Virtual image display device and image element unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11137606-B2
Application number	US-202016828419-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 24, 2020
Priority date	Mar 25, 2019
Publication date	Oct 5, 2021
Grant date	Oct 5, 2021

Abstract

There are provided an image element configured to emit imaging light, a case member configured to house the image element, and a light shielding plate that is attached to a positioning portion provided on the case member and that defines an emission region for imaging light from the image element, thereby attaching the light shielding plate to the case member with high accuracy.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A virtual image display apparatus comprising:
an image element configured to emit imaging light;
a case member configured to house the image element; and
a light shielding plate that is attached to an alignment portion provided at the case member and that defines an emission region for the imaging light from the image element,
wherein
the light shielding plate includes a planar portion at a place where a flat surface of the case member and a light emission surface of the image element are aligned flush with each other,
the light shielding plate is a sheet metal,
baking finish or black plating is applied to the sheet metal, and
the sheet metal has a spring structure formed by being bent multiple times.

2. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the planar portion has a frame shape provided, in a central portion thereof, with an opening that defines a passage range of effective light of a component emitted from the image element, and
the light shielding plate has a bent portion that is inclined or stepped at an outer edge of the planar portion.

3. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the alignment portion corresponds to the planar portion.

4. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
one of the case member and the light shielding plate is provided with a protrusion,
the other of the case member and the light shielding plate is provided with a hole corresponding to the protrusion, and
a hook structure including the protrusion and the hole fixes the light shielding plate to the case member.

5. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the image element includes a light emitting part configured to emit the imaging light.

6. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein
the image element includes a silicon substrate at which an organic EL element constituting the light emitting part is formed, and an end surface other than a back surface of the silicon substrate is in contact with the case member.

7. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the case member is open on a side for dissipating heat, the side being opposite from a side on which the image element emits imaging light.

8. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the case member is provided, at a plurality of places spaced apart along an extension direction of a flexible printed circuit of the image element, with adhesive coating portions.

9. An image element unit comprising:
an image element configured to emit imaging light;
a case member configured to house the image element; and
a light shielding plate that is attached to the case member and that defines an emission region for imaging light from the image element,
wherein
the light shielding plate includes a planar portion at a place where a flat surface of the case member and a light emission surface of the image element are aligned flush with each other,
the light shielding plate is a sheet metal,
baking finish or black plating is applied to the sheet metal, and
the sheet metal has a spring structure formed by being bent multiple times.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Takagi Masayuki
• Hama Yoshitaka
• Ikeda Takuya

Classifications

• H10F39/8057

  Optical shielding · CPC title

• G02B27/0172 Primary

  characterised by optical features · CPC title

• G02B27/0176

  characterised by mechanical features · CPC title

• G02B2027/0178

  Eyeglass type (eyeglass details G02C) · CPC title

• G02B2027/0138

  comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera · CPC title