Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Mukawa

Hiroshi Mukawa has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20130242555
    Abstract: There is provided an image display device including an image generating device, and a light guide unit. When a point at which light output from a center of the image generating device is incident is a point O, a normal line passing through the point O in a portion of the unit is an X axis, an axis of the unit passing through the point O is a Y axis, an optical axis of light incident at the point O among light beams output from a center of the image generating device is a ? axis, and a virtual plane including the ? axis and the Y axis is a ?Y plane, light output from the image generating device and incident at a point (0,Y1,Z1) forms an angle ?Z with the ?Y plane and forms an angle ?Y with an XZ plane, and when Z1?0, ?Z?0Y is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Mukawa
  • Patent number: 8396339
    Abstract: A virtual image display device with an optical waveguide to guide, by internal total reflection, parallel pencil groups meeting a condition of internal total reflection, a first reflection volume hologram grating to diffract and reflect the parallel pencil groups incident upon the optical waveguide from outside and traveling in different directions as they are so as to meet the condition of internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide and a second reflection volume hologram grating to project the parallel pencil groups guided by internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide as they are from the optical waveguide by diffraction and reflection thereof so as to depart from the condition of internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Mukawa, Katsuyuki Akutsu
  • Patent number: 8335040
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Mukawa, Akio Funanami
  • Patent number: 8325166
    Abstract: An optical device includes: a light guide plate receiving, for each of N types of wavelength bands, a plurality of parallel light beams with different incident angles each corresponding to view angles, and guiding the received parallel light beams; a first and a second volume hologram gratings of reflection type having a diffraction configuration which includes N types of interference fringes each corresponding to the N types of wavelength bands, and diffracting/reflecting the parallel light beams. The optical device satisfies for each wavelength band, a relationship of ‘P>L’, where ‘L’ represents a central diffraction wavelength in the first and second volume hologram gratings, defined for a parallel light beam corresponding to a central view angle, and ‘P’ represents a peak wavelength of the parallel light beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Akutsu, Satoshi Nakano, Hiroshi Mukawa
  • Publication number: 20120287675
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes an image forming device, a collimating optical system, and an optical device. The optical device includes a light guide plate, a first deflecting member that deflects light incident on the light guide plate, and a second deflecting member that deflects the light, which propagates in the light guide plate by total reflection, a plurality of times. The first and second deflecting members are provided in the light guide plate. Light having one wavelength emitted from at least one pixel satisfies the following condition: 2t·sin ??2?WY?2t·sin ?+2 where an axial direction of the light guide plate is the Y-direction, WY prepresents the width in the Y-direction of the light incident on the light guide plate, t represents the thickness of the light guide plate, and ? represents the total reflection angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Mukawa
  • Publication number: 20120287374
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes an image forming device having pixels; a collimating optical system collimating light from the image forming device; and an optical device receiving, guiding, and outputting the collimated light as directional rays in different directions. The optical device includes a light-guiding plate; a first optical member reflecting or diffracting the light so as to totally reflect the light inside the light-guiding plate; and a second optical member causing the propagated light to emerge from the light-guiding plate. When a light ray emitted from a pixel located farthest from the center of the image forming device and a light ray emitted from a pixel located at the center of the image forming device pass through a front nodal point of the collimating optical system and are respectively incident on the collimating optical system and the light-guiding plate at angles ?1 and ?2, ?2>?1 is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Mukawa
  • Publication number: 20120243063
    Abstract: An image display device includes an image forming device, collimating optical system, and optical device, with the optical device including a light guide plate, first diffraction grating member and second diffraction grating member which are made up of a volume hologram diffraction grating, and with central light emitted from the pixel of the center of the image forming device and passed through the center of the collimating optical system being input to the light guide plate from the near side of the second diffraction grating member with a certain angle. Thus, the image display device capable of preventing occurrence of color irregularities, despite the simple configuration, can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Mukawa
  • Publication number: 20120206811
    Abstract: A virtual image display device with an optical waveguide to guide, by internal total reflection, parallel pencil groups meeting a condition of internal total reflection, a first reflection volume hologram grating to diffract and reflect the parallel pencil groups incident upon the optical waveguide from outside and traveling in different directions as they are so as to meet the condition of internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide and a second reflection volume hologram grating to project the parallel pencil groups guided by internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide as they are from the optical waveguide by diffraction and reflection thereof so as to depart from the condition of internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Mukawa, Katsuyuki Akutsu
  • Patent number: 8220966
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes an image forming device having pixels; a collimating optical system collimating light from the image forming device; and an optical device receiving, guiding, and outputting the collimated light as directional rays in different directions. The optical device includes a light-guiding plate; a first optical member reflecting or diffracting the light so as to totally reflect the light inside the light-guiding plate; and a second optical member causing the propagated light to emerge from the light-guiding plate. When a light ray emitted from a pixel located farthest from the center of the image forming device and a light ray emitted from a pixel located at the center of the image forming device pass through a front nodal point of the collimating optical system and are respectively incident on the collimating optical system and the light-guiding plate at angles ?1 and ?2, ?2>?1 is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Mukawa
  • Patent number: 8213065
    Abstract: An image display device includes an image forming device, collimating optical system, and optical device, with the optical device including a light guide plate, first diffraction grating member and second diffraction grating member which are made up of a volume hologram diffraction grating, and with central light emitted from the pixel of the center of the image forming device and passed through the center of the collimating optical system being input to the light guide plate from the near side of the second diffraction grating member with a certain angle. Thus, the image display device capable of preventing occurrence of color irregularities, despite the simple configuration, can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Mukawa
  • Patent number: 8213755
    Abstract: A virtual image display device with an optical waveguide to guide, by internal total reflection, parallel pencil groups meeting a condition of internal total reflection, a first reflection volume hologram grating to diffract and reflect the parallel pencil groups incident upon the optical waveguide from outside and traveling in different directions as they are so as to meet the condition of internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide and a second reflection volume hologram grating to project the parallel pencil groups guided by internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide as they are from the optical waveguide by diffraction and reflection thereof so as to depart from the condition of internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Mukawa, Katsuyuki Akutsu
  • Publication number: 20120081789
    Abstract: A virtual image display device with an optical waveguide to guide, by internal total reflection, parallel pencil groups meeting a condition of internal total reflection, a first reflection volume hologram grating to diffract and reflect the parallel pencil groups incident upon the optical waveguide from outside and traveling in different directions as they are so as to meet the condition of internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide and a second reflection volume hologram grating to project the parallel pencil groups guided by internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide as they are from the optical waveguide by diffraction and reflection thereof so as to depart from the condition of internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Mukawa, Katsuyuki Akutsu
  • Publication number: 20120044571
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes: a glass-type frame mounted to a head of an observer; and two image displaying devices for the left and right eyes that are attached to the frame. Each of the image displaying devices includes an image forming device, an optical system making light from the image forming device to be parallel light, and an optical device to which the light from the optical system is incident, and in which the light is guided so as to be output, at least one of the image displaying devices further includes a movement device relatively moving optical axes of the image forming device and the optical system in a horizontal direction, and a convergence angle is adjusted by relatively moving the optical axes of the image forming device and the optical system in the horizontal direction using the movement device depending on an observation position of an observer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Mukawa
  • Publication number: 20120032874
    Abstract: A display apparatus assembly includes: a display apparatus; and a speed measuring device that measures a movement speed of the display apparatus, wherein the display apparatus includes a glass-type frame that is mounted on a head of an observer and two image displaying devices for left and right eyes that are mounted in the frame, each of the image displaying devices includes an image forming device, an optical system that forms light output from the image forming device to be parallel light, and an optical device to which light output from the optical system is incident and in which the light is guided so as to be output, and a convergence angle is changed based on the movement speed of the display apparatus that is measured by the speed measuring device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Mukawa
  • Patent number: 8073296
    Abstract: A virtual image display device which displays a two-dimensional image for viewing a virtual image in a magnified form by a virtual optical system. The virtual image display device includes an optical waveguide to guide, by internal total reflection, parallel pencil groups meeting a condition of internal total reflection, a first reflection volume hologram grating to diffract and reflect the parallel pencil groups incident upon the optical waveguide from outside and traveling in different directions as they are so as to meet the condition of internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide and a second reflection volume hologram grating to project the parallel pencil groups guided by internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide as they are from the optical waveguide by diffraction and reflection thereof so as to depart from the condition of internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Mukawa, Katsuyuki Akutsu
  • Publication number: 20110241975
    Abstract: There is provided a head mounted display including a glasses-type frame to be worn on a head of an observer; two optical modules including two image creation devices, and two light guides having two light guide plates coupled one-to-one with the two image creation devices and placed closer to a center of a face of the observer than the image creation devices are as a whole, that guide light beams output from the image creation devices and output the light beams toward pupils of the observer; and an optical plate supporting the two light guides, wherein the optical plate is attached to a center part of the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Mukawa, Atsushi Kagawa, Satoshi Nakano, Keita Hibi, Yohei Fukuma, Tomoaki Takuma
  • Patent number: 8023783
    Abstract: A virtual image display device is provided which displays a two-dimensional image for viewing a virtual image in a magnified form by a virtual optical system. The virtual image display device includes an optical waveguide (13) to guide, by internal total reflection, parallel pencil groups meeting a condition of internal total reflection, a first reflection volume hologram grating (14) to diffract and reflect the parallel pencil groups incident upon the optical waveguide from outside and traveling in different directions as they are so as to meet the condition of internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide and a second reflection volume hologram grating (15) to project the parallel pencil groups guided by internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide as they are from the optical waveguide by diffraction and reflection thereof so as to depart from the condition of internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Mukawa, Katsuyuki Akutsu
  • Publication number: 20110211239
    Abstract: A virtual image display device which displays a two-dimensional image for viewing a virtual image in a magnified form by a virtual optical system. The virtual image display device includes an optical waveguide to guide, by internal total reflection, parallel pencil groups meeting a condition of internal total reflection, a first reflection volume hologram grating to diffract and reflect the parallel pencil groups incident upon the optical waveguide from outside and traveling in different directions as they are so as to meet the condition of internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide and a second reflection volume hologram grating to project the parallel pencil groups guided by internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide as they are from the optical waveguide by diffraction and reflection thereof so as to depart from the condition of internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Mukawa, Katsuyuki Akutsu
  • Patent number: 7944616
    Abstract: A head-mounted display includes a frame shaped like glasses to be worn on the head of an observer, two image display apparatuses respectively including image generating devices to be placed outside the eyes of the observer, and light guide devices attached to the image generating devices and provided closer to the center of the face of the observer than the image generating devices as a whole, light emitted from the image generating device entering the light guide devices, and being guided and emitted from the light guide devices toward the eyes of the observer, and a coupling member configured to couple the image generating devices and attached to a center portion of the frame between the eyes of the observer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Mukawa
  • Patent number: 7936519
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a head mounted display including: an eyeglasses frame-like frame to be mounted onto an observer's head; and two image display devices, each of the image display devices including an image generating device, and light guide means which is mounted to the image generating device, which as a whole is located on the side of the center of an observer's face relative to the image generating device, on which beams emitted from the image generating device are incident, through which the beams are guided, and from which the beams are emitted toward an observer's pupil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Mukawa, Akio Funanami, Teiyu Goto