Head-mounted display apparatus

Abstract

A head-mounted display apparatus includes an image display device, a wearing device with which the image display device is worn on a head of an observer, and an attachment member with which the image display device is attached to the wearing device. The attachment member is capable of adjusting a position of the image display device relative to the wearing device independently in a first direction and in a second direction, the first direction being defined by a virtual line connecting centers of eyes of the observer, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction and extending vertically with respect to the observer.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 . A head-mounted display apparatus comprising:
 an image display device;   a wearing device with which the image display device is worn on a head of an observer; and   an attachment member with which the image display device is attached to the wearing device,   wherein the attachment member is capable of adjusting a position of the image display device relative to the wearing device independently in a first direction and in a second direction, the first direction being defined by a virtual line connecting centers of eyes of the observer, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction and extending vertically with respect to the observer.   
     
     
         2 . The head-mounted display apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the image display device and the attachment member are provided for each of right and left eyes. 
     
     
         3 . The head-mounted display apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the image display device includes
 an image generator; and 
 an optical device receiving light from the image generator, guiding the light, and outputting the light toward a corresponding one of the eyes of the observer. 
   
     
     
         4 . The head-mounted display apparatus according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the optical device includes
 a light-guiding plate causing the received light to propagate with total reflection thereinside before outputting the light; 
 first deflecting means deflecting the light received by the light-guiding plate so that the light is totally reflected inside the light-guiding plate; and 
 second deflecting means deflecting, a plurality of times, the light caused to propagate with total reflection inside the light-guiding plate so that the light is output from the light-guiding plate. 
   
     
     
         5 . The head-mounted display apparatus according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the first deflecting means reflects the light received by the light-guiding plate, and   wherein the second deflecting means transmits and reflects, a plurality of times, the light caused to propagate with total reflection inside the light-guiding plate.   
     
     
         6 . The head-mounted display apparatus according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the first deflecting means functions as a reflective mirror, and   wherein the second deflecting means functions as a transflective mirror.   
     
     
         7 . The head-mounted display apparatus according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the first deflecting means diffracts the light received by the light-guiding plate, and   wherein the second deflecting means diffracts, a plurality of times, the light caused to propagate with total reflection inside the light-guiding plate.   
     
     
         8 . The head-mounted display apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the first and second deflecting means include diffraction grating elements. 
     
     
         9 . The head-mounted display apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the diffraction grating elements are reflective diffraction grating elements. 
     
     
         10 . The head-mounted display apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the diffraction grating elements are transmissive diffraction grating elements. 
     
     
         11 . The head-mounted display apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein one of the diffraction grating elements is a reflective diffraction grating element and the other is a transmissive diffraction grating element. 
     
     
         12 . The head-mounted display apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the optical device includes a transflective mirror receiving the light from the image generator and outputting the light toward the eye of the observer. 
     
     
         13 . The head-mounted display apparatus according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the image generator includes
 an image-forming device having a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix; and 
 a collimating optical system collimating the light from the pixels of the image-forming device into parallel light and outputting the parallel light. 
   
     
     
         14 . The head-mounted display apparatus according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the image generator includes
 a light source; 
 a collimating optical system collimating light from the light source into parallel light; 
 scanning means scanningly moving the parallel light from the collimating optical system; and 
 a relay optical system relaying and outputting the parallel light scanningly moved by the scanning means. 
   
     
     
         15 . The head-mounted display apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the wearing device forms a frame of a pair of glasses. 
     
     
         16 . The head-mounted display apparatus according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein the frame includes
 a front member to be positioned in front of the observer; and 
 two temples turnably attached to respective ends of the front member with hinges, and 
   wherein the attachment member is attached to each of the ends of the front member.