Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Image superposition by optical means – Operator body-mounted heads-up display
Patent
1996-01-22
1998-04-14
Bayerl, Raymond J.
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Image superposition by optical means
Operator body-mounted heads-up display
359630, 359632, G02B 2702
Patent
active
057397970
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a head-mounted image display device that enlarges an image formed by an image display element and that displays it as a virtual image, and in particular, to such a device that is preferably used as a monitor for a data display in a personal computer or a word processor (hereinafter referred to as PC monitor).
2. Description of the Prior Art
Head-mounted display devices have been proposed to meet demand for increased portability of image and data displays. One typical example is a portable head-mounted display device described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,828, which is commercially available under the name of "Virtual Vision SPORT". This device is configured to enlarge an image formed by a liquid crystal display element and to display it as a virtual image around the user's field of view. This device, however, is mainly used as an image display, and is not appropriate as a PC monitor for various reasons stated below.
A known head-mounted display device for displaying data is a spectacle-like head-mounted display device described in Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 5-100,192.
In general, a data display employing such a head-mounted display device is used with an input means such as a keyboard located near the user's hands, and the device is mounted on the user's head to enable the user to monitor input information above the input means. Materials and manuscripts required to input information must sometimes be placed around the input means, so the field of view must be available below the head-mounted display device in order to view the input means and these materials. The above head-mounted display device (U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,828), however, forms virtual images around the user's field of view, as described above, and in particular, commercially available such devices are configured to form virtual images below the user's field of view. The field of view for the virtual image thus overlaps the field of view for the input means, materials or manuscripts. These display devices are significantly inappropriate as PC monitors. In addition, continuing such an operation often results in a fatigue of the user caused by a continuous strain on the muscle responsible for rotating the eyeballs. In addition, the commercially available display devices force the user to look with the dominant eye, and the applicant's experiment described below indicates that this is also one of the reasons for the fatigue. Furthermore, in these devises, a partially transparent shading plate (a visor) defines the field of view for the external sight and all the fields of view are obtained through this plate. Thus, if such a device is used as a PC monitor, for example, the transmittance of extraneous light through the partially transparent shading plate obtained when the input means is viewed is the same as the transmittance of extraneous light seen by the other eye (the eye that does not see the virtual image) when the virtual image is viewed; the applicant's experiment also indicates that this is also one of the reasons for the fatigue.
To partially solve the above problem, the latter head-mounted display device (Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 5-100192) was proposed. This device includes a partially transparent shading plate that enables the user to view information displayed on a data display, as a virtual image in front of the user and to see an input means such as a keyboard below the device. This display device, however, is of what is called a binocular type in which both eyes view respective images from two liquid crystal display elements, and thus brings about a large weight, large costs, and a complicated structure and fails to provide high portability. Accordingly, this device does not meet the basic requirements of PC monitors. In addition, since it requires a binocular fusion when the virtual image is viewed, repetitive and alternative viewing of the virtual image and the input means results in a fatigue. Furthermore
REFERENCES:
patent: 4805988 (1989-02-01), Dones
patent: 4997263 (1991-03-01), Cohen
patent: 5000544 (1991-03-01), Staveley
patent: 5003300 (1991-03-01), Wells
patent: 5034809 (1991-07-01), Katoh
patent: 5153569 (1992-10-01), Kawamura et al.
patent: 5162828 (1992-11-01), Furness et al.
patent: 5189512 (1993-02-01), Cameron et al.
patent: 5392158 (1995-02-01), Tosaki
patent: 5450596 (1995-09-01), Felsenstein
patent: 5469185 (1995-11-01), Lebby et al.
Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 17, No. 448 (P-1594) JP5-100192 23 Apr. 1993.
Nikki Electronics, 2 Jan. 1984 pp. 158-177.
Furihata Takeshi
Kamakura Hiroshi
Karasawa Joji
Sakaguchi Masafumi
Shindo Hiroyuki
Bayerl Raymond J.
Seiko Epson Corporation
Vail Seth D.
LandOfFree
Head-mounted virtual image display device having switching means does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Head-mounted virtual image display device having switching means, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Head-mounted virtual image display device having switching means will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-639664