Image projection device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018164595-A1
Application number	US-201615579750-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 26, 2016
Priority date	Jun 25, 2015
Publication date	Jun 14, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

An image projection device includes: one light source unit emitting an image light beam, which forms an image, of visible light and a checking light beam of visible light; an optical system projecting the image light beam emitted from the one light source unit onto a first surface region of an eye of a user to project the image light beam onto a retina of the user, and projecting the checking light beam emitted from the one light source unit onto a second surface region, which is distant from the first surface region, of the eye of the user; a light detector detecting a reflected light that is the checking light beam reflected by the eye of the user; and a controller controlling at least one of the one light source unit and the optical system based on a detection result of the reflected light by the light detector.

First claim

1 . An image projection device comprising:
one light source unit that emits an image light beam of visible light and a checking light beam of visible light, the image light beam forming an image; an optical system that projects the image light beam emitted from the one light source unit onto a first surface region of an eye of a user to project the image light beam onto a retina of the user, and projects the checking light beam emitted from the one light source unit onto a second surface region of the eye of the user, the second surface region being distant from the first surface region; a light detector that detects a reflected light that is the checking light beam reflected by the eye of the user; and a controller that controls at least one of the one light source unit and the optical system based on a detection result of the reflected light by the light detector.

2 . The image projection device according to claim 1 , wherein the one light source unit includes a light source emitting red visible light, a light source emitting green visible light, and a light source emitting blue visible light.

3 . An image projection device comprising:
a light source that emits an image light beam and a checking light beam, the image light beam forming an image; an optical system that projects the image light beam emitted from the light source onto a first surface region of an eye of a user to project the image light beam onto a retina of the user, and projects the checking light beam emitted from the light source onto a second surface region of the eye of the user, the second surface region being distant from the first surface region; a light detector that detects a reflected light that is the checking light beam reflected by the eye of the user; and a controller that moves, when the light detector does not detect the reflected light, projection positions of the image light beam and the checking light beam onto the eye of the user in conjunction with each other by controlling the optical system so that the light detector detects the reflected light.

4 . The image projection device according to claim 3 , wherein
the optical system includes:
a mirror that scans the image light beam emitted from the light source and reflects the checking light beam emitted from the light source; and
a projection unit that projects the image light beam and the checking light beam onto the eye of the user in a positional relation in which the checking light beam reflected by the mirror is projected onto the iris of the user when the image light beam scanned by the mirror passes through the pupil of the user and is projected onto the retina of the user, and
the controller moves the projection positions of the image light beam and the checking light beam in conjunction with each other by moving a position of the mirror to move an origin of the scan.

5 . The image projection device according to claim 3 , wherein
the optical system includes:
a mirror that scans the image light beam emitted from the light source and reflects the checking light beam emitted from the light source; and
a projection unit that projects the image light beam and the checking light beam onto the eye of the user in a positional relation in which the checking light beam reflected by the mirror is projected onto the iris of the user when the image light beam scanned by the mirror passes through the pupil of the user and is projected onto the retina of the user, and
the controller moves the projection positions of the image light beam and the checking light beam in conjunction with each other by moving the light source, the mirror, and the projection unit together.

6 . The image projection device according to claim 3 , wherein
the optical system projects a plurality of the checking light beams onto different positions of the eye of the user at different times, and the controller moves the projection positions of the image light beam and the checking light beam in conjunction with each other based on whether the light detector detects the reflected lights of the plurality of the checking light beams at the different times.

7 . The image projection device according to claim 3 , wherein
the optical system projects a plurality of the checking light beams onto different positions of the eye of the user, and when the light detector does not detect at least one reflected light of the reflected lights of the plurality of the checking light beams, the controller moves the projection positions of the image light beam and the checking light beam in conjunction with each other so that a projection position of the image light beam moves toward a projection position of the checking light beam corresponding to the reflected light not detected.

8 . The image projection device according to claim 3 , wherein the controller controls the light source to make the image formed by the image light beam after the projection positions of the image light beam and the checking light beam are moved in conjunction with each other different from an image formed by the image light beam before the projection positions of the image light beam and the checking light beam are moved in conjunction with each other.

9 . An image projection device comprising:
a light source that emits an image light beam and a plurality of checking light beam, the image light beam forming an image; an optical system that projects the image light beam emitted from the light source onto a first surface region of an eye of a user to project the image light beam onto a retina of the user, and projects the plurality of the checking light beams emitted from the light source onto different positions of a second surface region of the eye of the user, the second surface region being distant from the first surface region; a light detector that detects reflected lights that are the plurality of the checking light beam reflected by the eye of the user; and a controller that conducts a first control on the image formed by the image light beam by controlling the light source when the light detector does not detect the reflected light of a first checking light beam, which is projected onto a first position of the eye of the user, of the plurality of the checking light beams and conducts a second control on the image formed by the image light beam by controlling the light source when the light detector does not detect the reflected light of a second checking light beam, which is projected onto a second position of the eye of the user, of the plurality of the checking light beams, the second control differing from the first control, the second position differing from the first position; or conducts a third control on the image formed by the image light beam by controlling the light source when the light detector does not detect the reflected lights of one or some checking light beams of the plurality of the checking light beams and conducts a fourth control on the image formed by the image light beam by controlling the light source when the light detector detects none of the reflected lights of the plurality of the checking light beams, the fourth control differing from the third control.

10 . (canceled)

11 . The image projection device according to claim 1 , wherein the optical system projects the image light beam and the checking light beam onto the eye of the user in a positional relation in which the checking light beam is projected onto an iris of the user when the image light beam passes through a pupil of the user and is projected onto the retina of the user.

12 . The image projection device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller issues a warning to the user by controlling t

Assignees

• Qd Laser Inc
• Univ Tokyo

Inventors

• Arakawa Yasuhiko
• Sugawara Mitsuru
• Suzuki Makoto
• Arai Michio

Classifications

• G09G3/346

  based on modulation of the reflection angle, e.g. micromirrors (micromirrors devices per se G02B26/0833) · CPC title

• G02B26/105

  with one or more pivoting mirrors or galvano-mirrors (G02B26/101 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G09G5/00

  Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators (image data processing or generation, in general G06T) · CPC title

• G09G3/002 Primary

  to project the image of a two-dimensional display, such as an array of light emitting or modulating elements or a CRT · CPC title

• G02B27/017

  Head mounted · CPC title