IP Library Granted Patent US 11,215,833
Granted Patent B2
US 11,215,833 · App. 16/743,082 · Granted Jan 4, 2022

Virtual image display apparatus

Inventors: Masayuki Takagi (Azumino, JP); Toshiaki Miyao (Matsumoto, JP); Takashi Takeda (Suwa, JP); Tokito Yamaguchi (Azumino, JP)
Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
G02B27/0172H04N9/3152G02B2027/0178
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,215,833
App. No.
16/743,082
Granted
Jan 4, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided are an imaging element configured to display an image, a projection optical system configured to project an image from the imaging element, and a two-stage structural diaphragm including a first diaphragm forming a first aperture portion in the projection optical system, and a second diaphragm forming a second aperture portion in the projection optical system, in which inclinations of a principal ray, relative to an image plane of an imaging element, of imaging light emitted from a peripheral portion of the image plane differ between in a first direction and in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction among in-plane directions of the image plane, in which the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm in the two-stage structural diaphragm are provided at different positions corresponding to differences between the inclinations of the principal ray in the first direction and in the second direction.

Claims (59)

1. A virtual image display apparatus comprising:

an imaging element configured to display an image;

a projection optical system configured to project an image from the imaging element; and

a two-stage structural diaphragm including a first diaphragm forming a first aperture portion in the projection optical system, and a second diaphragm forming a second aperture portion in the projection optical system, wherein

the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm in the two-stage structural diaphragm are provided at different positions corresponding to inclinations of a principal ray of imaging light emitted from a peripheral portion of an image plane of the imaging element, and

the inclinations of the principal ray relative to the image plane differ between in a first direction and in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction among in-plane directions of the image plane.

2. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

a surface of an eyebox indicating a range in which a virtual image can be visually recognized by an observer is larger in a horizontal direction in which eyes are aligned during observation than in a vertical direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction, and

the first direction corresponds to the horizontal direction, and the second direction corresponds to the vertical direction.

3. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

regarding the inclinations of the principal ray at a peripheral portion of the imaging element,

an inclination in the second direction is greater than an inclination in the first direction, and

in the two-stage structural diaphragm, the second diaphragm is disposed, on an optical path, at a position closer to the imaging element than the first diaphragm is, wherein the first diaphragm is a diaphragm for the first direction, and the second diaphragm is a diaphragm for the second direction.

4. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

an aperture width of the second aperture portion in the second direction is smaller than an aperture width of the first aperture in the first direction.

5. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

regarding the inclinations of the principal ray at a peripheral portion of the imaging element, an inclination in the second direction is smaller than an inclination in the first direction, and

in the two-stage structural diaphragm, the second diaphragm is disposed, on an optical path, at a position closer to the imaging element than the first diaphragm is, wherein

the first diaphragm is a diaphragm for the first direction, and the second diaphragm is a diaphragm for the second direction.

6. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the projection optical system forms an intermediate image, and constitutes an asymmetric optical system.

7. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the projection optical system includes at least one lens disposed between a diaphragm position of the first diaphragm and a diaphragm position of the second diaphragm.

8. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

in the two-stage structural diaphragm,

one of the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm is integrally formed as a part of a lens barrel of the projection optical system, while

the other of the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm is a mounting member separate from the lens barrel.

9. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein

the mounting member is a black sheet member.

10. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising

a light-guiding member including a transmissive reflective surface covering, when the virtual image display apparatus is worn by an observer, the front of eyes of the observer.

11. A virtual image display apparatus comprising:

an imaging element configured to display an image;

a projection optical system configured to project an image from the imaging element; and

a two-stage structural diaphragm including a first diaphragm forming a first aperture portion in the projection optical system, and a second diaphragm forming a second aperture portion in the projection optical system, wherein

in the two-stage structural diaphragm, the second diaphragm is disposed, on an optical path, at a position closer to the imaging element than the first diaphragm is,

the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm are diaphragms for different directions and

in the two-stage structural diaphragm, one of the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm is integrally formed as a part of a lens barrel of the projection optical system, while the other of the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm is a mounting member separate from the lens barrel.

12. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein

the projection optical system includes at least one lens disposed between a diaphragm position of the first diaphragm and a diaphragm position of the second diaphragm.

13. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein

the mounting member is a black sheet member.

14. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein

the black sheet member is affixed to and extends around at least a part of a lens constituting the projection optical system.

15. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein

the mounting member includes a plurality of holes corresponding to a plurality of bosses for positioning provided in the projection optical system or at a lens barrel.

16. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein

bosses for positioning are symmetrically disposed in the projection optical system.

17. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein

the bosses for positioning abut against the projection optical system or the lens barrel for positioning in an optical axis direction.

18. The virtual image display apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein

the bosses for positioning and the plurality of holes corresponding to the bosses include bosses and holes having shapes different from the other bosses and holes.

19. A virtual image display apparatus comprising:

an imaging element configured to display an image;

a projection optical system configured to project an image from the imaging element; and

a two-stage structural diaphragm including a first diaphragm forming a first aperture portion in the projection optical system, and a second diaphragm forming a second aperture portion in the projection optical system, wherein

in the two-stage structural diaphragm, the second diaphragm is disposed, on an optical path, at a position closer to the imaging element than the first diaphragm is,

the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm are diaphragms for different directions, and

the projection optical system includes at least one lens disposed between a diaphragm position of the first diaphragm and a diaphragm position of the second diaphragm.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 15, 2020
From: TAKAGI, MASAYUKI; MIYAO, TOSHIAKI; TAKEDA, TAKASHI; YAMAGUCHI, TOKITO
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 051597/0264 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2019-004137 · Jan 15, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200225484A1 · Jul 16, 2020