Patent Publication Number: US-2022221621-A1

Title: Fresnel lens and image observing device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a Fresnel lens and an image observing device. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Fresnel lenses are constructed of a plurality of prisms arrayed from an optical axis toward an outer circumference of the lens. PTL 1 referred to below discloses a Fresnel lens. Each of the prisms is of a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape and has an effective surface and a noneffective surface. The effective surfaces of the prisms face the outer circumference of the Fresnel lens and are inclined to the optical axis. The effective surfaces correspond to a plurality of divided annular sections of a lens surface of a convex lens having desired optical performance. The noneffective surfaces face the optical axis and lie parallel to the optical axis. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     [PTL 1] 
     WO2017/138480A1 
     SUMMARY 
     Technical Problem 
     In an image observing device that allows an observer to see a moving image through a Fresnel lens, light of the image reaches not only the effective surfaces of the prisms but also the noneffective surfaces thereof. The light is reflected by the noneffective surfaces and may land at the eyes of the observer. The light reflected by the noneffective surfaces and landing at the eyes of the observer is liable to produce flare. In other words, the light reflected by the noneffective surfaces causes the observer to see a spreading pattern of light around a light emission spot in the image. 
     Solution to Problem 
     An example of a Fresnel lens proposed in the present disclosure has a plurality of prisms arrayed from an optical axis toward an outer circumference of the lens. Each of the plurality of prisms has an effective surface facing the outer circumference of the Fresnel lens and inclined to the optical axis, a noneffective surface facing the optical axis, and a crest between the effective surface and the noneffective surface. The noneffective surface of at least one of the plurality of prisms has a first surface and a second surface that is closer to the crest of the prism than the first surface, at least the first surface being inclined to the optical axis. The Fresnel lens is capable of suppressing flare from occurring. 
     An example of an image observing device proposed in the present disclosure includes the Fresnel lens referred to above and a display device. The image observing device is capable of suppressing flare from occurring. 
     In the Fresnel lens, the noneffective surface may be bent at a boundary between the first surface and the second surface. Unlike such a structure, the noneffective surface may be curved in its entirety, and a portion thereof may function as the first surface and another portion thereof may function as the second surface. In the Fresnel lens, furthermore, both the first surface and the second surface may be inclined to the optical axis. In this case, angles of the first surface and the second surface with respect to the optical axis may be the same as each other. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a Fresnel lens. 
         FIG. 2A  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a Fresnel lens proposed in the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2B  is a view illustrative of a mechanism for producing flare due to noneffective surfaces. 
         FIG. 3  is a view illustrative of a relation between a distance from an optical axis to a prism and an angle of a noneffective surface. 
         FIG. 4  is a view illustrative of the relation between the distance from an optical axis to a prism and the angle of a noneffective surface. 
         FIG. 5A  is a cross-sectional view illustrating at an enlarged scale a crest of a prism having a second noneffective surface. 
         FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view illustrating at an enlarged scale a crest of a prism free of a second noneffective surface. 
         FIG. 6  is a view of a head-mounted display as an example of an image observing device. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT 
     A Fresnel lens proposed in the present disclosure will be described hereinbelow. In the present description, a Fresnel lens  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , etc. will be described below as an example of the Fresnel lens proposed in the present disclosure. 
     The Fresnel lens  10  is mounted in an image observing device having a display device. For example, the Fresnel lens  10  is used as an eyepiece optical system in a head-mounted display  100  (see  FIG. 6 ). The head-mounted display  100  has a display device ID to be placed in front of the eyes of a user (observer). The display device ID is, for example, a liquid crystal display device, an organic electroluminescence (EL) display device, a micro light emitting diode (LED) display device, or the like. In a case where the Fresnel lens  10  is mounted in the head-mounted display  100 , two Fresnel lenses  10  are juxtaposed in left and right positions. The head-mounted display  100  may include, in addition to the Fresnel lenses  10 , other Fresnel lenses positioned along an optical axis Z 1  with respect to the Fresnel lenses  10 . The image observing device that incorporates the Fresnel lenses  10  is not limited to the head-mounted display  100  and may be applied to an electronic viewfinder for cameras, for example. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a plurality of prisms  11  are disposed on a plane transverse to the optical axis Z 1 , e.g., a plane, a concave plane, a convex plane, or the like perpendicular to the optical axis Z 1 . In  FIG. 1 , the Fresnel lens  10  is disposed such that the prisms  11  protrude toward the display device ID. However, unlike the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the Fresnel lens  10  may be disposed such that the prisms  11  protrude toward the pupils of the observer. 
     When the Fresnel lens  10  is viewed in a direction along the optical axis Z 1 , each of the prisms  11  is of an annular shape around the optical axis Z 1 . The prisms  11  are arrayed in radial directions, i.e., directions perpendicular to the optical axis Z 1 , when the Fresnel lens  10  is viewed in the direction along the optical axis Z 1 . Each of the prisms  11  has an effective surface Es and a noneffective surface Ns. Further, each of the prisms  11  has a crest  11   c  between the effective surface Es and the noneffective surface Ns. The effective surface Es faces an outer circumference of the Fresnel lens  10  and is inclined to the optical axis Z 1 . Specifically, the effective surface Es is inclined such that a distance from the optical axis Z 1  to a line De normal to the effective surface Es is progressively larger toward a front side of the Fresnel lens  10 , i.e., toward the display device ID in  FIG. 1 . The effective surfaces Es correspond to a plurality of divided annular sections of a lens surface of a convex lens having optical performance required in the image observing device. The divided lens surface sections are disposed on a plane transverse to the optical axis Z 1 , e.g., a plane, a concave plane, a convex plane, or the like perpendicular to the optical axis Z 1 , making up the Fresnel lens  10 . The noneffective surfaces Ns face the optical axis Z 1 . Specifically, lines Dn normal to the noneffective surfaces Ns extend toward the optical axis Z 1 . 
       FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view of a Fresnel lens  10  proposed in the present disclosure. As illustrated in  FIG. 2A , the noneffective surface Ns of each prism  11  has an inclined surface inclined to the optical axis Z 1 . The noneffective surface Ns is inclined such that a distance from the optical axis Z 1  to the noneffective surface Ns is progressively larger toward the crest  11   c . (The distance between the noneffective surface Ns and the optical axis Z 1  refers to a distance in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis Z 1 .) This inclination of the noneffective surface Ns can restrain flare from occurring. Preferably, the noneffective surfaces Ns of all the prisms  11  should have inclined surfaces, though the noneffective surfaces Ns of only some of the prisms  11  may have inclined surfaces. 
       FIG. 2B  is a view illustrative of a mechanism for producing flare due to noneffective surfaces. In  FIG. 2B , there is illustrated a Fresnel lens  90  having noneffective surfaces Ns lying parallel to the optical axis Z 1 , unlike the Fresnel lens  10 . When the observer views a light emission spot Lp on the display device ID, light L 1  emitted from the light emission spot Lp is refracted by the effective surface Es of a prism  91 A and lands at the pupil of the observer. The light emission spot Lp also emits light that reaches noneffective surfaces Ns, in addition to the light L 1 . In the illustrated example, light L 2  is reflected by the noneffective surface Ns of a prism  91 B disposed outwardly of the prism  91 A and lands at the pupil of the observer. 
     Further, light L 3  is incident on a prism  91 C disposed inwardly of the prism  91 A from the effective surface Es of the prism  91 C, is reflected by the noneffective surface Ns, and lands at the pupil of the observer. When the observer thus views the light emission point Lp on the display device ID, not only the light L 1  is refracted by the effective surface Es and lands at the pupil of the observer, but the light L 2  and L 3  are generated which are reflected by the noneffective surfaces Ns and land at the pupil of the observer. The light L 2  and L 3  produce flare. Hereinafter, light directed toward the noneffective surface Ns, represented by the light L 2  and L 3 , will be referred to as “noneffective light,” whereas light incident on the effective surface Es, represented by the light L 1 , will be referred to as “effective light.” 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2A , also in the Fresnel lens  10 , when the observer views the light emission spot Lp on the display device ID, the effective light L 1  emitted from the light emission spot Lp is refracted by the effective surface Es of a prism  11 A and lands at the pupil of the observer. The light emission spot Lp also emits the noneffective light L 2  and L 3  described above. (Directions in which the noneffective light L 2  and L 3  are emitted from the light emission spot Lp as illustrated in  FIG. 2A  and directions in which the noneffective light L 2  and L 3  are emitted from the light emission spot Lp as illustrated in  FIG. 2B  are the same as each other.) However, the noneffective surface Ns is inclined to the optical axis Z 1  by an angle θn assured between the noneffective surface Ns and the optical axis Z 1  in the Fresnel lens  10 . Therefore, the noneffective light L 2  deviates from the position of the pupil of the observer though it is totally reflected by the noneffective surface Ns of a prism  11 B disposed outwardly of the prism  11 A. Further, since the noneffective surface Ns is inclined to the optical axis Z 1 , the noneffective light L 3  also deviates from the position of the pupil of the observer. Stated otherwise, the angle θn is designed at each prism  11  to cause the noneffective light L 2  and L 3  to deviate from the position of the pupil of the observer. Consequently, flare is restrained from occurring. 
     The angle θn between the noneffective surface Ns and the optical axis Z 1  is larger than a draft angle. The “draft angle” refers to a tapered surface of a mold used to mold the Fresnel lens  10  for allowing the mold and the molded product, i.e., the Fresnel lens  10 , to be separated smoothly from each other. The tapered surface is inclined to a direction in which the mold and the molded product are separated from each other. The draft angle ranges from 1 degree to 5 degrees, for example. On the other hand, the angle θn between the noneffective surface Ns and the optical axis Z 1  is larger than 5 degrees, for example. Preferably, the angle θn should be larger than 15 degrees. More preferably, the angle θn should be larger than 20 degrees. The angle θn should much more preferably be larger than 30 degrees. The angle θn is smaller than 40 degrees. Preferably, the angle θn should be smaller than 35 degrees. 
     The angle θn of the noneffective surface Ns may vary depending on the distance from the optical axis Z 1  to the prism  11 . The variable angle θn is more effective to prevent the noneffective light L 2  and L 3  from reaching the pupil of the observer. Depending on an angle of the effective surface Es, i.e., optical characteristics of the Fresnel lens  10 , the angle θn may increase as the distance from the optical axis Z 1  to the prism  11  increases. Conversely, depending on the angle of the effective surface Es, the angle θn may decrease as the distance from the optical axis Z 1  to the prism  11  increases. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  are views illustrative of a relation between the distance from the optical axis Z 1  to a prism and the angle θn. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates in (a) a prism  91  close to the optical axis Z 1 , i.e., a prism whose noneffective surface Ns is not inclined, and  FIG. 3  illustrates in (b) a prism  91  whose distance from the optical axis Z 1  is relatively large. As described above, the effective surfaces Es of the Fresnel lens correspond to divided sections of the lens surface of a convex lens. Therefore, as illustrated in  FIG. 3  in (a), at a position close to the optical axis Z 1 , a gradient of the effective surface Es is relatively gradual, and as illustrated in  FIG. 3  in (b), at a position remote from the optical axis Z 1 , the gradient of the effective surface Es is relatively steep. Therefore, an angle θe 1  or θe 2  of incidence of the noneffective light L 3  to the noneffective surface Ns is smaller on the prism  91  remote from the optical axis Z 1  ( FIG. 3  in (b)) than on the prism  91  close to the optical axis Z 1  ( FIG. 3  in (a)). (In other words, the angle θe 2  of incidence of the noneffective light L 3  illustrated in  FIG. 3  in (b) is smaller than the angle θe 1  of incidence of the noneffective light L 3  illustrated in  FIG. 3  in (a)). Consequently, at a position close to the optical axis Z 1 , it is possible to prevent the noneffective light L 3  from reaching the noneffective surface Ns even though the angle θn between the noneffective surface Ns and the direction of the optical axis Z 1  is relatively small. Inasmuch as the angle θe 1  or θe 2  of incidence of the noneffective light L 3  to the noneffective surface Ns is thus different depending on the distance from the optical axis Z 1 , the angle θn of the noneffective surface Ns should desirably be varied depending on the distance from the optical axis Z 1 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates noneffective light L 21 , L 22 , L 23 , and L 24  emitted from light emission spots Lp 1  and Lp 2 . The noneffective light L 21  and L 22  emitted from the light emission spot Lp 1  close to the optical axis Z 1  reach the Fresnel lens  10 . On the other hand, a portion of the noneffective light, i.e., the light L 24 , emitted from the light emission spot Lp 2  remote from the optical axis Z 1  passes outside of the Fresnel lens  10 . Therefore, the noneffective light L 2  (see  FIG. 2A ) is less likely to land at the pupil of the observer closer to an outer circumferential portion of the Fresnel lens  10 . In the outer circumferential portion of the Fresnel lens  10 , consequently, it is possible to prevent the noneffective light L 2  (see  FIG. 2A ) from landing at the pupil of the observer even though the angle θn between the noneffective surface Ns and the direction along the optical axis Z 1  is small. In the outer circumferential portion of the Fresnel lens  10 , therefore, the angle θn of the noneffective surface Ns may be relatively small. 
       FIG. 5A  is a cross-sectional view illustrating at an enlarged scale the crest  11   c  of a prism  11 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5A , the prism  11  has a curved surface Cs on the crest  11   c . The curved surface Cs on the crest  11   c  makes it easy to mold the Fresnel lens  10 . 
     Further, the noneffective surface Ns of the prism  11  includes a first noneffective surface Ns 1  relatively remote from the crest  11   c  and a second noneffective surface Ns 2  relatively close to the crest  11   c . The first noneffective surface Ns 1  and the second noneffective surface Ns 2  are juxtaposed in a direction along the optical axis Z 1 . The angle θn referred to above is assured between the first noneffective surface Ns 1  and the direction along the optical axis Z 1 . The angle θn of the first noneffective surface Ns 1  may vary depending on the distance from the optical axis Z 1  as described above with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . An angle between the second noneffective surface Ns 2  and the direction along the optical axis Z 1  is smaller than the angle θn between the first noneffective surface Ns 1  and the direction along the optical axis Z 1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5A , a portion of light, i.e., light L 4  in  FIG. 5A , emitted from the light emission spot Lp 1  is refracted by the curved surface Cs and incident on the prism  11 . The second noneffective surface Ns 2  prevents the light L 4  from reaching the pupil of the observer.  FIG. 5B  illustrates a prism  11  that is free of the second noneffective surface Ns 2 . In  FIG. 5B , the position of a light emission spot Lp 1  and the direction of light L 4  emitted from the light emission spot Lp 1  are the same as those illustrated in  FIG. 5A . As illustrated in  FIG. 5B , in a case where the noneffective surface Ns does not have the second noneffective surface Ns 2  and is inclined in its entirety to the optical axis Z 1 , the light L 4  is produced which is refracted by the curved surface Cs and travels along the noneffective surface Ns. If the light L 4  reaches the pupil of the observer, it causes flare to occur. On the other hand, as the prism  11  illustrated in  FIG. 5A  has the second noneffective surface Ns 2  included in the noneffective surface Ns, the second noneffective surface Ns 2  blocks the light L 4  and prevents the light L 4  from reaching the pupil of the observer. 
     With the prism  11  illustrated in  FIG. 5A , it is also possible to block light L 5  that is emitted from the light emission spot Lp 2  and reflected by an outer surface of the noneffective surface Ns 2 , by use of the first noneffective surface Ns 1 , and to prevent the light L 5  from reaching the pupil of the observer. 
     The second noneffective surface Ns 2  lies parallel to the optical axis Z 1 , for example. The second noneffective surface Ns 2  may be inclined to the optical axis Z 1 . In the latter case, the angle between the second noneffective surface Ns 2  and the optical axis Z 1  may be the same as the draft angle referred to above or may be larger than the draft angle. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5A , a distance H 4  (a distance in a direction along the optical axis Z 1 ) from the crest  11   c  of the prism  11 , i.e., an uppermost end of the prism  11 , to a boundary M between the second noneffective surface Ns 2  and the first noneffective surface Ns 1  is larger than a diameter of the curved surface Cs. By thus designing the distance H 4 , or stated otherwise, by thus designing a size of the second noneffective surface Ns 2 , the second noneffective surface Ns 2  can effectively function on the light refracted by the curved surface Cs. In the present description, the “diameter of the curved surface Cs” refers to a diameter of a hypothetical circle R (see  FIG. 5A ) inscribing the curved surface Cs. The circle R refers to a circle having the largest diameter among hypothetical circles inscribing the curved surface Cs. The diameter of the curved surface Cs is in a range from 3 to 20 μm, for example. Therefore, in a case where the diameter of the curved surface Cs is larger than 3 μm, the distance H 4  from the crest  11   c  to the boundary M between the second noneffective surface Ns 2  and the first noneffective surface Ns 1  is larger than 3 μm, for example. 
     Moreover, the distance H 4  from the crest  11   c  of the prism  11  to the boundary M between the second noneffective surface Ns 2  and the first noneffective surface Ns 1  is smaller than half a height H 5  (see  FIG. 2A ) of the prism  11 . By thus designing the height H 4 , a size of the first noneffective surface Ns 1  is assured. As a result, the noneffective light L 2  and L 3  (see  FIG. 3 ) are prevented from landing at the pupil of the observer. In the present description, the height H 5  of the prism  11  refers to a distance (a distance in the direction along the optical axis Z 1 ) from a boundary between the noneffective surface Ns and the effective surface Es of two adjacent prisms  11  to the crest  11   c.    
     As described above, each of the prisms  11  has the effective surface Es facing outwardly of the Fresnel lens  10  and inclined to the optical axis Z 1  and the noneffective surface Ns facing the optical axis Z 1 , and the crest  11   c  between the effective surface Es and the noneffective surface Ns. In each of the prisms  11 , the noneffective surface Ns has the first noneffective surface Ns 1  and the second noneffective surface Ns 2  that is closer to the crest  11   c  of the prism  11  than the first noneffective surface Ns 1 . The first noneffective surface is inclined to the optical axis Z 1 . This structure is able to restrain the noneffective light L 2  and L 3  from reaching the pupil of the observer and from causing flare to occur. 
     The Fresnel lens proposed in the present disclosure is not limited to the above examples of the Fresnel lens  10 . 
     For example, the angle between the second noneffective surface Ns 2  and the direction along the optical axis Z 1  may be the same as the angle between the first noneffective surface Ns 1  and the direction along the optical axis Z 1 . In other words, the noneffective surface Ns may be a flat surface. 
     According to another example, the noneffective surface Ns may not be bent at the boundary M between the first noneffective surface Ns 1  and the second noneffective surface Ns 2 . In other words, the noneffective surface Ns may be curved in its entirety, making the first noneffective surface Ns 1  and the second noneffective surface Ns 2  blend smoothly into each other. 
     According to still another example, the noneffective surface Ns may have, in addition to the first noneffective surface Ns 1  and the second noneffective surface Ns 2 , a third noneffective surface and a fourth noneffective surface that have different angles from those of the first noneffective surface Ns 1  and the second noneffective surface Ns 2 .