US5499138A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image display apparatus
Assignee: NEW CENTURY CERAMICS
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Filing: 1993-05-26
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Granted: 1996-03-12
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Expires: 2013-05-26
Abstract
Abstract An image display apparatus, for example, a spectacle-type image display apparatus, which is capable of reproducing a high-definition image by projecting pixels at a proper pitch on the retina in the user's eye. The image display apparatus includes a microlens array (3) having microlenses provided to correspond respectively to the pixels to converge beams of light emerging from the pixels, and a condenser lens (4) for converting beams of light emerging from the microlens array (3) into parallel beams of light and for leading them to the user's eyeball (7). Thus, a beam of light emerging from each pixel enters the microlens array (3), and the beam of light emerging from the microlens array (3) enters the condenser lens (4) where it is converted into a parallel beam of light, which is then led to the eyeball (7). Since an array of pixels is reconstructed at a proper pitch on the retina (6) in the eyeball (7), the user can perceive an image. In addition, since each pixel and the retina in the eyeball are in conjugate relation to each other, the image of each pixel is clearly formed on the retina. Accordingly, an image that is composed of such pixel images is also clear. Thus, the user can perceive a high-definition image. A Fresnel zone plate array may be used in place of the microlens array (3).
Inventors
- 👤 Yoichi Iba
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 01:01
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/01; G02B27/017; G02B27/0172; G02B3/00; G02B3/0006; G02B3/0037; G02B3/0043; G02B3/0056; G02B5/00; G02B5/18; G02B5/1842; G02B5/1876; G02B5/188; G02B5/1885
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
277 words
An image display apparatus comprising: image display means having a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional array; optical means for converting beams of light emerging from said plurality of pixels into a plurality of approximately parallel beams of light, and for refracting said plurality of approximately parallel beams of light toward an observer's eye, said optical means including: first optical means for at least partially collimating said beams of light emerging from said plurality of pixels into a plurality of at least partially collimated diverging beams of light, and second optical means for converting said plurality of at least partially collimated diverging beams of light emerging from said first optical means into said plurality of approximately parallel beams of light and refracting said plurality of approximately parallel beams of light toward said observer's eye; and light-beam limiting means having apertures each having an optical axis which corresponds to a respective optical axis of one of said plurality of pixels, said light-beam limiting means being disposed in between said image display means and said first optical means; said first optical means being a diffraction optical element array having a plurality of diffraction optical elements each having an optical axis which corresponds to a respective optical axis of one of said plurality of pixels of said image display means, and each of said plurality of diffraction optical elements being disposed to overlap at least one of said plurality of diffraction optical elements adjacent thereto; and said image display means, said light-beam limiting means, and said diffraction optical element array being disposed so that zero-order light transmitted by said diffraction optical element array does not enter said observer's eye.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
277 words
An image display apparatus comprising: image display means having a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional array; optical means for converting beams of light emerging from said plurality of pixels into a plurality of approximately parallel beams of light, and for refracting said plurality of approximately parallel beams of light toward an observer's eye, said optical means including: first optical means for at least partially collimating said beams of light emerging from said plurality of pixels into a plurality of at least partially collimated diverging beams of light, and second optical means for converting said plurality of at least partially collimated diverging beams of light emerging from said first optical means into said plurality of approximately parallel beams of light and refracting said plurality of approximately parallel beams of light toward said observer's eye; and light-beam limiting means having apertures each having an optical axis which corresponds to a respective optical axis of one of said plurality of pixels, said light-beam limiting means being disposed in between said image display means and said first optical means; said first optical means being a diffraction optical element array having a plurality of diffraction optical elements each having an optical axis which corresponds to a respective optical axis of one of said plurality of pixels of said image display means, and each of said plurality of diffraction optical elements being disposed to overlap at least one of said plurality of diffraction optical elements adjacent thereto; and said image display means, said light-beam limiting means, and said diffraction optical element array being disposed so that zero-order light transmitted by said diffraction optical element array does not enter said observer's eye.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of diffraction optical elements is a Fresnel zone plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
98 words
An image display apparatus comprising: image display means having a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional array; and optical means for converting beams of light emerging from said plurality of pixels into a plurality of approximately parallel beams of light, and for refracting said plurality of approximately parallel beams of light directly toward a retina of an observer's eye, each of said plurality of pixels having a conjugate relationship with said retina of said observer's eye; said apparatus being a spectacle-type image display apparatus; and said apparatus projecting an image directly on both of said observer's eyes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
98 words
An image display apparatus comprising: image display means having a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional array; and optical means for converting beams of light emerging from said plurality of pixels into a plurality of approximately parallel beams of light, and for refracting said plurality of approximately parallel beams of light directly toward a retina of an observer's eye, each of said plurality of pixels having a conjugate relationship with said retina of said observer's eye; said apparatus being a spectacle-type image display apparatus; and said apparatus projecting an image directly on both of said observer's eyes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
95 words
An image display apparatus comprising: image display means having a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional array; optical means for converting beams of light emerging from said plurality of pixels into a plurality of approximately parallel beams of light, and for refracting said plurality of approximately parallel beams of light directly toward a pupil of an observer's eye; and stop means having a plurality of apertures respectively corresponding to said plurality of pixels, for limiting an angle of divergence of light emerging from each of said plurality of pixels of said image display means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
95 words
An image display apparatus comprising: image display means having a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional array; optical means for converting beams of light emerging from said plurality of pixels into a plurality of approximately parallel beams of light, and for refracting said plurality of approximately parallel beams of light directly toward a pupil of an observer's eye; and stop means having a plurality of apertures respectively corresponding to said plurality of pixels, for limiting an angle of divergence of light emerging from each of said plurality of pixels of said image display means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
87 words
An image display apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said optical means includes: first optical means for at least partially collimating said beams of light emerging from said plurality of pixels into a plurality of at least partially collimated diverging beams of light; and second optical means for converting said plurality of at least partially collimated diverging beams of light emerging from said first optical means into said plurality of approximately parallel beams of light and refracting said approximately parallel beams of light toward said observer's eye.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
An image display apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said first optical means is a diffraction optical element array having a plurality of diffraction optical elements each having an optical axis which corresponds to a respective optical axis of one of said plurality of pixels of said image display means, each of said plurality of diffraction optical elements being disposed to overlap at least one of said plurality of diffraction optical elements adjacent thereto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
An image display apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said optical means is a diffraction optical element array having a plurality of diffraction optical elements each having an optical axis which corresponds to a respective optical axis of one of said plurality of pixels of said image display means, each of said diffraction optical elements being disposed to overlap at least one of said plurality of diffraction optical elements adjacent thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
293 words
An image display apparatus comprising: image display means having a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional array, said image display means comprising: a transmissive flat display panel having said plurality of pixels, a first microlens array having a plurality of microlenses each having an optical axis which corresponds to a respective optical axis of one of said plurality of pixels, a condenser lens, and light source means having a minute light-emitting part, said light source means including a surface illuminant, and a pinhole stop for passing beams of light from said surface illuminant, wherein beams of light emitted from said light source means are converged on said plurality of pixels of said transmissive display panel by said condenser lens and said first microlens array; and optical means for converting beams of light emerging from said plurality of pixels into a plurality of approximately parallel beams of light, and for refracting said plurality of approximately parallel beams of light directly toward a pupil of an observer's eye, said optical means including: first optical means for at least partially collimating said beams of light emerging from said plurality of pixels into a plurality of at least partially collimated diverging beams of light, said first optical means being a second microlens array having a plurality of microlenses each having an optical axis which corresponds to a respective optical axis of one of said plurality of pixels of said image display means, and second optical means for converting said plurality of at least partially collimated diverging beams of light emerging from said first optical means into said plurality of approximately parallel beams of light and refracting said plurality of approximately parallel beams of light toward said observer's eye, said second optical means being a positive lens.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
293 words
An image display apparatus comprising: image display means having a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional array, said image display means comprising: a transmissive flat display panel having said plurality of pixels, a first microlens array having a plurality of microlenses each having an optical axis which corresponds to a respective optical axis of one of said plurality of pixels, a condenser lens, and light source means having a minute light-emitting part, said light source means including a surface illuminant, and a pinhole stop for passing beams of light from said surface illuminant, wherein beams of light emitted from said light source means are converged on said plurality of pixels of said transmissive display panel by said condenser lens and said first microlens array; and optical means for converting beams of light emerging from said plurality of pixels into a plurality of approximately parallel beams of light, and for refracting said plurality of approximately parallel beams of light directly toward a pupil of an observer's eye, said optical means including: first optical means for at least partially collimating said beams of light emerging from said plurality of pixels into a plurality of at least partially collimated diverging beams of light, said first optical means being a second microlens array having a plurality of microlenses each having an optical axis which corresponds to a respective optical axis of one of said plurality of pixels of said image display means, and second optical means for converting said plurality of at least partially collimated diverging beams of light emerging from said first optical means into said plurality of approximately parallel beams of light and refracting said plurality of approximately parallel beams of light toward said observer's eye, said second optical means being a positive lens.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
240 words
An image display apparatus comprising: image display means having a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional array, said image display means comprising: a transmissive flat display panel having said plurality of pixels, a first microlens array having a plurality of microlenses each having an optical axis which corresponds to a respective optical axis of one of said plurality of pixels, a condenser lens, and light source means having a minute light-emitting part, said light source means including a surface illuminant, and a pinhole stop for passing beams of light from said surface illuminant, wherein beams of light emitted from said light source means are converged on said plurality of pixels of said transmissive display panel by said condenser lens and said first microlens array; and optical means for converting beams of light emerging from said plurality of pixels into a plurality of approximately parallel beams of light, and for refracting said plurality of approximately parallel beams of light directly toward a pupil of an observer's eye, said optical means being a second microlens array having a plurality of microlenses each having an optical axis which corresponds to a respective optical axis of one of said plurality of pixels of said image display means, a plurality of optical axes of said plurality of microlenses being eccentric with respect to corresponding ones of said plurality of pixels of said image display means at a peripheral part of said image display means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
240 words
An image display apparatus comprising: image display means having a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional array, said image display means comprising: a transmissive flat display panel having said plurality of pixels, a first microlens array having a plurality of microlenses each having an optical axis which corresponds to a respective optical axis of one of said plurality of pixels, a condenser lens, and light source means having a minute light-emitting part, said light source means including a surface illuminant, and a pinhole stop for passing beams of light from said surface illuminant, wherein beams of light emitted from said light source means are converged on said plurality of pixels of said transmissive display panel by said condenser lens and said first microlens array; and optical means for converting beams of light emerging from said plurality of pixels into a plurality of approximately parallel beams of light, and for refracting said plurality of approximately parallel beams of light directly toward a pupil of an observer's eye, said optical means being a second microlens array having a plurality of microlenses each having an optical axis which corresponds to a respective optical axis of one of said plurality of pixels of said image display means, a plurality of optical axes of said plurality of microlenses being eccentric with respect to corresponding ones of said plurality of pixels of said image display means at a peripheral part of said image display means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
312 words
An image display apparatus comprising: image display means having a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional array, said image display means comprising: a transmissive flat display panel having said plurality of pixels, a first microlens array having a plurality of microlenses each having an optical axis which corresponds to a respective optical axis of one of said plurality of pixels, a condenser lens, and light source means having a minute light-emitting part, said light source means including a surface illuminant, and a pinhole stop for passing beams of light from said surface illuminant, wherein beams of light emitted from said light source means are converged on said plurality of pixels of said transmissive display panel by said condenser lens and said first microlens array; and optical means for converting beams of light emerging from said plurality of pixels into a plurality of approximately parallel beams of light, and for refracting said plurality of approximately parallel beams of light directly toward a pupil of an observer's eye, said optical means including: first optical means for at least partially collimating said beams of light emerging from said plurality of pixels into a plurality of at least partially collimated diverging beams of light, said first optical means being a diffraction optical element array having a plurality of diffraction optical elements each having an optical axis which corresponds to a respective optical axis of one of said plurality of pixels of said image display means, each of said plurality of diffraction optical elements being disposed to overlap at least one of said plurality of diffraction optical elements adjacent thereto, and second optical means for converting said plurality of at least partially collimated diverging beams of light emerging from said first optical means into said plurality of approximately parallel beams of light and refracting said plurality of approximately parallel beams of light toward said observer's eye.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
312 words
An image display apparatus comprising: image display means having a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional array, said image display means comprising: a transmissive flat display panel having said plurality of pixels, a first microlens array having a plurality of microlenses each having an optical axis which corresponds to a respective optical axis of one of said plurality of pixels, a condenser lens, and light source means having a minute light-emitting part, said light source means including a surface illuminant, and a pinhole stop for passing beams of light from said surface illuminant, wherein beams of light emitted from said light source means are converged on said plurality of pixels of said transmissive display panel by said condenser lens and said first microlens array; and optical means for converting beams of light emerging from said plurality of pixels into a plurality of approximately parallel beams of light, and for refracting said plurality of approximately parallel beams of light directly toward a pupil of an observer's eye, said optical means including: first optical means for at least partially collimating said beams of light emerging from said plurality of pixels into a plurality of at least partially collimated diverging beams of light, said first optical means being a diffraction optical element array having a plurality of diffraction optical elements each having an optical axis which corresponds to a respective optical axis of one of said plurality of pixels of said image display means, each of said plurality of diffraction optical elements being disposed to overlap at least one of said plurality of diffraction optical elements adjacent thereto, and second optical means for converting said plurality of at least partially collimated diverging beams of light emerging from said first optical means into said plurality of approximately parallel beams of light and refracting said plurality of approximately parallel beams of light toward said observer's eye.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
229 words
An image display apparatus comprising: image display means having a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional array, said image display means comprising: a transmissive flat display panel having said plurality of pixels, a first microlens array having a plurality of microlenses each having an optical axis which corresponds to a respective optical axis of one of said plurality of pixels, a condenser lens, and light source means having a minute light-emitting part, said light source means including a surface illuminant, and a pinhole stop for passing beams of light from said surface illuminant, wherein beams of light emitted from said light source means are converged on said plurality of pixels of said transmissive display panel by said condenser lens and said first microlens array; and optical means for converting beams of light emerging from said plurality of pixels into a plurality of approximately parallel beams of light, and for refracting said plurality of approximately parallel beams of light directly toward a pupil of an observer's eye, said optical means being a diffraction optical element array having a plurality of diffraction optical elements each having an optical axis which corresponds to a respective optical axis of one of said plurality of pixels of said image display means, each of said diffraction optical elements being disposed to overlap at least one of said plurality of diffraction optical elements adjacent thereto.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
229 words
An image display apparatus comprising: image display means having a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional array, said image display means comprising: a transmissive flat display panel having said plurality of pixels, a first microlens array having a plurality of microlenses each having an optical axis which corresponds to a respective optical axis of one of said plurality of pixels, a condenser lens, and light source means having a minute light-emitting part, said light source means including a surface illuminant, and a pinhole stop for passing beams of light from said surface illuminant, wherein beams of light emitted from said light source means are converged on said plurality of pixels of said transmissive display panel by said condenser lens and said first microlens array; and optical means for converting beams of light emerging from said plurality of pixels into a plurality of approximately parallel beams of light, and for refracting said plurality of approximately parallel beams of light directly toward a pupil of an observer's eye, said optical means being a diffraction optical element array having a plurality of diffraction optical elements each having an optical axis which corresponds to a respective optical axis of one of said plurality of pixels of said image display means, each of said diffraction optical elements being disposed to overlap at least one of said plurality of diffraction optical elements adjacent thereto.
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