JP2000121990A - Device for image input or image output - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for image input and output adequate for assuring a visual field angle or angle of view. SOLUTION: The device 1 for image input (or output) has a foundation material 2 having a curvilinear shape or polyhedral shape on its front surface 2a. Elements for image input or elements 3 for image output are respectively formed in many segmental regions 8r, 8G and 8B formed to a triangular shape when this material is viewed from the normal direction of the front surface. For example, element groups consisting of a set of six pieces of the segmental regions having a regular triangle shape as one set are regularly arranged over the front surface of the foundation material 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for arranging an image input element or an image output element on a curved surface or a polyhedron.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a video display device, for example, a device in which a liquid crystal display section is provided on a frame of glasses in order to create a virtual reality feeling (a head-mounted display, a 3D (dimensional) scope, or the like) is known. When a viewer wears the glasses and sends a video signal from the video output device to the glasses, the viewer can experience in front of the viewer an image that is as realistic as displaying a video on a large screen. Can be.

In such an apparatus, it is necessary to ensure a sufficient viewing angle of a viewer in displaying an image. For example, an apparatus which can display a curved surface using a liquid crystal display panel having a flexible polymer film substrate is used. And the like.

[0004]

However, the conventional apparatus does not have a structure in which a large number of image output elements are formed on a curved surface or a polyhedron, so that a sufficient viewing angle is guaranteed. There is a problem that it is difficult.

[0005] This also implies difficulty in securing a wide angle of view for image input when the image output element is replaced with an image input element.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image input / output force device suitable for securing a viewing angle or an angle of view.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a base material having a curved surface or a polyhedral shape, wherein the base material is viewed from the normal direction of the surface. The image input device or the image output device is formed in each of a large number of triangular divided areas.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the surface of the base material is divided into triangular regions, and the image input device or the image output device is formed in each of the divided regions. Alternatively, a sufficient number of elements can be arranged for the angle of view.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Before describing the configuration of the device according to the present invention, its basic configuration will be described.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the basic structure. An image input (or output) apparatus 1 includes a base material 2 and a surface 2a thereof.
A large number of image input elements or image output elements 3, 3,.
・ ・ Is formed.

The form of the device 1 is as follows:
(a), a device in which only a large number of image input elements are provided on a surface (a), or a device in which only a large number of image output elements are provided on the surface 2a of the base material 2 (image display device or optical Signal transmission device etc.) and the surface 2 of the base material 2
a device formed by mixing an image input device and an image output device in a (image input / output device, for example, a scanner capable of inputting while checking an image input state on an image display unit, an image input area and an image display area, , Or a device in which an image input area and an image display area are alternately arranged).

The base material 2 has a curved surface or a polyhedral shape having a predetermined thickness. The base material 2 is made of, for example, a glass material (quartz glass or the like) or a glass material. For example, a silicon (Si) film is formed, a sapphire is used, a Si wafer is ground into a spherical shape, or the like. In the concept of the "polyhedron" referred to here, the surface 2a is not limited to a shape composed of a combination of polygons from the beginning, but flat surfaces are formed at various places by partially cutting a curved surface. The shape and the like are also included.

When a large number of elements 3, 3,... Are image input elements, a light receiving element (photodiode or the like), a CCD (charge coupled element), or the like is used.
In the case of an image output element, for example, a semiconductor switch element (MOS (M
etal Oxide Semiconductor)
And a light-emitting element (e.g., a light-emitting diode or a laser diode).

FIG. 2 shows a surface of a base material 2 having a polyhedral shape.
1 schematically shows a basic configuration of a liquid crystal display device 4 in which an OS type transistor is formed.

Basic material 2 using a transparent material such as quartz glass
And the surface material 5 is arranged, and the shape of the surface material 5 has a shape corresponding to the shape of the base material 2. Although not shown, the surface material 5 is provided with a color filter facing an image output element described later.

In a space 6 formed by the base material 2 and the surface material 5, a plurality of image output elements 3a, 3a,...
A film transistor (thin film transistor) or the like is directly formed, and the liquid crystal 7 is sealed in the space 6. Each image output element, the corresponding color filter array, and the liquid crystal 7 interposed therebetween constitute an element group for color liquid crystal display.

Although illustration and explanation of members such as an alignment film and a polarizing plate are omitted, in the coating operation of the alignment film, an application and firing process of an alignment agent is performed after the formation of the image output element 3a (∵). Performing element formation after the formation of the alignment film may adversely affect the formation accuracy, which hinders the formation of a large number of elements.

Further, in the example of FIG. 2, the basic shape of the base material 2 is a polyhedron, but it goes without saying that the basic material 2 may have any curved surface.

When a video signal is output to the liquid crystal display device 4, the video signal obtained by the imaging means or the image input means is transmitted to the liquid crystal display device as it is to display an image. Is distorted,
In consideration of the arrangement of the image output element 3a with respect to the base material 2 and the normal and curvature of the surface of the base material 2, the original video signal is corrected for distortion removal (that is, the image signal is corrected in advance. Is distorted), and the corrected video signal is transmitted to the liquid crystal display device 4. Note that this method can perform numerical processing on a curved surface even when the surface of the base material is an irregular surface (aspheric surface) or a free-form surface (a curved surface that is difficult or impossible to express by an analytical expression). CAD (Computing)
er Aided Design) system can be realized in design.

FIG. 2 shows an example in which the number of image output elements is small for convenience of illustration, but in an actual apparatus, a large number of image output elements 3a, 3a,. In such a case, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), it is preferable that a device group for a color liquid crystal display is packaged to form a single block, which is regularly (or periodically) arranged and formed on the surface of the base material 2.

In the block 8 illustrated in FIG. 3, a large number of element groups are provided in an internal space 9a of a housing 9 having a hexagonal shape as viewed from the front, and Al (aluminum) wiring or the like is provided on each side of the partition 9b. Form electrical connection terminals 10, 10,... For each element.
Advantages of arranging a large number of such blocks 8 over the surface of the base material 2 include ease of arrangement and strength assurance by a honeycomb structure.

In the examples shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the device group for color liquid crystal display has been described. However, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to an image input device including a CCD or the like.

The image input or image output device according to the present invention has a curved or polyhedral base material, and a large number of image input or image output elements are provided on the surface of the base material. Is formed, but an image input element or an image output element is formed in each of a large number of triangular divided areas viewed from the normal direction of the base material surface.

FIG. 4 shows an example of arrangement of divided areas (cells) 8R, 8G and 8B in the form of an equilateral triangle. Areas corresponding to each of the three primary color signals are provided. ”To indicate the color attribute (R, G,
As for B), “R” is red, “G” is green, “B”
Indicates blue color, respectively. In the figure, "X0
(= X1) "," Y0 "," Y1 ", and" Z1 "indicate the axial directions that define the cell wiring direction (X1, Y1, and Z1 directions are X0 and Y0 directions). When only the setting is considered, the setting is made in consideration of the case where wiring along these directions cannot be performed depending on the position due to the curved surface of the surface.)
In this example, when viewed along the X0 direction extending to the lower right of the figure and the Y0 direction orthogonal thereto, 8G along the X0 direction,
Under the 8B repetition pattern, the 8R and 8B repetition patterns are observed, and further below the 8R and 8G repetition patterns, these patterns are repeated periodically (period = 3) along the Y0 direction. .

As described above, input / output of a color image involves processing of a primary color (signal) system (or a complementary color system) (one picture element is composed of a plurality of pixels), and easiness of element formation is improved. Considering the above, a combination of multiple elements
It is preferred that the blocks (or groups) are arranged regularly over the surface 2a of the base material 2, in which case the base material is covered by covering the triangular sections. The elements can be efficiently arranged with respect to changes in the curvature of the surface or the surface of the polyhedron, and errors in approximation to the surface of the base material can be suppressed within desired accuracy.

An element group, which is a set of six equilateral triangular sections including an image input element or an image output element formed on the surface of the base material, The six elements can be grouped into a regular hexagonal area (or block) by regularly arranging over the base material, and can be regularly arranged and formed over the surface of the base material as a unit. . Thereby, it is possible to reduce the work time required for printing and forming the image input element or the image output element on the surface of the base material, and to reduce the number of manufacturing steps.

In the drawing, each of the regular hexagonal regions is arranged so as to include two divided regions 8R, 8G, and 8B, whereby the number of each color attribute can be equalized.

The divided regions 8R, 8G, and 8B need to be arranged in FIG. 4 so that adjacent divided regions do not have the same color attribute. That is, FIG.
Is merely an example of the arrangement of the divided areas (for example, the roles of 8R, 8G, and 8B may be changed cyclically). And the triangle consisting of the inside and the triangle of the same color attribute do not share the same side with the boundary of the area having the same color attribute (the vertices can be shared. It is sufficient to arrange each triangular area.

When an image output element is formed on a base material, a surface material is arranged on a base material formed of a transparent material, and a space formed by the base material and the surface material is formed. It is preferable that the image output element is formed on the surface of the base material constituting each of the divided regions, and the liquid crystal is sealed in the space. That is, in this case, each of the triangular sections has a configuration in which the image output element and the liquid crystal are provided between the base material and the surface layer material, and the block shown in FIG. It becomes what was subdivided into.

FIG. 5 shows an essential part of a reading section in an example in which a scanner device is constituted by arranging image input elements using a CCD or the like as regular hexagonal cells, and shows parallel parts L0 to L3. In the divided areas, sections indicated by T = 0, 1, and 2 indicate the respective lines.

Since the regular hexagonal cells are arranged alternately with respect to each parallel line, the read lines are changed from T = 0 to T =
When the number changes to 2, the image can be read (scanned) also at the portion near the cell boundary at T = 1, so that a precise image can be obtained.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, in application to a high-precision monitor or the like, by arranging the image output elements as regular hexagonal cells, for example, an angle of + 30 ° with respect to a horizontal line is obtained. The line image can be displayed along a line that is skewed (see the shaded cells), or the line image can be displayed along a line that has an angle of -30 ° to the horizontal line (Refer to the cell group indicated by the satin pattern), so that a high-definition image can be displayed. It should be noted that a contour line is obtained by line extraction for a general image instead of such a line, and a cell display corresponding to the contour line is performed, whereby a highly accurate image can be output.

Next, a method of manufacturing the above device will be described.

The outline of the procedure can be summarized as an itemized list as shown in the following (1) to (4).

(1) Install the base material on a movable base (including support means and holding means for the base material) capable of controlling the posture of the base material. (2) Change the posture of the base material to change its surface. Among them, the formation range of the image input device or the image output device is selected, and the normal of the surface (curved surface or flat surface) in the range is set so as to face a specific direction. (3) Specific direction of (2) Is used as the printing direction of the element pattern to print and form the image input element or the image output element. (4) Return to (2) to select another formation range.

In the method of printing an element pattern,
It is well known that a basic process of “resist coating → exposure → development → etching → resist removal” is used.

FIG. 7 schematically shows how elements (TFTs, etc.) are formed on a base material 2 having a curved surface, and FIG. FIG. 7B shows a state in which one element 3 is formed on the surface, and FIG. 7B shows a state in which two elements 3 and 3 ′ are formed on the surface of the base material 2.
Note that “R” attached to the arrow in the figure indicates the radius of curvature of the surface of the base material.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of processing for forming an element in units of one block. First, in step S1, the base material is set on a movable base on which a three-dimensional attitude control can be performed. After that, the next step S2
Then, it is determined whether or not it is necessary to partially cut the base material to form a flat surface. That is, when the target range (or region) of element formation is very small, it is not necessary to cut the base material. In this case, the process proceeds to step S4.
When the base material needs to be cut (when it is difficult to form the element in the target area due to the small radius of curvature R of the surface)
Proceeds to step S3.

In step S3, the target range for element formation is
After forming a flat surface by partially shaving the base material in each of the ranges adjacent to the range (ranges within the three divided regions centered on a certain divided region), the next step S4
Proceed to.

In step S4, one block of elements is formed by printing. At this time, it is necessary to print an element pattern after recognizing the arrangement and wiring of a certain element and its neighboring elements. . In addition, since the surface of the base material is generally an indefinite curved surface, when printing the elements, the shape data of the surface is converted into triangular mesh data (polygon data) using a polyline, or an approximate spherical area with respect to the curvature of the surface. Is calculated from the design drawing, polygon data is obtained for the shape of the area, and then, for each triangle, which is the basic structure, one specific color attribute is collectively partially printed, and this process is repeated for each color attribute Accordingly, it is preferable to form an element. When forming an element by printing, it is necessary to design the control wiring (matrix wiring) and the like of the element to be thicker in advance in consideration of the error in the curvature of the curved surface.

In the example shown in FIG. 7A, the previous step S3
The one flat surface 11 formed on the surface 2a of the base material 2
FIG. 7B shows a state in which the element 3 ′ is printed on the flat surface 12 adjacent to the flat surface 11 in the example shown in FIG. 7B. I have. When the printing direction of the element pattern is selected to be a specific direction, the posture of the base material is changed by rotating the base material 2 in a plane including an arrow marked “R” in FIG. The movable table is controlled so that the normal of the flat surface faces the printing direction.

In step S5, it is determined whether or not the element formation processing has been completed for the entire range on the surface of the base material. If not, the process proceeds to step S6 to select the next designated place (or range). To control the movable platform,
It returns to step S2. In other words, until the process end is determined in step S5, the above-described step S1 is performed.
Steps S6 to S6 are repeated.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for printing and forming a plurality of blocks collectively.

In this case, the step S1 is as described above. However, in step S2, it is determined whether or not it is necessary to partially cut the base material to form a flat surface on the base material. The problem is whether or not a target range (or area) that can be formed can be secured by a printing method. In other words, if the element pattern is printed on a curved surface in the process of element formation and the flow of the material is small and does not hinder the pattern formation, it is not necessary to cut the basic material. Goes to step S4 ', but if the radius of curvature R is so small that the flow of the material is so large that such a target range cannot be secured, cutting of the base material is required, so that the flow proceeds to step S3'. That is, the selected area related to the target range depends on the magnitude of the radius of curvature R.

In step S3 ', a basic surface is formed by partially shaving the base material in each of the target area for element formation for one block and the area of all blocks adjacent to the area, and then the next step S4 Go to '.

In step S4 ', all elements are printed and formed for a plurality of blocks in consideration of the arrangement and wiring of adjacent blocks.

FIG. 10 shows a state in which elements are formed in blocks without forming a flat surface on the base material 2, and FIG. 10 (a) shows the elements 3, 3,.
FIG. 10B shows a state in which the element 3 ′, the element 3 ′,
3 ′,... Are shown.

When the printing direction of the element pattern for one block is selected to be a specific direction, the base material 2 is rotated in a plane including an arrow marked with a radius of curvature "R" in the figure. It is necessary to change the attitude of the base material by controlling the movable base so that the normal of the surface at the center of the target area is oriented in the printing direction.

In printing, it is necessary to recognize the shape of the curved surface as three-dimensional data (the polygon data) and design a printing (use) mask or the like in accordance with the shape.

The subsequent steps S5 and S6 are as described above.

As described above, the following method can be used for forming the element.

(I) A method of forming a flat surface on a base material before forming an element (II) A method of forming an element without forming a flat surface on a base material.

First, in the method (I), after forming a flat surface on a portion of the surface of the base material on which the image input element or the image output element is formed, the image input element or the image output element is formed. This is a print forming method, and corresponds to the case where the process proceeds from step S2 to step S3 or S3 'in FIG. 8 or FIG.

According to this method, there is an advantage that an element pattern can be formed with high accuracy by cutting out a flat surface.

In the method (II), the image forming element or the image output element is formed on the surface of the base material, and a large number of images are formed by the same manufacturing process from the printing direction of the element pattern. A range in which the input element or the image output element is possible is selected, and the posture of the base material is changed so that the normal line of the curved surface in the range substantially matches the printing direction of the element pattern. Alternatively, it is a method of printing and forming an image output element. That is, this corresponds to the case where cutting of the base material 2 is not required in step S2 in FIGS. 8 and 9.

Since this method does not require the formation of a flat surface, there is an advantage that it is suitable for shortening the operation time.

In the case of the above method (II), when the change in the curvature of the base material is not so remarkable, it is possible to cover a wide range of elements for element formation.

That is, a print mask is prepared in accordance with the curvature of the surface of the base material, and a large number of image input elements or image output elements are transferred from one direction (specific direction) using the print mask to the entire surface of the base material. Can be formed by printing.

FIG. 11 shows a base material 2 having a curved surface and a large number of elements 3 on the base material from the direction shown by the arrow A.
,... Show a situation in which 3,... Are formed in one operation.

The symbol "R" attached to the arrow pointing to the surface 2a of the base material 2 indicates the radius of curvature, and a print film (or mask) is prepared according to the curvature of the surface of the base material, and all the elements are formed. Are collectively printed to reduce the number of steps.

In this method and the above method (II), when printing an element pattern on a curved surface (or a surface of a polyhedron) in the process of forming an element, the fluidity of the material becomes a problem, and the printing material becomes a problem. Must not easily flow along the tangential direction of the surface.

Although the above methods (I) and (II) can be used independently, it is needless to say that both may be combined as described with reference to FIGS. It is necessary to determine the selection criterion of the method (I) or (II) based on the curvature of the surface and the printing accuracy in the formation area of the element.)

Examples of application of the apparatus according to the present invention include the following.

(I) Head-mounted display (ii) Spherical or cylindrical projector for projecting an image on a spherical or cylindrical screen (iii) Spherical liquid crystal display (iv) Curved solid-state imaging device .

First, regarding (i), for example, a large number of image output elements are formed on an indefinite curved surface of a lens (or a prism) in a spectacle type display.
A material in which liquid crystal is sealed between a base material and a surface material may be used. As a result, an image appears with a wide viewing angle in front of the viewer.

In (ii), a large number of image output elements are formed on the surface of a spherical (cylindrical) base material, and a liquid crystal is sealed between the base material and the surface material to form a point light source (line light source). Is a device for projecting an image from an image output element onto a spherical (cylindrical) screen using the image output device. A plurality of viewers in a spherical (cylindrical) dome having the screen on the inner wall face have a planetarium view. A large-screen image appears.

(Iii) shows that a large number of image output elements are formed on the surface of a spherical base material, liquid crystals are sealed between the base material and the surface material, and an image is displayed on the spherical surface using a point light source as a backlight. It is a device to do.

In (i) to (iii), the base material is of course made of a transparent material.

(Iv) A large number of image input elements including a light receiving element and a CCD are formed on the surface of a curved base material,
This is an apparatus designed to enlarge the angle of view. For example, when the surface of the base material is spherical or hemispherical, shooting at a wide angle of view is possible without requiring an optical member such as a fisheye lens. .

[0070]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the surface of the base material having a curved surface or a polyhedral shape is divided into a number of triangular regions. In this way, since the image input device or the image output device is formed approximately in the region and the image input device or the image output device is formed in the region, a sufficient number of devices are arranged for a required viewing angle or view angle. be able to.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, an element group that is a set of six equilateral triangular divided areas is defined as:
By arranging regularly over the surface of the base material,
The elements can be efficiently arranged over the surface of the base material, and the working time and the number of steps required for forming the elements can be reduced.

According to the third and fourth aspects of the invention,
By forming an image output element in the surface of the base material constituting each divided area in the space formed by the base material and the surface layer material, and adopting a structure in which liquid crystal is sealed in the space, An image display device capable of ensuring a sufficient viewing angle on display can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of an apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a configuration in which an element group is packaged to form one block.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of triangular sections in the apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a usage example in which image input elements are arranged as regular hexagonal cells.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a usage example in which image output elements are arranged as regular hexagonal cells.

FIG. 7 is a view schematically showing how elements are formed on a curved base material.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing for forming an element in units of one block;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example when a plurality of blocks are collectively printed.

FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing how elements are formed in block units without forming a flat surface on a base material.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a situation in which a large number of elements are formed in a single operation from the same direction on a base material having a curved surface.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Device for image input or image output, 2 ... Basic material, 2a ...
Surface, 3, 3a, 3 ': image input element or image output element, 5: surface material, 6: space, 7: liquid crystal, 8R, 8G,
8B ... Sectional area

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image input or image output apparatus having a curved or polyhedral base material on a surface thereof, and a plurality of image input or image output elements formed on the surface of the base material. When the base material is viewed from the normal direction of its surface, the image input device or the image output device is characterized in that the image input device or the image output device is formed in a large number of triangular divided areas. apparatus. 2. The image input or image output device according to claim 1, wherein six equilateral triangular divided areas including the image input element or the image output element formed on the surface of the base material are collected. A device for image input or image output, wherein a set of elements is regularly arranged over the surface of a base material. 3. The image input or image output device according to claim 1, wherein a surface material is disposed on a base material formed of a transparent material,
In the space formed by the base material and the surface layer material, an image output element is formed on the surface of the base material constituting each divided area, and a liquid crystal is sealed in the space. Image input or image output device. 4. The image input or image output device according to claim 2, wherein a surface material is arranged on a base material formed of a transparent material,
In the space formed by the base material and the surface layer material, an image output element is formed on the surface of the base material constituting each divided area, and a liquid crystal is sealed in the space. Image input or image output device.