# US 8,570,243 B2 · Image display apparatus and head mounted display > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,570,243 B2 - Document ID: US8570243B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/805,636 - Filed: 2010-08-11 - Published: 2011-03-03 - Granted: 2013-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 2009-08-31 - Assignees: Sony Corporation - Applicants: Hiroshi Mukawa - Inventors: Hiroshi Mukawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8570243B2 ## CPC - G02B 27/0172: {characterised by optical features} - G02B 27/0176: {characterised by mechanical features} - G02B 6/0035: {provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it} - G02B 2027/0154: {with movable elements} - G02B 2027/0161: {characterised by the relative positioning of the constitutive elements} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract An image display apparatus includes: (A) an image forming device; (B) an optical system that converts light emitted from the image forming device into parallel light; (C) an optical device to which the light beams converted into the parallel light by the optical system enter, in which the light beams are guided, and from which the light beams are emitted; and (D) a supporting member that pivotally supports at least the image forming device with respect to the optical device, wherein an assembly of at least the image forming device and the supporting member has the center of gravity at a position apart from the pivoting central axis of the supporting member, and at least the image forming device is pivoted with respect to the optical device by gravity, whereby the image forming device is horizontally held. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A head mounted display comprising: (a) a frame shaped like glasses to be worn on the head of an observer; and (b) an image display apparatus attached to the frame, the image display apparatus including (A) an image forming device; (B) an optical system that converts light emitted from the image forming device into parallel light; (C) an optical device to which the light beams converted into the parallel light by the optical system enter, in which the light beams are guided, and emitted therefrom; and (D) a supporting member that pivotally supports at least the image forming device with respect to the optical device, wherein an assembly of at least the image forming device and the supporting member has the center of gravity at a position apart from the pivoting central axis of the supporting member, and at least the image forming device is pivoted with respect to the optical device by gravity, whereby the image forming device is horizontally held. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The head mounted display according to claim 1, wherein the supporting member pivotally supports the image forming device with respect to the optical device and the optical system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The head mounted display according to claim 2, wherein the supporting member includes a first cylindrical member, a second cylindrical member, and a pivoting member that is disposed between the first cylindrical member and the second cylindrical member to relatively pivot the first cylindrical member and the second cylindrical member, the image forming device is arranged in the first cylindrical member, the optical system is arranged in the second cylindrical member, and the optical device is attached to the second cylindrical member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The head mounted display according to claim 1, wherein the supporting member pivotally supports the image forming device and the optical system with respect to the optical device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The head mounted display according to claim 4, wherein the supporting member includes a first cylindrical member, a second cylindrical member, and a pivoting member that is disposed between the first cylindrical member and the second cylindrical member to relatively pivot the first cylindrical member and the second cylindrical member, the image forming device and the optical device are arranged in the first cylindrical member, and the optical device is attached to the second cylindrical member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The head mounted display according to claim 1, wherein the frame is formed by a front portion arranged at the front of an observer, and two temple portions pivotally attached to both ends of the front portion via hinges. ### Claim 7 A head mounted display comprising: (a) a frame shaped like glasses to be worn on the head of an observer, and (b) an image forming device pivotally attached to the frame by a supporting member, wherein an assembly of the image forming device and the supporting member has the center of gravity at a position apart from the pivoting central axis of the supporting member, and the image forming device is pivoted with respect to the frame by gravity, whereby the image forming device is horizontally held. ### Claim 8 An image display apparatus comprising: (A) an image forming device; (B) an optical system that converts light emitted from the image forming device into parallel light; (C) an optical device to which the light beams converted into the parallel light by the optical system enter, in which the light beams are guided, and from which the light beams are emitted; and (D) a supporting member that pivotally supports the image forming device with respect to the optical device, wherein the image forming device is pivoted with respect to the optical device by gravity. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The image display apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the supporting member includes a first member, a second member, and a pivoting member that is disposed between the first member and the second member to relatively pivot the first member and the second cylindrical member, wherein the image forming device is attached to the first member, and wherein the optical device is attached to the second member. ### Claim 10 An image display apparatus comprising: (A) an image forming device; (B) an optical system that converts light emitted from the image forming device into parallel light; (C) an optical device to which the light beams converted into the parallel light by the optical system enter, in which the light beams are guided, and from which the light beams are emitted; and (D) a supporting member that pivotally supports at least the image forming device with respect to the optical device, wherein an assembly of at least the image forming device and the supporting member has the center of gravity at a position apart from the pivoting central axis of the supporting member, and at least the image forming device is pivoted with respect to the optical device by gravity, whereby the image forming device is horizontally held. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The image display apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the supporting member pivotally supports the image forming device with respect to the optical device and the optical system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The image display apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the supporting member includes a first cylindrical member, a second cylindrical member, and a pivoting member that is disposed between the first cylindrical member and the second cylindrical member to relatively pivot the first cylindrical member and the second cylindrical member, the image forming device is arranged in the first cylindrical member, the optical system is arranged in the second cylindrical member, and the optical device is attached to the second cylindrical member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The image display apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the supporting member pivotally supports the image forming device and the optical system with respect to the optical device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The image display apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the supporting member includes a first cylindrical member, a second cylindrical member, and a pivoting member that is disposed between the first cylindrical member and the second cylindrical member to relatively pivot the first cylindrical member and the second cylindrical member, the image forming device and the optical device are arranged in the first cylindrical member, and the optical device is attached to the second cylindrical member.