JP2000066618A - Head mounted display - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a head-mounted display device capable of restricting image sway and improving visibility without restricting the hearing of an observer. A display unit having a display and an optical system for changing an optical path to guide image display light from the display to an observer's eyes is mounted on a mount attached to the observer's head. Connected on one side of the head. The display emits display light forward from a position in front of the connection position, and the optical system is disposed in front of the display. The mount includes left and right temporal pads that are pressed against an area surrounding the ear E in the left and right temporal heads of the observer, and left and right holders 52 that hold the pads. An opening 100 is formed at the center of each pad and the center of each holder 52 so that the ear E of the observer can be exposed.

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 capable of easily recognizing an image with a small and lightweight display mounted on the head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a prior art, a display unit having a display for emitting display light of an image and an optical system for changing the optical path for guiding the display light to the eyes of the observer is mounted on the head of the observer. The mounted mount has a head mounted display connected to one side of the observer's head.

In such a head-mounted display device,
In order to make it easier for the observer not only to see the display image but also to see the real objects around, the display device is designed to emit display light forward from the position in front of the connection position between the display unit and the mount. In some cases, the optical system is arranged so as to guide image display light to an observer's eyes in front of the display.

[0004]

However, in order to dispose the display in front of the connection position between the display unit and the mount, it is necessary to attach the display to a member extending forward from the connection position. Further, in order to dispose the optical system in front of the display, it is necessary to attach the optical system to a member extending forward from the display. Then, the weight balance is deteriorated, and the display unit is supported in a cantilever manner by the head via the mount. as a result,
The movement of the mount relative to the head when the observer moves his / her head causes a large shake in the display and the optical system, and the shake causes an image to shake, resulting in a problem that visibility deteriorates.

Therefore, in order to restrict the movement of the display unit with respect to the head in the vicinity of the connection position between the display unit and the mount, the display unit may be pressed against the ear of a viewer via a mount and a pad such as a music headset. Conceivable. However, pressing the pad against the ear limits the hearing of the observer.

An object of the present invention is to provide a head-mounted display device that can solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a display unit having a display for emitting display light of an image and an optical system for changing an optical path for guiding the display light to an observer's eyes. The display is connected to a mount attached to the head on one side of the observer's head, and the display emits display light forward from a position in front of a connection position between the display unit and the mount. And the optical system is applied to a head mounted display device arranged to guide image display light to an observer's eyes in front of the display. In the present invention, the mount has left and right temporal pads that are pressed against an area surrounding the ears in the left and right temporal regions of the observer, and left and right holders that hold the respective pads. A head-mounted display device, characterized in that an opening is provided at the center so that an ear of an observer can be exposed. By pressing through the left and right temporal side pads, the movement of the mount with respect to the head can be restricted, and it is possible to prevent the display and the optical system from oscillating and lowering the visibility. Since the left and right temporal pads are pressed against the area surrounding the ears, the position of restricting the movement of the mount with respect to the head is wider than in the case where the pads are pressed against the ears. The movement to the part can be regulated. Then, since the center of each pad and the center of each holder are opened to expose the ears of the observer, the hearing of the observer is not limited.

[0008] Each pad and each holder are preferably in the form of an endless ring. This makes it possible to more stably restrict the movement of the mount relative to the head.

It is preferable that the pressing force of each pad against the region surrounding the ear in the right and left side heads is larger in front of the ear than in the rear. Since the display is disposed in front of the connection position between the display unit and the mount, and the optical system is disposed in front of the display, the pressing force of each pad is larger in front of the ear than in the rear. By doing so, it is possible to more reliably control the image shaking.

The mount has a connecting portion for connecting the left and right holders, and each holder is connected to the connecting portion so as to be swingable about an axis extending in the vertical direction, and the front side of each holder is placed on the viewer's side. It is preferable that the connecting portion is provided with a pressing portion for pressing each holder via an elastic member so that an elastic force for swinging toward the head acts. Thereby, by the action of the elasticity, the pressing force of each pad can be larger in front of the ear than in the rear,
In addition, since each pad can be made to follow the shape of the head by swinging the holder, the swing of the image can be reliably controlled even if there is an individual difference in the shape of the head.

It is preferable to provide a means for giving elasticity to narrow the interval between the left and right holders behind the ear of the observer. Thus, when the pressing force of each pad is made larger in front of the ear than in the rear, it is possible to prevent each pad from separating from the head behind the ear, and to more reliably restrict the image swing.

It is preferable that left and right parietal pads pressed against the left and right upper parts of the parietal region of the observer are connected to the connecting portion. This makes it possible to more stably restrict the movement of the mount relative to the head.

It is preferable that at least one of the thickness of each pad and the thickness of each holder is set so that the pressing surface of each pad is along the temporal region of the observer. This makes it possible to more stably restrict the movement of the mount relative to the head.

The display device faces the observer's face at an interval in front of the connection position between the display unit and the mount, and is located at a position radially away from the visual axis of the observer who looks at the front. The optical system is disposed so as to emit display light toward the front, and the optical system is disposed in front of the display and at a position radially away from the visual axis. It is preferably arranged directly below the axis, and the driving signal generator of the display is arranged on the side of the observer's head and behind the display.
Since the drive signal generator is located on the side of the observer's head and its display and optical system are located in front of the drive signal generator, the weight of the device acts unbalanced on the observer. Can be prevented. Further, since the display and the optical system are arranged at positions radially away from the visual axis of the observer who looks at the front, the narrowing of the visual field of the observer can be reduced. Further, by disposing the display and the optical system directly below the visual axis of the observer, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the visual field of the observer is narrowed by the display and the optical system.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Head-mounted display device 1 shown in FIG.
Has a mount 3 attached to the head of the observer 2 and a display unit 4 connected to the mount 3 on one side of the head of the observer 2.

As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG.
Are left and right temporal pads 51, each temporal pad 51 pressed against a region surrounding the ear in the left and right temporal heads of the observer 2.
Right and left holders 52 for holding the left and right, a connecting portion 53 for connecting the left and right holders 52, and an observer 2 connected to the connecting portion 53
Left and right parietal pads 54 pressed against the left and right upper parts of the top of the head, and both holders 52
Are connected to each other.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each temporal pad 51 and each holder 52 are formed in an endless annular shape, and the pad 51 is adhered to the inner surface of the holder 52. As a result, each temporal pad 51 is pressed against the temporal region around the entire ear of the observer 2, and each temporal pad 51
And the center of each holder 52 are formed with an opening 100 so that the ear E of the observer 2 can be exposed. Note that each temporal pad 51 and each holder 52 may have, for example, an annular outer periphery along a polygon.

The thickness of each temporal pad 51 and each holder 5
2 is at least one of the temporal pads 51
Is set so that the pressing surface 51 a of the observer 2 is along the temporal region of the observer 2. That is, in the region surrounding the ear in the human temporal region, the lower rear portion of the ear is depressed.
As shown in (5), a portion 51a 'of the pressing surface 51a pressed against the lower rear portion of the ear bulges inward from the remaining portion. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the temporal pad 51
The thickness of the holder 52 is made thicker at the rear lower part of the ear than at other parts, but the thickness of the holder 52 is made uniform, and the thickness of the temporal pad 51 is made The lower rear portion may be thicker than other portions, or the temporal pad 5
It is sufficient that the sum of the thickness of 1 and the thickness of the holder 52 is thicker at the rear lower part of the ear than at other parts.

The connecting portion 53 includes a pair of bands 53a which are arranged above and below the top of the head and are spaced apart from each other.
Left and right connecting pieces 53c integrated with each end of both bands 53a
And By the connection by the connecting portion 53, the interval between the left and right temporal pads 51 is made smaller than the left and right width of the head of the observer 2. The space between the left and right temporal pads 51 can be expanded by elastic deformation of the band 53a. Accordingly, the left and right temporal pad 51 can be pressed against the region surrounding the ears in the left and right temporal regions of the observer 2 by the elasticity based on the elastic deformation of the band 53a.

The pressing force of each temporal pad 51 against the area surrounding the ear is made larger in front of the ear than in the rear. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, a connecting shaft 5 is provided on the bottom surface of each connecting piece 53c of the connecting portion 53.
3d, a swing limiting portion 53e, and a cylindrical pressing portion 53
f is provided so as to project downward. Each holder 52 is provided with a receiving portion 52a having an upper surface for receiving the bottom surface of the connecting shaft 53d. The receiving part 52
a, a support hole 52b through which the connection shaft 53d is rotatably penetrated, a fan-shaped concave portion 52c into which the swing restricting portion 53e is inserted, and a circular arc in plan view through which the pressing portion 53f is penetrated. A guide hole 52d is provided. A support shaft 52e is attached to the outside of each holder 52, and a spring receiving piece 52f is connected to the support shaft 52e so as to be swingable in the vertical direction, and is sandwiched between the spring receiving piece 52f and the outside of the holder 52. A compression spring 52g (elastic member) is attached to the holder 52. The connection shaft 53d is rotatably penetrated through the support hole 52b,
The swing restricting portion 53e is inserted into the concave portion 52c, and the pressing portion 53f penetrates the guide hole 52d.
Each holder 52 is swingably connected to a connecting portion 53 around a connecting shaft 53d along the vertical direction, and the swing range is limited to a certain range by the swing limiting portion 53e being in contact with the inner surface of the concave portion 52c. As shown in FIG.
The pressing portion 53f is located in front of the spring receiving piece 52f.
And the holder 52 are pressed through the spring 52g. The holder 5 via the spring 52g by the pressing portion 53f
2, the holder 52 is pressed as shown by the arrow A.
Is applied to the region surrounding the ear of each temporal pad 51, and the pressing force against the region surrounding the ear is larger than that behind the ear. growing. By attaching a retaining ring (not shown) to the tip of the connecting shaft 53d, the holder 52 is prevented from coming off the connecting portion 53. For example, the pressing force of the temporal region by each temporal pad 51 is set to 400 to 800 gf in total, and 1/2 to 3/4 of the pressing force is used as the pressing force in the front area of the ear. Allocate the rest to the upper, lower, and posterior regions of the ear.

As shown in FIG. 2, the left and right parietal pads 54 are attached to pad receivers 56, respectively, and the pad receivers 56 are attached to the connecting portions 53 via leaf springs 57, respectively. The left and right parietal pads 54 are pressed against the left and right upper parts of the parietal part by the elasticity of the leaf spring 57.

The occipital belt 55 is provided with the left and right holders 5.
2 is made of an elastic material such as rubber which acts on the elasticity to narrow the space behind the ears of the observer 2. As shown in FIG. 4, a slit 52h is formed at the rear of each holder 52, and one end of the occipital belt 55 is connected to one of the slits 52h.
The other end is inserted into a slit 52h of the other holder 52 and connected to the holder 52 via a hinge shaft 58 so as to be able to swing up and down. Thereby, the position of the occipital belt 55 can be adjusted up and down according to the shape of the head. The rear belt 55 also has a function of preventing the device from falling off when the observer 2 leans forward.

As shown in FIG. 1, the display unit 4
Is a display 11 that emits image display light from the front position of the connection position between the display unit 4 and the mount 3 to the front.
And an optical system 13 for changing the optical path in front of the display 11 to guide image display light emitted from the display 11 to one eye of the observer 2, and connecting the display 11 and the optical system 13 And a casing 24 that covers the display unit 11. The connecting member 12 extends from the lower part of the casing 24 of the display 11 toward the front of the observer 2, and the optical system 13 is attached to the front end of the connecting member 12.

The display unit 4 includes a drive signal generator 14 of the display 11, a housing 15 that covers the drive signal generator 14 and is connected to the casing 24, and provided on the housing 15. The connecting member 16 is provided. The housing 15 is attached to one of the receivers 52i formed on the left and right holders 52 on one side of the head of the observer 2 as shown in FIGS. Linked as possible.

The display 11 can be composed of, for example, a well-known liquid crystal display device with a backlight, and emits image display light in accordance with a drive signal sent from the drive signal generator 14 via the cable 27. The driving signal generation unit 14 is connected to a video signal generation source (not shown) by a cable 29.
, And generates a drive signal for the display 11 in accordance with the video signal, and a known configuration can be adopted.
The video signal generation source is not particularly limited as long as it can generate a video signal, and can be configured by, for example, a computer that outputs a video signal. The cable 29 is connected to a cable clamp 59 attached to the one holder 52.
Can be held.

The optical system 13 is composed of optical elements such as a combiner and a total reflection mirror. When the optical system 13 is constituted by a combiner, light from the front can be transmitted and guided to the eyes of the observer 2, and the observer 2
Can see both the image and the real entity ahead. The combiner can be constituted by a half mirror or a hologram element. When a half mirror is used, the optical path of the image display light is changed by reflection, and when the hologram element is used, the optical path of the image display light is changed by diffraction. In order to form an image at a position distant from the eyes of the observer 2 without blurring, it is preferable that the reflection curved surface of the optical element 13 be an aspheric surface.

In the above embodiment, the left and right holders 52
The display unit 4 can be connected to the mount 3 on the other side of the head of the observer 2 via the other receiver 52i.
In this case, since the display 11 is turned upside down, the connection position between the connection member 12 and the casing 24 of the display 11 can be turned upside down, and the display image is turned upside down. Thus, the image can be visually recognized by the other eye of the observer 2.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the head-mounted display device 1 is mounted on the observer 2, the display 11
Is displayed in front of the face of the observer 2 at a distance from the face of the observer 2 and at a distance from a visual axis E of the observer 2 who looks at the front in a radial direction and forwards the display light L.
Is arranged immediately below the visual axis E between the left and right side surfaces of the head of the observer 2 so as to emit light. The optical system 13 is disposed at an interval in front of the display 11 and has an optical path of the image display light L at a position radially away from the visual axis E between the left and right side surfaces of the head of the observer 2. Is arranged immediately below the visual axis E. Further, the display 11
And the optical system 13 are arranged as close as possible to the face of the observer 2. The driving signal generation unit 14 covered by the housing 15 is provided for the observer 2 that is radially away from the visual axis E.
Is located at one side position of the head of the camera and at a position spaced rearward from the display 11.

The image display light L emitted from the display 11 is directed forward by the optical system 13 after being directed forward, and is guided to the eyes of the observer 2. This allows the observer 2 to visually recognize the image. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a plane including the optical path center line of the image display light L and the visual axis E exists in a vertical plane.

According to the above configuration, the movement of the mount 3 with respect to the head is restricted by pressing the observer 2 against the temporal region via the left and right temporal pads 51, and the display 11 and the optical system 13 are shaken. This can prevent the visibility from lowering due to the occurrence of the problem. Since the left and right temporal pads 51 are pressed against the region surrounding the ears, the position for restricting the movement of the mount 3 with respect to the head is wider than when the pads are pressed against the ears. 3 can be restricted from moving with respect to the head. Since the center of each temporal pad 51 and the center of each holder 52 are formed as openings 100, the ears of the observer 2 are exposed, so that the hearing of the observer 2 is not limited. Each temporal pad 51 and the holder 52 may be, for example, C-shaped, but are formed into an endless annular shape as in the above-described embodiment, and are pressed against the head around the entire circumference of the ear.
The movement of the mount 3 relative to the head can be regulated more stably. The display 11 is disposed in front of the connection position between the display unit 4 and the mount 3, and the optical system 13 is connected to the display 4.
, Each temporal side pad 51
Since the pressing force is larger at the front of the ear than at the rear, the swing of the image can be regulated more reliably. In addition, since the pressing force of each temporal pad 51 can be made larger in front of the ear than in the rear by the action of elasticity, the rocking of the holder 52 with respect to the connecting portion 53 causes each temporal pad 51 to have a head shape. Therefore, even if there is an individual difference in the shape of the head, the shaking of the image can be reliably suppressed.
In this case, since the occipital belt 55 exerts elasticity to narrow the interval between the left and right holders 52 behind the ear of the observer 2, each temporal pad 51 can be prevented from separating from the head behind the ear. This can also prevent the image from shaking. Furthermore, the left and right parietal pads 54 are pressed against the right and left upper parts of the parietal part, so that the mount 3 can be more stably mounted.
Movement of the head relative to the head can be regulated. Further, at least one of the thickness of each temporal pad 51 and the thickness of each holder 52 is set such that the pressing surface 51a of each temporal pad 51 is along the temporal region of the observer 2. Therefore, the movement of the mount 3 with respect to the head can be more stably controlled.

The driving signal generator 14 is disposed on the side of the head of the observer 2, and the display 11 and the optical system 13 are disposed in front of the driving signal generator 14. It is possible to prevent the weight from acting on the observer 2 unbalanced. The display 11 and the optical system 13 correspond to the observer 2 looking at the front.
Is arranged at a position radially away from the visual axis of the observer, so that the field of view of the observer 2 can be prevented from being narrowed. Further, since the display 11 and the optical system 13 are disposed immediately below the visual axis, it is possible to prevent the field of view of the observer 2 from being narrowed by the display 11, the optical system 13, and the connection member 12.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the display and the optical system may be arranged directly above the visual axis of the observer looking at the front. When audio information is provided to the observer, an earphone may be attached to the ear of the observer via the opening of the temporal pad and the holder.

[0033]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a head-mounted display device which can improve the visibility by restricting the swing of the image without restricting the hearing of the observer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a head-mounted display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the head-mounted display device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the head-mounted display device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the head-mounted display device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the head-mounted display device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the head mounted display device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Observer 3 Mount 4 Display unit 11 Display 13 Optical system 51 Temporal pad 52 Holder 53 Connecting part 52g Spring 53f Pressing part 100 Opening

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Hatanaka 1-term Nishinokyo-kuwabaracho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto F-term in Shimadzu Corporation Sanjo Plant (reference) 5G435 AA00 AA01 BB12 BB15 DD01 DD02 EE13 EE25 EE50 GG08 GG09 GG41 HH18

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A display unit having a display for emitting display light of an image and an optical system for changing an optical path for guiding the display light to an eye of an observer is mounted on a mount attached to a head of the observer. The display is connected on one side of the observer's head, and the display is arranged so as to emit display light forward from a position in front of the connection position between the display unit and the mount, and the optical system is A head-mounted display device arranged to guide image display light to the observer's eyes in front of the display, wherein the mount is pressed against an area surrounding the ears in the left and right temporal regions of the observer. A right and left temporal side pad, and a left and right holder for holding each pad, wherein the center of each pad and the center of each holder are opened to expose the ears of the observer. Part mounting type table Indicating device. 2. The head-mounted display device according to claim 1, wherein each of the pads and each of the holders has an endless annular shape. 3. The head-mounted type according to claim 1, wherein the pressing force of each pad against the region surrounding the ear on the left and right side heads is larger in front of the ear than in the rear. Display device. 4. The mount has a connecting portion for connecting the left and right holders. Each holder is connected to the connecting portion so as to be swingable about an axis extending in a vertical direction. 4. The head-mounted display device according to claim 3, wherein a pressing portion for pressing each holder via an elastic member is provided at a connection portion thereof such that an elastic force for swinging toward the side of the head is applied.