TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a display apparatus, and more particularly, to a display apparatus used for a head mounted display (HMD) and an initial setting method for an associated display apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, an augmented reality (AR) technique of synthesizing and presenting virtual objects as additional information or various types of information as electronic information to a reality environment (or a portion thereof) has drawn attention. In order to implement the augmented reality technique, for example, a head mounted display as a device of presenting visual information has been studied. In addition, as an application field, work support in the reality environment is expected, and for example, providing of road guidance information, providing of technical information to a technician who performs maintenance or the like, and the like may be exemplified. Particularly, the head mounted display is very useful sine the hands are not occupied. In addition, even in the case of obtaining various types of information and the like when moving outdoors, since various types of information or the like and an external environment configured as a video or an image in sight can be simultaneously recognized, smooth movement can be performed.

A virtual image display device (display apparatus) for allowing an observer to observe a two-dimensional image formed by an image forming device as an augmented virtual image by an virtual image optical system is well known from, for example, JP 2006-162767 A.

As a conceptual view is illustrated inFIG. 30, an image display device100′ is configured to include an image forming device111which includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix shape, a collimator optical system112which converts light emitted from the pixels of the image forming device111into parallel light, and an optical device120where the light formed as the parallel light in the collimator optical system112is incident, guided, and emitted. The optical device120is configured to include a light guide plate121where incident light propagates an inner portion thereof by total reflection and, after that, emits, a first deflecting unit130(for example, configured with a single-layered light reflecting film) which reflects the light incident on the light guide plate121so that the light incident on the light guide plate121is totally reflected in the inner portion of the light guide plate121, and a second deflecting unit140(for example, configured with a multi-layered light reflecting film having a multilayer stacked structure) which allows the light propagating the inner portion of the light guide plate121by total reflection to be emitted from the light guide plate121. In addition, for example, if an HMD is configured with the image display device100′, weight reduction and miniaturization of the apparatus can be achieved. Furthermore, with respect to reference numerals indicating other components inFIG. 30, the image display device according to the first embodiment described with reference toFIG. 1is referred to.

Alternatively, a virtual image display device (display apparatus) using a hologram diffraction grating for allowing an observer to observe a two-dimensional image formed by an image forming device as an augmented virtual image by a virtual image optical system is well known from, for example, JP 2007-094175 A.

As a conceptual view is illustrated inFIG. 31, an image display device300′ is configured to basically include an image forming device111which displays an image, a collimator optical system112, and an optical device320where light displayed in the image forming device111is incident and the light is guided to a pupil21of an observer. Herein, the optical device320is configured to include a light guide plate321and first and second diffraction grating members330and340which are configured with reflective volume hologram diffraction gratings installed on the light guide plate321. In addition, light emitted from pixels of the image forming device111is incident on the collimator optical system112, and a plurality of parallel light having different angles of incidence to the light guide plate321is generated by the collimator optical system112to be incident on the light guide plate321. The parallel light is incident from a first surface322of the light guide plate321to be emitted. On the other hand, the first and second diffraction grating members330and340are attached to a second surface323of the light guide plate321which is parallel to the first surface322of the light guide plate321. Furthermore, with respect to reference numerals indicating other components inFIG. 31, the image display device according to the third embodiment described with reference toFIG. 12is referred to.

In addition, in the image display devices100′ and300′, the virtual image is formed based on the image, so that the observer can view the image of the outside world and the formed virtual image in an overlapped manner.

However, in a case where the surrounding environment where the image display device100′ or300′ is placed is very bright or according to contents of the formed virtual image, there may be a problem in that sufficient contrast is not provided to the virtual image observed by the observer. Therefore, a solution for solving the problem, namely, a virtual image display device (display apparatus) having a light regulating device is well known from, for example, JP 2012-252091 A.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

[PTL 1]

JP 2006-162767 A
[PTL 2]JP 2007-094175 A
[PTL 3]JP 2012-252091 A

SUMMARY

Technical Problem

Herein, the display apparatus is often demanded to allow the observer using the display apparatus to safely behave in the reality environment while securely recognizing the external environment.

Therefore, a first object of the present disclosure is to provide a display apparatus having configuration and structure capable of providing high contrast to a virtual image observed by an observer and capable of allowing the observer using the display apparatus to safely behave in a reality environment while securely recognizing an external environment. In addition, a second object of the present disclosure is to provide an initial setting method for an associated display apparatus.

Solution to Problem

A display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a layer including a first region and a second region, wherein the first region and the second region are configured to be visible to a user of the display device; and circuitry configured: to control displaying a computer generated image on an optical device overlapping the layer and to control a first transmittance of the first region of the layer to be lower than a second transmittance of the second region of the layer such that: a visibility, through the first region, of the computer generated image is increased and a visibility, through the second region, of an environment opposite the user relative to the display device is higher than a visibility, through the first region, of the environment opposite the user relative to the display device.

Alternatively or additionally, a method for controlling transmittance of a display device comprises: controlling a first transmittance of a first region of a layer of the display device to be lower than a second transmittance of a second region of the layer of the display device such that: a visibility, through the first region, of a computer generated image displayed on an optical device overlapping the layer is increased and a visibility, through the second region, of an environment opposite the user relative to the display device is higher than a visibility, through the first region, of the environment opposite the user relative to the display device, wherein the first region and the second region are configured to be visible to a user of the display device.

Alternatively or additionally, a computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform a method for controlling transmittance of a display device, and the method comprises: controlling a first transmittance of a first region of a layer of the display device to be lower than a second transmittance of a second region of the layer of the display device such that: a visibility, through the first region, of a computer generated image displayed on an optical device overlapping the layer is increased and a visibility, through the second region, of an environment opposite the user relative to the display device is higher than a visibility, through the first region, of the environment opposite the user relative to the display device, wherein the first region and the second region are configured to be visible to a user of the display device.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

In the display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the virtual image is formed in a portion of the virtual image forming region based on the light emitted from the image forming device, since the light regulating device is controlled so that the light shielding ratio of the virtual image projection region of the light regulating device where the projection image of the virtual image to the light regulating device is included is higher than the light shielding ratio of the other region of the light regulating device, high contrast can be provided to the virtual image observed by the observer, and since the high light shielding ratio region is narrow, the observer using the display apparatus can securely and safely recognize the external environment. In the initial setting method for the display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, since the virtual image of the test pattern and the high light shielding ratio region of the light regulating device are allowed to be moved relative to each other so that the virtual image of the test pattern observed by the observer and the high light shielding ratio region of the light regulating device observed by the observer overlap each other, for example, even in a case where the observer using the display apparatus is replaced, initialization of the position of the virtual image projection region of the light regulating device where the projection image of the virtual image to the light regulating device is included can be accurately performed. Furthermore, the effect disclosed in this specification is exemplary but not limited, and in addition, there may be additional effects.

