Optical device, and virtual image display

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016170215-A1
Application number	US-201615052394-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 24, 2016
Priority date	Mar 29, 2004
Publication date	Jun 16, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An image display device with an image display element; an optical system; an optical waveguide having a light incident port at a first portion of the optical waveguide and a light outgoing port at a second portion of the optical waveguide, the optical waveguide configured to (a) receive light from the image display element via the optical system and (b) output the light via the light outgoing port; a light shielding element; a first element that deflects light received through the first portion of the optical waveguide; and a second element that deflects light conveyed in the optical waveguide to output the light through the second portion of the optical waveguide, wherein, the first portion and the second portion are at different positions along the optical waveguide, and the first element is between the light incident port of the optical waveguide and the light shielding element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An image display device comprising:
an image display element; an optical system; an optical waveguide having a light incident port at a first portion of the optical waveguide and a light outgoing port at a second portion of the optical waveguide, the optical waveguide configured to (a) receive light from the image display element via the optical system and (b) output the light via the light outgoing port; a light shielding element; a first element that deflects light received through the first portion of the optical waveguide; and a second element that deflects light conveyed in the optical waveguide to output the light through the second portion of the optical waveguide, wherein,
the first portion and the second portion are at different positions along the optical waveguide, and
the first element is between the light incident port of the optical waveguide and the light shielding element.

2 . The image display device of claim 1 , wherein the image display device is a head mounted display.

3 . The image display device of claim 1 , wherein the display element is a reflection-type spatial optical modulator.

4 . The image display device of claim 1 , wherein the display element is a transmission-type spatial optical modulator.

5 . The image display device of claim 4 , wherein the transmission type spatial optical modulator is a liquid crystal display.

6 . The image display device of claim 1 , wherein the display element is located on an optical path between a light source and the optical element.

7 . The image display device of claim 6 , wherein the light source includes a laser.

8 . The image display device of claim 6 , wherein the light is conducted via an optical fiber from the light source to the display element.

9 . The image display device of claim 1 , wherein the display element is a self-luminescent display panel.

10 . The image display device of claim 9 , wherein the display element is an organic electroluminescent display.

11 . The image display device of claim 9 , wherein the display element is an inorganic electroluminescent display.

12 . The image display device of claim 1 , wherein the optical system includes an aspheric optical lens.

13 . The image display device of claim 1 , wherein the optical system is configured to collimate a light from the display element.

14 . The image display device of claim 1 , wherein the optical waveguide has oppositely facing and parallel first and second surfaces.

15 . The image display device of claim 1 , wherein a part of the optical waveguide has a curved surface.

16 . The image display device according to claim 1 , wherein the first element is a holographic optical element.

17 . The image display device of claim 16 , wherein the first element is a reflection volume hologram

18 . The image display device of claim 1 , wherein the first element is a reflecting mirror.

19 . The image display device of claim 1 , wherein the second element is a holographic optical element.

20 . The image display device of claim 19 , wherein the first element is a reflection volume hologram.

21 . The image display device of claim 1 , wherein the second element has at least one translucent mirror.

22 . The image display device of claim 1 , wherein the second element has a group of translucent mirrors.

23 . The image display device of claim 1 , wherein the display element generates pencil light groups and the optical system renders the pencil light group parallel.

24 . The image display device of claim 1 , wherein no image of the image display element is intermediate-formed inside the optical waveguide.

25 . The image display device of claim 1 , wherein the light shield is configured to prevent leakage of the light from the first element.

26 . The image display device of claim 1 , wherein an area of the second element is larger than an area of the first element.

27 . The image display device of claim 1 , wherein:
the image display device is a head mounted display; the display element is a liquid crystal display; the first element is a reflecting mirror; and the second element has at least one translucent mirror.

Assignees

• Sony Corp

Inventors

• Mukawa Hiroshi
• Akutsu Katsuyuki

Classifications

• G02B27/144

  using partially transparent surfaces without spectral selectivity (G02B27/147 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B5/18

  Diffraction gratings {(holographic optical elements G02B5/32, G03H; integrally combined with optical fibres G02B6/02057; for coupling light guides G02B6/34; integrally combined with optical integrated light guides G02B6/12; grating systems G02B27/44)} · CPC title

• G02B27/0081

  with means for altering, e.g. enlarging, the entrance or exit pupil · CPC title

• G02B6/005

  provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed on the light output side of the light guide · CPC title

• G02B13/18

  with lenses having one or more non-spherical faces, e.g. for reducing geometrical aberration {(G02B13/002 takes precedence)} · CPC title