And a non-display period adjusting unit 84 for controlling the display period.

In the intermittent display mode, the display period and the non-display period are adjusted and changed to change the display time to a desired time,
It can be displayed every n minutes. In this manner, since the virtual image can be displayed intermittently, it can be displayed for a certain period of time, for example, every minute, or can be displayed by operating the operation input means 14 only when the wearer wants to see it. Thus, the eyes can be prevented from getting tired as compared with the case where the information is always displayed, and the burden and stress on the eyes can be reduced.

The display output control means 80 includes a power supply 92
The on / off period of the audio output control means 88 for controlling the audio output as well as the input / output of display information and the input / output of display information can be adjusted and controlled.
After a few seconds or at the same time after the voice output,
Audio output and display can be set to be performed cyclically, for example, every 5 minutes. Further, by adjusting the non-display period, the display can be turned off after lighting for several seconds, and the lighting time and the audio output time can be set as desired.

When it is desired to output audio information to the audio output means 16 by the audio switching operation means 14-6,
In addition to switching between the sound information from the sound source 96 and the received sound information from the receiving means 97, if transmission is desired, the distribution of the sound information is stopped and the transmission means 98 is switched to send the transmitted sound information. Can be.

The mode switching control means 86 mainly stores a time calendar mode for normal time display, a chronograph mode for a stopwatch function, an alarm mode for alarm setting, and a built-in memory (not shown) provided in a clock section. Switching control to various modes such as a recall mode in which a measurement result such as a lap time can be displayed again can be performed.

In particular, in the chronograph mode, the chronograph mode mark, time (hour, minute, second, AM / P
M), 10 hour counter (hour, minute, second, 1/100 second), number of laps, lap display, stop display, target time display, memory display, number of channels related to divided memory status and designated channels, alarm / report A summer time mark or the like is displayed, and the display output control means 80 is provided with means for achieving these various functions.
In the chronograph function, the difference between the target time and the actual lap time can be displayed, and when it is late, the time-up sound can be notified, and for example, 120 laps and split times can be stored. In the recall function, the stored data (lap count, lap time, split time) can be displayed even after the measurement.

(About the function of the timepiece) Here, the details of the function of the timekeeping unit, which is the display information output source 94 provided in the frame unit of the head mounted display device described above, will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIG. 7 and Tables 1 and 2. FIG. 7 lists the main functions of the timing unit,
This corresponds to an icon-type symbol displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 73. As is clear from the figure, the display means of the present example measures the integrated time, the means for displaying the measurement result, the means for measuring the split time, the means for displaying the measurement result, and the lap time. Means, means for displaying the measurement result, means for setting a timer, means for indicating that setting is in progress, means for setting a target time and means for indicating that setting is in progress, fully automatic calendar, alarm, operation There are provided various means for executing a confirmation sound, a battery remaining amount, a memory, a printer connection, a personal computer connection, and the like, and a means for displaying that the operation is being performed. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the minimum measurement unit, the maximum measurement time, and the battery life are provided with means capable of displaying various types in accordance with each stage, and can be displayed as such. In addition, it has each function shown in Tables 1 and 2 below.

[0076]

[Table 1]

[Table 2] For this reason, it goes without saying that the display means of the present example includes each means for achieving each function shown in Tables 1 and 2 and each means for displaying that each function is being executed. Switching of these functions is performed by the display control means 81 shown in FIG. 4, and the functions can be switched by the operation input means.

(Operation) In the above configuration, before the wearer 1 wears the present apparatus, the texture of the display is determined, and the display means 70 is fitted into one of the left and right mounting holes 26 and fixed. I do. In the example of FIG. 1 (A), it is attached to the left eye side. In this example, since a digital watch equipped with a stopwatch function is employed as the display means 70, the display is like the display I in FIG. 2B.

Next, a desired color is selected from a plurality of light guide means (color filters) 28 prepared in advance, and fitted into the ceiling 22 of the frame 20. In this example, since the milky white color filter 28 is used and the spectacles section 40 is semi-black, the background color is black and milky white characters are displayed in the viewing area.

When the wearer 1 wears the apparatus, the flexible connecting member 50 formed in the hinge area is bent and mounted on the head. As described above, since the cable 62 can be freely bent according to the size of the wearer 1, the cable 62 and the like can be easily mounted without imposing a load. And, by fixing the fixing portion 60 with the back of the head, the mounting can be performed stably.

Here, the wearer 1 turns on the power by operating the operation input means 14 arranged near the ear with any hand, and displays the display means 70 in a specific area of the visual field area.
Will be displayed. The mechanism of the virtual image display is as described in detail in the item of the light reflection section.

Next, the ear hook portion 10 is appropriately bent with respect to the frame portion 20 and the angle adjusting mechanism in the flexible connecting means 50 is moved stepwise so that the user can easily see the position. The display position and size of the virtual image in the visual field area are manually adjusted. Further, when used outdoors, the transmittance is adjusted by the transmittance adjusting means formed by a plurality of half mirrors according to the brightness of the outside scene. The transmittance is increased by using one stacked half mirror.

Then, the wearer can select
A stopwatch or the like is set by the operation input means 14, and a competition is performed. During the competition, the wearer performs intense exercise in a state of being worn. At this time, the frame 20 has a cushion 2 made of a water-repellent material or the like facing the forehead.
9 and the ventilation holes are also formed, so that the half mirror 42 and the like are not blurred due to sweat or the like, so that a good display can be performed, and the wearer is not adversely affected.

Further, even during a competition, there is no need to bend the arm each time the user looks at the display, as with a watch worn on a conventional arm.
You can always see it on your head. In addition, in the display, the display period and the non-display period can be freely set according to the degree of eye fatigue, and the display position of the virtual image is preset at a position that is easy to see, for example, in a lower region 5 m ahead, so that the eyes can be displayed. Such a burden can be reduced. In addition, in conjunction with the display, sound is also output by the sound output means arranged near the ear,
You can check the sound at low volume.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the display information output source, the power supply, the operation input means, and the display means are formed integrally with an extremely simple structure, and further, a backlight or the like is not used as in the prior art. Therefore, since it is lightweight, it is easy for the wearer to attach and detach it, and it is suitable as a device for outdoor use such as sports. In addition, since the display means is arranged near the sight and the sound output means is arranged near the hearing,
It is easy to recognize various kinds of information, and it can be enjoyed as an output display for complete personal use without bothering voice and display output to others, and can reduce the burden on eyes and ears.

Further, the display means is displayed in conjunction with the sound output from the voice output means, so that, for example, in a sport or the like, a pitch sound can be emitted during running, and a conventional alarm watch worn on the arm is used. Compared to the case of, the display can be confirmed while playing sports, and the sound can be confirmed even at a low volume. Also, since there is no need to wear a clock on the arm, it is possible to see the display even when both hands are closed, making it difficult to check the display even when multiple people are running. Can be prevented from hitting the body.

(Modifications) Although the apparatus and method according to the present invention have been described according to some specific embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be implemented without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Various modifications can be made to the embodiment described in the present text. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the flexible connecting member 120 is connected to the right eye of the frame portion.
It may be formed between the right eye region and the left eye region respectively corresponding to the left eye. In this case, between the right eye region and the left eye region respectively corresponding to the right eye and the left eye of the frame portion, the frame portion 110a
110b is divided so that it is not necessary to arrange a cable inside. When one of the left and right divided frame portions 110a is provided with a display means and the other frame portion 110b is provided with an operation input means, a cable is provided inside the flexible connection member 120a. Is formed to cover the cable.

In this case, since the flexible connecting means 120 is greatly curved when bent, it is preferable that the flexible connecting means 120 be formed in different sizes or in a bellows shape in the inner region and the outer region on the wearer side. This can prevent an excessive force from being applied during bending.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, it is preferable that the voice input means 380, for example, a microphone is disposed in the mouth area of the wearer. The voice input means 380 is provided in at least one ear hook, and receives voice information. When the voice input means 380 is mounted, the voice input means 380 is disposed on either the frame portion or the ear hook portion,
Voice-display conversion means 40 for converting the voice information from voice input means 380 into display information related to the voice information
0, and control can be performed by the display control means 81. An example of the voice-display conversion means 400 will be described later.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a measuring means 300 (for example, a sensor or the like) is connected to the head-mounted display device of the present embodiment, and each measurement result is displayed on a liquid crystal display under the control of the display control means 101. It is preferable that the display is switched or displayed simultaneously on the panel 73. The measuring means 300 measures surrounding environment information, unique information unique to the wearer, and the like, and displays the display result on the liquid crystal display panel 73. Here, the surrounding environment information includes temperature, pressure, altitude, amount of ultraviolet rays, and the like. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, a detecting means 31 for detecting each of these measurement parameters is used.
Calculation means 320 for calculating 0 and is provided. The unique information unique to the wearer includes a pulse, a pitch, the number of steps, a running distance, a running speed, and the like. Therefore,
As shown in FIG. 6, a detection unit 310 for detecting each of these measurement parameters and a calculation unit 320 for calculating the measurement parameters are provided. In this way, the display means 70 of the head-mounted display device is used, and the display control means 81 and the switching operation means 14 built in the operation input means 14 for switching each display of each measurement means 300 are provided. -7, and both the measurement result of the measuring means 300 and the display information of the timer 94 are displayed by the mode switching control means 340 for mode switching. Examples of this display include a display II (temperature) and a display III (pulse) shown in FIG. Note that the sensor for measuring the pulse is preferably one that can be measured from the ear, not from the finger or the like. Further, it is preferable that the display means is equipped with various calculation means and graphic functions so that such measurement data can be displayed as a graph or the like on the display means. This allows the wearer to
By constantly monitoring these various types of information in the virtual display space in front of you, you can reduce unnecessary time loss compared to the conventional case where you wear it on your arm etc. It is suitable. Further, the present invention is not limited to the case where a professional athlete is used, and can be enjoyed as a game device for children and the like, and can be expected to be used by a wide range of users.

Further, a configuration in which display means and a light reflecting portion are provided on both the left and right sides, a configuration in which a plurality of display means are disposed along the glasses section, and a display means provided in the side of the eyes, Alternatively, a configuration in which the display information is fetched from the user may be used. When a liquid crystal display device is disposed on each of the left and right sides, different images can be displayed on both eyes so that different images can be seen by both eyes. In addition, it is preferable that each liquid crystal display device output an image that causes parallax, because a stereoscopic image can be viewed over an image of the outside world, and an image full of reality can be displayed. Further, the image projected on the display means may be a three-dimensional image.

Further, one of the two polarizing plates usually used in the liquid crystal display device may be removed, a concave half mirror may be provided, and the spectacles portion may be constituted by polarized sunglasses. This enables a brighter display even when the external light is dark. Furthermore, a configuration using a polarizing beam splitter may be used. In this case, one or two polarizing plates of the liquid crystal display device are omitted, and a brighter display is possible.

Further, the apparatus of the present embodiment may be integrated with a hat, headphone, hair band, goggles, glasses, sun visor, and the like.

Note that the speaker may be provided with an external connection terminal so that a connection cord for data transfer to which another portable information terminal, a PC or the like is connected can be connected. Further, in this case, a belt portion capable of inserting and fixing the portable information terminal may be provided in the ear hook portion, and various devices may be detachably mounted so as to be inserted and fixed to the operator's head. good. Here, examples of the information output of the portable information terminal and the portable device include a pager, a mobile phone, and the like. In addition, PC monitor,
A remote control such as a Walkman video television may be mounted so as to be inserted into the ear hook portion, connected to a personal computer via a cable, and have a monitor function. In this case, it is preferable that the sound output means of the head-mounted display device is configured as a headphone, and functions as a headphone with an operation function. Thereby, a display function is added while communicating using the microphone. The transmission of information with a personal computer or the like is not limited to a cable connection, but may be a wireless transmission using an antenna or the like. In this case, since it has display, sound, and operation functions, a pager,
As a portable device, it is close to the ear, so that a mobile phone or the like only needs a small sound, and information can be input without being noticed.

Further, as a head mounted information device configured by combining a head mounted display device with another information device, a personal computer (P
C) and Engineering Workstation (EW)
S), pagers, mobile phones, word processors, televisions, viewfinder-type or monitor direct-view type video tape recorders, electronic notebooks, electronic desk calculators, information devices such as navigation devices, IC cards and simultaneous interpretation systems
Personal digital information devices (Personal Digital Asistance) having a handwriting screen, a video conference system, a map information system, a data creation system, and the like.
Further, by connecting an input / output interface unit, it can also be used as a display unit of a video camera or the like. Internet connection is also possible.

Also, an input operation input means for enabling mouse display in a virtual display space of a normal image display type HMD is provided, and an object is three-dimensionally displayed on the display unit based on designation of deformation and movement. A display with a feeling, a display equipped with transmitters on the left and right, a display with a left and a right, and display on the display in synchronization with display data for the left eye and the right may be used.

The head-mounted display device of this embodiment may be formed as an information device developed as follows. This information device, as shown in FIG.
A voice input unit 380 for inputting voice information is provided. The display unit 70 is located near eyes of the wearer and displays display information related to the voice information. And is configured to output audio information. Further, in addition to the head-mounted display device, a microphone as a voice input means may be provided so as to be used as a hands-free mobile phone, and particularly to perform voice recognition. When this voice recognition device is provided, the voice-display conversion means 400 shown in FIG. 4 is connected between the voice input means 380 and the display control means 81. As shown in the figure, the voice information input from the voice input unit 380 is converted into display information by performing voice recognition by the voice-display conversion unit 400, and the display information based on the recognition result is output to the display information output source. The display control means 81 controls the composition together with the display information from the display panel 384, and outputs it to the liquid crystal display panel 73. here,
The speech recognition device as the speech-display conversion unit 400 sequentially cuts out, for example, input speech information in frame units,
It is preferable to include a feature extraction unit that converts the feature vector into a sequence of feature vectors extracted by a linear prediction analysis or a filter bank, a neural network that is a speech recognition processing unit, an attractor determination unit, an internal state initial value setting unit, and the like.

As means for performing voice recognition, for example, a high-speed DSP (Digital
Signal Processor). In addition, as a method of speech recognition, any of isolated word speech recognition, continuous speech recognition, pattern matching for a multi-reference pattern, and a sentence speech recognition system using natural language processing may be used. In this case, in continuous speech recognition, DP matching (Dynamic Programming Matchin
g) or HMM (Hidden Markov Model).

By mounting the voice recognition device and the IC having the voice recognition function as described above, the following applications can be made, for example. For example, by providing a conversion unit that converts not only human language voices but also voices of horns of a car or the like into a display, for example, when a horn of a car sounds, a lamp of a car mark is displayed in an icon format on a display screen. A configuration is also possible in which the icon is displayed or an animal-shaped icon is displayed in response to the animal's cry.

In this case, in human language, only some sounds such as the range of a specific person's voice react during speech recognition.
Identification means for identifying and selecting a specific sound having a certain frequency width so as not to react to other sounds is required. By doing so, the voice can be converted into characters and the characters can be displayed during a conversation, which is effective for hearing-impaired persons.

Further, a storage unit, a DSP and the like may be built in, a system integrated one-chip microcomputer may be used, and a function of translating different languages in addition to speech recognition may be adopted. Furthermore, it can be applied to hearing aids, head-mounted videophones, videoconferencing, translation systems, and the like. This makes it possible to reduce the weight while consolidating the functions acting on the sight and hearing (voice output, voice input). Further, it is also possible to display the language input by voice in a specific area of the display means so as to flow sequentially. Further, the head-mounted display device of the present invention can be applied to a case where an image supply source is connected from the outside.

[0101]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an embodiment of a head-mounted display device according to the present invention, wherein (A) is a perspective view and (B) is a side view.

FIG. 2A is a side view showing a state in which the wearer wears the head-mounted display device of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a view showing the display contents of the liquid crystal display device. It is the schematic which showed an example.

3A and 3B are diagrams showing a flexible connecting means of the head-mounted display device of FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 3A is a macroscopic sectional view, FIG. 3B is a microscopic sectional view, (C) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. (A), and (D) is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of FIG. (C).

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the head mounted display device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the entirety of another embodiment of the head-mounted display device according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 5A is a state of being bent outward and FIG. The bent state is shown.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an example of another embodiment of the head mounted display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic explanatory view showing a function of a clock unit of the head mounted display device according to the present invention.

8 is a diagram showing the head-mounted display device of FIG. 1,
(A) is a perspective view, (B) is a plan view.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Head-mounted display device 10a, 10b Ear hook part 14 Operation input means 16 Audio output means 20 Frame part 26 Mounting hole 28 Light guide means (color filter) 29 Cushion part 40 Glasses part 42 Light reflection part (half mirror) 50a , 50b Flexible connection means 52 Hollow part 62 Cable 70 Display means 300 Measurement means 400 Voice-display conversion means

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A pair of ear hooks respectively attached to both ears of a wearer, a translucent eyeglass portion positioned to cover both eyes of the wearer, and a space between the two ear hooks. A frame portion arranged and holding the spectacles portion, and a head-mounted display device that is mounted on the wearer and displays a predetermined image in a specific region of a visual field viewed by the wearer. The frame unit includes a display unit that displays and outputs a projected display image based on display information, and the glasses unit includes a light reflecting unit that reflects the projected display image. The ear hook portion has operation input means for inputting information necessary for display determination of the display means, the display means comprising: a display information output source for outputting the display information; and the display information output source. Display the projected display image based on the display information from A display panel that performs display control on the display panel based on the display information, and a power supply that supplies power to the display information output source, the display panel, and the display control unit, respectively. The light reflection unit reflects the projection display image at the position of the specific area and guides the image to the eyeball of the wearer, and the operation input unit is connected to the display control unit by wire or wirelessly. A head-mounted display device characterized by the following. 2. The frame unit according to claim 1, further comprising a cable arranged in a hollow portion formed in the frame portion and the ear hook portion, the cable connecting the display means and the operation input means. A hinge region is formed between the ear hook portion and the hinge region, and the hinge region is formed by a flexible connection unit that connects the frame portion and the ear hook portion so as to cover the cable. Head-mounted display device. 3. The flexible connection means according to claim 1, wherein the frame portion is divided between a right eye region and a left eye region respectively corresponding to the right eye and the left eye of the eyeglass portion, and the respective frame portions are connected. A head mounted display device characterized by being performed. 4. The display device according to claim 3, wherein the display means is provided on one of the left and right divided frame parts, and the operation input means is provided on one ear hook part connected to the other frame part. Further comprising a cable arranged in a hollow portion formed in said frame portion, said one ear hook portion, and said flexible connecting means, and connecting said display means and said operation input means. Part-mounted display device. 5. The head-mounted display device according to claim 1, wherein the whole of the two ear hook portions is formed of a flexible member. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an audio output unit provided on at least one of the ear hooks and configured to output audio information related to display on the display panel. Head-mounted display device. 7. The voice input device according to claim 1, wherein the voice input device is provided in at least one of the ear hooks and receives audio information, and the frame portion or the ear hook portion. Arranged in
Voice-display conversion means for converting the voice information from the voice input means into display information related to the voice information, and wherein the display control means displays the output from the voice-display conversion means. A head-mounted display device, wherein information is displayed and controlled on the display panel. 8. The voice input unit according to claim 1, wherein the voice input unit is located near a mouth of the wearer, and receives voice information of the wearer, and transmits the voice information. A head unit, further comprising: a transmitting unit; and a voice output control unit that controls the output of the voice information by supplying the voice information to the transmitting unit based on the voice information of the voice input unit. Wearable display device. 9. A head-mounted display device according to claim 1, wherein the head-mounted display device is connected to the head-mounted display device, and is one of ambient environment information and unique information unique to the wearer. Or a measuring means for measuring both, and wherein the display control means controls display of a measurement result of the measuring means on the display panel.