JP5720290B2 - Virtual image display device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a virtual image display device such as a head mounted display that is used by being mounted on a head.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various types of virtual image display devices capable of forming and observing virtual images such as a head-mounted display have been proposed that guide image light from a display element to an observer's pupil using a light guide plate.

  In such a virtual image display device, a see-through optical system has been proposed to superimpose image light and external light (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  However, in the apparatus described in Patent Document 1 and the like, see-through is realized by a pupil division method using a light guide optical system having an exit aperture smaller than the pupil size, and thus it is difficult to increase the display size of the virtual image. . In addition, since a light guide optical system smaller than the pupil size is used, an effective pupil diameter (a light-collecting diameter that enables capturing of a virtual image, also referred to as an eye ring diameter) is increased in order to cope with human individual eye widths. Difficult to do. In addition, since the exit opening and the housing of the light guide optical system are physically disposed near the pupil, a blind spot is generated and it cannot be said that the see-through is complete.

  There is an optical system for a head-mounted display that includes a light guide pipe that can advance a plurality of light modes having different light guide angles (see Patent Document 3). In such an optical system, the third optical surface on the exit side is a half mirror, and the light transmitted through the third optical surface goes straight (for example, by adding a prism), so that a see-through display device can be obtained. It is also possible to do.

  However, in the optical system of Patent Document 3, the liquid crystal panel is illuminated with collimated light set at different incident angles for each light mode on the premise that images in a plurality of light modes are displaced from each other. Then, the display contents are changed in each light mode and the display in each light mode is executed sequentially, so that images in the respective light modes are connected to obtain an entire image. In this case, the central image and the left and right images constituting the entire image must be displayed while being changed with a time difference by one liquid crystal panel, which complicates the virtual image display device and darkens the observation image.

  Apart from the above, a virtual image display device that enables observation of a virtual image superimposed on external light by a light guide member having a light emitting part that covers the front of the eye, which does not need to join images with a time difference However, it is not easy to display a large image, and when a member such as a see-through prism is connected to the light guide member, ghost light is generated by the member, and the ghost light easily reaches the eye.

JP 2006-3879 A JP 2010-224473 A JP 2008-535001 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the background art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a virtual image display device that can enable see-through observation and suppress ghost light from being observed.

In order to solve the above problems, a virtual image display device according to the present invention includes (a) an image display device that forms image light, (b) a projection optical system that makes the image light emitted from the image display device enter, c) a light guide unit; a light incident unit that causes image light from the projection optical system to enter the light guide unit; and a light emitting unit that emits image light guided by the light guide unit to the outside. An integrated block-shaped light guide member that enables observation of the image light through the emitting portion, and (d) a light transmission member that enables observation of external light by being combined with the light guide member, (E) The light guide unit includes a first reflection surface and a second reflection surface that are arranged in parallel to each other and enable light guide by total reflection, and the light incident unit has a predetermined shape with respect to the first reflection surface. The third reflection surface having an angle is provided, and the light emitting portion is a fourth reflection having a predetermined angle with respect to the first reflection surface. (F) The fourth reflecting surface is provided with a half mirror such as a half mirror layer. (G) The light transmitting member includes (g1) a transmitting surface facing the fourth reflecting surface and a second reflecting surface. (2) a perspective assisting portion having at least a first surface disposed substantially parallel to the reflecting surface; and (g2) light from the light transmitting member provided on the light guide direction side of the light guiding member with respect to the perspective assisting portion. possess a light blocking section that blocks to be guided to the light guide member,
The light blocking portion is a tapered portion whose thickness decreases toward the light guide direction side.

In the virtual image display device, the image light reflected by the third reflecting surface of the light incident portion is propagated while being totally reflected by the first and second reflecting surfaces of the light guide portion, and is reflected by the fourth reflecting surface of the light emitting portion. And enters the observer's eyes as a virtual image. At this time, the light guide member can be integrally manufactured with high accuracy as having a polyhedral outer shape, and a virtual image can be observed with high accuracy via the light guide member. Further, by combining the light guide member and the light transmissive member, see-through observation is possible through the fluoroscopy assisting unit, and a virtual image can be superimposed on the external image and observed. Further, the light blocking portion provided on the light guide direction side, that is, the back side of the light guide direction of the light transmission member prevents light from the light transmission member from being guided to the light guide member. The light flux that has passed through a half mirror and reached the inside of the light transmission member is processed so as not to become ghost light by the light transmission member, and it is possible to suppress the return of the ghost light to the light guide member. The light blocking portion is a tapered portion whose thickness decreases toward the light guide direction side. In this case, the ghost light that has passed through the half mirror and reached the light transmission member has a gradually reduced reflection angle in the taper portion, and the total reflection condition is not satisfied. To be discharged. That is, it is possible to suppress the ghost light from reaching the eye by the tapered portion .

  In a specific aspect of the present invention, in the virtual image display device, the light blocking portion is a tapered portion whose thickness decreases toward the light guide direction. In this case, the ghost light that has passed through the half mirror and reached the light transmission member has a gradually reduced reflection angle in the taper portion, and the total reflection condition is not satisfied. To be discharged. That is, it is possible to suppress the ghost light from reaching the eye by the tapered portion.

  In another aspect of the present invention, the light transmission member includes a second surface disposed substantially parallel to the first reflection surface, and a first surface disposed substantially parallel to the second reflection surface. And the tapered portion has a first tapered surface that forms an obtuse angle with respect to the first surface and a second tapered surface that forms an obtuse angle with respect to the second surface. In this case, a portion sandwiched between the first surface and the second surface also functions as a fluoroscopy assisting portion, and ghost light can be discharged to the outside by a tapered portion outside the fluoroscopy assisting portion.

  In still another aspect of the present invention, the light blocking portion is a portion whose surface is roughened. In this case, the unnecessary light that has reached the light transmitting member is scattered by the light blocking portion and is not easily returned to the light guiding member as ghost light.

  In still another aspect of the present invention, the light blocking portion is a portion where a light absorbing paint is applied to the surface. In this case, the unnecessary light that has reached the light transmitting member is absorbed by the light blocking portion and is not easily returned to the light guiding member as ghost light.

  In still another aspect of the present invention, the first portion regarding the number of reflections of the first image light emitted from the first partial region in the image display device in the light guide and the confinement direction in which the optical path is turned back by the reflection during the light guide. The number of reflections of the second image light emitted from the second partial region different from the region is different from each other. In this case, by using image light having a different number of reflections, it is possible to increase the angle width of the emission angle of the image light emitted from the light emitting unit. That is, image light from different partial areas or display areas in the image display device can be captured with a relatively wide viewing angle, and a large display size of the virtual image observed through the light emitting unit can be secured. . By adopting a structure for extracting image light with different number of reflections in this way, the light emission part can be enlarged so as to cover the pupil without making the light guide part too thick, so that good see-through observation is possible. .

  In still another aspect of the invention, the confinement direction is a direction parallel to a cross section including the first optical axis passing through the projection optical system and the normal line of the third reflecting surface. The image light from different positions with respect to the confinement direction can be made to have a different number of reflections in the light guide portion by making the emission angle, that is, the incident angle to the light incident portion, different from each other.

  In still another aspect of the present invention, the light guide member and the light transmission member are independently and integrally molded by injection molding. In this case, the light guide device and the light transmission member can be mass-produced with high accuracy by using the injection molding technique.

  In still another aspect of the present invention, the light guide member and the light transmission member are each molded by a thermopolymerization resin material. In this case, weight reduction and safety can be increased by the resin, and stable and highly accurate molding can be performed by thermosetting.

It is a perspective view which shows the virtual image display apparatus of embodiment. (A) is a top view of the main-body part of the 1st display apparatus which comprises a virtual image display apparatus, (B) is a front view of a main-body part. (A) is a figure explaining the structure of the 3rd reflective surface in the light-incidence part of a light guide member, (B) is a figure explaining the structure of the 1st reflective surface in the light guide part of a light guide member. (C) is a figure explaining the structure of the 2nd reflective surface in the light guide part of a light guide member, (D) demonstrates the structure of the 4th reflective surface in the light emission part of a light guide member. FIG. (A) is the conceptual diagram which expand | deployed the optical path regarding the vertical 1st direction, (B) is the conceptual diagram which expand | deployed the optical path regarding the horizontal 2nd direction. It is a top view explaining the optical path in the optical system of a virtual image display apparatus concretely. (A) shows the display surface of a liquid crystal display device, (B) is a figure explaining notionally the virtual image of the liquid crystal display device which an observer can see, (C) and (D) comprise a virtual image It is a figure explaining two partial images to do. It is an enlarged view explaining the process of the ghost light in a light guide device. It is an enlarged view explaining the virtual image display apparatus of the modification which changed the light transmissive member. It is an enlarged view explaining the virtual image display apparatus of another modification which changed the light transmissive member. (A) is a figure explaining the light guide state of the image light in a modification, (B) is a figure explaining notionally the virtual image of the liquid crystal display device in a modification. It is a figure explaining the reason which has provided the end surface which removes a ridge in a light guide member. It is a figure explaining the modification of the light guide member shown to FIG.

  Hereinafter, a virtual image display device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[A. Appearance of virtual image display device)
A virtual image display device 100 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is a head-mounted display having an appearance like glasses, and allows an observer wearing the virtual image display device 100 to recognize image light due to a virtual image. It is possible to make the observer observe the external image with see-through. The virtual image display device 100 includes an optical panel 110 that covers the viewer's eyes, a frame 121 that supports the optical panel 110, and first and second drive units 131 and 132 that are added to a portion of the frame 121 from the end to the temple. With. Here, the optical panel 110 includes a first panel portion 111, a second panel portion 112, and a rolling portion 114. The two panel portions 111 and 112 are connected by a central rolling portion 114 to be integrated. It is a typical plate. The first display device 100A in which the first panel portion 111 on the left side and the first drive unit 131 are combined in the drawing is a portion that forms a virtual image for the left eye, and functions alone as a virtual image display device. Further, the second display device 100B in which the second panel portion 112 on the right side and the second driving unit 132 in the drawing are combined is a portion that forms a virtual image for the right eye, and functions alone as a virtual image display device.

[B. Display device structure]
As shown in FIG. 2A and the like, the first display device 100A includes an image forming device 10 and a light guide device 20. Here, the image forming apparatus 10 corresponds to the first driving unit 131 in FIG. 1, and the light guide device 20 corresponds to the first panel portion 111 in FIG. Note that the second display device 100B shown in FIG. 1 has the same structure as the first display device 100A and is simply flipped left and right, and thus detailed description of the second display device 100B is omitted.

  The image forming apparatus 10 includes an image display device 11 and a projection optical system 12. Among these, the image display device 11 operates the illumination device 31 that emits the two-dimensional illumination light SL, the liquid crystal display device 32 that is a transmissive spatial light modulation device, and the operations of the illumination device 31 and the liquid crystal display device 32. And a drive control unit 34 for controlling.

  The illuminating device 31 includes a light source 31a that generates light including three colors of red, green, and blue, and a backlight light guide unit 31b that diffuses light from the light source 31a into a light beam having a rectangular cross section. The liquid crystal display device 32 spatially modulates the illumination light SL from the illumination device 31 to form image light to be a display target such as a moving image. The drive control unit 34 includes a light source drive circuit 34a and a liquid crystal drive circuit 34b. The light source driving circuit 34a supplies electric power to the light source 31a of the lighting device 31 to emit the illumination light SL having a stable luminance. The liquid crystal driving circuit 34b outputs an image signal or a driving signal to the liquid crystal display device 32, thereby forming color image light that is a source of a moving image or a still image as a transmittance pattern. The liquid crystal driving circuit 34b can have an image processing function, but an external control circuit can also have an image processing function. The projection optical system 12 is a collimating lens that converts image light emitted from each point on the liquid crystal display device 32 into light beams in a parallel state.

  In the liquid crystal display device 32, the first direction D1 is a direction in which a longitudinal section including a first optical axis AX1 passing through the projection optical system 12 and a specific line parallel to a third reflecting surface 21c of the light guide member 21 described later extends. The second direction D2 corresponds to a direction in which a transverse section including the first optical axis AX1 and the normal line of the third reflecting surface 21c extends. In other words, the first direction D1 is a direction parallel to an intersection line CL between a first reflecting surface 21a and a third reflecting surface 21c of the light guide member 21 described later, and the second direction D2 is the first reflecting surface. It is parallel to the plane with 21a and is in a direction perpendicular to the intersection line CL between the first reflecting surface 21a and the third reflecting surface 21c. That is, at the position of the liquid crystal display device 32, the first direction D1 corresponds to the vertical Y direction, and the second direction D2 corresponds to the horizontal X direction.

  The light guide device 20 is formed by joining a light guide member 21 and a light transmission member 23, and constitutes a flat plate-like optical member that extends parallel to the XY plane as a whole.

  In the light guide device 20, the light guide member 21 is a trapezoidal prism-like member in plan view, and includes, as side surfaces, a first reflection surface 21 a, a second reflection surface 21 b, a third reflection surface 21 c, and a fourth reflection surface. A reflective surface 21d. The light guide member 21 includes an upper surface 21e and a lower surface 21f that are adjacent to the first, second, third, and fourth reflecting surfaces 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d and that face each other. Here, the first and second reflecting surfaces 21 a and 21 b extend along the XY plane and are separated by the thickness t of the light guide member 21. The third reflecting surface 21c is inclined at an acute angle α of 45 ° or less with respect to the XY plane, and the fourth reflecting surface 21d is inclined at an acute angle β of 45 ° or less with respect to the XY surface, for example. . The first optical axis AX1 passing through the third reflection surface 21c and the second optical axis AX2 passing through the fourth reflection surface 21d are arranged in parallel and separated by a distance D. As will be described in detail below, an end surface 21h is provided between the first reflecting surface 21a and the third reflecting surface 21c so as to remove a ridge. The light guide member 21 has a polyhedral outer shape with seven surfaces including the end surface 21h.

  The light guide member 21 performs light guide using total reflection by the first and second reflection surfaces 21a and 21b, and a direction perpendicular to the light guide direction is a direction folded by reflection during light guide, There is a direction that is not folded back by reflection when light is guided. When an image guided by the light guide member 21 is considered, the lateral direction that is turned back by a plurality of reflections during light guide, that is, the confinement direction, is perpendicular to the first and second reflecting surfaces 21a and 21b (parallel to the Z axis) Thus, when the optical path is expanded to the light source side as will be described later, it corresponds to the second direction D2 of the liquid crystal display device 32, and the longitudinal direction that is not turned back by reflection during light guide, that is, the free propagation direction is When the optical path is expanded to the light source side as will be described later in parallel to the second reflecting surfaces 21a and 21b and the third reflecting surface 21c (parallel to the Y axis), it corresponds to the first direction D1 of the liquid crystal display device 32.

  The light guide member 21 is formed of a resin material that exhibits high light transmittance in the visible range. The light guide member 21 is a block-like member integrally molded by injection molding, and is formed by, for example, injecting a thermopolymerization resin material into a molding die and thermosetting it. Thus, although the light guide member 21 is an integrally formed product, it can be functionally divided into the light incident part B1, the light guide part B2, and the light emitting part B3.

  The light incident part B1 is a triangular prism-shaped part, and includes a light incident surface IS that is a part of the first reflective surface 21a and a third reflective surface 21c that faces the light incident surface IS. The light incident surface IS is a flat surface on the back side or the viewer side for taking in the image light GL from the image forming apparatus 10 and extends perpendicularly to the first optical axis AX1 facing the projection optical system 12. The third reflecting surface 21c is a rectangular total reflection mirror for reflecting the image light GL that has passed through the light incident surface IS and guiding it into the light guide B2.

  FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating the third reflecting surface 21c, and is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of the surface portion P01 in the light incident portion B1. The third reflecting surface 21 c has a mirror layer 25 and is covered with a protective layer 26. The mirror layer 25 is a total reflection coating, and is formed by depositing aluminum on the inclined surface RS of the light guide member 21 by vapor deposition.

  2A and the like, the third reflecting surface 21c is inclined at an acute angle α = 25 ° to 27 °, for example, with respect to the first optical axis AX1 or the XY plane of the projection optical system 12, and the light incident The image light GL that enters from the surface IS and travels in the + Z direction as a whole is bent so as to travel in the −X direction that is closer to the −Z direction as a whole, so that the image light GL is reliably coupled into the light guide B2.

  The light guide B2 has first and second reflecting surfaces 21a and 21b that totally reflect the image light bent by the light incident portion B1 as two planes that face each other and extend parallel to the XY plane. Yes. The distance between the first and second reflecting surfaces 21a and 21b, that is, the thickness t of the light guide member 21 is, for example, about 9 mm. Here, it is assumed that the first reflecting surface 21a is on the back side or the viewer side close to the image forming apparatus 10, and the second reflecting surface 21b is on the front side or the outside side far from the image forming apparatus 10. In this case, the first reflecting surface 21a is a surface portion common to the above-described light incident surface IS and a light emitting surface OS described later. The first and second reflection surfaces 21a and 21b are total reflection surfaces using a difference in refractive index, and are not provided with a reflection coating such as a mirror layer.

  FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating the first reflecting surface 21 a and is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of the surface portion P <b> 02 in the light guide portion B <b> 2 of the light guide member 21. 3C is a diagram for explaining the second reflecting surface 21b, and is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of the surface portion P03 in the light guide portion B2 of the light guide member 21. FIG. However, the first and second reflecting surfaces 21a and 21b are covered with a hard coat layer 27 in order to prevent the surface from being damaged and the resolution of the image from being lowered (see FIG. 3B). The hard coat layer 27 is formed by depositing a UV curable resin, a thermosetting resin, or the like on the flat surface FS of the light guide member 21 by dipping or spray coating. The image light GL reflected by the third reflecting surface 21c of the light incident part B1 first enters the first reflecting surface 21a and is totally reflected. Next, the image light GL enters the second reflecting surface 21b and is totally reflected. Thereafter, by repeating this operation, the image light is guided to the back side of the light guide device 20, that is, the -X side provided with the light emitting part B3. In addition, since the 1st and 2nd reflective surfaces 21a and 21b are not provided with the reflective coating, the external light or the external light incident on the second reflective surface 21b from the external side passes through the light guide B2 with high transmittance. pass. In other words, the light guide B2 is a see-through type that allows the external image to be seen through.

  The total reflection on the first and second reflecting surfaces 21a and 21b is based on the setting of the refractive index of the hard coat layer 27, and can usually be generated inside the surface SS of the hard coat layer 27. It can also occur inside the FS.

  Returning to FIG. 2A and the like, the light emission part B3 is a triangular prism-like part, and a light emission surface OS that is a part of the first reflection surface 21a and a fourth reflection that faces the light emission surface OS. 21d. The light exit surface OS is a flat surface on the back side for emitting the image light GL toward the observer's eye EY. The light exit surface OS is a part of the first reflecting surface 21a like the light incident surface IS. It extends perpendicular to the optical axis AX2. The distance D between the second optical axis AX2 passing through the light emitting part B3 and the first optical axis AX1 passing through the light incident part B1 is set to, for example, 50 mm in consideration of the width of the observer's head. The fourth reflecting surface 21d is a rectangular flat surface for reflecting the image light GL that has entered through the first and second reflecting surfaces 21a and 21b and emitting the image light GL out of the light emitting portion B3. A mirror layer 28 is provided. The half mirror layer 28 is a light-transmissive reflective film (that is, a semi-transmissive reflective film), and the surface thereof is a semi-transmissive reflective surface.

  FIG. 3D is a diagram illustrating the fourth reflecting surface 21d and the surrounding structure, and is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of the surface portion P04 in the light emitting portion B3 of the light guide member 21. FIG. 3D shows an enlarged view of the half mirror layer (light-transmissive reflective film or semi-transmissive reflective film) 28 and the like. The half mirror layer (light-transmissive reflective film or semi-transmissive reflective film) 28 is formed by forming a metal reflective film or a dielectric multilayer film on the slope RS of the light guide member 21. The reflectance of the half mirror layer 28 with respect to the image light GL is set to 10% to 50% in the assumed incident angle range of the image light GL from the viewpoint of facilitating observation of the external light GL ′ by see-through. The reflectance of the half mirror layer 28 of the specific embodiment with respect to the image light GL is set to 20%, for example, and the transmittance with respect to the image light GL is set to 80%, for example. The space between the fourth reflecting surface 21d of the light emitting part B3 and the light transmitting member 23 transmitting surface 23c described later is filled with an adhesive layer CC for joining the light transmitting member 23 to the light emitting part B3. .

  Returning to FIG. 2A and the like, the fourth reflecting surface 21d is inclined at an acute angle α = 25 ° to 27 °, for example, with respect to the second optical axis AX2 or XY plane perpendicular to the first reflecting surface 21a. The half mirror layer 28 is bent so that the image light GL incident through the first and second reflecting surfaces 21a and 21b of the light guide B2 is partially reflected and directed toward the −Z direction as a whole. Then, the light exit surface OS is passed. Note that the image light GL transmitted through the fourth reflecting surface 21d is incident on the light transmitting member 23 and is not used to form an image.

  The light transmissive member 23 is a polygonal columnar member having the same refractive index as the main body of the light guide member 21, and has a first surface 23 a, a second surface 23 b, a transmissive surface 23 c, and a first tapered surface as side surfaces. 23f, a second tapered surface 23g, and an end surface 23j. The first and second surfaces 23a and 23b extend along the XY plane. The transmission surface 23c is inclined with respect to the XY plane, and is disposed in parallel to face the fourth reflection surface 21d of the light guide member 21. The first tapered surface 23f forms an obtuse angle τ1 with the first surface 23a and is adjacent to the first surface 23a, and the second tapered surface 23g forms an obtuse angle τ2 with the second surface 23b and is adjacent to the second surface 23b. doing. Similar to the light guide member 21, the light transmissive member 23 is formed of a resin material exhibiting high light transmittance in the visible region. The light transmitting member 23 is a block-like member that is integrally molded by injection molding, and is formed, for example, by injecting a thermopolymerization resin material into a molding die and thermosetting it. Thus, although the light transmission member 23 is an integrally formed product, it can be functionally divided into a fluoroscopy assisting portion C1 and a tapered portion C2.

  The fluoroscopy assisting portion C1 is a trapezoidal prism-shaped portion, and includes a first surface 23a, a second surface 23b, and a transmission surface 23c. The first surface 23 a is arranged in parallel on the extended plane of the second reflecting surface 21 b provided on the light guide member 21, is on the front side far from the observer's eye EY, and the second surface 23 b is on the light guide member 21. It is arranged in parallel on the extended plane of the provided first reflecting surface 21a and is on the back side close to the observer's eye EY. That is, the first surface 23 a and the second surface 23 b face each other and extend in parallel to the XY plane, and the distance between the first and second surfaces 23 a and 23 b, that is, the thickness of the light transmission member 23 is the same as that of the light guide member 21. For example, it is about 9 mm. The transmission surface 23c is a rectangular transmission surface joined to the fourth reflection surface 21d of the light guide member 21 by an adhesive. The angle formed by the first surface 23a and the transmission surface 23c is equal to the angle β formed by the first reflection surface 21a and the third reflection surface 21c of the light guide member 21, and the second surface 23b and the transmission surface 23c. The angle formed is equal to the angle ε formed between the second reflecting surface 21b and the fourth reflecting surface 21d of the light guide member 21. The first surface 23a and the second surface 23b are hard-coated in order to prevent the surface from being damaged and the resolution of the image from being lowered, like the first and second reflecting surfaces 21a and 21b of the light guide member 21. It can be coated with a layer.

  The fluoroscopy assisting part C1 constitutes a fluoroscopy part B4 in cooperation with the light guide direction side (or back side) of the light guide member 21, that is, the -X side part. The wedge-shaped member 23m that is sandwiched between the second surface 23b and the third surface 23c that form an acute angle with each other and spreads in the −X direction in the fluoroscopy assisting portion C1 is similarly joined to the wedge-shaped light emitting portion B3. The central portion in the X direction of the flat see-through portion B4 as a whole is configured. That is, since the first and second surfaces 23a and 23b are not provided with a reflective coating such as a mirror layer, the external light GL ′ is transmitted with a high transmittance similarly to the light guide part B2 of the light guide member 21. . The transmission surface 23c can also transmit the external light GL ′ with high transmittance. However, since the fourth reflection surface 21d of the light guide member 21 includes the half mirror layer 28, the transmission surface 23c passes through the transmission surface 23c and the like. The external light GL ′ is attenuated by 20%, for example. That is, the observer observes the image light GL that has been reduced to 20% and the external light GL ′ that has been reduced to 80%.

  The tapered portion C2 is a triangular prism-shaped portion, and includes a first tapered surface 23f, a second tapered surface 23g, and an end surface 23j sandwiched therebetween. The tapered portion C2 is a light blocking portion, and is sandwiched between the first tapered surface 23f and the second tapered surface 23g, and the thickness decreases toward the back side in the light guide direction of the light guide member 21, that is, toward the −X side. ing. The taper angle 360 ° − (τ1 + τ2) formed by the first taper surface 23f and the second taper surface 23g is, for example, 60 ° to 160 °. The end face 23j is not essential, and is not necessary when the light transmitting member 23 is integrated with the rolling part 114 of the optical panel 110 shown in FIG.

  The taper portion (light blocking portion) C2 described above will be described in detail later, but guides light that may enter the light transmission member 23 from the light guide member 21 through the half mirror layer 28 and become ghost light. It has a role of discharging out of the apparatus 20.

[C. Overview of optical path of image light)
4A is a diagram illustrating an optical path in the first direction D1 corresponding to the longitudinal section CS1 of the liquid crystal display device 32. FIG. In the longitudinal section along the first direction D1, that is, the YZ plane (the unfolded Y′Z ′ plane), among the image light emitted from the liquid crystal display device 32, the upper end side of the display area 32b indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. The component emitted from the (+ Y side) is referred to as image light GLa, and the component emitted from the lower end side (−Y side) of the display area 32b indicated by the two-dot chain line in the drawing is referred to as image light GLb.

The upper image light GLa is converted into a parallel light flux by the projection optical system 12 and passes through the light incident part B1, the light guide part B2, and the light emission part B3 of the light guide member 21 along the developed optical axis AX ′. The incident light is incident on the observer's eye EY in a state of a parallel light beam, tilted from above the angle φ ₁ . On the other hand, the lower image light GLb is converted into a parallel light flux by the projection optical system 12, and the light incident part B <b> 1, the light guide part B <b> 2, and the light emission part of the light guide member 21 along the developed optical axis AX ′. The light passes through B3 and is incident on the observer's eye EY in a state of parallel light flux with an inclination from below the angle φ ₂ (| φ ₂ | = | φ ₁ |). The above angles φ ₁ and φ ₂ correspond to the upper and lower half angles of view, and are set to, for example, 6.5 °.

  FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating an optical path in the second direction (confinement direction or synthesis direction) D2 corresponding to the cross section CS2 of the liquid crystal display device 32. In the cross section along the second direction (confinement direction or synthesis direction) D2, that is, the XZ plane (X′Z ′ plane after development), the image light emitted from the liquid crystal display device 32 is indicated by a one-dot chain line in the figure. The component emitted from the first display point P1 on the right end side (+ X side) toward the display area 32b is the image light GLc, and the component on the left end side (−X side) toward the display area 32b indicated by the two-dot difference line in the figure. A component emitted from the second display point P2 is defined as image light GLd. In FIG. 4B, for reference, image light GLe emitted from the right inner side and image light GLf emitted from the left inner side are added.

The image light GLc from the first display point P1 on the right side is converted into a parallel light beam by the projection optical system 12, and along the developed optical axis AX ′, the light incident part B1, the light guide part B2, and through the light exit portion B3, a parallel light beam state with respect to the observer's eye EY, incident inclined from right angles theta _1. On the other hand, the image light GLd from the second display point P2 on the left side is converted into a parallel light beam by the projection optical system 12, and along the developed optical axis AX ′, the light incident part B1 and the light guide part of the light guide member 21. The light passes through B2 and the light emitting part B3 and enters the observer's eye EY in a state of a parallel light beam with an angle θ ₂ (| θ ₂ | = | θ ₁ |) inclined from the left direction. The above angles θ ₁ and θ ₂ correspond to the left and right half angles of view, and are set to 10 °, for example.

Note that, in the horizontal direction of the second direction D2, the image lights GLc and GLd are folded back by reflection in the light guide member 21 and the number of reflections is different, so that each image light GLc and GLd is in the light guide member 21. It is expressed discontinuously. In addition, regarding the observer's eye EY, the viewing direction is upside down compared to the case of FIG. As a result, the screen is horizontally reversed as a whole in the horizontal direction, but the right half image of the liquid crystal display device 32 and the liquid crystal display device can be obtained by processing the light guide member 21 with high accuracy as will be described in detail later. The images on the left half of 32 are continuously joined without any gap. In consideration of the fact that the number of reflections of the image light GLc and GLd in the light guide member 21 is different from each other, the emission angle θ ₁ ′ of the right image light GLc and the emission angle θ ₂ ′ of the left image light GLd. Is set to something different.

  As described above, the image lights GLa, GLb, GLc, and GLd incident on the observer's eye EY are virtual images from infinity, and the image formed on the liquid crystal display device 32 is correct in the first vertical direction D1. The image formed on the liquid crystal display device 32 is reversed with respect to the second horizontal direction D2.

[D. (The optical path of image light in the horizontal direction)
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a specific optical path in the first display device 100A. The projection optical system 12 has three lenses L1, L2, and L3.

The image lights GL11 and GL12 from the first display point P1 on the right side of the liquid crystal display device 32 pass through the lenses L1, L2 and L3 of the projection optical system 12 to be converted into parallel light beams, and the light incident surface of the light guide member 21 Incident on IS. The image lights GL11 and GL12 guided into the light guide member 21 repeat total reflection at the same angle on the first and second reflection surfaces 21a and 21b, and are finally emitted as a parallel light flux from the light exit surface OS. . Specifically, the image lights GL11 and GL12 are reflected by the third reflection surface 21c of the light guide member 21 as parallel light beams, and then enter the first reflection surface 21a of the light guide member 21 at the first reflection angle γ1. , Total reflection (first total reflection). Thereafter, the image lights GL11 and GL12 are incident on the second reflecting surface 21b and totally reflected (second total reflection) while maintaining the first reflection angle γ1, and then incident on the first reflecting surface 21a again. And is totally reflected (third total reflection). As a result, the image lights GL11 and GL12 are totally reflected three times on the first and second reflecting surfaces 21a and 21b, and enter the fourth reflecting surface 21d. The image lights GL11 and GL12 are reflected by the fourth reflection surface 21d at the same angle as the third reflection surface 21c, and are angled from the light emission surface OS to the second optical axis AX2 direction perpendicular to the light emission surface OS. It is emitted as a parallel light beam by theta ₁ slope.

The image lights GL21 and GL22 from the second display point P2 on the left side of the liquid crystal display device 32 pass through the lenses L1, L2, and L3 of the projection optical system 12 to be converted into parallel light beams, and the light incident surface of the light guide member 21 Incident on IS. The image lights GL21 and GL22 guided into the light guide member 21 repeat total reflection at equal angles on the first and second reflection surfaces 21a and 21b, and are finally emitted from the light exit surface OS as parallel light beams. . Specifically, the image lights GL21 and GL22 are reflected by the third reflecting surface 21c of the light guide member 21 as a parallel light beam, and then the first reflection of the light guide member 21 at the second reflection angle γ2 (γ2 <γ1). The light enters the surface 21a and is totally reflected (first total reflection). Thereafter, the image lights GL21 and GL22 enter the second reflection surface 21b and are totally reflected (second total reflection) while maintaining the second reflection angle γ2, and then enter the first reflection surface 21a again. Are totally reflected (third total reflection), are incident again on the second reflecting surface 21b and totally reflected (fourth total reflection), and are again incident on the first reflecting surface 21a and totally reflected. (5th total reflection). As a result, the image lights GL21 and GL22 are totally reflected five times on the first and second reflecting surfaces 21a and 21b and enter the fourth reflecting surface 21d. The image lights GL21 and GL22 are reflected by the fourth reflecting surface 21d at the same angle as the third reflecting surface 21c, and are angled from the light emitting surface OS to the second optical axis AX2 direction perpendicular to the light emitting surface OS. It is emitted as a parallel light beam by theta ₂ gradient.

  In FIG. 5, when the light guide member 21 is developed, a virtual first surface 121a corresponding to the first reflective surface 21a, and when the light guide member 21 is deployed, a virtual corresponding to the second reflective surface 21b. The 2nd surface 121b is drawn. By developing in this way, the image lights GL11 and GL12 from the first display point P1 pass through the first surface 121a twice after passing through the incident equivalent surface IS ′ corresponding to the light incident surface IS. It can be seen that the light passes through the surface 121b once, is emitted from the light exit surface OS, and enters the observer's eye EY, and the image lights GL21 and GL22 from the second display point P2 are incident corresponding to the light entrance surface IS. After passing through the equivalent surface IS ", it can be seen that it passes through the first surface 121a three times, passes through the second surface 121b twice, is emitted from the light exit surface OS, and enters the observer's eye EY. In other words, the observer observes the lens L3 of the projection optical system 12 existing in the vicinity of the two incident equivalent planes IS ′ and IS ″ at two different positions.

  6A is a diagram for conceptually explaining the display surface of the liquid crystal display device 32, and FIG. 6B is a diagram for conceptually explaining a virtual image of the liquid crystal display device 32 visible to an observer. FIGS. 6C and 6D are diagrams for explaining partial images constituting a virtual image. A rectangular image forming area AD provided in the liquid crystal display device 32 shown in FIG. 6A is observed as a virtual image display area AI shown in FIG. On the left side of the virtual image display area AI, a first projection image IM1 corresponding to a portion from the center to the right side of the image formation area AD of the liquid crystal display device 32 is formed as a virtual image. This first projection image IM1 is shown in FIG. As shown in (C), the image on the right side is a partial image. Further, on the right side of the virtual image display area AI, a projection image IM2 corresponding to a portion from the center to the left side of the image formation area AD of the liquid crystal display device 32 is formed as a virtual image. This second projection image IM2 is shown in FIG. As shown in (D), the left half is a partial image.

  The first partial region A10 that forms only the first projected image (virtual image) IM1 in the liquid crystal display device 32 illustrated in FIG. 6A includes, for example, the first display point P1 at the right end of the liquid crystal display device 32. The image lights GL11 and GL12 that are totally reflected three times in total in the light guide portion B2 of the light guide member 21 are emitted. The second partial area A20 that forms only the second projection image (virtual image) IM2 in the liquid crystal display device 32 includes, for example, the second display point P2 at the left end of the liquid crystal display device 32, and the light guide member 21 guides the light. The image light GL21 and GL22 that are totally reflected five times in the portion B2 are emitted. Image light from the band SA extending vertically and sandwiched between the first and second partial areas A10 and A20 near the center of the image forming area AD of the liquid crystal display device 32 forms an overlapping image IS shown in FIG. 6B. doing. That is, the image light from the band SA of the liquid crystal display device 32 is a total of 5 in the first projection image IM1 formed by the image light GL11 and GL12 totally reflected three times in the light guide B2, and in the light guide B2. It becomes the second projection image IM2 formed by the image light GL11 and GL12 that is totally reflected once, and is superimposed on the virtual image display area AI. If the light guide member 21 is precisely processed and a light beam accurately collimated by the projection optical system 12 is formed, the overlapping image IS is prevented from being displaced or blurred due to the superimposition of the two projection images IM1 and IM2. be able to.

  In the above, the total number of reflections of the image light GL11 and GL12 emitted from the first partial area A10 including the first display point P1 on the right side of the liquid crystal display device 32 by the first and second reflecting surfaces 21a and 21b is three times in total. Thus, the total number of reflections of the image light GL21 and GL22 emitted from the second partial area A20 including the second display point P2 on the left side of the liquid crystal display device 32 by the first and second reflecting surfaces 21a and 21b is five times in total. However, the total number of reflections can be changed as appropriate. That is, by adjusting the outer shape (that is, thickness t, distance D, acute angles α, β) of the light guide member 21, the total number of reflections of the image light GL11, GL12 is set to five times, and the total reflection number of the image light GL21, GL22 A total of seven times can be used. In the above description, the total number of reflections of the image lights GL11, GL12, GL21, and GL22 is an odd number. However, if the light incident surface IS and the light exit surface OS are arranged on the opposite side, that is, the light guide member 21. Is a parallelogram type in plan view, the total number of reflections of the image lights GL11, GL12, GL21, and GL22 is an even number.

  FIG. 7 is an enlarged view for explaining processing of ghost light in the light guide device 20. In the light emitting part B3 of the light guide member 21, the image light GL that has entered through the first and second reflecting surfaces 21a and 21b is reflected by the fourth reflecting surface 21d and passes through the light emitting surface OS. At this time, since the fourth reflection surface 21d is a half mirror, the image light GL may be observed as ghost light GG by passing through the fourth reflection surface 21d with an intensity of, for example, about 80%. is there. That is, the image light GL that has passed through the fourth reflecting surface 21d is reflected by the second surface 23b. However, when the image light GL passes through the fourth reflecting surface 21d, the image light GL becomes unnecessary light HL and becomes prismatic light. By being reflected many times within the transmissive member 23, there is a possibility that it will pass through the fourth reflecting surface 21d again and be emitted to the viewer side via the light emitting surface OS. In the present embodiment, such unnecessary light HL or ghost light GG is blocked by a tapered portion (light blocking portion) C <b> 2 provided on the light transmitting member 23.

  In the present embodiment, in the light transmitting member 23, a taper portion (light blocking portion) C2 is provided on the back side in the light guiding direction, that is, on the −X side with respect to the fluoroscopic auxiliary portion C1, and the thickness is reduced on the back side, which is unnecessary. The light HL can be emitted outside the tapered portion C2. Specifically, the unnecessary light HL that has passed through the fourth reflecting surface 21d provided with the half mirror layer 28 and the transmitting surface 23c is any of the tapered portion C2 having a shape that narrows toward the back side, that is, the −X side. Each time the light is reflected by the taper surfaces 23f and 23g, the reflection angle gradually becomes small. As a result, the unnecessary light HL is gradually reduced in the taper portion C2 so that the total reflection condition is not satisfied, and either of the unnecessary light HL is removed from the fluoroscopic portion B4 facing the observer's eye. It passes through the tapered surfaces 23f and 23g and is discharged to the outside. Thus, the tapered portion C2 has a role of preventing the unnecessary light HL from reaching the eye EY as ghost light GG.

  The tapered portion C2 only needs to have a shape that narrows toward the back side, that is, the −X side, and either one of the first and second tapered surfaces 23f and 23g can be omitted. That is, when the first taper surface 23f is omitted, a taper shape narrowing toward the back side, that is, the −X side can be formed by the extended first surface 23a and the second taper surface 23g. In addition, unnecessary image light GG can be discharged out of the light transmitting member 23. In addition, when the second tapered surface 23g is omitted, a taper shape narrowing toward the back side, that is, the −X side can be formed by the extended second surface 23b and the first taper surface 23f. In addition, unnecessary image light GG can be discharged out of the light transmitting member 23.

[E. (Modification)
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a modification of the light transmitting member 23 shown in FIG. The illustrated light transmission member 223 includes a fluoroscopy assisting unit C1 and a light scattering unit C3. The light scattering portion C3 is a light blocking portion that prevents the ghost light GG from being generated from the image light GL, and the third and fourth surfaces that are parallel to the first and second surfaces 23a and 23b of the fluoroscopic auxiliary portion C1, respectively. 223f and 223g. These third and fourth surfaces 223f and 223g have a roughened surface 129 formed by roughening the surface, and scatter incident light randomly.

  In this modification, unnecessary light HL, which is an unnecessary component of the image light GL that has passed through the fourth reflecting surface 21d and the transmitting surface 23c provided with the half mirror layer 28, is provided in the light scattering portion (light blocking portion) C3. The light is scattered by being incident on one of the third and fourth surfaces 223f and 223g and is not returned to the light guide member 21 side.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining another modification of the light transmission member 23 shown in FIG. 7 and the like. The illustrated light transmitting member 323 includes a fluoroscopy assisting unit C1 and a light absorbing unit C4. The light absorbing unit C4 is a light blocking unit that prevents the ghost light GG from being generated from the image light GL, and the third and fourth surfaces that are parallel to the first and second surfaces 23a and 23b of the fluoroscopic auxiliary unit C1, respectively. 323f and 323g. The third and fourth surfaces 323f and 323g have a light absorption layer 29 formed by application of a light absorption type paint.

  In this modification, unnecessary light HL, which is an unnecessary component of the image light GL that has passed through the fourth reflecting surface 21d and the transmitting surface 23c provided with the half mirror layer 28, is provided in the light absorbing portion (light blocking portion) C4. When incident on one of the third and fourth surfaces 223f and 223g, the light is absorbed by the light absorption layer 29 and is not returned to the light guide member 21 side.

  FIG. 10A is a diagram illustrating a modification of the light guide member 21 shown in FIG. In the above description, the image light propagating through the light guide member 21 is totally reflected at only the two reflection angles γ1 and γ2 with respect to the first and second reflection surfaces 21a and 21b. As shown in the light guide member 21 of the modification shown in FIG. 3, the image light GL31, GL32, and GL33 of the three components are allowed to be totally reflected at the reflection angles γ1, γ2, and γ3 (γ1> γ2> γ3). You can also. In this case, the image light GL emitted from the liquid crystal display device 32 is propagated in three modes, synthesized at the position of the observer's eye EY, and observed as a virtual image. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10B, a total reflection total projection image IM21 is formed, for example, three times on the left side of the effective display area A0, and a total reflection total projection is performed, for example, five times near the center of the effective display area A0. An image IM22 is formed, and a total reflection projected image IM23 is formed, for example, seven times in total on the right side of the effective display area A0.

  FIG. 11 is an enlarged view for explaining the reason why the light guide member 21 shown in FIG. The image light GL incident on a position near the ridge 121h of the light guide member 21 is reflected by the first reflecting surface 21a after being reflected by the third reflecting surface 21c, but the third after the reflection by the first reflecting surface 21a. It is reflected again by the reflecting surface 21c. Such unnecessary light HL as re-reflected light is not parallel to the original image light GL due to reflection on the third reflecting surface 21c, and is guided to an unexpected optical path, but a part of the unnecessary light HL is light emitting part B3. May be emitted from the light exit surface OS. That is, the unnecessary light HL generated at the ridge 121h becomes an undesired ghost light GG as in the case of FIG. 7, and is desirably removed in advance. For this reason, the edge 121h is removed to provide a stray light blocking end surface 21h, thereby limiting the optical path of the unnecessary light HL.

  FIG. 12 is an enlarged view for explaining a modification of the light guide member 21 shown in FIG. In this case, an end surface 21 i that removes the ridge 121 i is provided on the fourth reflecting surface 21 d side of the light guide member 21. That is, the light guide member 21 has an 8-sided polyhedral outer shape. For example, a relatively high reflectance coat or rough surface is applied to the end surface 21i, and the light transmitting member 23 is also provided with a step that fits the end surface 21i. By providing such an end surface 21i, the regular image light GL propagating through the light guide member 21 is unnecessary light HL that is reflected twice or more by the fourth reflecting surface 21d, or the light guide B2 is reflected by less than three times. It is possible to prevent unnecessary light HL that passes through the light and is reflected by the fourth reflecting surface 21d from being emitted to the outside through the light emitting surface OS. That is, the regular image light GL is formed three times or five times by the light guide B2 and reflected once by the fourth reflecting surface 21d of the light emitting part B3, thereby forming an undistorted virtual image. Although it can be extracted as the light GL, the light beam emitted from the light emission part B3 with the number of reflections different from the above becomes unnecessary light HL deviating from the original emission angle. That is, the end face 21i provided on the light guide member 21 is not desired ghost light in which the unnecessary light HL having an emission angle inclined with respect to the original image light GL through an unexpected path is the same as in FIG. GG is prevented.

[F. Others]
In the virtual image display device 100 of the embodiment described above, the image light GL reflected by the third reflecting surface 21c of the light incident portion B1 propagates while being totally reflected by the first and second reflecting surfaces 21a and 21b of the light guide portion. Then, it is reflected by the fourth reflecting surface 21d of the light emitting part B3 and enters the observer's eye EY as a virtual image. At this time, the number of reflections of the first image light GL11 and GL12 emitted from the first partial region A10 including the first display point P1 of the image display device 11 in the light guide portion and the second display point P2 of the image display device 11 are displayed. Since the number of reflections of the second image light GL21 and GL22 emitted from the second partial region A20 including the light guide portion B2 is different, the angle width of the emission angle of the image light GL emitted from the light emission portion B3 is widened. Can take. That is, the image light GL from the different partial areas A10 and A20 in the image display device 11 can be taken in with a relatively wide viewing angle, and a large display size of the virtual image observed through the light emitting part B3 is ensured. be able to. In this way, by adopting a structure that takes out the image light GL with different number of reflections, the light emission part B3 can be enlarged so as to cover the pupil without making the light guide part B2 too thick, so the light emission part B3 It is no longer necessary to divide the pupil close to the pupil, a large eye ring diameter can be secured, and good see-through observation is also possible.

  Further, in the virtual image display device 100 of the above embodiment, since the tapered portion C2 provided on the back side (−X side) in the light guide direction of the light transmitting member 23 decreases in thickness toward the back side, the half mirror layer The ghost light that has passed through the fourth reflecting surface 21d provided with the light 28 and reached the light transmitting member 23 has a gradually reduced reflection angle in the tapered portion C2, and the total reflection condition is not satisfied. Without returning to 21, it is discharged to the outside at a position deviating from the eye EY of the observer. Alternatively, the ghost light can be prevented from returning to the light guide member 21 also by the light scattering portion C3 and the light absorbing portion C4. In other words, the tapered portion C2, the light scattering portion C3, and the light absorbing portion C4 can suppress the ghost light from reaching the eye, thereby enabling good see-through observation.

  Although the present invention has been described based on the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. Such modifications are also possible.

  In the above embodiment, the see-through is given priority by setting the reflectance of the half mirror layer 28 provided on the fourth reflecting surface 21d of the light guide member 21 to 20%. However, the reflectance of the half mirror layer 28 is set to 50% or more. Priority can be given to light. Note that the half mirror layer 28 does not have to be formed on the entire surface of the fourth reflecting surface 21d, and can be formed only in a part of the necessary region. In addition, the half mirror layer 28 can form the half mirror layer 28 on the transmission surface 23c of the light transmission member 23, and also in this case, the half mirror layer 28 substantially functions as the fourth reflection surface 21d. Can do.

  In the above-described embodiment, the first and second surfaces 23a and 23b are provided in the fluoroscopic assisting portion C1 of the light transmitting member 23. However, the second surface 23b can be omitted. In this case, the second tapered surface 23g can be provided adjacent to the transmission surface 23c.

  In the said embodiment, in the light transmissive member 23, the taper part C2, the light-scattering part C3, or the light absorption part C4 is provided in the whole vertical Y direction, but the taper part C2, locally in a part of the vertical direction, The light scattering part C3 or the light absorption part C4 can be provided, and in this case as well, generation of ghost light can be suppressed.

  In the case where the light transmitting member 23 is provided with the tapered portion C2, it is desirable to release the ghost light to the front side without the eye EY. Therefore, it is desirable to appropriately adjust the angle τ1 of the first tapered surface 23f with respect to the first surface 23a and the angle τ2 of the second tapered surface 23g with respect to the second surface 23b.

  When the tapered portion C2 is provided in the light transmitting member 23, the taper does not need to be uniform and the return light can be prevented by a portion having a multi-stage taper or a curved taper.

  When the tapered portion C2 is provided on the light transmitting member 23, for example, a light scattering portion C3 and a light absorbing portion C4 can be additionally provided. In this case, the tapered surfaces 23f and 23g are roughened, or a light-absorbing paint is applied to the tapered surfaces 23f and 23g.

  The shape of the light transmissive member 23 is not limited to the shape in which the light guide member 21 is extended only in the lateral direction, that is, in the −X direction, and may include a portion that is extended so as to sandwich the light guide member 21 from above and below.

  In the above embodiment, the illumination light SL from the illumination device 31 is not particularly directed, but the illumination light SL can be provided with directivity corresponding to the position of the liquid crystal display device 32. As a result, the liquid crystal display device 32 can be efficiently illuminated, and luminance unevenness due to the position of the image light GL can be reduced.

  In the above embodiment, the display brightness of the liquid crystal display device 32 is not particularly adjusted, but the display brightness can be adjusted according to the range and overlap of the projection images IM1 and IM2 as shown in FIG. .

  In the above-described embodiment, the transmissive liquid crystal display device 32 or the like is used as the image display device 11. However, the image display device 11 is not limited to the transmissive liquid crystal display device 32, and various devices can be used. . For example, a configuration using a reflective liquid crystal display device is possible, and a digital micromirror device or the like can be used instead of the liquid crystal display device 32. Further, as the image display device 11, a self-luminous element represented by an LED array, an OLED (organic EL), or the like can be used.

  In the virtual image display device 100 of the above-described embodiment, the image forming device 10 and the light guide device 20 are provided one by one corresponding to both the right eye and the left eye, but either the right eye or the left eye. Only the image forming apparatus 10 and the light guide device 20 may be provided for only one eye.

  In the above embodiment, the first optical axis AX1 passing through the light incident surface IS and the second optical axis AX2 passing through the light incident surface IS are parallel, but these optical axes AX1 and AX2 are made non-parallel. You can also.

  In the above description, the virtual image display device 100 has been specifically described as being a head-mounted display, but the virtual image display device 100 can be modified to a head-up display.

  In the above description, in the first and second reflecting surfaces 21a and 21b, image light is totally reflected and guided by the interface with air without applying a mirror, a half mirror, or the like on the surface. The total reflection includes reflection formed by forming a mirror coat or a half mirror film on the whole or a part of the first and second reflection surfaces 21a and 21b. For example, after the incident angle of the image light satisfies the total reflection condition, the first and second reflection surfaces 21a and 21b are subjected to mirror coating or the like to reflect substantially all the image light. Cases are also included. In addition, as long as image light with sufficient brightness can be obtained, the first and second reflecting surfaces 21a and 21b may be entirely or partially coated with a somewhat transmissive mirror. Note that the first surface 23a and the second surface 23b of the light transmitting member 23 can also be entirely or partially coated with a somewhat transmissive mirror.

  In the above description, the light guide member 21 extends in the horizontal direction in which the eyes EY are arranged. However, the light guide member 21 can be extended in the vertical direction. In this case, the optical panels 110 are arranged in parallel, not in series.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image forming apparatus, 11 ... Image display apparatus, 12 ... Projection optical system, 20 ... Light guide apparatus, 21 ... Light guide member, 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d ... 1st-4th reflective surface, 21e ... Upper surface, 21f ... lower surface, 21h, 21i ... end face, 23 ... light transmitting member, 23a, 23b, 23c ... surface, 25 ... mirror layer, 27 ... hard coat layer, 28 ... half mirror layer (reflection film), 31 ... lighting device, 32 ... Liquid crystal display device, 32b ... Display area, 34 ... Drive control unit, 100 ... Virtual image display device, 100A, 100B ... Display device, 110 ... Optical panel, 121 ... Frame, 131, 132 ... Drive unit, AX1 ... First Optical axis, AX2 ... second optical axis, B1 ... light incident part, B2 ... light guide part, B3 ... light emitting part, B4 ... transparent part, C1 ... transparent auxiliary part, C2 ... taper part C3: Light scattering part, C4: Light absorption part, EY ... Eye, FS ... Flat surface, GL ... Image light, GL '... External light, GL11, GL12, GL21, GL22 ... Image light, IM1, IM2 ... Projected image, IS: Light incident surface, L1, L2, L3: Lens, OS: Light exit surface, P1: First display point, P2: Second display point, SL: Illumination light

Claims (8)

An image display device for forming image light;
A projection optical system for making the image light emitted from the image display device incident;
A light guide unit; a light incident unit that causes the image light from the projection optical system to enter the light guide unit; and a light emission unit that emits the image light guided by the light guide unit to the outside. , An integrated block-shaped light guide member that enables observation of the image light through the light emitting portion;
A light transmission member that enables observation of external light by combining with the light guide member;
The light guide unit has a first reflection surface and a second reflection surface that are arranged in parallel to each other and enable light guide by total reflection,
The light incident portion has a third reflecting surface that forms a predetermined angle with respect to the first reflecting surface;
The light emitting portion has a fourth reflecting surface that forms a predetermined angle with respect to the first reflecting surface,
The fourth reflecting surface is provided with a half mirror,
The light transmissive member includes a fluoroscopy assisting portion having at least a transmissive surface facing the fourth reflective surface and a first surface disposed in parallel to the second reflective surface, and the guide more than the fluoroscopy assisting portion. A light blocking portion that is provided on the light guide direction side of the optical member and prevents light from the light transmitting member from being guided to the light guide member;
The light blocking portion is a tapered portion whose thickness decreases toward the light guide direction side.
Virtual image display device. The light transmitting member has a second surface disposed substantially parallel to the first reflecting surface, and a first surface disposed substantially parallel to the second reflecting surface,
The virtual image display device according to claim 1, wherein the tapered portion includes a first tapered surface that forms an obtuse angle with respect to the first surface and a second tapered surface that forms an obtuse angle with respect to the second surface.   The virtual image display device according to claim 1, wherein the light blocking portion is a portion whose surface is roughened.   The virtual image display device according to claim 1, wherein the light blocking portion is a portion where a light absorbing paint is applied to a surface.   The number of reflections of the first image light emitted from the first partial region in the image display device at the light guide unit and the guide of the second image light emitted from a second partial region different from the first partial region. The virtual image display device according to claim 1, wherein the virtual image display device is different from the number of reflections in the optical part. The confinement direction, which is a direction in which an optical path is folded by reflection when the light is guided, is a direction parallel to a cross section including a first optical axis passing through the projection optical system and a normal line of the third reflecting surface. 5. The virtual image display device according to 5. The virtual image display device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the light guide member and the light transmission member are integrally and independently molded by injection molding.   The virtual image display device according to claim 7, wherein the light guide member and the light transmission member are each molded from a heat polymerization type resin material.

Images