U.S. patent application number 14/593634 was filed with the patent office on 2015-07-09 for wearable display apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Jae-Cheol BAE, Myong-Jo CHOI, Chang-han KIM, Hyun-jung KIM, Jun-ho KOH.
Application Number | 20150192777 14/593634 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53495035 |
Filed Date | 2015-07-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150192777 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BAE; Jae-Cheol ; et
al. |
July 9, 2015 |
WEARABLE DISPLAY APPARATUS
Abstract
Provided are a wearable display device and a light guide element
thereof, the display device including: a display element configured
to project a first light forming a virtual image; and a light guide
element configured to guide the first light from the display
element and a second light input from outside of the wearable
display device to a predetermined position. The light guide element
includes: a first optical surface facing the display element; a
second optical surface and a third optical surface configured to
reflect the first light input through the first optical surface;
and a fourth optical surface configured to reflect the reflected
first light to the predetermined position. The first to third
optical surfaces are flat surfaces, and the fourth optical surface
is a rotationally asymmetric reflective surface.
Inventors: |
BAE; Jae-Cheol; (Suwon-si,
KR) ; CHOI; Myong-Jo; (Hwaseong-si, KR) ; KOH;
Jun-ho; (Suwon-si, KR) ; KIM; Chang-han;
(Suwon-si, KR) ; KIM; Hyun-jung; (Suwon-si,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. |
Suwon-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
53495035 |
Appl. No.: |
14/593634 |
Filed: |
January 9, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/175 ;
359/245; 359/633 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/013 20130101;
G02B 27/0101 20130101; G02B 2027/0147 20130101; G06K 9/00006
20130101; G02B 2027/0138 20130101; G02B 2027/0118 20130101; G02B
2027/014 20130101; G06F 3/04842 20130101; G02B 27/0172 20130101;
G02B 2027/011 20130101; G02B 2027/0178 20130101; G02B 6/00
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G02B 27/01 20060101
G02B027/01; G06F 3/042 20060101 G06F003/042; G06K 9/00 20060101
G06K009/00; G02F 1/01 20060101 G02F001/01 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 9, 2014 |
KR |
10-2014-0002899 |
Dec 10, 2014 |
KR |
10-2014-0177758 |
Claims
1. A wearable display device comprising: a display element
configured to project a first light forming a virtual image; and a
light guide element configured to guide the first light from the
display element and a second light input from outside of the
wearable display device to a predetermined position, wherein the
light guide element comprises: a first optical surface through
which the first light from the display element is input; a second
optical surface configured to reflect the first light input through
the first optical surface; a third optical surface configured to
reflect the first light input through the first optical surface;
and a fourth optical surface configured to reflect the reflected
first light, reflected by the second optical surface and the third
optical surface, to the predetermined position, wherein the first
optical surface, the second optical surface, and the third optical
surface are flat surfaces, and wherein the fourth optical surface
is a rotationally asymmetric reflective surface.
2. The wearable display device of claim 1, wherein a distance
between an apex of the fourth optical surface and the third optical
surface is less than one half of a distance between the second
optical surface and the third optical surface.
3. The wearable display device of claim 1, wherein: the second
optical surface and the third optical surface are parallel to each
other; and the fourth optical surface is inclined with respect to a
direction perpendicular to the second optical surface and the third
optical surface.
4. The wearable display device of claim 1, wherein the fourth
optical surface transmits some of the first light, and reflects a
remainder of the first light to the predetermined position.
5. The wearable display device of claim 1, wherein a chief ray of
the first light is totally reflected 2n times, where n is a natural
number, by the second optical surface and the third optical
surface.
6. The wearable display device of claim 1, further comprising a
lens system between the first optical surface and the display
element and configured to refract the first light projected from
the display element.
7. The wearable display device of claim 1, wherein an angle between
the second optical surface and the first optical surface is not
equal to an angle between the second optical surface and a surface
of the display element.
8. The wearable display device of claim 1, wherein: the light guide
element further comprises: a light guide portion comprising the
first optical surface, the second optical surface, the third
optical surface, and the fourth optical surface, and a compensation
portion bonded to the fourth optical surface of the light guide
portion, wherein the light guide portion and the compensation
portion have powers that have opposite signs and a same absolute
value.
9. The wearable display device of claim 1, wherein the light guide
element further comprises: a body between the second optical
surface and the third optical surface and having a constant
thickness; a first portion between the first optical surface and
the second optical surface and having a thickness that gradually
increases towards the display element; and a second portion between
the third optical surface and the fourth optical surface and having
a thickness that gradually decreases in a direction away from the
display element.
10. The wearable display device of claim 1, wherein the light guide
element further comprises: a body between the second optical
surface and the third optical surface and having a constant
thickness; a first portion between the first optical surface and
the second optical surface and having a thickness that gradually
decreases towards the display element; and a second portion between
the third optical surface and the fourth optical surface and having
a thickness that gradually decreases in a direction away from the
display element.
11. The wearable display device of claim 1, further comprising: a
first window and a second window on a front side of the wearable
display device; and a controller that controls transmissivities of
the first window and the second window.
12. The wearable display device of claim 11, wherein the controller
is configured to control the transmissivities of the first window
and the second window by controlling a voltage applied to the first
window and the second window.
13. The wearable display device of claim 11, wherein the controller
is configured to control the transmissivities of the first window
and the second window according to a luminous intensity of a
surrounding environment.
14. The wearable display device of claim 13, further comprising a
sensor configured to measure the luminous intensity of the
surrounding environment.
15. The wearable display device of claim 1, further comprising a
touch sensor configured to sense at least one of a touch and a
hovering gesture.
16. The wearable display device of claim 15, wherein: the touch
sensor is configured to recognize a fingerprint; and the wearable
display device further comprises a controller configured to, when
first fingerprint data is input through the touch sensor, compare
the first fingerprint data and second fingerprint data that is
previously stored and to, when the first fingerprint data and the
second fingerprint data correspond to each other according to the
comparing, perform a function mapped to the second fingerprint
data.
17. The wearable display device of claim 16, wherein the mapped
function is one of an unlock function, an application execution
function, a user account change function, and a multimedia control
function.
18. The wearable display device of claim 1, further comprising: a
communicator configured to receive touch information from an
external electronic device; and a controller configured to change,
according to the received touch information, a virtual image
displayed on the wearable display device to another virtual
image.
19. The wearable display device of claim 1, further comprising: a
first camera configured to capture an image of a front subject with
reference to a position of the light guide element; a second camera
configured to capture an image of a lower subject with reference to
the position of the light guide element; and a controller
configured to recognize a hand or a finger from the image captured
through the second camera, and to change a virtual image displayed
on the wearable display device to another virtual image according
to a gesture of the recognized hand or the recognized finger.
20. The wearable display device of claim 1, further comprising a
light shielding member on the second optical surface or the third
optical surface to absorb some of the first light or to extract
some of the first light to an outside of the light guide
element.
21. The wearable display device of claim 1, further comprising an
actuator configured to move the light guide element.
22. The wearable display device of claim 1, further comprising: a
light source configured to output a third light towards the
predetermined position; and an image sensor configured to receive a
reflected portion of the third light through the light guide
element.
23. The wearable display device of claim 22, further comprising at
least one actuator configured to move the light guide element and
the image sensor together.
24. The wearable display device of claim 1, further comprising a
transparent cover glass on a surface of the display element facing
the light guide element, to protect the surface of the display
element.
25. A light guide element for a display device, the light guide
element comprising: a first optical surface configured to receive
first light from a display element of the display device; a second
optical surface configured to reflect the first light received
through the first optical surface; a third optical surface
configured to reflect the first light input received through the
first optical surface; and a fourth optical surface configured to
reflect the reflected first light, reflected by the second optical
surface and the third optical surface, toward a predetermined
position to form a virtual image, and to transmit a second light
input from an outside toward the predetermined position, wherein
the first optical surface, the second optical surface, and the
third optical surface are flat surfaces, and wherein the fourth
optical surface is a rotationally asymmetric reflective
surface.
26. The light guide element of claim 25, wherein a distance between
an apex of the fourth optical surface and the third optical surface
is less than one half of a distance between the second optical
surface and the third optical surface.
27. The light guide element of claim 25, wherein: the second
optical surface and the third optical surface are parallel to each
other; and the fourth optical surface is inclined with respect to a
direction perpendicular to the second optical surface and the third
optical surface.
28. The light guide element of claim 25, wherein the fourth optical
surface transmits some of the first light, and reflects a remainder
of the first light toward the predetermined position.
29. The light guide element of claim 25, wherein a chief ray of the
first light is totally reflected 2n times, where n is a natural
number, by the second optical surface and the third optical
surface.
30. The light guide element of claim 25, further comprising: a
light guide portion comprising the first optical surface, the
second optical surface, the third optical surface, and the fourth
optical surface; and a compensation portion connected to the fourth
optical surface of the light guide portion, wherein the light guide
portion and the compensation portion have powers that have opposite
signs and a same absolute value.
31. The light guide element of claim 25, further comprising: a body
between the second optical surface and the third optical surface
and having a constant thickness; a first portion between the first
optical surface and the second optical surface and having a
thickness that gradually increases towards the display element; and
a second portion between the third optical surface and the fourth
optical surface and having a thickness that gradually decreases in
a direction away from the display element.
32. The light guide element of claim 25, further comprising: a body
between the second optical surface and the third optical surface
and having a constant thickness; a first portion between the first
optical surface and the second optical surface and having a
thickness that gradually decreases towards the display element; and
a second portion between the third optical surface and the fourth
optical surface and having a thickness that gradually decreases in
a direction away from the display element.
33. The light guide element of claim 25, further comprising a light
shielding member on the second optical surface or the third optical
surface to absorb some of the first light or to extract some of the
first light to an outside of the light guide element.
34. A display device comprising: a display element configured to
output a first light forming a virtual image; and a light guide
element configured to guide the first light from the display
element toward a predetermined position, wherein the light guide
element comprises: a first optical surface through which the first
light from the display element is input; a second optical surface
configured to reflect the first light input through the first
optical surface; a third optical surface configured to reflect the
first light input through the first optical surface; and a fourth
optical surface configured to reflect the reflected first light,
reflected by the second optical surface and the third optical
surface, to the predetermined position, wherein the fourth optical
surface is a rotationally asymmetric reflective surface.
35. The display device of claim 34, wherein a distance between an
apex of the fourth optical surface and the third optical surface is
less than one half of a distance between the second optical surface
and the third optical surface.
36. The display device of claim 34, wherein: the second optical
surface and the third optical surface are parallel to each other;
and the fourth optical surface is inclined with respect to a
direction perpendicular to the second optical surface and the third
optical surface.
37. The display device of claim 34, wherein the fourth optical
surface transmits some of the first light, and reflects a remainder
of the first light to the predetermined position.
38. The display device of claim 34, wherein a chief ray of the
first light is reflected 2n times, where n is a natural number, by
the second optical surface and the third optical surface.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from Korean Patent
Application Serial No. 10-2014-0002899, filed on Jan. 9, 2014 in
the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and from Korean
Application Serial No. 10-2014-0177758, filed on Dec. 10, 2014 in
the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire contents of
which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] Apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary
embodiments relate to a wearable display device.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Some commercially available body-wearable display devices
may include an input/output (I/O) device configured to be worn on a
part of a body, and a main circuit device or a battery configured
as a separate module type. The circuit device or the battery
configured as the separated module type may be connected to the I/O
device through a wire. Since an electronic device of this type is
inconvenient to carry and use, the electronic device may mainly be
used in a limited environment, for example, indoors.
[0006] Head-wearable display devices are classified as a video
see-through type or an optical see-through type according to
constructions of displays that output image information. The video
see-through type refers to a type of head-wearable display device
that synthesizes an image obtained through a camera and image
information provided from a computer to provide the image and image
information to a user in a synthesized form. The video see-through
type has a problem in that since the user is to recognize
surroundings based on only the image obtained through the camera,
the user may be isolated from a real surrounding environment.
[0007] Meanwhile, the optical see-through type refers to a type of
head-wearable display device that projects virtual image
information provided from a computer to a surrounding environment
directly recognized by the user, thereby allowing the user to be in
harmony with the surrounding environment. However, the optical
see-through type has a problem in that the resolution of the
virtual image information may be considerably changed depending on
a luminous intensity. Of course, the resolution of the virtual
image information may be forcibly set to be high. However, this is
not desirable for a portable electronic device since the
consumption of power increases at the high resolution.
Additionally, the related art optical see-through type display
devices have problems in that they are thick, are poor in image
quality due to occurrence of aberrations, have a complicated
manufacturing process, are heavy, and so on.
SUMMARY
[0008] An object of at least one exemplary embodiment is to solve,
alleviate or remove least one of the problems and/or disadvantages
described above.
[0009] Aspects of one or more exemplary embodiments provide a
compact and light wearable display device in which an aberration by
a manufacturing tolerance occurs less often.
[0010] According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is
provided a wearable display device including: a display element
configured to project a first light forming a virtual image; and a
light guide element configured to guide the first light from the
display element and a second light input from outside of the
wearable display device to a predetermined position, wherein the
light guide element includes: a first optical surface through which
the first light from the display element is input; a second optical
surface configured to reflect the first light input through the
first optical surface; a third optical surface configured to
reflect the first light input through the first optical surface;
and a fourth optical surface configured to reflect the reflected
first light, reflected by the second optical surface and the third
optical surface, to the predetermined position, wherein the first
optical surface, the second optical surface, and the third optical
surface are flat surfaces, and wherein the fourth optical surface
is a rotationally asymmetric reflective surface.
[0011] A distance between an apex of the fourth optical surface and
the third optical surface may be less than one half of a distance
between the second optical surface and the third optical
surface.
[0012] The second optical surface and the third optical surface may
be parallel to each other; and the fourth optical surface may be
inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the second
optical surface and the third optical surface.
[0013] The fourth optical surface may transmit some of the first
light, and reflect a remainder of the first light to the
predetermined position.
[0014] A chief ray of the first light may be totally reflected 2n
times, where n is a natural number, by the second optical surface
and the third optical surface.
[0015] The wearable display device may further include a lens
system between the first optical surface and the display element
and configured to refract the first light projected from the
display element.
[0016] An angle between the second optical surface and the first
optical surface may not be equal to an angle between the second
optical surface and a surface of the display element.
[0017] The light guide element may further include: a light guide
portion including the first optical surface, the second optical
surface, the third optical surface, and the fourth optical surface,
and a compensation portion bonded to the fourth optical surface of
the light guide portion, wherein the light guide portion and the
compensation portion may have powers that have opposite signs and a
same absolute value.
[0018] The light guide element may further include: a body between
the second optical surface and the third optical surface and having
a constant thickness; a first portion between the first optical
surface and the second optical surface and having a thickness that
gradually increases towards the display element; and a second
portion between the third optical surface and the fourth optical
surface and having a thickness that gradually decreases in a
direction away from the display element.
[0019] The light guide element may further include: a body between
the second optical surface and the third optical surface and having
a constant thickness; a first portion between the first optical
surface and the second optical surface and having a thickness that
gradually decreases towards the display element; and a second
portion between the third optical surface and the fourth optical
surface and having a thickness that gradually decreases in a
direction away from the display element.
[0020] The wearable display device may further include: a first
window and a second window on a front side of the wearable display
device; and a controller that controls transmissivities of the
first window and the second window.
[0021] The controller may be configured to control the
transmissivities of the first window and the second window by
controlling a voltage applied to the first window and the second
window.
[0022] The controller may be configured to control the
transmissivities of the first window and the second window
according to a luminous intensity of a surrounding environment.
[0023] The wearable display device may further include a sensor
configured to measure the luminous intensity of the surrounding
environment.
[0024] The wearable display device may further include a touch
sensor configured to sense at least one of a touch and a hovering
gesture.
[0025] The touch sensor may be configured to recognize a
fingerprint; and the wearable display device may further include a
controller configured to, when first fingerprint data is input
through the touch sensor, compare the first fingerprint data and
second fingerprint data that is previously stored and to, when the
first fingerprint data and the second fingerprint data correspond
to each other according to the comparing, perform a function mapped
to the second fingerprint data.
[0026] The mapped function may be one of an unlock function, an
application execution function, a user account change function, and
a multimedia control function.
[0027] The wearable display device may further include: a
communicator configured to receive touch information from an
external electronic device; and a controller configured to change,
according to the received touch information, a virtual image
displayed on the wearable display device to another virtual
image.
[0028] The wearable display device may further include: a first
camera configured to capture an image of a front subject with
reference to a position of the light guide element; a second camera
configured to capture an image of a lower subject with reference to
the position of the light guide element; and a controller
configured to recognize a hand or a finger from the image captured
through the second camera, and to change a virtual image displayed
on the wearable display device to another virtual image according
to a gesture of the recognized hand or the recognized finger.
[0029] The wearable display device may further include a light
shielding member on the second optical surface or the third optical
surface to absorb some of the first light or to extract some of the
first light to an outside of the light guide element.
[0030] The wearable display device may further include an actuator
configured to move the light guide element.
[0031] The wearable display device may further include: a light
source configured to output a third light towards the predetermined
position; and an image sensor configured to receive a reflected
portion of the third light through the light guide element.
[0032] The wearable display device may further include at least one
actuator configured to move the light guide element and the image
sensor together.
[0033] The wearable display device may further include a
transparent cover glass on a surface of the display element facing
the light guide element, to protect the surface of the display
element.
[0034] According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment,
there is provided a light guide element for a display device, the
light guide element including: a first optical surface configured
to receive first light from a display element of the display
device; a second optical surface configured to reflect the first
light received through the first optical surface; a third optical
surface configured to reflect the first light input received
through the first optical surface; and a fourth optical surface
configured to reflect the reflected first light, reflected by the
second optical surface and the third optical surface, toward a
predetermined position to form a virtual image, and to transmit a
second light input from an outside toward the predetermined
position, wherein the first optical surface, the second optical
surface, and the third optical surface are flat surfaces, and
wherein the fourth optical surface is a rotationally asymmetric
reflective surface.
[0035] A distance between an apex of the fourth optical surface and
the third optical surface may be less than one half of a distance
between the second optical surface and the third optical
surface.
[0036] The second optical surface and the third optical surface may
be parallel to each other; and the fourth optical surface may be
inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the second
optical surface and the third optical surface.
[0037] The fourth optical surface may transmit some of the first
light, and reflect a remainder of the first light toward the
predetermined position.
[0038] A chief ray of the first light may be totally reflected 2n
times, where n is a natural number, by the second optical surface
and the third optical surface.
[0039] The light guide element may further include: a light guide
portion including the first optical surface, the second optical
surface, the third optical surface, and the fourth optical surface;
and a compensation portion connected to the fourth optical surface
of the light guide portion, wherein the light guide portion and the
compensation portion may have powers that have opposite signs and a
same absolute value.
[0040] The light guide element may further include: a body between
the second optical surface and the third optical surface and having
a constant thickness; a first portion between the first optical
surface and the second optical surface and having a thickness that
gradually increases towards the display element; and a second
portion between the third optical surface and the fourth optical
surface and having a thickness that gradually decreases in a
direction away from the display element.
[0041] The light guide element may further include: a body between
the second optical surface and the third optical surface and having
a constant thickness; a first portion between the first optical
surface and the second optical surface and having a thickness that
gradually decreases towards the display element; and a second
portion between the third optical surface and the fourth optical
surface and having a thickness that gradually decreases in a
direction away from the display element.
[0042] The light guide element may further include a light
shielding member on the second optical surface or the third optical
surface to absorb some of the first light or to extract some of the
first light to an outside of the light guide element.
[0043] According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment,
there is provided a display device including: a display element
configured to output a first light forming a virtual image; and a
light guide element configured to guide the first light from the
display element toward a predetermined position, wherein the light
guide element includes: a first optical surface through which the
first light from the display element is input; a second optical
surface configured to reflect the first light input through the
first optical surface; a third optical surface configured to
reflect the first light input through the first optical surface;
and a fourth optical surface configured to reflect the reflected
first light, reflected by the second optical surface and the third
optical surface, to the predetermined position, wherein the fourth
optical surface is a rotationally asymmetric reflective
surface.
[0044] A distance between an apex of the fourth optical surface and
the third optical surface may be less than one half of a distance
between the second optical surface and the third optical
surface.
[0045] The second optical surface and the third optical surface may
be parallel to each other; and the fourth optical surface may be
inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the second
optical surface and the third optical surface.
[0046] The fourth optical surface may transmit some of the first
light, and reflect a remainder of the first light to the
predetermined position.
[0047] A chief ray of the first light may be reflected 2n times,
where n is a natural number, by the second optical surface and the
third optical surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0048] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages will
be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0049] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a configuration of a display
device according to an exemplary embodiment;
[0050] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an external
appearance of a display device according to an exemplary
embodiment;
[0051] FIG. 3 illustrates a configuration of a first window
according to an exemplary embodiment;
[0052] FIG. 4 illustrates a configuration of a first projector
according to an exemplary embodiment;
[0053] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate aberration characteristics of a
light guide element according to an exemplary embodiment;
[0054] FIG. 6 illustrates a configuration of a first projector
according to another exemplary embodiment;
[0055] FIG. 7 illustrates a configuration of a first projector
according to still another exemplary embodiment;
[0056] FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate aberration characteristics of a
light guide element according to still another exemplary
embodiment;
[0057] FIG. 9 illustrates a configuration of a first projector
according to still another exemplary embodiment;
[0058] FIGS. 10 and 11 are views for describing transmissivity
control of a display device;
[0059] FIGS. 12 and 13A and 13B are views for describing a
fingerprint-based shortcut key execution according to an exemplary
embodiment;
[0060] FIG. 14 is a view for describing a user account change
function according to a fingerprint input, according to an
exemplary embodiment;
[0061] FIG. 15 is a view for describing a screen control method of
a display device using a peripheral electronic device, according to
an exemplary embodiment;
[0062] FIGS. 16A and 16B are views for describing a screen control
method of a display device using a camera, according to an
exemplary embodiment;
[0063] FIG. 17 illustrates a configuration of a first projector
according to yet another exemplary embodiment;
[0064] FIG. 18 illustrates a configuration of a first projector
according to yet another exemplary embodiment;
[0065] FIGS. 19A to 19D exemplify various ghost prevention members
according to one or more exemplary embodiments;
[0066] FIG. 20 illustrates a configuration of a first projector
according to yet another exemplary embodiment;
[0067] FIGS. 21 and 22 are views for describing an operation of the
first projector of FIG. 20;
[0068] FIG. 23 illustrates a configuration of a first projector
according to yet another exemplary embodiment; and
[0069] FIG. 24 is a view for describing an operation of the first
projector of FIG. 23.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0070] The present disclosure may be variously changed and may have
various exemplary embodiments. Exemplary embodiments exemplified in
the drawings will be described in detail below. However, it should
be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to these
exemplary embodiments, but the present disclosure includes all
modifications, equivalents, and alternatives within the spirit and
the scope of the present disclosure.
[0071] Although the terms including an ordinal number such as
first, second, etc., can be used for describing various elements,
the structural elements are not restricted by the terms. The terms
are only used to distinguish one element from another element. For
example, without departing from the scope of the present
disclosure, a first structural element may be named a second
structural element. Similarly, the second structural element also
may be named the first structural element. As used herein, the term
"and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more
associated items. the term "at least one of", when preceding a list
of elements, represents any or a partial or whole combination of
the elements.
[0072] The terms used in this application are for the purpose of
describing exemplary embodiments only and is not intended to limit
the inventive concept. As used herein, the singular forms are
intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context
clearly indicates otherwise. In the description, it should be
understood that the terms "include" or "have" indicate existence of
a feature, a number, a step, an operation, a structural element,
parts, or a combination thereof, and do not previously exclude the
existences or probability of addition of one or more another
features, numeral, steps, operations, structural elements, parts,
or combinations thereof.
[0073] Unless defined differently, all terms used herein, which
include technical terminologies or scientific terminologies, have
the same meaning as that understood by a person skilled in the art
to which the present disclosure belongs. Such terms as those
defined in a generally used dictionary are to be interpreted to
have the meanings equal to the contextual meanings in the relevant
field of art, and are not to be interpreted to have ideal or
excessively formal meanings unless clearly defined in the present
specification.
[0074] Furthermore, in the description of exemplary embodiments, a
"module" or a "unit" may perform at least one function or operation
and may be embodied as hardware or software or as a combination of
hardware and software. Also, a plurality of "modules" or a
plurality of "units" may be integrated into at least one module
except a "module" or a "unit" that may be embodied as particular
hardware, to be embodied as at least one processor.
[0075] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a configuration of a display
device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0076] A display device 100 includes an input/output (I/O) module
110, a storage unit 120 (e.g., storage), a sensor unit 130 (e.g.,
sensor), a communication unit 140 (e.g., communicator), a battery
150, a power management unit 155 (e.g., power manager), a first
projector 180, a second projector 185, a first window 190, a second
window 195, and a control unit 200 (e.g., controller). The sensor
unit 130 includes a touch sensor 160, a first camera 170, and a
second camera 175.
[0077] The I/O module 110 is configured to receive a user input,
relay or inform of the user input, receive data from the outside,
and/or output data to the outside. The I/O module 110 may include
at least one speaker 111, at least one microphone 112, at least one
button 113, a connector, a keypad, or a combination thereof, though
it is understood that one or more other exemplary embodiments are
not limited thereto.
[0078] The speaker 111 may output sounds corresponding to various
data (e.g., wireless data, broadcasting data, a digital audio file,
a digital video file, photographing, etc.) to the outside of the
display device 100 according to a control of the control unit 200.
The speaker 111 may output a sound corresponding to a function
(i.e., operation) performed by the display device 100. One speaker
111 or two or more speakers 111 may be disposed at one position or
two or more positions in the housing of the display device 100.
[0079] The microphone 112 receives or captures a voice or a sound
from the outside of the display device 100 to generate an electric
signal, and outputs the generated signal to the control unit 200.
One microphone 112 or two or more microphones 112 may be disposed
at one position or two or more positions in the housing of the
display device 100. Herein, a signal may be referred to as data or
information, or the data may be referred to as a data signal.
[0080] The button 113 is provided to receive a user input, and may
be used for turning ON/OFF the display device 100, selecting and/or
retrieving a menu item or an item, etc. The button 113 may include
at least one of a power button, a volume button, a menu button, a
home button, a back button, retrieval buttons (a leftward button, a
rightward button, an upward button, a downward button, etc.), or a
combination thereof. One button 113 or two or more buttons 113 may
be disposed at one position or two or more positions on the housing
of the display device 100.
[0081] The connector may be used as an interface for
interconnecting the display device 100 and an external electronic
device or a power source. The connector may be connected to a
connector of the external electronic device or the power source
directly or via a wired cable. Through the connector connection,
the control unit 200 may transmit data stored in the storage unit
120 to the electronic device or receive data from the electronic
device. In addition, the display device 100 may receive power from
a power source via the wired cable connected to the connector to
charge the battery 150.
[0082] The keypad may receive a key input from the user to control
the display device 100. The keypad may include at least one of a
physical keypad disposed on the display device 100, a virtual
keypad displayed by a first projector 180 and/or a second projector
185, etc.
[0083] The sensor unit 130 includes at least one sensor that
detects a state of the display device 100 or a state of a
surrounding environment. For example, the sensor unit 130 may
include a proximity sensor that detects whether the user approaches
the display device 100 or not, a motion/azimuth sensor that detects
a movement of the display device 100 (e.g., rotation, acceleration,
deceleration, or vibration of the display device 100), an
illumination sensor that detects a peripheral luminous intensity,
first and second cameras that photograph a subject, a touch sensor
that senses a user's touch or hovering gesture, or a combination
thereof. In addition, the motion/azimuth sensor may include at
least one of an acceleration sensor, a gravity sensor, a
geomagnetic sensor, a gyro sensor, an impact sensor, a global
positioning system (GPS) module, and a compass sensor. The sensor
unit 130 may detect a state of the display device 100 to transmit a
signal representing the state of the display device 100 to the
control unit 200. For example, the GPS module may receive
electromagnetic waves from a plurality of GPS satellites in orbit
around the earth and calculate the position of the display device
100 using the time of arrival from a GPS satellite to the display
device 100. The compass sensor calculates the posture or azimuth of
the display device 100.
[0084] The touch sensor 160 may transmit a signal corresponding to
at least one touch input to the control unit 200. The user may
touch the touch sensor 160 using a part of the user's body (e.g., a
finger) or any other touch input mechanism, method, or device, and
the touch sensor 160 may receive the user's touch input. In
addition, the touch sensor 160 may receive an input according to a
continuous movement of touch (i.e., a drag input). The touch input
information may include a touch coordinate and/or a touch state.
The touch state may be a mouse down state (e.g., a click state, an
input state, etc.) where the touch sensor 160 is pushed, a mouse up
state (e.g., a release state) where a finger is released from the
touch sensor 160, a drag state where the finger or a touch input
mechanism is slid on the touch sensor 160 in a state where the
touch sensor 160 is pushed. The control unit 200 determines
selection or movement of a menu item or an item, and user input
information such as a writing input from the touch input
information, and performs a function corresponding to the user
input information (e.g., phone connection, camera photographing,
message writing/view, or data transmission).
[0085] In the present exemplary embodiment, the touch is not
limited to a contact between the touch sensor 160 and the touch
input mechanism, but may include a non-contact input (e.g., when
the touch sensor 160 and the touch input mechanism are spaced apart
from each other). Such a non-contact touch input may be referred to
as a hovering or hover input or may be referred to as a gesture
input. The touch sensor 160 may be implemented in a resistive type,
a capacitive type, an infrared type, an acoustic wave type, an
ElectroMagnetic Resonance (EMR) type, or a combination thereof.
[0086] The touch sensor 160 may have a fingerprint sensing function
so that when a user's finger comes in contact with the surface of
the touch sensor 160, the touch sensor 160 generates fingerprint
information corresponding to the fingerprint pattern of the finger.
In addition, the touch sensor 160 may have a switch structure to
generate push sensing data according to the user's pushing. The
touch sensor 160 outputs the generated fingerprint data and/or push
sensing data to the control unit 200. Alternatively or
additionally, the touch sensor 160 may sense the user's fingerprint
input direction to generate fingerprint input direction data, and
output the generated fingerprint input direction data to the
control unit 200. That is, the fingerprint information may include
at least one of fingerprint pattern information, push sensing data,
and fingerprint input direction information.
[0087] The control unit 200 may recognize the user's fingerprint
from the fingerprint information received from the touch sensor
160. The control unit 200 may map and store at least one
fingerprint and at least one executable function or corresponding
user in the storage unit 120. In addition, the storage unit 120 may
store fingerprint information of a previously registered user, and
the control unit 200 may retrieve the fingerprint information
matched with the fingerprint information received from the touch
sensor 160 in the storage unit 120 to determine the user or
function mapped to the retrieved fingerprint information. When the
function is mapped to the retrieved finger information, the control
unit 200 may execute the mapped function.
[0088] The executable function may be, for example, an unlock
function, an application execution function, a user account change
function, a multimedia control function, an application task or
process execution function, a mode switch or setting function, a
parameter control function (e.g., volume, brightness, zoom,
application setting, notification setting, etc.), etc.
[0089] The unlock function refers to a function of releasing a
locking of the display device 100 through a fingerprint input. For
example, when a user input is not received for a predetermined
length of time, the control unit 200 may restrict the function
execution of the display device 100. The unlock function refers to
a function of releasing the function execution restriction. The
application execution function refers to a function that executes,
for example, a game application, a social networking service (SNS)
application, a document preparation application, a multimedia
application, etc., or executes, for example, a phone application or
a message application to perform a function of automatically
connecting to a previously set contact point. The user account
change function refers to a function of selecting one of a
plurality of user accounts. The multimedia control function refers
to a function of displaying, for example, a volume control menu or
a reproduction menu, or a function of performing a volume control
such as volume-increasing, volume-decreasing or mute, or a
multimedia control such as rewind, fast rewind, temporary stop, or
reproduction.
[0090] Each of the first and second cameras 170 and 175 may include
a lens system and an image sensor, and may further include, for
example, a flash device. Each of the first and second cameras 170
and 175 may convert a light input through the lens system (or
captured or photographed) into an electric image signal (e.g., a
digital image) to output the converted image signal to the control
unit 200. Furthermore, a user may photograph or capture a video
picture or a still image through each of the cameras 170 and 175.
In addition, each of the cameras 170 and 175 may be provided to
receive a user input by the user's motion or gesture.
[0091] The lens system allows the light input from the outside to
converge to form an image of a subject. The lens system may include
one or more lenses, in which each of the lenses may be, for
example, a convex lens, an aspheric lens, etc. The lens system is
symmetric with respect to an optical axis that passes the center
thereof and the optical axis is defined as the central axis. The
image sensor detects an optical image formed by an external light
input through the lens system as an electric image signal. The
image sensor includes a plurality of pixel units arranged in an
M.times.N matrix structure, in which each pixel unit may include a
photodiode and a plurality of transistors (e.g., a 2T pixel, a 3T
pixel, a 4T pixel, a 5T pixel, etc.). The pixel units accumulate
charges generated by input light, and the voltage generated by the
accumulated charges represents a luminous intensity of the input
light. In a case where a still image or an image of a video picture
is processed, an image signal output from the image sensor is
configured by a set of voltages output from the pixel units (that
is, pixel values), and the image signal represents one frame (that
is, a still image). In addition, the frame includes M.times.N
pixels. As the image sensor, for example, a Charge-Coupled Device
(CCD) image sensor, a Complementary Metal-oxide Semiconductor
(CMOS) image sensor, etc., may be used.
[0092] The image sensor may operate all the pixels of the image
sensor or only the pixels of an interest region among all the
pixels, in which the image data output from the pixels is output to
the control unit 200.
[0093] The first camera 170 may be used for photographing and
recognizing a front subject with reference to (e.g., relative to)
the position of a user's eye. The second camera 175 may be used for
photographing a lower subject (e.g., the user's hand) with
reference to the position of the user's eye.
[0094] The second camera 175 may be an infrared camera, and the
second camera 175 may include an infrared light source that outputs
infrared rays, and an image sensor that detects the infrared rays
reflected from the subject and converts the detected infrared rays
into an electric image signal or data (e.g., a digital image) to
output the converted electric image signal or data.
[0095] The communication unit 140 may be a wired, wireless, or
wired/wireless communication unit. The communication unit 140
transmits data from the control unit 200 wiredly or wirelessly or
to an electronic device through an external communication network
and the atmosphere, or receives data from an electronic device
wiredly or wirelessly through the external communication network or
the atmosphere and transmits the data to the control unit 200.
[0096] The communication unit 140 may include at least one of a
mobile communication module (e.g., mobile communication transmitter
or transceiver), a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) module (e.g.,
LAN transmitter or transceiver), and a short range communication
module (e.g., short range communication transmitter or transceiver)
depending on the performance thereof.
[0097] The mobile communication module allows the display device
100 to communicate with an electronic device through a mobile
communication network using at least one antenna according to a
control of the control unit 200. The mobile communication module
transmits or receives a wireless signal for a voice call, a video
call, a Short Message Service (SMS) or a Multimedia Message Service
(MMS) with a portable phone, a smart phone, a tablet personal
computer (PC), or any other communication device that has a network
address such as an Internet Protocol (IP) or a phone number.
[0098] The wireless LAN module may be connected to the Internet
via, for example, an Access Point (AP) according to a control of
the control unit 200. The wireless LAN module supports the wireless
LAN standard (IEEE802.11x) of the Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
[0099] The short range communication module may perform short range
communication with an external short range communication device
according to a control of the control unit 200. The short range
communication method may be Bluetooth, Infrared Data Association
(IrDA), WiFi-Direct communication, Near Field Communication (NFC),
or a combination thereof.
[0100] The power management unit 155 may supply power to the
display device 100 according to a control of the control unit 200.
The power management unit 155 may be connected to one battery 150
or two or more batteries 150. In addition, the power management
unit 155 may supply the power input from an external power source
to the display device 100 through a wired cable connected to a
connector.
[0101] The control unit 200 may process a Graphic User Interface
(GUI) by the frame unit using an image from the cameras 170 and
175, an image stored in the storage unit 120, or data stored in the
storage unit 120, and may output an image frame converted to be
suitable for screen output characteristics (e.g., a size, a quality
of image, and a resolution) of the first projector 180 and/or the
second projector 185) to the outside through the first projector
180 and/or the second projector 185 or store the image frame in the
storage unit 120. Hereinafter, while a GUI is specifically
described as an example of a virtual image formed by the first
projector 180 and/or the second projector 185 in the present
disclosure, the GUI is an example of a "virtual image", and the
term "virtual image" may be used in a sense of including (or
displaying) a virtual object that is not a real object, such as a
GUI or a still image.
[0102] The control unit 200 may provide virtual images
corresponding to various services (e.g., phone call, data
transmission, broadcasting, photographing, etc.) to the user
through the first projector 180 and/or the second projector 185. In
addition, the control unit 200 may provide a still image or a video
picture to the user through the virtual image. That is, in the
present disclosure, the virtual image may represent a screen
expressed as a still image or a video picture.
[0103] The first and second projectors 180 and 185 have the same or
similar configuration, and each of the projectors 180 and 185
projects lights that form the virtual image, which is provided by
the control unit 200, to the user's eye or eyes. According to one
or more other exemplary embodiments, more than two projectors may
be included, or a single projector may be included. In the case of
a single projector, the single projector may project light to
various regions.
[0104] The first and second windows 190 and 195 are disposed on the
front side of the display device 100 and have the same or similar
configuration. Each of the windows 190 and 195 has transmissivity
which is changed according to a control of the control unit 200.
According to one or more other exemplary embodiments, more than two
windows may be included, or a single window may be included. In the
case of a single window, the single window may be divided into one
or more regions.
[0105] The control unit 200 controls the overall operation of the
display device 100 and controls other components in the display
device 100 to perform a virtual image providing method. The control
unit 200 may include a single core processor, a dual core
processor, a triple core processor, a quad core processor, a
multi-core processor, etc. The control unit 200 may receive a
broadcasting signal (e.g., a television (TV) broadcasting signal, a
radio broadcasting signal, a data broadcasting signal, etc.)
transmitted from a broadcasting station and additional broadcasting
information (e.g., an Electronic Program Guide (EPG), an Electronic
Service Guide (ESG), etc.). Alternatively or additionally, the
control unit 200 may reproduce a digital audio signal (e.g., a file
having a file extension of mp3, wma, ogg, way, etc.) stored in the
storage unit 120 or received through the communication unit 140,
through the speaker 111. In addition, the control unit 200 may
reproduce a digital video file (e.g., a file having a file
extension of mpeg, mpg, mp4, avi, mov, mkv, etc.) stored in the
storage unit 120 or received through the communication unit 140,
through the first projector 180 and/or the second projector 185.
The control unit 200 may display image data (e.g., a GUI), which is
configured, obtained, or generated by the control unit 200 using
data stored in the storage unit 120 or received from the
communication unit 140 according to a user command, a menu item, an
icon selection, event information which is input through the sensor
unit 130 or the I/O module 110, etc., to the user through the first
projector 180 and/or the second projector 185. At this time, the
image may be a still image or a video picture.
[0106] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an external
appearance of a display device 100 according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0107] The display device 100 may be a portable terminal (or a
portable communication terminal) or a wearable device having, for
example, an eyeglass appearance in general. The display device 100
has a housing 210 forming the outer surface of the display device
100, and the components of the display device 100 illustrated in
FIG. 1 are mounted inside of the housing 210 or installed in the
housing 210 to be partly exposed to the outside.
[0108] The housing 210 includes a front frame 211 to which first
and second windows 190 and 195 are fixed to correspond to left and
right eyes, respectively, and first and second temple frames 212
and 213 extending from the opposite ends of the front frame 211.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the display device may
not include first and second temple frames 212 and 213, but may
include a front frame 211 attachable to another housing or frame.
Furthermore, according to various exemplary embodiments, the front
frame 211 and the first and second temple frames 212 and 213 may be
integrally provided, or provided as distinct items that are
connectible. Hereinafter, the right eye and the left eye may be
referred to as a first eye and a left eye, respectively. In the
present disclosure, the first and second windows 190 and 195 may be
referred to as first and second window panels.
[0109] On the outer surface of the front frame 211, a first camera
170, a second camera 175, a power button 114, and a touch sensor
160 are disposed.
[0110] The first camera 170 is disposed on a portion of the front
frame 211 between the first and second windows 190 and 195 (that
is, the portion that corresponds to a bridge in an ordinary
eyeglasses). However, it is understood that one or more other
exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto, and the first camera
170 may be disposed in adjacent (e.g., above or next to) the first
window 190 or the second window 195.
[0111] The second camera 175 and the touch sensor 160 are disposed
on a side surface of the front frame 211. However, it is understood
that one or more other exemplary embodiments are not limited
thereto. For example, according to another exemplary embodiment,
the touch sensor 160 may be disposed on another side surface or
another surface of the front frame 211 or a different frame.
[0112] On the top surface of the front frame 211, a power button
114 is disposed to turn ON/OFF the power of the display device 100.
However, it is understood that one or more other exemplary
embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, according to
another exemplary embodiment, the power button 114 may be disposed
on a side surface of the front frame 211 or at a different portion
of the display device 100.
[0113] A first light guide member 430 of the first projector 180 is
disposed between the user's right eye and the first window 190, and
a second light guide member 435 of the second projector 185 is
disposed between the user's left eye and the second window 195.
[0114] Hereinafter, a configuration of the first window 190 will be
described as a representative example of the first and second
windows 190 and 195.
[0115] FIG. 3 illustrates a configuration of a first window 190
according to an exemplary embodiment. The first window 190 has a
characteristic in which its transmissivity (i.e., transmittance) is
changed by a signal or voltage applied by the control unit 200.
[0116] The first window 190 may be, for example, an electrochromic
glass, a Suspended Particle Device (SPD), or a Liquid Crystal (LC).
However, it is understood that one or more other exemplary
embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, according to
another exemplary embodiment, the first window 190 may be a
photochromic glass or a thermochromic glass that is not capable of
being actively controlled by applying a signal and has a
transmissivity that is changed by reacting with a light having a
predetermined frequency, or a change of temperature.
[0117] The first window 190 may be fabricated through various
methods, for example, by coating a transmissivity-controllable
substance on glass, or attaching a transmissivity-controllable thin
film to glass.
[0118] In the present exemplary embodiment, the electrochromic
glass is used as the first window 190.
[0119] The first window 190 includes a first insulating substrate
310, a second insulating substrate 315, a first conductive
electrode 320 laminated on the top surface of the first insulating
substrate 310, a second conductive electrode 325 laminated on the
bottom surface of the second insulating substrate 315, an
insulating spacer 330 that isolates the first and second insulating
substrates 310 and 315 from each other and seals a space between
the first and second insulating substrates 310 and 315, and an
electrochromic layer 340 and an electrolyte 350 that are filled or
included in the space between the first and second insulating
substrates 310 and 315.
[0120] Each of the first and second insulating substrates 310 and
315 may be made of or include a transparent plastic, in which the
plastic may be one of, for example, polyacrylate, polyethylene
etherphthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polycarbonate,
polyarylate, polyetherimide, polyethersulfone, polyimide, etc.
[0121] The first conductive electrode 320 may be made of a
transparent conductor, and may include, for example, an inorganic
material such as Indium Tin oxide (ITO), Fluorine-doped Tin Oxide
(FTO), Antimony-doped Tin Oxide (ATO), etc., or an organic
conductive material such as polyacetylene, polythiophene, etc.
[0122] The second conductive electrode 325 may be made of a
transparent or opaque conductive material, and may include, for
example, at least one of ITO, FTO, a metal such as aluminum (Al),
an ATO, etc.
[0123] The electrochromic layer 340, which includes an
electrochromic material, is disposed on the first conductive
electrode 320. The electrochromic layer 340 may be disposed on the
first conductive electrode 320 in the form of a film.
[0124] The first insulating substrate 310 and the second insulating
substrate 315 are fixed by the spacer 330, and a gap between the
first insulating substrate 310 and the second insulating substrate
315 is filled with the electrolyte 350. The electrolyte 350
supplies an oxidation/reduction material that reacts with an
electrochromic material. The electrolyte 350 may be a liquid
electrolyte or a solid polymer electrolyte. A solution in which,
for example, a lithium salt, such as LiOH or LiClO.sub.4, a
potassium salt, such as KOH, or a sodium salt, such as NaOH, is
dissolved, may be used as the liquid electrolyte, though it is
understood that one or more other exemplary embodiments are not
limited thereto. The solid electrolyte may be, for example,
(poly(2-acrylamino-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid). (poly(ethylene
oxide), etc.
[0125] The material forming or included in the electrochromic layer
340, i.e., the electrochromic material, may include a metal-organic
composite material in which a metal and an organic compound having
a functional group capable of forming coordination with the metal
are bonded to each other. The metal may include at least one of a
light metal, a transition metal, a lanthanide metal, an alkali
metal, etc. Specifically, the metal may include at least one of
beryllium (Be), barium (Ba), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cesium (Ce),
magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al), titanium (Ti), etc. The functional
group may include at least one of carboxyl group, pyridine group,
imidazole group, etc. The organic compound may include at least one
of a viologen derivative, an anthraquinone derivative, etc.
[0126] Hereinafter, a configuration of the first projector 180 will
be described as a representative example of the first and second
projectors 180 and 185.
[0127] FIG. 4 illustrates a configuration of a first projector 180
according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0128] The first projector 180 includes a display element 410, a
transparent cover glass 420, and a transparent light guide element
430.
[0129] The display element 410 projects/outputs a light forming a
virtual image to a light guide element 430. The display element 410
may have a rectangular flat plate shape, though it is understood
that one or more other exemplary embodiments are not limited
thereto and may have any of various shapes. The display element 410
displays an image by a pixel unit according to data input from the
control unit 200. The display element 410 includes pixel elements
corresponding to a pre-set resolution and displays the image by
driving the pixel elements. For example, the display element 410
may include pixel elements arranged in an M.times.N (e.g.,
1190.times.720 or 854.times.480) matrix structure. The display
element 410 may be, for example, a Light Emitting Diode (LED), an
Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED), a Liquid Crystal Display
(LCD), a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS), etc.
[0130] The cover glass 420 is stacked or provided on the surface of
the display element 410 so as to protect the surface of the display
element 410. The cover glass 420 may have a rectangular flat plate
shape, though it is understood that one or more other exemplary
embodiments are not limited thereto and may have any of various
shapes.
[0131] The light guide element 430 guides a light 461 input from
the display element 410 to a fourth optical surface 434, which is a
reflective surface positioned within the light guide element 430,
through internal reflection. Furthermore, the light guide element
430 projects/outputs the light 461 reflected by the fourth optical
surface 434 towards the user's eye, and causes a light 462 from the
outside of the display device 100 (i.e., external light) to pass
through the fourth optical surface 434 to be projected/output
towards the user's eye. Hereinafter, the light 461 input from the
display element 410 may be referred to as first light, and the
light 462 input from the outside of the display device 100 may be
referred to as second light.
[0132] The light guide element 430 has a prismatic shape and has
first to fourth optical surfaces 431, 432, 433, and 434. The light
guide element 430 includes a light guide portion 440 and a
compensation portion 450, which are separated from each other by
the fourth optical surface 434 that is a reflective surface. The
light guide portion 440 on the display element 410 side of the
light guide element 430 includes: a body 441 disposed between the
second and third optical surfaces 432 and 433 and having a
thickness that is constant along a visual axis 460 of the user's
eye looking towards the front side (or a thickness in the widthwise
direction of the light guide element 430); a first portion 442
disposed between the first and second optical surfaces 431 and 432
and having a thickness that gradually increases towards the display
element; and a second portion 443 disposed between the third and
fourth optical surfaces 433 and 434 and having a thickness that
gradually decreases in a direction away from the display element
410. As described below, the visual axis 460 may be defined as an
axis that is perpendicular to the second and third optical surfaces
432 and 433, which are parallel to each other, and passes the
center or a center portion of the fourth optical surface 434.
[0133] The light guide element 430 may have a constant thickness in
the remaining portion (i.e., the body 441), other than the opposite
side portions (i.e., the first and second portions 442 and
443).
[0134] The first optical surface 431 faces the display element 410,
and transmits the light 461 forming a virtual image incident/input
from the display element 410 to the inside of the light guide
element 430.
[0135] The second optical surface 432 faces the first window 190,
and the third optical surface 433 faces the user's eye. The second
and third optical surfaces 432 and 433 totally reflect the light
460, which passes through the first optical surface 431 to be
transmitted to the inside of the light guide element 430, to travel
to the fourth optical surface 434. That is, the transmitted light
461 is reflected from each of the second and third optical surfaces
432 and 433 without passing through the second and third optical
surfaces 432 and 433.
[0136] The fourth optical surface 434 partially reflects some of
the light 461 input thereto, and allows the remainder of the light
461 to pass through it. In addition, the fourth optical surface 434
allows some of the light 642 input thereto from the outside of the
display device 100 to pass through it, and reflects the remainder
of the light 462. The fourth optical surface 434 collimates and
reflects the light 461 input thereto by being totally reflected by
the second and third optical surfaces 432 and 433.
[0137] The first to third optical surfaces 431, 432, and 433 are
flat faces and the fourth optical surface 434 is a rotationally
asymmetric and aspheric surface.
[0138] The second and third optical surfaces 432 and 433 are
parallel to each other and perpendicular to the visual axis 460 of
the user's eye.
[0139] In order to reduce the thickness t1 of the body 441, the
fourth optical surface 434 is positioned to be inclined in relation
to the visual axis 460 of the user's eye. In order to reduce the
astigmatism of the reflected light 461 that occurs due to the
inclination, the fourth optical surface 434 is formed or provided
as the rotationally asymmetric and aspherical face. For example,
the fourth optical surface 434 may form an angle of 40 degrees or
more with respect to the visual axis 460 of the user's eye.
[0140] The symbol "d2" indicates a distance from the apex of the
fourth optical surface 434 along the visual axis 460 of the user's
eye (the origin in the illustrated y-z coordinate axes) to the
third optical surface 433. When the apex of the fourth optical
surface 434 is positioned inside the light guide element 430 and a
condition of d2<t1/2 is satisfied, the aberration of the
reflected light 461 may be reduced and the thickness t1 of the body
441 may be reduced. When d2>t1/2, the thickness t1 of the body
441 increases in order to reduce the aberration of the reflected
light 461 so as not to exceed a pre-set threshold. When the apex of
the fourth optical surface 434 does not exist inside the light
guide element 430 (e.g., when d2<0, i.e., when the apex is
positioned below the third optical surface 433), it may be
difficult to correctly measure the fourth optical surface 434, for
example, when the light guide element 430 is manufactured through
injection molding, and thus, it may be difficult to correct a mold
for compensating a manufacturing tolerance. As a result, it may be
difficult to reduce the aberration of the reflected light 461.
[0141] The symbol "L" indicates a distance between the center of
the first optical surface 431 of the light guide element 430 and
the center of the fourth optical surface 434 (or an intersection
point of the visual axis 460 or a chief ray and the fourth optical
surface 434). The distance L is set such that the light 461
directed or transmitted to the inside of the light guide element
430 is totally reflected by the second and third optical surfaces
2n times (where n is a natural number). The total reflection of the
2n times allows the display element 410 to be positioned closer to
the user's eye with reference to the position of the second optical
surface 432 according to the visual axis 460 of the user's eye so
that the space protruding from the display device 100 outwardly in
a direction away from the user's eye can be reduced. As a result, a
visual volume (i.e., the volume of the display device 100 observed
or perceived by other people) can be reduced.
[0142] The symbol ".alpha.1" indicates an angle formed between the
second optical surface 432 and the first optical surface 431, and
the symbol ".alpha.2" indicates an angle formed between the second
optical surface 432 and a surface 412 of the display element 410
(that is, the screen). When a condition of .alpha.1.noteq..alpha.2
is satisfied, curvature of image field for the reflected light can
be reduced.
[0143] The second and third optical surfaces 432 and 433 are flat
faces which are parallel to each other and have a power (or a
refractive power) of zero (0). Under this condition, occurrence of
the aberration of the reflected light due to an off-center or tilt
of the optical surfaces can be reduced.
[0144] The light 461 output from the display element 410 is input
to the user's eye by the light guide element 430, and the user sees
a virtual image enlarged as compared to the image displayed on the
screen 412 of the display element 410. In FIG. 4, the symbol "I"
indicates the position of the user's eye. The light guide portion
440 and the compensation portion 450 may have powers which have
opposite signs and an equal absolute value. For example, the
compensation portion 450 may be bonded or connected to the fourth
optical surface 434 of the light guide portion 440. When the light
guide portion 440 and the compensation portion 450 have powers that
have opposite signs and an equal absolute value, the incident angle
of the external light 462 input to the compensation portion 450 and
the projecting angle of the external light 462 output from the
light guide portion 440 are equal to each other, as in a case of
light penetrating or passing through a transparent flat plate, for
example. That is, the external light 462 penetrates or passes
through the light guide element 430 without being distorted to be
seen by the user.
[0145] Due to the fourth optical surface 434 having a partial
transmission/partial reflection characteristic, the user is capable
of seeing surrounding scenes and a virtual image at once.
[0146] The fourth optical surface 434 may be defined by Equation 1
as follows:
z = CUXx 2 + CUYy 2 1 - ( 1 + KX ) CUX 2 x 2 - ( 1 + KY ) CUY 2 y 2
+ AR { ( 1 - AP ) x 2 + ( 1 + AP ) y 2 } 2 + BR { ( 1 - BP ) x 2 +
( 1 + BP ) y 2 } 3 + CR { ( 1 - CP ) x 2 + ( 1 + CP ) y 2 } 4 + DR
{ ( 1 - DP ) x 2 + ( 1 + DP ) y 2 } 5 Equation 1 ##EQU00001##
[0147] In Equation 1, z represents a sag value (that is, a z axis
coordinate (mm unit)) of the fourth optical surface 434, which is
substantially perpendicular to a z-axis, on a {x, y} coordinate,
CUX represents an x-axis curvature of (a reciprocal of an x-axis
curvature radius RX (mm unit), i.e., 1/RX) of the fourth optical
surface 434, CUY represents a y-axis curvature of (a reciprocal of
an y-axis curvature radius RY (mm unit), i.e., 1/RY) of the fourth
optical surface 434, KX represents an x-axis conic constant, KY
represents a y-axis conic constant, AR, BR, CR, and DR represent
fourth order, sixth order, eighth order, and tenth order
coefficients about rotational symmetry, and AP, BP, CP, and DP
represent fourth order, sixth order, eighth order, and tenth order
coefficients about rotational asymmetry.
[0148] For example, the fourth optical surface 434 may have RX of
76.244, RY of 85.870, KY of -10.64144, AR of -2.19904E-10, BR of
6.45377E-15, CR of 1.20241E-10, DR of 2.85792E-11, KX of -0.64786,
AP of -60.41586, BP of 95.02635, CP of -0.64648, and DP of
-1.26622.
[0149] The symbol "d1" represents a distance between the apex of
the fourth optical surface 434 and the visual axis 460. In the
present exemplary embodiment, d1 may be 5.5 mm. That is, the fourth
optical surface 434 may be off-center by 5.5 mm from the visual
axis 460. The apex of the fourth optical surface 434 is not
coincident with, but is off-center from, the center of the fourth
optical surface 434 (i.e., a middle position of the width of the
fourth optical surface 434 along a direction parallel to the second
or third optical surface 432 or 433). The apex of the fourth
optical surface 434 may refer to the highest or lowest point of the
fourth optical surface 434 as viewed from the z-axis, and the point
that becomes the origin of a coordinate axis in the definition of
the fourth optical surface 434 according to, for example, Equation
1. The symbol "d2" indicates the distance between the apex of the
fourth optical surface 434 and the third optical surface 433, in
which the distance may be 0.823 mm. The symbol ".alpha.3" indicates
an angle formed by a tangential line at the apex of the fourth
optical surface 434 (that is, the y-axis) and the third optical
surface 433, in which the angle may be 28.36 degrees in the present
exemplary embodiment. The symbol "al" indicates an angle formed by
the second optical surface 432 and the first optical surface 431,
in which the angle may be 59.72, and the symbol ".alpha.2"
indicates an angle formed by the second optical surface 432 and the
surface 412 of the display element 410 (that is, the screen), in
which the angle may be 28.39. The thickness t1 of the body 441 may
be 5.5 mm, and the thickness t2 of the first portion 442 may be
7.876 mm. A chief ray C refers to the light that passes the visual
axis 460 among the light output from the display element 410. The
symbol "L" indicates a distance between the center of the first
optical surface 431 of the light guide element 430 on the display
element 410 side (or a point where the chief ray meets the first
optical surface 431) and the center of the fourth optical surface
434 (or a point where the chief ray meets the fourth optical
surface 434), in which the distance may be 27.444 mm. The distance
between the first optical surface 431 and the cover glass 420 along
the chief ray may be 3.06 mm, and the thickness of the cover glass
420 may be 1.425 mm. The light guide element 430 may be formed as
ZE-E48R (Zeonex Grade E48R), and the cover glass 420 may be formed
as BSC7 (glass code 517.642). As described above, L is set such
that the chief ray directed or transmitted to the inside of the
light guide element 430 is totally reflected 2n times (where n is a
natural number) (in the present exemplary embodiment, four times)
from the second and third optical surfaces 432 and 433.
[0150] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate aberration characteristics of a
light guide element 430 according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0151] FIG. 5A illustrates a longitudinal spherical aberration of
the light guide element 430, in which the longitudinal spherical
aberration is changed depending on a change of wavelength.
[0152] In FIG. 5A, the horizontal axis represents a longitudinal
spherical aberration coefficient, and the vertical axis represents
a normalized distance from the center of an optical axis to an edge
of an image.
[0153] As illustrated in FIG. 5A, it can be seen that there is
little change in longitudinal spherical aberration according to
change of a wavelength so that occurrence of the longitudinal
spherical aberration for the light guide element 430 is low.
[0154] FIG. 5B illustrates an astigmatic aberration and curvature
of image field for the light guide element 430, which are results
obtained at a wavelength of 587.56 nm. In FIG. 5B, the solid line
represents the astigmatic aberration in a tangential direction and
the dotted line represents the astigmatic aberration in a sagittal
direction.
[0155] In FIG. 5B, the difference between the solid line and the
dotted line represents an astigmatic aberration and the curvature
of the solid line represents curvature of image field.
[0156] FIG. 5B illustrates a change amount of the astigmatic
aberration and a change amount of the curvature of image field, in
which the horizontal axis represents a coefficient of the
astigmatic aberration or the curvature of image field, and the
vertical axis represents the distance from the center of a virtual
image to the edge of the virtual image.
[0157] From FIG. 5B, it can be seen that there is little change in
astigmatic aberration and curvature of image field from the center
of the virtual image to the edge of the virtual image, so that
occurrence of the astigmatic aberration and the curvature of image
field for the light guide element 430 is low.
[0158] FIG. 6 illustrates a configuration of a first projector 180a
according to another exemplary embodiment. The first projector 180a
illustrated in FIG. 6 has a configuration that is substantially the
same as or similar to that of the first projector 180 illustrated
in FIG. 4, except that the compensation portion of the light guide
element 430a is not included in the first projector 180a.
Accordingly, the same components will be denoted with the same
reference numerals and redundant descriptions will be omitted
below.
[0159] The light guide element 430a has a prismatic shape, and
includes first to fourth optical surfaces 431, 432, 433, and 434.
The light guide element 430a includes: a body 441 disposed between
the second and third optical surfaces 432 and 433 and having a
thickness (or a thickness in the widthwise direction of the light
guide element 430a) that is constant along the visual axis 460 (or
the optical axis) of the user's eye looking towards the front side;
a first portion 442 disposed between the first and second optical
surfaces 431 and 432 and having a thickness that gradually
increases towards the display element 410; and a second portion 443
disposed between the third and fourth optical surfaces 433 and 434
and having a thickness that gradually decreases in a direction away
from the display element 410.
[0160] FIG. 7 illustrates a configuration of a first projector 180b
according to still another exemplary embodiment. The first
projector 180b illustrated in FIG. 7 has a configuration that is
substantially the same as or similar to that of the first projector
180 illustrated in FIG. 4, except that the light guide portion 440b
of the light guide element 430b has opposite side portions that
have the same shape, and a lens system 470 is further arranged
between the first optical surface 434 and the cover glass 420.
Accordingly, the same components will be denoted with the same
reference numerals and redundant descriptions will be omitted
below.
[0161] The light guide element 430b has a prismatic shape, and
includes first to fourth optical surfaces 431b, 432, 433, and 434.
The light guide element 430b includes a light guide portion 440b
and a compensation portion 450 that are separated from each by the
fourth optical surface 434, which is a reflective surface. The
light guide portion 440b includes: a body 441 disposed between the
second and third optical surfaces 432 and 433 and having a
thickness (or a thickness in the widthwise direction of the light
guide element 430a) that is constant along the visual axis 460 (or
the optical axis) of the user's eye looking towards the front side;
a first portion 442b disposed between the first and second optical
surfaces 431b and 432 and having a thickness that gradually
decreases towards the display element 410; and a second portion 443
disposed between the third and fourth optical surfaces 433 and 434
and having a thickness that gradually decreases in a direction away
from the display element 410.
[0162] A lens system 470 is arranged between the cover glass 420
and the first optical surface 431b, and has a function of diffusing
light 461, which has been output from the display element 410 and
has passed through the cover glass 420, and inputting the diffused
light to the first optical surface 431b. The lens system 470 may
include a plurality of lens surfaces, each of which refracts the
light 461 input thereto. The plurality of lens surfaces may be
provided by at least one first lens 471. For example, the first
lens 471 may include a cemented doublet lens in which a concave
lens and a convex lens are cemented to each other. For example, the
lens system 470 may further include a Polarization Beam Splitter
(PBS) 472 that passes therethrough a polarized component of a first
direction in the input light that is perpendicular to the traveling
direction of the light, and reflects a polarized component of a
second direction that is perpendicular to both the traveling
direction of the light and the first direction. For example, the
PBS may cause the polarized component of the first direction to be
incident on the first optical surface 431b through the first lens
471.
[0163] The symbol "t1" indicates the thickness of the body 441 of
the light guide element. In order to reduce the thickness t1 of the
body 441, the fourth optical surface 434 is positioned to be
inclined to the visual axis 460 of the user's eye. In order to
reduce the astigmatic aberration of the reflected light that is
caused due to the inclination, the fourth optical surface 434 is
formed in a rotationally asymmetric and aspherical surface.
[0164] The symbol "d2" indicates a distance from the apex of the
fourth optical surface 434 to the third optical surface 433 along
the visual axis 460 of the user's eye. The apex of the fourth
optical surface 434 is positioned inside the light guide element
430, and when a condition of d2<t1/2 is satisfied, the
aberration of the light 461 reflected by the fourth optical surface
434 may be reduced and the thickness t1 of the body 441 may be
reduced. When d2.gtoreq.t1/2, the thickness t1 of the body 441
increases in order to reduce the aberration of the reflected light
461 so as not to exceed a pre-set threshold. When the apex of the
fourth optical surface 434 does not exist within the light guide
element 430b (e.g., d2.ltoreq.0, that is, when the apex is
positioned below the third optical surface 433), it may be
difficult to correctly measure the fourth optical surface 434, for
example, when the light guide element 430b is manufactured through
injection molding, and thus, it may difficult to correct a mold to
compensate a manufacturing tolerance. Accordingly, it may be
difficult to reduce the aberration of the reflected light 461.
[0165] The symbol "L" indicates a distance between the center of
the first optical surface 431b and the center of the fourth optical
surface 434 (or a point where the visual axis 460 or a chief ray
intersects with the fourth optical surface 434). The distance L is
set such that the light directed or transmitted to the inside of
the light guide element 430b is totally reflected 2n times (where n
is a natural number) from the second and third optical surfaces 432
and 433. The total reflection of the 2n times allows the display
element 410 to be positioned closer to the user's eye with
reference to the position of the second optical surface 432
according to the visual axis of the user's eye so that a space
protracting from the display device 100 outwardly in a direction
away from the user's eye can be reduced. As a result, a visual
volume (i.e., the volume of the display observed or perceived by
other persons) can be reduced.
[0166] The symbol "al" indicates an angle formed by the second
optical surface 432 and a first optical surface 431b, and the
symbol ".alpha.2" indicates an angle formed by the second optical
surface 432 and the surface of the display element 410 (that is,
the screen). When a condition of al .alpha.2 is met, the curvature
of image field for the reflected light 461 can be reduced.
[0167] The second and third optical surfaces 432 and 433 are flat
faces which are parallel to each other and have a power (or a
refractive power) of zero (0). Under this condition, occurrence of
the aberration of the reflected light due to an off-center or tilt
of the optical surfaces can be reduced.
[0168] The light 461 output from the display element 410 is input
to the user's eye by the light guide element 430b, and the user
sees a virtual image enlarged as compared to the image displayed on
the screen of the display element 410. In FIG. 7, the symbol "I"
indicates the position of the user's eye. The light guide light
guide portion 440b and the compensation portion 450 may have powers
that have opposite signs and an equal absolute value. For example,
the compensation portion 450 may be bonded or connected to the
light guide portion 440b. When the light guide portion 440b and the
compensation portion 450 have powers that have opposite signs and
an equal absolute value, the incident angle of the external light
462 input to the compensation portion 450 and the projecting angle
of the external light 462 output from the light guide portion 440b
are equal to each other, as in a case of light penetrating or
passing through a transparent flat plate, for example. That is, the
external light 462 penetrates or passes through the light guide
element 430b without being distorted to be seen to the user.
[0169] Due to the fourth optical surface 434 having a partial
transmission/partial reflection characteristic, the user is capable
of seeing surrounding scenes and a virtual image at once.
[0170] FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate aberration characteristics of a
light guide element 430b according to still another exemplary
embodiment.
[0171] FIG. 8A illustrates a longitudinal spherical aberration of
the light guide element 430b, in which the longitudinal spherical
aberration is changed depending on a change of wavelength.
[0172] In FIG. 8A, the horizontal axis represents a longitudinal
spherical aberration coefficient, and the vertical axis represents
a normalized distance from the center of an optical axis to an edge
of an image.
[0173] As illustrated in FIG. 8A, it can be seen that there is
little change in longitudinal spherical aberration according to
change of a wavelength so that occurrence of the longitudinal
spherical aberration for the light guide element 430b is low.
[0174] FIG. 8B illustrates an astigmatic aberration and curvature
of image field for the light guide element 430b, which are results
obtained at a wavelength of 587.5618 nm, in which the solid line
represents the astigmatic aberration in a tangential direction and
the dotted line represents the astigmatic aberration in a sagittal
direction.
[0175] In FIG. 8B, the difference between the solid line and the
dotted line represents an astigmatic aberration and the curvature
of the solid line represents curvature of image field.
[0176] FIG. 8B illustrates a change amount of the astigmatic
aberration and a change amount of the curvature of image field, in
which the horizontal axis represents a coefficient of the
astigmatic aberration or the curvature of image field, and the
vertical axis represents the distance between from the center of a
virtual image to the edge of the virtual image.
[0177] From FIG. 8B, it can be seen that there is little change in
astigmatic aberration and curvature of image field from the center
of the virtual image to the edge of the virtual image, so that
occurrence of the astigmatic aberration and the curvature of image
field for the light guide element 430b is low.
[0178] FIG. 9 illustrates a configuration of a first projector 180c
according to still another exemplary embodiment. The first
projector 180c has a configuration which is substantially the same
as or similar to that of the first projector 180b illustrated in
FIG. 7, except that the compensation portion of the light guide
element 430c is not included in the first projector 180c.
Accordingly, the same components will be denoted with the same
reference numerals and redundant descriptions will be omitted
below.
[0179] The light guide element 430c has a prismatic shape, and
includes first to fourth optical surfaces 431b, 432, 433, and 434.
The light guide element 430c includes: a body 441 disposed between
the second and third optical surfaces 432 and 433 and having a
thickness that is constant along the visual axis 460 (or the
optical axis) of the user's eye looking towards the front side; a
first portion 442b disposed between the first and second optical
surfaces 431b and 432 and having a thickness that gradually
increases towards the display element 410; and a second portion 443
disposed between the third and fourth optical surfaces 433 and 434
and having a thickness that gradually decreases in a direction away
from the display element 410.
[0180] FIGS. 10 and 11 are views for describing light
transmissivity control of a display device 100. The
transmissivities of the first and second windows 190 and 195 are
adjustable according to the control of the control unit 200 so that
visibility of a virtual image, such as a GUI, can be enhanced.
According to various exemplary embodiments, the transmissivities or
one or both of the first and second windows 190 and 195 are
adjustable, and may be adjustable together or separately (i.e.,
independently of each other). Furthermore, the transmissivities may
be adjustable according to a user input, according to pre-set
settings (e.g., based on a time of day, a season, or obtained
environment information), based on sensed or measured parameters
(e.g., a luminous intensity of a surrounding environment), etc.
[0181] Since the light transmissivities of each of the first and
second windows 190 and 195 is capable of being adjusted according
to a change of an applied voltage, the output of the first
projector 180 and/or the second projector 185 can be reduced. As a
result, the entire power consumption and heat generation of the
first projector 180 and/or the second projector 185 can be reduced,
and the use time of the battery 150 of the display device 100 can
be increased.
[0182] FIG. 10 illustrates a case where the user watches a TV
indoors.
[0183] Referring to FIG. 10, the user watches a TV 510 indoors in a
state where the user wears the display device 100. Furthermore, in
a room with a low surrounding luminous intensity, since the
visibility of first and second virtual images 520 and 525 formed by
the first and second projectors 180 and 185 is high, the
transmissivities of the first and second windows 190 and 195 are
set to be relatively high. For example, the control unit 200 may
set the transmissivities of the first and second windows 190 and
195 to the maximum or to 30% or more. In the present exemplary
embodiment, the first and second virtual images 520 and 525 are
equal to each other, except for the display positions thereof.
[0184] FIG. 11 illustrates a case where the user sees surrounding
scenes in an open air environment.
[0185] Referring to FIG. 11, the user watches surrounding scenes
530 in the open air environment in a state where the user wears the
display device 100. Furthermore, in the open air environment with a
high surrounding luminous intensity, since the visibility of first
and second virtual images 520 and 525 formed by the first and
second projectors 180 and 185 is low, the transmissivities of the
first and second windows 190 and 195 is set to be relatively low.
For example, the control unit 200 may set the transmissivities of
the first and second windows 190 and 195 to the minimum or to 10%
or less.
[0186] In FIGS. 10 and 11, the first virtual image 520 and the
second virtual image 525 are not images formed on the first and
second windows 190 and 195, but are images shown to the user. In
FIGS. 10 and 11, each of the virtual images is displayed to be
opaque. However, the virtual images may be displayed to be
partially or entirely transparent so that the surrounding scenes
positioned under the virtual images can be seen therethrough.
[0187] The control unit 200 measures the surrounding luminous
intensity through the sensor unit 130. When the surrounding
luminous intensity is lower than a first pre-set reference luminous
intensity or the surrounding luminous intensity is in a first
luminous intensity range, the control unit 200 increases the
transmissivities of the first and second windows 190 and 195 (i.e.,
the transmissivity is set to be relatively high), and when the
surrounding luminous intensity is greater than a second pre-set
reference luminous intensity or the surrounding luminous intensity
is in a second luminous intensity range, the control unit 200
decreases the transmissivities of the first and second windows 190
and 195 (i.e., the transmissivities are set to be relatively low).
When the surrounding luminous intensity is in a third luminous
intensity range, the control unit 200 may maintain the
transmissivities of the first and second windows 190 and 195 as is.
The reference luminous intensity may be the currently set
surrounding luminous intensity, and when there is no change in the
surrounding luminous intensity, the control unit 200 may maintain
the transmissivities of the first and second windows 190 and 195 as
is. The control unit 200 may store the currently set surrounding
luminous intensity and/or the transmissivities in the storage unit
120.
[0188] The storage unit 120 may store a data table that represents
surrounding luminous intensity values and transmissivities (and/or
an applied voltage value of each of the windows 190 and 195) that
correspond to each other, and the control unit 200 calculates a
target transmissivity (and/or the applied voltage value of each of
the windows 190 and 195) corresponding to the surrounding luminous
intensity value through, for example, mapping, interpolation, or
calculation of a mathematical formula based on the data table. The
control unit 200 applies a voltage corresponding to the calculated
transmissivity to each of the windows 190 and 195, and more
specifically, to each of the glasses to adjust the transmissivity
of each of the windows 190 and 195 to the target transmissivity.
According to various exemplary embodiments, the control unit 200
may perform the above processes for both of the windows 190 and 195
together, or for each of the windows 190 and 195 separately. In the
latter case, one or more sensor units 130 may be used to measure
the surrounding luminous intensities.
[0189] FIGS. 12 and 13A and 13B are views for describing a
fingerprint-based shortcut key execution according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0190] Referring to FIG. 12, the touch sensor 160 may have a
fingerprint sensing function. For example, the user may map at
least one of the thumb fingerprint 611, the forefinger fingerprint
612, the middle finger fingerprint 613, the ring finger fingerprint
614, and the little finger (i.e., pinky finger) fingerprint 615 of
the user's right hand 610 with a function of the display device 100
or a user account.
[0191] In the present example, the user maps a phone application
620 on the thumb fingerprint 611, and a message application 625 on
the ring finger fingerprint 614.
[0192] Referring to FIG. 13A, when the user inputs the thumb
fingerprint to the touch sensor 160, the control unit 200 executes
the phone application in response to the user input. The control
unit 200 configures a call application window 710 using the data
stored in the storage unit 120, and displays the configured call
application window 710 to the user through the projectors 180 and
185.
[0193] The phone application displays a keypad 714 for inputting a
phone number and menu items 712, such as keypad conversion, recent
record, contact information, and bookmark, on the call application
window 710.
[0194] Referring to FIG. 13B, when the user inputs the ring finger
fingerprint to the touch sensor 160, the control unit 200 executes
a message application in response to the user input. The control
unit 200 configures a message application window 720 using the data
stored in the storage unit 120, and displays the configured message
application window 720 to the user through the projectors 180 and
185.
[0195] The message application displays a keypad 724 for inputting
text, and menu items 722, such as message transmission and file
attachment, on the message application window 720.
[0196] FIG. 14 is a view for describing a user account change
function according to a fingerprint input, according to an
exemplary embodiment.
[0197] In the present example, first to fourth user accounts 821,
822, 823, and 824 mapped to first to fourth fingerprints,
respectively, are stored in the storage unit 120.
[0198] When the user inputs a fingerprint to the touch sensor 160
(see the step indicated by reference numeral 810), the control unit
200 retrieves fingerprint information matched to the fingerprint
information received from the touch sensor 160 from the storage
unit 120 so that the user account mapped to the retrieved
fingerprint information can be determined. Alternatively, the
storage unit 120 may store the first to fourth user accounts 821,
822, 823, and 824 (e.g., a user account, an e-mail account, and an
ID) mapped to the user's first to fourth fingerprints. In the
present example, an item corresponding to the first user account
821, which is currently used, is displayed with an emphasis mark,
the fourth user account 824 is selected according to the user's
fingerprint input, and the control unit 200 displays a virtual
image 830 according to the fourth user account 824 to the user
through the projectors 180 and 185.
[0199] FIG. 15 is a view for describing a screen control method of
a display device 100 using a peripheral electronic device,
according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0200] The control unit 200 may perform short range communication
with a peripheral electronic device around the display device 100
through the communication unit 140 so as to provide a screen
control service of the display device 100 using the peripheral
electronic device. In the present example, the display device 100
may communicate with a wearable electronic device such as a smart
watch 930 or a portable phone 920 including a short range
communication module. The short range communication may be, for
example, Near Field Communication (NFC), Radio Frequency
IDentification (RFID), Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE),
ZigBee, infrared (IR) communication, Wi-Fi direct, home Radio
Frequency (RF), or Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA). In the
short range communication, the control unit 200 may receive the
user's touch 922 or 932 information from the electronic device
through the communication unit 140, and change a virtual image
displayed on the display device 100 to another virtual image
according to the touch information. For example, the control unit
200 may transmit the virtual image information displayed on the
display device 100 to the smart watch 930 or the portable phone 920
through the communication unit 140, and perform an image change,
such as movement of a cursor 921 within the virtual image, item
selection, focus (highlighting item selection) movement, or display
of other items, based on the touch 922 or 932 information received
from the smart watch 930 or the portable phone 920.
[0201] In addition, upon receiving the touch information from the
portable phone 920, the control unit 200 may transmit virtual image
information including other items which are not displayed on the
display device due to the limited size of the virtual image (e.g.,
various applications such as a game application, a music
application, and a camera application), and the items currently
displayed on the display device 100 (that is, a phone application,
a contact information application, a message application, and a
main menu application as shown) to the portable phone 920.
Furthermore, the control unit 200 perform an immediate screen
change of the display device 100 according to the touch information
received from the portable phone 920. For example, when the user
transmits selection information of the music application to the
display device 100 through the portable phone 920, the control unit
200 may change the home screen to the music application screen to
display the music application screen.
[0202] FIGS. 16A and 16B are views for describing a screen control
method of a display device 100 using a camera.
[0203] The first camera 170 may be used for the purpose of
photographing a front subject relative to the position of the
user's eye (or the position of the light guide element), and
recognizing the front subject. The second camera 175 may be used
for the purpose of photographing a lower subject relative to the
position of the user's eye, and recognizing the lower subject
(e.g., the user's hand).
[0204] FIG. 16A illustrates a front image 1010 photographed through
the first camera 170, and FIG. 16B illustrates a lower image 1020
photographed through the second camera 175. The control unit 200
may recognize the user's hand or finger 1030 from the lower image
1020 photographed through the second camera 175, and change the
virtual image displayed on the display device according to a
gesture of the hand or finger 1030. For example, as the user moves
the finger 1030 to the right (see arrow 1035), the control unit 200
may perform virtual image change, such as rightward movement of the
cursor in the virtual image displayed on the display device 100,
selection of a right item, rightward movement of focus (user's
selection indication), or display of other items allocated to the
rightward direction.
[0205] FIG. 17 illustrates a configuration of a first projector
180d according to yet another exemplary embodiment. The first
projector 180d illustrated in FIG. 17 has a configuration that is
substantially the same as or similar to that of the first projector
180b illustrated in FIG. 7, except that the transparent cover glass
420 is not included in the first projector 180d. Accordingly, the
same components will be denoted with the same reference numerals
and redundant descriptions will be omitted below.
[0206] The light guide element 430b has a long prismatic shape, and
includes first to fourth optical surfaces 431b, 432, 433, and 434.
The light guide element 430b includes a light guide portion 440b
and a compensation portion 450 which are separated from each other
by the fourth optical surface 434, which is a reflective surface.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the compensation portion
450 may be omitted. The light guide portion 440b includes: a body
441 disposed between the second and third optical surfaces 432 and
433 and having a thickness (or a thickness in the widthwise
direction of the light guide element 430b) that is constant along
the visual axis 460 (or the optical axis) of the user's eye looking
towards the front side; a first portion 442b disposed between the
first and second optical surfaces 431b and 432 and having a
thickness that gradually decreases towards the display element 410;
and a second portion 443 disposed between the third and fourth
optical surfaces 433 and 434 and having a thickness that gradually
decreases in a direction away from the display element 410.
[0207] A lens system 470 is arranged between the display element
410 and the first optical surface 431b, and has a function of
diffusing lights 1121 to 1125 output from the display element 410,
and inputting the diffused lights to the first optical surface
431b. The lens system 470 may include a plurality of lens surfaces,
each of which refracts the lights 1121 to 1125 input thereto, in
which the plurality of lens surfaces may be provided by at least
one first lens 471. For example, the first lens 471 may include a
cemented doublet lens in which a concave lens and a convex lens are
cemented with each other. For example, the lens system 470 may
further include a Polarization Beam Splitter (PBS) 472 that passes
therethrough a polarized component of a first direction in the
input lights 1121 to 1125 that is perpendicular to the traveling
direction of the lights 1121 to 1125, and reflects a polarized
component of a second direction that is perpendicular to both the
traveling direction of the lights 1121 to 1125 and the first
direction. For example, the PBS may cause the polarized component
of the first direction to be incident on the first optical surface
431b through the first lens 471.
[0208] The lights 1121 to 1125 output from the display element 410
are input to the user's eye 1110 by the light guide element 430b,
and the user sees a virtual image enlarged as compared to the image
displayed on the screen of the display element 410. Due to the
fourth optical surface 434 having the partial transmission
(pass)/partial reflection characteristic, the user may see
surrounding scenes and the virtual image at once (i.e.,
simultaneously).
[0209] The first to third lights 1121, 1122, and 1123 among the
lights 1121 to 1125 output from the display element 410 travel
along normal (that is, designed) routes and are input to the user's
eye 1110 to form a normal (that is, clear) virtual image, and the
fourth and fifth lights 1124 and 1125 among the lights 1121 to 1125
output from the display element 410 travel along abnormal (that is,
non-designed) routes and then are input to the user's eye 1110 to
form a ghost image that looks blurred as a shape that is the same
as or different from at least a part of the normal virtual image
(i.e., which is abnormal).
[0210] For example, on a portion 1131 of the second optical surface
432 and/or a portion 1132 of the third optical surface 433 where
the first to third lights 1121, 1122 and 1123 are not incident (or
incident at a small amount that is not more than a pre-set
threshold) from the inside of the light guide portion 440b but the
fourth light 1124 and/or the fifth light 1125 are incident (e.g.,
only the fourth light 1124 and/or the fifth light 1125 are
incident), a ghost prevention member (or a light shielding member)
may be formed or provided so as to extract the fourth light 1124
and/or the fifth light 1125 to the outside of the light guide
portion 440b that is not directed towards the user's eye 1110
(e.g., using scattering, reflection, and/or transmission), or to
absorb the fourth light 1124 and/or the fifth light 1125.
[0211] For example, on the portion 1133 of the fourth optical
surface 434 where the first to third lights 1121, 1122, and 1123
are not incident but only the fourth light 1124 and/or the fifth
light 1125 are incident, the ghost prevention member (or the light
shielding member) may be formed or provided so as to extract the
fourth light 1124 and/or the fifth light 1125 to the outside of the
light guide portion 440b that is not directed towards the user's
eye 1110 (e.g., using scattering, reflection, and/or transmission),
or to absorb the fourth light 1124 and/or the fifth light 1125.
[0212] For example, on the portion 1134 of the fourth optical
surface 434 where the fourth light 1124 and/or the fifth light 1125
are not incident (or incident at a small amount that is not more
than a pre-set threshold), but the first to third lights 1121,
1122, and 1123 are incident (e.g., only the first to third lights
1121, 1122, and 1123 are incident), a reflective film may be formed
or provided so as to at least partially reflect the first to third
lights 1121, 1122 and 1123 towards the user's eye 1110 so that the
fourth light 1124 and/or the fifth light 1125 can be extracted to
the outside of the light guide portion 440b, which is not directed
towards the user's eye 1110, through the remaining portion of the
fourth optical surface 434 where the reflective film is not formed
or provided (e.g., using, for example, scattering or
transmission).
[0213] FIG. 18 illustrates a configuration of a first projector
180e according to yet another exemplary embodiment. The first
projector 180e illustrated in FIG. 18 has a configuration which is
the same as or similar to that of the first projector 180d
illustrated in FIG. 17, except that the first projector 180e
further includes a ghost prevention member 1231 and a reflective
film 1234. Accordingly, the same components will be denoted with
the same reference numerals and redundant descriptions will be
omitted below. According to another exemplary embodiment, the first
projector 180e may further include a transparent cover glass
provided on the surface of the display element 410. Furthermore,
according to another exemplary embodiment, the first projector 180e
may not include a compensation portion 450.
[0214] The ghost prevention member 1231 may be formed or provided
on the portions of the second optical surface 432 and/or the third
optical surface 433 where the first to third lights 1121, 1122, and
1123 are not incident from the inside of the light guide portion
440b, but the lights forming a ghost image are incident. The ghost
prevention member 1231 may extract the lights forming the ghost
image to the outside of the light guide portion 440b that is not
directed towards the user's eye 1110 (e.g., using, for example,
scattering, reflection or transmission) or absorb the lights. For
example, the ghost prevention member 1231 may be formed on a
portion of the second optical surface 432 where the first to third
lights 1121, 1122, and 1123 are not incident, but the lights
forming the ghost image are incident.
[0215] The reflective film 1234 may be formed on (e.g., only on) a
portion of the fourth optical surface 434 where the lights forming
a ghost image are not incident, but only the first to third lights
1121, 1122, and 1123 are incident. The reflective film 1234 may at
least partially reflect the first to third lights 1121, 1122, and
1123 towards the user's eye 1110, and at least partially
pass/transmit the lights input from the outside of the first
projector 180e.
[0216] FIGS. 19A to 19D exemplify various ghost prevention members
1310, 1320, 1330, and 1340 according to various exemplary
embodiments.
[0217] Referring to FIG. 19A, a first ghost prevention member 1310
may be formed or provided on the second optical surface 432 of the
body 441 to scatter (or diffuse) input light. For example, the
first ghost prevention member 1310 may be formed through injection
molding of the light guide element 430b/light guide portion 440b
using a mold, or by rubbing the second optical surface 432 with a
course sand paper or a similar abrasive material.
[0218] Referring to FIG. 19B, a second ghost prevention member 1320
may be formed or provided on the second optical surface 432 of the
body 441 to absorb incident light. The second ghost prevention
member 1320 may be formed by coating or printing a light shielding
ink (e.g., black ink) on the second optical surface 432.
[0219] Referring to FIG. 19C, a third ghost prevention member 1330
may be formed or provided on the second optical surface 432 of the
body to absorb incident light. The third ghost prevention member
1330 may be formed by attaching a light shielding film 1332 (e.g.,
a black film) using an adhesive member 1332 (e.g., an adhesive or
an optical clear adhesive (OCA) tape).
[0220] Referring to FIG. 19D, a fourth ghost prevention member 1340
in a form of a groove may be formed or provided on the second
optical surface 432 of the body 441 to at least partially reflect
incident light to pass through the third optical surface 433, or to
at least partially pass/transmit the light incident on the second
optical surface 432. The fourth ghost prevention member 1340 may be
formed through the injection molding of the light guide element
430b/light guide portion 440b using a mold, or by cutting the
second optical surface 432 using a V or U-shaped cutter.
[0221] FIG. 20 illustrates a configuration of a first projector
180f according to yet another exemplary embodiment, and FIGS. 21
and 22 are views for describing an operation of the first projector
180f of FIG. 20. The first projector 180f illustrated in FIG. 20 is
substantially the same as or similar to that of the first projector
180d illustrated in FIG. 17, except that the first projector 180f
further includes a support 491, a housing 492, first and second
light sources 481 and 482, a second lens 483, an image sensor 484,
and an actuator 485. Accordingly, the same components will be
denoted with the same reference numerals and redundant descriptions
will be omitted below.
[0222] The light guide element 430b has a prismatic shape, and
includes first to fourth optical surfaces 431b, 432, 433, and 434.
The light guide element 430b includes a light guide portion 440b
and a compensation portion 450 that are separated from each other
by the fourth optical surface 434 which is a reflective surface.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the first projector 180f
may not include a compensation portion 450. The light guide portion
440b includes: a body 441 disposed between the second and third
optical surfaces 432 and 433 and having a thickness (or a thickness
in the widthwise direction of the light guide element 430a) that is
constant along the visual axis 460 (or the optical axis) of the
user's eye looking towards the front side; a first portion 442b
disposed between the first and second optical surfaces 431b and 432
and having a thickness that gradually decreases towards the display
element 410; and a second portion 443 disposed between the third
and fourth optical surfaces 433 and 434 and having a thickness that
gradually decreases in a direction away from the display element
410. According to another exemplary embodiment, the first projector
180f may further include a transparent cover glass provided on the
surface of the display element 410. Furthermore, according to
another exemplary embodiment, the first projector 180f may also
include a ghost prevention member and/or a reflective film.
[0223] A lens system 470a is arranged between the display element
410 and the first optical surface 431b, and has a function of
diffusing the first light 1120 output from the display element 410,
and inputting the diffused light to the first optical surface 431b.
The lens system 470a may include a plurality of lens surfaces, each
of which refracts the light input thereto, in which the plurality
of lens surfaces may be provided by at least one first lens 471.
For example, the first lens 471 may include a cemented doublet lens
in which a concave lens and a convex lens are cemented with each
other. For example, the lens system 470a may further include a beam
splitter (BS) 472a that passes therethrough the first light 1120
(e.g., visible light) input thereto and reflects a second light
(e.g., IR light) input thereto. For example, the first light 1120
output from the display element 410 sequentially passes through the
beam splitter 472a and the first lens 471 to be incident on the
first optical surface 431b.
[0224] Each of the first and second light sources 481 and 482 may
project the second light towards the user's eye 1110. The second
light reflected from the user's eye 1110 may be input to the light
guide element 430b.
[0225] The second lens 483 is capable of causing the second light
output from the light guide element 430b to converge on a
light-receiving face (or surface) of the image sensor 484.
[0226] The image sensor 484 may convert the second light input
through the second lens 483 into an electric image signal (e.g., a
digital image) and output the electric image signal to the control
unit 200.
[0227] The support 491 may have a cylindrical shape, of which one
end is opened and the lateral side and the other end are closed.
The support 491 may at least partially accommodate therein and
support the light guide element 430b, the lens system 470a, the
display element 410, the second lens 483, and the image sensor 484.
For example, a part of the light guide element 430b on the first
portion 442b side is fixedly inserted into the support 491, and the
lens system 470a, the display element 410, the second lens 483, and
the image sensor 484 may be fixedly accommodated within the support
491.
[0228] The actuator 485 includes an arm 486 capable of performing
backward and forward movements, and one end of the arm 486 may be
fixed to the support 491. The actuator 485 may move the arm 486
forward or backward along the longitudinal direction of the light
guide element 430b (the direction perpendicular to the visual axis
(or the optical axis) of the user's eye looking towards the front
side) to correspond to a distance or position according to a
control signal from the control unit 200. According to the movement
of the arm 486, the support 491, and the light guide element 430b,
the lens system 470a, the display element 410, the second lens 483,
and the image sensor 484, which are fixed to the support, may also
move along the longitudinal direction of the light guide element
430b (see arrow 493).
[0229] The housing 492 may have a cylindrical shape, of which one
end is opened and the lateral side and the other end are closed.
The housing 492 may at least partially accommodate therein and
support the support 491 and the actuator 485. For example, the
support 491 and the actuator 485 may be fixedly accommodated in the
housing 492.
[0230] Referring to FIG. 21, each of the first and second light
sources 481 and 482 may project the second light 1130 (e.g., IR
light) towards the user's eye 1110. The second light 1130 reflected
from the user's eye 1110 may be input to the light guide element
430b.
[0231] The second light 1130 may be incident on the fourth optical
surface 434 through the third optical surface 433, and the second
light 1130 may be reflected by the fourth optical surface 434. The
second and third optical surfaces 432 and 433 may totally reflect
the second light 1130 reflected by the fourth optical surface 434
to travel to the first optical surface 431b.
[0232] After having passed through the first optical surface 431b,
the second light 1130 may be input to the beam splitter 472a
through the first lens 471, and the beam splitter 472a may reflect
the second light 1130 towards the second lens 483.
[0233] The second lens 483 may cause the second light 1130 output
from the beam splitter 472a to converge on the light receiving face
(or surface) of the image sensor 484. The image sensor 484 may
convert the second light 1130 input through the second lens 483
into an electric image signal (e.g., digital image) and output the
electric image signal to the control unit 200.
[0234] For example, the control unit 200 may recognize an iris
image portion corresponding to the iris 1112 of the user's eye 1110
from the image of the user's eye 1110 obtained through the image
sensor 484, and compare information for features extracted from the
recognized iris image portion (e.g., an edge, a corner, an image
pattern, or an outline) with registered feature information for the
user's iris which has been previously stored in the storage unit
120. When the extracted feature information and the previously
stored feature information are coincident with each other, the
control unit 200 may determine that the registered user is
detected.
[0235] For example, in response to the detection of the registered
user, the control unit 200 may transmit authentication/secret
information of the registered user (e.g., iris information, user
identification information, user secret information) to an external
electronic device (e.g., a server, a peripheral electronic device
connected through short range communication, etc.), or execute a
pre-set operation or function (e.g., an unlock function, an
application execution function, a user account change function, a
multimedia control function, etc.).
[0236] For example, the control unit 200 may recognize an eye image
portion from the image of the user's eye 1110 obtained through the
image sensor 484. The eye recognition may be performed using a
related art eye recognition method, in which, by way of example,
the outline of the eye or a template, which is stored in the
storage unit 120, may be used. For example, the control unit 200
may perform eye learning through a plurality of users' eyes and
recognize the eye from the input images based on the eye learning.
The eye learning information may be stored in the storage unit
120.
[0237] The control unit 200 may detect the user's gaze direction
for the recognized eye. The control unit 200 may detect the user's
gaze direction using a related art eye tracking or eye detection
technique. The control unit 200 may detect the gaze direction (or
an eyeline/an eyeline direction/a looking direction) from a pose,
posture, or position of the iris or pupil. The control unit 200 may
perform a pre-set operation or function (e.g., screen scroll,
screen change, object selection, focus movement, or cursor
movement) in response to the detection of the user's gaze
direction.
[0238] Referring to FIG. 21, an angle of view of the first
projector 180f (or a portion 1141 of a subject (corresponding to
the eye 1110 in the present example) that may be detected at one
viewpoint by the image sensor 484 at a stationary state) may be
determined based on the distance between the fourth optical surface
434 and the eye 1110, the distance between the fourth optical
surface 434 and the image sensor 484, and the size/area of the
fourth optical surface 434.
[0239] Referring to FIG. 22, when the angle of view of the first
projector 180f cannot cover the eye 1110 entirely, the control unit
200 may perform a control such that the eye 1110 is photographed
while the first projector 180f is moved.
[0240] The control unit 200 may transmit a control signal for
moving the arm 486 forward to the actuator 485. The actuator 485
may move the arm 486 forward towards the light guide element 430b
to correspond to the distance or position according to the control
signal of the control unit 200. According to the forward movement
of the arm 486, the support 491, and the light guide element 430b,
the lens system 470a, the display element 410, the second lens 483,
and the image sensor 484, which are fixed to the support 491, also
move in the direction away from the actuator 485 or the housing 492
(see arrow 494).
[0241] FIG. 22 illustrates a state in which the angle of view of
the first projector 430b (or a portion 1142 of a subject
(corresponding to the eye 1110 in the present example) that may be
detected at one viewpoint by the image sensor 484 at a stationary
state) is moved according to the movement of the light guide
element 430b (and the fourth optical surface 434).
[0242] FIG. 23 illustrates a configuration of a first projector
180g according to yet another exemplary embodiment, and FIG. 24 is
a view for describing an operation of the first projector 180g of
FIG. 23. The first projector 180g illustrated FIG. 23 has a
configuration which is substantially the same as or similar to that
of the first projector 180f illustrated in FIG. 20, except that a
first support 491a and a second support 491b are used instead of
one support 491, and a first actuator 485a and a second actuator
485b are used instead of one actuator 485. Accordingly, the same
components will be denoted with the same reference numerals and
redundant descriptions will be omitted below. According to another
exemplary embodiment, the first projector 180g may not include a
compensation portion 450. Furthermore, according to another
exemplary embodiment, the first projector 180g may also include a
transparent cover glass provided on the surface of the display
element 410. Moreover, according to another exemplary embodiment,
the first projector 180g may also include a ghost prevention member
and/or a reflective film.
[0243] The first support 491a may have a prismatic cylinder shape,
of which the opposite ends are opened and the side surface is
closed. The first support 491a may accommodate therein and support
at least a part of the light guide element 430b. For example, a
portion of the light guide element 430b on the first portion 442b
side may be fixedly inserted into the first support 491a.
[0244] The second support 491b may have a prismatic cylinder shape,
of which one end is opened and the side surface and the other end
are closed. The second support 491b may at least partially
accommodate therein and support at least the second lens 483 and
the image sensor 484. For example, the second lens 483 and the
image sensor 484 may be accommodated and fixed in the second
support 491b.
[0245] The first actuator 485a includes a first arm 486a capable of
performing forward and backward movements, in which one end of the
first arm 486a may be fixed to the first support 491a. The first
actuator 485a may move the first arm 486a along the longitudinal
direction of the light guide element 430b (or the direction
perpendicular to the visual axis (or the optical axis) of the
user's eye 1110 looking towards the front side) to correspond to
the distance or position according to a control signal from the
control unit 200. According to the movement of the first arm 486a,
the first support 491a and the light guide element 430b fixed to
the first support 491a may also be moved along the longitudinal
direction of the light guide element 430b (see arrow 495).
[0246] The second actuator 485b includes a second arm 486b capable
of performing forward and backward movements, in which one end of
the second arm 486b may be fixed to the second support 491b. The
second actuator 485b may move the second arm 486b along the
longitudinal direction of the light guide element 430b (or the
direction perpendicular to the visual axis (or the optical axis) of
the user's eye 1110 looking towards the front side) to correspond
to the distance or position according to a control signal from the
control unit 200. According to the movement of the second arm 486b,
the second support 491b and the light guide element 430b fixed to
the second support 491b may also be moved along the longitudinal
direction of the light guide element 430b (see arrow 496).
[0247] Referring to FIG. 23, an angle of view of the first
projector 180g (or a portion 1143 of a subject (corresponding to
the eye 1110 in the present example) that may be detected at one
viewpoint by the image sensor 484 at a stationary state) may be
determined based on the distance between the fourth optical surface
434 and the eye 1110, the distance between the fourth optical
surface 434 and the image sensor 484, and the size/area of the
fourth optical surface 434.
[0248] Referring to FIG. 24, when the angle of view of the first
projector 180g cannot cover the eye 1110 entirely, the control unit
200 may perform a control such that the eye 1110 is photographed
while the first projector 180g is moved.
[0249] The control unit 200 may transmit a control signal for
moving the first arm 486a forward to the first actuator 485a. The
first actuator 485a may move the first arm 486a forward towards the
light guide element 430b to correspond to the distance or position
according to the control signal of the control unit 200. According
to the forward movement of the first arm 486a, the first support
491a and the light guide element 430b fixed to the first support
491a also move in the direction away from the first actuator 485a
or the housing 492 (see arrow 497).
[0250] The control unit 200 may transmit a control signal for
moving the second arm 486b forward to the second actuator 485b. The
second actuator 485b may move the second arm 486b forward towards
the light guide element 430b to correspond to the distance or
position according to the control signal of the control unit 200.
According to the forward movement of the second arm 486b, the
second support 491b, and the second lens 483, and the image sensor
484, which are fixed to the second support 491b, also move in the
direction away from the second actuator 485b or the housing 492
(see arrow 498).
[0251] FIG. 24 illustrates a state in which the angle of view of
the first projector 180g (or a portion 1144 of a subject
(corresponding to the eye 1110 in the present example) that may be
detected at one viewpoint by the image sensor 484 at a stationary
state) is moved according to the movement of the light guide
element 430b (and the fourth optical surface 434).
[0252] According to the operation of the first actuator 485a and
the second actuator 485b according to a control of the control unit
200, the light guide element 430b, the second lens 483, and the
image sensor 484 may move forward or backward together.
[0253] At least one exemplary embodiment provides a compact and
light wearable display device in which an aberration by a
manufacturing tolerance occurs less often.
[0254] It will be appreciated that at least one exemplary
embodiment may be implemented in the form of software, hardware, or
a combination thereof. For example, in the display device 100
illustrated in FIG. 1, components such as the storage unit 120, the
communication unit 140, and the controller 200 may be implemented
as devices, respectively, including, for example, circuitry, at
least one processor, etc. Any such software may be stored, for
example, in a volatile or non-volatile storage device such as a
read only memory (ROM), a memory such as a random access memory
(RAM), a memory chip, a memory device, or a memory integrated
circuit (IC), or a recordable optical or magnetic medium such as a
compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), a Blu-ray disc
(BD), a magnetic disk, or a magnetic tape, regardless of its
ability to be erased or its ability to be re-recorded. It can be
also appreciated that the memory included in the portable terminal
is one example of machine-readable devices suitable for storing a
program including instructions that are executed by a processor
device to thereby implement exemplary embodiments. Accordingly, one
or more exemplary embodiments include a program that includes a
code for implementing an apparatus or a method defined in any claim
in the present specification and a machine-readable storage medium
that stores such a program. Further, the program may be
electronically transferred by a predetermined medium such as a
communication signal transferred through a wired or wireless
connection, and the present disclosure appropriately includes
equivalents of the program.
[0255] Although exemplary embodiments are described in the above
description, various modifications can be made without departing
from the scope of the present inventive concept. Accordingly, the
scope of the present invention shall not be determined by the
above-described exemplary embodiments, and is to be determined by
the following claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *