IP Library Granted Patent US 8,908,280
Granted Patent B2
US 8,908,280 · App. 14/058,629 · Granted Dec 9, 2014

Optical device, image display apparatus, and method for manufacturing optical device

Inventor: Hidekazu Kobayashi (Hara-mura, JP)
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,908,280
App. No.
14/058,629
Granted
Dec 9, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A head-mounted display that guides image light displayed by an image formation unit and focuses the image light on a viewer's side includes a light guide member that angularly converts the image light incident from the image formation unit based on reflection at a plurality of transflective layers, and a light absorption layer is disposed on each of the transflective layers. The light guide member has a light incident surface through which the image light is introduced into the light guide member, a prism reflection surface that is disposed at an end of the light guide member, serves as one of the plurality of transflective layers, and reflects the image light introduced through the light incident surface, and the light absorption layers disposed between the light guide member and the prism reflection surface.

Claims (36)

1. An optical device comprising:

a light guide member that guides image light from a light incident portion on which the image light is incident to a light exiting portion from which the image light exits; and

a first optical layer disposed in the light guide member, tilted to a surface of the light exiting portion, and optically acting on the guided image light,

wherein the first optical layer is a layered film produced by layering

a first light absorption layer that absorbs part of the guided image light, and

a first transflective layer that reflects at least part of the image light unabsorbed by the first light absorption layer toward the light exiting portion and transmits at least another part of the unabsorbed image light.

2. An optical device comprising:

a light guide member that guides image light from a light incident portion on which the image light is incident to a light exiting portion from which the image light exits; and

a second light absorption layer provided on a surface of the light guide member,

wherein the light guide member has a reflection surface tilted to a surface of the light incident portion, and

the second light absorption layer is disposed on the reflection surface.

3. The optical device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first light absorption layer is located on the side of the first transflective layer that faces the light exiting portion.

4. The optical device according to claim 1 ,

further comprising a second optical layer that optically acts on the image light having passed through the first transflective layer,

wherein the second optical layer is a layered film produced by layering

a third light absorption layer that absorbs part of the image light having passed through the first transflective layer, and

a second transflective layer that reflects at least part of the image light having passed through the first transflective layer but having been unabsorbed by the third light absorption layer toward the light exiting portion and transmits at least another part of the unabsorbed image light.

5. The optical device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first optical layer and the second optical layer extend in a direction tilted to the surface of the light exiting portion by an angle ranging from 29° to 31°.

6. The optical device according to claim 1 ,

wherein each of the first transflective layer and the second transflective layer includes a dielectric multilayer film.

7. The optical device according to claim 2 ,

further comprising a reflection film on an outer surface of the second light absorption layer.

8. A method for manufacturing an optical device that guides image light from a light incident portion on which the image light is incident to a light exiting portion from which the image light exits, the method comprising:

forming a layered member between a first light transmissive base and a second light transmissive base, the layer member including

a first light absorption layer that absorbs part of light incident thereon, and

a first transflective layer that reflects at least part of the light reabsorbed by the first light absorption layer and transmits at least another part of the unabsorbed light; and

cutting the layered member in a direction tilted to the direction in which the first transflective layer and the first light absorption layer extend.

9. An image display apparatus comprising the optical device according to claim 1 .

10. An image display apparatus comprising the optical device according to claim 2 .

11. An image display apparatus comprising the optical device according to claim 3 .

12. An image display apparatus comprising the optical device according to claim 4 .

13. An image display apparatus comprising the optical device according to claim 5 .

14. An image display apparatus comprising the optical device according to claim 6 .

15. An image display apparatus comprising the optical device according to claim 7 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 21, 2013
From: KOBAYASHI, HIDEKAZU
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 031534/0536 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2012-232571 · Oct 22, 2012 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140111865A1 · Apr 24, 2014