Compact optical device for augmented reality and method for manufacturing optical means

Abstract

The present invention includes an optical means for transmitting at least a portion of real object image light toward the pupil of a user's eye, a first reflecting means for transmitting the augmented reality image light emitted from the image emitting unit to a second reflecting means, and a second reflecting means including a plurality of reflecting portions for transmitting the augmented reality image light transmitted from the first reflecting means toward the pupil, wherein the second reflecting means includes a plurality of reflecting portions disposed embedded inside the optical means, the optical means is disposed in front of the pupil of a user, and when the direction from the pupil to the front is defined as an x-axis, one of line segments that is parallel to the x-axis among lines perpendicular to the x-axis from the image emitting unit to the x-axis and passes between the first and second surfaces of the optical means is defined as a y-axis, and a line segment perpendicular to the x-axis and the y-axis is defined as a z-axis. and a method for manufacturing an optical means used therein, wherein at least two or more of the plurality of reflecting units form a first reflecting unit group that is disposed inside the optical means so that its center is located on a first straight line when the optical means is viewed from the outside toward a plane perpendicular to the z-axis, and at least two or more of the remaining reflecting units among the plurality of reflecting units, excluding the reflecting units that form the first reflecting unit group, form a second reflecting unit group that is disposed inside the optical means so that its center is located on a second straight line that is not parallel to the first straight line when the optical means is viewed from the outside toward a plane perpendicular to the z-axis.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an optical device for augmented reality and a manufacturing method of an optical means, and more particularly to a compact optical device for augmented reality, which can improve light efficiency and simplify the manufacturing process by forming an optical structure that transmits augmented reality image light emitted from an image output unit to a pupil in a linear arrangement structure, and a manufacturing method of an optical means used therein. [Background technology]

[0002] As is well known, augmented reality (AR) refers to providing a virtual image or picture provided by a computer or the like overlaid on an actual image of the real world.

[0003] To realize such augmented reality, an optical system is required that can provide a virtual video or image generated by a device such as a computer by superimposing it on a real-world image. Known optical systems include a technology that uses optical means such as a prism that reflects or refracts a virtual image using a head mounted display (HMD) or a glasses-type device.

[0004] However, such conventional optical system devices have a complex structure and are heavy and bulky, making them inconvenient for users to wear. In addition, the manufacturing process is complicated, resulting in high manufacturing costs.

[0005] Additionally, conventional devices are limited in that if a user changes the focal length while looking at the real world, the virtual image becomes out of focus.

[0006] To solve this problem, a technique has been proposed in which a prism-like structure capable of adjusting the focal length of a virtual image is used, or a variable-focus lens is electrically controlled by changing the focal length, etc. However, such a technique also has a problem in that a user must perform a separate operation to adjust the focal length, or hardware such as a separate processor and separate software for controlling the focal length are required.

[0007] In order to solve such problems of the conventional technology, the applicant has developed a device that can realize augmented reality by projecting a virtual image onto the retina through the pupil using a reflector smaller than the size of the human pupil, as described in Patent Document 1.

[0008] FIG. 1 shows an optical device 100 for augmented reality as disclosed in US Pat. No. 6,399,933.

[0009] The optical device for augmented reality 100 in FIG. 1 includes an optical means 10, a reflecting section 30, an image emitting section 40 and a frame section 60.

[0010] The optical means 10 is a means for transmitting at least a part of real object image light, which is image light emitted from a real object, and may be, for example, a eyeglass lens, in which the reflecting unit 30 is embedded. The optical means 10 also functions to transmit the augmented reality image light reflected from the reflecting unit 30 so as to transmit it to the pupil.

[0011] The frame unit 60 is a unit for fixing and supporting the image emitting unit 40 and the optical unit 10, and may be, for example, a frame of glasses.

[0012] The image emission unit 40 is a means for emitting augmented reality image light, which is image light corresponding to an augmented reality image, and may include, for example, a small display device that displays an augmented reality image on a screen and emits augmented reality image light, and a collimator for collimating the image light emitted from the display device into parallel light.

[0013] The reflecting section 30 provides an augmented reality image by reflecting the augmented reality image light emitted from the image emitting section 40 toward the pupil of the user.

[0014] The reflecting portion 30 in Fig. 1 is formed to be smaller than the size of the human pupil, that is, 8 mm or less. By forming the reflecting portion 30 to be smaller than the size of the pupil in this way, the depth of the light incident on the pupil through the reflecting portion 30 can be made almost infinite, that is, the depth can be made very deep.

[0015] Here, the depth of field refers to a range that is recognized as being in focus. A deeper depth of field means that the focal distance for an augmented reality image also becomes deeper.

[0016] Therefore, even if a user changes the focal length of the real world while looking at the real world, the user will always perceive the augmented reality image as being in focus, regardless of the change. This is a kind of pinhole effect.

[0017] Therefore, even if the user changes the focal length while gazing at a real object, the user can always see a clear virtual image for the augmented reality image.

[0018] However, this technique has limitations in that the size, thickness and volume of the device increase because an additional optical means such as a collimator for parallel light is used in the image output unit 40.

[0019] In order to solve this problem, it is possible to think of a method in which a collimator is not used in the image output unit 40, but a reflecting unit such as a concave mirror is embedded inside the optical means 10 so that the function of the collimator is performed.

[0020] Figure 2 is a comparative side view of the optical device for augmented reality 100 of Figure 1, in which a collimator is provided in the image output unit 40, and a side view of the optical device for augmented reality 100-1, in which an auxiliary reflecting unit 20 that performs the function of a collimator is disposed inside.

[0021] It can be seen that the optical device for augmented reality 100 of Figure 1 shown on the left side of Figure 2 has an image output unit 40 composed of a display device 41 and a collimator 42, while the optical device for augmented reality 100-1 on the right side of Figure 2 has an image output unit 40 composed only of a display device 41 without the collimator 42.

[0022] The optical device for augmented reality 100-1 on the right side of Figure 2 does not use a collimator 42 in the image output unit 40, but instead has an auxiliary reflecting unit 20 in the form of a concave mirror that can function as a collimator inside the optical means 10.The augmented reality image light output from the image output unit 40 is reflected by the auxiliary reflecting unit 20 and then transmitted to the reflecting unit 30, which transmits the transmitted augmented reality image light to the pupil.

[0023] Thus, the optical device for augmented reality 100-1 shown on the right side of Figure 2 performs the same function as the optical device for augmented reality 100 of Figure 1, but does not use a configuration such as a collimator in the image output unit 40, and therefore has the advantage of being able to significantly reduce form factors such as size, volume, thickness, and weight compared to the optical device for augmented reality 100 that uses an external collimator as shown on the left side of Figure 2.

[0024] However, the optical device for augmented reality 100-1 as shown on the right side of FIG. 2 has a problem in that it may also transmit unintended real object image light to the pupil, which may cause a ghost image.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the phenomenon in which a ghost image occurs in the augmented reality optical device 100-1.

[0026] 3, real object image light, which is image light emitted from a real object, is directly transmitted to the pupil through the optical means 10, but also contains interference light that is reflected by the auxiliary reflecting part 20 and transmitted to the pupil. Due to such interference light, the real object image light transmitted to the pupil is formed at a different position from the real object image light directly transmitted to the pupil through the optical means 10, resulting in the generation of a ghost image.

[0027] Therefore, there is a demand for a compact optical device for augmented reality that can solve the problem of ghost images that may occur in the optical device for augmented reality 100-1 that uses an internal collimator, which is an auxiliary reflector 20 as shown in FIG. 2, in order to reduce the form factor, and that can expand the field of view (FOV) as described above, reduce the size, thickness, weight, and volume of the device, and increase the light efficiency of the augmented reality image light. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0028] [Patent Document 1] Korean Patent No. 10-1660519 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0029] The present invention aims to provide a compact optical device for augmented reality, which can improve light efficiency and simplify the manufacturing process by forming an optical structure that transmits augmented reality image light emitted from an image output unit to the pupil in a linear arrangement structure, and a manufacturing method for optical means used therein.

[0030] Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical device for augmented reality that can significantly reduce size, thickness, weight, and volume, provide a wide viewing angle, and minimize the outflow of real-world image light, which can cause ghost images, toward the user's pupil, thereby maximizing see-through properties and providing clear virtual images. [Means for solving the problem]

[0031] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a method for providing a display device that includes: an optical means for transmitting at least a portion of real object image light toward a pupil of a user's eye; a first reflecting means that is embedded and disposed inside the optical means and transmits augmented reality image light, which is image light corresponding to an augmented reality image outputted from an image outputting unit, to a second reflecting means; and a second reflecting means that includes a plurality of reflecting portions that are embedded and disposed inside the optical means so as to reflect and transmit the augmented reality image light transmitted from the first reflecting means toward the pupil of the user's eye, the optical means being: The optical system has a first surface on which real object image light is incident and a second surface on which the augmented reality image light and the real object image light transmitted through the second reflecting means are emitted toward the pupil of a user's eye, the second reflecting means includes a plurality of reflecting parts having a size of 4 mm or less that are embedded and disposed inside the optical system, the optical system is disposed in front of the pupil of a user, and when the direction from the pupil to the front is taken as the x-axis, the image emitting part is disposed outside or inside the optical system so as to be located on a straight line perpendicular to the x-axis, and a plane is formed along the x-axis among perpendicular lines from the image emitting part to the x-axis. a y-axis being any one of the lines passing between the first and second surfaces of the optical means while being a row, and a z-axis being any one of the lines perpendicular to the x-axis and y-axis; at least two or more of the plurality of reflective units form a first reflective unit group disposed inside the optical means such that their centers are located on a first straight line when the optical means is viewed from the outside toward a plane perpendicular to the z-axis; and at least two or more of the remaining reflective units among the plurality of reflective units, excluding the reflective units forming the first reflective unit group, form a second reflective unit group disposed inside the optical means such that their centers are located on a second straight line not parallel to the first straight line when the optical means is viewed from the outside toward the plane perpendicular to the z-axis; the reflective units forming the first reflective unit group are disposed inside the optical means such that the reflective units are positioned gradually closer to the second surface of the optical means as their distance from the first reflective unit increases, and the first reflective unit group is disposed so as to be located closer to the first reflective unit than the second reflective unit group.

[0032] Here, the reflecting portions constituting the second reflecting portion group may have the same distance from the second surface of the optical means regardless of the distance from the first reflecting means.

[0033] In addition, the number of the reflecting portions forming the second reflecting portion group may be increased as the distance from the first reflecting means increases on the second surface of the optical means.

[0034] Also, the first and second straight lines may be included in any one plane perpendicular to the z-axis.

[0035] In addition, the augmented reality image light emitted from the image output unit can be directly transmitted to the first reflecting means through the inside of the optical means, or can be totally reflected at least once on the inner surface of the optical means and then transmitted to the first reflecting means.

[0036] Moreover, the first reflecting means can transmit the augmented reality image light directly to the second reflecting means, or transmit the augmented reality image light to the second reflecting means after being totally reflected at least once on the inner surface of the optical means.

[0037] Also, a reflecting surface of the first reflecting means for reflecting the augmented reality image light may be disposed to face a first surface of the optical means on which the real object image light is incident.

[0038] The reflecting surface of the first reflecting means may be formed as a curved surface recessed toward the first surface side of the optical means.

[0039] Also, the first reflecting means can be extended so as to become gradually closer to the second reflecting means from the central portion toward both left and right end portions when the optical means is viewed from the pupil toward the front.

[0040] Moreover, the length of the first reflecting means in the width direction can be set to 4 mm or less.

[0041] The second reflecting means may be made up of a plurality of second reflecting means, and the plurality of second reflecting means may be arranged in parallel at intervals along the z-axis direction.

[0042] In addition, each of the second reflecting means may be disposed such that each reflecting portion constituting the second reflecting means is aligned with any one of the reflecting portions constituting the adjacent second reflecting means along a virtual straight line parallel to the z-axis.

[0043] Further, each of the second reflecting means may be arranged such that each reflecting portion constituting each second reflecting means is not aligned along an imaginary straight line parallel to the z-axis with all reflecting portions constituting adjacent second reflecting means.

[0044] Also, the plurality of reflecting portions may be formed in a bar shape extending along an imaginary straight line parallel to the z-axis.

[0045] Also, there may be at least one second reflecting means arranged such that the distances between each second reflecting means and the second surface of the optical means are not all the same.

[0046] Also, the first reflecting means may be extended so as to become gradually closer to the second reflecting means from the center toward both left and right ends when the optical means is viewed toward a plane perpendicular to the x-axis.

[0047] Furthermore, a third surface, through which the augmented reality image light emitted from the image emitting portion enters the optical means, can be formed as a curved surface having refractive power.

[0048] Moreover, an auxiliary optical means may be disposed between the image output section and the third surface.

[0049] At least some of the reflecting portions may be formed of a half mirror or a refractive element.

[0050] At least some of the reflecting portions may be coated with a material that absorbs light without reflecting it on a surface opposite to a surface that reflects the augmented reality image light.

[0051] At least some of the surfaces of the plurality of reflecting portions may be formed as curved surfaces.

[0052] At least some of the plurality of reflecting portions may be formed of a diffractive optical element (DOE) or a holographic optical element (HOE).

[0053] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing an optical means of the optical device for augmented reality, comprising: a first step of forming a reflective portion on a surface of a lower base substrate along a first direction; a second step of forming reflective portions on surfaces of a plurality of first substrates and a plurality of second substrates along a direction parallel to the first direction; a third step of sequentially adhering and stacking the plurality of first substrates on a surface of the lower base substrate; a fourth step of forming a second reflective means by sequentially adhering and stacking the plurality of second substrates on a topmost first substrate after the third step; a fifth step of forming an optical means base material by adhering and stacking an upper base substrate including the first reflective means on the topmost second substrate; and a sixth step of processing the optical means base material to form the optical means, wherein the second step is performed by externally measuring the reflection area of ​​the first substrate from the first substrate. a reflective portion is formed on each surface of the first substrate such that, when the first substrate and the second substrate are viewed toward a plane perpendicular to the first direction, a line connecting the centers of the reflective portions formed on each surface of the first substrate forms a straight line and a line connecting the centers of the reflective portions formed on each surface of the second substrate forms a straight line, the line connecting the centers of the reflective portions formed on the first substrate and the line connecting the centers of the reflective portions formed on the second substrate are not parallel to each other, and the sixth step includes cutting the optical means base material in a direction parallel to the first direction along two straight lines parallel to each other such that the reflective portions are entirely contained therebetween when the optical means base material is viewed toward a plane perpendicular to the first direction, thereby forming the optical means.

[0054] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing an optical means of an optical device for an augmented reality device, comprising: a first step of forming a reflective portion on a surface of a lower base substrate along a first direction; a second step of forming a reflective portion on a surface of each of the plurality of first substrates along a direction parallel to the first direction when sequentially adhering and stacking a plurality of first substrates on the surface of the lower base substrate; a third step of forming a reflective portion on a surface of each of the plurality of second substrates along a direction parallel to the first direction to form a second reflective means when sequentially adhering and stacking a plurality of second substrates on a top first substrate after the second step; a fourth step of bonding and laminating an upper base substrate including a reflection means to form an optical means base material; and a fifth step of processing the optical means base material to form an optical means, the second step forming reflection portions on each surface of the first substrate such that a line connecting the centers of the reflection portions formed on each surface of the first substrate forms a straight line when the first substrate is viewed from the outside toward a surface perpendicular to the first direction, and the third step forming reflection portions on each surface of the second substrate such that a line connecting the centers of the reflection portions formed on each surface of the second substrate forms a straight line when the second substrate is viewed from the outside toward a surface perpendicular to the first direction, a line connecting the centers of the reflective portions formed on the first substrate and a line connecting the centers of the reflective portions formed on the second substrate are not parallel to each other, and the fifth step includes cutting the optical means base material in a direction parallel to the first direction along two parallel lines such that the reflective portions are entirely contained between the two lines when the optical means base material is viewed toward a plane perpendicular to the first direction.

[0055] Here, the plurality of first substrates may have the same shape as one another, and the plurality of second substrates may have the same shape as one another, or the plurality of first substrates and the plurality of second substrates may have different shapes from one another.

[0056] Furthermore, when the optical means base material is viewed toward a plane perpendicular to the first direction, the height of one of both ends of the plurality of first substrates and both ends of the plurality of second substrates may be higher than the height of the other end.

[0057] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical device for augmented reality having a linearly arranged optical structure, the optical device including: optical means for transmitting at least a portion of real object image light toward a pupil of a user's eye; first reflecting means disposed embedded within the optical means for transmitting augmented reality image light, which is image light corresponding to an image for augmented reality emitted from an image emitting unit, to an optical element; and an optical element disposed embedded within the optical means for reflecting and transmitting the augmented reality image light transmitted from the first reflecting means toward the pupil of the user's eye, the optical means having a first surface onto which the real object image light is incident and a second surface from which the augmented reality image light and the real object image light transmitted through the optical element are emitted toward the pupil of the user's eye, the optical element being a diffractive optical element or a hologram. and a line segment perpendicular to the x-axis is defined as a y-axis. The line segment perpendicular to the x-axis is defined as a z-axis. The optical element is formed in a single plane and is disposed inside the optical means such that when the optical means is viewed toward a plane perpendicular to the z-axis, the optical element appears to be folded into a shape in which at least two or more straight lines that are not parallel to each other are connected.

[0058] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a compact optical device for augmented reality having a linearly arranged optical structure, the optical device including: optical means for transmitting at least a portion of a real object image light toward a pupil of a user's eye; first reflecting means disposed embedded within the optical means for transmitting augmented reality image light, the augmented reality image light being image light corresponding to an image for augmented reality emitted from an image emitting portion, to a second reflecting means; and second reflecting means including a plurality of reflecting portions disposed embedded within the optical means for reflecting and transmitting the augmented reality image light transmitted from the first reflecting means toward the pupil of the user's eye, the optical means having a first surface on which the real object image light is incident and a second surface on which the augmented reality image light and the real object image light transmitted through the second reflecting means are emitted toward the pupil of the user's eye, The present invention provides a compact optical device for augmented reality with a linearly arranged optical structure, characterized in that the reflection means includes a plurality of reflection units having a size of 4 mm or less that are embedded and arranged inside the optical means, the optical means is arranged in front of a user's pupil, and when the direction from the pupil to the front is taken as the x-axis, the image output unit is arranged outside or inside the optical means so as to be located on a straight line perpendicular to the x-axis, and when one of the line segments that is parallel to the x-axis and passes between the first and second surfaces of the optical means among the perpendicular lines from the image output unit to the x-axis is taken as the y-axis, and a line segment perpendicular to the x-axis and y-axis is taken as the z-axis, the plurality of reflection units are arranged inside the optical means so that their centers are located on a single straight line when the optical means is viewed from the outside toward a plane perpendicular to the z-axis.

[0059] Here, the second reflecting means may be made up of a plurality of second reflecting means, and the plurality of second reflecting means may be arranged in parallel at intervals along the z-axis direction.

[0060] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a compact optical device for augmented reality having a linearly arranged optical structure, the optical device including: optical means for transmitting at least a portion of a real object image light toward a pupil of a user's eye; first reflecting means disposed by being embedded within the optical means for transmitting augmented reality image light, which is image light corresponding to an image for augmented reality emitted from an image emitting unit, to an optical element; and an optical element disposed by being embedded within the optical means for reflecting and transmitting the augmented reality image light transmitted from the first reflecting means toward the pupil of the user's eye. The optical means has a first surface on which the real object image light is incident and a second surface from which the augmented reality image light and the real object image light transmitted through the optical element are emitted toward the pupil of the user's eye, and a front surface. The optical element is a diffractive optical element or a bolographic optical element, and when the optical means is placed in front of a user's pupil and the direction from the pupil to the front is taken as the x-axis, the image output unit is placed outside or inside the optical means so as to be located on a straight line perpendicular to the x-axis, and when one of the line segments perpendicular to the x-axis from the image output unit to the x-axis and passing between the first and second surfaces of the optical means is taken as the y-axis, and a line segment perpendicular to the x-axis and y-axis is taken as the z-axis, the optical element is formed in a single planar shape and is placed inside the optical means so as to appear as a single straight line when the optical means is viewed toward a plane perpendicular to the z-axis. Effect of the Invention

[0061] According to the present invention, by forming the optical structure that transmits the augmented reality image light emitted from the image output section to the pupil in a linear arrangement structure, it is possible to provide a compact optical device for augmented reality, which can improve light efficiency and simplify the manufacturing process, and a manufacturing method for the optical means used therein.

[0062] In addition, the present invention provides an optical device for augmented reality that can significantly reduce size, thickness, weight, and volume, provide a wide viewing angle, and minimize the outflow of real-world image light, which can cause ghost images, toward the user's pupil, thereby maximizing see-through properties and providing a clear virtual image. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0063] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows an optical device (100) for augmented reality as disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,399,933. [Diagram 2] This figure compares a side view of the augmented reality optical device (100) of Figure 1, in which a collimator is provided in the image output section (40), and a side view of an augmented reality optical device (100-1) in which an auxiliary reflecting section (20) that functions as a collimator is provided. [Diagram 3] 1A to 1C are diagrams for explaining the phenomenon in which a ghost image occurs in an augmented reality optical device (100-1). [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a side view of a compact augmented reality optical device (200) having a linear optical configuration according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a compact augmented reality optical device (200) having a linear optical configuration according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a front view of a compact augmented reality optical device (200) having a linear optical configuration according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the principle by which the first reflecting means (20) blocks ghost images. [Figure 8] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the arrangement of the reflecting portions (31 to 39) described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another arrangement structure of the second reflecting means (30). [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another arrangement structure of the second reflecting means (30). [Figure 11]FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a total reflection structure inside the optical means (10). [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a total reflection structure inside the optical means (10). [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a total reflection structure inside the optical means (10). [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a total reflection structure inside the optical means (10). [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a total reflection structure inside the optical means (10). [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a total reflection structure inside the optical means (10). [Figure 17] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an optical device (300) for augmented reality according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] FIG. 3 is a front view of an optical device (300) for augmented reality according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an optical device (400) for augmented reality according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] FIG. 4 is a front view of an optical device (400) for augmented reality according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 21] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an optical device (500) for augmented reality according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 22] FIG. 5 is a front view of an optical device (500) for augmented reality according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 23] FIG. 6 shows an optical device for augmented reality (600) according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, in a side view of the optical device for augmented reality (600) looking towards a plane perpendicular to the z-axis. [Figure 24] FIG. 7 shows an optical device for augmented reality (700) according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, in a side view of the optical device for augmented reality (700) looking towards a plane perpendicular to the z-axis. [Diagram 25] FIG. 8 is a front view of an optical device 800 for augmented reality according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 26]FIG. 8 is a side view of an optical device 800 for augmented reality according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 27] FIG. 8 is a plan view of an optical device 800 for augmented reality according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 28] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lower base substrate (10A). [Figure 29] FIG. 2 is a side view of the optical means base material (10E). [Diagram 30] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an optical means base material (10E). [Diagram 31] FIG. 2 is a side view of the first substrate (10B) and the second substrate (10C). [Diagram 32] 1A to 1C are diagrams for explaining a method of forming the optical means (10) by cutting the optical means base material (10E). [Diagram 33] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an optical device (900) for augmented reality having linearly arranged reflective structures according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 34] FIG. 9 is a front view of an optical device (900) for augmented reality having linearly arranged reflective structures according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 35] FIG. 9 is a side view of an optical device (900) for augmented reality having linearly arranged reflective structures according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 36] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an optical device (1000) for augmented reality according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 37] FIG. 10 is a side view of an optical device (1000) for augmented reality according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 38] FIG. 10 is a front view of an optical device (1000) for augmented reality according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 39] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an optical device (1100) for augmented reality according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 40] FIG. 11 is a side view of an optical device (1100) for augmented reality according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0064] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0065] 4 to 6 are side, perspective and front views of a compact augmented reality optical device 200 (hereinafter simply referred to as "augmented reality optical device 200") having a linearly arranged optical structure according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0066] 4 to 6, the optical device for augmented reality 200 of this embodiment includes optical means 10, first reflecting means 20, and second reflecting means 30. In the embodiment shown in FIG.

[0067] The optical means 10 is a means for transmitting at least a part of real object image light, which is image light emitted from a real object, toward the pupil 50 of the user's eye.

[0068] Here, transmitting at least a part of the real object image light toward the pupil 50 means that the light transmittance of the real object image light does not necessarily have to be 100%.

[0069] The optical means 10 has a first surface 11 and a second surface 12 arranged to face each other. The first surface 11 is a surface onto which real object image light is incident, and the second surface 12 is a surface onto which the augmented reality image light corresponding to the augmented reality image reflected by the second reflecting means 30 and the real object image light passing through the first surface 11 are emitted toward the pupil 50 of the user's eye.

[0070] In the embodiment of Figures 4 to 6, the first surface 11 and the second surface 12 of the optical means 10 are arranged parallel to each other, but it goes without saying that this is merely an example and they can also be arranged non-parallel to each other.

[0071] 4 to 6, dotted lines indicate the optical path of the augmented reality image light emitted from the image emitting unit 40, passing through the pupil 50 and reaching the retina.

[0072] As shown in the embodiments of Figures 4 to 6, the augmented reality image light emitted from the image output unit 40 is totally reflected by the first surface 11 of the optical means 10 and transmitted to the first reflecting means 20, and the augmented reality image light reflected by the first reflecting means 20 is emitted toward the first surface 11, totally reflected by the first surface 11, and transmitted to the second reflecting means 30.

[0073] In addition, the augmented reality image light reflected by the second reflecting means 30 is emitted to the pupil 50 through the second surface 12 of the optical means 10, and is configured to reach the retina through the pupil 50 to form an image for the augmented reality image.

[0074] In the embodiments of Figures 4 to 6, the augmented reality image light emitted from the image output unit 40 is shown to be totally reflected once at the first surface 11 of the optical means 10 and then transmitted to the first reflecting means 20, but this is merely an example, and the augmented reality image light emitted from the image output unit 40 may be totally reflected not once or more than twice and then transmitted to the first reflecting means 20.

[0075] In addition, the augmented reality image light reflected by the first reflecting means 20 is shown to be totally reflected once at the first surface 11 of the optical means 10 and then transmitted to the second reflecting means 30, but this is also an example, and the augmented reality image light may be totally reflected not once or more than twice and then transmitted to the second reflecting means 30.

[0076] Here, the second reflecting means 30 is composed of a plurality of reflecting portions 31 to 37. In this specification, the second reflecting means 30 generally refers to the plurality of reflecting portions 31 to 37. The detailed configuration of the second reflecting means 30 will be described later.

[0077] The image output unit 40 is a means for outputting an augmented reality image light, which is image light corresponding to an augmented reality image, and may be, for example, a display device such as a small LCD.

[0078] Since the image output unit 40 itself is not a direct object of the present invention and is known in the prior art, a detailed description thereof will be omitted here. However, the image output unit 40 of this embodiment does not include a configuration such as a collimator as described above in the Background Art.

[0079] On the other hand, an image for augmented reality refers to a virtual image transmitted to the user's pupil 50 through the image output unit 40, the optical means 10, the first reflecting means 20, and the second reflecting means 30, and may be, for example, a still image or a moving image in the form of an image.

[0080] Such an augmented reality image is provided to the user as a virtual image by being transmitted to the user's pupil 50 through the image output unit 40, the optical means 10, the first reflecting means 20 and the second reflecting means 30, and at the same time, the user can receive augmented reality services by receiving real object image light emitted from real objects existing in the real world through the optical means 10.

[0081] Next, the first reflecting means 20 will be described.

[0082] The first reflecting means 20 is disposed embedded inside the optical means 10 and is a means for transmitting the augmented reality image light emitted from the image emitting section 40 to the second reflecting means 30.

[0083] In the embodiment of Figures 4 to 6, as described above, the image emitting unit 40 emits augmented reality image light toward the first surface 11 of the optical means 10, and the augmented reality image light totally reflected at the first surface 11 of the optical means 10 is transmitted to the first reflecting means 20.

[0084] The augmented reality image light reflected by the first reflecting means 20 is then further totally reflected by the first surface 11 of the optical means 10 and transmitted to the second reflecting means 30, where it is further reflected and emitted toward the pupil 50.

[0085] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the first reflecting means 20 is disposed by being embedded inside the optical means 10 so as to face the image emitting section 40 with the second reflecting means 30 sandwiched therebetween.

[0086] In addition, the first reflecting means 20 is disposed embedded inside between the first surface 11 and the second surface 12 of the optical means 10 so as to transmit the augmented reality image light to the second reflecting means 30.

[0087] That is, the first reflecting means 20 outputs the augmented reality image light that exits from the image exit unit 40 and is totally reflected by the first surface 11 of the optical means 10 toward the first surface 11 of the optical means 10, and is positioned at an appropriate position inside the optical means 10 between the first surface 11 and the second surface 12 of the optical means 10, taking into account the relative positions of the image exit unit 40, the second reflecting means 30 and the pupil 50, so that the augmented reality image light that is totally reflected by the first surface 11 of the optical means 10 is transmitted to the second reflecting means 30.

[0088] For this reason, in the embodiment of Figures 4 to 6, the first reflecting means 20 is embedded and positioned inside the optical means 10 so that the reflecting surface 21 of the first reflecting means 20, which reflects the augmented reality image light, faces the surface on which the real object image light is incident, i.e., the first surface 11 of the optical means 10.

[0089] Here, the first reflecting means 20 being embedded and disposed inside the optical means 10 means that the ends of the first reflecting means 20 are disposed inside the optical means 10, spaced apart from the first surface 11 and the second surface 12 of the optical means 10, respectively.

[0090] With this arrangement, the first reflecting means 20 emits augmented reality image light toward the first surface 11 while blocking stray light that may be emitted from real objects and cause ghost images from being transmitted toward the pupil 50.

[0091] The reflecting surface 21 of the first reflecting means 20 may be formed as a curved surface. For example, the reflecting surface 21 of the first reflecting means 20 may be a concave mirror formed to be concave toward the first surface 11 of the optical means 10. With this configuration, the first reflecting means 20 can serve as a collimator that collimates the augmented reality image light emitted from the image emitting unit 40, and therefore, there is no need to use a configuration such as a collimator in the image emitting unit 40.

[0092] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the principle by which the first reflecting means 20 blocks ghost images.

[0093] For ease of explanation, the second reflecting means 30 is omitted in FIG.

[0094] 7, as described above, the first reflecting means 20 is disposed to face the first surface 11 of the optical means 10 to which the real object image light is incident. Therefore, the real object image light (unwanted light) that can generate a ghost image and is emitted from the real object and incident on the first reflecting means 20 is reflected by the reflecting surface 21 of the first reflecting means 20 that is disposed to be concave toward the first surface 11, and is emitted toward the second surface 12 of the optical means 10, and is further totally reflected by the second surface 12 of the optical means 10 to be transmitted in the direction of the image emitting part 40.

[0095] Therefore, it can be seen that the stray light that can be emitted from an actual object and generate a ghost image disappears inside the optical means 10 and does not flow toward the pupil 50.

[0096] However, this principle is merely an illustrative example of the basic principle for preventing the actual object image light (stray light) reflected by the first reflecting means 20 from leaking out of the optical means 10. In practice, the position and direction of the first reflecting means 20 must be appropriately adjusted in consideration of the shape and refractive index of the optical means 10, the position of the eye and the first reflecting means 20, the size and eye relief of the pupil 50, etc., so as to minimize the stray light reflected by the first reflecting means 20 and entering the pupil 50.

[0097] Meanwhile, as described later, the size of the second reflecting means 30 is set to 8 mm or less, which is the size of a general human pupil, and more preferably 4 mm or less. In consideration of this, the width of the first reflecting means 20 is set to 8 mm or less, and more preferably 4 mm or less, so as to correspond to the size of the second reflecting means 30.

[0098] 4 to 6, the width direction of the first reflecting means 20 means the direction between the first surface 11 and the second surface 12 of the optical means 10. With reference to Fig. 5, the length of the width direction of the first reflecting means 20 corresponds to the length of the first reflecting means 20 when the optical means 10 is viewed toward a plane perpendicular to the z-axis.

[0099] Moreover, in order to make the first reflecting means 20 as unnoticeable to the user as possible, it is preferable that the thickness of the first reflecting means 20 when viewed from the front by the user through the pupil 50 is made very thin.

[0100] The first reflecting means 20 can also be composed of a means such as a half mirror that partially reflects light.

[0101] The first reflecting means 20 may also be formed from other refractive or diffractive optical elements other than the reflecting means.

[0102] The first reflecting means 20 can also be formed from an optical element such as a notch filter that selectively transmits light depending on the wavelength.

[0103] Also, the surface of the first reflecting means 20 opposite to the reflecting surface 21 that reflects the augmented reality image light can be coated with a material that absorbs light without reflecting it.

[0104] Next, the second reflecting means 30 will be described.

[0105] The second reflecting means 30 is embedded and arranged inside the optical means 10, and is a means for providing an augmented reality image to the user by reflecting and transmitting the augmented reality image light transmitted from the first reflecting means 20 toward the pupil 50 of the user's eye, and is formed from a plurality of reflecting portions 31-37.

[0106] In the embodiment of Figures 4 to 6, as described above, the augmented reality image light reflected by the first reflecting means 20 is emitted toward the first surface 11 of the optical means 10, and is further totally reflected by the first surface 11 of the optical means 10 before being transmitted to the second reflecting means 30.

[0107] The multiple reflecting portions 31 to 37 constituting the second reflecting means 30 are embedded and arranged inside the optical means 10 so that they can each reflect the augmented reality image light transmitted from the first reflecting means 20 and transmit it to the user's pupil 50.

[0108] Here, the multiple reflecting portions 31-37 constituting the second reflecting means 20 being embedded and arranged inside the optical means 10 means that each end of the multiple reflecting portions 31-37 is arranged inside the optical means 10, separated from the first surface 11 and the second surface 12 of the optical means 10, respectively.

[0109] As described above, the augmented reality image light emitted from the image output unit 40 is transmitted to the second reflecting means 30 through the first reflecting means 20 and the first surface 11 of the optical means 10, so that the multiple reflecting units 31-37 constituting the second reflecting means 30 are positioned to have an appropriate inclination angle with respect to the second surface 12 of the optical means 10, taking into account the positions of the first reflecting means 20 and the pupil 50.

[0110] As described in the background art, each of the multiple reflecting portions 31 to 37 is formed to a size smaller than the size of a human pupil, i.e., 8 mm or less, more preferably 4 mm or less, so as to increase the depth and obtain a pinhole effect.

[0111] That is, each of the reflecting parts 31 to 37 is formed to have a size smaller than the size of a typical human pupil. This allows the depth of field of light incident on the pupil 50 through each of the reflecting parts 31 to 37 to be almost infinite, that is, the depth can be made very deep. Therefore, even if a user changes the focal length of the real world while gazing at the real world, a pinhole effect can be generated that allows the user to recognize the augmented reality image as always being in focus regardless of this.

[0112] Here, the size of each of the plurality of reflecting portions 31-37 is defined as the maximum length between any two points on the edge boundary line of each of the reflecting portions 31-37.

[0113] In addition, the size of each of the multiple reflective portions 31-37 may be the maximum length between any two points on the edge boundary line of an orthogonal projection of each reflective portion 31-37 projected onto a plane that is perpendicular to a straight line between the pupil 50 and the reflective portion 31-37 and includes the center of the pupil 50.

[0114] On the other hand, in the present invention, if the size of the reflecting portions 31 to 37 is too small, the diffraction phenomenon at the reflecting portions 31 to 37 becomes large, so it is preferable that the size of each of the reflecting portions 31 to 37 is larger than, for example, 0.3 mm.

[0115] It is also preferable that each of the reflecting portions 31 to 37 has a circular shape. Here, the shape of the reflecting portions 31 to 37 can be formed so that the reflecting portions 31 to 37 appear to be circular when viewed from the pupil 50.

[0116] On the other hand, each of the multiple reflecting parts 31 to 37 is arranged so that the augmented reality image light transmitted from the first reflecting means 20 is not blocked by the other reflecting parts 31 to 37. For this reason, the second reflecting means 30 and the multiple reflecting parts 31 to 37 are configured as follows.

[0117] First, as shown in Figures 4 to 6, the optical means 10 is placed in front of the user's pupil 50, and when the direction from the pupil 50 to the front is taken as the x-axis, the image output unit 40 is placed outside or inside the optical means 10 so as to be located on one of the straight lines perpendicular to the x-axis.

[0118] Here, when one of the lines perpendicular to the x-axis from the image output unit 40 that is parallel to the x-axis and passes between the first surface 11 and the second surface 12 of the optical means 10 is defined as the y-axis, and a line perpendicular to the x-axis and y-axis is defined as the z-axis, at least two or more of the multiple reflecting units 35-37 form a first reflecting unit group 30A that is arranged inside the optical means 10 so that their centers are located on a straight line (called the "first straight line") when the optical means 10 is viewed from the outside toward a plane perpendicular to the z-axis.

[0119] In addition, at least two or more of the remaining reflecting portions 31-33, excluding the reflecting portions 35-37 that form the first reflecting portion group 30A, form a second reflecting portion group 30B that is arranged inside the optical means 10 so that, when the optical means 10 is viewed from the outside toward a plane perpendicular to the z-axis, its center is located on yet another straight line (called the "second straight line") that is not parallel to the first straight line.

[0120] Here, the reflecting portions 35 to 37 constituting the first reflecting portion group 30A are disposed closer to the second surface 12 of the optical means 10 as the distance from the first reflecting means 20 increases.

[0121] In addition, the reflecting portions 31 to 34 constituting the second reflecting portion group 30B may have the same distance from the second surface 12 of the optical means 10 regardless of the distance from the first reflecting means 20, or may be arranged so that the farther the distance from the first reflecting means 20, the more distant the reflecting portions 31 to 34 are from the second surface 12 of the optical means 10.

[0122] Here, since at least one of the first surface 11 and the second surface 12 of the optical means 10 may be formed as a curved surface or may be formed so as to have an inclination angle rather than being parallel to the perpendicular plane relative to the straight line (x-axis) from the center of the pupil 50 toward the front, the fact that the optical means 10 is disposed closer to the second surface 12 the farther the distance from the first reflecting means 20, means that the optical means 10 is disposed closer to the perpendicular plane between the second surface 12 and the pupil 50, which is the perpendicular plane relative to the straight line from the pupil 50 toward the front.

[0123] Similarly, the fact that the optical means 10 is positioned farther away from the second surface 12 the farther away it is from the first reflecting means 20 means that the optical means 10 is positioned farther away from the vertical plane that is perpendicular to a straight line from the pupil 50 to the front and that exists between the second surface 12 and the pupil 50 the farther away it is from the first reflecting means 20.

[0124] Here, the first and second straight lines may be included in any one plane perpendicular to the z-axis, which means that the plurality of reflectors 31-37 forming the first and second reflector groups 30A and 30B are disposed inside the optical unit 10 so as to be all included in any one same plane perpendicular to the z-axis.

[0125] That is, referring to the embodiment in Figures 4 to 6, the optical means 10 is disposed in front of the pupil 50, and when the optical means 10 is viewed from the outside toward a plane perpendicular to the z-axis as in Figure 4 (when the optical means 10 is viewed toward the paper surface of Figure 4), a line connecting the centers of the reflective portions 35 to 37 that constitute the reflective portion group 30A forms a first straight line, and a line connecting the centers of the reflective portions 31 to 34 that constitute the reflective portion group 30B also forms a second straight line, and the first straight line and the second straight line are disposed so as not to be parallel to each other.

[0126] In addition, the second reflecting portion group 30B is disposed so as to be located farther from the first reflecting means 20 than the first reflecting portion group 30A. This means that the first reflecting portion group 30A is disposed lower than the second reflecting portion group 30B in FIG. 4 and closer to the first reflecting means 10.

[0127] 4 to 6, the respective reflecting portions 35 to 37 constituting the first reflecting portion group 30A are shown as being continuously constituted by adjacent reflecting portions 35 to 37, but this is merely an example, and the first reflecting portion group 30A may also be constituted by, for example, non-adjacent reflecting portions. This is also true for the second reflecting portion group 30B.

[0128] Moreover, it goes without saying that at least one of the first reflecting portion group 30A and the second reflecting portion group 30B can be made up of a plurality of groups.

[0129] Furthermore, it goes without saying that all of the multiple reflective portions 31-37 constituting the second reflecting means 30 do not necessarily have to be included in either the first reflecting portion group 30A or the second reflecting portion group 30B, and the first reflecting portion group 30A and the second reflecting portion group 30B can be constituted by only a portion of the multiple reflective portions 31-37 constituting the second reflecting means 30.

[0130] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the arrangement of the reflecting portions 31 to 39 explained in FIG. 4 to FIG. 6. For convenience of explanation, FIG. 8 shows an arrangement of nine reflecting portions 31 to 39.

[0131] Referring to Figure 8, as mentioned above, the second reflection means 30 is composed of a collection of two reflection portion groups, the first reflection portion group 30A and the second reflection portion group 30B, where the first reflection portion group 30A includes a plurality of reflection portions 36 to 39, and the second reflection portion group 30B also includes a plurality of reflection portions 31 to 35, respectively.

[0132] As shown in Figure 8, if a virtual line is drawn connecting the centers of the reflecting portions 36 to 39 that constitute the first reflecting portion group 30A, a straight line A (first straight line) is formed, and if a virtual line is drawn connecting the centers of the reflecting portions 31 to 35 that constitute the second reflecting portion group 30B, a straight line B (second straight line) is formed. It can be seen that the reflecting portions 31 to 39 are arranged in the space between the first surface 11 and the second surface 12 inside the optical means 10 so that straight lines A and B are not parallel to each other.

[0133] Here, it can be seen that the reflecting sections 36 to 39 constituting the first reflecting section group 30A are positioned closer to the second surface 12 of the optical means 10 as their distance from the first reflecting means 20 increases, and the reflecting sections 31 to 35 constituting the second reflecting section group 30B are positioned so as to have the same distance from the second surface 12 of the optical means 10 regardless of their distance from the first reflecting means 20.

[0134] FIG. 8 shows a case where the reflection means 30 is composed of two reflection portion groups 30A, 30B, however, this is merely an example, and it goes without saying that the second reflection means 30 can be composed of three or more reflection portion groups and formed so that there are three or more straight lines connecting the centers of the reflection portions 31 to 39.

[0135] 9 and 10 are diagrams showing other arrangement structures of the second reflecting means 30. In FIG.

[0136] In FIG. 9, for convenience of explanation, the first reflecting means 20 is omitted and only the second reflecting means 30 is shown.

[0137] Referring to Figure 9, the second reflection means 30 is composed of a collection of three reflection unit groups 30A, 30B, and 30C, and it can be seen that the reflection units constituting each of the reflection unit groups 30A, 30B, and 30C are all arranged such that, when the optical means 10 is viewed toward the side of the optical means 10, i.e., a plane perpendicular to the z-axis, the lines connecting the centers of each reflection unit form three straight lines that are not parallel to each other.

[0138] Here, it can be seen that the reflective portions constituting the reflective portion group 30C have the same distance from the second surface 12 of the optical means 10 regardless of the distance from the first reflecting means 20, but the reflective portions constituting the reflective portion group 30B, like the reflective portions constituting the reflective portion group 30A, are positioned closer and closer to the second surface 12 of the optical means 10 the farther they are from the first reflecting means 20.

[0139] In this case, it can be considered that there are a plurality of reflecting portion groups 30A each composed of a reflecting portion that is disposed closer to the second surface 12 of the optical means 10 as the distance from the first reflecting means 20 increases. However, even in this case, the straight lines constituting each reflecting portion group 30A, 30B are disposed so as not to be parallel to each other.

[0140] In the case of Figure 10, the second reflection means 30 is also composed of a collection of three reflection portion groups 30A, 30B, and 30C, and it can be seen that, when viewed from the side of the optical means 10, the reflection portions constituting each of the reflection portion groups 30A, 30B, and 30C are all arranged so that the lines connecting the centers of each reflection portion form three straight lines.

[0141] In Figure 10, the reflectors constituting reflector group 30A are positioned closer to the second surface 12 of the optical means 10 as their distance from the first reflecting means 20 increases, and the reflectors constituting reflector group 30B are positioned so as to have the same distance from the second surface 12 of the optical means 10 regardless of their distance from the first reflecting means 20.

[0142] It can also be seen that the reflecting portions constituting the reflecting portion group 30C are arranged so that the farther the reflecting portion is from the first reflecting means 20, the farther the reflecting portion is from the second surface 12 of the optical means .

[0143] Meanwhile, in the above embodiment, it is preferable that the reflective portions are arranged such that the straight lines connecting the centers of the reflective portions of the respective reflective portion groups 30A, 30B, and 30C are connected to each other, but they do not necessarily have to be connected to each other.

[0144] On the other hand, in the embodiments of Figures 4 to 6, it has been described that the augmented reality image light emitted from the image output unit 40 is totally reflected once at the first surface 11 of the optical means 10 and then transmitted to the first reflecting means 20, but a configuration in which it is not totally reflected or is totally reflected two or more times is also possible.

[0145] In addition, in the embodiments of Figures 4 to 6, the augmented reality image light between the first reflecting means 20 and the second reflecting means 30 is shown to be totally reflected once by the first surface 11 of the optical means 10, but it is also possible to configure it to be transmitted directly or after being totally reflected two or more times.

[0146] 11 to 16 are diagrams for explaining the total reflection structure inside the optical means 10. FIG.

[0147] 11 is a diagram showing a case where there is no total reflection on the inner surface of the optical means 10. As shown in the figure, the augmented reality image light emitted from the image output unit 40 is directly transmitted to the first reflecting means 20 through the inside of the optical means 10 without total reflection, and the augmented reality image light reflected by the first reflecting means 20 is directly transmitted to the second reflecting means 30, i.e., the multiple reflecting units 31-37, and is reflected by each of the reflecting units 31-37 to be transmitted to the pupil 50.

[0148] 12 is a diagram showing a case where the augmented reality image light is totally reflected twice on the inner surface of the optical means 10. As shown in the figure, the augmented reality image light emitted from the image output unit 40 is totally reflected on the first surface 11 of the optical means 10 and transmitted to the first reflecting means 20, and the augmented reality image light reflected on the first reflecting means 20 is further emitted to the first surface 11 side of the optical means 10, is further totally reflected on the first surface 11, and transmitted to the second reflecting means 30, where it is further reflected and transmitted to the pupil 50.

[0149] Figure 12 is similar to the embodiment described in Figures 4 to 6, and it can be seen that this is essentially the same as the embodiment obtained by bisecting the optical means 10 in Figure 11 on the x-axis as described in Figures 4 to 6, and then setting the bisector as the first surface 11, and symmetrically moving the first reflecting means 20 in Figure 11 based on this.

[0150] Fig. 13 is a diagram showing yet another case where the augmented reality image light is not totally reflected on the inner surface of the optical means 10. As shown in the figure, the augmented reality image light emitted from the image output unit 40 is not totally reflected, but is directly transmitted to the first reflecting means 20 through the inside of the optical means 10, and the augmented reality image light reflected by the first reflecting means 20 is directly transmitted to the second reflecting means 30, i.e., the plurality of reflecting units 31-37, and then reflected by the plurality of reflecting units 31-37 to be transmitted to the pupil 50. The example of Fig. 13 is similar to Fig. 11, but there is a difference in the position of the image output unit 40 and the position of the first reflecting means 20.

[0151] 14 is a diagram showing yet another case in which the augmented reality image light is totally reflected once on the inner surface of the optical means 10. As shown in the figure, the augmented reality image light emitted from the image output unit 40 is directly transmitted to the first reflecting means 20, and the augmented reality image light reflected by the first reflecting means 20 is emitted to the first surface 11 side of the optical means 10, totally reflected by the first surface 11, and then transmitted to the second reflecting means 30, where it is further reflected and transmitted to the pupil 50.

[0152] As explained in FIGS. 4 to 6, when optical means 10 in FIG. 13 is viewed in the z-axis direction, it can be seen that FIG. 14 is substantially the same as optical means 10 bisected on the x-axis, the bisector being set as first surface 11, and first reflecting means 20 in FIG. 13 being moved symmetrically with respect to this.

[0153] Fig. 15 is a diagram showing yet another example in which the augmented reality image light is not totally reflected on the inner surface of the optical means 10. As shown in the figure, the augmented reality image light emitted from the image output unit 40 is not totally reflected, but is directly transmitted to the first reflecting means 20 through the inside of the optical means 10, and the augmented reality image light reflected by the first reflecting means 20 is directly transmitted to the second reflecting means 30, i.e., the multiple reflecting units 31 to 37, and is further reflected here and transmitted to the pupil 50. The example of Fig. 15 is similar to Figs. 11 and 13, but there are differences in the position and size of the image output unit 40 and the position and angle of the first reflecting means 20.

[0154] 16 is a diagram showing yet another case in which the augmented reality image light is totally reflected twice on the inner surface of the optical means 10. As shown in the figure, the augmented reality image light emitted from the image output unit 40 is directly transmitted to the first reflecting means 20, and the augmented reality image light reflected by the first reflecting means 20 is emitted to the second surface 12 side of the optical means 10, totally reflected by the second surface 12 and transmitted to the first surface 11, further totally reflected by the first surface 11 and transmitted to the second reflecting means 30, where it is further reflected and transmitted to the pupil 50.

[0155] As explained in FIGS. 4 to 6, when viewing the optical means 10 of FIG. 15 in the z-axis direction, it can be seen that FIG. 16 is essentially the same as the optical means 10 divided into three equal parts on the x-axis, and the line among the trisections that is closest to the pupil 50 is taken as the first surface 11, and the first reflecting means 20 of FIG. 15 is moved twice symmetrically with respect to the trisection.

[0156] Figures 11 to 16 are diagrams illustrating exemplary structures in which there is no total reflection or there is at least one total reflection within the optical means 10, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that various other structures are possible in which the augmented reality image light can be transmitted to the first reflection means 20 and the second reflection means 30 by other numbers of total reflections.

[0157] 17 and 18 are diagrams showing the configuration of an optical device 300 for augmented reality according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the optical device 300 for augmented reality, and Fig. 18 is a front view of the optical device 300 for augmented reality.

[0158] The optical device for augmented reality 300 of Figures 17 and 18 has the same basic configuration as the optical device for augmented reality 200 of the embodiment described with reference to Figures 4 to 6, but is characterized in that it is formed from a plurality of second reflecting means 301-305, each of which is made up of a plurality of reflecting portions 31-37.

[0159] Here, the multiple second reflecting means 301-305 have the following arrangement structure. That is, as described above, when the optical means 10 is placed in front of the user's pupil 50, the direction from the pupil 50 to the front is the x-axis, and any one of the line segments that are parallel to the x-axis among the perpendicular lines from the image output unit 40 to the x-axis and pass between the inner surfaces of the optical means 10 is the y-axis, the z-axis is a line segment that is perpendicular to the x-axis and passes between the inner surfaces of the optical means 10. Here, the multiple second reflecting means 301-305 are arranged parallel to each other at intervals along an imaginary straight line that is parallel to the z-axis.

[0160] Here, each of the multiple reflecting portions 31-37 constituting each second reflecting means 301-305 can be arranged in line with the adjacent second reflecting means 301-305, i.e., any one of the multiple reflecting portions 31-37 constituting the second reflecting means 301-305 on both sides, so as to be aligned along a virtual straight line parallel to the z-axis.

[0161] Therefore, when the plurality of second reflecting means 301 to 305 are viewed in the z-axis direction, they appear the same as in FIG.

[0162] According to the embodiment of Figs. 17 and 18, there is an advantage that the viewing angle and eye box in the z-axis direction can be widened while maintaining the operational effects as described with reference to Figs. 4 to 6.

[0163] 19 and 20 are diagrams showing the configuration of an augmented reality optical device 400 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the augmented reality optical device 400, and Fig. 20 is a front view of the augmented reality optical device 400.

[0164] The optical device for augmented reality 400 of the embodiment in Figures 19 and 20 is basically the same as the optical device for augmented reality 300 of the embodiment described in Figures 17 and 18, but is characterized in that at least some of the multiple reflecting portions 31-37 that constitute each of the multiple second reflecting means 301-305 are arranged so that they are not aligned along a virtual straight line parallel to the z-axis relative to the multiple reflecting portions 31-37 that constitute adjacent second reflecting means 301-305.

[0165] That is, as shown in Figures 19 and 20, when comparing the adjacent reflecting portions 31-37 of the first second reflecting means 301 and the reflecting portions 31-36 of the second second reflecting means 302 from the right side of the z axis in order from the upper side in the y axis direction (the image output section 40 side), it can be seen that each of the reflecting portions 31-37 of the first second reflecting means 301 is aligned with all of the reflecting portions 31-36 of the second second reflecting means 302 along a virtual straight line parallel to the z axis.

[0166] In other words, it can be seen that the reflecting portions 31-37 of the first secondary reflecting means 301 and the reflecting portions 31-36 of the second secondary reflecting means 302 are not aligned along a virtual straight line parallel to the z-axis when viewed in the x-axis direction, but are arranged so as to be offset from each other.

[0167] 21 and 22 are diagrams showing the configuration of an augmented reality optical device 500 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 21 is a perspective view of the augmented reality optical device 500, and Fig. 22 is a front view of the augmented reality optical device 500.

[0168] The augmented reality optical device 500 of Figures 21 and 22 has the same basic configuration as the embodiment described with reference to Figures 4 to 6, but is characterized in that each of the multiple reflecting portions 31 to 37 is formed in a bar shape extending along an imaginary straight line parallel to the z-axis.

[0169] Here, each of the multiple reflecting units 31 to 37 has the following arrangement structure. That is, as described above, when the augmented reality optical device 500 is placed in front of the user's pupil 50, the direction from the pupil 50 to the front is the x-axis, and any one of the line segments that are parallel to the x-axis among the perpendicular lines from the image output unit 40 to the x-axis and pass between the inner surfaces of the optical means 10 is the y-axis, and the z-axis is a line segment that is perpendicular to the x-axis and y-axis and passes between the inner surfaces of the optical means 10. Here, the multiple reflecting units 31 to 37 are formed in a bar shape extending along an imaginary straight line parallel to the z-axis.

[0170] In the present embodiment as well, when the optical means 10 is viewed toward a plane perpendicular to the z-axis, the multiple reflecting portions 31 to 37 appear to be the same as those shown in FIG.

[0171] 4 to 22, when the optical means 10 is viewed from the pupil 50 in a front direction, i.e., toward a plane perpendicular to the x-axis, the first reflecting means 20 is extended so as to gradually approach the second reflecting means 301 to 305 from the center toward both left and right ends, so that the first reflecting means 20 is formed in a gentle "U"-shaped bar shape overall. This is to enable the first reflecting means 20 to function as a collimator more effectively.

[0172] The entire length of the first reflecting means 20 in the z-axis direction is formed to correspond to the length of all of the plurality of second reflecting means 301-305 in the z-axis direction.

[0173] In this case as well, as described above, it is preferable that the length in the width direction of the first reflecting means 20 is set to 4 mm or less.

[0174] In addition, other features of the first reflecting means 20 previously described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 can also be applied as they are to the embodiment of FIGS.

[0175] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an optical device 600 for augmented reality according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, and is a side view of the optical device 600 for augmented reality viewed toward a plane perpendicular to the z-axis.

[0176] The embodiment of Figure 23 is basically the same as the embodiment of Figures 4 to 6, but is characterized in that the third surface 13, through which the augmented reality image light emitted from the image output unit 40 enters the optical means 10, is formed as a curved surface so as to have refractive power.

[0177] Such third surface 13 is formed as a curved surface protruding toward the image output unit 40, and can thus function as a collimator for the augmented reality image light incident from the image output unit 40. Therefore, the third surface 13 can be used as an auxiliary collimator together with the first reflecting means 20 that functions as a collimator, thereby improving the overall performance as a collimator.

[0178] 23, the third surface 13 is shown as being formed between the first surface 11 and the second surface 12, but is not limited to this. It should be noted that the third surface 13 refers to the surface through which the augmented reality image light emitted from the image emitting unit 40 enters the optical means 40.

[0179] FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an optical device for augmented reality 700 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, and is a side view of the optical device for augmented reality 700 viewed toward a plane perpendicular to the z-axis.

[0180] The embodiment of FIG. 24 is basically the same as the embodiment of FIG. 23, but is characterized in that an auxiliary optical means 70 is further disposed between the image output section 40 and the third surface 13.

[0181] 24, the auxiliary optical means 70 is formed of a convex lens, but this is merely an example, and at least one combination of various other reflecting means, refracting means, or diffractive means may be used. By appropriately utilizing such auxiliary optical means 70, the overall performance of the optical device 700 for augmented reality can be improved.

[0182] Figures 25 to 27 are diagrams illustrating an augmented reality optical device 800 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 25 is a front view of the augmented reality optical device 800 as seen from the pupil 50 side, Figure 26 is a side view of the augmented reality optical device 800 as seen toward a plane perpendicular to the z-axis as described above, and Figure 27 is a plan view of the augmented reality optical device 800 as seen toward a plane perpendicular to the y-axis as described above.

[0183] The optical device 800 for augmented reality shown in Figures 25 to 27 has the same basic configuration as the optical device 300 for augmented reality shown in Figure 18, but differs in that there is at least one or more second reflecting means 301-305 that are arranged so that the distance between each of the multiple second reflecting means 301-305 and the second surface 12 of the optical means 10 is not all the same.

[0184] That is, as described above, when the augmented reality optical device 800 is placed in front of the user's pupil 50, the direction from the pupil 50 to the front is defined as the x-axis, one of the line segments among the perpendicular lines from the image output unit 40 to the x-axis that is parallel to the x-axis and passes between the inner surfaces of the optical means 10 is defined as the y-axis, and a line segment that is perpendicular to the x-axis and passes between the inner surfaces of the optical means 10 is defined as the z-axis, the second reflecting means 301-305 are arranged so that there is at least one or more second reflecting means 301-305 that are arranged such that the distances between each of the second reflecting means 301-305 and the second surface 12 of the optical means 10 are not all the same.

[0185] In other words, when the augmented reality optical device 800 is viewed toward a plane perpendicular to the z-axis, as shown in Figure 26, there is at least one or more second reflecting means 301-305 that are arranged so that at least a portion of the multiple second reflecting means 301-305 does not appear to overlap.

[0186] In the embodiments of Figures 25 to 27, the distance between the two second reflecting means 301, 305 shown by dotted lines and the second surface 12 of the optical means 10, the distance between the two second reflecting means 302, 304 shown in black and the second surface 12 of the optical means 10, and the distance between the one second reflecting means 303 shown in white and the first surface 12 of the optical means 10 are arranged so as to be different from each other.

[0187] Here, the distance between each of the two second reflecting means 301, 305 shown by dotted lines and the second surface 12 of the optical means 10 is the same, and the distance between each of the two second reflecting means 302, 304 shown in black and the second surface 12 of the optical means 10 is the same, but this is merely an example, and it goes without saying that the distances between all of the second reflecting means 301-305 and the second surface 12 of the optical means 10 can all be different.

[0188] Meanwhile, in the above embodiment, the sizes of the multiple reflecting portions 31 to 37 do not all need to be the same, and at least some of the reflecting portions can be configured to have sizes different from the other reflecting portions 31 to 37. Even in such a case, it is preferable to form the size of each of the reflecting portions 31 to 37 to be 4 mm or less, as described above.

[0189] Furthermore, the multiple reflecting portions 31-37 are preferably disposed at equal intervals from one another, but the intervals between at least some of the reflecting portions 31-37 may be different from the intervals between the other reflecting portions 31-37.

[0190] Also, the inclination angle of at least some of the reflecting portions 31-37 with respect to the x-axis may be configured to be different from that of the other reflecting portions 31-37.

[0191] At least some of the reflecting portions 31 to 37 may be configured with a means such as a half mirror that partially reflects light.

[0192] At least a part of the plurality of reflecting portions 31 to 37 can also be formed from other refractive elements other than the reflecting means.

[0193] At least some of the reflecting portions 31 to 37 may be made up of optical elements such as notch filters that selectively transmit light depending on its wavelength.

[0194] Furthermore, at least some of the reflecting portions 31 to 37 may be coated on the surface opposite to the surface that reflects the augmented reality image light with a material that absorbs light without reflecting it.

[0195] At least some of the surfaces of the reflecting portions 31 to 37 may be curved. Here, the curved surface may be a concave surface or a convex surface.

[0196] At least some of the reflecting portions 31 to 37 can also be formed from an optical element such as a diffractive optical element (DOE) or a holographic optical element (HOE).

[0197] Next, a method for manufacturing the optical means 10 of the augmented reality optical devices 200 to 800 described in the above embodiments will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0198] Figure 28 is an oblique view of the lower base substrate 10A, Figure 29 is a side view of the optical means base material 10E, Figure 30 is an oblique view of the optical means base material 10E, Figure 31 is a side view of the first substrate 10B and the second substrate 10C, and Figure 32 is a diagram for explaining a method of cutting the optical means base material 10E to form the optical means 10.

[0199] The optical means 10 of the augmented reality optical devices 200 to 800 described in the above embodiments is manufactured by a process of stacking a lower base substrate 10A, a first substrate 10B, a second substrate 10C, and an upper base substrate 10D to form the optical means base material 10E, and then cutting the optical means base material 10E.

[0200] For this purpose, first, as shown in FIG. 28, a plurality of reflective portions 30-1 are formed along a first direction on the surface of the lower base substrate 10A.

[0201] Here, the lower base substrate 10A has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, but is not limited to this.

[0202] In addition, as shown in Figures 29 and 30, a plurality of reflective portions 30-2 to 30-11 are formed on the surfaces of a plurality of first substrates 10B along a direction parallel to the first direction, and a plurality of reflective portions 30-12 to 30-22 are formed on the surfaces of a plurality of second substrates 10C along a direction parallel to the first direction.

[0203] Then, as shown in Figures 29 and 30, a plurality of first substrates 10B are sequentially adhered and stacked on the surface of the lower base substrate 10A, and a plurality of second substrates 10C are sequentially adhered and stacked on the uppermost first substrate 10B among the stacked first substrates 10B, thereby forming a second reflection means 30.

[0204] Here, the reflective portions 30-2 to 30-11 formed on each of the multiple first substrates 10B are formed on the surface of each of the first substrates 10B so that when the first substrate 10B is viewed from the outside toward a plane perpendicular to the first direction, i.e., when the first substrate 10B is viewed in the direction of the paper surface of Figure 29, a line connecting the centers of the frontmost reflective portions 30-1 to 30-11 forms a straight line.

[0205] In addition, the reflective portions 30-12 to 30-22 formed on each of the multiple second substrates 10C are formed on the surface of each second substrate 10C so that when the second substrate 10C is viewed from the outside toward a plane perpendicular to the first direction, i.e., when the second substrate 10C is viewed in the direction of the paper surface of Figure 29, a line connecting the centers of the frontmost reflective portions 30-12 to 30-22 forms a straight line.

[0206] Here, the reflecting portions 30-12 to 30-22 are arranged such that a straight line connecting the centers of the reflecting portions 30-1 to 30-11 and a straight line connecting the centers of the reflecting portions 30-12 to 30-22 are not parallel to each other.

[0207] Through this process, the second reflecting means 30 is formed from the reflecting portions 30-1 to 30-22.

[0208] On the other hand, the multiple first substrates 10B have the same shape as one another, and the multiple second substrates 10C also have the same shape as one another.

[0209] Furthermore, the multiple first substrates 10B and the multiple second substrates 10C have shapes different from each other.

[0210] Furthermore, as shown in (a) of Figure 31, when first substrate 10B is viewed toward a plane perpendicular to the first direction, the height HB2 of one end E2 of both end portions E1, E2 of each first substrate 10B is formed so that it is higher than the height HB1 of the other end portion E1.

[0211] Furthermore, as shown in (b) of Figure 31, when the second substrate 10C is viewed toward a plane perpendicular to the first direction, the height HC2 of one end E2 of both ends E1, E2 of each of the second substrate 10C is formed so that it is higher than the height HC1 of the other end E1.

[0212] Here, since first substrate 10B and second substrate 10C have different shapes, HB1 ≠ HC1 and HB2 ≠ HC2. It is also possible that HB1 ≠ HC1 and HB2 = HC2, or that HB1 = HC1 and HB2 ≠ HC2.

[0213] Meanwhile, the reflecting portions 30-1 to 30-22 may be formed on the lower base substrate 10A, the first substrate 10B, and the second substrate 10C by, for example, a mask deposition method or an adhesive bonding method. This is known in the prior art and is not a direct object of the present invention, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0214] In this manner, when the stacking of the second substrates 10C is completed, an upper base substrate 10D including a first reflecting means 20 is adhered and stacked onto the uppermost second substrate of the stacked second substrates 10C to form an optical means base material 10E as shown in Figures 29 and 30.

[0215] Here, the first reflecting means 20 is disposed inside the upper base substrate 10D as shown in Figures 29, 30 and 32. The first reflecting means 20 is disposed at an appropriate position inside the upper base substrate 10D, taking into consideration the position of the image output section 40, the position of the first reflecting means 30 and the position of the pupil 50, as in the above-described embodiment.

[0216] Meanwhile, the lower base substrate 10A, the first substrate 10B, the second substrate 10C, and the upper base substrate 10D may be bonded to each other by, for example, applying an adhesive between the substrates to closely adhere and fix the two substrates to each other. This is also known in the prior art and is not a direct object of the present invention, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0217] In addition, the lower base substrate 10A, the first substrate 10B, the second substrate 10C, and the upper base substrate 10D are preferably made of glass or plastic materials having the same refractive index.

[0218] Once the optical means base material 10E is formed by this process, it is cut to form the optical means 10.

[0219] That is, as shown in FIG. 32, when the optical means base material 10E is viewed toward a plane perpendicular to the first direction on which the multiple reflecting portions 31-37 constituting the second reflecting means 30 are arranged, the optical means base material 10E is cut in a direction parallel to the first direction along two parallel straight lines L1 and L2 so that all of the reflecting portions 31-37 are included between them.

[0220] Here, the surface cut in a direction parallel to the first direction along the straight line L1 becomes the first surface 11 of the optical means 10 as described above, and the surface cut in a direction parallel to the first direction along the straight line L2 becomes the second surface 12 of the optical means 10 as described above.

[0221] If the optical means 10 is arranged so that the pupil 50 is positioned in the direction of a normal line perpendicular to these two straight lines L1 and L2, then it is possible to obtain an optical device for augmented reality 200 having a configuration as shown in FIG. 4, for example.

[0222] Therefore, the inclination angle that each of the reflecting portions 31 to 37 makes with respect to the direction from the pupil 50 to the front (the x-axis direction in FIG. 4) can be determined by the boundary surfaces of the respective substrates 10A, 10B, and 10C.

[0223] Then, the optical means base material 10E is further cut in a direction parallel to the first direction along the two straight lines L3 and L4 to finally form the optical means 10. Here, the surfaces cut in a direction parallel to the first direction along the two straight lines L3 and L4 correspond to the upper and lower surfaces of the optical means 10 when the optical means 10 is placed in front of the pupil 50.

[0224] According to this manufacturing method, the optical means 10 can be formed using a plurality of first substrates 10B having the same shape as each other and a plurality of second substrates 10C having the same shape as each other, and since the manufacturing process is simpler than the conventional manufacturing method, there is an advantage that the defective rate can be significantly reduced.

[0225] On the other hand, in the embodiments of Figures 28 to 32, the reflective portions 30-1 to 30-22 are formed on the lower base substrate 10A, the multiple first substrates 10B, and the multiple second substrates 10C, and then these substrates 10A, 10B, and 10C are bonded together, but this is merely an example.

[0226] For example, a method may be used in which, after forming the reflective portion 30-1 on the lower base substrate 10A, the reflective portions 30-2 to 30-11 are formed on each of the first substrates 10B, and the first substrates 10B are sequentially bonded and stacked. The same applies to the second substrate 10C.

[0227] Next, an augmented reality optical device 900 according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0228] Figures 33 to 35 are diagrams showing an optical device for augmented reality 900 having a linearly arranged reflecting structure according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 33 is a perspective view of the optical device for augmented reality 900 when placed in front of the pupil 50, Figure 34 is a front view of the optical device for augmented reality 900 when placed in front of the pupil 50, and Figure 35 is a side view of the optical device for augmented reality 900 when placed in front of the pupil 50.

[0229] The optical device for augmented reality 900 according to the embodiment of Figures 33 to 35 is basically the same as the optical device for augmented reality 200 to 800 according to the previously described embodiments, except that it uses an optical element 80 formed from a single surface instead of multiple reflecting portions 31 to 37.

[0230] In the embodiments of Figures 33 to 35, the optical element 80 is embedded and positioned within the optical means 10 so as to provide an augmented reality image to the user by transmitting the augmented reality image light transmitted from the first reflecting means 20 toward the pupil 50 of the user's eye.

[0231] 35, the arrows indicate the optical paths of the augmented reality image light. As shown in the figure, the augmented reality image light emitted from the image output unit 40 is totally reflected by the first surface 11 of the optical means 10 and transmitted to the first reflecting means 20, and the augmented reality image light reflected by the first reflecting means 20 is further totally reflected by the first surface 11 of the optical means 10 and transmitted to the optical element 80, and transmitted to the pupil 50 through the optical element 80.

[0232] Such an optical element 80 has a shape corresponding to a virtual plane on which a plurality of reflecting portions 31-37 constituting a plurality of second reflecting means 301-305 in the augmented reality optical device 300, 400 previously described with reference to Figures 17-20 are arranged, and is formed from a diffractive optical element (DOE) or a holographic optical element (HOE).

[0233] As shown in Figures 33 to 35, the optical element 80 is formed in a single plane, and the single planar optical element is arranged inside the optical means 10 so that, when the optical means 10 is viewed toward a plane perpendicular to the z-axis, the single planar optical element appears to be bent into a form in which at least two or more straight lines that are not parallel to each other are connected.

[0234] Since a diffractive optical element (DOE) or a holographic optical element (HOE) has a property of transmitting and reflecting real object image light, the optical element 80 can transmit the augmented reality image light to the pupil 50 and can also transmit the real object image light through the optical element 80 to the pupil 50. However, the optical efficiency for the real object image light may be slightly reduced.

[0235] When such an optical element 80 is used, a more uniform augmented reality image can be provided than the second reflection means 30 of the previously described embodiment, which is discontinuously arranged at a fixed period, and has the advantage that the manufacturing process is much simpler since it can be manufactured using only two substrates formed by lines extending along the planar structure of the optical element 80.

[0236] Figures 36 to 38 are diagrams illustrating an augmented reality optical device 1000 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 36 is a perspective view of the augmented reality optical device 1000 when placed in front of the pupil 50, Figure 37 is a side view of the augmented reality optical device 1000 when placed in front of the pupil 50, and Figure 38 is a front view of the augmented reality optical device 1000 as seen from in front of the pupil 50.

[0237] The optical device 1000 for augmented reality of the embodiment shown in Figures 36 to 38 is basically the same as the optical device 300, 400 for augmented reality of the embodiment described with reference to Figures 17 to 20, but differs in that the centers of the multiple reflecting portions 31 to 37 constituting each of the multiple second reflecting means 301 to 305 are arranged inside the optical means 10 so that they are positioned on a single straight line.

[0238] That is, in the optical device 1000 for augmented reality of the embodiment in Figures 36 to 38, the optical means 10 is placed in front of the user's pupil 50, the direction from the pupil 50 to the front is taken as the x-axis, one of the lines perpendicular to the x-axis from the image output unit 40 to the x-axis that is parallel to the x-axis and passes between the first surface 11 and the second surface 12 of the optical means 10 is taken as the y-axis, and a line perpendicular to the x-axis and y-axis is taken as the z-axis, all of the multiple reflecting units 31 to 37 that constitute each of the second reflecting means 301 to 305 are positioned inside the optical means 10 so that their centers are located on a single straight line when the optical means 10 is viewed from the outside toward a plane perpendicular to the z-axis.

[0239] Although a plurality of second reflecting means 301 to 305 are shown in FIGS. 36 to 38, it goes without saying that only one second reflecting means can be formed as shown in FIGS.

[0240] In Figure 37, the arrows also indicate the optical path of the augmented reality image light, and as explained in Figure 35, it can be seen that the augmented reality image light emitted from the image output unit 40 is totally reflected by the first surface 11 of the optical means 10 and transmitted to the first reflecting means 20, the augmented reality image light reflected by the first reflecting means 20 is further totally reflected by the first surface 11 of the optical means 10 before being transmitted to the second reflecting means 30, and is reflected by the second reflecting means 30 and transmitted to the pupil 50.

[0241] Figures 39 and 40 are diagrams showing an optical device for augmented reality 1100 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 39 is a perspective view of the optical device for augmented reality 1100 when placed in front of the pupil 50, and Figure 40 is a side view of the optical device for augmented reality 1100 when placed in front of the pupil 50.

[0242] The optical device for augmented reality 1100 of the embodiment of Figures 39 and 40 is basically the same as the optical device for augmented reality 900 described with reference to Figures 33 to 35, except that the optical element 80 is formed in a single planar form disposed inside the optical means 10 so as to appear as a single straight line form when the optical means 10 is viewed toward a plane perpendicular to the z-axis.

[0243] That is, as shown in Figures 39 and 40, when the optical means 10 is placed in front of the user's pupil 50, the direction from the pupil 50 to the front is taken as the x-axis, one of the lines perpendicular to the x-axis from the image output unit 40 to the x-axis that is parallel to the x-axis and passes between the first surface 11 and the second surface 12 of the optical means 10 is taken as the y-axis, and a line perpendicular to the x-axis and y-axis is taken as the z-axis, the optical element 80 is formed in a single planar form disposed inside the optical means 10 so as to appear as a single straight line when the optical means 10 is viewed toward a plane perpendicular to the z-axis.

[0244] In Figure 40, the arrows also indicate the optical path of the augmented reality image light, and as described above, it can be seen that the augmented reality image light emitted from the image output unit 40 is totally reflected by the first surface 11 of the optical means 10 and transmitted to the first reflecting means 20, and the augmented reality image light reflected by the first reflecting means 20 is further totally reflected by the first surface 11 of the optical means 10 before being transmitted to the optical element 80, and then transmitted to the pupil 50 through the optical element 80.

[0245] The other configurations are similar to those explained with reference to Figs. 33 to 35, and therefore detailed explanations thereof will be omitted.

[0246] Although the configuration of the present invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments of the present invention, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the present invention.

[0247] For example, for a user with refractive error having myopia or hyperopia, a method of attaching a concave or convex lens to the second surface 12 of the optical means 10 can be used. Here, the attached concave or convex lens can be formed integrally with the optical means 10 or configured as a separate module so as to be detachably connectable.

Claims

1. A compact optical device for augmented reality, comprising: an optical means for transmitting at least a portion of the real object image light toward the pupil of a user's eye; a first reflecting means that is embedded in the optical means and transmits an augmented reality image light, which is an image light corresponding to an augmented reality image output from an image output unit, to a second reflecting means; A second reflecting means including a plurality of reflecting portions embedded and disposed within the optical means so as to reflect and transmit the augmented reality image light transmitted from the first reflecting means toward a pupil of a user's eye; Including, the optical means has a first surface to which the real object image light is incident and a second surface to which the augmented reality image light and the real object image light transmitted through the second reflecting means are emitted toward a pupil of a user's eye, The second reflecting means includes a plurality of reflecting portions each having a size of 4 mm or less and disposed embedded inside the optical means, the optical means is disposed in front of a pupil of a user, and the direction from the pupil to the front is defined as an x-axis, the image output unit is disposed outside or inside the optical means so as to be located on a straight line perpendicular to the x-axis, When any perpendicular line from the image output unit to the x-axis that passes between the first surface and the second surface of the optical means is defined as the y-axis, and a line segment perpendicular to the x-axis and the y-axis is defined as the z-axis, At least two or more of the plurality of reflecting portions form a first reflecting portion group that is disposed inside the optical means such that a center of the first reflecting portion is located on a first straight line when the optical means is viewed from the outside toward a plane perpendicular to the z-axis, Among the plurality of reflecting portions, at least two or more of the remaining reflecting portions excluding the reflecting portions forming the first reflecting portion group form a second reflecting portion group that is disposed inside the optical means such that a center of the second reflecting portion group is located on a second straight line that is not parallel to the first straight line when the optical means is viewed from the outside toward a plane perpendicular to the z-axis, The reflecting portions forming the first reflecting portion group are arranged inside the optical means such that the reflecting portions are located closer to the second surface of the optical means as the distance from the first reflecting means increases, the first reflecting portion group is disposed so as to be located closer to the first reflecting means than the second reflecting portion group; A compact optical device for augmented reality, characterized in that the second reflecting means is composed of a plurality of second reflecting means, the plurality of second reflecting means being arranged in parallel at intervals along the z-axis direction.

2. The compact optical device for augmented reality according to claim 1 , wherein the reflecting portions constituting the second reflecting portion group have the same distance from the second surface of the optical means regardless of the distance from the first reflecting means.

3. The compact optical device for augmented reality according to claim 1 , wherein the reflectors forming the second group of reflectors are disposed farther away from the second surface of the optical means as their distance from the first reflector increases.

4. The compact optical device for augmented reality according to claim 1 , wherein the first line and the second line are included in any one plane perpendicular to the z-axis.

5. 2. The compact optical device for augmented reality according to claim 1, characterized in that the augmented reality image light emitted from the image output unit is directly transmitted to the first reflecting means through the inside of the optical means, or is totally reflected at least once on the inner surface of the optical means and then transmitted to the first reflecting means.

6. 2. The compact optical device for augmented reality according to claim 1, wherein the first reflecting means transmits the augmented reality image light directly to the second reflecting means or transmits the augmented reality image light to the second reflecting means after being totally reflected at least once on an inner surface of the optical means.

7. 2. The compact optical device for augmented reality according to claim 1, wherein a reflecting surface of the first reflecting means for reflecting the augmented reality image light is disposed to face a first surface of the optical means on which the real object image light is incident.

8. The compact optical device for augmented reality according to claim 1 , wherein the reflecting surface of the first reflecting means is formed as a curved surface that is recessed toward the first surface side of the optical means.

9. 9. The compact optical device for augmented reality according to claim 8, wherein the first reflecting means is extended so as to become gradually closer to the second reflecting means from the central portion toward both left and right ends when the optical means is viewed in a forward direction from the pupil.

10. The compact optical device for augmented reality according to claim 1 , wherein the first reflecting means has a widthwise length of 4 mm or less.

11. 2. The compact optical device for augmented reality according to claim 1, wherein each of the second reflecting means is arranged such that each reflecting portion constituting each of the second reflecting means is aligned along a virtual straight line parallel to the z-axis with any one of the reflecting portions constituting an adjacent second reflecting means.

12. 2. The compact optical device for augmented reality according to claim 1, wherein each of the second reflecting means is arranged such that each reflecting portion constituting each of the second reflecting means is not aligned along an imaginary straight line parallel to the z-axis with all of the reflecting portions constituting adjacent second reflecting means.

13. The compact optical device for augmented reality according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of reflecting portions are formed in a bar shape extending along an imaginary straight line parallel to the z-axis.

14. 2. The compact optical device for augmented reality according to claim 1, wherein there is at least one second reflecting means arranged such that the distances between each second reflecting means and the second surface of the optical means are not all the same.

15. 2. The compact optical device for augmented reality according to claim 1, wherein the first reflecting means is extended so as to become gradually closer to the second reflecting means from the central portion toward both left and right ends when the optical means is viewed toward a plane perpendicular to the x-axis.

16. 2. The compact augmented reality optical device according to claim 1, wherein a third surface, through which the augmented reality image light emitted from the image emission unit enters the optical means, is formed as a curved surface having refractive power.

17. The compact optical device for augmented reality according to claim 16, further comprising an auxiliary optical means disposed between the image output unit and the third surface.

18. The compact optical device for augmented reality according to claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the plurality of reflecting portions is formed of a half mirror or a refractive element.

19. The compact optical device for augmented reality according to claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of reflecting portions are coated with a material that absorbs light without reflecting it on the surface opposite to the surface that reflects the augmented reality image light.

20. The compact optical device for augmented reality according to claim 1 , wherein at least some of the surfaces of the plurality of reflecting portions are formed as curved surfaces.

21. A method for producing an optical means according to any one of claims 1 to 20, comprising the steps of: A first step of forming a reflective portion on a surface of a lower base substrate along a first direction; a second step of forming a reflective portion on a surface of each of the plurality of first substrates along a direction parallel to the first direction, and forming a reflective portion on a surface of each of the plurality of first substrates along a direction parallel to the first direction; a third step of sequentially adhering and stacking a plurality of first substrates on a surface of the lower base substrate; a fourth step of forming a second reflecting means by sequentially adhering and stacking a plurality of second substrates on the uppermost first substrate after the third step; a fifth step of laminating an upper base substrate including a first reflecting means on the uppermost second substrate to form an optical means base material; a sixth step of processing the optical means base material to form an optical means; Including, The second step includes forming a reflective portion on each surface of the first substrate and the second substrate such that, when the first substrate and the second substrate are viewed from the outside toward a plane perpendicular to the first direction, a line connecting centers of the reflective portions formed on each surface of the first substrate is a straight line, and a line connecting centers of the reflective portions formed on each surface of the second substrate is a straight line; a straight line connecting the centers of the reflective portions formed on the first substrate and a straight line connecting the centers of the reflective portions formed on the second substrate are not parallel to each other, The sixth step is a method for manufacturing an optical means, characterized in that the optical means is formed by cutting the optical means base material in a direction parallel to the first direction along two parallel straight lines such that the reflective portion is entirely contained between the two straight lines when the optical means base material is viewed toward a plane perpendicular to the first direction.

22. A method for producing an optical means according to any one of claims 1 to 20, comprising the steps of: A first step of forming a reflective portion on a surface of a lower base substrate along a first direction; a second step of forming a reflective portion on a surface of each of the first substrates in a direction parallel to the first direction when sequentially adhering and stacking the first substrates on a surface of the lower base substrate; a third step of forming a second reflecting means by forming a reflecting portion on a surface of each of the second substrates in a direction parallel to the first direction when the second substrates are sequentially laminated on the uppermost first substrate after the second step; a fourth step of laminating an upper base substrate including a first reflecting means on the uppermost second substrate to form an optical means base material; a fifth step of processing the optical means base material to form an optical means; Including, The second step includes forming a reflective portion on each surface of the first substrate such that a line connecting centers of the reflective portions formed on each surface of the first substrate forms a straight line when the first substrate is viewed from the outside toward a plane perpendicular to the first direction; The third step includes forming a reflective portion on each surface of the second substrate such that a line connecting centers of the reflective portions formed on each surface of the second substrate forms a straight line when the second substrate is viewed from the outside toward a plane perpendicular to the first direction; a straight line connecting the centers of the reflective portions formed on the first substrate and a straight line connecting the centers of the reflective portions formed on the second substrate are not parallel to each other, The fifth step is a method for manufacturing an optical means, characterized in that the optical means base material is cut in a direction parallel to the first direction along two parallel straight lines such that the reflecting portion is entirely contained therebetween when the optical means base material is viewed toward a plane perpendicular to the first direction.

23. 23. The method for manufacturing an optical means according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that the plurality of first substrates have the same shape as one another, the plurality of second substrates have the same shape as one another, and the plurality of first substrates and the plurality of second substrates have shapes different from one another.

24. The method for manufacturing an optical means according to claim 23, characterized in that, when the optical means base material is viewed toward a plane perpendicular to the first direction, the height of one end of both ends of the plurality of first substrates and both ends of the plurality of second substrates is higher than the height of the other end.

Images