JP2874208B2 - Image display device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image display device having a wide visual field and capable of providing a natural stereoscopic vision.

[Prior art] Conventionally, as a high quality image display device, a high definition CR is usually used.
Using T, it is used to display computer graphics, CAD, and various simulation results. Due to the development of image data processing technology, display image quality is extremely high.For example, even if there is no real thing in car design, cityscape check, etc., image data is generated by a computer based on design data etc. Display is possible. In addition, various means have been proposed for enabling stereoscopic display by providing binocular parallax. For example, a left-eye image and a right-eye image are alternately displayed on a CRT, and a liquid crystal shutter in front of the observer's eyes is opened and closed in synchronization with the images to provide binocular parallax.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the above-described technology has a drawback that an actual size display cannot be performed on many display objects. furniture,
In designing automobiles and the like, checking cityscape, and the like, the display size is essentially important in accordance with the display color and texture. Usually, the size of a CRT is several tens of cm, and it is impossible to display the actual size of the object. If a projection screen or the like is used, the actual size of an object within several meters can be displayed, but the apparatus becomes large and extremely expensive.

 On the other hand, there is also a problem with three-dimensional stereoscopic display.

Since the target position determined by binocular parallax and the target position (= CRT tube surface) determined by focus adjustment are different, there is an unnatural feeling, and observer's fatigue is large. In addition, the wide field of view required for natural stereoscopic parallax is insufficient, and the performance as a three-dimensional stereoscopic display device is limited.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problem, and synthesizes the same light beam that enters a pupil of an observer when a display object actually exists, and irradiates the observer's eyeball. The object of the present invention is to provide a small-sized image display device having a wide visual field and a natural three-dimensional effect.

[Means for Solving the Problems] To achieve this object, an image display device according to the present invention comprises:
One or more light sources capable of intensity modulation, wavefront curvature modulating means for modulating the wavefront curvature of substantially parallel light beams obtained by shaping the light source output, and light beam deflecting means for deflecting the propagation direction of the light beam, An optical path element that enables a light beam to propagate between the components, and an incident angle, a wavefront curvature, and an intensity of approximately one parallel light beam, each of which is modulated by each of the components, into a desired light beam shape, An optical system for entering the pupil of the observer.

[Operation] The image display apparatus of the present invention having the above-described configuration forms the output light from the light source whose intensity has been modulated into a substantially parallel light flux, and sets the wavefront curvature of the light flux to a desired value by wavefront curvature modulation means. It is set and enters the pupil of the observer. At this time, the observer obtains a visual sense as if there is a luminescent spot at a distance equal to the radius of curvature of the wavefront on the extension of the light beam incident direction. By sweeping the angle of incidence of the light beam on the pupil by the light beam deflecting means and simultaneously modulating the light intensity and the wavefront curvature, an arbitrary natural stereoscopic vision can be given to the observer.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image display device of the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a wavefront curvature modulation unit, and FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a light beam deflection unit. The configuration and operation will be described with reference to the drawings. The data processing and control unit 10 calculates display image data from the position and shape information of the three-dimensional display object in the virtual space, the illumination condition, and the viewpoint position information, and calculates the R light source 11 and the G light source 1.
2. It generates an intensity modulation signal for the B light source, a control signal for the wavefront curvature modulation means, a synchronization signal for the light beam deflection means, and the like. The algorithms for the various calculations are commonly used in the field of computer graphics, and the description is omitted here. Light emitted from each of the R, G, and B light sources 11, 12, and 13 is shaped into substantially parallel light beams by collimating lenses 14a to 14c, and then combined by wavelength-selective mirrors 15, 16, and 17, and focused by a focus lens 14d. Incident on the optical fiber 18. Light emitted from the other end of the optical fiber 18 is converted into a substantially parallel light beam by the collimator lens 14e, and is incident on the wavefront curvature modulation means 19. In the wavefront curvature modulation means 19,
According to the control signal from the data processing and control unit 10, the wavefront curvature (parallelism) of the incident light beam is modulated. The wavefront curvature modulation means 19 includes a piezoelectric plate 51 attached to a holder 50, and electrodes 52a and 52b (laminated with the reflection film 53). When a control signal voltage is applied to the electrodes 52a and 52b, the appropriately polarized piezoelectric plate 51 is deformed into a convex shape. As a result, the reflective film
Before and after reflection at 53, the wavefront curvature of the light beam changes.

A light beam emitted from the wavefront curvature modulating means is a light beam deflecting means.
It is incident on 20. The light beam deflecting means 20 irradiates the light beam while changing the angle of incidence on the pupil of the observer using three lenses 101a to 101c and the polygon mirror 102. Another set of light beam deflecting means is installed (not shown) and two-dimensionally sweeps.

The above optical system is provided in two lines, and supplies a light beam to both eyes of the observer.

Various modifications can be made to each component of the above embodiment. If the light sources are arranged in a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array, the light beam deflecting means can be correspondingly simplified or speeded up, such as one-dimensional. As the wavefront curvature modulation means, a movable lens can be used if a low speed is allowed.
Further, when higher speed is required, a form in which a refractive index distribution type waveguide is formed of a material having an electro-optical effect and the refractive index distribution shape is modulated by an electric means can be adopted.
On the other hand, an acousto-optic effect deflector can be used as the light beam deflecting means.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, a wavefront curvature modulation means and a light beam deflection means are provided in an optical path from a light source capable of intensity modulation to an observer. As a result, a light beam having the same intensity, incident direction, and wavefront curvature as in the case where the display object actually exists can be directly radiated to the observer's pupil via the optical system. It can give the observer a stereoscopic vision.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1 to 3 show an embodiment embodying the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the apparatus, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a wavefront curvature modulation means, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a light beam deflecting unit. 10 Data processing and control unit 11 R light source 12
G light source, 13 B light source, 14 lens, 15 to 17 wavelength selective mirror, 18 optical fiber, 19 wavefront curvature modulating means, 20 light beam deflecting means.

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A light source capable of intensity modulation, at least one light source, wavefront curvature modulating means for modulating a wavefront curvature of a substantially parallel light beam obtained by shaping the output of the light source, and deflecting a propagation direction of the light beam. A light beam deflecting unit, an optical path element that allows the light beam to propagate between the components, and a substantially parallel light beam in which each of the incident angle, the wavefront curvature, and the intensity is modulated by the respective components. An optical system for forming a beam shape and entering a pupil of an observer. 2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light beam deflecting means is capable of deflecting two-dimensionally. 3. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light source is one-dimensionally arrayed, and said light beam deflecting means is capable of deflecting one-dimensionally substantially orthogonally to said light source arrangement direction. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wavefront curvature modulating means and the light beam deflecting means are integrated, and these and the light source are connected by an optical fiber. Image display device. 5. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein said wavefront curvature modulating means is a variable focus mirror using a piezoelectric material.