Abstract: A telecentric lens system including a front lens unit, a rear lens unit that is disposed so that the front focal point of the rear lens unit coincides with the back focal point of the front lens unit, and a diaphragm mechanism that is disposed at the location where the back focal point of the front lens unit and the front focal point of the rear lens unit coincide. The diaphragm mechanism includes a numerical aperture changer for changing the numerical aperture of the diaphragm mechanism. By changing the numerical aperture, the telecentric lens system can be used in a wide range of applications from observations requiring a large focal depth to observations requiring high resolution. The telecentric lens system that can be used in observations for a wide range of applications and an image measuring device including the telecentric lens system.

Abstract: A compact virtual image electronic display system including a beamsplitting magnification optic on which a source object is projected, the beamsplitting magnification optic having a refractive surface and a partially reflective surface for magnifying and reflecting the source object as a magnified virtual image, and a reflective element positioned for receiving and reflecting the magnified virtual image back to the beamsplitting magnification optic. The beamsplitting magnification optic receives the reflected magnified virtual image and magnifies and transmits it through the beamsplitting magnification optic as a compound magnified image of the magnified virtual image to an observer.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a light source for supplying illumination light, a reflection type display element for modulating the illumination light into image light by reflecting the light, an illumination optical system for guiding the illumination light to the reflection type display element, and a projection optical system for guiding the image light to an observer. The image light is incident on the projection optical system via at least a portion of the illumination optical system. The illumination optical system has a part, in an area where both the illumination light and the image light pass, which changes an optical action depending on a state of incident light. The part acts to deflect the illumination light to decrease an incident angle with respect to the reflection type display element as compared with a case where the part does not exist.

Abstract: In an image observation apparatus, image light is guided to an observer's eye by using a first refractive surface on which the image light from an image display device is made incident, a reflective surface for reflecting the image light made incident from the first refractive surface, and an optical element having a second refractive surface for emitting the image light reflected from the reflective surface. A diffraction optical part is provided in front of the reflective surface of the optical element.

Abstract: In the on-vehicle display unit 5, an indicated image on an indication surface 51a of the display 51 is reflected by a semi-transparent mirror 55 to be directed above a dashboard 1 through a window 59b formed in a cover plate 59a disposed on an upper surface 1a of the dashboard 1. Thereby, the image is projected on a windscreen 3. The semi-transparent mirror 55 is moved in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, so that the vertical position of a projection point P1 or P3 of the image S1 or S3 on the windscreen 3 is changed such that the image is superimposed over the foreground at which a driver of the vehicle is looking. The cover plate 59a is supported by a cover support construction 59c so as to be movable in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle relative to the upper surface 1a of the dashboard 1.

Abstract: A display device has a white point light source, a condenser lens, a liquid crystal display, and an imaging lens. The white point light source has a substantial conjugate relationship with a user's pupil that is located on the front surface of the user's eyeball. The liquid crystal display has a substantial conjugate relationship with the user's retina. The scattering plate is further provided to broaden the bundle width of the light at a location in the vicinity of the user's pupil.

Abstract: The inventive mirror provides both an image and information to a user. The inventive mirror allows a user to review electronic information, while performing personal hygiene procedures. For example, the user could look at the inventive mirror and review news headlines and/or stories, read and respond to e-mails, and/or review and edit their schedule of appointments, while grooming. The smart mirror has two modes. In a power off mode, the smart mirror acts as a standard reflective mirror. In a power on mode, then the smart mirror becomes a display device. The display device may comprise a touch screen, which would allow direct user interaction.

Abstract: A prism (1) has a first inner surface (114A) and a second inner surface (122) in its interior. The first inner surface (114A) performs total reflection of all rays (20) entering from the exterior, and is disposed apart from a variable mirror element (3) disposed in the exterior, such that the reflected rays are irradiated to the variable mirror element (3). The second inner surface (122) is disposed in proximity to the variable mirror element (3), and totally reflects a bundle of OFF rays from the variable mirror element (3), while allowing a bundle of ON rays from the variable mirror element (3) to pass therethrough.

Abstract: Autostereoscopic images are produced by projecting a stereo pair of images onto a modified cube-corner retroreflective material. The cube-corner differs from that commonly available in that it has been altered to return the light to viewers eyes rather than directly back to the source of the projection.

Abstract: When n is taken as integers of 2 or more, n reflecting systems are constituted by providing reflecting mirrors on opposite (two) side surfaces in 2n side surfaces of a transparent body having the shape of a 2n-sided prism. The n reflecting systems are provided on each pair of opposite side surfaces, and images of an object are formed using each of the n reflecting systems.

Abstract: Element fixing mounting portions are formed in the shape of bridge beams on both the side surfaces or the like of the first optical surface, which is disposed in confrontation with an image display element, of a Free-Form-Surface prism 61 acting as an optical element, the side surfaces being located externally of the effective light beam range of the first optical surface. Then, the optical element can be mounted on a cabinet making effective use of a space by projecting positioning bosses or the like from the mounting portions, the bosses being used when optical element is mounted on the cabinet.

Abstract: A head up display apparatus adapted to be mounted on a user's head in a goggle type or head gear type arrangement and enable a video image to be observed, wherein an original image is directed to an eyeball through a reflecting optical system to enable the image to be observed, and one or more members differing in power depending on the azimuth direction are present in the reflecting optical system. The members are designed to have an aspherical surface action in the cross-section of at least one azimuth direction.

Abstract: An observation optical system includes an objective optical system for forming an inverted image of an object, an erecting optical system for converting the inverted image into an erected image and an eyepiece optical system for guiding the erected image to an observer. At least one of the objective optical system, the erecting optical system, and the eyepiece optical system has a first optical element having a curved reflecting surface and changes an observation magnification by changing relative positions of the first optical element and another optical unit.

Abstract: A head-mounted optical apparatus (10) providing pupil imaging with a very wide field of view. The head-mounted optical apparatus (10) employs a monocentric arrangement of optical components providing stereoscopic display of a virtual image, electronically generated and projected as left and right images from curved surfaces (68). For each right and left image, a ball lens assembly (30) is used to project a displayed intermediate image from the curved display surface (68) toward a beamsplitter (16), which directs an intermediate image toward the front focal surface of a curved mirror (24) that collimates the image to form a virtual image. The beamsplitter (16) transmits the virtual image for each eye to the observer.

Abstract: An optical system invention is interposed between a pupil plane and an image plane, and includes a first prism, a second prism, and a holographic element which is sandwiched between the first prism and the second prism and is cemented to these prisms. When a light beam traveling along the optical path connecting the pupil plane and the image plane through the optical system is called a first beam, the first prism has a 1-1 surface placed on the pupil side, combining the function of transmission with the function of reflection of the first beam; a 1-2 surface placed on the opposite side of the pupil with respect to the 1-1 surface; and a 1-3 surface placed on the image side, transmitting the first beam. The second prism includes a 2-1 surface having the same shape as the 1-2 surface and placed opposite thereto, transmitting the first beam at least twice, and a 2-2 surface placed on the opposite side of the pupil with respect to the 2-1 surface of the second prism, reflecting the first beam.

Abstract: The present invention provides an enhanced viewing eyepiece for a micro-display. In one embodiment, the invention is an optical imaging system that includes a prism having a first face directed toward a display to receive light from the display and direct it through a second face, a converging optical element between the second face of the prism and the display, and a reflective converging optical element adjacent the second face of the prism to receive the display light through the second face of the prism and reflect it back into the second face of the prism, the invention further includes a diverging optical element aligned with the reflective converging optical element to receive the display light reflected back into the first prism and direct it to an exit pupil.

Abstract: One of two images is selectively displayed on a single displaying screen of a display 11. The light of the displayed image is reflected from a mirror 13a and a half-mirror 13b toward a first reflective area 21a or second reflective area 21b of a translucent reflecting film 21 which is located in a field of view ahead of a driver's seat. An optical path is exchanged so that when the one image is displayed by the display, only the light of the one image reflected by the mirror 13a is incident on the first reflective area 21a, whereas when the other image is displayed by the display, only the light of the second image is incident on the second reflective area 21b. Two images are reflected from the translucent reflecting film 21 and visually recognized as a single virtual image ahead of a windshield 20 by a driver. In this configuration, a head-up display capable of displaying a larger image can be installed in a vehicle without being upsized.

Abstract: A high-performance image-forming optical system made compact and thin by folding an optical path using reflecting surfaces arranged to minimize the number of reflections. The image-forming optical system has a single prism. When image-side three surfaces of the prism are defined as a surface A, a surface B and a surface C in order from the image plane side thereof, at least one of the surfaces B and C has a rotationally asymmetric curved surface configuration that gives a power to a light beam and corrects aberrations due to decentration. The optical system leads light rays from an object to the image plane without forming an image in the prism and has a pupil in the prism. The surface A is a transmitting surface through which rays exit from the prism. The surfaces B and C are internally reflecting surfaces. Rays incident on the surface C and rays reflected from the surface B intersect each other in the prism.

Abstract: An optical path of image displaying light projected from an image displaying face of a display element is changed by a combiner, which is to be arranged in front of an observer. A virtual image, that is a subject of observation, is formed in front of the combiner. An optical component facing the image displaying face is provided so that the image displaying light is introduced to the combiner. The optical component is capable of diverging incident light.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device for a system for presenting collimated images including an off-axis spherical mirror. The device has an additional aspherical mirror whose surface forms, in the plane of symmetry of the unfolded optical system, a curve whose radius of curvature is variable. The surface provides for correction of the image of a pupil of an eye given by the spherical mirror and the pupil image is rectified on the optical axis. The surface may be a paraboloid, an ellipsoid and it may exhibit symmetry of revolution.

Abstract: An optical element of a transparent body has two refracting surfaces formed in surfaces of the transparent body, and a plurality of reflecting surfaces formed in surfaces of the transparent body. Light incident through one refracting surface into the transparent body is reflected successively by the plurality of reflecting surfaces to be guided to the other refracting surface. At least one of the two refracting surfaces and reflecting surfaces has an optical low pass filter.

Abstract: An image display apparatus allows an image from a single image display device to be led to two eyes without using a half-mirror, thereby allowing observation of a bright image, and facilitates correction of various aberrations. A viewing optical system includes a left ocular part, a right ocular part, and an optical path distributing part for leading a light beam from a single image display device to the left and right ocular parts. The left and right ocular parts each have at least two reflecting surfaces. The optical path distributing part has at least one pair of reflecting surfaces for left and right optical paths. These reflecting surfaces are formed from rotationally asymmetric curved reflecting surfaces having the function of correcting decentration aberrations.

Abstract: A head-mounted optical apparatus (10) providing pupil imaging with a very wide field of view. The head-mounted optical apparatus (10) employs a monocentric arrangement of optical components providing stereoscopic display of a virtual image, electronically generated and projected as left and right images from curved surfaces (68). For each right and left image, a ball lens assembly (30) is used to project a displayed intermediate image from the curved display surface (68) toward a beamsplitter (16), which directs an intermediate image toward the front focal surface of a curved mirror (24) that collimates the image to form a virtual image. The beamsplitter (16) transmits the virtual image for each eye to the observer.

Abstract: An image display apparatus has a reflective display device, an illumination optical system with a reflective surface A for guiding light from a light source to the display device, and a display optical system for guiding light from the display device to an observer's observation position and is constructed to permit an observer to observe image information displayed on the display device. The image display apparatus is constructed in appropriate setting of principal rays emerging from a display surface of the display device and impinging upon the center of the exit pupil, illumination principal rays emerging from the light source and guided to the display surface by the illumination optical system to become principal rays, angles of incidence and emergence of the illumination principal rays and the principal rays to and from the display surface, an angle between the reflective surface A and the display surface, angles of incidence of the illumination principal rays to the reflective surface A, and so on.

Abstract: An optronic device fitted with a focusing mirror for projection on a visor. A plane mirror is placed between the last active component of the optronic device and the visor. The mirror is attached to a reinforcement of the device by an elastomeric seal that presses the mirror against screws screwed into the reinforcement. The ends of each pair of screws form axes about which it is possible to pivot the mirror. An identical action on each of the screws makes it possible to move the mirror in translation. Adjusting the mirror makes it possible to alter the position of the visor seen by an optical module of the optronic device, and therefore to focus the image on the visor so that it is as sharp as possible. This corrects placement errors of the visor and its curvature defects.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a light source for supplying illumination light, a reflective display element for reflecting and modulating the illumination light into image light, a first optical system for guiding the illumination light to the reflective display element, and a second optical system for guiding the image light to an observer. Particularly, the first optical system has an optical element including a first surface on which the illumination light is incident, a second surface for totally reflecting the light incident on the first surface, and a third surface from which the light totally reflected by the second surface emerges toward the reflective display element. The first optical system is arranged so that the image light is again incident through the third surface on the optical element and emerges from the second surface toward the second optical system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a head-mounted display provided with an image display device and an optical system. The optical system comprises a concave mirror and a semi-transmissive element for projecting an image to be formed by the image display device via the concave mirror, the semi-transmissive element and an exit pupil of the head-mounted display on a user's retina. To improve the resolution of a displayed image of the head-mounted display, a first lens means is arranged between the image display device and the semi-transmissive element.

Abstract: A night vision device has a lens (1) arranged along an optical axis (A) and focusing the low-level light emanating from an object to be observed onto an entry window (2) of a low-light-level amplifier (3). An optical module (6-8) projects the object image available at the exit window (4) of the low-light-level amplifier (3) and represented in a predetermined wavelength range onto at least one receptor, such as a human eye (9). The beam path between the exit window (4) of the low-light-level amplifier (3) and the receptor (9) is determined by reflective optical elements (6, 8), one (8) of which is located along an axis (B) leading to the receptor (9) essentially parallel to the axis (A) of the lens (1) and is essentially reflective for the predetermined wavelength range of the low-light-level amplifier (3) but, if required, essentially transparent for other wavelength ranges.

Abstract: An image display apparatus has a light source, a reflective display device, an illumination optical system for guiding light from the light source to the display device to illuminate the display device, and a display optical system for guiding the light reflected by the display device to the pupil of an observer to allow the observer to observe an image displayed on the display panel. The illumination optical system and the display optical system have an optical element shared in part or are arranged so as not to interfere with each other, thereby providing the image display apparatus of compact structure. Particularly, where the display optical system is a thin optical system having a plurality of decentered, reflecting, curved surfaces, the appropriate illumination optical system is arranged, thereby providing the thin image display apparatus using the reflective display device.

Abstract: The present invention has as its object to provide a thin type optical system which enables both of image information displayed on display means such as a liquid crystal display to be observed and image information of which image is substantially equal to the image observed via therethrough and which is taken by image pickup means and a compound display apparatus using such optical system.

Abstract: A high-performance and low-cost image-forming optical system has a reduced number of constituent optical elements and is made extremely thin, particularly in a direction perpendicular to an image pickup device, by folding an optical path using only three reflecting surfaces. The image-forming optical system has a front unit including a first prism 10, an aperture stop 2, and a rear unit including a second prism 20. The first prism 10 has a first transmitting surface 11, a first reflecting surface 12, and a second transmitting surface 13. The second prism 20 has a first transmitting surface 21, a first reflecting surface 22, a second reflecting surface 23, and a second transmitting surface 24. An optical path incident on the first reflecting surface 22 and an optical path exiting from the second reflecting surface 23 intersect each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compact and high-performance prism optical system having, in order in which light rays pass from the object side, a first transmitting surface (4), a first reflecting surface (5), a second reflecting surface (6), a third reflecting surface (7), and a second transmitting surface (8). When an axial principal ray (1) is projected onto a plane defined by three points at which the axial principal ray (1) impinges on the first transmitting surface (4), the first reflecting surface (5) and the second reflecting surface (6), the projected axial principal ray forms an optical path that bends at two consecutive reflecting surfaces (5, 6) in the same direction with respect to the direction of travel of the rays and bends at the other reflecting surface (7) in a direction different from the direction of bending at the two reflecting surfaces. At least one of the three reflecting surfaces is a rotationally asymmetric surface.

Abstract: PRS0847A foveated imaging system using a relatively simple optical imaging system with a reflective spatial light modulator at or near a pupil plane to correct off-axis aberrations. Maximum resolution is obtained for a single fixation point (foveal region) within the field of view at a time. The fixation point can be changed manually, by a predetermined scan pattern, or automatically varied for surveillance or tracking applications. A pre-calibrated look up table is used to vary the reflective spatial light modulator for each fixation point.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image display apparatus in which an image from a single image display device is led to two eyes without using a half-mirror, thereby allowing observation of a bright image and facilitating correction of various aberrations. A viewing optical system includes a left ocular part 10L, a right ocular part 10R, and an optical path distributing part 20 for leading a light beam from a single image display device 3 to the left and right ocular parts 10L and 10R. The left and right ocular parts each have at least two reflecting surfaces 12R(L) and 13R(L). The planes of decentered optical paths of the axial principal rays in the left and right ocular parts are arranged to be approximately parallel to each other.

Abstract: In order to provide a color separating and composing prism, or the like, with an improved arrangement of prisms, and the like, having a gap or a space in the color separating and composing prism, to the exclusion of a registration shift, there is provided a color separating and composing prism consisting of first to third prisms 3, 4 and 5 for effecting color separation of a light source beam into an R light, a G light and a B light by the use of dichroic films, characterized in that the second surface of the first prism 3 and the first surface of the second prism 4, and the second surface of the second prism 4 and the first surface of the third prism 5 are respectively bound together along the joint surfaces therebetween at least through the adhesive layers, so that the first, second and third prisms are integrated.

Abstract: Multiple channel multiplexing/demultiplexing devices include an optically transparent optical block seated atop an optically transparent beam-directing member. The optical block includes a plurality of wavelength selective elements, a plurality of reflectors, and at least one imaging optical element. The beam-directing member includes a beam folding mirror and focusing lenses. When the devices are used as demultiplexers, a multi-channel beam is directed into the optical block and relayed in a zigzag pattern onto the wavelength selective elements, which separate selected wavelengths from the beam. The separated wavelengths propagate through the beam-directing member and are focused onto optical receptors.

Abstract: A virtual image display system is provided which comprises a non-emissive, reflective microdisplay which forms a source object; an optical system which forms a magnified, virtual image of the source object from light reflected off the microdisplay; a light source system which produces light to illuminate the display system; and an illumination system which forms at least two virtual light sources to illuminate the display system.

Abstract: A disclosed optical apparatus comprises an optical unit including a light entrance surface, light reflecting surfaces and a light exit surface all of which are integrally formed of transparent material, and the optical unit has in its interior an internal refracting surface for refracting light. Since a light beam passes through the optical unit from the light entrance surface to the light exit surface via the internal refracting surface and the light reflecting surfaces along a bent optical path, the optical apparatus is reduced in size and improved in optical performance, particularly, well corrected in chromatic aberration. Another disclosed optical apparatus is arranged to achieve zooming by using a plurality of optical units each of which is similar to the aforesaid optical unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a head-mounted display provided with an image display device and an optical system. The optical system comprises a first &lgr;/4 plate, a semi-transmissive mirror, a second &lgr;/4 plate and a polarization-dependent mirror, disposed in the described order from the incident side, for projecting an image to be formed by the image display device on a user's retina.

Abstract: An optical path splitting element for splitting a light beam from a single object into two optical paths (left and right) is made compact in size and given a power to reduce the number of components thereof. An image display apparatus uses the optical path splitting element. The left and right optical paths are not in plane symmetry with each other but in 180-degree rotational symmetry with respect to only a straight line passing through the center of the object. When a pair of reflecting surfaces (left and right) closest to the object side are defined as first reflecting surfaces and a pair of reflecting surfaces (left and right) closest to the exit side are defined as final reflecting surfaces, axial principal rays incident on the first reflecting surfaces and those exiting from the final reflecting surfaces are not coplanar with each other in either of the left and right optical paths.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multimirror device for rotating the polarization of an electromagnetic signal, especially a light signal, through 90°, the output ray having approximately the same direction as the input ray. This device comprises at least one combination (40) of three mirrors (42, 44, 46) which are arranged in such a way that a ray entering one of the mirrors at an angle of incidence of 45° is reflected at the same angle off the other mirrors, the polarization vector (V) of the incident ray being presented in such a way with respect to the mirrors that a reflection off one of the three mirrors changes the direction of polarization while the reflections off the other two mirrors does not change this direction of polarization. Preferably, a plurality of multiple-mirror combinations (40, 40′, 40″) is provided on a sheet, each combination forming a pattern which is repeated regularly, the patterns all having identical shapes and sizes.

Abstract: This invention discloses an optical system which comprises first positioning and connecting portions which are formed by an integral molding on left and right side surfaces of an incidence surface of a second prism while having steps above an incidence surface and includes small bolt holes and positioning pins and second positioning and connecting portions which are formed by an integral molding at both left and right sides of a projection surface of the first prism such that they extend from the both left and right sides from the projection surface and includes small bolt holes and small bolt fitting holes, wherein the positioning pins are fitted into the positioning pin fitting holes and the lower surfaces of the second positioning and connecting portions are brought into contact with the upper surfaces of the first positioning and connecting portions, and thereafter, small bolts are made to pass through and are threaded into the small bolt holes thus integrally connecting the first prism and the second pri

Abstract: A virtual image display system is provided which comprises a non-emissive, reflective microdisplay which forms a source object; an optical system which forms a magnified, virtual image of the source object from light reflected off the microdisplay; a light source system which produces light to illuminate the display system; and an illumination system which forms at least two virtual light sources to illuminate the display system.

Abstract: An optomechanical deflector for a line display unit (3) comprises ocular and objective functions (1, 6, 6a) and also a component or components for sweep-generation (2) and image turning. Each respective sweep-generating component (2) can be positioned at a distance (B) upwards and/or to the side of one or both eye(s) (7). By means of one or more first mirror surfaces (2a), the sweep-generating component reflects incoming radiation (4) from the line display unit (3) to one or more second mirror surface(s) (5a), which form(s) part of the objective function, on a component arranged in a rotationally fixed manner. Each respective second mirror surface in turn reflects radiation (4b) towards a mirror surface (6a) or mirror surfaces forming part of the ocular function, which reproduce(s) the respective first mirror surface for the pupil(s) (7a) of the eye(s). In an alternative embodiment, the sweep-generating component and the rotationally fixed component have changed places.

Abstract: A head up display system 10 comprises an image generator 11 supported and boresighted within a cockpit. The system 10 includes a housing 13 to support the generator 11 and a holographic combiner 14 which is upstandingly supported on top of the housing 13. In operation, the generator 11 forms an image at object surface 17 and a relay lens arrangement 16 receives, collimates and conveys the image along an optical pathway 19 and through an exit pupil 18. A prism 20 and a mirror 21 are arranged along the pathway 19 to fold the pathway 19 from a generally horizontal direction to a generally vertical direction towards the combiner 14.

Abstract: The present invention includes time delay devices and time delay systems. The invention also includes machines and instruments using those aspects of the invention. The invention may also be used to upgrade, repair, or retrofit existing machines or instruments, using methods and components known in the art. The present invention comprises a true time device that falls into the free-space category but uses a multiple-pass optical cell with refocusing mirrors that has the advantage of avoiding beam-spreading problems. This approach differs from previous free-space approaches in that it uses only one optical switch or spatial light modulator instead of one or more switches for each bit. In one approach, a microwave signal for each antenna element may be modulated onto an optical beam. After the individual optical beams are delayed by the desired amount of time through the system, the signals may then be down-converted to microwave signals for further processing.

Abstract: A multi-beam tool is disclosed which can perform square, plumb, and level function which may be required in a construction environment. The tool can generate in a preferred embodiment up to five orthogonal beams with two beams being plumb and three beams being leveled. Combinations of two level beams, or a level and a plumb beam in orthogonal arrangement can produce a square alignment set of beams. The tool includes in a preferred arrangement a self-leveling pendulum to which a laser and quad-mirror arrangement is secured. The self-leveling pendulum is damped in order to allow the tool to settle down and provide alignment after the tool is positioned as desired. The quadmirror, the magnetic damping, and the coiled wire allowing power to be provided to the laser assembly, each separately, and also in combination, provide for a compact tool.

Abstract: A head-mountable image display system provides an image to a user's eye separate from ambient light. The system includes an optical relay having an optical pathway to receive light from a display element. The optical relay also permits passage of ambient light toward the user's eye. An eyepiece assembly is disposed to redirect light on the optical pathway to the user's eye. The system is highly compact, allowing the integration of the display system with eyeglasses, a face mask, such as a diver's mask, a head set, or the like.

Abstract: An image display apparatus allows an image from a single image display device to be led to two eyes without using a half-mirror, thereby allowing observation of a bright image, and facilitates correction of various aberrations. A viewing optical system includes a left ocular part, a right ocular part, and an optical path distributing part for leading a light beam from a single image display device to the left and right ocular parts. The left and right ocular parts each have at least two reflecting surfaces. The optical path distributing part has at least one pair of reflecting surfaces for left and right optical paths. These reflecting surfaces are formed from rotationally asymmetric curved reflecting surfaces having the function of correcting decentration aberrations.

Abstract: A miniature display system has polarized beam reflector film and display panel pivotally attached to the polarized beam reflector film. Because these components are pivotally attached, the components can be folded, thereby reducing the bulk of the display system. The display system may include other components such as light source, curved reflector, quarter wave film, or conic mirror. These components may also be pivotally attached to each other or to the polarized beam reflector film or the display panel.