Head-mounted display device

Abstract

A display device comprises a display panel comprising a planar portion and a curved portion extending from the planar portion; and a controller for providing data signals representative of an image to be displayed on the planar portion and the curved portion to the display panel, wherein the controller is configured to provide data signals representative of an image that is scaled down to a greater extent to a portion of the curved portion arranged further away from the planar portion, and wherein the display device is a head-mounted display device.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the invention filed on January 4, 2019, with application number 201910007231.8 and titled "Head-mounted Display Device".

[0002] Cross-references to related applications

[0003] This application claims priority and benefit to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0001449, filed on January 5, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein. Technical Field

[0004] An exemplary embodiment relates to a head-mounted display device, and more specifically, to a head-mounted display device with improved viewing angle. Background Technology

[0005] A head-mounted display device is a device worn on the head that may include a display panel or be connected to a display panel. Head-mounted displays can be used to implement augmented reality or virtual reality. Head-mounted displays for augmented reality can provide virtual graphics through a semi-transparent display. In this case, the user can simultaneously visually recognize virtual graphics and real objects. Head-mounted displays for virtual reality provide virtual graphics to the user's eyes. Users can experience virtual reality through virtual content.

[0006] The information disclosed above in this background section is only for understanding the background of the inventive concept, and therefore may contain information that does not constitute prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The device constructed according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can provide an improved field of view.

[0008] Additional features of the inventive concept will be set forth in the description which follows, and will become apparent in part from the description, or may be learned by practice of the inventive concept.

[0009] A head-mounted display device according to an exemplary embodiment includes: a display panel including a planar portion and a curved portion extending from the planar portion; a controller for providing data signals to the display panel representing images to be displayed on the planar portion and the curved portion; and a housing component on which the display panel is mounted, wherein the controller is configured to provide data signals to the curved portion representing images scaled down at a predetermined ratio compared to the planar portion.

[0010] The head-mounted display device may further include a padding component disposed between the housing component and the wearer, and a strap component connected to the housing component, wherein the housing component, the padding component, and the strap component may define the wearer's viewpoint relative to the display panel.

[0011] The head-mounted display device may further include a sensor for measuring the wearer’s viewpoint relative to the display panel.

[0012] The curved portion may include a first curved portion arranged on the opposite side of the planar portion in the first direction, and the controller may provide the first curved portion with a data signal representing a reduced image in the first direction.

[0013] The controller can provide the first curved portion with a data signal representing an image reduced in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

[0014] The curved portion may further include a second curved portion disposed on the opposite side of the planar portion in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and the controller may provide the second curved portion with a data signal representing an image reduced in the second direction.

[0015] The controller can provide the second curved section with a data signal representing a scaled-down image in the first direction.

[0016] The first and second curved sections can be separated from each other at the corners of the planar sections.

[0017] The corners of the flat surface can be invisible to the wearer.

[0018] The first and second curved sections can be connected to each other.

[0019] The controller can provide data signals representing a scaled-down image to the curved portion, which is positioned further away from the planar portion.

[0020] The ratio of the entire curved portion can be A / L, where “A” is the length of the curved portion in the first direction and “L” is the length of the equivalent region of the curved portion in the first direction. The equivalent region can be on a virtual plane extending from the planar portion and provides a viewpoint that is substantially the same as the viewpoint of the curved portion in the first direction when viewed from the wearer’s viewpoint.

[0021] When viewed from the wearer's perspective, the reduced image can be substantially identical to the unreduced image on a virtual plane extending from the flat portion.

[0022] One side of the curved section can tangentially contact the flat section.

[0023] The ratio of the entire curved section can be expressed as A / L, which is represented by the following equation:

[0024] [Equation]

[0025] ,

[0026] Where “R” is the radius of curvature of the curved portion, “θ” is the central angle of the curved portion, “D” is the distance between the wearer’s viewpoint and the flat portion, and “B” is the distance in the first direction between the normal of the flat portion passing through the viewpoint and the point where the flat portion and the curved portion intersect.

[0027] This ratio can be approximately 1 at the boundary between the planar and curved sections, and decreases by a larger ratio as the section is positioned further away from the planar section.

[0028] The other side of the curved section can be perpendicular to the wearer's line of sight.

[0029] The ratio of the entire curved section can be expressed as A / L, which is represented by the following equation:

[0030] [Equation]

[0031] , where “θ” is the central angle of the curved section.

[0032] The head-mounted display device may further include an optical system spaced at a predetermined distance from the display panel.

[0033] The display panel may include a left-eye display area and a right-eye display area arranged in a left-right direction relative to the wearer, and each of the left-eye display area and the right-eye display area may include a flat portion and a curved portion.

[0034] The display panel may include a left-eye display panel and a right-eye display panel arranged in a left-right direction relative to the wearer, and each of the left-eye display panel and the right-eye display panel may include a flat portion and a curved portion.

[0035] The left and right eye display panels can be separated by a protrusion placed between them.

[0036] Each curved portion in the left-eye display panel and the right-eye display panel may include a left curved portion arranged on the left side of the flat portion and a right curved portion arranged on the right side of the flat portion.

[0037] The left and right curved sections can have approximately the same length in the left and right directions.

[0038] The left and right curved sections can have different lengths in the left and right directions.

[0039] The left curved portion of the left eye display panel can be longer than the right curved portion of the left eye display panel in the left-right direction, and the right curved portion of the right eye display panel can be longer than the left curved portion of the right eye display panel in the left-right direction.

[0040] The equivalent areas of the right curved portion of the left eye display panel and the equivalent areas of the left curved portion of the right eye display panel can contact each other, and the equivalent areas of the left or right curved portions of each of the left and right eye display panels can be on a virtual plane extending from the flat portion, and when viewed from the wearer's viewpoint, the curved portions and the equivalent areas of the left or right curved portions of each of the left and right eye display panels can provide substantially the same viewing angle in the left and right directions.

[0041] The equivalent areas of the right curved portion of the left eye display panel and the equivalent areas of the left curved portion of the right eye display panel can overlap each other, and the equivalent areas of the left curved portion or the right curved portion of each of the left and right eye display panels can be on a virtual plane extending from the planar portion, and when viewed from the wearer's viewpoint, the curved portion and the equivalent areas of the left curved portion or the right curved portion of each of the left and right eye display panels can provide substantially the same viewing angle in the left and right directions.

[0042] Each curved portion of the left-eye display panel and the right-eye display panel may include an upper curved portion disposed on the upper side of the planar portion and a lower curved portion disposed on the lower side.

[0043] A head-mounted display device according to another exemplary embodiment includes: a display panel including a planar portion and a curved portion extending from the planar portion; and a housing member on which the display panel is located, wherein the curved portion is configured to display a scaled-down image compared to an image displayed on the planar portion.

[0044] Curved sections can have a higher resolution than planar sections.

[0045] The display panel may include multiple grid lines, multiple data lines intersecting the grid lines, and multiple pixels defined by the grid lines and data lines, wherein the number of pixels per unit area in the curved portion may be greater than the number of pixels per unit area in the planar portion.

[0046] The spacing between grid lines in the curved section can be reduced as they are arranged further away from the planar section.

[0047] The spacing between data lines in the curved section can be reduced as they are positioned further away from the flat section.

[0048] The area of ​​each pixel arranged in the curved section can become smaller as its position is further away from the flat section.

[0049] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and illustrative, and are intended to provide further explanation of the claimed invention. Attached Figure Description

[0050] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the inventive concept.

[0051] Figure 1 This is a block diagram of a head-mounted display device according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0052] Figure 2A This is a perspective view of a head-mounted display device according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0053] Figure 2B This is a view illustrating the use of a head-mounted display device according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0054] Figure 3 This is an exploded perspective view of a part of a head-mounted display device according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0055] Figure 4 A head-mounted display device according to an exemplary embodiment along Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view taken from line I-I'.

[0056] Figure 5A and Figure 5B This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display panel according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0057] Figure 6 A and Figure 6 B are the front view and side view of the display panel according to the exemplary embodiment.

[0058] Figure 7 A and Figure 7 B represents views showing the unscaled and scaled images according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0059] Figure 8 This is an illustrative view showing the transformation of an image displayed on a curved portion according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0060] Figure 9 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of an optical system according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0061] Figure 10 This is a schematic perspective view of a split-type binocular head-mounted display device according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0062] Figure 11This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a split binocular head-mounted display device according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0063] Figure 12 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a split binocular head-mounted display device according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0064] Figure 13A This is a schematic perspective view of an integral binocular display panel according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0065] Figure 13B and Figure 13C They are Figure 13A Cross-sectional views of the integrated binocular display panel taken along lines II-II' and III-III'.

[0066] Figure 14 This is a schematic perspective view of a split binocular display panel according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0067] Figure 15A and Figure 15B This is a schematic unfolded view showing an integral binocular display panel according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0068] Figure 16 This is a schematic unfolded view illustrating a split binocular display panel according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0069] Figure 17 This is an enlarged view of a portion of the display panel according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0070] Figure 18 It is along Figure 17 The cross-sectional view taken from line IV-IV'.

[0071] Figure 19 A and Figure 19 B is an expanded view of the display panel according to an exemplary embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0072] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth for purposes of explanation in order to provide a thorough understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the invention or implementation of its methods. As used herein, “embodiment” and “implementation” are interchangeable terms and are non-limiting examples of apparatus or methods employing one or more inventive concepts disclosed herein. However, it will be apparent that various exemplary embodiments may be implemented without these specific details or using one or more equivalent arrangements. In other instances, well-known structures and apparatuses are illustrated in block diagram form to avoid unnecessarily obscuring various exemplary embodiments. Furthermore, the various exemplary embodiments may be different, but not necessarily exclusive. For example, particular shapes, configurations, and features of exemplary embodiments may be used or implemented in another exemplary embodiment without departing from the inventive concept.

[0073] Unless otherwise stated, the exemplary embodiments shown should be understood as providing exemplary features of different details that may be used to implement certain aspects of the inventive concept in practice. Therefore, unless otherwise stated, features, components, modules, layers, films, panels, regions and / or aspects (hereinafter individually or collectively referred to as “elements”) of various embodiments may be additionally combined, separated, exchanged and / or rearranged without departing from the inventive concept.

[0074] Crosshairs and / or shading are typically used in the accompanying drawings to clarify the boundaries between adjacent elements. Therefore, unless otherwise stated, the presence or absence of crosshairs or shading does not express or indicate any preference or requirement for a particular material, material properties, size, scale, commonalities between illustrated elements, and / or any other characteristics, properties, or properties of the elements. Furthermore, the size and relative size of elements may be exaggerated in the accompanying drawings for clarity and / or descriptive purposes. A particular process sequence may be performed in a manner different from the described sequence when exemplary embodiments can be implemented in different ways. For example, two consecutively described processes may be performed substantially simultaneously, or in the reverse order of their description. Similarly, the same reference numerals denote the same elements.

[0075] When a component or layer is referred to as being "on," "connected to," or "attached to" another component or layer, it may be directly on, directly connected to, or attached to the other component or layer, or there may be intermediate components or layers present. However, when a component or layer is referred to as being "directly" on, directly connected to, or directly attached to another component or layer, no intermediate components or layers are present. Therefore, the term "connection" can refer to a physical connection, an electrical connection, and / or a fluid connection, with or without intermediate components. Furthermore, the D1, D2, and D3 axes are not limited to the three axes of a Cartesian coordinate system, such as the x, y, and z axes, and can be interpreted more broadly. For example, the D1, D2, and D3 axes can be perpendicular to each other, or they can represent different directions that are not perpendicular to each other. For the purposes of this disclosure, "at least one of X, Y, and Z" and "at least one selected from the group consisting of X, Y, and Z" can be interpreted as only X, only Y, only Z, or any combination of two or more of X, Y, and Z, such as, for example, XYZ, XYY, YZ, and ZZ. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0076] While the terms “first,” “second,” etc., may be used herein to describe different types of elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element from another. Therefore, without departing from the teachings of this disclosure, the first element discussed below may be referred to as the second element.

[0077] Spatial relative terms, such as “below,” “under,” “below,” “down,” “above,” “above,” “above,” “higher,” “side” (e.g., as in “sidewall”), may be used herein for descriptive purposes to describe the relationship between one element and another shown in the accompanying drawings. Spatial relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the equipment in use, operation, and / or manufacture, other than those depicted in the accompanying drawings. For example, if the equipment in the accompanying drawings is flipped, an element described as “below” or “under” other elements or features will be oriented as “above” other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can include both above and below orientations. Furthermore, the equipment may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and therefore, the spatial relative descriptors used herein should be interpreted accordingly.

[0078] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to also include the plural forms. Furthermore, the terms “comprising” and variations thereof, and / or “including” and variations thereof, as used in this specification, indicate the presence of the described features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. It should also be noted that, as used herein, the terms “substantially,” “about,” and other similar terms are used as approximations rather than terms of degree, and are therefore used to describe inherent deviations in measurements, calculations, and / or provided values ​​that will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0079] This document describes various exemplary embodiments with reference to cross-sectional and / or exploded views, which are schematic diagrams of idealized exemplary embodiments and / or intermediate structures. Therefore, variations in the shapes shown in the drawings are expected due to factors such as manufacturing techniques and / or tolerances. Consequently, the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein should not be construed as limited to specific illustrated area shapes, but rather include deviations in shape resulting from, for example, manufacturing processes. Thus, the areas shown in the drawings may be schematic, and the shapes of these areas may not reflect the actual shapes of areas of the device, and are therefore not necessarily intended to be limiting.

[0080] In accordance with the conventions of the art, exemplary embodiments are described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings with respect to functional blocks, units, and / or modules. Those skilled in the art will recognize that these blocks, units, and / or modules are physically implemented by electronic (or optical) circuitry, such as logic circuits, discrete components, microprocessors, hardwired circuits, memory elements, wiring connections, etc., which can be formed using semiconductor-based manufacturing techniques or other manufacturing techniques. In the case of blocks, units, and / or modules implemented by microprocessors or other similar hardware, they can be programmed and controlled using software (e.g., microcode) to perform the various functions discussed herein, and can optionally be driven by firmware and / or software. It is also contemplated that each block, unit, and / or module may be implemented by dedicated hardware, or as a combination of dedicated hardware performing certain functions and processors performing other functions (e.g., one or more programmable microprocessors and associated circuitry). Moreover, without departing from the scope of the inventive concept, each block, unit, and / or module of some exemplary embodiments may be physically separated into two or more interacting and discrete blocks, units, and / or modules. Furthermore, without departing from the scope of the inventive concept, some exemplary embodiments of blocks, units and / or modules may be physically combined into more complex blocks, units and / or modules.

[0081] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) shall have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. Unless expressly defined herein, terms such as those defined in common dictionaries shall be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant field, and not in an idealized or overly formal sense.

[0082] Figure 1 This is a block diagram of a head-mounted display device according to an exemplary embodiment. The head-mounted display device according to an exemplary embodiment may include an image processor 10, a display unit 20, a controller 30, a communication unit 40, a storage unit 50, and a user input unit 60.

[0083] The image processor 10 can perform various image processing procedures, and there is no particular limitation on the type of image processing procedures performed by the image processor 10. For example, the image processor 10 can perform demultiplexing to assign predetermined signals to each feature signal, decoding according to the image format of the image signal, deinterlacing to convert interlaced image signals to progressive mode, noise reduction to improve image quality, detail enhancement, frame refresh rate conversion, etc. In addition, the image processor 10 may include: a decoder that can decode a source image corresponding to the image format of the encoded source image; and a frame buffer that can store the decoded source image on a frame-by-frame basis.

[0084] The image processor 10 can be implemented as a system-on-a-chip (“SOC”) that integrates the above functions, or as an image processing board in which individual components capable of independently performing each of the above processes are mounted on a printed circuit board.

[0085] The image processor 10 can perform various predetermined image processing procedures on broadcast signals (including image signals received from the communication unit 40) and source images (including image signals received from the image source). The image processor 10 can output the processed image signals to the display unit 20 so that the processed source image can be displayed on the display unit 20. The image processor 10 (or the controller 30 described below) can perform processing so that the image can be scaled down for display on curved sections, which will be described in more detail below.

[0086] The display unit 20 can display an image based on an image signal output from the image processor 10. The display unit 20 may include a display panel 200 on which an image is displayed (see [link]). Figure 3The invention also includes a panel driver for processing input image signals to display images on the display panel. However, the inventive concept is not limited to this, and various methods for realizing images can be applied. Image signals received from an external input source via an interface can be displayed on the display unit 20 through image processing procedures such as decoding, deinterlacing, and scaling.

[0087] The controller 30 can control the overall configuration within the head-mounted display device. The controller 30 can be separate from or integrated with the image processor 10.

[0088] The communication unit 40 can receive signals from external inputs and send the signals to the image processor 10 or the controller 30. The communication unit 40 can be connected to various external input cables to receive signals from the corresponding external inputs via wired or wireless means according to a predetermined wireless communication standard.

[0089] The communication unit 40 may include multiple connectors, with corresponding cables connected to each connector. The communication unit 40 may receive signals from connected external inputs, such as HDMI signals, USB signals, broadcast signals according to component specifications, image signals, data signals, etc., or may receive communication data via a communication network.

[0090] In addition to configurations for receiving signals / data from external inputs, communication unit 40 may include various additional configurations, such as a wireless communication module for wireless communication or a tuner for tuning broadcast signals. Communication unit 40 may also transmit information / data / signals from the head-mounted display device to external devices. That is, communication unit 40 is not limited to configurations for receiving signals from external devices, but can be implemented as an interface capable of bidirectional communication. Communication unit 40 may receive control signals for selecting a user interface (UI) from multiple control devices. Communication unit 40 may include communication modules for well-known short-range wireless communication, such as Bluetooth, infrared (“IR”), ultra-wideband (“UWB”), Zigbee®, etc., or may include communication ports well-known for wired communication. Besides control signals for selecting the UI, communication unit 40 can be used for various purposes, such as receiving commands for operating the display, sending / receiving data, etc.

[0091] Storage unit 50 can be provided as a writable non-volatile memory (e.g., a writable ROM) so that data can remain on the head-mounted display device even when the power is off, and can reflect changes in the user's behavior. For example, storage unit 50 may include one of flash memory, EPROM, and EEPROM.

[0092] The user input unit 60 can send various preset control commands or information to the controller 30 according to the user's operation and input. The user input unit 60 can be implemented through menu keys or input panels provided outside the head-mounted display device, or through a remote controller separate from the head-mounted display device.

[0093] The user input unit 60 can receive user actions and voice. User actions may include touch input. The user input unit 60 can directly receive user actions and voice, or it can receive user action and voice information from an external device.

[0094] In addition, the user input unit 60 may include a display panel 200 (see [link]). Figure 3 ), Optical System 400 (see Figure 3 And an adjuster capable of adjusting the distance from the user's viewpoint. This adjuster can adjust the position of the display panel 200 and / or the optical system 400 from the user's viewpoint in a forward or backward direction based on user operation. Figure 3 It moves along the Z-axis.

[0095] In addition, the user input unit 60 may include a sensor capable of measuring the user's viewpoint. This is shown in the curved portion 220 of the display panel 200, which will be described below (see [link]). Figure 4 The compression ratio of the image on the display panel 200 can be changed depending on the measured distance between the user's viewpoint and the display panel 200.

[0096] Figure 2A This is a perspective view of a head-mounted display device according to an exemplary embodiment, and Figure 2B This is a view illustrating the use of a head-mounted display device according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0097] Reference Figure 2A and Figure 2B A head-mounted display (HMD) is a device worn on the head of a user. The HMD provides images while obstructing or substantially blocking the user's actual surrounding vision. Users wearing HMDs can more easily immerse themselves in virtual reality.

[0098] A head-mounted display device (HMD) may include a housing component 100, a padding component 300, and a strap component 350.

[0099] The housing component 100 can be worn on the head of the user 500. A display panel 200 for displaying images (see...) Figure 3An accelerometer and other sensors can be housed within the housing component 100. The accelerometer senses the user 500's movements and can send predetermined signals to the display panel 200. Therefore, the display panel 200 can provide images corresponding to changes in the user 500's field of vision. Thus, the user 500 can experience virtual reality similar to actual reality.

[0100] The housing component 100 can accommodate components with various functions other than those described above. For example, it can accommodate the image processor 10, display unit 20, controller 30, communication unit 40, storage unit 50, and user input unit 60 described above.

[0101] The padding component 300 may be disposed between the housing component 100 and the head of the user 500. The padding component 300 may include a shape-deformable material. For example, the padding component 300 may include a polymer resin (e.g., polyurethane, polycarbonate, polypropylene, and polyethylene), liquid rubber, urethane-based materials, or a sponge formed by foaming acrylic materials. However, the inventive concept is not limited thereto, and the padding component 300 may include a variety of other materials.

[0102] The padding member 300 allows the housing member 100 to be in close contact with the user 500 and improves the user's comfort. The padding member 300 is removable from the housing member 100. In an exemplary embodiment, the padding member 300 may be omitted.

[0103] The strap component 350 can be combined with the housing component 100 so that the housing component 100 can be easily worn by the user 500. The strap component 350 may include a main strap 351 and an upper strap 352.

[0104] The main strap 351 can be worn around the circumference of the user 500's head. The main strap 351 secures the housing component 100 to the user 500 so that the housing component 100 can make close contact with the user 500's head. The upper strap 352 connects the housing component 100 to the main strap 351 along the upper part of the user 500's head. The upper strap 352 substantially secures the housing component 100 to the user 500. Furthermore, the upper strap 352 can distribute the load on the housing component 100 to improve the user 500's wearing comfort.

[0105] exist Figure 2A In this embodiment, the main strap 351 and the upper strap 352 are shown to be of adjustable length, but the inventive concept is not limited thereto. For example, in another exemplary embodiment, the main strap 351 and the upper strap 352 may be elastic, and the adjustable length portion may be omitted.

[0106] With component 350, it can be obtained from Figure 2A and Figure 2BThe examples shown can be modified in various ways, as long as the housing component 100 is securely attached to the user 500. For example, in another exemplary embodiment, the upper strap 352 can be omitted. Furthermore, in another exemplary embodiment, the strap component 350 can be transformed into various forms, such as a helmet combined with the housing component 100, or a pair of glasses attached to the housing component 100.

[0107] Figure 3 This is an exploded perspective view of a portion of a head-mounted display device according to an exemplary embodiment. Figure 3 For ease of description, part 350 (see [reference]) is used. Figure 2A and Figure 2B (Not shown).

[0108] Reference Figure 3 The housing component 100 can be divided into a main body 101 and a cover 102. The display panel 200 is arranged between the main body 101 and the cover 102, and the cover 102 can cover the space where the display panel 200 is located. Figure 3 The main body 101 and the cover 102 are separated from each other, but the inventive concept is not limited thereto. For example, as Figure 4 As shown, the main body 101 and the cover 102 can be provided as a whole and cannot be separated from each other.

[0109] The display panel 200 can be disposed between the main body 101 and the cover 102. The display panel 200 can be integrally embedded in the head-mounted display device to provide images, but the inventive concept is not limited thereto. For example, a display device including the display panel 200 (e.g., a portable terminal) can be combined with the head-mounted display device to provide images.

[0110] exist Figure 3 In this example, the left-eye image and the right-eye image are displayed using a single display panel 200 (e.g., a binocular integrated type). The display panel 200 can be divided into a left-eye image display area 201 for displaying the left-eye image and a right-eye image display area 202 for displaying the right-eye image. The left-eye image display area 201 and the right-eye image display area 202 can be driven by separate panel drivers. However, the inventive concept is not limited to this; both the left-eye image display area 201 and the right-eye image display area 202 can be driven by a single panel driver. The left-eye image display area 201 and the right-eye image display area 202 can be separated by an intermediate area 203 located therebetween. Furthermore, as... Figure 10 As shown, according to another exemplary embodiment, the display panel 240 may include a left-eye display panel 241 and a right-eye display panel 242 that are separate from each other. The specific shape of the display panel 200 will be described below.

[0111] Display panel 200 generates an image corresponding to input image data. Display panel 200 can include any of various types of display panels, such as organic light-emitting diode (“OLED”) display panels, liquid crystal display (“LCD”) panels, plasma display panels, electrophoretic display panels, and electrowetting display panels. Hereinafter, for example, display panel 200 as an OLED display panel will be described, but the inventive concept is not limited thereto. Reference will now be made to… Figure 17 and Figure 18 Describe the detailed structure of an OLED display panel.

[0112] The optical system 400 can be disposed within the main body 101 of the housing component 100. The optical system 400 can be an aspherical convex lens. Alternatively, the optical system 400 can be a Fresnel lens, which is divided into several circular strip lenses to reduce the lens thickness. The optical system 400 can magnify the image provided from the display panel 200. The optical system 400 can be spaced apart from the display panel 200 in a first direction (Z-axis direction). The optical system 400 can be disposed between the display panel 200 and the user's eye 510 (see [reference]). Figure 4 ).

[0113] Optical system 400 may include a left-eye optical system 401 and a right-eye optical system 402. The left-eye optical system 401 magnifies the image to provide it to the left pupil 511 of the user 500 (see [link to relevant documentation]). Figure 4 The right eye optical system 402 magnifies the image to provide the image to the right pupil 512 of the user 500 (see [link]). Figure 4 The left-eye optical system 401 and the right-eye optical system 402 can be spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction (X-axis direction). The distance between the left-eye optical system 401 and the right-eye optical system 402 can correspond to the user 500 (see...). Figure 2B Adjust the distance between the two eyes.

[0114] Figure 4 The head-mounted display device according to an exemplary embodiment is along Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view taken from line I-I'. Figure 4 The image does not show any components other than the housing 100, display panel 200, user eye 510, and user face line 520. In the following text, the left-right direction (X-axis direction), up-down direction (Y-axis direction), and front-back direction (Z-axis direction) are defined for the gaze of a user 500 (hereinafter referred to as "wearer") while wearing the display device.

[0115] like Figure 4As shown, the left and right sides of the display panel 200 are concave relative to the line of sight of the wearer 500. More specifically, the display panel 200 includes a central planar portion 210 and left and right curved portions 220. The planar portion 210 is substantially flat. That is, the planar portion 210 has a curvature of approximately zero or substantially zero. The curved portions 220 extend from the planar portion 210 in the left-right direction. In the cross-sectional view, the left curved portion 221 and the right curved portion 222 are symmetrical with respect to a line of symmetry 263 passing through the center of the display panel 200 and perpendicular to the display panel 200.

[0116] As used herein, unless otherwise stated, planar portion 210 and curved portion 220 may refer to areas where an image is displayed.

[0117] The curved portion 220 has a predetermined width in the left-right direction (X direction) and a predetermined length in the up-down direction (Y direction). The width direction (Z direction) has a non-zero predetermined curvature (defined as the reciprocal of the radius of curvature). The longitudinal direction may have zero curvature.

[0118] The housing component 100 supports the display panel 200, allowing the display panel 200 to remain in a curved state. The flat portion 210 is supported by the cover 102, and the curved portion 220 can be supported by the body 101, which extends in the front-back direction (Z direction).

[0119] Figure 5A This is a cross-sectional view used to explain the compression ratio of an image displayed on the curved portion 220 in the left-right direction according to an exemplary embodiment, and corresponding to... Figure 4 The right side. For example... Figure 5A As shown, according to an exemplary embodiment, a wider viewing angle can be provided using a smaller display panel 200.

[0120] Figure 5A A portion of the right side of the planar portion 210, the right curved portion 222, and the user's right eye (or pupil) 512 are shown. As used herein, a point or line described with reference to the cross-sectional view may refer to a line or plane passing through that point or line and perpendicular to the cross-sectional view.

[0121] Reference Figure 5A The virtual plane 230 is a plane extending from the planar portion 210. As used herein, "D" represents the distance between the viewpoint 420 of the user 500's right eye 512 and the virtual plane 230 or the planar portion 210 (or "D" represents a line orthogonal to the virtual plane 230). The distance D can have a predetermined value determined based on the arrangement of the display panel 200 in the housing component 100, the structure of the pad component 300, the refractive index of the optical system 400, etc. Alternatively, the distance D can be a value set by the user. Or, the distance D can be a value measured by the aforementioned sensor.

[0122] As used herein, “R” is the radius of curvature of the curved portion 222. The center of the curved portion 222 is located at the point where the planar portion 210 and the curved portion 222 intersect, that is, on a line orthogonal to the display panel 200, at the starting point 422 of the curved portion 222. More specifically, the curved portion 222 contacts the virtual plane 230. As used herein, “θ” represents the central angle of the curved portion 222. As used herein, “A” represents the width of the curved portion 222 in the left-right direction, that is, the width of the curved portion 222 in the right-right direction. Figure 5A The arc length in the cross-section.

[0123] As used in this document, "B" represents the distance between the normal D of the virtual plane 230 through the viewpoint 420 and the normal of the virtual plane 230 through the starting point 422 of the curved portion 222.

[0124] Dashed lines 410 and 411 are straight lines representing the line of sight from viewpoint 420 of user 500. Dashed line 410 is a straight line passing through viewpoint 420 and the endpoint 421 of the curved portion 222, while dashed line 411 is a straight line passing through viewpoint 420 and the starting point 422 of the curved portion 222 (or virtual plane 230). The endpoint 423 on the virtual plane 230 is the point where the virtual plane 230 intersects with dashed line 410.

[0125] As used herein, “L” represents the distance between the normals passing through the start point 422 and the end point 423 on the virtual plane 230. The plane between the start point 422 and the end point 423 on the virtual plane 230 is defined as the equivalent region 231 of the curved portion 222.

[0126] [Equation 1]

[0127]

[0128] [Equation 2]

[0129]

[0130] [Equation 3]

[0131]

[0132] The length L of the equivalent region 231 comes from equations 1, 2 and 3 above, as shown in equation 4 below.

[0133] [Equation 4]

[0134]

[0135] In an exemplary embodiment, the length A of the curved portion 222 is represented by the following equation 5.

[0136] [Equation 5]

[0137] A = Rθ (θ in radians)

[0138] Therefore, the left-right image compression ratio A / L of the curved portion 222 relative to the planar portion 210 is represented by the following equation 6.

[0139] [Equation 6]

[0140]

[0141] Figure 5B This is a cross-sectional view used to explain the compression ratio of an image displayed on the curved portion 220 according to an exemplary embodiment, and shows a compression ratio with... Figure 5A The different curved portions of R and θ.

[0142] like Figure 5B As shown, the center point of the curved portion 222 lies on the line of sight 410 passing through the viewpoint 420 of the user 500 and the end point 421 of the curved portion 222. Therefore, the line of sight 410 passes substantially perpendicularly through the curved portion 222 at the end point 421. Other conditions are the same as described above. Figure 5A The descriptions are essentially the same. According to the exemplary embodiment shown in the figure, since L=Rtanθ, the left-right image compression ratio A / L of the curved portion 222 relative to the planar portion 210 is expressed by the following equation 7.

[0143] [Equation 7]

[0144]

[0145] In an exemplary embodiment, the image compression ratio A / L of the curved portion 222 relative to the planar portion 210 is defined as the ratio of the size of the substantially identical image displayed on the curved portion 222 to that displayed on the planar portion 210. For example, if the size of the image displayed on the planar portion 210 is assumed to be L1, and the same image is also L1 if displayed in the equivalent region 230, then when the same image is displayed on the curved portion 222, the size is reduced to L2. Therefore, the image compression ratio is L2 / L1.

[0146] In an exemplary embodiment, the left and right image compression ratios of the curved portion at each point of the curved portion 222 can be the same as A / L, or they can vary depending on their respective positions on the curved portion 222. For example, the left and right image compression ratio at the starting point 422 of the curved portion 222 can be 1. That is, the image is scaled down at the same ratio as the planar portion 210, and the image can be scaled down at a greater ratio as the point moves further away from the starting point 422. Specifically, the image displayed on the curved portion 222 can be scaled down to a greater extent as its distance from the planar portion 210 increases. As used herein, further image scaling down means a smaller ratio (e.g., image compression ratio) between the image of the curved portion 222 and the image of the planar portion 210. Although the image compression ratio varies depending on its position on the curved portion 222, the compression ratio of the entire image of the curved portion can be A / L.

[0147] For example, in Figure 5B In the exemplary embodiment shown in the illustration, the image compression ratio dA / dL at any point (central angle θ) is expressed by the following equation.

[0148] [Equation 8]

[0149]

[0150] Therefore, when θ=0, that is, at the boundary point 422 between the planar portion 210 and the curved portion 222, the image compression ratio is approximately 1. As θ increases, that is, as the distance from the planar portion 210 increases, the image compression ratio decreases at a greater rate.

[0151] Figure 6 A is a front view showing a portion of a display panel according to an exemplary embodiment. Figure 6 B is a side view showing a portion of a display panel according to an exemplary embodiment. The vertical compression ratio will be referenced... Figure 6 A and Figure 6 B is used for description. See above for reference. Figure 5A and Figure 5B As described, the image displayed on the curved portion 220 (arranged on the right and left sides of the planar portion 210) can be scaled down in the left-right direction. Furthermore, according to an exemplary embodiment, the image displayed on the curved portion 220 can be scaled down in the up-down direction, such as... Figure 6 A and Figure 6 As shown in B. Dashed lines 414 and 415 are straight lines passing through viewpoint 420, the two endpoints of the curved portion 222 in the vertical direction, and the two endpoints of the equivalent region 231 in the vertical direction, respectively.

[0152] For example, in Figure 6 A and Figure 6In the exemplary embodiment shown in B, the compression ratio W2 / W1 of the upper and lower images at any point (central angle θ) can be obtained by the following equation 9.

[0153] [Equation 9]

[0154]

[0155] In Equation 9, “W2” is the length of the curved portion 222 in the vertical direction, “W1” is the length of the equivalent region 231 corresponding to the curved portion 222 in the vertical direction, “R(1-cosθ)” is the distance between any point (central angle θ) and the equivalent region 231, and “D” is the distance between the planar portion 210 and the viewpoint 420.

[0156] Therefore, based on Equation 9, the compression ratio W2 / W1 of the upper and lower images can be obtained from Equation 10.

[0157] [Equation 10]

[0158]

[0159] Therefore, when θ=0, that is, at the boundary point 422 between the planar portion 210 and the curved portion 222, the compression ratio of the upper and lower images is approximately 1. As θ increases, that is, as the distance from the planar portion 210 increases, the image compression ratio decreases at a greater rate.

[0160] Figure 7 A is a view showing an unscaled image according to an exemplary embodiment, and Figure 7 B is a view showing a scaled-down image according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0161] According to an exemplary embodiment, the communication unit 40 or the storage unit 50 will Figure 7 The image data shown in A is provided to controller 30 or image processor 10 (hereinafter, both may be collectively referred to as "controller 30"). Controller 30 can... Figure 7 The data of the image shown in A is converted into Figure 7 The data of the reduced image shown in B. However, the inventive concept is not limited to this, and the communication unit 40 or the storage unit 50 can provide the image data, which has been shown as in Figure 7 In B, the size is reduced in advance, and the controller 30 can... Figure 7 The data of the scaled-down image shown in B is provided to the display unit 20.

[0162] like Figure 7 As shown in Figure A, typically, the image is configured to be displayed on a flat display panel, and each portion of the display panel, for example, the central and peripheral portions of the display panel, can display the image at the same ratio. Therefore, if as... Figure 7 The image of the flat surface shown in Figure A (hereinafter referred to as the "planar image") is displayed as follows: Figure 4 On the curved portion 220 of the display panel 200 shown, the image may be distorted. Therefore, the head-mounted display device according to the exemplary embodiment displays a reduced image in the left-right and / or up-down directions on the curved portion 220, as referenced above. Figures 5A to 6 As described by B.

[0163] Figure 7 The planar image Im shown in A comprises local images Im(i, j), each having substantially the same size. All local images Im(1, 1) ... Im(i, j) ... Im(16, 8) can be displayed on the display panel at the same ratio. The planar image Im can be the original image. Alternatively, the original image can be an image that has been scaled globally by the controller 30 to each local image Im(i, j) at the same ratio according to the size of the planar portion 210 and the equivalent region 231.

[0164] The controller 30 can determine a local image Im (i, j) to be displayed on the planar portion 210 and a local image Im (i, j) to be displayed on the equivalent region 231 (curved portion 220). The controller 30 partially reduces the local image Im (i, j) of the equivalent region 231 in the left-right direction and / or up-down direction.

[0165] like Figure 7 As shown in Figure B, the local images Im (i, j) of the equivalent region 231 are further reduced in the left-right and up-down directions as they move further away from the planar portion 210. The data of the partially reduced image Im' is provided to the panel driver of the display unit 20, and the panel driver will... Figure 7 The image Im' shown in B is displayed on the display panel 200.

[0166] According to an exemplary embodiment, the image Im' (such as...) displayed on the curved portion 220 Figure 7 (As shown in B) can be considered as the image Im displayed on the virtual plane 230 or equivalent region 231 extending from the planar portion 210 (such as...). Figure 7 (As shown in A) are essentially the same. Accordingly, exemplary embodiments of the present invention can provide a wider viewing angle to the user while using a relatively small display panel. Furthermore, Figure 7 The distortion of image A can be significantly suppressed because the image is displayed on a roughly flat display panel.

[0167] Figure 8 This is an illustrative view showing the transformation of an image displayed on a curved portion according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0168] As described above, the curved surface image Im' (hereinafter referred to as the "curved image") displayed on the curved portion 220 according to the exemplary embodiment can be regarded as substantially the same as the planar image Im displayed on the equivalent region 231 extending from the planar portion 210.

[0169] Reference Figure 8 A straight line passes from viewpoint 420 through a point in the curved portion 220 and a point in the equivalent region 231, corresponding to each other, and substantially identical images can be displayed at these two corresponding points. Therefore, a local image Im' (i, j) corresponding to the local image Im (i, j) at a point in the equivalent region 231 is displayed at the corresponding point in the curved portion 220. Furthermore, as described above, the curved local image Im' (i, j) can be scaled down in both the left-right and up-down directions.

[0170] Although Figure 8 The curved portion is shown to have a partially cylindrical shape, but the inventive concept is not limited thereto. (See reference...) Figure 8 The described image transformation method can be applied to curved sections with arbitrary shapes.

[0171] In addition, although Figures 4 to 8 The curved portion 220 is shown arranged on the right and left sides of the planar portion 210, but the inventive concept is not limited thereto. (See also...) Figures 4 to 8 The exemplary embodiments described can also be applied to the curved portions arranged on the upper and lower sides of the planar portion 210.

[0172] Figure 9 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of an optical system according to an exemplary embodiment, and illustrates the refraction of a line of sight through the optical system 400. Although Figure 9 This description pertains to the right eye optical system 402, but it can be similarly applied to the left eye optical system 401 (see [link]). Figure 3 ).

[0173] like Figure 9 As shown, lines of sight 412 and 413 from the user's actual viewpoint 430 are refracted as they pass through the optical system 400. Therefore, in reference... Figure 5A and Figure 5B In the description, the lines of sight 410 and 411 for viewing the curved portion 222 and the equivalent region 230 cannot form a straight line with the user's actual viewpoint 430.

[0174] In an exemplary embodiment, the refractive index n of the optical system 400 is represented by the following equation 11.

[0175] [Equation 11]

[0176]

[0177] Where θ1 and θ2 are the angles between the right eye optical system 402 and the lines of sight 410 and 412, respectively.

[0178] exist Figure 9 In this context, "OL" is the distance between the planar portion 210 and the right eye optical system 402, "D'" is the distance between the planar portion 210 and the actual viewpoint 430 of the user 500, and "D" is the distance between the planar portion 210 and the virtual viewpoint 420 of the line of sight 410 and 411 through the curved portion 222.

[0179] Therefore, when the head-mounted display device according to the exemplary embodiment includes an optical system 400, the aforementioned viewpoint 420 refers to a virtual viewpoint 420, rather than the user's actual viewpoint 430, and the "D" used in Equations 1 to 7 refers to the distance D to the virtual viewpoint 420, rather than the distance D' to the user's actual viewpoint 430.

[0180] The distance D to the virtual viewpoint 420 can be determined based on the distance D' to the actual viewpoint 430 of the user 500 and the refractive index of the right eye optical system 402.

[0181] Figure 10 This is a schematic perspective view of a split binocular head-mounted display panel 240 according to an exemplary embodiment. Figure 11 yes Figure 10 The cross-sectional view is shown. Detailed descriptions of the essentially the same components will be omitted to avoid redundancy.

[0182] like Figure 10 As shown, the display panel 240 according to an exemplary embodiment includes a left-eye display panel 241 and a right-eye display panel 242.

[0183] like Figure 10 and Figure 11As shown, display panels 241 and 242 are curved to the left and right relative to the user's line of sight 500. More specifically, the left-eye display panel 241 includes a flat portion 251L in the center and curved portions 262L and 261L on the left and right sides of the flat portion 251L. The flat portion 251L is substantially flat. That is, the flat portion 251L has a curvature of approximately zero or substantially zero. The curved portion 260L extends from the flat portion 251L in the left-right direction. The curved portion 260L has a predetermined width in the left-right direction and a predetermined length in the up-down direction. The width direction has a non-zero predetermined curvature (defined as the reciprocal of the radius of curvature). The vertical direction may have zero curvature. The right-eye display panel 242 includes a flat portion 251R in the center and curved portions 262R and 261R on the left and right sides of the flat portion 251R. The flat portion 251R is substantially flat. That is, the planar portion 251R has a curvature of approximately zero or substantially zero. The curved portion 260R extends from the planar portion 251R in the left-right direction. The curved portion 260R has a predetermined width in the left-right direction and a predetermined length in the up-down direction.

[0184] In a cross-sectional view of the left-eye display panel 241 according to an exemplary embodiment, the curved portion 262L on the left and the curved portion 261L on the right are symmetrical with respect to a line of symmetry passing through the center of the left-eye display panel 241, which is perpendicular to the left-eye display panel 241. The left-eye display panel 241 and the right-eye display panel 242 are symmetrical with respect to a plane of symmetry 263 passing through the center therebetween, which is perpendicular to the left-eye display panel 241.

[0185] The housing component 100 supports the display panel 240, allowing the display panel 240 to remain in a curved state. Furthermore, the housing component 100 may further include a protrusion 103 that separates the two display panels 241 and 242 and supports the right curved portion 261L of the left-eye display panel 241 and the left curved portion 262R of the right-eye display panel 242. The protrusion 103 can block the field of view of each eye, so that the left-eye display panel 241 cannot be viewed from the right eye 512, and the right-eye display panel 242 cannot be viewed from the left eye 511. The following description will focus on the left-eye display panel 241, but it can also be applied to the right-eye display panel 242. In an exemplary embodiment, the left and right curved portions of each of the left-eye display panel 241 and the right-eye display panel 242 have the same length in the left-right direction. In an exemplary embodiment, the left and right curved portions of each of the left-eye display panel 241 and the right-eye display panel 242 have different lengths in the left-right direction. In an exemplary embodiment, the left curved portion 262L of the left eye display panel 241 is longer than the right curved portion 261L of the left eye display panel 241 in the left-right direction, and the right curved portion 261R of the right eye display panel 242 is longer than the left curved portion 262R of the right eye display panel 242 in the left-right direction.

[0186] Figure 12 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a split binocular head-mounted display device according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0187] Referenced above Figure 5A and Figure 5B The image compression ratio of the curved portion relative to the planar portion can be applied to the exemplary embodiment shown, therefore, repeated descriptions thereof will be omitted to avoid redundancy.

[0188] The left curved portion 262L and the right curved portion 261L of the left eye display panel 241 have the same radius of curvature R. However, the inventive concept is not limited to this, and the left curved portion 262L and the right curved portion 261L may have different radii of curvature.

[0189] Furthermore, the left curved portion 262L and the right curved portion 261L have central angles θ3 and θ1, respectively. The central angles θ3 and θ1 can be substantially equal to each other or can be different from each other. For example, the central angle θ3 can be greater than the central angle θ1 to ensure that the left viewing angle of the left eye 511 is greater than the right viewing angle. B1 and B2 are the distances in the first direction between the normal to the plane portion 210 passing through the viewpoint of the left eye 511 and the point where the plane portion 210 intersects with the right curved portion 261L and the left curved portion 262L, respectively, and L3 is the length of the equivalent area of ​​the left curved portion 262L of the left eye display panel 241 in the first direction.

[0190] In an exemplary embodiment, the area in the right-curved portion 261L where the image is displayed can be varied. For example, the image can be displayed over the entire curved portion 261L with a central angle θ1. Alternatively, according to an exemplary embodiment, the image can be displayed only over a portion of the right-curved portion 261L, that is, only over the curved portion where the central angle θ is less than the central angle θ1.

[0191] For example, the central angle θ of the area where the image is to be displayed can be determined based on the input from user 500 and the type of image to be displayed (e.g., a 2D or 3D image). Therefore, the length L2 of the equivalent area corresponding to the image displayed on the curved portion can be changed. Although this example is described with reference to the right curved portion 261L, the inventive concept is not limited thereto, and it can also be applied to the left curved portion 262L.

[0192] For example, a central angle θ2 can be determined such that the line of sight passing through the endpoint of the curved portion having a central angle θ2 can intersect with the line of symmetry 263 on the virtual plane 230. Therefore, the equivalent region L2 of the right curved portion 261L of the left eye display panel 241 and the equivalent region (the region symmetrical to L2) of the left curved portion 262R of the right eye display panel 242 can contact each other.

[0193] In an exemplary embodiment, the image can be displayed at a central angle θ1 greater than the central angle θ2. Therefore, the equivalent region L1 of the right curved portion 261L of the left eye display panel 241 and the equivalent region (the region symmetrical to L1) of the left curved portion 262R of the right eye display panel 242 can overlap each other. Thus, the split binocular display panel according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment can provide a viewing angle superior to that of the integral binocular display panel 200 described above.

[0194] Figure 13A This is a schematic perspective view of an integral binocular display panel according to an exemplary embodiment. Figure 13B and Figure 13C They are Figure 13A Cross-sectional views of the integrated binocular display panel taken along lines II-II' and III-III'.

[0195] Figures 13A to 13C The display panel 270 shown includes left-eye and right-eye display areas.

[0196] Furthermore, the display panel 270 has a dome shape. More specifically, the display panel 270 includes a flat portion 271 and curved portions 272 to 275 on the left and right sides and the top and bottom sides of the flat portion 271. The radii of curvature and central angles of the left and right curved portions 272 and 273 may be substantially the same as or different from the radii of curvature and central angles of the top and bottom curved portions 274 and 275. The specific shapes of the curved portions and the image compression ratio of the curved portions to the flat portion have already been described above, therefore, a repeated description thereof will be omitted to avoid redundancy.

[0197] The left and right curved portions 272 and 273 display images that are reduced in the left and right direction, while the up and down curved portions 274 and 275 display images that are reduced in the up and down direction. However, the inventive concept is not limited thereto, and the left and right curved portions 272 and 273 can display images that are further reduced in the up and down direction, while the up and down curved portions 274 and 275 can display images that are further reduced in the left and right direction.

[0198] Although Figure 13A The display panel 270 is illustrated as having curved portions 272 to 275 connected to each other at the corners of the display panel 270, but the inventive concept is not limited thereto. For example, the curved portions 272 to 275 may not be connected to each other at the corners of the display panel 270, and may be open.

[0199] Furthermore, in an exemplary embodiment, the planar portion 271 may have a generally quadrilateral shape. However, the inventive concept is not limited thereto, and the planar portion 271 may have various polygonal shapes, such as ellipses, tori, and hexagons.

[0200] Figure 14 This is a schematic perspective view of a split binocular display panel according to an exemplary embodiment. References to the above will be omitted. Figures 13A to 13C Detailed descriptions of those essentially the same components are provided to avoid redundancy.

[0201] Figure 14 The display panel 280 shown includes a left eye display panel 281 and a right eye display panel 282, and the display panels 281 and 282 can be separated from each other.

[0202] Furthermore, each of display panels 281 and 282 has a dome shape. That is, each of display panels 281 and 282 includes a flat portion and curved portions on the left and right sides and top and bottom sides of the flat portion. Except for its length in the left-right direction, each of display panels 281 and 282 can be connected to… Figures 13A to 13B The display panel 270 shown is essentially the same. Furthermore, the left and right curved portions of each of the display panels 281 and 282 have the same characteristics as those shown above. Figure 7 A to Figure 8 The described curved sections have essentially the same or similar structures.

[0203] Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment, the planar portion of the display panel 281 has a generally quadrilateral shape; however, the inventive concept is not limited thereto, and the planar portion of the display panel 281 may have various polygonal shapes, such as ellipse, torus and hexagon.

[0204] Figure 15A and Figure 15B This is a schematic unfolded view showing an integral binocular display panel according to an exemplary embodiment. Figure 15A and Figure 15B The display panel 270 shown includes left-eye and right-eye display areas.

[0205] The display panel 270 can be made to enable Figure 15A The flat display panel shown is formed by bending. More specifically, the bent portions 272 to 275 can be formed by bending regions extending from the flat portion 271 in the vertical and horizontal directions to have a predetermined curvature. The corner 276 between each bent portion can be slotted, so that the bent portions 272 to 275 can be bent individually. Therefore, having Figure 15A The corners of the display panel 270 shown in the unfolded view are open.

[0206] on the other hand, Figure 15B Each corner 276 in the unfolded view shown can be cut with a curve. Therefore, the curved display panel 270 does not open at the corners, and each curved portion 272 to 275 of the display panel 270 can be connected to each other. However, the inventive concept is not limited to this, and the shape of the display panel can be changed. For example, the display panel can have different types of dome shapes in various ways.

[0207] In an exemplary embodiment, the viewing areas 277 and 278 of the left eye 511 and right eye 512 may refer to the areas visually recognized by the user when wearing the head-mounted display device. Each viewing area 277 and 278 may have a generally elliptical or circular shape. According to an exemplary embodiment, the viewing areas 277 and 278 overlap with a portion of the planar portion 271 and the curved portions 272 to 275, but do not overlap with the corner 276. That is, the user cannot see the corner between the curved portions 272 to 275. Furthermore, the respective viewing areas 277 and 278 do not overlap with each other.

[0208] Figure 16 This is a schematic unfolded view of a split binocular display panel according to an exemplary embodiment. Figure 16The display panel 280 shown includes a left eye display panel 281 and a right eye display panel 282, and the display panels 281 and 282 can be separated from each other.

[0209] In addition to their length in the left-right direction, each of the display panels 281 and 282 can be connected to... Figure 15A The display panel 270 shown is essentially the same. Furthermore, the left and right curved portions of each of the display panels 281 and 282 have the same characteristics as the reference panel. Figure 10 and Figure 11 The described curved sections have essentially the same or similar structures.

[0210] As shown above (refer to the reference) Figure 15A The corners between each curved section are cut in the form of quadrilaterals and have... Figure 16 The corners of the display panel 280 in the unfolded view shown are open. Furthermore, the open corners may not be included within the viewing areas 283 of the left eye 511 and the right eye 512.

[0211] According to an exemplary embodiment, the corners between each curved portion in each of the display panels 281 and 282 can be cut similarly to that shown in Figure 15B, so that the curved portions can be connected to each other.

[0212] In an exemplary embodiment, such as Figure 16 As shown, each of display panels 281 and 282 may include a display area 286 for displaying images and a peripheral non-display area 285 for not displaying images. Various wiring for driving display panels 281 and 282 may be arranged in the non-display area 285. The non-display area 285 may be included in all of the display panels 200 described above.

[0213] Figure 17 This is an enlarged view of a portion of the display panel according to an exemplary embodiment. Figure 18 It is along Figure 17 The cross-sectional view taken from line IV-IV'.

[0214] Reference Figure 17 and Figure 18 The display panel according to an exemplary embodiment includes a plurality of pixels, each pixel including a switching thin-film transistor, a driving thin-film transistor, a capacitor, and an OLED 810. The OLED 810 can be primarily used in flexible display devices because it can be deposited at relatively low temperatures and has low power consumption, high brightness, etc. As used herein, a pixel can refer to the smallest unit used to display an image, and a display panel can display an image using multiple pixels.

[0215] Although Figure 17The illustration shows a pixel comprising two thin-film transistors and a capacitor, but the inventive concept is not limited thereto. For example, a pixel may include three or more thin-film transistors and two or more capacitors, and may have various structures including additional wiring.

[0216] The display panel may include a substrate 710, gate lines 751 disposed on the substrate 710, and data lines 771 and common power lines 772 that are insulated from and intersect with the gate lines 751. A pixel may typically be defined by the gate lines 751, data lines 771, and common power lines 772, where they form a boundary, but the inventive concept is not limited thereto. A pixel may be defined by a pixel definition layer or a black matrix.

[0217] The substrate 710 may include a flexible plastic material. For example, the substrate 710 may include at least one of the following: Kapton®, polyethersulfone (PES), polycarbonate (PC), polyimide (PI), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyacrylate (PAR), fiber reinforced plastic (FRP), etc.

[0218] The thickness of the substrate 710 can be in the range of about 5 μm to about 200 μm. When the substrate 710 has a thickness of less than about 5 μm, it is difficult for the substrate 710 to stably support the OLED 810. On the other hand, when the substrate 710 has a thickness of more than about 200 μm, the flexibility of the substrate 710 may deteriorate.

[0219] A buffer layer 720 is disposed on the substrate 710. The buffer layer 720 can prevent the penetration of unwanted elements and planarize the underlying surface by comprising suitable materials for planarization and / or prevention of penetration. For example, the buffer layer 720 may comprise silicon nitride (SiN). x ) layer, silicon oxide (SiO2) layer and silicon oxynitride (SiO2) layer x N y One of the layers. However, depending on the type of substrate 710 and its processing conditions, the buffer layer 720 may be omitted.

[0220] A switching semiconductor layer 731 and a driving semiconductor layer 732 are disposed on a buffer layer 720. The switching semiconductor layer 731 and the driving semiconductor layer 732 may comprise at least one of a polycrystalline silicon layer, an amorphous silicon layer, and an oxide semiconductor such as indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) and indium zinc tin oxide (IZTO). For example, when the driving semiconductor layer 732 comprises a polycrystalline silicon layer, the driving semiconductor layer 732 includes an undoped channel region and p+ doped source and drain regions formed on the opposite side of the channel region. In such an exemplary embodiment, p-type impurities (e.g., boron B) may be used as doping ions, typically B₂H₆. These impurities may vary depending on the type of thin-film transistor. The driving thin-film transistor according to the exemplary embodiment may employ a p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor (“PMOS”) thin-film transistor including p-type impurities, but the inventive concept is not limited thereto. For example, the driving thin-film transistor may employ an n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor (“NMOS”) thin-film transistor or a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (“CMOS”) thin-film transistor.

[0221] A gate insulating layer 740 is disposed on the switching semiconductor layer 731 and the driving semiconductor layer 732. The gate insulating layer 740 may comprise tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) or silicon nitride (SiN). x At least one of SiN and silicon dioxide (SiO2). For example, the gate insulating layer 740 may have a bilayer structure, wherein the SiN layer has a thickness of about 40 nm. x The layers and a TEOS layer with a thickness of about 80 nm are stacked in sequence.

[0222] Gate connections, including gate electrodes 752 and 755, are arranged on the gate insulating layer 740. The gate connections further include gate line 751, a first capacitor plate 758, and other signal lines. Furthermore, gate electrodes 752 and 755 are configured to overlap at least a portion (e.g., their channel regions) of the respective semiconductor layers 731 and 732. When impurities are doped into the source and drain regions of semiconductor layers 731 and 732, respectively, gate electrodes 752 and 755 can substantially prevent impurities from being doped into the channel regions of the respective semiconductor layers 731 and 732.

[0223] Gate electrodes 752 and 755 and the first capacitor plate 758 are arranged on substantially the same layer and comprise substantially the same metallic material. Gate electrodes 752 and 755 and the first capacitor plate 758 may comprise at least one of molybdenum (Mo), chromium (Cr), and tungsten (W).

[0224] An insulating interlayer 760 is disposed on the gate insulating layer 740 to cover the gate electrodes 752 and 755. Similar to the gate insulating layer 740, the insulating interlayer 760 may comprise silicon nitride (SiN). x ), silicon dioxide (SiO) xThe invention can be derived from or formed from tetraethoxysilanes (TEOS), but the inventive concept is not limited thereto.

[0225] Data wiring, including source electrodes 773 and 776 and drain electrodes 774 and 777, is arranged on insulating interlayer 760. The data wiring further includes data line 771, common power line 772, second capacitor plate 778, and other wiring. Furthermore, source electrodes 773 and 776 and drain electrodes 774 and 777 are connected to the source and drain regions of the respective semiconductor layers 731 and 732, respectively, through contact holes defined in gate insulating layer 740 and insulating interlayer 760.

[0226] Therefore, the switching thin-film transistor includes a switching semiconductor layer 731, a switching gate electrode 752, a switching source electrode 773, and a switching drain electrode 774, and the driving thin-film transistor includes a driving semiconductor layer 732, a driving gate electrode 755, a driving source electrode 776, and a driving drain electrode 777. However, the inventive concept is not limited thereto, and the configuration of the thin-film transistor can be modified into various structures.

[0227] In addition, the capacitor includes a first capacitor plate 758 and a second capacitor plate 778, with an insulating interlayer 760 between them.

[0228] A switching thin-film transistor can be used as a switching element to select a pixel to perform light emission. A switching gate electrode 752 is connected to gate line 751. A switching source electrode 773 is connected to data line 771. A switching drain electrode 774 is spaced apart from the switching source electrode 773 and connected to a first capacitor plate 758.

[0229] A driving thin-film transistor is applied to the pixel electrode 811, which is the driving power source that allows the light-emitting layer 812 of the OLED 810 in the selected pixel to emit light. A driving gate electrode 755 is connected to a first capacitor plate 758. A driving source electrode 776 and each of the second capacitor plate 778 are connected to a common power line 772. A driving drain electrode 777 is connected to the pixel electrode 811 of the OLED 810 through a contact hole.

[0230] With the above structure, the switching thin-film transistor is driven by the gate voltage applied to the gate line 751 and is used to transmit the data voltage applied to the data line 771 to the driving thin-film transistor. A voltage equivalent to the difference between the common voltage applied to the driving thin-film transistor from the common power line 772 and the data voltage transmitted from the switching thin-film transistor is stored in a capacitor, and a current corresponding to the voltage stored in the capacitor flows through the driving thin-film transistor to the OLED 810, thus enabling the OLED 810 to emit light.

[0231] A planarization layer 765 is arranged to cover data wiring, such as data line 771, common power line 772, source electrodes 773 and 776, drain electrodes 774 and 777, and second capacitor plate 778, which are patterned as substantially the same layer on the insulating interlayer 760.

[0232] The planarization layer 765 can substantially eliminate the step difference of the underlying structure and make its underlying surface flat, which can improve the luminous efficiency of the OLED 810 to be formed thereon. The planarization layer 765 may include at least one of the following: polyacrylate resin, epoxy resin, phenolic resin, polyamide resin, polyimide resin, unsaturated polyester resin, polyphenylene ether resin, polyphenylene sulfide resin, and benzocyclobutene (BCB).

[0233] The pixel electrode 811 of the OLED 810 is disposed on the planarization layer 765. The pixel electrode 811 is connected to the drain electrode 777 through a contact hole defined in the planarization layer 765.

[0234] At least a portion of the exposed pixel electrode 811 is disposed on the planarization layer 765 as a pixel definition layer 790 defining a pixel region. The pixel electrode 811 is arranged to correspond to the pixel region defined by the pixel definition layer 790. The pixel definition layer 790 may comprise a resin based on, for example, polyacrylate and polyimide.

[0235] A light-emitting layer 812 is disposed on a pixel electrode 811 in a pixel region, and a common electrode 813 is disposed on a pixel definition layer 790 and a light-emitting layer 812. The light-emitting layer 812 comprises a low-molecular-weight organic material or a high-molecular-weight organic material. At least one of a hole injection layer (HIL) and a hole transport layer (HTL) may be further disposed between the pixel electrode 811 and the light-emitting layer 812, and at least one of an electron transport layer (ETL) and an electron injection layer (EIL) may be further disposed between the light-emitting layer 812 and the common electrode 813.

[0236] The pixel electrode 811 and the common electrode 813 can be formed as one of the following: a transmissive electrode, a transmissive-reflective electrode, and a reflective electrode.

[0237] Transparent conductive oxides (“TCOs”) can be used to form transmission electrodes. TCOs may include indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), zinc oxide (ZnO), indium oxide (In2O3), etc.

[0238] Metals, such as magnesium (Mg), silver (Ag), gold (Au), calcium (Ca), lithium (Li), chromium (Cr), aluminum (Al), and copper (Cu), or alloys thereof, can be used to form transmissive and reflective electrodes. In such an exemplary embodiment, whether the electrode is transmissive or reflective depends on the thickness of the electrode. Typically, transmissive electrodes have a thickness of about 200 nm or less, while reflective electrodes have a thickness of about 300 nm or greater. As the thickness of the transmissive and reflective electrodes decreases, the transmittance and resistance may increase. Conversely, as the thickness of the transmissive and reflective electrodes increases, the transmittance may decrease.

[0239] Furthermore, the transmissive and reflective electrodes may have a multilayer structure, which includes a metal layer comprising a metal or an alloy thereof and a TCO layer stacked on the metal layer.

[0240] An encapsulation layer 850 is disposed on a common electrode 813. The encapsulation layer 850 includes one or more inorganic layers 851 and 853 and one or more organic layers 852. Furthermore, the encapsulation layer 850 has a structure in which inorganic layers 851 and 853 are alternately laminated with organic layers 852. In this exemplary embodiment, the inorganic layer 851 is disposed at the bottom. That is, the inorganic layer 851 is disposed closest to the OLED 810.

[0241] exist Figure 18 In the embodiment, the encapsulation layer 850 is illustrated as including two inorganic layers 851 and 853 and an organic layer 852, but the inventive concept is not limited thereto.

[0242] Inorganic layers 851 and 853 comprise one or more inorganic materials selected from Al2O3, TiO2, ZrO, SiO2, AlON, AlN, SiON, Si3N4, ZnO, and Ta2O5. Inorganic layers 851 and 853 can be formed by methods such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or atomic layer deposition (ALD). However, the inventive concept is not limited thereto, and inorganic layers 851 and 853 can be formed by various methods commonly known in the art.

[0243] The organic layer 852 may comprise or be formed of a polymeric material. Examples of polymeric materials may include, for example, acrylic resins, epoxy resins, polyimides, and polyethylene. The organic layer 852 may be formed by a thermal deposition process. The thermal deposition process for forming the organic layer 852 may be performed within a temperature range that does not damage the OLED 810. However, the inventive concept is not limited thereto, and the organic layer 852 may be formed by various methods commonly known in the art.

[0244] The inorganic layers 851 and 853, with their high film density, can essentially prevent or effectively reduce most of the penetration of moisture or oxygen. The inorganic layers 851 and 853 can largely prevent moisture and oxygen from penetrating into the OLED 810.

[0245] The encapsulation layer 850 can have a thickness of approximately 10 μm or less. Therefore, the overall thickness of the display panel can be significantly reduced. By applying such an encapsulation layer 850, the display panel can possess optimized flexibility characteristics.

[0246] A protective film 400 is disposed under the substrate 710. The protective film 400 can be attached to the lower part of the substrate 710 by an adhesive. The protective film 400 can improve the strength of the display panel and substantially prevent the display panel from being damaged.

[0247] The protective film 400 may comprise a flexible plastic material. Furthermore, the protective film 400 may have different thicknesses depending on Young's modulus. According to an exemplary embodiment, the protective film 400 may have substantially the same shape as the substrate 710.

[0248] Figure 19 A and Figure 19 B is an expanded view showing a display panel according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0249] Reference Figure 19 A. According to an exemplary embodiment, the display panel 200 may include a planar portion 210 and curved portions 220 disposed on opposite sides of the planar portion 210, for example, on the left or right side, or on the upper and lower sides. (See also...) Figure 19 B. The display panel 200 according to the exemplary embodiment may include a planar portion 210 and curved portions 220 arranged on the left and right sides and the top and bottom sides.

[0250] like Figure 19 As shown in Figure A, in the display panel 200 according to an exemplary embodiment, the resolution of the curved portion 220 is higher than that of the planar portion 210. As used herein, resolution may refer to the number of pixels per unit area or unit length (PX). Therefore, the pixels are arranged more densely in the curved portion 220.

[0251] According to an exemplary embodiment, the resolution of the curved portion 220 in the left-right direction (the number of pixels PX per unit length in the left-right direction) is higher than the resolution of the planar portion 210. Furthermore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the resolution of the curved portion 220 in the up-down direction (the number of pixels PX per unit length in the up-down direction) is higher than the resolution of the planar portion 210.

[0252] The ratio R2 / R1 of the resolution R2 of the curved portion 220 to the resolution R1 of the planar portion 210 is equivalent to the above reference. Figures 4 to 8 The inverse of the described image compression ratio. That is, as resolution increases, the displayed image may be reduced in size to a greater extent. Therefore, a detailed description of resolution R2 / R1 will be omitted.

[0253] In an exemplary embodiment, as referred to above Figure 17 and Figure 18 The display panel 200 may include, for example, gate lines 751 extending in the left-right direction and data lines 771 extending in the up-down direction. A pixel may be defined by one of the gate lines 751 and one of the data lines 771, and may be defined by these lines 751 and 771.

[0254] In an exemplary embodiment, Figure 19 The spacing between the data lines 771 (which extend substantially parallel in the vertical direction) in the left and right curved portions 220 of the display panel 200 shown in A can decrease as they are arranged further away from the flat portion 210. Therefore, the image displayed on the curved portion 220 can be reduced more in the left and right direction as it is located further away from the flat portion 210.

[0255] In an exemplary embodiment, Figure 19 The spacing between the grid lines 751 (which extend substantially parallel in the left-right direction) in the left-right curved portion 220 of the display panel 200 shown in Figure A can decrease as they are arranged further away from the flat portion 210. Therefore, the grid line 751 passing through the center of the flat portion 210 (the point most adjacent to the viewpoint 420) extends even in a straight line in the curved portion 220, but the grid lines 751 passing through the upper and lower sides of the flat portion 210 can bend more towards the grid line 751 passing through the center in the curved portion 220 as they are arranged further away from the flat portion 210. Therefore, the image displayed on the curved portion 220 can be reduced more in the up-down-right direction as it is located further away from the flat portion 210.

[0256] In an exemplary embodiment, in Figure 19 In section B, the grid lines 751 and data lines 771 arranged in the curved portions on the upper and lower sides of the planar portion are arranged in a similar manner to the data lines 771 and grid lines 751 arranged in the curved portions on the left and right sides of the planar portion 210.

[0257] In other words, the spacing between the grid lines 751 (which extend substantially parallel in the left-right direction) in the vertically curved portion 220 can decrease as they are arranged further away from the planar portion 210. Furthermore, the spacing between the data lines 771 (which extend substantially parallel in the vertical direction) in the vertically curved portion 220 can decrease as they are arranged further away from the planar portion 210. Therefore, the data line 771 passing through the center of the planar portion 210 (the point most adjacent to the viewpoint 420) extends in a straight line even in the curved portion 220, but the data lines 771 passing through the left and right sides of the planar portion 210 can bend more towards the data line 771 passing through the center in the curved portion 220 as they are located further away from the planar portion 210.

[0258] Furthermore, as described above, when the spacing between the gate lines 751 and the spacing between the data lines 771 decreases, the planar area of ​​the pixel PX can be reduced. That is, the planar area of ​​the pixel PX arranged at the curved portion 220 can be reduced as it is arranged further away from the planar portion 210.

[0259] Therefore, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, a scaled-down image can be displayed on the curved portion 220 without image conversion (partial scaling) via the controller 30.

[0260] exist Figure 19 A and Figure 19 In B, although the head-mounted display device is described as a separate binocular display panel, the above exemplary embodiments can be applied to the left-eye display area and the right-eye display area of ​​an integral binocular display panel.

[0261] According to one or more exemplary embodiments, a head-mounted display device can provide an improved viewing angle. Furthermore, a head-mounted display device according to exemplary embodiments can reduce distortion of the image viewed by the user.

[0262] While certain exemplary embodiments and implementations have been described herein, other embodiments and modifications will be apparent from this description. Therefore, the inventive concept is not limited to these embodiments, but is limited to the broader scope of the appended claims and various obvious modifications and equivalents that will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A display device, comprising: The display panel includes a flat portion and a curved portion extending from the flat portion; as well as The controller is configured to provide the display panel with data signals representing images to be displayed on the planar portion and the curved portion. The controller is configured to provide data signals representing an image that is scaled down to a greater extent to the extent that the curved portion is arranged further away from the planar portion, and The display device is a head-mounted display device.

2. The display device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: A housing component, on which the display panel is mounted; A padding component is disposed between the housing component and the wearer; as well as The component is attached to the housing component. The housing component, the padding component, and the strap component define the wearer's viewpoint relative to the display panel.

3. The display device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor for measuring the wearer's viewpoint relative to the display panel.

4. The display device of claim 1, further comprising an optical system, the optical system being spaced apart from the display panel at a predetermined distance.

5. The display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: The display panel includes a left-eye display panel and a right-eye display panel arranged in a left-right direction relative to the wearer; and Each of the left-eye display panel and the right-eye display panel includes a flat portion and a curved portion.

6. The display device as claimed in claim 5, wherein, The left eye display panel and the right eye display panel are separated by a protrusion disposed therebetween.

7. The display device as claimed in claim 5, wherein, Each of the curved portions in the left-eye display panel and the right-eye display panel includes a left curved portion disposed on the left side of the flat portion and a right curved portion disposed on the right side of the flat portion.

8. The display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, When viewed from the wearer's perspective, the scaled-down image is identical to the unscaled image on a virtual plane extending from the planar portion.

9. A display device, comprising: A display panel includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an organic light-emitting layer between the first electrode and the second electrode. The display panel has a planar portion and a curved portion extending from the planar portion. as well as The controller is configured to provide the display panel with data signals representing images to be displayed on the planar portion and the curved portion. The controller is configured to provide data signals representing an image that is scaled down to a greater extent to the extent that the curved portion is arranged further away from the planar portion, and The display device is a head-mounted display device.

10. The display device as claimed in claim 9, wherein, The display panel includes: The substrate includes a planar portion and a curved portion; A planarization layer is provided on the substrate, and the first electrode is disposed on the planarization layer; and A pixel definition layer is disposed on the planarization layer and exposes at least a portion of the first electrode to define a pixel region.

11. The display device as claimed in claim 9, wherein, The curved portion includes: The first curved portion is arranged on the opposite side of the planar portion in the first direction; and The second curved portion is arranged on the opposite side of the planar portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

12. The display device as claimed in claim 11, wherein, The controller is configured to provide the first curved portion with a data signal representing an image reduced in the first direction and to provide the second curved portion with a data signal representing an image reduced in the second direction.

13. The display device as claimed in claim 11, wherein, When viewed from the wearer's perspective, the scaled-down image is identical to the unscaled image on a virtual plane extending from the planar portion.

14. A display device, comprising: The display panel includes a planar portion and a curved portion extending from the planar portion, the curved portion including a first curved portion disposed on opposite sides of the planar portion in a first direction and a second curved portion disposed on opposite sides of the planar portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; as well as The controller is configured to provide the display panel with data signals representing images to be displayed on the planar portion and the curved portion. The first curved portion and the second curved portion are spaced apart from each other at the corner of the planar portion. The controller is configured to provide data signals representing an image that is scaled down to a greater extent to the extent that the curved portion is arranged further away from the planar portion, and The display device is a head-mounted display device.

15. The display device as claimed in claim 14, wherein, The corners of the flat portion are not visually recognizable to the wearer.

16. The display device as claimed in claim 14, wherein, The controller is configured to provide the first curved portion with a data signal representing an image that is reduced in the first direction.

17. The display device as claimed in claim 16, wherein, The controller is configured to provide the second curved portion with a data signal representing an image that is reduced in the second direction.

18. The display device of claim 16, wherein: The ratio of the entire curved portion is A / L, where "A" is the length of the curved portion in the first direction, and "L" is the length of the equivalent region of the curved portion in the first direction; and The equivalent region lies on a virtual plane extending from the planar portion, and when viewed from the wearer's perspective, provides the same viewing angle as the curved portion in the first direction.

19. The display device as claimed in claim 18, wherein, The ratio of the entire curved portion is A / L, which is expressed by the following equation: [Equation] ， Wherein, "R" is the radius of curvature of the curved portion. "θ" represents the central angle of the curved portion. "D" represents the distance between the wearer's viewpoint and the planar portion, and "B" represents the distance in the first direction between the point where the normal to the planar portion through the viewpoint intersects the planar portion and the curved portion.

20. The display device as claimed in claim 14, wherein, One side of the curved portion tangentially contacts the planar portion.

Images