IP Library Granted Patent US 9,341,851
Granted Patent B2
US 9,341,851 · App. 14/260,542 · Granted May 17, 2016

Virtual image display apparatus

Inventor: Noriaki Hiraide (Azumino, JP)
Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
G02B27/0172G02B27/0179G02B2027/0154G02B2027/0158G02B2027/0178
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,341,851
App. No.
14/260,542
Granted
May 17, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

An observer can observe a video in a state in which the visual line of the observer is caused to overlook the downward side. In particular, in a virtual image display apparatus, even when the positions of the eyes, the nose, and the ears of the observer deviate from standard positions and the observer cannot observe a video in a targeted overlooking direction in a worn state in standard setting, it is possible to change an angle in an overlooking direction with respect to a front direction and cause the observer to perform observation in a suitable visual line by changing, with a nose receiving section functioning as an adjusting section, the posture of the virtual image display apparatus and adjusting an emission state of video light from a light guide member according to individual differences of the observer.

Claims (20)

1. A virtual image display apparatus comprising:

a video device;

a light guide member arranged in front of an eye of an observer and configured to direct light emitted from the video device to the eye of the observer and cause the observer to visually recognize an image;

a frame configured to arrange the light guide member in a predetermined position in front of the eye and support the light guide member on the basis of a support position reference plane decided assuming at least a standard position of the eye; and

an adjusting section configured to adjust an emission state of the light from the light guide member with respect to the eye of the observer, the adjusting section including a nose receiving section configured to come into contact with a nose of the observer and to support the virtual image display apparatus during wearing, the adjusting section changing a posture of the nose receiving section,

wherein the adjusting section further includes a plurality of pad sections that are brought into contact with the nose, the pad sections being attached to a part of the nose receiving section,

wherein the adjusting section further includes a plurality of convex sections disposed in a row on an apparatus main body section of the adjusting section,

wherein the plurality of pad sections include a pair of separate left and right pad sections each comprising a plurality of concave sections spaced side by side in a row so as to correspond to and be interactable with the plurality of convex sections on the apparatus main body section of the adjusting section,

wherein the nose receiving section is positioned and fixed by fitting the concave sections of the pad sections with the convex sections on the apparatus main body, and a height of the nose receiving section is adjusted by changing positions in which the concave sections of the left and right pad sections are combined with the convex sections,

wherein the light guide member emits light, which the light guide member should cause the observer to visually recognize, from a direction angled with respect to the support position reference plane and causes the observer to visually recognize the image from an overlooking direction for causing the eye of the observer to overlook a downward side, and

wherein the adjusting section changes an angle in the overlooking direction with respect to the position of the eye of the observer by adjusting an emission state of the light from the light guide member.

2. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the support position reference plane is a plane including a center position of an eyeball assumed as a standard position and an upper end position of a root of an ear assumed as a standard position.

3. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the adjusting section includes a temple section configured to come into contact with an ear of the observer during wearing and changes a posture of the temple section.

4. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the adjusting section further includes a ratchet mechanism configured to change the temple section to extend in a direction angled with respect to the support position reference plane.

5. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the adjusting section includes a deformable cored bar section built in a part of a supporting section that supports the apparatus.

6. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the adjusting section includes an image correcting section configured to adjust a range of image formation by the video device.

7. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the adjusting section adjusts an angle in the overlooking direction with respect to a front direction of the eye of the observer to be within a range of an angle larger than 0° and equal to or smaller than 15°.

8. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light guide member further includes a light transmitting member configured to guide the light emitted from the video device and enable see-through of external light and coupled to the light guide ember to supplement a see-through function for the external light.

9. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the adjusting section adjusts an angle in the overlooking direction with respect to a front direction of the eye of the observer in observation of the external light.

10. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pad section is detachably attached to the apparatus main body section.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2014
From: HIRAIDE, NORIAKI
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 032746/0969 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2013-102800 · May 15, 2013 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140340285A1 · Nov 20, 2014