JP5099554B2 - 3D display - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a stereoscopic display for presenting a stereoscopic image.

  Many people gather around the table to collaborate. A table is regarded as a tool for collaborative work, and various studies have been conducted to support collaborative work using this tool using a computer. For example, research on CSCW (Computer Supported Cooperative Work) and groupware.

  Advantages of digitizing the work on the table include that the work process can be recorded electronically and information can be shared between remote locations. An image displayed in the conventional research is projected onto a table by a projector, or the table itself is composed of a display such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). In either case, a two-dimensional planar image is displayed.

  In such a planar image, only information such as a document can be presented, and information of a three-dimensional shape cannot be presented. Also, when a single planar image is displayed, the information is reversed depending on the position of the person surrounding the table, which is very difficult to see.

  In order to solve the former problem, a method for stereoscopically viewing a planar image by causing a person to wear special glasses has been proposed. However, in this method, it is necessary to display a planar image while tracking the position of a person, so that the number of participants is limited and there is a sense of incongruity of wearing glasses, which is far from observing a natural stereoscopic image.

  In order to solve the latter problem, there has been proposed a system that provides different images to observers in four directions of a square table by configuring the upper surface of the table with a special screen. In this case, since a planar image is presented in four directions, special glasses are required for stereoscopic viewing of the image.

  Further, a multi-directional real image display device is proposed in which a plurality of CRT (cathode ray tube) video display devices, a plurality of optical path folding mirrors, and a plurality of convex lenses are arranged in an annular shape so that an image can be viewed from a plurality of directions. (See Patent Document 1). However, even in this multi-directional real image display device, only a plurality of planar images are displayed by a plurality of CRT video display measures.

  On the other hand, a system has also been proposed in which an image projected on a display is imaged in the air by a relay optical system using a lens or mixed with a background by a half mirror. According to such a system, since the image appears to float in the air, a pseudo three-dimensional effect can be obtained. However, since a two-dimensional planar image is presented, a sufficient stereoscopic effect cannot be obtained. Further, the position where the image can be observed is limited to a specific viewpoint position. Therefore, a plurality of people cannot easily observe the image.

There has also been proposed a method for reproducing a pseudo aerial image by projecting an image onto a screen made of a rotating disk or a plate moving in the front-rear direction. In this method, a plurality of people can share a pseudo stereoscopic image with the naked eye. However, in order to present a stereoscopic image on the table, it is necessary to arrange the screen as described above on the table. In that case, the work space on the table is limited.
JP 2003-15081 A

  As described above, in a stereoscopic display for supporting collaborative work on a table, a special device such as eyeglasses or a line-of-sight tracking system should be installed so that multiple people can participate in collaborative work freely without restriction. It is desirable that a stereoscopic image can be observed with a natural naked eye. In addition, it is desirable that a stereoscopic image be presented at an appropriate spatial position when the table is viewed from a position around 360 degrees. Furthermore, it is desirable that the observation position is not limited to a specific viewpoint position. In addition, it is desirable that a device that hinders work on a work surface such as a table is unnecessary.

  It is an object of the present invention to enable an arbitrary number of observers to observe from any surrounding position without an observer wearing a special device and without requiring an apparatus that obstructs the work space. It is to provide a stereoscopic display for presenting images.

(1) A stereoscopic display according to the present invention is a stereoscopic display for presenting a stereoscopic image based on stereoscopic shape data so that at least a part thereof is located in a space on a predetermined reference plane, and having an opening in a light beam controller is arranged to have a circumferential wall below the reference plane, the peripheral wall of the light beam controller a group of rays from the outside of the lower a and light beam controller of the reference surface comprising a plurality of light beams A three-dimensional image is presented by a plurality of light generators arranged around the light beam controller so as to irradiate the outer peripheral surface of the light source and a group of light beams generated by the plurality of light generators based on the three-dimensional shape data. Control means for controlling a plurality of light generators, the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall of the light controller is a cone-shaped cone surface or a columnar column surface, and the aperture of the light controller is a cone Body shape or columnar shape Is formed at a position shaped for the bottom, the optical plate are formed so as to transmit to diffuse in the ridge line direction, and to reflect without diffusing the rays emitted by the light generator in the circumferential direction, the control means Controls a plurality of light generators so that at least a part of the stereoscopic image is presented above the opening of the light controller .

In the three-dimensional display according to the present invention, the light beam controller has a peripheral wall and an opening . The outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall of the light beam controller is formed of a cone-shaped cone surface or a columnar column surface, and the opening of the light beam controller is formed at the position of the bottom surface of the cone shape or the columnar shape. The optical plate is arranged to have a circumferential wall below the and reference plane has an opening on the reference surface. In addition, a plurality of light generators are arranged around the light controller so as to respectively irradiate the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall of the light controller with a group of light beams below the reference surface and from the outside of the light controller. Is done. Based on the three-dimensional shape data, the plurality of light generators are controlled by the control means so that a three-dimensional image is presented by a group of light beams generated by the plurality of light generators.

  Note that the cone shape is not limited to a cone, an elliptical cone, or a polygonal pyramid, and includes a truncated cone, an elliptical truncated cone, or a truncated pyramid. The columnar shape includes a cylinder, an elliptical column, and a prism.

  In this case, the light beam controller transmits each light beam emitted from each light beam generator without diffusing in the circumferential direction. Thereby, each intersection of the light beams from the plurality of light generators becomes a point light source. An observer virtually perceives a set of point light sources as a three-dimensional shape of an entity. At this time, the binocular parallax occurs because the gaze direction of the left eye and the gaze direction of the right eye that intersect the same point light source are different. As a result, a stereoscopic image is presented by a set of a plurality of point light sources.

  Here, when the observer observes the inner peripheral surface of the light beam controller from above the reference surface, each point light source can be viewed at the same position from any position at the same height around the light beam controller. Therefore, the observer can view a stereoscopic image, at least a part of which is presented in the space on the reference plane, from an arbitrary position around 360 degrees. Therefore, a plurality of people can observe a stereoscopic image with the naked eye from an arbitrary position without using a special device. Also, the number of observers is not limited.

  Further, the light beam controller diffuses and transmits each light beam irradiated by each light beam generator in the ridge line direction. Thereby, when the height of the viewpoint of the observer goes up and down, the position of the stereoscopic image also looks up and down. Therefore, the viewpoint position of the observer is not limited.

  Furthermore, it is not necessary to arrange a device that hinders work in the space above the reference plane. Therefore, a work space for performing work using the presented stereoscopic image can be secured on the reference plane.

  (2) The reference surface may be an upper surface of the table top, the top may have an opening, and the light beam controller may be fitted into the opening of the top.

  In this case, a stereoscopic image is presented in the space on the table top. Thereby, it is possible to easily perform work using the same stereoscopic image by a plurality of persons surrounding the table. A lid made of a transparent material may be fitted into the opening.

  (3) Each of the plurality of light generators may include a projector.

  In this case, each projector can easily irradiate the outer peripheral surface of the light beam controller with a light beam group composed of a plurality of light beams.

  (4) The light beam controller may have protrusions formed on the outer circumferential surface or the inner circumferential surface of the cone shape so as to extend in the circumferential direction and to be aligned in the ridge line direction.

  In this case, each light ray can be transmitted without being diffused in the circumferential direction and can be diffused and transmitted in the ridge line direction by the protrusions on the outer peripheral surface or the inner peripheral surface of the cone shape or the columnar shape.

  (5) The light beam controller may be formed of a sheet material that transmits a light beam without being diffused in the first direction and diffuses and transmits the light beam in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.

  In this case, each light beam can be transmitted without being diffused in the circumferential direction by the directional sheet material and can be diffused and transmitted in the ridge line direction.

  (6) The control means may set the color of the light beam applied to the light beam controller by each of the plurality of light beam generators for each emission direction.

  In this case, since the point light sources composed of the intersections of a plurality of light beams each have a color, a color stereoscopic image is presented.

  According to the present invention, there is a stereoscopic image that can be observed from an arbitrary position by an arbitrary number of observers without an observer wearing a special apparatus and without requiring an apparatus that obstructs the work space. Presented.

(1) Configuration of stereoscopic display FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a stereoscopic display according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the stereoscopic display of FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a light beam controller used in the stereoscopic display of FIGS. 1 and 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the stereoscopic display includes a truncated cone-shaped light beam controller 1, a plurality of scanning projectors 2, a control device 3, and a storage device 4.

  The three-dimensional display shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is provided on a table 5. The table 5 includes a top plate 51 and a plurality of legs 52. The top plate 51 has a circular hole.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the light beam controller 1 has a truncated cone shape that is rotationally symmetric about the axis Z. The large diameter bottom portion and the small diameter bottom portion of the light beam controller 1 are open. The light beam controller 1 is formed such that an incident light beam diffuses and transmits in the ridge line direction T and passes straight without being diffused in the circumferential direction R centered on the axis Z. Details of the configuration of the light beam controller 1 will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the light beam controller 1 is fitted into the circular hole of the top plate 51 so that the large-diameter bottom opening faces upward. An observer 10 around the table 5 can observe the inner peripheral surface of the light beam controller 1 from obliquely above the top plate 51 of the table 5.

  Below the table 5, a plurality of scanning projectors 2 are arranged on a circumference around the axis Z of the light beam controller 1. The plurality of scanning projectors 2 are provided so as to irradiate the outer peripheral surface of the light beam controller 1 from obliquely below the light beam controller 1.

  A transparent circular plate may be fitted into the circular hole portion of the table 51.

  Each scanning projector 2 can emit a light beam and deflect the light beam in a horizontal plane and a vertical plane. Thereby, each scanning projector 2 can scan the outer peripheral surface of the light beam controller 1 with the light beam. Here, the light beam refers to light represented by a straight line that does not diffuse.

  The storage device 4 includes, for example, a hard disk, a memory card, and the like. The storage device 4 stores stereoscopic shape data for presenting the stereoscopic image 100. The control device 3 is composed of a personal computer, for example. The control device 3 controls the plurality of scanning projectors 2 based on the solid shape data stored in the storage device 4. Thereby, the stereoscopic image 300 is presented above the light controller 1.

(2) Configuration and Manufacturing Method of Light Controller 1 FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of an example of the light controller 1.

  The light beam controller 1 of FIG. 4 has a transparent truncated cone-shaped light beam controller body 11. A plurality of annular lenses 12 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the light beam controller main body 11 so as to be closely arranged in the ridge line direction T. Each annular lens 12 has a semi-cylindrical vertical cross section. The annular lens 12 may have a semicircular cross section. The dimension of the light beam controller 1 is arbitrary. For example, the diameter of the large diameter bottom portion of the light control body 11 is 200 mm, the diameter of the small diameter bottom portion is 20 mm, and the height is 110 mm.

  4 can be produced by applying a cutting blade while rotating a transparent material made of a transparent resin having a certain refractive index, such as acrylic or polycarbonate. Moreover, the light controller 1 can be manufactured by producing a mold having a shape corresponding to the light controller 1 and filling the mold with a transparent resin such as acrylic or polycarbonate. Furthermore, the light control element 1 can also be produced by a three-dimensional modeling method using an ultraviolet curable resin. Moreover, the light control element 1 can be produced by etching the surface of a transparent material having a truncated cone shape. Further, the light controller 1 can be manufactured by laser processing or electric discharge processing of the surface of the transparent material having a truncated cone shape. Moreover, the light control element 1 can be produced by applying an ultraviolet curable resin to the surface of a transparent material having a truncated cone shape and irradiating ultraviolet rays for each annular region having a constant width extending in the circumferential direction.

  In the example of FIG. 4, the plurality of annular lenses 12 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the light controller main body 11, but the plurality of annular lenses 12 may be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the light controller main body 11.

  According to the light beam controller 1 of FIG. 4, the annular lens 12 has a constant thickness in the circumferential direction and has a function of diffusing light beams in the ridge line direction T. Accordingly, when a light beam is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the light beam controller 1 in FIG. 4, the light beam is transmitted while being diffused in the ridge line direction T, and is transmitted in a straight line without being diffused in the circumferential direction.

  FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a part of another example of the light beam controller 1.

  In the light beam controller 1 of FIG. 5, a plurality of annular prisms 13 having a polygonal cross section are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the light beam controller body 11 so as to be closely arranged in the ridge line direction T. The cross-sectional shape of the annular prism 13 may be a polygon other than a triangle.

  According to the light beam controller 1 of FIG. 5, the annular prism 13 has a constant thickness in the circumferential direction and has a function of diffusing light beams in the ridge line direction T. Accordingly, when a light beam is irradiated on the outer peripheral surface of the light beam controller 1 of FIG. 5, the light beam is transmitted while being diffused in the ridge line direction T, and is transmitted in a straight line without being diffused in the circumferential direction.

  FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a part of still another example of the light beam controller 1.

  The light beam controller 1 of FIG. 6 is produced by winding a transparent material 14 having a thread-like refractive index on the outer peripheral surface of a transparent frustoconical light beam controller body 11 in the circumferential direction. The transparent materials 14 are densely arranged in the ridge line direction T. The cross-sectional shape of the transparent material 14 may be a perfect circle or an ellipse. For example, nylon thread can be used as the transparent material 14.

  Alternatively, the light control element 1 can also be manufactured by sticking a plurality of thread-like transparent materials in order on the outer peripheral surface of the transparent frustoconical light control element body 11 using a quick-drying adhesive. For example, an ultraviolet curable resin can be used as the adhesive.

  According to the light beam controller 1 of FIG. 6, the transparent material 14 has a constant thickness in the circumferential direction, and has a ball lens function in the ridge line direction T. Thereby, when a light beam is irradiated on the outer peripheral surface of the light beam controller 1, the light beam is transmitted while being diffused in the ridge line direction T, and is transmitted in a straight line without being diffused in the circumferential direction.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining another configuration of the light beam controller 1. FIG. 7A shows a holographic screen 15 that transmits light in the direction X with little diffusion and transmits light in a direction Y orthogonal to the direction X. FIG. 7B shows a triangular sheet 16 formed by cutting the holo screen 15 of FIG. Here, the holographic screen is an optical element that is manufactured by a photographic dry plate technique and that can control the flight direction of incident light rays.

  The light beam controller 1 can be formed by sticking the triangular sheet 16 in FIG. 7A to the surface of the transparent circular truncated cone light beam controller body 11. Alternatively, the light controller 1 having a pseudo truncated cone shape can be produced by connecting a plurality of triangular sheets 16 to form an N truncated cone. Here, N is an integer of 3 or more.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining still another configuration of the light beam controller 1. FIG. 8A shows an optical sheet 17 made of a holographic screen or Fresnel lens having a function of diffusing incident light rays in the radial direction. The Fresnel lens is a sheet-like lens having grooves in the circumferential direction.

  As shown in FIG. 8B, the optical sheet 17 is cut into a fan-shaped sheet 18. And as shown in FIG.8 (c), the frustoconical light controller 1 is produced by connecting the edge | side A and the edge | side B of the fan-shaped sheet 18 together.

  In the present embodiment, the light beam controller 1 has a truncated cone shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the light beam controller 1 may have a cone shape, or a polygonal frustum shape or a polygonal pyramid shape. You may have. These shapes are called cone shapes.

(3) Operation of Scanning Projector 2 FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view for explaining the operation of the scanning projector 2. FIG. 9 shows only one scanning projector 2.

  The scanning projector 2 can emit a light beam composed of laser light and deflect the light beam in a horizontal plane and a vertical plane.

  When the scanning projector 2 deflects the light beam in a horizontal plane, the outer peripheral surface of the light beam controller 1 can be scanned in the horizontal direction. Further, the scanning projector 2 deflects the light beam in the vertical plane, whereby the outer peripheral surface of the light beam controller 1 can be scanned in the vertical direction. Thereby, the scanning projector 2 can scan the opposite surface of the light beam controller 1 with the light beam.

  Further, the scanning projector 2 can set the color of the light beam for each light beam direction. As a result, the scanning projector 2 emits a light beam group consisting of a plurality of light beams in a pseudo manner.

  In FIG. 9, the scanning projector 2 irradiates the light beam controller 1 with a plurality of light beams L1 to L11. The light beams L1 to L11 are set to arbitrary colors, respectively. Thereby, the light rays L1 to L11 of the set colors are transmitted through the plurality of positions P1 to P11 of the light ray controller 1 respectively.

  Since the light beam controller 1 transmits the light beams L1 to L11 linearly without diffusing in the circumferential direction, the observer can view only one light beam at a certain position. Moreover, since the light beam controller 1 diffuses and transmits the light beams L1 to L11 in the vertical direction, the observer can visually recognize one light beam from an arbitrary position in the vertical direction.

  In the present embodiment, the scanning projector 2 is used as the light generator, but the present invention is not limited to this. As a light generator, a general light system including a spatial light modulator such as DMD (Digital Mirror Device), LCOS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) or LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and a projection system such as a lens array composed of a plurality of lenses is used. A projector can also be used. In this case, when the aperture (aperture) of the projection system is sufficiently small, a light beam group can be formed in the same manner as the scanning projector 2.

(4) Presentation Method of Stereoscopic Image 300 FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view for explaining the presentation method of the stereoscopic image 300. In FIG. 10, three scanning projectors 2A, 2B, and 2C are shown.

  For example, when a red pixel is presented at a position PR above the light beam controller 1, a red light beam LA0 is emitted from the scanning projector 2A in a direction passing through the position PR, and passes through the position PR from the scanning projector 2B. A red light beam LB0 is emitted in the direction, and a red light beam LC0 is emitted from the scanning projector 2C in a direction passing the position PR. Thereby, a red pixel serving as a point light source is presented at the intersection of the red light beams LA0, LB0, and LC0. In this case, a red pixel can be seen at the position PR when the observer's eye is at the position IA0, at the position IB0, and at the position IC0.

  Similarly, when a green pixel is presented at a position PG above the light beam controller 1, a green light beam LA1 is emitted from the scanning projector 2A in a direction passing through the position PG, and the position PG is output from the scanning projector 2B. A green light beam LB1 is emitted in a direction passing through, and a green light beam LC1 is emitted in a direction passing through the position PG from the scanning projector 2C.

  Thereby, a green pixel serving as a point light source is presented at the intersection of the green light beams LA1, LB1, and LC1. In this case, a green pixel is seen at the position PG when the observer's eyes are at the position IA1, the position IB1, and the position IC1.

  In this way, light rays of a color to be presented in a direction passing through each position of the stereoscopic image 300 are emitted from each of the plurality of scanning projectors 2A, 2B, 2C.

  A plurality of scanning projectors including the scanning projectors 2A, 2B, and 2C are densely arranged on the circumference, and a space inside the light controller 1 is formed by a group of light beams emitted from the plurality of scanning projectors. If the intersection point group is sufficiently densely filled, an appropriate ray passing through the positions PR and PG will be incident on the eye even if the inside of the ray controller 1 is observed from any direction on the circumference. The human eye recognizes that there is a point light source there. Since the person recognizes the illumination light reflected or diffused on the surface of the real object as an object, the surface of the object can be regarded as a set of point light sources. That is, the three-dimensional image 300 can be presented by appropriately reproducing the color of a certain position PR, PG that is desired to be the surface of the object by the light rays coming from the plurality of projectors 2A, 2B, 2C.

  In this way, the stereoscopic image 300 can be presented in the space inside and above the light beam controller 1. In this case, the observer can visually recognize the same stereoscopic image 300 from different directions at different positions in the circumferential direction.

  FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining a method for presenting the stereoscopic image 300. In FIG. 11, one scanning projector 2 is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the light beam emitted from the scanning projector 2 is diffused in the vertical direction by the light beam controller 1 at the diffusion angle α. Thereby, the observer can see the same color light beam emitted from the scanning projector 2 at different positions in the vertical direction within the range of the diffusion angle α. For example, even when the observer moves the line of sight from the reference position E to the upper position E ′, the same portion of the stereoscopic image 300 can be seen. In this case, the position of the stereoscopic image 300 visually recognized by the observer moves depending on the position of the observer's eyes in the vertical direction. Thus, since the light emitted from the scanning projector 2 is diffused in the vertical direction by the light controller 1, the stereoscopic image 300 can be observed even if the observer moves the line of sight up and down.

  The color of each light beam of the light beam group emitted from the plurality of scanning projectors 2 in FIG. 1 is calculated by the control device 3 based on the solid shape data stored in the storage device 4. Specifically, the control device 3 obtains an intersection between a surface of a three-dimensional solid shape defined in advance as solid shape data and each light ray, and calculates an appropriate color to be given to the light ray.

  The control device 3 controls the plurality of scanning projectors 2 based on the calculated color of each light beam in the light beam group. Thereby, a group of light beams each having a set color is emitted from each scanning projector 2 so that the stereoscopic image 300 is presented above the light beam controller 1.

  As described above, according to the stereoscopic display according to the present embodiment, the directional display of the stereoscopic image 300 is possible.

(5) Binocular Parallax Generation Principle Here, the binocular parallax generation principle in the stereoscopic display according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view for explaining the principle of generation of binocular parallax in the stereoscopic display according to the present embodiment. FIG. 12 shows four scanning projectors 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d.

  In FIG. 12, when the observer views the point P31 of the light beam controller 1, the light beam La emitted from the scanning projector 2a is incident on the right eye 100R and emitted from the scanning projector 2b to the left eye 100L. The incident light ray Lb is incident. When the observer sees the point P32 of the light beam controller 1, the light beam Lc emitted from the scanning projector 2c is incident on the right eye 100R, and the light beam emitted from the scanning projector 2d is incident on the left eye 100L. Ld is incident.

  Here, the color of the light beam La and the color of the light beam Ld are the same, the color of the light beam Lb is different from the color of the light beam La, and the color of the light beam Lc is different from the color of the light beam Ld. In this case, the color of the point P31 on the light beam controller 1 differs depending on the viewing direction. Further, the color of the point P32 on the light beam controller 1 also varies depending on the viewing direction.

  A point Pa of the stereoscopic image 300 is created by the light ray La, a point Pb of the stereoscopic image 300 is created by the light ray Lb, a point Pc of the stereoscopic image 300 is created by the light ray Lc, and a point Pd of the stereoscopic image 300 is created by the light ray Ld. It is done.

  In the example of FIG. 12, the point Pa and the point Pc of the stereoscopic image 300 are at the same position. That is, the points Pa and Pd of the stereoscopic image 300 are created at the intersections of the light beam La and the light beam Ld. The points Pa and Pd can be virtual point light sources. In this case, the direction of viewing the points Pa and Pd with the right eye 100R is different from the direction of viewing the points Pa and Pd with the left eye 100L. That is, there is a convergence angle between the line-of-sight direction of the right eye 100R and the line-of-sight direction of the left eye 100L. Thereby, the stereoscopic view of the image formed by the light beam group becomes possible.

(6) Effects of the Embodiment In the stereoscopic display according to the present embodiment, the light beam controller 1 transmits each light beam emitted from each scanning projector 2 without diffusing in the circumferential direction. Thereby, each intersection of the light beams from the plurality of scanning projectors 2 becomes a point light source. An observer virtually perceives a set of point light sources as a three-dimensional shape of an entity. At this time, as described above, the binocular parallax occurs because the line-of-sight direction of the left eye and the line of sight of the right eye that intersect the same point light source are different. As a result, the stereoscopic image 300 is presented in the space inside and above the light controller 1 by a set of a plurality of point light sources.

  Here, when the observer observes the inner peripheral surface of the light beam controller 1 from above the table 5, each point light source can be seen at the same position from any position around the table 5 at the same height. Therefore, the observer can see the stereoscopic image 300 presented above the light controller 1 from any position around 360 degrees. Therefore, a plurality of persons can observe the stereoscopic image 300 with the naked eye from an arbitrary position without using a special device. Also, the number of observers is not limited.

  The light beam controller 1 diffuses and transmits each light beam irradiated by each scanning projector 2 in the ridge line direction. Thereby, even if the height of the observer's viewpoint rises and falls, the observer can see the stereoscopic image 300. Therefore, the viewpoint position of the observer is not limited.

  Furthermore, it is not necessary to arrange a device that hinders work in the space above the table 5. Therefore, a work space for performing work using the stereoscopic image 300 presented above the light controller 1 can be secured on the table 5.

(7) Other Embodiments In the above-described embodiment, the light beam controller 1 is fixed to the top plate 51 of the table 5, but the light beam controller 1 is attached to the axis Z by using a rotary drive device such as a motor. You may rotate around. For example, when the light controller 1 is made of an N cone (N is an integer of 3 or more) or is manufactured by bonding a plurality of sheets, the optical performance at the joint of the light controller 1 is disturbed. Arise. In such a case, the optical performance disturbance at the joint is averaged by rotating the light controller 1 around the axis Z. As a result, unevenness in the image quality of the presented stereoscopic image 300 is prevented.

  The light beam controller 1 may have a columnar shape including a cylinder, an elliptical cylinder, or an N prism (N is an integer of 3 or more). Also in this case, the light controller 1 transmits the light while diffusing the light in the vertical direction. Thereby, the stereoscopic image can be presented so that at least a part thereof is positioned in a space on a reference surface such as the upper surface of the top plate 51 of the table 5.

(8) Correspondence between each constituent element of claim and each element of the embodiment Hereinafter, an example of correspondence between each constituent element of the claim and each element of the embodiment will be described. It is not limited to.

  In the above embodiment, the light controller 1 is an example of a light controller, the scanning projector 2 is an example of a light generator, the control device 3 is an example of control means, and the top plate 51 of the table 5 is The upper surface is an example of the reference surface. Further, the annular lens 12, the annular prism 13, or the transparent material 14 is an example of a protrusion, and the triangular sheet 16 or the fan-shaped sheet 18 is an example of a sheet material.

  As each constituent element in the claims, various other elements having configurations or functions described in the claims can be used.

  The present invention can be used for collaborative work using stereoscopic images. In addition, it can be used for a study work in which a plurality of people proceed while sharing one stereoscopic image as in a city design scene. Furthermore, it can be used when information of a three-dimensional shape is shared in addition to information such as a document spread on a table during a video conference between remote locations.

  Further, it can be used when a teacher explains a part of a stereoscopic image while pointing at an educational scene or the like. In addition, since the light controller is below the work surface such as a table and the three-dimensional image is presented in the space on the work surface, it directly refers to the three-dimensional image rather than the sense of pointing the three-dimensional image from the outside of the glass case It can be used to get a sense.

  It can be used for games using table-type stereoscopic images. Moreover, since glasses are not required, it can be used in a place where the audience can freely participate or leave. By using a large arena-shaped device, it can be used to create a theater space that can be viewed from the surroundings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a three-dimensional display according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic plan view of the three-dimensional display of FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a light beam controller used in the three-dimensional display of FIGS. 1 and 2. It is a partial expanded sectional view of an example of a light controller. It is a partial expanded sectional view of other examples of a light controller. It is a partial expanded sectional view of further another example of a light beam controller. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the other structure of a light controller. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating another structure of a light beam controller. FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view for explaining the operation of the scanning projector. It is a schematic plan view for demonstrating the presentation method of a stereo image. It is typical sectional drawing for demonstrating the presentation method of a stereo image. It is a schematic plan view for demonstrating the generation | occurrence | production principle of the binocular parallax in the three-dimensional display which concerns on this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Light beam controller 2, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d Scanning projector 3 Control apparatus 4 Memory | storage device 5 Table 10 Observer 11 Light controller body 12 Annular lens 13 Annular prism 14 Transparent material 15 Holoscreen 16 Triangular sheet 17 Optical sheet 18 Fan-shaped sheet 51 Top plate 52 Leg 100,300 Stereo image 100R Right eye 100L Left eye IA0, IB0, IC0, PR, PG, E, E 'positions L1-L11, La, Lb, Lc, Ld, LA0, LB0, LC0, LA1, LB1, LC1 Rays P31, P32, Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd

Claims (6)

A stereoscopic display for presenting a stereoscopic image based on stereoscopic shape data so that at least a part thereof is located in a space on a predetermined reference plane,
A light beam controller is arranged to have a circumferential wall below said reference plane and having an opening on said reference plane,
A plurality of light beams arranged around the light beam controller so as to respectively irradiate the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall of the light beam controller with a light beam group composed of a plurality of light beams below the reference surface and from the outside of the light beam controller. A light generator;
Control means for controlling the plurality of light generators based on the three-dimensional shape data so that a three-dimensional image is presented by a group of rays generated by the plurality of light generators;
The outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall of the light controller is formed of a cone-shaped cone surface or a columnar column surface, and the opening of the light controller is a position of a bottom surface of the cone-shaped or columnar shape. Formed into
The light beam controller is formed to transmit each light beam irradiated by each light beam generator without diffusing in the circumferential direction and to diffuse and transmit in the ridge line direction ,
The three-dimensional display , wherein the control means controls the plurality of light generators so that at least a part of a three-dimensional image is presented above the opening of the light beam controller . The reference surface is an upper surface of a top plate of a table, the top plate has an opening, and the light controller is fitted into the opening of the top plate. 3D display. The three-dimensional display according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of light generators includes a projector. The said light beam controller has the protrusion part formed in the said ridgeline direction so that it might extend in the said circumferential direction, and it has in the said outer peripheral surface or inner peripheral surface of the said cone shape, The Claims 1-3 characterized by the above-mentioned. The three-dimensional display in any one. The light beam controller is formed of a sheet material that transmits light without diffusing in the first direction and diffuses and transmits light in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Item 3. The three-dimensional display according to any one of Items 1 to 3. The three-dimensional display according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control means sets the color of the light beam irradiated to the light beam controller by each of the plurality of light beam generators for each emission direction. .

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