Patent US5777794A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5777794A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image display apparatus
Assignee: Olympus Corp
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Filing: 1996-09-25
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Granted: 1998-07-07
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Expires: 2016-09-25
Abstract
Abstract A compact and lightweight head- or face-mounted image display apparatus in which curvature of field is reduced to improve visibility without using a relay optical system or a prism. The image display apparatus has an image display device (1) and an optical system for leading an image displayed by the image display device (1) to an observer's eyeball (5) without effecting image formation on the way to the observer's eyeball (5). The image display device (1) and the optical system are retained on an observer's head or face by a retaining device. Light rays from the image display device (1) are reflected by a semitransparent surface (2) and then reflected by a reflecting surface (4) of a back-coated mirror (3). Thereafter, the light rays pass through the semitransparent surface (2) to enter the observer's pupil (5).
Inventors
- 👤 Masaya Nakaoka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:43
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/01; G02B27/017; G02B27/0172; G02B27/0101; G02B2027/011; G02B2027/0132
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A head- or face-mounted image display apparatus, comprising: an image display device; an optical system for leading an image displayed by said image display device to an observer's eyeball without effecting image formation on the way to said observer's eyeball; and means for retaining said image display device and said optical system on an observer's head or face, said optical system comprising a back-coated mirror and a plane-parallel plate having a semitransparent surface, wherein said back-coated mirror satisfies the following condition: 0<R/r<0.5 (4) where R is a radius of curvature of a reflecting surface of said back-coated mirror, and r is a radius of curvature of a transmitting surface of said back-coated mirror at an obverse side thereof, and where curvature in a direction away from said observer's eyeball is defined as being positive.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A head- or face-mounted image display apparatus, comprising: an image display device; an optical system for leading an image displayed by said image display device to an observer's eyeball without effecting image formation on the way to said observer's eyeball; and means for retaining said image display device and said optical system on an observer's head or face, said optical system comprising a back-coated mirror and a plane-parallel plate having a semitransparent surface, wherein said back-coated mirror satisfies the following condition: 0<R/r<0.5 (4) where R is a radius of curvature of a reflecting surface of said back-coated mirror, and r is a radius of curvature of a transmitting surface of said back-coated mirror at an obverse side thereof, and where curvature in a direction away from said observer's eyeball is defined as being positive.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
117 words
A head- or face-mounted image display apparatus, comprising: an image display device; an optical system for leading an image displayed by said image display device to an observer's eyeball without effecting image formation on the way to said observer's eyeball, and means for retaining said image display device and said optical system on an observer's head or face, said optical system comprising a back-coated mirror and a plane-parallel plate having a semitransparent surface, wherein said optical system includes an optical element having a positive refracting power between said plane-parallel plate and said observer's eyeball, and said optical element, which has a positive refracting power, is a plano-convex lens having a plane surface directed toward said observer's eyeball.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
117 words
A head- or face-mounted image display apparatus, comprising: an image display device; an optical system for leading an image displayed by said image display device to an observer's eyeball without effecting image formation on the way to said observer's eyeball, and means for retaining said image display device and said optical system on an observer's head or face, said optical system comprising a back-coated mirror and a plane-parallel plate having a semitransparent surface, wherein said optical system includes an optical element having a positive refracting power between said plane-parallel plate and said observer's eyeball, and said optical element, which has a positive refracting power, is a plano-convex lens having a plane surface directed toward said observer's eyeball.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
101 words
A head- or face-mounted image display apparatus, comprising: an image display device; an optical system for leading an image displayed by said image display device to an observer's eyeball without effecting image formation on the way to said observer's eyeball; and means for retaining said image display device and said optical system on an observer's head or face, said optical system comprising a back-coated mirror and a plane-parallel plate having a semitransparent surface, wherein said optical system has a cover glass between said plane-parallel plate and said observer's eyeball, and said cover glass is tilted with respect to an optical axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
101 words
A head- or face-mounted image display apparatus, comprising: an image display device; an optical system for leading an image displayed by said image display device to an observer's eyeball without effecting image formation on the way to said observer's eyeball; and means for retaining said image display device and said optical system on an observer's head or face, said optical system comprising a back-coated mirror and a plane-parallel plate having a semitransparent surface, wherein said optical system has a cover glass between said plane-parallel plate and said observer's eyeball, and said cover glass is tilted with respect to an optical axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
99 words
A head- or face-mounted image display apparatus, comprising an image display device; two, left and right, optical systems for leading an image displayed by said image display device to an observer's left and right eyes, respectively; means for retaining said image display device and said two optical systems on an observer's head or face; wherein the following condition is satisfied: d<L<∞ (7) where L is a vergence distance (image fusing position) given by optical axes of said two optical systems, and d is a distance to a virtual image of said image display device formed by said optical systems.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
99 words
A head- or face-mounted image display apparatus, comprising an image display device; two, left and right, optical systems for leading an image displayed by said image display device to an observer's left and right eyes, respectively; means for retaining said image display device and said two optical systems on an observer's head or face; wherein the following condition is satisfied: d<L<∞ (7) where L is a vergence distance (image fusing position) given by optical axes of said two optical systems, and d is a distance to a virtual image of said image display device formed by said optical systems.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A head- or face-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the following condition is satisfied: 1.5d<L<4d (8).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
A head- or face-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said image display device is shifted sideways such that a center of a virtual image of said image display device formed by each of said left and right optical systems shifts horizontally inward relative to a forward direction of said observer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A head- or face-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said left and right optical systems and image display device are tilted inward.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A head- or face-mounted image display apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein a center of said image display device and a center of the image displayed thereon are displaced relative to each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
146 words
A head- or face-mounted image display apparatus wherein said optical element, which has a positive refracting power, is a plano-convex lens having a plane surface directed toward said observer's eyeball, comprising: an image display device; an optical system for leading an image displayed by said image display device to an observer's eyeball without effecting image formation on the way to said observer's eyeball; and means for retaining said image display device and said optical system on an observer's head or face, said optical system comprising a back-coated mirror and a plane-parallel plate having a semitransparent surface, and said optical system includes an optical element having a positive refracting power between said plane-parallel plate and said observer's eyeball, wherein the positive refracting power φ of said optical element satisfies the following condition: 0.3<φ/φ.sub.t <0.45 (9) where φ t is a refracting power of the entire optical system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
146 words
A head- or face-mounted image display apparatus wherein said optical element, which has a positive refracting power, is a plano-convex lens having a plane surface directed toward said observer's eyeball, comprising: an image display device; an optical system for leading an image displayed by said image display device to an observer's eyeball without effecting image formation on the way to said observer's eyeball; and means for retaining said image display device and said optical system on an observer's head or face, said optical system comprising a back-coated mirror and a plane-parallel plate having a semitransparent surface, and said optical system includes an optical element having a positive refracting power between said plane-parallel plate and said observer's eyeball, wherein the positive refracting power φ of said optical element satisfies the following condition: 0.3<φ/φ.sub.t <0.45 (9) where φ t is a refracting power of the entire optical system.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-07-06 | 2002-01-05 | 2002-07-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-06 | 2006-01-05 | 2006-07-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-06 | 2010-01-05 | 2010-07-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |