Patent Application
20200064636
An aspect of the present invention relates to an eyeglass-type image display device.
Conventionality, eyeglass-type image display devices configured to display an image, such as a video, on a lens surface of eyeglasses arc known (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). In the eyeglass-type image display device disclosed in Patent Literature 1, an image is projected in a direction perpendicular to a lens surface of the eyeglasses.
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-131270
Here, to a lens surface of eyeglasses, for example, it is conceivable to obliquely project an image from a side of a temple of the eyeglasses. However, when an image is obliquely projected to a lens surface of the eyeglasses, a side close to the temple of the eyeglasses (an outer side) and a side close to the bridge of the eyeglasses (an inner side) have different optical path length, which causes distortion (trapezoidal distortion) to the image projected to the lens surface of the eyeglasses. In short, in a configuration where an image is obliquely projected to the lens surface of eyeglasses, displaying an image properly is difficult.
An aspect of the present invention has been made in view of the foregoing situation and it is an object of the present invention to display an image properly in a configuration where an image is obliquely projected to a lens surface of eyeglasses.
An eyeglass-type image display device according to an aspect of the present invention is an eyeglass-type image display device configured to display an image on a lens surface of eyeglasses and includes an image light output unit configured to output image light including image information, a first optical member configured to receive the image light output from the image light output unit and emit the image light, and a second optical member configured to receive the image light emitted from the first optical member and project the image light in a direction oblique to the lens surface, wherein the incident plane of the first optical member is arranged to be inclined to the lens surface so as to suppress distortion of the image on the lens surface caused by the image light projected in a direction oblique to the lens surface from the second optical member.
In the eyeglass-type image display device according to an aspect of the present invention, image light is projected in a direction oblique to the lens surface of the eyeglasses from the second optical member. When an image is obliquely projected to the lens surface of the eyeglasses, a problem arises in that distortion (trapezoidal distortion) is caused to the image projected to the lens surface. In this respect, in the eyeglass-type image display device according to an aspect of the present invention, the first optical member is provided configured to emit image light output from the image light output unit toward the second optical member, and the first optical member is arranged to be inclined to the lens surface in a direction for suppressing the aforementioned trapezoidal distortion. In short, the first optical member is arranged to be inclined such that the image is fowled into, for example, an inverted trapezoid (a trapezoid in which the long side of the trapezoidal distortion is inversed to the short side), to suppress trapezoidal distortion. As such, before the second optical member receives image light, the first optical member forms an image to suppress trapezoidal distortion, and thus the distortion of the image on a lens surface is suppressed and the image can be displayed properly on the lens surface.
According to an aspect of the present invention, in a configuration where an image is obliquely projected to a lens surface of eyeglasses, the image can be properly displayed.
The following describes, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the first embodiment of the present invention in detail. In the description of drawings, the same or equivalent components are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant explanations are omitted.
The eyeglass-type video display device 1A has a basic configuration of eyeglasses and, as illustrated in
The eyeglass-type video display device 1A includes video display units 10. The video display unit 10 includes a content storage unit 11, a video output unit 12 (an image light output unit), a first optical member 13, a second optical member 14, and a controller 15. Of the components of the video display unit 10, at least the video output unit 12, the first optical member 13, and the second optical member 14 are arranged in line on the temple 52. In short, the video output unit 12, the first optical member 13, and the second optical member 14 are arranged in this order from the side away from the lens 50 on the temple 52. Note that although the eyeglass-type video display device 1A has the aforementioned components of the video display units 10 for both eyes, the following describes only the components corresponding to the right eye because the components for both eyes have the same function.
The content storage unit 11 is configured to store contents visually recognized by the user. The content visually recognized by the user is, in the present embodiment, a video projected on the lens 50. The video is an image produced by refraction or reflection of light to be visually recognized by the user. Specifically, the contents visually recognized by the user are, for example, recorded TV programs or films, or the videos recorded by the user. The content storage unit 11, in the eyeglass-type video display device 1A, may be arranged on the temple 52 as with other components of the video display unit 10 or may be disposed away from the temple 52.
The video output unit 12 is configured to output video light (image light). The video light is a light including video information (image information). The video output unit 12 is configured to be able to obtain videos from the content storage unit 11 through a wired or wireless connection, and emits video light related to the video obtained from the content storage unit 11. As illustrated in
The light source 12a outputs video light. The light source 12a is, for example, a laser light source such as a laser diode (LD), a light emitting diode (LED), or a lamp light source. The light source 12a may be a light source for outputting CW light or pulsed light as video light.
The splitter 12b is, for example, a polarization beam splitter (PBS) configured to transmit the light polarized to a particular direction and reflect the light polarized to the particular direction. The splitter 12b reflects, for example, the video light emitted from the light source 12a and transmitted through polarizers (not illustrated), toward the display 12c. In addition, the splitter 12b transmits the video light input after being reflected by the display 12c, toward the first optical member 13.
The display 12c receives radiation of the video light from the light source 12a via the splitter 12b and reflects (emits) the video light toward the first optical member 13. As a display, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or a liquid crystal on silicon display can be employed. Note that when an organic EL display and a transmissive liquid crystal display (with the use of backlights) are used, the aforementioned splitter 12b (a polarized beam splitter) may be omitted. Note that when a polarized beam splitter is omitted, the eyebox (the range within which the user can visually recognize the video even when moving his/her eyes (eyeballs)) depends on the diffusion angle of the light from backlights and the diffusion angle of the light of organic EL light emitting devices.
Turning back to
The first optical member 13 is arranged such that the incident plane thereof is inclined to the incident plane of the lens 50 so as to suppress the distortion of the video on the lens 50 caused by the video light projected in a direction oblique to the lens 50 from the second optical member 14. Specifically, the first optical member 13 is arranged such that the incident plane thereof is inclined to the incident plane of the lens 50, so that the video light having a longer distance from the second optical member 14 to the incident plane of the lens 50 has a shorter distance from the video output unit 12 to the incident plane of the first optical member 13. In short, as illustrated in
As described above, in the present embodiment, the first optical member 13 includes a transmission diffusion screen for transmitting and diffusing video light output from the video output unit 12. The following describes effects achieved when a transmission diffusion screen is used.
As described above, the video light visually recognized by the user is the light emitted from the display 12c after being output from the light source 12a and reflected by the splitter 12b in the video output unit 12 (see
In this respect, in the present embodiment, the video light emitted from the display 12c in the video output unit 12 is received by the transmission diffusion screen of the first optical member 13. As illustrated in
Turning back to
The controller 15 is a circuit configured to perform various controls. The hardware configuration of the controller 15 is described later. The controller 15, for example, outputs a predetermined control signal to the video output unit 12 so that the video output unit 12 obtains a video from the content storage unit 11 and emits video light.
Next, functional effects of the eyeglass-type video display device 1A according to the first embodiment are described.
As with the eyeglass-type video display device 100 according to a comparative example illustrated in
As an aspect for suppressing the trapezoidal distortion, for example, a configuration of an adjustment by the second optical member 14 is conceivable. However, in order to suppress the trapezoidal distortion with only an adjustment by the second optical member 14 configured to project the video light in a direction oblique to the incident plane of the lens 50, the second optical member 14 needs to be enlarged. This is unreal for the configuration of the eyeglass-type video display device to be compact. Moreover, a configuration is conceivable in which a video (a content) output from the video output unit 12 is pre-corrected to an inverted trapezoid using software, so that the distortion of the image projected to the incident plane of the lens 50 is suppressed in the end. However, the need for such software correction increases CPU usage, thereby increasing electricity consumption. In addition, separate image correction is required for each of the right and left eyes. Thus, a separate video processing system is required for each of the right and left, or, as illustrated in
In this respect, the eyeglass-type video display device 1A according to the present embodiment, as illustrated in
In the eyeglass-type video display device 1A according to the present embodiment, video light is obliquely projected from the second optical member 14 to the incident plane of the lens 50 of the eyeglasses. As described above, when images are obliquely projected to the incident plane of the lens 50 of the eyeglasses, distortion (trapezoidal distortion) is caused in the image projected on the incident plane of the lens 50. In this respect, the eyeglass-type video display device 1A according to the present embodiment is provided with the first optical member 13 configured to emit video light output from the video output unit 12 toward the second optical member 14, and the first optical member 13 is arranged oblique to the direction for suppressing the aforementioned trapezoidal distortion with respect to the incident plane of the lens 50. In short, the first optical member 13 is arranged to be inclined such that the video is formed in, for example, an inverted trapezoid (a trapezoid in which the long side of the trapezoidal distortion is inversed to the short side), to suppress the trapezoidal distortion. As such, before the second optical member 14 receives the video light, the first optical member 13 forms a video to suppress the trapezoidal distortion. Thus, the distortion of the video on the incident plane of the lens 50 is suppressed and the video can be displayed properly on the incident plane of the lens 50. Furthermore, because the configuration where the video output from the video output unit 12 is pre-formed in an inverted trapezoid is achieved by arranging the first optical member 13, instead of using software, the issue does not arise that software pre-correction increases power consumption and a simple configuration can achieve suppression of trapezoidal distortion.
Specifically, the first optical member 13 is arranged such that the incident plane thereof is inclined to the incident plane of the lens 50, so that the video light having a longer distance from the second optical member 14 to the incident plane of the lens 50 has a shorter distance from the video output unit 12 to the incident plane of the first optical member 13 (see the video light L1 and L2 in
In addition, the first optical member 13 includes a transmission diffusion screen for transmitting and diffusing video light output from the video output unit 12. As described above, if a virtual image, which the user visually recognizes through the incident plane of the lens 50 of the eyeglasses, has a narrow angle spreading from its single pixel (see
Next, with reference to
As illustrated in
In the eyeglass-type video display device 1B, for example, the first optical member 13x and the video output unit 12 are arranged in line along the extending direction of the temple 52 and the second optical member 14 is arranged on the outer side of the first optical member 13x. In addition, in the extending direction of the temple 52, the video output unit 12, the second optical member 14, and the first optical member 13 are arranged in this order from the side close to the lens 50.
In such an eyeglass-type video display device 1B, a reflective screen of the first optical member 13x reflects video light output from the video output unit 12. The second optical member 14, such as a mirror, then reflects the image projected to the reflective screen of the first optical member 13x toward the lens 50 to project the video light on the incident plane of the lens 50. As in the first embodiment, the first optical member 13x is arranged such that the incident plane thereof is inclined to the incident plane of the lens 50, so that the video light having a longer distance from the second optical member 14 to the incident plane of the lens 50 has a shorter distance from the video output unit 12 to the incident plane of the first optical member 13x. In short, as illustrated in
In the eyeglass-type video display device 1A in the first embodiment, the first optical member 13 having a transmissive screen is used and respective components are arranged in line on the temple 52 (see
Next, with reference to
As illustrated in
In the eyeglass-type video display device 1C, for example, the mirror 14b is arranged under the temple 52. In addition, under the mirror 14b, the first optical member 13x, the splitter 14a, and the video output unit 12 are arranged in this order from the side close to the lens 50 in the extending direction of the temple 52.
In such an eyeglass-type video display device 1C, video light output from the video output unit 12 transmits through the splitter 14a toward the first optical member 13x and is reflected by the reflective screen of the first optical member 13x toward the splitter 14a. The splitter 14a then reflects the video light toward the mirror 14b (i.e., upward) and the mirror 14b projects the video light to the incident plane of the lens 50. As in the first and second embodiments, the first optical member 13x is arranged such that the incident plane thereof is inclined to the incident plane of the lens 50, so that the video light having a longer distance from the mirror 14b, making up the second optical member, to the incident plane of the lens 50 has a shorter distance from the video output unit 12 to the incident plane of the first optical member 13x.
In the eyeglass-type video display device 1C in the present embodiment, the mirror 14b is disposed at a different level from other components. This configuration enables the components to be compactly arranged in the extending direction of the temple 52, compared with the eyeglass-type video display devices 1A and 1B in the first and second embodiments.
Note that means for implementing the controller 15 in the description of the foregoing first to third embodiments is not particularly limited. That is, the controller 15 may be implemented by a single device physically and/or logically combined, or may be implemented by two or more devices that are physically and/or logically separated and are connected directly and/or indirectly (for example, in a wired and/or wireless manner).
When predetermined software (program) is loaded on hardware such as the processor 1001 and the memory 1002, the processor 1001 performs calculation and controls communication by the communication device 1004 and controls reading from and/or writing to the memory 1002 and the storage 1003. In this manner, each function in the controller 15 is implemented.
The processor 1001, for example, operates an operating system to control the entire computer. The processor 1001 may be include a central processing unit (CPU) including an interface with a peripheral device, a control device, an arithmetic unit, registers, and the like.
In addition, the processor 1001 executes various processes according to a program (program code), a software module, and data that have been loaded from the storage 1003 and/or the communication device 1004 to the memory 1002 by the processor 1001. As the program, programs for causing the computer to execute at least part of the operations described in the aforementioned embodiments are used. For example, the functions of the controller 15 may be implemented by a control program that is stored in the memory 1002 and configured to be operated on the processor 1001. Other functional blocks may be implemented in the same manner. An example in which the aforementioned various processes are executed by the single processor 1001 has been described, but the processes may be executed simultaneously or sequentially by two or more processors 1001. The processor 1001 may be implemented by at least one chip. Note that the program may be transmitted from the network through an electric communication line.
The memory 1002 is a computer-readable storage medium and, for example, may consist of at least one of a read only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), a random access memory (RAM), and the like. The memory 1002 may be referred to as a register, a cache, a main memory (main storage device) or the like. The memory 1002 can store a program (program code), a software module, and the like that are executable to execute the aforementioned embodiments.
The storage 1003 is a computer-readable storage medium and may consist of, for example, at least one of an optical disc, such as a compact disc ROM (CD-ROM), a hard disk drive, a flexible disk, a magnetic optical disc (for example, a compact disc, a digital versatile disc, and a Blu-ray (registered trademark) disc), a smart card, a flash memory (for example, a card, a stick, and a key drive), a floppy (registered trademark) disk, or a magnetic strip. The storage 1003 may be referred to as an auxiliary storage device. The aforementioned storage medium may be, for example, a database or a server including the memory 1002 and/or the storage 1003 or any other appropriate medium.
The communication device 1004 is hardware (a transceiver device) for communication over computers through a wired and/or a wireless network and is, for example, also referred to as a network device, a network controller, a network card, or a communication module.
The input device 1005 is an input device for receiving external inputs (for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a switch, a button, or a sensor). The output device 1006 is an output device for providing external outputs (for example, a display, a speaker, or an LED lamp). Note that the input device 1005 and the output device 1006 may have a unitary structure (for example, a touch panel).
Each of the devices such as the processor 1001 and the memory 1002 is connected to other devices through the bus 1007 for communicating information. The bus 1007 may consist of a single bus or different buses among the devices.
In addition, the controller 15 may include hardware, such as a macro processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA). Part or all of the functional blocks may be implemented by the hardware. For example, the processor 1001 may be implemented by at least one of the pieces of hardware.
An aspect of the invention has been described above in detail. However, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in the description. The invention can be implemented as a corrected and modified mode without departing from the gist and scope of the present invention defined by the appended claims. Accordingly, the statement in the present description is made for describing examples and does not have any restrictive meaning to the present invention.
For example, as an example of an eyeglass-type image device, the eyeglass-type video display devices 1A to 1C have been described, and it has been described that the eyeglass-type video display devices 1A to 1C are configured to display a video on the lens surface of the eyeglasses, but the eyeglass-type image device according to an aspect of the present invention may display an image (for example, a static image) other than a video on the lens surface.
The processing procedures or the like in the aspects/embodiments described in the present description may change the order of steps, as long as there is no inconsistency. For example, for the methods described in the present description, various elements of the steps are presented in an exemplary order, and the methods disclosed herein are not limited to the presented specific order.
Information or the like that has been input thereto or output therefrom may be stored in a certain location (for example, a memory) and/or managed in a management table. Information or the like that has been input thereto or output therefrom may be overwritten and updated, or additional items may be added thereto. Information or the like that has been output therefrom may be deleted. Information or the like that has been input thereto may be transmitted to the other devices.
Determination may be made with a one-bit value (0 or 1), a Boolean value (true or false) or numerical comparison (for example, comparison with a predetermined value).
The aspects/embodiments described in the present description may be used singularly or in combinations. The aspects/embodiments may be switched in connection with the execution thereof in use. Notification of predetermined information (for example, notification of “being X”) is not limited to being performed explicitly. The notification of predetermined information may be performed implicitly (for example, not notifying the predetermined information).
Software should be broadly interpreted to mean an instruction, an instruction set, a code, a code segment, a program code, a program, a subprogram, a software module, an application, a software application, a software package, a routine, a subroutine, an object, an executable file, an execution thread, a procedure, a function, or other terms, regardless of whether the software is referred to as software, firmware, middleware, a microcode, a hardware descriptive language, or other names.
The software, the instructions, and the like may be transmitted and received through a transmission medium. For example, when the software is transmitted from a website, a server, or other remote sources using wired techniques such as a coaxial cable, an optical fiber cable, a twisted-pair cable, or a digital subscriber line (DSL), and/or wireless techniques such as infrared, radio waves, or microwaves, these wired techniques and/or the wireless techniques are included in the definition of the transmission medium.
The information, the signals, and other items described in the present description may be represented with any various different techniques. For example, data, an instruction, a command, information, a signal, a bit, a symbol, and a chip which can be mentioned throughout the aforementioned description may be represented with a voltage, a current, an electromagnetic wave, a magnetic field or magnetic particles, an optical field or photons, or any combination thereof.
Note that the terms described in the present description and/or the terms required for understanding the present description may be substituted with terms having the same or similar meanings.
The terms “system” and “network” used in the present description are compatibly used.
In addition, information, parameters, and the other items described in the present description may be represented with absolute values, relative values to a predetermined value, or other corresponding information.
The names used for the aforementioned parameters are not restrictive in any viewpoint. Furthermore, the formulae and the like using the parameters may differ from those explicitly disclosed in the present description.
The terms “connected” and “coupled”, or all modifications thereof refer to all direct or indirect connections or coupling between two or more elements and can include a case in which one or more intermediate elements are present between two elements “connected” to each other or “coupled” each other. The coupling and connecting of elements may be physical or may be logical, or may be a combination thereof. In the present description, two elements can be considered to be “connected” to each other or “coupling” each other by using one or more electric wires, cables, and/or printed electric connections as well as by using electromagnetic energy, such as electromagnetic energy having wavelengths in a radio frequency area, a microwave area, and a light (both visible light and invisible light) area as some non-restrictive and non-comprehensive examples.
The expression “based on” used in the present description does not mean “only based on”, unless specifically stated otherwise. In other words, the expression “based on” means both “only based on” and “at least based on”.
Any reference to elements having names such as “first” and “second” used in the present description does not generally limit amounts or an order of the elements. The names can be conveniently used to distinguish two or more elements in the present description. Accordingly, reference to first and second elements does not mean that only two elements are employed or that the first element has to be prior to the second element in any form.
As long as the terms “including” and “comprising”, and modifications thereof are used in the present description or the appended claims, the terms are intended to have a comprehensive meaning similar to the term “comprise”. Furthermore, the term “or” used in the present description or the appended claims is intended not to be exclusive OR.
In the present description, unless it is indicated that there is only one device contextually or technically obviously, it is intended to include a plurality of devices.
1A, 1B, 1C . . . eyeglass-type video display device (eyeglass-type image display device), 12 . . . video output unit (image light output unit), 13, 13x . . . first optical member, 14 . . . second optical member, 50 . . . lens
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-113526 | Jun 2017 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2018/016462 | 4/23/2018 | WO | 00 |
