Spatially Separated Display Device with Position Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional head-mounted image display apparatuses face challenges in maintaining the positional relationship between the head mounting unit and the observer's pupil, leading to difficulties in ensuring that the projected image reaches the pupil, due to increased mass and size from power requirements and alignment issues during initial adjustment and use.

Innovation Solution

A display apparatus with a spatially separated eyepiece optical system and image display apparatus, utilizing first and second position detection apparatuses to control the transfer optical system, ensuring the image from the image forming apparatus reaches the eyepiece optical system, thereby maintaining alignment without the need for a power source on the head mounting unit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the light emitting unit, actuator, and drive circuit are provided in the head mounting unit to enable image projection, then the image can be projected to the observer's pupil, but the mass and size of the head mounting unit increase, imposing a burden on the observer

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage projection reliabilityVSAvoidhead mounting unit mass
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the light emitting unit, actuator, and drive circuit from the head mounting unit and relocates them to a body-worn device. This extraction eliminates the need for a power source in the head mounting unit, significantly reducing its mass and size while maintaining the image projection function through the convex lens and optical system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Weight of moving object

If the light emitting unit and actuator are removed from the head mounting unit to reduce mass and size, then the burden on the observer is reduced, but the positional relationship between the body carrying unit, head mounting unit, and pupil cannot be maintained, causing image deviation from the pupil

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehead mounting unit massVSAvoidimage alignment reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs position detection means to detect the positions of the head mounting unit and observer's pupil, and a control unit processes this information to adjust the transfer optical system. This feedback mechanism ensures that the image projected through the convex lens accurately reaches the observer's pupil despite the separation of the light emitting unit from the head mounting unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Manufacturing precision

If the head mounting unit is properly aligned during initial adjustment to ensure image reaches the pupil, then image alignment is achieved, but alignment cannot be maintained over time due to position errors, misalignment during use, and reproducibility issues when attaching and detaching

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinitial alignment precisionVSAvoidalignment maintenance reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a static alignment system to a dynamic one by incorporating position detection means that continuously monitors the positions of the head mounting unit and pupil. The control unit dynamically adjusts the transfer optical system based on real-time position data, allowing the system to adapt to changes during use, movement, and repeated attachment/detachment cycles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Device complexity

If the eyepiece optical system and image display apparatus are integrated in a single unit, then the structure is simplified, but the observer experiences increased mass and size burden on the head

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem structure complexityVSAvoidhead mounting unit mass
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the display system into two distinct parts: a lightweight head mounting unit containing only the convex lens and optical system, and a body-worn device containing the light emitting unit, actuator, and control systems. This segmentation allows the heavy components to be carried on the body rather than the head, reducing the burden on the observer while maintaining system functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration allows for reliable image delivery to the observer's pupil without imposing a burden in terms of mass or size on the observer, maintaining alignment through positional control of the transfer optical system.

Implementation Method 1

the eyepiece optical system forms an image from the transfer optical system on a retina of an observer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical focusing: Lens

Implementation Method 2

a transfer optical system that emits an image incident from the image forming apparatus to the eyepiece optical system

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight transmission: Light

Data Source

PatentEP3770670B1Display device
Publication Date: 2023.10.11 SONY SEMICON SOLUTIONS CORP
  • EP3770670B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3770670B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3770670B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

An object of the present invention is to provide a display apparatus having a configuration and a structure that can surely make an image reach an observer's pupil without imposing a burden on the observer. A display apparatus (10A) includes: an eyepiece optical system (40); and an image display apparatus (20) including an image forming apparatus (21) and a transfer optical system (22), in which the eyepiece optical system (40) and the image display apparatus (20) are arranged to be spatially separated from each other, the eyepiece optical system (40) forms an image from the transfer optical system (22) on a retina of an observer (50), the image display apparatus further includes a first position detection apparatus (32) that detects a position of the eyepiece optical system (40), a second position detection apparatus (33) that detects a position of a pupil (51) of the observer (50), and a transfer optical system controlling apparatus (30), and on the basis of positional information of the eyepiece optical system (40) and the pupil (51) detected by the first position detection apparatus (32) and the second position detection apparatus (33), the transfer optical system controlling apparatus (30) controls the transfer optical system (22) such that the image incident from the image forming apparatus (21) reaches the eyepiece optical system (40).