This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No. 201320630596.4 filed in P.R. China on Oct. 13, 2013, Patent Application No. 201310646979.5 filed in P.R. China on Dec. 4, 2013, Patent Application No. 201420172689.1 filed in P.R. China on Apr. 10, 2014, Patent Application No. 201420273628.4 filed in P.R. China on May 27, 2014, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates to a head-mounted stereoscopic display for immersion visual experience in the field of virtual reality.
Nowadays, electronics games become more and more popular with the development of electronics technology. However, common computer displays and television displays cannot meet the needs of the video game players. Thus a new type of a head-mounted near-eye display appears in the market, so the user can see the screen through a special optical magnifier by the near-eye display mounted on the head and has an immersed sense, and thus the visual experience of the game is greatly improved.
Currently, two separate display units are normally used to show left and right eye images respectively. Such products are expensive while the resolution is low, which limits the commercialization of the products. Some other products use a single display unit which is divided into two parts respectively for the left and the right eye images. But the distance from the displays to the lens is less than 50 mm, and the focal length of the lens is very short, so the images must be firstly deformed into spherical images to be showed so as to correct the spherical aberration effect caused by the lens, which makes the common video images is not suitable to be displayed by this kind of products.
Moreover, generally the near-eye displays are completely closed to block out the visible light from outside, so as to make to users see the display screen clearly. However in this case, when the player play games, if he need to find something outside, such as the mouse, the keyboard, obstacles, etc., he has to remove the head-mounted display and then to put it on again when needed, which is very inconvenient for the user to play the game.
Therefore, a new kind of head-mounted device for game player which is inexpensive and portable is needed to solve the above problems effectively.
The present invention provides a head-mounted stereoscopic display, comprising a head-mounted base unit; a single display unit arranged on the side facing away from human face inside the head-mounted base unit for presenting images to human eyes; an optical magnifying lens arranged on the side near human face inside the head-mounted base unit; and an annular headband connected with the head-mounted base unit and extending around user's head for fixing the head-mounted base unit; wherein the head-mounted base unit comprises a face-mask unit and an optical base unit, the face-mask unit fits with the human face tightly, and the optical base unit fixes the display unit and the optical magnifying lens, and wherein the single display unit displays two different images for human's left and right eyes respectively side by side simultaneously.
Preferably, an image height-compressing lens is further arranged on the side near the display unit inside the head-mounted base unit for compressing the height of the images as displayed, so that the images observed by eyes have a normal aspect ratio.
Preferably, the image height-compressing lens is a plane-concave cylindrical lens or double-concave cylindrical lens.
Preferably, the concave surface is arc-shape whose curvature radius is ⅓˜⅕ or ⅔˜⅓ of the height of the display unit.
Preferably, the concave surface is a parabolic surface whose curvature radius on the top in cross section is ⅓˜⅕ or ⅔˜⅓ of the height of the display unit.
Preferably, the distance between the image height-compressing lens and the display unit is ⅓˜⅕ of the height of the display unit.
Preferably, the distance between the optical magnifying lens and the display unit is above 40 mm, and the focal length of the optical magnifying lens is less than 70 mm.
Preferably, the diameter of the optical magnifying lens is more than 40 mm, and the gap between the human eyes and the optical magnifying lens is more than 20 mm to accommodate eyeglasses.
Preferably, the optical magnifying lens comprises two optical magnifying lenses which are capable of rotating a certain angle from the vertical state, so that the center distance between the two optical magnifying lens will vary within a range of 60 to 70 mm.
Preferably, the face-mask unit and the optical base unit are detachable by any of a structure of rotating snap-fit engagement, rotating magnetic engagement and top sliding-slot engagement.
Preferably, the annular headband of the head-mounted base unit goes around above ears of the user, and a bone conduction sound module is provided on the annular headband to receive audio signal from outside and vibrate to spread the audio signal.
Preferably, the face-mask unit of the head-mounted base unit concaves a predetermined depth facing away from the human face side, the concave part is surrounded by a forehead-supporting part supporting on the top of the head, a cheek-supporting part supporting on the lower of the head, a nose-supporting part supporting in the middle of the face, and the annular headband supporting the left and right side of the head, so that the head-mounted base unit is held tightly with the human face. A pair of observation windows is provided in the cheek-supporting part of the head-mounted base unit in the lower part of the head, corresponding to the positions through which the user looks downwards with his left and the right eyes, and the observation windows are covered with a slideable light-blocking cover for the user to block the light as needed.
Preferably, the concave part near the observation window further concaves from the vertical direction toward the inside of the head-mounted base unit and forms a wedge triangle “∠” shape together with the cheek-supporting part, in order to provide more observation space below for human eyes to observe through the observation window.
Preferably, a sliding slot is provided in the cheek-supporting part, when the light-blocking cover is pushed forward along the sliding slot away from the human face to the end of the slot, the light-blocking cover is opened to reveal the window, and when the light-blocking cover is pushed forward along the sliding slot towards the human face, the light-blocking cover is closed to block the window.
Preferably, one end of the light-blocking cover far away from the user is provided with a rotation shaft, while the other end is in a free state, when the free end of the light-blocking cover is pushed downwards, the light-blocking cover is rotated downwards about 180 degrees and then attached with the cheek-supporting part again, the light-blocking covers is open, and when the free end of the light-blocking cover is rotated in an opposite direction, the light-blocking covers is closed.
Preferably, the light-blocking cover is in a louver type.
Preferably, the light-blocking cover is provided with a metal or magnetic component which can be engaged with a corresponding metal or magnetic component at the bottom of the head-mounted base unit, so as to be detachable from the head-mounted base unit.
Preferably, further comprising clamping components for clamping the display unit in front of the optical magnifying lens away from the human eyes, wherein the clamping components comprise a first clamping component and a second clamping component arranged in opposite sides to fix an detachable external display unit in place of the display unit in front of the user in position where the user can see the images provided by the external display unit when wearing the head-mounted stereoscopic display.
Preferably, the clamping components are rotatable oppositely or reversely within a certain range of angles by spring hinges so as to cover and fold in the front of the optical magnifying lens of the head-mounted base unit in the initial position and to clamp resiliently and fix the external display unit in the operation position.
Preferably, the clamping components are provided with one or more slots arranged respectively on the sides facing each other to adjust the distance between the display screen and the human eyes.
Further objects, functions, and advantages of the present invention will be explained in details by embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
a is a schematic figure which illustrates the structure of the lenses for compressing the height of images.
b is a principle diagram of compressing the height of the images.
a is a schematic figure showing the two states of the rotating snap-fit engagement of a face-mask unit and an optical base unit.
b is a schematic figure showing the two states of the rotating magnetic engagement of a face-mask unit and an optical base unit.
c is a schematic figure showing the engagement of a face-mask unit and an optical base unit by inserted from the top.
a is a schematic figure showing a sliding light-blocking cover.
b is a schematic figure showing a rotating light-blocking cover.
a and
a and
a and
With reference to the exemplary embodiments, the purpose and function of the present invention and method to achieve these purpose and function will be explained. However, the present invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, and can be implemented with different forms. The description in nature is merely to help those skilled in the art to comprehensively understand the specific details of the invention.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be explained in details with reference to drawings. In the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals designate the same or similar parts, or the same or similar procedures.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The display unit 107 in the present invention is a single display unit which displays two different images respectively side by side for the left and right eye of the human simultaneously.
The optical magnifying lens 102 comprises a convex lens, a spherical lens or an aspherical lens. The left and the right-eye images on the display unit 107 are refracted by optical magnifying lens 102, thus forming a magnified virtual image.
Specifically, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the distance between the optical magnifying lens 102 and the display unit 107 is over 40 mm. The focal length of the optical magnifying lens 102 is less than 70 mm. The diameter of the optical magnifying lens 102 is 40 mm. The distance from the optical magnifying lens 102 to the user's eye 201 is of 25 mm, while the eye glasses 401 has a distance of 20 mm away from the user's eye 201, so there is enough space for the user's glasses as shown in
In addition, the annular headband of the head-mounted base unit goes around above ears of the user. Preferably, two bone conduction sound modules 108 are provided on the annular headband 103 and contact with the skin at the position behind the left and the right ear around the user's ears, to generate the sound for the left and right channels respectively so as to form a stereo effect.
As shown in
b illustrates the principle of compressing the height of the images according to the embodiment of the present invention. In one example, the height D of the unit 107 is 80 mm. The image height-compressing lens 301 is a plane-concave cylindrical lens with a concave surface having an arc-shape surface on one side and a plane surface on the other side. The arc-shape surface has a curvature radius r of 25 mm. The distance x between the image height-compressing lens 301 and the display unit 107 is x=20 mm. By the refraction of the image height-compressing lens 301, the image height shown on the display unit 107 is compressed to d, so the deformation of the original images is corrected in this way.
Preferably, the image height-compressing lens 301 is a plane-concave cylindrical lens with an arc-shape concave surface on one side whose curvature radius in cross section is ⅓˜⅕ of the height of the display unit 107.
Preferably, the image height-compressing lens 301 is a double-concave cylindrical lens with two arc-shape concave surfaces whose curvature radius in cross section is ⅔˜⅓ of the height of the display unit 107.
Preferably, the image height-compressing lens 301 is a plane-concave lens with a parabolic concave surface on one side whose curvature radius on the top in cross section is the ⅓˜⅕ of the height of the display unit 107.
Preferably, the image height-compressing lens 301 is double-concave cylindrical lens with two parabolic concave surfaces on two sides whose curvature radius on the top in cross section is ⅔˜⅓ of the height of the display unit 107.
Preferably, the distance between the image height-compressing lens 301 and the display unit 107 is ⅓˜⅕ of the height of the display unit 107.
a-7c illustrates three embodiments showing the detachable structure of the face-mask unit 601 and the optical base unit 602.
a. In the first embodiment as shown in
b. In the second embodiment as shown in
c. In the third embodiment as shown in
The following
a schematically illustrates a pair of light-blocking covers 801 which is slideable. When users play game, the sliding light-blocking covers 801 completely cover the pair of the observation windows 110 in a close state. When the user need to see the mouse or keyboard or obstacles if any, he just needs to push the light-blocking covers 801 forward so as to move the covers 801 outward (away from the user) along the sliding slot 901 to the end of the sliding slots 901 to stop in a open state. The sliding slot 901 is arranged on the cheek-supporting part 105 at the bottom of the head-mounted base unit 101. In this way the observation windows 110 are exposed to allow the user see the area below and in front of the eyes through the observation windows 110.
b is schematically illustrates a pair of light-blocking cover 801′ which is rotatable. One end of the light-blocking cover 801′ in the front of the observation windows 110 is provided with a rotation shaft 901′, while the other end is in a free state. The rotation shaft 901′ is provided on the front end of the light-blocking cover 801′.
When users play game, the light-blocking covers 801′ completely cover the pair of observation windows 110 in a close state. When the user need to see the mouse or keyboard or obstacles if any, the user only needs to rotate the free end (near the user) of the light-blocking cover 801′ downwards by hand, so that the light-blocking cover 801′ rotates outward and downward around the rotation shaft 901′ away from the user about 180 degrees and attaches to the cheek-supporting part 105 again in an open state, so the observation windows 110 are exposed below to allow the user see the area below and in front of the eyes through the observation windows 110.
The material of the light-blocking cover 801 may be selected from any of the hard plastic, metal, rubber, soft plastic or the textile fiber product.
It can be understood by those skilled in the art that the way for opening and closing the light-blocking cover 801 above is not restrictive and can be modified according to the specific application. For example, the light-blocking cover 801 may be provided with a louver structure so that the observation windows 110 can be open or closed by finger. Alternatively, the light-blocking covers 801 may be incorporated with a pair of metal or magnetic components which are engaged with the metal or magnetic components at the bottom of the head-mounted base unit 101 so that the light-blocking covers 801 are detachably connected with the bottom of the head-mounted base unit 101.
In addition, the pair of the light-blocking covers can be integrated in one body so that they are open or closed at the same time, or they are separated so that they are opened or closed independently. The light-blocking covers may be even removed from the head-mounted stereoscopic display according to the present invention.
The head-mounted stereoscopic display 100 according to the present invention comprises a display fixing unit 109, which can be integrated with the head-mounted base unit 101 as a whole as shown in
The clamping component 1001 may be an upper and lower clamping type, or a left and right clamping type, which are described in details below with reference to
a and
As shown in
A fixing slot 1104 is provided on the sides of the first clamping component 1101 and the second clamping component 1102 facing each other and is parallel with the optical magnifying lens 102 in use, so that the position of display unit 107 can be adjusted and fixed.
In an unused state, the first clamping component 1101 and the second clamping component 1102 are in a close state, as shown in
Preferably, one and more slots 1104 are provided on the sides of the first clamping component 1101 and the second clamping component 1102 facing each other to clamp the display unit 107 at different positions and thus to adjust the distance between the display screen and the human eyes according to the needs of different game players.
Preferably, within the scope of the resilient pressure of the spring hinge, the first clamping component 1101 and the second clamping component 1102 can rotate over 90 degrees for the display units with a bigger size.
The spring hinges in the present invention may adopt the spring hinges used for common glasses.
a and
The basic structure of the left and right clamping type clamping components is similar as the upper and lower clamping type clamping components 1001, except that the first clamping component 1201 and the second clamping component 1202 are provided on the left and right sides of the head-mounted base unit 101 respectively as shown in
As shown in
When in use, as shown in
Preferably, one and more slots 1204 can be arranged on the side of the first clamping component 1201 and the second clamping component 1202 facing each other to hold the display unit 107 at different positions and thus to adjust the distance between the display screen and the human eyes according to the needs of different game players.
Preferably, within the scope of the resilient pressure of the spring hinge, the first clamping component 1201 and the second clamping component 1202 can rotate over 90 degrees for the display units with a bigger size.
Preferably, the clamping components can be folded through the following several ways as illustrated in
a illustrates a hinged folding structure of the clamping component with a hinged structure at the midpoint of each clamping component which can be folded to form a smaller volume by folding at the middle articulated position inward.
b illustrates a surround folding structure of the clamping components, in which the rotating arms 1301 and 1302 are connected with the head-mounted base unit 101 by the spring hinges so that on one hand they can hold the display unit 107 of different sizes tightly, and on the other hand they can be rotated to cover the head-mounted base unit 101 after the display unit 107 is removed so that the clamping components can be folded into a smaller volume.
Usually, the display unit is rectangle. The long side is defined as the longitudinal direction, and the short side is defined as the transverse direction. In use, generally the long side is arranged horizontally, and the short side is arranged vertically, so as to adapt the width of the left and the right eye of the user. If it is situation that the position of the game images is not in the middle of the vertical position of the display unit, for example, the screen is on one side along the vertical direction, the upper and lower clamping type clamping components in the first embodiment is more suitable for adjusting the position of the displayed images by moving the display unit to the left or right along the slot. As for the situation that the position of the game images as showed is exactly in the middle of the vertical position of the display unit, either the upper and lower clamping type clamping components or the left and right clamping type clamping components can be used.
The spring hinges may adopt the spring hinge as those used in common glasses.
The beneficial effects of the head-mounted stereoscopic display according to the present invention are listed as below.
1. Stereoscopic images of left and right half width (i.e., half side by side, HSBS in short) can be displayed by a single display unit, so the cost is reduced and the structure is simple for promoting in the market. The stereoscopic images of HSBS which is common in the market can be compressed close to normal proportion to be observed by human eyes, thus it has the advantages of good compatibility. By adjusting the distance between the image height-compressing lens and the display unit, the compression ratio of the picture can be adjusted to match the proportion of different images better.
2. Additional observation windows are provided for the user to look downwards from the inside of the head-mounted base unit, so that it is convenient that the users can use the mouse or keyboard, or observe the obstacles from the opened observation windows without taking off the head-mounted stereoscopic display. Moreover, it is simple to open and close the observation window by a light-blocking cover, which has a simple structure and easy to be fabricated with any one of rotating snap-fit engagement, rotating magnetic engagement and sliding-slot engagement.
3. The product cost can be reduced by using an external display unit in place of a specific display unit integrated with the head-mounted stereoscopic display. Moreover, the first clamping component and the second clamping component can be folded by the spring hinges so that it is easy for storage when the device is not in use and for the user to carry on. The display unit can be suitable with different sizes mobile phones which can be clamped tightly by variable resilient pressure, as needed by the game players. One and more slot are arranged on the side facing each other of the first clamping component and the second clamping component, so as to adjust the distance between eyes and the display unit. There are two different kinds of structures of the clamping components: upper and lower clamping type clamping components and the left and right clamping type clamping components, which is suitable for different applications.
4. The face-mask unit and the optical base unit of the head-mounted base unit 101 can be detached or attached in a variety of way, so the user when wearing the head-mounted base unit 101 can see the outside world clearly after the optical base unit is detached.
5. The head-mounted base unit 101 has enough internal space, which can accommodate user's glasses without taking off their glasses.
6. The bone conduction sound system is adopted, which ensures the user to hear the sound outside while using this product.
7. The structure for adjusting the pupillary distance (PD) is also provided, which can be applied to different pupillary distance.
The selection schemes of the implemental embodiments of the invention are described above, however, and it still can make other variants or modification on the basis of not breaking from design thoughts and ideas of the present invention for those skilled in the art, ought to say, these variants or modification belong to the scope of the protection of the present invention.
Combined with the disclosed description and practice of the present invention, it is easy for those skilled in the art to contemplate and understand other embodiments of the invention. The description and embodiments are merely exemplary, and the scope and spirit of the invention will be limited by the claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
201320630596.4 | Oct 2013 | CN | national |
201310646979.5 | Dec 2013 | CN | national |
201420172689.1 | Apr 2014 | CN | national |
201420273628.4 | May 2014 | CN | national |