KR102248623B1 - Optical device for augmented reality having improved light transmissivity - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is an optical device for augmented reality with improved light transmittance, comprising: an image output unit for emitting image light corresponding to an image for augmented reality; A reflecting unit for providing an augmented reality image to a user by reflecting and transmitting image light corresponding to the augmented reality image emitted from the image output unit toward the pupil of the user's eye; And an optical means for transmitting at least a part of the image light emitted from an actual object toward the pupil of the user's eye, wherein the reflecting part is disposed, and the reflecting part has a size of 4 mm or less and belongs to a wavelength band of a specific color. It provides an optical device for augmented reality with improved light transmittance, characterized in that it is formed of an optical filter that reflects only image light and transmits image light having a wavelength other than the wavelength band of the specific color.

Description

Optical device for augmented reality with improved light transmittance {OPTICAL DEVICE FOR AUGMENTED REALITY HAVING IMPROVED LIGHT TRANSMISSIVITY}

The present invention relates to an optical device for augmented reality, and more particularly, to an optical device for augmented reality capable of increasing light transmittance for image light from the real world.

Augmented Reality (AR) means providing a virtual image or image generated by a computer or the like superimposed on an actual image of the real world, as is well known.

In order to implement such augmented reality, an optical system is required that allows a virtual image or image generated by a device such as a computer to be superimposed on an image of the real world and provided. As such an optical system, a technique using optical means such as a prism for reflecting or refracting a virtual image using a head mounted display (HMD) or a glasses-type device is known.

However, devices using such a conventional optical system have a problem in that the configuration is complicated and the weight and volume are considerable, so that it is inconvenient for the user to wear it, and the manufacturing process is also complicated, so that the manufacturing cost is high.

In addition, conventional devices have a limitation in that the virtual image is out of focus when the user changes the focal length when gazing at the real world. To solve this problem, techniques such as using a configuration such as a prism capable of adjusting a focal length for a virtual image or electrically controlling a variable focal lens according to a change in a focal length have been proposed. However, this technology also has a problem in that a user must perform a separate operation in order to adjust the focal length, or hardware and software such as a separate processor for controlling the focal length are required.

In order to solve such a problem of the prior art, the applicant of the present invention is a device capable of implementing augmented reality by projecting a virtual image on the retina through the pupil using a reflector having a size smaller than that of a human pupil, as described in Patent Document 1 Has been developed.

1 is a diagram showing an optical device for augmented reality as disclosed in Patent Document 1;

Referring to FIG. 1, the image output unit 30 is a means for emitting image light corresponding to an image for augmented reality, and may be implemented as, for example, a small display device. The reflection unit 20 provides an image for augmented reality by reflecting the image light corresponding to the image for augmented reality emitted from the image output unit 30 toward the pupil of the user.

The optical means 10 is a means for transmitting at least a portion of the image light emitted from an actual object, and may be, for example, a spectacle lens, and a reflective part 20 is embedded therein. The frame portion 40 is a means for fixing and supporting the image output portion 30 and the optical means 10.

The reflective part 20 of FIG. 1 is formed to have a size smaller than the size of a human pupil, that is, 8 mm or less, and by forming the reflective part 20 to be smaller than the pupil size as described above, it enters the pupil through the reflective part 20. The Field of Depth can be made almost infinite, that is, the depth can be made very deep. Here, the depth of field refers to the range recognized as being in focus. As the depth of depth increases, the focal length for an augmented reality image increases. Therefore, the focal length for the real world while the user gazes at the real world. Even if is changed, the focus of the augmented reality image is always recognized as being correct regardless of this. This can be seen as a kind of pin hole effect. Accordingly, it is possible to always provide a clear virtual image for an augmented reality image regardless of whether the user changes the focal length while gazing at a real object existing in the real world.

This technique has the advantage of deepening the depth of field and obtaining a pinhole effect, but the image light that passes through the reflection unit 20 among the image light incident from the real world is reflected by the reflection unit 20 and thus can be transmitted to the pupil. Since there is no light transmittance, there is a problem in that it is difficult to expand the size of the reflective unit 20 due to the fact that the light transmittance may be lowered.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-1660519 (announced on September 29, 2016)

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical device for augmented reality that can increase light transmittance for image light from the real world, as to solve the above-described limitations.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide an optical device for augmented reality capable of improving light uniformity by increasing the size of the reflecting unit.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an augmented reality optical device with improved light transmittance, comprising: an image output unit for emitting image light corresponding to an image for augmented reality; A reflecting unit for providing an augmented reality image to a user by reflecting and transmitting image light corresponding to the augmented reality image emitted from the image output unit toward the pupil of the user's eye; And an optical means for transmitting at least a part of the image light emitted from an actual object toward the pupil of the user's eye, wherein the reflecting part is disposed, and the reflecting part has a size of 4 mm or less and belongs to a wavelength band of a specific color. It provides an optical device for augmented reality with improved light transmittance, characterized in that it is formed of an optical filter that reflects only image light and transmits image light having a wavelength other than the wavelength band of the specific color.

Here, the reflecting unit reflects and transmits only the image light belonging to the wavelength band of the specific color among the image light corresponding to the augmented reality image emitted from the image output unit to the pupil of the user's eye, and is emitted from the actual object. As a result, image light having a wavelength other than the wavelength band of the specific color among the image light incident on the reflector can be transmitted to the pupil of the user's eye.

In addition, the optical filter is a red reflection filter that reflects image light belonging to a red wavelength band and transmits image light belonging to another wavelength band, and reflects image light belonging to a green wavelength band and transmits image light belonging to another wavelength band. One of a green reflective filter that reflects a green reflective filter, a blue reflective filter that reflects image light belonging to a blue wavelength band and transmits image light belonging to a different wavelength band, or a combination of two or more of them.

In addition, the image light emitted from the image output unit may be composed of only image light belonging to a wavelength band of a color reflected by the optical filter constituting the reflection unit.

In addition, a plurality of the reflective units may be formed.

In addition, at least a portion of the reflecting unit may be disposed so that at least a portion of the optical axis of the image light emitted from the image output unit overlaps.

Advantageous Effects of Invention According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an augmented reality optical device capable of increasing light transmittance for image light from the real world.

In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an optical device for augmented reality capable of improving light uniformity by increasing the size of the reflective portion.

1 is a diagram showing an optical device for augmented reality as disclosed in Patent Document 1;
2 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of an augmented reality optical device 100 having improved light transmittance according to the present invention.
3 is a graph showing reflection/transmittance according to wavelength of a blue reflection filter.
4 is a view for explaining the operation of the reflective portion 20 formed of the optical filter according to the present invention.
5 is a view showing an optical device 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

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

2 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of an augmented reality optical device 100 having improved light transmittance according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, an augmented reality optical device 100 with improved light transmittance according to the present embodiment (hereinafter simply referred to as "optical device 100") includes an image output unit 10 and a reflection unit 20. And optical means 30.

The image emitting unit 10 is a means for emitting image light corresponding to an image for augmented reality, for example, a display device such as a small LCD, or a reflecting device that reflects, refracts, or diffracts image light emitted from the display device to emit it. , It may be a refractive means or a diffraction means.

That is, the image output unit 10 refers to a display device itself that displays an image for augmented reality, or other various means such as reflection, refraction, or diffraction means for emitting image light emitted from the display device.

The image output unit 10 itself is not a direct object of the present invention and is known by the prior art, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Meanwhile, the augmented reality image is a virtual image displayed on the display device and transmitted to the user's pupil 40 through the reflective unit 20 when the display device is the image output unit 10, or the display device emits an image. If it is not the part 10, it means a virtual image displayed on the display device and transmitted to the user's pupil 40 through the image output unit 10 and the reflector 20.

The image for augmented reality may be a still image or a moving image in the form of an image.

The augmented reality image is emitted from the image output unit 10 and transmitted to the user's pupil 40 through the reflective unit 20 to provide a virtual image to the user, and at the same time, the real world through the optical means 30 Since the image light emitted from the real object existing in is transmitted to the user, the virtual image is superimposed on the real object and thus the user can receive the augmented reality service.

On the other hand, the image output unit 10 is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the pupil 40 with the reflective unit 20 as the center, and is shown to be disposed on the side when the user gazes at the front. It may be placed at the top or bottom when staring, or at a different angle.

The reflecting unit 20 is a means for providing an augmented reality image to the user by reflecting and transmitting image light corresponding to the augmented reality image emitted from the image output unit 10 toward the pupil 40 of the user's eye. to be.

The reflective part 20 may be embedded and disposed within the optical means 30 or may be disposed on the surface of the optical means 30 (the user's pupil 40 side).

The reflecting unit 20 is disposed at an appropriate angle between the image emitting unit 10 and the pupil 40 so as to reflect image light corresponding to an image for augmented reality toward the pupil 40.

On the other hand, as described in the background art, the reflector 20 is formed to have a size smaller than the size of the pupil of a person, that is, 8 mm or less, and more preferably 4 mm or less, so as to obtain a pinhole effect by deepening the depth of field. It is desirable to be.

That is, by forming the reflective part 20 to have a size smaller than the general pupil size of a person, the field of depth for the light incident through the reflecting part 20 into the pupil 40 is almost infinite, that is, The depth of field can be made very deep, so even if the user changes the focal length to the real world while gazing at the real world, regardless of this, a pin hole effect is generated in which the focus of the augmented reality image is always correct. I can make it.

On the other hand, the reflecting unit 20 in the present invention is characterized in that it is formed of an optical filter that reflects only image light belonging to a wavelength band of a specific color and transmits image light having a wavelength other than the wavelength band of the specific color. do.

That is, the reflection unit 20 reflects only the image light belonging to the wavelength band of the specific color among the image light corresponding to the augmented reality image emitted from the image output unit 10 to the pupil 40 of the user's eye. The image light having a wavelength other than the wavelength band of the specific color among the image light corresponding to the augmented reality image emitted from the image output unit 10 is transmitted.

In addition, the reflector 20 transmits image light having a wavelength other than the wavelength band of the specific color among the image light emitted from an actual object and incident on the reflector 20 to the pupil 40 of the user's eye. The image light of the specific color wavelength band among the image light emitted from an actual object and incident on the reflecting unit 20 is reflected.

That is, the reflecting unit 20 reflects and transmits the image light belonging to the wavelength band of the specific color among the image light corresponding to the augmented reality image emitted from the image output unit 10 to the pupil 40 of the user's eye. Then, among the image light emitted from an actual object and incident on the reflector 20, image light having a wavelength other than the wavelength band of the specific color is transmitted and transmitted to the pupil 40 of the user's eye.

Here, the optical filter may be an optical filter that reflects only image light belonging to at least one of red, green, and blue wavelength bands.

That is, the optical filter is a red reflection filter that reflects image light belonging to a red wavelength band and transmits image light belonging to another wavelength band, and reflects image light belonging to a green wavelength band and transmits image light belonging to another wavelength band. Any one of a green reflective filter, a blue reflective filter that reflects image light belonging to a blue wavelength band and transmits image light belonging to another wavelength band, or a combination of two or more of them may be configured.

As such an optical filter, what is known by the prior art can be used, and since this is not a direct object of the present invention, detailed descriptions are omitted here.

3 is a graph showing reflection/transmittance according to wavelength of a blue reflection filter.

In FIG. 3, the horizontal axis represents the wavelength (λ, nm), and the vertical axis represents the transmittance according to the wavelength.

As shown in FIG. 3, it can be seen that the blue reflection filter reflects image light in the vicinity of a wavelength of about 350 nm to 370 nm belonging to the blue wavelength band, and transmits image light belonging to other wavelength bands.

In this way, the reflective unit 20 may be formed by an optical filter that reflects image light belonging to a wavelength band of a specific color and transmits image light belonging to a wavelength band of another color.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the optical means 30 is a means for which a reflective unit 20 is disposed and transmits at least a part of the image light emitted from an actual object toward the pupil 40 of the user's eye.

The reflective portion 20 is disposed to be embedded in the inner surface of the optical means 30, but may be disposed on the surface of the optical means 30.

The optical means 30 may be implemented with a material such as glass or transparent plastic, and when in use, it is disposed in front of the user's pupil 40 to transmit image light emitted from an actual object existing in the real world to the pupil 40 Let it. The optical means 30 may be implemented with a translucent material, and in this case, the image light emitted from an actual object is partially transmitted through the pupil 40.

The optical means 30 may be coupled in the form of a module to the surface of a lens of an apparatus for providing augmented reality in the form of glasses (not shown) composed of a lens and a frame. Alternatively, the lens itself of the augmented reality providing device may be configured with the optical means 30.

On the other hand, the image light corresponding to the augmented reality image emitted from the image output unit 10 may be directly transmitted to the reflecting unit 20, but after being reflected at least once from the inner surface of the optical means 30, the image light should be transmitted. May be.

4 is a view for explaining the operation of the reflective portion 20 formed of the optical filter according to the present invention.

In FIG. 4, the reflecting unit 20 is formed of a red, green, and blue reflective filter that is a combination of a red reflective filter, a green reflective filter, and a blue reflective filter to reflect image light belonging to a wavelength band of red, green, and blue, and Wavelength has the property of transmitting.

Referring to the left drawing of FIG. 4, among image light emitted from an actual object and incident on the reflecting unit 20, image light belonging to the wavelength band of red, green, and blue is transmitted to the reflecting unit 20 formed of a red, green, and blue reflective filter. It can be seen that the image light that is reflected by and belongs to a wavelength band of colors other than red, green, and blue is transmitted to the pupil 40 through the reflective unit 20. That is, image light emitted from an actual object and incident on the reflecting unit 20 is transmitted to the pupil 40 only with image light belonging to the remaining wavelength bands except for image light belonging to the wavelength bands of red, green, and blue.

In addition, referring to the middle drawing of FIG. 4, among the image light emitted from the image output unit 10 and incident on the reflection unit 20, image light belonging to the wavelength band of red, green, and blue is formed by a red, green, and blue reflection filter. It can be seen that image light that is reflected by the reflecting unit 20 and transmitted to the pupil 40, and belongs to a wavelength band of colors other than red, green, and blue, passes through the reflective unit 20. That is, the image light emitted from the image emitting unit 10 and passing through the reflecting unit 20 is transmitted to the pupil 40 only in the image light belonging to the wavelength bands of red, green, and blue.

The right side diagram of FIG. 4 shows the image light incident on the pupil 40 among the image light emitted from the actual object and incident on the reflective unit 20 and the image light emitted from the image output unit 10 together. As described above, image light belonging to a wavelength band of red, green, and blue from the image emitting unit 10 and image light belonging to a wavelength band other than red, green, and blue that are emitted from an actual object and passed through the reflecting unit 20 It can be seen that it reaches the pupil 40.

Meanwhile, here, the image light emitted from the image output unit 10 may correspond to the properties of the optical filter in which the reflection unit 20 is formed. That is, the image light emitted from the image output unit 10 may be configured to emit only image light belonging to the wavelength band of the color reflected by the optical filter forming the reflection unit 20.

For example, when the optical filter is a red, green, and blue reflective filter as shown in FIG. 4, the image light emitted from the image output unit 10 may be composed of only image light belonging to a wavelength band of red, green, and blue.

5 is a view showing an optical device 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is basically the same as the embodiment of Figs. 2 to 4, but differs in that a plurality of reflective units 20 are formed.

The plurality of reflecting units 20 may be disposed so that the image light emitted from the image output unit 10 is not blocked by overlapping each other when viewed in the optical axis direction of the image light emitted from the image output unit 10.

In addition, the plurality of reflecting units 20 are arranged so that at least a portion of the image light emitted from the image output unit 10 overlaps each other when viewed from the optical axis direction, so that at least a portion of the image light emitted from the image output unit 10 is blocked. May be. For example, in FIG. 5, the reflecting units 20 are arranged side by side in the direction of the optical axis of image light emitted from the image output unit 10, and the reflecting units 20 arranged side by side are Since they overlap when viewed from the optical axis direction, in FIG. 5, at least a part of the image light emitted from the image output unit 10 is blocked by the reflection unit 20 on the left side in FIG. 5.

In this case, each of the reflecting units 20 arranged side by side reflects image light belonging to at least one of a plurality of wavelength bands obtained by dividing a wavelength band of a specific color, and reflects image light other than at least one of the plurality of wavelength bands. Image lights belonging to different wavelength bands may be formed with an optical filter that transmits.

For example, when the blue wavelength band is 350 nm to 370 nm, it is divided into wavelength bands of 350 nm to 360 nm and 360 to 370 nm, and reflects the reflective unit 20 as an optical filter that reflects only image light belonging to a plurality of divided wavelength bands. Each can be formed.

In FIG. 5, the reflective part 20 on the right side is formed with an optical filter that reflects image light with a wavelength of 350 nm to 360 nm, and the reflection part 20 on the left side is formed with an optical filter that reflects image light with a wavelength of 360 to 370 nm. I can.

According to this arrangement structure, image light having a wavelength of 360 to 370 nm passes through the reflection part 20 on the right, reaches the reflection part 20 on the left, and is transmitted to the pupil 40 by the reflection part 20 on the left. I can. In addition, image light having a wavelength of 350 nm to 360 nm may be reflected by the reflective portion 20 on the right side and transmitted to the pupil 40. Accordingly, there is an advantage in that each reflective unit 20 can independently reflect and transmit image light belonging to a plurality of wavelength bands of a specific color that a person recognizes as the same color.

On the other hand, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the reflective units 20 are arranged parallel to each other in the optical axis direction of the image light emitted from the image output unit 10 to completely overlap each other, but at least a portion may be disposed so as to overlap the optical axis direction. Of course there is.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments of the present invention above, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications and variations can be implemented within the scope of the present invention. .

For example, in the above embodiment, an optical filter that reflects image light in a wavelength band of red, green, and blue has been mainly described, but an optical filter that reflects image light in a wavelength band other than these colors can be used as the reflecting unit 20. Of course there is.

100,200... Optical device for augmented reality with improved light transmittance
10...image display
20...reflective
30...optical means

Claims (6)

As an augmented reality optical device with improved light transmittance,
An image output unit that emits image light corresponding to an image for augmented reality;
A reflecting unit for providing an augmented reality image to a user by reflecting and transmitting image light corresponding to the augmented reality image emitted from the image output unit toward the pupil of the user's eye; And
An optical means in which the reflector is disposed and transmits at least a part of the image light emitted from an actual object toward the pupil of the user's eye.
Including,
The reflective unit is formed with a size of 4 mm or less, is formed of an optical filter that reflects only image light belonging to a wavelength band of a specific color and transmits image light having a wavelength other than the wavelength band of the specific color, from the image output unit Among the image light corresponding to the emitted augmented reality image, only the image light belonging to the wavelength band of the specific color is reflected and transmitted to the pupil of the user's eyes, and the specific color of the image light emitted from an actual object and incident to the reflector is transmitted. Transmits image light having a wavelength other than the wavelength band and transmits it to the pupil of the user's eyes,
An optical device for augmented reality with improved light transmittance, characterized in that the image light emitted from the image output unit is composed of only image light belonging to a wavelength band of a color reflected by an optical filter constituting the reflection unit.
delete The method according to claim 1,
The optical filter includes a red reflective filter that reflects image light belonging to a red wavelength band and transmits image light belonging to another wavelength band, and a green reflective filter that reflects image light belonging to a green wavelength band and transmits image light belonging to another wavelength band. For augmented reality with improved light transmittance, characterized in that it is composed of a reflection filter or a blue reflective filter that reflects image light belonging to a blue wavelength band and transmits image light belonging to another wavelength band, or a combination of two or more of them. Optical device.
delete The method according to claim 1,
An optical device for augmented reality with improved light transmittance, characterized in that the reflective part is formed in plural.
The method of claim 5,
An optical device for augmented reality with improved light transmittance, characterized in that at least some of the reflecting units are disposed so as to overlap at least a portion of the optical axis of the image light emitted from the image output unit.

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