Underwater mask with image projection device, method for wearing underwater mask with image projection device, and image projection device for underwater mask

Abstract

To provide an underwater mask with an image projection device capable of easily fixing the image projection device at a proper position.SOLUTION: An underwater mask 100 with an image projection device comprises: an underwater mask 10 which is worn on a face 60 of a user; an image projection device 40 which includes a scanning unit 46 that scans light beams 52, and in which the light beams 52 are scanned by the scanning unit 46, and the light beams 52 emitted from the scanning unit 46 in different directions are converged at a convergence point 76 in an eye 70 of the user, and then projected onto a retina 72; and a fixing component 20 to which the image projection device 40 is fixed and which fixes the image projection device 40 to the inside of the underwater mask 10 in close contact with a lens 12 of the underwater mask 10 and the face 60 of the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an underwater mask with an image projection device, a method of wearing the underwater mask with the image projection device, and an image projection device for an underwater mask.

Background Art

[0002] There is known an image projection device that uses Maxwell vision to irradiate the retina after converging a plurality of light rays scanned by a scanning unit within the user's eye (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] There is a demand for enabling image communication for divers or the like who wear an underwater mask and dive underwater. In this case, image projection using Maxwell vision, which is focus-free, is desirable. In image projection using Maxwell vision, since light rays need to pass through the pupil, it is necessary to fix the image projection device at an appropriate position.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to be able to easily fix an image projection device at an appropriate position.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention includes an underwater mask worn on a user's face and a scanning unit that scans light rays, and an image projection device that irradiates the retina after converging a plurality of light rays emitted from the scanning unit in different directions to a convergence point in the user's eye by scanning the light rays. The image projection device is fixed, and a fixing component that fixes the image projection device inside the underwater mask in close contact with the lens of the underwater mask and the user's face. It is an underwater mask with an image projection device.

[0007] In the above configuration, the fixing component can have a configuration including an annular first skirt portion that is in close contact with the lens of the underwater mask, a lens located inside the first skirt portion, an annular second skirt portion that is in close contact with the user's face, and a side wall portion that connects the first skirt portion and the second skirt portion and to which the image projection device is fixed.

[0008] In the above configuration, the image projection device can be configured to be fixed to the side wall portion inside the side wall portion.

[0009] In the above configuration, the image projection device can be configured to have an L-shaped shape.

[0010] In the above configuration, the image projection device includes a refraction mirror that refracts the light rays incident from one end of the L-shape toward the scanning unit, a projection mirror that is provided near the other end of the L-shape and converges the plurality of light rays to the convergence point, and a reflection mirror that reflects the plurality of light rays reflected by the scanning unit toward the projection mirror.

[0011] In the above configuration, the image projection device can be configured to be fixed to the fixing component so that the plurality of light rays enter the user's eyes from a direction different from the line-of-sight direction when the user looks straight ahead.

[0012] The present invention includes a scanning unit that scans light rays, and after converging a plurality of light rays emitted from the scanning unit in different directions by the scanning of the light rays to a convergence point in the user's eye, irradiates the retina. The method for wearing an underwater mask with an image projection device includes a step of bringing a fixed component to which the image projection device is fixed into close contact with the user's face, and a step of wearing the underwater mask on the user's face so that the fixed component is in close contact with the lens of the underwater mask after bringing the fixed component into close contact with the user's face.

[0013] In the above configuration, the step of bringing into close contact may be configured to bring the fixed component into close contact with the user's face via an adhesive.

[0014] The present invention includes an image projection device that includes a scanning unit that scans light rays, and after converging a plurality of light rays emitted from the scanning unit in different directions by the scanning of the light rays to a convergence point in the user's eye, irradiates the retina, and a fixed component to which the image projection device is fixed and that is in close contact with the lens of the underwater mask and the user's face to fix the image projection device inside the underwater mask.

Effects of the Invention

[0015] According to the present invention, the image projection device can be easily fixed at an appropriate position.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment

[0018] FIG. 1(a) is a front view showing an underwater mask 100 with an image projection apparatus according to an embodiment, and FIG. 1(b) is a side view. As shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), the underwater mask 100 with an image projection apparatus includes an underwater mask 10, and an underwater mask image projection apparatus 200 including a fixing component 20 and an image projection apparatus 40. The underwater mask 10 has a shape similar to that of a general underwater mask and is worn on the face 60 of a user. The fixing component 20 has the image projection apparatus 40 fixed thereto and is fixed inside the underwater mask 10 between the lens 12 of the underwater mask 10 and the face 60 of the user. By disposing the image projection apparatus 40 inside the underwater mask 10, waterproofness and airtightness can be obtained for the image projection apparatus 40. The image projection apparatus 4 is a retina projection type image projection apparatus using Maxwell vision, in which light rays (laser light) for allowing a user to visually recognize an image are directly projected onto the retina of the user.

[0019] Fig. 2(a) is a front view of the fixed component 20 to which the image projection device 40 is fixed, Fig. 2(b) is a view seen from the A direction of Fig. 2(a), and Fig. 2(c) is a view seen from the B direction of Fig. 2(a). As shown in Figs. 2(a) to 2(c), the fixed component 20 has a first skirt portion 21, a lens 22, a second skirt portion 23, and a side wall portion 24. The first skirt portion 21 is formed of an elastic material and has an annular shape. The first skirt portion 21 is formed of, for example, a thermoplastic elastomer material. Specifically, the 2000 / 4000 series of Septon (registered trademark) can be used, but it is not limited thereto. The lens 22 is fitted inside the first skirt portion 21. The lens 22 is formed of, for example, transparent glass or transparent plastic.

[0020] The second skirt portion 23 is formed of an elastic material and has an annular shape that fits the shape of the user's face 60 so as to be in close contact with the face 60. The second skirt portion 23 is formed of, for example, a thermoplastic elastomer material. The second skirt portion 23 may be formed of the same elastic material as the first skirt portion 21 or may be formed of a different elastic material.

[0021] The side wall portion 24 is connected to the first skirt portion 21 and the second skirt portion 23 and has a cylindrical shape. Therefore, a space 25 is formed inside the side wall portion 24. The side wall portion 24 is formed of a material having a higher hardness (for example, Shore hardness A) than the first skirt portion 21 and the second skirt portion 23. For example, the first skirt portion 21 and the second skirt portion 23 may be formed of a soft elastomer material, and the side wall portion 24 may be formed of a hard elastomer material.

[0022] The image projection device 40 has, for example, an L-shaped outer shape and has a chamfered flat portion 41. The image projection device 40 is fixed to the side wall portion 24 by an adhesive or the like at the flat portion 41. The image projection device 40 is disposed inside the space 25 inside the side wall portion 24 and is fixed to the side wall portion 24.

[0023] FIG. 3(a) is a perspective view of the image projection device 40, and FIG. 3(b) is an internal perspective view seen through the housing 42 of FIG. 3(a). As shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), inside the housing 42 of the image projection device 40, a lens 44, a reflection mirror 45, a scanning unit 46, a lens 47, a projection mirror 48, a refraction mirror 49 (see FIG. 4), a substrate 50, etc. are provided. An optical fiber 51 is connected to the image projection device 40. The optical fiber 51 is connected to the image projection device 40 from one end 43 of the L-shaped image projection device 40. Therefore, light rays are incident on the image projection device 40 through the optical fiber 51 from one end 43 having an L-shaped configuration. A projection mirror 48 is provided near the other end 53 of the image projection device 40 having an L-shaped configuration. The peripheral portion (thick line portion) of the housing 42 around the projection mirror 48 may be formed of a transparent material (such as transparent glass or transparent plastic, etc.). Thereby, by using a half mirror for the projection mirror 48, the user can visually recognize the external image through the projection mirror 48 and the housing 42. For example, when a diver wears the underwater mask 100 with an image projection device, the diver can visually recognize the front inside the water through the projection mirror 48 and the housing 42, and can perform operations on an object or the like in the water.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the path of the light ray 52 propagating inside the image projection device 40. As shown in FIG. 4, the light ray 52 that has propagated through the optical fiber 51 is incident on the image projection device 40. The light ray 52 is a visible light ray including, for example, red laser light (wavelength: about 610 nm to 660 nm), green laser light (wavelength: about 515 nm to 540 nm), and blue laser light (wavelength: about 440 nm to 480 nm). Note that the light ray 52 may be a light ray having a single wavelength.

[0025] The light beam 52 emitted from the optical fiber 51 passes through the lens 44. The lens 44 is a condenser lens that converts the light beam 52 from diffused light into convergent light. The light beam 52 that has passed through the lens 44 is refracted by the refractive mirror 49 toward the scanning unit 46. The refractive mirror 49 is, for example, a plane mirror. The light beam 52 enters the scanning unit 46 in a state of convergent light. The scanning unit 46 (scanner) scans the incident light beam 52 in two-dimensional directions of the horizontal and vertical directions. The scanning unit 46 is, for example, a MEMS (Micro Electric Mechanical System) mirror.

[0026] The plurality of light beams 52 that are scanned in two-dimensional directions by the scanning unit 46 and are emitted from the scanning unit 46 in different directions at different times enter the reflection mirror 45. Each of the plurality of light beams 52 becomes diffused light after converging in front of the reflection mirror 45 and then enters the reflection mirror 45. The reflection mirror 45 is a concave mirror having a reflecting surface formed of a curved surface such as a free-form surface and has positive converging power. For this reason, the plurality of light beams 52 reflected by the reflection mirror 45 converge at the convergence point 74 in front of the projection mirror 48. Also, because the reflection mirror 45 has positive converging power, each of the plurality of light beams 52 is converted from diffused light into substantially parallel light by the reflection mirror 45.

[0027] The lens 47 is provided at the convergence point 74. The lens 47 is a condenser lens that converts each of the plurality of light beams 52 from substantially parallel light into convergent light. The lens 47 is, for example, a biconvex lens. Each of the plurality of light beams 52 that has passed through the lens 47 becomes diffused light after converging in front of the projection mirror 48 and then enters the projection mirror 48.

[0028] The projection mirror 48 is disposed in front of the user's eye 70. The projection mirror 48 reflects a plurality of light rays 52 toward the eye 70. The projection mirror 48 is a concave mirror having a reflecting surface formed of a curved surface such as a free-form surface, and has a positive focusing power. Therefore, the plurality of light rays 52 reflected by the projection mirror 48 pass through the pupil 71, converge at a convergence point 76 near the lens 73 or the lens 73, and then are projected onto the retina 72. Further, since the projection mirror 48 has a positive focusing power, each of the plurality of light rays 52 is converted from diffused light into substantially parallel light by the projection mirror 48. When the light rays 52 are projected onto the retina 72, the user can visually recognize the image formed by the light rays 52.

[0029] The reflection mirror 45, the lens 47, and the projection mirror 48 are an optical system 55 that converges a plurality of light rays 52 emitted from the scanning unit 46 at a convergence point 76 in the user's eye 70 and then projects an image onto the retina 72. The optical fiber 51, the lens 44, the refractive mirror 49, and the reflection mirror 45 are arranged substantially linearly. The reflection mirror 45, the lens 47, and the projection mirror 48 are arranged substantially linearly in a direction intersecting the direction in which the optical fiber 51, the lens 44, the refractive mirror 49, and the reflection mirror 45 are arranged substantially linearly. The angle formed by the direction in which the optical fiber 51, the lens 44, the refractive mirror 49, and the reflection mirror 45 are arranged and the direction in which the reflection mirror 45, the lens 47, and the projection mirror 48 are arranged is, for example, 70° to 110°. Thereby, the image projection apparatus 40 has an L-shaped configuration.

[0030] FIG. 5(a) is a diagram showing the angle at which the light beam 52 reflected by the projection mirror 48 enters the eye 70. As shown in FIG. 5(a), a plurality of light beams 52 reflected by the projection mirror 48 enter the eye 70 from below with respect to the line-of-sight direction 78 when the user looks straight ahead. The angle α formed between the line-of-sight direction 78 when the user looks straight ahead and the light beam 52a corresponding to the center of the image projected onto the retina 72 among the plurality of light beams 52 is, for example, about 8° to 12°, and is 10° as an example. The vertical angle of the plurality of light beams 52, that is, the viewing angle β is about 15°. The range within which a person can instantaneously recognize information by moving the eyeball is within 20° in the vertical direction. Considering that the viewing angle β is about 15°, from the viewpoint of being able to instantaneously recognize the projected image and preventing the projected image from overlapping with the line-of-sight direction 78 when looking straight ahead, the angle α is preferably 8° to 12° as described above.

[0031] FIG. 5(b) is a diagram showing the arrangement position of the projection mirror 48. As shown in FIG. 5(b), from the viewpoint of projecting an image onto the retina 72, in a top view, the projection mirror 48 is preferably arranged at a position overlapping the line-of-sight direction 78 when the user looks straight ahead.

[0032] [Wearing method] FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) are side views showing a method of wearing the underwater mask 100 with the image projection device according to the embodiment. In FIG. 6(b), a part of the underwater mask 10 is made transparent to illustrate the eye 70 and the fixing parts 20. As shown in FIG. 6(a), the second skirt part 23 of the fixing part 20 to which the image projection device 40 is fixed is brought into close contact with the user's face 60. At this time, it is preferable to interpose an adhesive 80 between the second skirt part 23 and the face 60 to bring the second skirt part 23 into close contact with the face 60. Thereby, the fixing part 20 can be temporarily fixed to the user's face 60 in a state where it is difficult to peel off. As the adhesive 80, for example, the 2000 / 4000 series of Septon (registered trademark) can be used.

[0033] When fixing the fixing component 20 in close contact with the user's face 60, while adjusting the position of the fixing component 20 so that the light beam 52 emitted by the image projection device 40 is properly incident on the eye 70, the fixing component 20 is fixed in close contact with the face 60. At this time, it is preferable to fix the fixing component 20 in close contact with the user's face 60 so that the light beam 52 is incident on the eye 70 from below with respect to the line-of-sight direction 78 when the user looks straight ahead.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 6(b), after fixing the fixing component 20 in close contact with the user's face 60, the underwater mask 10 is worn on the face 60 so that the lens 12 of the underwater mask 10 and the first skirt portion 21 of the fixing component 20 are in close contact. Thereby, the first skirt portion 21 is pressed by the underwater mask 10 with an appropriate pressure, and the second skirt portion 23 is pressed by the face 60 with an appropriate pressure. Therefore, the fixing component 20 is in a state of being crimped to both the lens 12 of the underwater mask 10 and the user's face 60, and the waterproofness and airtightness of the image projection device 40 inside the fixing component 20 are improved.

[0035] As described above, according to the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1(a), the underwater mask 100 with an image projection device includes the underwater mask 10 and the fixing component 20 to which the image projection device 40 is fixed. The fixing component 20 is in close contact with the lens 12 of the underwater mask 10 and the user's face 60, and fixes the image projection device 40 inside the underwater mask 10. In this way, by providing the fixing component 20 to which the image projection device 40 is fixed separately from the underwater mask 10, the position of the fixing component 20 can be freely adjusted, and the image projection device 40 can be easily fixed at an appropriate position so that the light beam 52 emitted from the image projection device 40 passes through the pupil 71.

[0036] In the embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2(a) to 2(c), the fixing component 20 includes an annular first skirt portion 21, a lens 22 located inside the first skirt portion 21, an annular second skirt portion 23, and a side wall portion 24 connected to the first skirt portion 21 and the second skirt portion 23. The first skirt portion 21 is in close contact with the lens 12 of the underwater mask 10, and the second skirt portion 23 is in close contact with the user's face 60. The image projection device 40 is fixed to the side wall portion 24. With such a configuration of the fixing component 20, the image projection device 40 can be easily fixed inside the underwater mask 10 by the fixing component 20.

[0037] In the embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2(a) to 2(c), the image projection device 40 is fixed to the side wall portion 24 inside the side wall portion 24. Thereby, since the image projection device 40 is disposed inside the underwater mask 10 and inside the fixing component 20, the waterproofness and airtightness of the image projection device 40 can be improved.

[0038] In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3(a), the image projection device 40 has an L-shaped configuration. This makes it easy to dispose the image projection device 40 inside the underwater mask 10 and inside the side wall portion 24 of the fixing component 2

[0039] In the embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3(a), 3(b), and 4, the image projection device 40 includes a refractive mirror 49, a scanning unit 46, a reflection mirror 45, and a projection mirror 48. The refractive mirror 49 refracts the light beam 52 incident from one end portion 43 of the L-shaped image projection device 40 toward the scanning unit 46. The reflection mirror 45 reflects the plurality of light beams 52 reflected by the scanning unit 46 toward the projection mirror 48. The projection mirror 48 is provided near the other end portion 53 of the L-shaped image projection device 40 and converges the plurality of light beams 52 at a convergence point 76 in the eye 70. With such a configuration, the image projection device 40 can be easily formed into an L-shaped configuration.

[0040] Also, in the embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 6(a), the image projection device 40 is fixed to the fixing component 20 such that the light beam 52 enters the eye 70 from below with respect to the line-of-sight direction 78 when the user looks straight ahead. In this way, since the light beam 52 enters the eye 70 from a direction different from the line-of-sight direction 78 when the user looks straight ahead, the user can only see the external image and not the projected image when facing forward, thus improving the visibility of the external image. Also, the user can view the projected image by directing the line-of-sight direction 78 downward. For example, when the underwater mask 100 with the image projection device is worn by a diver, the diver can only see the underwater scene and not the projected image when facing forward, making it easier to perform operations on objects in the water. On the other hand, since the diver can view the projected image by the image projection device 40 by directing the line-of-sight downward, communication using the image is also possible. A person can move the eyeball downward more easily than in other directions when moving the eyeball. Therefore, it is preferable to make the light beam 52 enter the eye 70 from below with respect to the line-of-sight direction 78 when the user looks straight ahead. Note that the image projection device 40 only needs to be fixed to the fixing component 20 such that the light beam 52 enters the eye 70 from a direction different from the line-of-sight direction 78 when the user looks straight ahead, and is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the image projection device 40 may be fixed to the fixing component 20 such that the light beam 52 enters the eye 70 from above with respect to the line-of-sight direction 78 when the user looks straight ahead.

[0041] Also, in the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6(a), the fixing component 20 to which the image projection device 40 is fixed is brought into close contact with the user's face 60. Then, as shown in FIG. 6(b), the underwater mask 10 is worn on the user's face 60 such that the fixing component 20 is in close contact with the lens 12 of the underwater mask 10. Thereby, since the position of the fixing component 20 can be freely adjusted, the image projection device 40 can be easily fixed at an appropriate position so that the light beam 52 emitted from the image projection device 40 passes through the pupil 71.

[0042] Also, in the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6(a), when the fixing component 20 is brought into close contact with the user's face 60, the fixing component 20 is brought into close contact with the user's face 60 via the adhesive 80. Thereby, when the position of the fixing component 20 is adjusted and brought into close contact with the user's face 60, it can be brought into close contact with the face 60 in a state where the fixing component 20 is difficult to peel off and difficult to move.

[0043] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0044] 10... underwater mask, 12... lens, 20... fixing component, 21... first skirt portion, 22... lens, 23... second skirt portion, 24... side wall portion, 25... space, 40... image projection device, 41... flat portion, 42... housing, 43... end portion, 44... lens, 45... reflection mirror, 46... scanning portion, 47... lens, 48... projection mirror, 49... refraction mirror, 50... substrate, 51... optical fiber, 52, 52a... light rays, 55... optical system, 60... face, 70... eye, 71... pupil, 72... retina, 73... lens, 74... convergence point, 76... convergence point, 78... line of sight direction, 80... adhesive, 100... underwater mask with image projection device, 200... image projection device for underwater mask

Claims

1. An underwater mask worn on a user's face, An image projection device including a scanning unit that scans light rays, and after the light rays are scanned by the scanning unit and a plurality of light rays emitted in different directions from the scanning unit are converged at a convergence point inside the user's eye, irradiates the retina, An underwater mask with an image projection device, comprising: the image projection device is fixed, and a fixing component that fixes the image projection device inside the underwater mask in close contact with the lens of the underwater mask and the user's face.

2. The fixing component includes an annular first skirt portion that is in close contact with the lens of the underwater mask, a lens located inside the first skirt portion, an annular second skirt portion that is in close contact with the user's face, and a side wall portion that connects the first skirt portion and the second skirt portion and to which the image projection device is fixed. The underwater mask with an image projection device according to Claim 1.

3. The image projection device is fixed to the side wall portion inside the side wall portion. The underwater mask with an image projection device according to Claim 2.

4. The image projection device has an L-shaped shape. The underwater mask with an image projection device according to Claim 1 or 3.

5. The image projection device includes a refraction mirror that refracts the light rays incident from one end of the L-shape toward the scanning unit, a projection mirror provided near the other end of the L-shape that converges the plurality of light rays at the convergence point, and a reflection mirror that reflects the plurality of light rays reflected by the scanning unit toward the projection mirror. The underwater mask with an image projection device according to Claim 4.

6. The image projection device is fixed to the fixing component such that the plurality of light rays enter the user's eyes from a direction different from the line-of-sight direction when the user is looking straight ahead. The underwater mask with an image projection device according to Claim 1 or 2.

7. A step of bringing into close contact with the user's face a fixing component to which an image projection device is fixed, the image projection device including a scanning unit that scans light rays, and after the light rays are scanned by the scanning unit, a plurality of light rays emitted in different directions from the scanning unit are converged at a convergence point inside the user's eye and then irradiate the retina, A method of wearing an underwater mask with an image projection device, comprising: after bringing the fixing component into close contact with the user's face, a step of wearing the underwater mask on the user's face such that the fixing component is in close contact with the lens of the underwater mask.

8. The method for wearing an underwater mask with an image projection device according to claim 7, wherein the step of bringing into close contact is to bring the fixing component into close contact with the user's face via an adhesive.

9. An image projection device including a scanning unit that scans a light beam, wherein a plurality of light beams emitted from the scanning unit in different directions after the light beam is scanned by the scanning unit and converged at a convergence point in the user's eye are irradiated onto the retina; An image projection device for an underwater mask, comprising: a fixing component to which the image projection device is fixed and which is in close contact with the lens of the underwater mask and the user's face to fix the image projection device inside the underwater mask.

Images