JPH06175631A - Time-division image reproduction system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an image reproduction system in which images different from each other can be simultaneously observed by plural observes with one screen. CONSTITUTION:This system is constituted so that only single image information is observed by a means of time-division displaying plural images 1, 2, 3 on a television screen 7, etc., and electronic shutters, etc., 8, 9 synchronizing with the divided time of the screen and actuating so as to select only one image information. Further, it is adoptable that the image is made a competitive TV game and the system is provided with a game operation part. The competitive TV game, etc., of a table game, etc., is performed effectively since plural images are reproduced on one screen.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reproducing system, and more particularly to a reproducing system capable of observing a plurality of images on one screen by time-sharing the screen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional technique of this type,
There is a reproduction method for obtaining a stereoscopic television image. This is because the two images having left and right binocular parallax are alternately displayed on one television screen, and the left and right sides of the observer are adjusted by using glasses equipped with liquid crystal shutters which operate the screens alternately in the left and right directions. This is a technique for obtaining stereoscopic images by selectively observing the left and right images with the eyes and combining them in the brain. This technique is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-26.
No. 6691, No. 3-80696, No. 1-47195.
It is disclosed in each publication.

[0003]

By the way, according to these reproducing methods, a plurality of image information is obtained from one screen by using dedicated glasses or the like. It only has a different parallax change that is perceived separately in the eyes of the human eye and is no different from observing a series of single image information. Therefore, in view of not being able to observe a plurality of image information on one screen, there is no difference from a normal television monitor or the like.

The inability to observe a plurality of pieces of image information on one screen means that, for example, in a TV game (a system or device adapted to play a game on a television screen), a plurality of persons play a competitive game. When trying to do so, it is necessary to divide one screen vertically or horizontally. As a result, the field (playing space) becomes narrower, and there is a problem that it lacks power. Also, when playing a card game such as mahjong or playing cards on one screen, the inside of the opponent's hands can be seen on the screen, so there is no choice but to entertain these games or the opponent's hands. It has been difficult to realize a table game or the like that cannot be seen in a TV game.

In addition, it is difficult to satisfy the passenger's desire to view because a desired image of each passenger cannot be displayed at the same time on a television screen where a plurality of people view one screen, such as a passenger aircraft. Met.

In order to solve these problems, it is desired that a plurality of different images can be obtained from one screen.
The above-mentioned prior art cannot satisfy this demand and is not suggested.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image reproducing system in which a plurality of persons can simultaneously observe different images on one screen.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the image time division reproducing system according to the present invention employs the following means. That is, by time-dividing a plurality of pieces of image information, the image time-division means is used as time-division image information, reproduction means for reproducing the time-division image information as time-division video, and the time-division video A selection image passing means capable of selecting and passing only one image information item among a plurality of image information items, thereby enabling a plurality of image information items to be selectively observed from one screen. And

According to a second aspect of the invention, the time-division image information is a video signal, the reproducing means is a television monitor, and the selected image passing means is an eyeglass body having an electronic shutter. The time-division image information includes the images for each opponent in the battle-type TV game,
A means having a game operation unit operable on the image observed by the opponent has been adopted.

In summary, by means for displaying a plurality of images on a television screen in a time-division manner, and an electronic shutter or the like which operates so as to select only one image information in synchronization with the division time of this screen, Only single image information was observed. Note that the image may be a battle-type TV game, and a game operation unit may be provided.

The terms used in the claims have at least the following meanings. That is, the plurality of pieces of image information means that there are a plurality of pieces of image (screen) information that can be independently observed as information, such as a news screen, a movie screen, and a TV.
It means a game screen, a baseball relay screen, each screen of each opponent of a competitive TV game, or a part or all of these screens, and includes a case where a plurality of images (screens) are the same. Time-sharing means time-sharing the plurality of images (screens) in units of images (screens) in order to form one image (screen), and any time including alternate switching of the minimum screen unit. It can be time-shared at intervals. The time-division image information is one or more pieces of image information obtained by the time-division, and is, for example, a video signal in a television monitor or a light beam in a movie (video by a projector). The time-division video is an image in which the time-division image information is reproduced, and when this image is directly observed, a plurality of images appear to overlap each other, so that it is difficult to recognize the image content, but the same. In the case of a time-division video in which the time-division image information obtained by time-division of the image information is reproduced, the image can be directly recognized.

The image time division means is a means for obtaining the time division image information, and is composed of a switch body (switching means) such as an electronic switch or a mechanical alternating shutter.
A means for selecting one or more new image information at a desired time interval on a screen-by-screen basis. The reproducing means is means for reproducing the video signal or light rays as a time-division video and is a CRT (Cathode Ray Tub).
e), a television monitor such as an LCD (liquid crystal display), a projection film, a projector, or the like. The selected image passage means is means for selecting and observing a desired image from the time-division images, and is a light valve body (opening / closing of an optical path) formed by a liquid crystal (LC) element, an electrochromic (EC) element, or the like. Means) or a mechanical light valve such as an electronic shutter or a mechanical shutter to open and close in synchronism with the time-division interval of the time-division image or without synchronism to observe one or more images. It means a means, and may have any shape and structure such as a monocular, a compound eye, a spectacle shape, and a surface shape. These are glasses, goggles with liquid crystal shutters attached to both eyes,
It can be applied to masks, masks, screens, etc. The game operation unit is a means for performing operations necessary to participate in the game video, and includes push buttons, handle, levers and other control sticks, touch screen and other touch operation means, and sensors and other non-operation means. Including contact operation means.

[0013]

With the above construction, in the first aspect, the plurality of pieces of image information become one or more pieces of time division image information by the image time division means and are observed by the reproduction means as a time division image. Here, by observing the time-division video through the selected image passing means, the viewer reaches the viewer as a single video in which only the necessary video from the time-division video passes. In claim 2, only the necessary image of the image reaching the observer is observed by the electronic shutter provided in the spectacle body, and the time-division image information, which is the image signal, is time-division-generated by the television monitor. It is played back as a video. In the third aspect, the image information can be a game image of each opponent of the competitive video game, and the game image is controlled by the game operation unit.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an image time division reproduction system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram. Of a plurality of image information 1, 2, and 3, for example, image information 1 including an image A and image information 2 including an image B are time-divided by an image time-division means 5, and one Time division image information 6
And is reproduced as an image by the reproducing means 7. Since this reproduced image is a reproduction of the time-division image information as it is, the image information A and B are recognized in a mixed manner.
From the mixed image information (hereinafter referred to as composite image), a necessary image is set as single image information, for example, the observer 1
Selective image passing means 8 and 9 are provided for observing 0 and 11. The selected image passing means can open and close the optical path at the same cycle as the image time division time of the image time division means 5, and has the same operation as that of the conventional liquid crystal shutter glasses for stereoscopic image observation. Good things.
However, it is necessary that both eyes can be opened simultaneously and both eyes can be closed simultaneously. However, if you observe with only one eye,
It is not impossible to use the conventional LCD shutter glasses as they are. However, it is natural that the image can be captured more naturally by observing with both eyes.

The selected image passing means is not limited to an electronic type such as a liquid crystal shutter, but may be, for example, a slit vibrating vertically,
This can also be done by passing only the selected image in the composite image in synchronization. Also, the time division operation of the image time division means
It is not always necessary to periodically divide multiple images,
The division ratio time may be changed according to the image. In this case, for example, when a bright image or an image with a particularly fast movement is required, the ratio of the necessary image in the time division image information 6 may be increased. At this time, the selection operation by the selected image passing means 8 and 9 also needs to naturally change its cycle. Further, it is naturally possible to provide more than the number of image information.

It is desirable that the selected image passing means operates in synchronization with the image time division means, but it is sufficient that the selected image passing means operates so as to obtain a necessary image from the reproduced images.
It is not necessary (although easiest) to obtain the sync signal directly from the image time division means. For example, JP-A-1
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 68191, the lightness and darkness of a composite image are synchronized (however, in the present invention, if the lightness and darkness are detected twice and the opening and closing is performed once to pass a necessary image, the lightness and darkness will be 2
Only one image can be obtained from one composite image. Alternatively, the synchronizing operation may be performed by a single time base different from the time base of the image time division means. Also, if the synchronized image is changed at an appropriate time interval so that a plurality of pieces of image information (for example, three composite images) are periodically observed, it is possible to provide a video effect with a taste for entertainment, presentation, and the like. it can. In addition, when selecting an image as described above, it is preferable that sounds associated with the image can be switched at the same time so that they can be heard independently.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the time division in FIG. 1, and shows the process of selecting and observing when the image information 1 and 2 have images A and B, respectively. The images A and B are reproduced once at a time T (for example, 1/60 seconds), and these are alternately selected by the image time division means 5 to be time division image information 6. The time-division image information 6 indicates that the images A and B are alternately time-divided as shown in the figure. Here, although the image itself reproduced once at time T does not change, it has 60 (times) image information per second before division, whereas it has 1 second after time division. Indicates that the image information has been changed to have 30 (times) image information. (The time required to switch the image information is omitted.) The time-division image information 6 is observed by the reproducing means 7 as a composite image 20. By synchronizing this with the image A by the selected image passing means 8, the observer 10 observes only the image A, and by synchronizing it with the image B by the selected image passing means 9, the observer 11 observes the image B. Only can be observed. Of course, the selected image passing means 8 and 9 can observe either of the images A and B appropriately selected from the composite image 20. The image is discontinuous due to time division, but it is recognized as a continuous image by the afterimage effect (a phenomenon in which the image is visible for a moment even if the object of the image disappears) to the human eye. can do.

If the time T is set too slow (long), flicker (flicker of the screen) is observed, the image becomes unnatural, or the observer is tired, so that it is as fast as possible (for example, 1/120 second). ) Is desired. Further, if the image information increases, it is desirable to further advance the time T.

FIG. 3 explains claim 2. Video signals 30, 31 (image A and image B in this figure) are inputted to the image control device 33 as image information. The image control device 33 time-divisions the video signals 30 and 31, generates a time-division video signal 35 and sends it to the television monitor 37, and at the same time, a spectacle body 38 having an electronic shutter as a selected image passing means. Opening / closing signals 40 and 41 are sent to 39. FIG. 3A shows a state in which the spectacle body 38 equipped with the electronic shutter is in a state of being opened (passing an image) by the opening / closing signal 40 synchronized with only the image A,
Moreover, the time when only the image A appears on the television monitor 37 is shown. That is, for example, 1/60
It represents a momentary state for a second. In this case, the observer 42 can see the image A on the television monitor 37, and the spectacle body 3 having the electronic shutter of the observer 43.
No. 9 is closed by the opening / closing signal 41 (no image is allowed to pass through), so that the observer 43 cannot see anything.

FIG. 3 (b) is a moment different from FIG. 3 (a), and the spectacle body 39 equipped with an electronic shutter shows an image B.
This is the time when the image is opened (the image is passed) by the opening / closing signal 41 in synchronization with only the image B and only the image B appears on the television monitor 37. That is, for example, the state for 1/60 seconds is expressed. In this case, the image B on the television monitor 37 is visible to the observer 43, and the spectacle body 38 having the electronic shutter of the observer 42 is closed by the opening / closing signal 40 (the image is not passed). ), The observer 42 sees nothing. Since these operations are repeated in a very short time, the observer 42
And the observer 43 are observing different images A and B on the television monitor 37 at the same time.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining claim 4. The time-division image information 45 includes the game video signals 49 and 50 from the TV game board 48 in the TV game 47, and it is possible to enter other video signals 51. TV
The image time division circuit 52 in the game 47 time-divisions these video signals, and at the same time, glasses 54 with a liquid crystal shutter,
Open / close signals 56 and 57 are sent to 55. The open / close signals 56 and 57 are routed through the game operation sections 62 and 63 for the opponents 59 and 60, but may be directly connected from the image time division circuit 52. Explaining the operation in FIG. 4, the opponents 59 and 60 wear glasses 54 and 55 with liquid crystal shutters, respectively, and watch the game image displayed on the TV monitor 65 by the game operating units 62 and 63. However, the image time division circuit 52 causes the opponent 5
9 and 60 are glasses 5 with a liquid crystal shutter so that only images corresponding to the operations of the game operation units 62 and 63 are passed through.
Control 4, 55. Therefore, the opponents 59 and 60 are
Only the game video that can be controlled by the respective game operation units 62 and 63 can be obtained (viewed) from the TV monitor 65. At this time, the glasses 54 and 55 with liquid crystal shutters
If the player does not use an object corresponding to each game operation unit 62, 63, the opponents 59, 60 will see the game image of the opponent respectively, so the glasses 54 with liquid crystal shutters,
It is desirable that 55 be routed through each of the game operating units 62 and 63 (that is, in the state of being connected by a cord).

Here, for example, when playing a card game, the opponent 59 can see the contents of his or her card and the face-down (invisible contents) card of the opponent 60 on the TV monitor 65, and the opponent can simultaneously compete. Person 60 is a TV monitor 65
You can see the contents of your card and the face-down (invisible) card of opponent 59. Therefore, it is possible to play the game without seeing each other's cards. Of course, in this case, it is necessary to generate corresponding game video signals 49 and 50 by the TV game board 48.

At this time, if the image of the television broadcast program is included from the other image signal 51, the image time division circuit 52
Since it can be reproduced as a time-division screen (composite image) on the TV monitor 65, a person (not shown) who wears glasses with a liquid crystal shutter (not shown) synchronized with another video signal 51 is an opponent 59. , 60 can enjoy only TV broadcast programs without being influenced by the TV game played.

FIG. 5 shows another example. In this case, projection lights 72 and 73 from two projectors 70 and 71 are used as image information, and shutters 74 and 75 are used as image time division means. In operation, the images A, B from the projectors 70, 71 are shown by shutters 74, 7
5, they are alternately time-divided into projection lights 72 and 73, which are projected on a screen 76. Where the audience 7
Liquid crystal shutter plates 80 and 79, which open and close in synchronization with shutters 74 and 75, allow only the required image A or B to be observed from the composite image 82 displayed on the screen 76.

In addition to the above-described embodiment, the selection image passing means is provided with an image selection switching means so that an image to be observed can be selected, and a selection image receiving means is provided. The present invention can have various modifications within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention, such as being installed in the window portion of the expression simulator device.

[0026]

As described above, the image time division reproducing system according to the present invention has at least the following effects. That is, since only the required single information can be observed by the selected image passing means from a plurality of images which are time-divided and reproduced as one image, (1) the reproducing device can be used when observing a plurality of images. There is no need to provide multiple screens or divide the screen. Moreover, only a single image can be observed without being disturbed by other images.
(3) Even when the image display device is used in a limited space such as in an airplane, it is possible to satisfy the wishes of a plurality of persons without increasing the number of display devices. (4) One person can play a TV game and another person can watch a TV movie, and one playback device can be used for multiple purposes at the same time.

In the second aspect, (5) since the selected image passing means is the spectacle body provided with the liquid crystal shutter, it can be made light and small and can be observed while freely moving the head. Further, even if the number of observers increases, it is possible to easily cope with it, and the liquid crystal shutter can be electrically opened and closed easily, so that the time division can be easily controlled. (6) Further, since the image information is used as the video signal and the television monitor is used as the reproducing means, the image information can be electrically easily divided and reproduced, and the reproducing system can be simplified.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a competitive TV game image and
Since it has an operation section that can operate this, (8) when displaying a battle-type TV game, only the necessary images can be displayed on the entire screen, improving the game quality and dividing within the screen. Processing such as is unnecessary. (9)
Further, a table game or the like in which the inside of the opponent's hand cannot be seen, which could not be achieved conventionally, can be configured as a TV game.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view according to claim 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of time division according to claim 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram according to claim 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram according to claim 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 image information 2 image information 7 image information 5 image time division means 6 time division image information 7 reproduction means 8 selected image passage means 9 selected image passage means 10 observer 11 observer 20 composite image

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image time-division means for making time-division image information by time-division of a plurality of pieces of image information, and a reproduction means for reproducing the time-division image information as time-division video.
Selective image passing means capable of selecting and passing only one piece of image information of the plurality of pieces of image information from the time-division video, thereby selectively selecting a plurality of pieces of image information from one screen. An image time-division playback method characterized by allowing the user to view the image. 2. The time division image information is a video signal,
The reproducing means is a television monitor, and the selected image passing means is a spectacle body having an electronic shutter,
The image time division reproducing method according to claim 1. 3. The time-division image information includes an image for each opponent in a battle-type TV game, and has a game operation unit operable on the image observed by the opponent. [2] The image time-division playback method described in [2].