Single-panel head-mounted display
Disclosed herein are head-mounted displays comprising a display screen and an optics block. The optics block is configured to present, at a time instant, to a left eye of a user of the head-mounted display apparatus, a first shifted version all of an image generated by the display screen. The first shifted version of the image has a first perceived center location that differs from the center of the display screen. The optics block is also configured to present, at the time instant, to a right eye of the user of the head-mounted display apparatus, a second shifted version of the image generated by the display screen, the second shifted version of the image having a second perceived center location that differs from the center of the display screen and that differs from the first perceived center location.
1. A head-mounted display apparatus, comprising:
a display screen; and
an optics block comprising:
a first wedge-shaped optical component having a first curved surface and a first flat surface opposite the first curved surface, wherein the first wedge-shaped optical component is situated in the head-mounted display apparatus such that it is asymmetrical about a first axis extending through a center of the first wedge-shaped optical component, the first axis being perpendicular to the display screen and parallel to a center line of the head-mounted display apparatus, wherein the first wedge-shaped optical component is disposed in the head-mounted display apparatus to be situated between the display screen and a left eye of a user of the head-mounted display apparatus, and wherein the first wedge-shaped optical component is configured to present, at a time instant, to the left eye but not a right eye of the user, a first shifted version of an entirety of an image generated by the display screen, the image generated by the display screen being the only image generated by the display screen at the time instant, the first shifted version of the entirety of the image having a first perceived center location that differs from a center of the display screen, and
a second wedge-shaped optical component having a second curved surface and a second flat surface opposite the second curved surface, wherein the second wedge-shaped optical component is situated in the head-mounted display apparatus such that it is asymmetrical about a second axis extending through a center of the second wedge-shaped optical component, the second axis being perpendicular to the display screen and parallel to the center line of the head-mounted display apparatus, wherein the second wedge-shaped optical component is disposed in the head-mounted display apparatus to be situated between the display screen and the right eye of the user, and wherein the second wedge-shaped optical component is configured to present, at the time instant, to the right eye but not the left eye of the user, a second shifted version of the entirety of the image generated by the display screen, the second shifted version of the entirety of the image having a second perceived center location that differs from the center of the display screen and that differs from the first perceived center location.
2. The head-mounted display apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein a distance between the display screen and the optics block is less than approximately 25 cm.
3. The head-mounted display apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second curved surfaces are positioned to face the user.
4. The head-mounted display apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first or second wedge-shaped optical component comprises:
a lens having at least one surface with optical power; and
a wedge.
5. The head-mounted display apparatus recited in claim 4 , wherein the wedge and the lens are included in a monolithic unit.
6. The head-mounted display apparatus recited in claim 4 , wherein the wedge and lens are separate components.
7. The head-mounted display apparatus recited in claim 1 , further comprising an actuator configured to enable the user to move at least a portion of the optics block.
8. The head-mounted display apparatus recited in claim 7 , wherein the actuator is configured to enable the user to move the at least a portion of the optics block in at least a direction parallel to or perpendicular to the center line.
9. The head-mounted display apparatus recited in claim 7 , wherein the actuator is configured to enable the user to move a first portion of the optics block relative to a second portion of the optics block.
10. The head-mounted display apparatus recited in claim 7 , wherein the actuator is configured to enable the user to rotate the at least a portion of the optics block.
11. The head-mounted display apparatus recited in claim 7 , wherein the actuator comprises a mechanical component configured to enable the user to adjust a distance between at least a portion of the optics block and the display screen.
12. The head-mounted display apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first or second wedge-shaped optical components comprises a prism, a diffractive surface, a corrective lens, or a mirror.
13. The head-mounted display apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein the first perceived center location corresponds to a first vergence angle and the second perceived center location corresponds to a second vergence angle, each of the first and second vergence angles being less than a focal angle corresponding to the center of the display screen.
14. The head-mounted display apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein a distance between the optics block and the display screen is between approximately 50 mm and approximately 250 mm.
15. The head-mounted display apparatus recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a parallax barrier disposed between the display screen and the optics block, wherein the parallax barrier comprises a slit, a liquid crystal display, or a lenticular display.
16. The head-mounted display apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the first flat surface is positioned to face the left eye of the user, and the second flat surface is positioned to face the right eye of the user, and
a distance between the first and second wedge-shaped optical components is user-adjustable.
17. The head-mounted display apparatus recited in claim 16 , further comprising:
a parallax barrier disposed between the display screen and the optics block, wherein the parallax barrier comprises a slit, a liquid crystal display, or a lenticular display.
18. The head-mounted display apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the first curved surface is positioned to face the left eye of the user, and the second curved surface is positioned to face the right eye of the user, and
a distance between the first and second wedge-shaped optical components is user-adjustable.
19. The head-mounted display apparatus recited in claim 18 , further comprising:
a parallax barrier disposed between the display screen and the optics block, wherein the parallax barrier comprises a slit, a liquid crystal display, or a lenticular display.
20. The head-mounted display apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second flat surfaces are positioned to face, respectively, the left and right eyes of the user.