Patents by Inventor Motomi Matsunaga

Motomi Matsunaga 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).

  • Patent number: 7522342
    Abstract: An image display apparatus having a wide view angle of an observed image with a small (thin) structure, which includes: two image forming elements; and an optical system guiding a beam from the image forming elements to two observation areas, wherein the system includes curved reflecting surfaces, and is symmetrical about a symmetry plane intermediate between the observation areas, in which a beam from the image forming element on a side of the symmetry plane is reflected on a curved reflecting surface on the side, reflected on a curved reflecting surface on the other side, is reflected on the surface on the side, and transmits a surface SLa to be guided to the observation area on the side; and an area, in the surface Sla, which a beam LLa traveling along an optical path closest to the symmetry plane transmits, has a shape having positive refractive power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutaka Inoguchi, Motomi Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 7446943
    Abstract: A display optical system for guiding light from an original picture to an eye of an observer or a surface to have an image projected thereon is provided with a first optical system and a second optical system. The first optical system is provided with a first surface that is formed on a transparent body and has at least a reflecting action, a second surface for reflecting light reflected on the first surface toward the first surface again, and a third surface that is formed on the transparent body in the same manner as the first surface and transmits the light from the original picture. The light transmitted through the third surface travels toward the first surface and reflected for the first time on the first surface. In addition, a principal ray at central angle of view to be reflected for the last time on the first surface is reflected and travels to a side opposite to a side of the first reflection on the first surface with respect to a normal line of a surface on a hit point thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akinari Takagi, Shoichi Yamazaki, Hideki Morishima, Kazutaka Inoguchi, Motomi Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 7408715
    Abstract: An image display apparatus having a compact size and appropriately achieving a larger field angle is disclosed while it has two optical systems guiding light from a single image forming device to both eyes. The apparatus has the single image forming device forming an original image, and a first and a second optical system disposed on both sides of a central plane including a central axis of the image forming device. The optical systems guide light from the image forming device to a first and a second eye of an observer, respectively. When light traveling from the image forming device to each pupil of the optical systems is inversely traced from the pupil, each system includes a first surface reflecting the inversely traced light from the pupil in a direction away from the central plane, and a second surface reflecting the inversely traced light from the first surface in a direction away from the central plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutaka Inoguchi, Shoichi Yamazaki, Motomi Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 7352521
    Abstract: An image display optical system which achieves a small size and display at a wide angle of view as well as maintains a required level of optical performance and allows suppression of occurrence of various aberrations at the same time. The optical system includes a first optical element and a second optical element in order from the side of an exit pupil of the optical system to the side of a display device. A combined negative optical power is provided by an emergent surface of the second optical element and an incident surface of the first optical element, and the optical system forms an intermediate image with the displaying luminous flux in the first optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Motomi Matsunaga
  • Publication number: 20070206289
    Abstract: An image display apparatus having a wide view angle of an observed image with a small (thin) structure, which includes: two image forming elements; and an optical system guiding a beam from the image forming elements to two observation areas, wherein the system includes curved reflecting surfaces, and is symmetrical about a symmetry plane intermediate between the observation areas, in which a beam from the image forming element on a side of the symmetry plane is reflected on a curved reflecting surface on the side, reflected on a curved reflecting surface on the other side, is reflected on the surface on the side, and transmits a surface SLa to be guided to the observation area on the side; and an area, in the surface Sla, which a beam LLa traveling along an optical path closest to the symmetry plane transmits, has a shape having positive refractive power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Inventors: Kazutaka INOGUCHI, Motomi MATSUNAGA
  • Publication number: 20070109658
    Abstract: An image display apparatus having a compact size and appropriately achieving a larger field angle is disclosed while it has two optical systems guiding light from a single image forming device to both eyes. The apparatus has the single image forming device forming an original image, and a first and a second optical system disposed on both sides of a central plane including a central axis of the image forming device. The optical systems guide light from the image forming device to a first and a second eye of an observer, respectively. When light traveling from the image forming device to each pupil of the optical systems is inversely traced from the pupil, each system includes a first surface reflecting the inversely traced light from the pupil in a direction away from the central plane, and a second surface reflecting the inversely traced light from the first surface in a direction away from the central plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventors: Kazutaka Inoguchi, Shoichi Yamazaki, Motomi Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 7210803
    Abstract: An optical system is disclosed with which higher magnification can be easily achieved and aberrations can be favorably corrected, yet is compact. The optical system includes a plurality of optical surfaces including a first surface which has at least a reflective action, a second surface reflecting the light rays reflected by the first surface back toward the first surface, and a diffractive optical surface. The first surface reflects a central field-angle principal ray, which comes from the second surface and is again incident on the first surface, to the opposite side of the previous reflection with respect to a normal at a hit point of the central field-angle principal ray on the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motomi Matsunaga, Shoichi Yamazaki, Kazutaka Inoguchi
  • Patent number: 7199935
    Abstract: An image display apparatus having a compact size and appropriately achieving a larger field angle is disclosed while it has two optical systems guiding light from a single image forming device to both eyes. The apparatus has the single image forming device forming an original image, and a first and a second optical system disposed on both sides of a central plane including a central axis of the image forming device. The optical systems guide light from the image forming device to a first and a second eye of an observer, respectively. When light traveling from the image forming device to each pupil of the optical systems is inversely traced from the pupil, each system includes a first surface reflecting the inversely traced light from the pupil in a direction away from the central plane, and a second surface reflecting the inversely traced light from the first surface in a direction away from the central plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutaka Inoguchi, Shoichi Yamazaki, Motomi Matsunaga
  • Publication number: 20060126188
    Abstract: A display optical system for guiding light from an original picture to an eye of an observer or a surface to have an image projected thereon is provided with a first optical system and a second optical system. The first optical system is provided with a first surface that is formed on a transparent body and has at least a reflecting action, a second surface for reflecting light reflected on the first surface toward the first surface again, and a third surface that is formed on the transparent body in the same manner as the first surface and transmits the light from the original picture. The light transmitted through the third surface travels toward the first surface and reflected for the first time on the first surface. In addition, a principal ray at central angle of view to be reflected for the last time on the first surface is reflected and travels to a side opposite to a side of the first reflection on the first surface with respect to a normal line of a surface on a hit point thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Inventors: Akinari Takagi, Shoichi Yamazaki, Hideki Morishima, Kazutaka Inoguchi, Motomi Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 7027229
    Abstract: A display optical system is disclosed which can attain a reduction in size and widening of an angle of view. The display optical system comprises an optical system including a first optical system and a second optical system. The first optical system includes a first surface decentered with respect to a central principal ray, and a second surface which reflects again light reflected on the first surface to the first surface. The first surface reflects the central principal ray incident on the first surface again from the second surface substantially to the opposite side to the previous reflection with respect to a normal on a hit point of the central principal ray. The first optical system directs light to an eye of an observer. The second optical system directs the illumination light to the image forming element and directs the display light to the first optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutaka Inoguchi, Shoichi Yamazaki, Motomi Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 7019909
    Abstract: A small optical system that is capable of widening an angle of view is provided. This optical system is provided with a first surface having a reflecting action and a second surface that reflects a light beam reflected on this first surface toward the first surface again. Then, a principal ray at central angle of view that is made incident on the first surface again is reflected and travels to a side opposite to a side of the last time it was reflected from the first surface with respect to a normal line of a surface at a hit point thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoichi Yamazaki, Hideki Morishima, Kazutaka Inoguchi, Akinari Takagi, Motomi Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 7012756
    Abstract: A display optical system for guiding light from an image to an observer or a surface projecting an image thereon with a first optical system and second optical system. The first optical system having a first surface formed on a transparent body with a reflecting action, a second surface reflecting light reflected on the first surface toward the first surface again, and a third surface formed on the transparent body transmitting light from the image. The light transmitted through the third surface travels toward the first surface and is reflected for the first time. In addition, a principal ray, central angle of view to be reflected for the last time on the first surfaces is reflected to a side opposite a side of the first reflection on the first surface with respect to a normal line of a surface on a hit point thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akinari Takagi, Shoichi Yamazaki, Hideki Morishima, Kazutaka Inoguchi, Motomi Matsunaga
  • Publication number: 20040233555
    Abstract: An image display optical system is disclosed which achieves a small size and display at a wide angle of view as well as maintains a required level of optical performance and allows suppression of occurrence of various aberrations at the same time. The optical system comprises a first optical element and a second optical element in order from the side of an exit pupil of the optical system to the side of a display device. A combined negative optical power is provided by an emergent surface of the second optical element and an incident surface of the first optical element, and the optical system forms an intermediate image with the displaying luminous flux in the first optical element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventor: Motomi Matsunaga
  • Publication number: 20040223122
    Abstract: A display optical system is disclosed which can attain a reduction in size and widening of an angle of view. The display optical system comprises an optical system including a first optical system and a second optical system. The first optical system includes a first surface decentered with respect to a central principal ray, and a second surface which reflects again light reflected on the first surface to the first surface. The first surface reflects the central principal ray incident on the first surface again from the second surface substantially to the opposite side to the previous reflection with respect to a normal on a hit point of the central principal ray. The first optical system directs light to an eye of an observer. The second optical system directs the illumination light to the image forming element and directs the display light to the first optical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: Kazutaka Inoguchi, Shoichi Yamazaki, Motomi Matsunaga
  • Publication number: 20040184152
    Abstract: An optical system is disclosed with which higher magnification can be easily achieved and aberrations can be favorably corrected, yet is compact. The optical system includes a plurality of optical surfaces including a first surface which has at least a reflective action, a second surface reflecting the light rays reflected by the first surface back toward the first surface, and a diffractive optical surface. The first surface reflects a central field-angle principal ray, which comes from the second surface and is again incident on the first surface, to the opposite side of the previous reflection with respect to a normal at a hit point of the central field-angle principal ray on the first surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventors: Motomi Matsunaga, Shoichi Yamazaki, Kazutaka Inoguchi
  • Publication number: 20040119664
    Abstract: An image display apparatus having a compact size and appropriately achieving a larger field angle is disclosed while it has two optical systems guiding light from a single image forming device to both eyes. The apparatus has the single image forming device forming an original image, and a first and a second optical system disposed on both sides of a central plane including a central axis of the image forming device. The optical systems guide light from the image forming device to a first and a second eye of an observer, respectively. When light traveling from the image forming device to each pupil of the optical systems is inversely traced from the pupil, each system includes a first surface reflecting the inversely traced light from the pupil in a direction away from the central plane, and a second surface reflecting the inversely traced light from the first surface in a direction away from the central plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventors: Kazutaka Inoguchi, Shoichi Yamazaki, Motomi Matsunaga
  • Publication number: 20030197943
    Abstract: A small optical system that is capable of widening an angle of view is provided. This optical system is provided with a first surface having a reflecting action and a second surface that reflects a light beam reflected on this first surface toward the first surface again. Then, a principal ray at central angle of view that is made incident on the first surface again is reflected and travels to a side opposite to a side of the last time it was reflected from the first surface with respect to a normal line of a surface at a hit point thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: Shoichi Yamazaki, Hideki Morishima, Kazutaka Inoguchi, Akinari Takagi, Motomi Matsunaga
  • Publication number: 20030107816
    Abstract: A display optical system for guiding light from an original picture to an eye of an observer or a surface to have an image projected thereon is provided with a first optical system and a second optical system. The first optical system is provided with a first surface that is formed on a transparent body and has at least a reflecting action, a second surface for reflecting light reflected on the first surface toward the first surface again, and a third surface that is formed on the transparent body in the same manner as the first surface and transmits the light from the original picture. The light transmitted through the third surface travels toward the first surface and reflected for the first time on the first surface. In addition, a principal ray at central angle of view to be reflected for the last time on the first surface is reflected and travels to a side opposite to a side of the first reflection on the first surface with respect to a normal line of a surface on a hit point thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Akinari Takagi, Shoichi Yamazaki, Hideki Morishima, Kazutaka Inoguchi, Motomi Matsunaga