Video display device

Abstract

To provide a video display device capable of achieving both of flip-up operability when the video display device is mounted on a head of an observer and suppressing influence on the video observation by external light.SOLUTION: A video display device including an observation optical system for guiding light to an observer's eye, includes: a housing 101 in which the observation optical system is provided: left and right eye cups 80L, 80R which are mounted on the housing 101 and shield the light incident from the lateral side of the observation optical system; and an upper eye cup 70 which is detachable from the housing 101 and the left and right eye cups 80L, 80R and shields the light incident from above the observation optical system.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention particularly relates to an image display device that displays an image by placing the device in close contact with the viewer's side. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of HMDs (head-mounted displays), which are worn on the observer's head and display images in front of the observer's eyes. HMDs are used as devices that allow users to experience artificial reality (virtual reality = VR) and mixed reality (mixed reality = MR) because they allow users to easily view images on a large screen and provide stereoscopic vision.

[0003] An HMD for realizing MR includes an imaging unit for capturing images of a subject corresponding to the observer's left and right eyes, a display unit for displaying a 3DCG image superimposed on the image captured by the imaging unit, and an observation optical system for projecting the image onto the observer. The HMD displays images on display elements such as small LCD panels corresponding to the observer's left and right eyes, enlarges the images through observation optical systems corresponding to each of the observer's eyes, and then projects them onto the observer's left and right eyes. The captured image of the subject is an image with parallax corresponding to both the left and right eyes, and a 3DCG image is created corresponding to both the left and right eyes and superimposed on the image captured by the imaging system. This makes it possible to present virtual 3DCG images as if they were actually present in reality.

[0004] It is also expected that HMDs will be worn on the head for hands-free use and used for verifying various tasks, and some are configured to be able to flip up so that the surrounding situation can be checked. On the other hand, HMDs are also used as handheld displays (HHDs) to simply look through them for observation purposes, eliminating the need to wear them on the head.

[0005] Furthermore, during image observation, depending on the external environment, external light may enter through a gap between the observer and the observation optical system. When external light enters through a gap, the incident external light is reflected by the surface of the observation optical system and becomes an external light ghost that is visible to the observer, reducing the contrast of the displayed image and hindering the realistic observation of the image. Patent Document 1 therefore discloses an eyecup that blocks the area around the observer's eyes from external light, thereby preventing the effects of external light and making it easy to use even for observers who wear glasses. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-195515 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] As described above, observers can use devices for experiencing VR or MR as either an HMD or an HHD depending on various situations. However, even when wearing an HMD, observers may need to flip up the HMD while wearing it, for example, to check the surroundings. The prior art disclosed in the aforementioned Patent Document 1 can suppress the effects of external light on video observation, but does not take into consideration the ease of flipping up the HMD when worn on the head.

[0008] In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention aims to provide an image display device that allows for both easy flip-up operability when worn on the observer's head and suppression of the effects of external light on image observation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The image display device according to the present invention is an image display device equipped with an observation optical system that guides light to an observer's eye, and includes a housing in which the observation optical system is provided, a first light-shielding member attached to the housing for blocking light incident from a side of the observation optical system, and a light-shielding member attached to at least one of the housing and the first light-shielding member. Installed and a second light-shielding member for blocking light incident from above the observation optical system. The first light-shielding member is provided with a rotation shaft extending in the vertical direction for moving the first light-shielding member in a direction away from the face, and a mounting portion for mounting the second light-shielding member is formed on the axis of the rotation shaft. It is characterized by: [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image display device that is easy to flip up when worn on the observer's head and that can suppress the influence of external light on image observation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a housing of an image display device according to an embodiment, as viewed from an observer's side. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the rear surface of the housing of the image display device according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view of a housing of an image display device according to an embodiment, viewed from the front side. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the form of an HMD that can be worn on the observer's head. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state in which the HMD is worn on the head of a viewer. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state in which the HMD is worn on the head of a viewer. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a form of an HHD that can be held by an observer. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the left and right eyecups and the upper eyecup used in the first embodiment. [Figure 9] 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating the upper and lower surfaces of a housing of the image display device according to the embodiment. [Figure 10]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an image display device in which left and right eyecups and an upper eyecup are attached to a housing. [Figure 11] 1 is a perspective view showing an image display device to which a grip unit is attached in a first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the upper eyecup is in contact with the eyeglasses in the first embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an image display device mounted with a head-mounted unit in a second embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an image display device mounted with a head-mounted unit in a third embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the upper eyecup is in contact with the eyeglasses in the third embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another example of an image display device to which a head-mounted unit is attached in the third embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the upper eyecup is in contact with the eyeglasses in the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] (First embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a housing 101 of an image display device 100 as seen from the viewer's side. Also, Figs. 2(a) and 2(b) are views showing the rear surface of the housing 101 of the image display device 100. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, left and right lenses 10L and 10R are provided on the rear surface of the housing 101 as an image display unit.

[0013] The lenses 10L and 10R are prisms, lenses, etc. that magnify and guide images on a display unit (not shown), such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode), provided within the image display device 100. An observer can view images on the display units provided inside the lenses 10L and 10R by looking through the left and right lenses 10L and 10R. In addition, hoods 11L and 11R are provided around the lenses 10L and 10R, and as shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), the observer can adjust the positions of the lenses 10L and 10R left and right to match the observer's interpupillary distance by operating the hoods 11L and 11R.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the housing 101 of the image display device 100, viewed from the front side. As shown in FIG. 3, left and right imaging cameras 20L and 20R and left and right alignment cameras 21L and 21R are provided on the front surface of the housing 101. The imaging cameras 20L and 20R are stereo cameras that acquire real images of the surroundings and display them to the observer via lenses 10L and 10R. The alignment cameras 21L and 21R are stereo cameras that acquire the position and orientation of the image display device 100 by using feature points such as markers and object edges from the acquired images. Although the alignment cameras 21L and 21R are monochrome, they aim to achieve high-precision and high-fault-tolerance alignment by utilizing a wide angle of view, a high shutter speed, a long baseline length, etc.

[0015] In this embodiment, the imaging cameras 20L, 20R and the alignment cameras 21L, 21R are separately provided in the housing 101, but the imaging cameras 20L, 20R may be configured to acquire real images and alignment information only using the imaging cameras 20L, 20R. Also, distance sensors using ultrasonic waves, infrared rays, or the like may be provided instead of the alignment cameras 21L, 21R.

[0016] 3, a cable 90 is connected to the upper side of the housing 101, and the cable 90 is disposed so as to extend to the side of the image display device 100. The image display device 100 communicates position information and image data with an external device (not shown), such as a personal computer (PC) or a controller, via the cable 90, generates an image in which a 3DCG image is superimposed on a real image, and displays the image on the display unit. This allows the observer to observe the image through the lenses 10L and 10R. Furthermore, operation buttons 30A to 30C are provided on the top surface of the housing 101 for receiving instructions, power operations, etc. from the observer.

[0017] Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a form of an HMD that can be worn on the observer's head H. Figs. 5 and 6 are side views showing a state in which the HMD is worn on the observer's head H. As shown in Figs. 4 to 6, by wearing the head-mounted unit 200 on the head H in a state in which the housing 101 of the image display device 100 is suspended by the head-mounted unit 200, the observer can view images hands-free.

[0018] 5, while the observer is wearing the HMD on his / her head H, he / she can swing the housing 101 of the image display device 100 in the front-to-back direction (arrow A1) or move the housing 101 in the up-and-down direction (arrow A2) by operating the dial 210. This, in combination with the pupil distance adjustment mechanism described above, allows the lenses 10L and 10R to be adjusted to the optimum viewing position for the observer.

[0019] 6, by increasing the swing range, the housing 101 of the image display device 100 can also be placed in a flip-up position (non-observation position). This allows the viewer to temporarily look directly at the outside without removing the HMD from the head H. Furthermore, because the cable 90 extends to the side of the housing 101, the housing 101 can be placed in the flip-up position without the cable 90 interfering with the head-mounted unit 200. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, by holding the top and bottom of the housing 101 with one hand, the viewer can operate the operation buttons 30A to 30C while holding the image display device 100 so as not to move relative to the viewer's head H.

[0020] Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a form of an HHD that can be held by an observer. As shown in Fig. 7, the HHD has a grip unit 300 attached to a housing 101 of an image display device 100, which allows the observer to easily observe images without having to wear it on their head H.

[0021] Because the grip unit 300 is used while being held by hand, the housing 101 of an HHD does not swing like an HMD. When viewing an image, the viewer places the forehead rest 310 against their forehead and adjusts the vertical position of the housing 101 while holding the grip unit 300 with both hands. On the other hand, when viewing the outside, the viewer simply moves the grip unit 300 away from their forehead. As described above, the housing 101 of the image display device 100 is configured so that the head-mounted unit 200 and the grip unit 300 can be interchangeably attached.

[0022] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 8 to 12, light-blocking members are attached to prevent external incident light from being reflected by lenses 10L and 10R and interfering with the observation of images. Specifically, left and right eyecups 80L and 80R are provided as first light-blocking members to block light entering from the sides of the observation optical system. Furthermore, an upper eyecup 70 can be detachably attached to housing 101 as a second light-blocking member to block light entering from above the observation optical system. The light-blocking members will be described in detail below.

[0023] 8(a) and 8(b) are perspective views showing the left and right eyecups 80L, 80R and the upper eyecup 70 used in this embodiment. It consists of eyecup 80L, a light-shielding part 81L, a main body part 82L, and attachment hooks 83L and 84L, etc. Similarly, eyecup 80R consists of a light-shielding part 81R, a main body part 82R, and attachment hooks 83R and 84R, etc.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 9( a), the mounting hooks 83L and 83R are engaged with the hook holders 35L and 35R of the housing 101, respectively. As shown in FIG. 9( b), the mounting hooks 84L and 84R are engaged with the hook holders 36L and 36R of the housing 101, respectively. As shown in FIG. 8( b), the main bodies 82L and 82R and the light shielding portions 81L and 81R are connected via rotation shafts 85L and 85R extending in the vertical direction, respectively, and the light shielding portions 81L and 81R are configured to be rotatable in the direction of arrow A3 relative to the main bodies 82L and 82R. When a viewer wears eyeglasses and flips up the housing 101 while wearing the eyeglasses, the light shielding portions 81L and 81R are first rotated outward to move them away from the viewer's face, allowing the housing 101 to be flipped up without the light shielding portions 81L and 81R interfering with the eyeglasses 95.

[0025] As shown in Figures 8(a) and 8(b), the upper eyecup 70 comprises a light-shielding portion 71, left and right bosses 72L and 72R, and a central mounting hook 73. The left and right bosses 72L and 72R are inserted into the left and right eyecups 80L and 80R at mounting portions on the rotation shafts 85L and 85R. As shown in Figure 10, the mounting hook 73 engages with a hook receiving portion 37 on the housing 101. The hook receiving portion 37 is positioned so that it does not interfere with the hoods 11L and 11R even when the hoods 11L and 11R are adjusted to the minimum interpupillary distance using the interpupillary distance adjustment function.

[0026] As described above, both the left, right, and center mounting positions are located in dead space, allowing the upper eyecup 70 to be mounted on the housing 101 without increasing its size. However, if the light-blocking area of the upper eyecup 70 were formed by the left and right eyecups 80L and 80R, the following concerns would arise. For example, when the light-blocking portions 81L and 81R are opened outward, their upper parts may come into contact with the face, reducing operability. Furthermore, the gap between the housing 101 of the image display device 100 and the left and right eyecups 80L and 80R may not be fully filled, reducing light-blocking performance. Therefore, in this embodiment, the upper eyecup 70 is provided separately. As described above, the left and right eyecups 80L and 80R and the upper eyecup 70 can be attached simply by engaging them with hooks or inserting them via bosses. This allows the viewer to easily attach and detach the eyecups without using tools, and they can be selected as needed.

[0027] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the image display device 100 in which the left and right eyecups 80L and 80R and the upper eyecup 70 are attached to the housing 101, and further to which the grip unit 300 is attached. As shown in FIG. 11, even when the image display device 100 is used as an HHD, the left and right eyecups 80L, 80R and the upper eyecup 70 cover the periphery of the viewer's eyes, preventing the entry of external light.

[0028] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the image display device 100 in which the left and right eyecups 80L and 80R and the upper eyecup 70 are attached to the housing 101, and further to which the head-mounted unit 200 is attached. Note that in FIG. 12, the left and right eyecups 80L and 80R are actually attached to the housing 101, but the left and right eyecups 80L and 80R are not shown to clearly illustrate the state of the upper eyecup 70. When the image display device 100 is used as an HMD, if the housing 101 is swung upward, the light-shielding portion 71 of the upper eyecup 70 may come into contact with the eyeglasses 95, as shown in FIG. 12, causing the eyeglasses 95 to slip off or come off the viewer's face. For this reason, when used as an HMD, the upper eyecup 70 can be removed from the housing 101 and used. In this case, the head-mounted unit 200 is used to cover the gap at the top to prevent external light from entering from above.

[0029] As described above, according to this embodiment, by providing a detachable upper eyecup 70, it is possible to provide an image display device that is easy to flip up when worn on the observer's head and that also reduces the impact of external light on the image experience.

[0030] (Second embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that in this embodiment, only the differences from the first embodiment will be described. 13(a) and 13(b) are side views showing the state in which the image display device 100 is worn as an HMD on the observer's head H in this embodiment. Note that in Fig. 13, the left and right eyecups 80L, 80R are actually attached to the housing 101, but the left and right eyecups 80L, 80R are not shown to make it easier to understand the state of the upper eyecup 170.

[0031] In this embodiment, the upper eyecup 170 is made of a more flexible material, such as rubber, than the left and right eyecups 80L and 80R. When the HMD is worn on the viewer's head H and the housing 101 is swung to contact the eyeglasses 95, the light-shielding portion 171 of the upper eyecup 170 bends from the eyeglasses 95 as a starting point, as shown in FIG. 13(b), thereby preventing the eyeglasses 95 from slipping off or coming off from the viewer's face. Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the head-mounted unit 200 covers the gap at the top to prevent external light from entering from above, but in this embodiment, the upper eyecup 170 does not need to be removed. Therefore, the head-mounted unit 200 does not necessarily need to be designed to prevent external light from entering from above.

[0032] As described above, according to this embodiment, even when the image display device 100 is used in the form of an HMD, the deterioration of flip-up operability can be reduced without removing the upper eyecup 170.

[0033] (Third embodiment) A third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that in this embodiment, only the differences from the first embodiment will be described. 14(a) and 14(b) are side views showing the image display device 100 of this embodiment worn on the viewer's head H as an HMD. In FIGS. 14 to 17, which will be described below, the left and right eyecups 80L and 80R are actually attached to the housing 101, but the left and right eyecups 80L and 80R are not shown to clearly illustrate the state of the upper eyecup 170. In this embodiment, the upper eyecup 270 is provided with a rotation shaft 274 extending in the left-right direction, and a light-shielding portion 271 is configured as part of the upper eyecup 270 to be rotatable about the rotation shaft 274. FIG. 14(a) shows the light-shielding portion 271 in a closed position that provides a high light-shielding effect, and FIG. 14(b) shows the light-shielding portion 271 in an open position that is less likely to get in the way when the housing 101 is swung. For example, even if the housing 101 of the image display device 100 is swung back and forth with the light blocking portion 271 in the closed position and the light blocking portion 271 comes into contact with the eyeglasses 95, the light blocking portion 271 rotates toward the open position (arrow A4) and moves away from the eyeglasses 95, as shown in Fig. 15. This prevents the eyeglasses 95 from slipping or coming off from the viewer's face.

[0034] As a modification of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16 , a biasing member 275 may be further provided on the upper eyecup 270. In this case, the biasing force of the biasing member 275 may be configured to stop the light blocking portion 271 at either the closed position shown in FIG. 16( a ) or the open position shown in FIG. 16( b ). Even if the housing 101 of the image display device 100 is swung back and forth with the light blocking portion 271 in the closed position and the light blocking portion 271 comes into contact with the eyeglasses 95, the biasing force of the biasing member 275 moves the light blocking portion 271 to the open position as shown in FIG. 17 . This prevents the eyeglasses 95 from slipping off or coming off the viewer's face. Furthermore, if the light blocking portion 271 is moved to the open position before the light blocking portion 271 is swung back and forth, the flip-up operation can be performed without contacting the eyeglasses 95.

[0035] As described above, according to this embodiment, when the image display device 100 is used in the form of an HMD, it is possible to reduce the deterioration of flip-up operability without removing the upper eyecup 270. Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the head-mounted unit 200 covers the gap at the top to prevent external light from entering from above, but similarly, in this embodiment, it is not necessary to remove the upper eyecup 170. Therefore, the head-mounted unit 200 does not necessarily have to be structured to prevent external light from entering from above.

[0036] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 70 upper eyecup, 80L, 80R left and right eyecups, 100 image display device, 101 housing

Claims

1. An image display device having an observation optical system that guides light to an observer's eye, a housing in which the observation optical system is provided; a first light-shielding member attached to the housing for blocking light incident from a side of the observation optical system; a second light-shielding member attached to at least one of the housing and the first light-shielding member for blocking light incident from above the observation optical system; Equipped with The first light-shielding member is provided with a rotation axis extending in the vertical direction for moving the first light-shielding member in a direction away from the face, and a mounting portion for mounting the second light-shielding member is formed on the axis of the rotation axis.

2. 2. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the image display device can be mounted by a gripping device or a head-mounted device.

3. An image display device as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second shading member is formed of a material that bends when it comes into contact with the observer side.

4. An image display device as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second shading member is configured so that a portion of the second shading member is rotatable around a rotation axis extending in the left-right direction.

5. An image display device having an observation optical system that guides light to an observer's eye, a housing in which the observation optical system is provided; a first light-shielding member attached to the housing for blocking light incident from a side of the observation optical system; a second light-shielding member attached to at least one of the housing and the first light-shielding member for blocking light incident from above the observation optical system; Equipped with The image display device is configured to be able to be worn by at least a head-mounted device, The second light-shielding member is configured so that a portion of the second light-shielding member can rotate around a rotation axis extending in the left-right direction, and when the head-mounted device is worn by an observer and the housing swings back and forth to cause the second light-shielding member to come into contact with the observer, the portion of the second light-shielding member can rotate upon contact with the observer.

6. 6. The image display device according to claim 5, wherein the second light blocking member includes a biasing member that stops a portion of the second light blocking member from rotating.

7. The image display device described in claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the first light-blocking member is provided with a rotation axis extending in the vertical direction for moving the first light-blocking member in a direction away from the face, and a mounting portion for mounting the second light-blocking member is formed on the axis of the rotation axis.

8. The image display device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the housing is provided with an eye distance adjustment mechanism, and the second light-blocking member is engaged with the housing at a position that does not interfere with the eye distance adjustment mechanism and the observation optical system.

Images