JPH09318911A - Stereoscopic image display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To switch and display a three-dimensional image and a two-dimensional image and to display without resolution deterioration at the time of two-dimensional image display by adjusting the interval of a light source means and a micro optical element in accordance with an image displayed on a display device. SOLUTION: A control part emits a changeover signal or the like for a mode so as to display the two-dimensional image to a lenticular moving circuit 7, and moves the second lenticular lens 32 of the micro optical element 3H from a position where it is closely stuck to a mask 2 to the position where it is separated by a specified distance in the optical axis direction of a cylindrical lens. Then, an image processing means 5 does not perform the synthetic processing of a stripe image, so that a normal two-dimensional image is displayed on the display device 4. Thus, light passing each picture element on an image display surface advances in both right and left directions toward scanning lines respectively displaying horizontal stripe picture elements Li and Ri at the time of three-dimensional image display, and is led to both eyes, so that all picture elements of the two-dimensional image are viewed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stereoscopic image display device, and is particularly suitable for switching between a three-dimensional image and a two-dimensional image for display.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a lenticular lens system or a parallax system has been used as a stereoscopic image display device without using glasses.
A barrier method is known.

In these systems, two parallax images must be combined and displayed as stripe images alternately arranged. Therefore, the resolution of the stereoscopic image display device is reduced to 1/2 or less of the resolution of the image display means.

In particular, when displaying a two-dimensional image, there is a problem that the resolution is reduced to 1/2 or less of the resolution of the image display means itself.

[0005]

However, the parallax barrier system has a problem that the parallax barrier is an obstacle to eyesight. Further, in the conventional lenticular lens system, since the lenticular lens is arranged closer to the observer than the image display means (display device), the lenticular lens is annoying because the screen surface glares.

An object of the present invention is to enable switching between a three-dimensional image (striped image) and a two-dimensional image with a simple structure, and to reduce resolution with respect to the resolution of the image display means when the two-dimensional image is displayed. The object of the present invention is to provide a stereoscopic image display device capable of displaying images without glare, preventing glare on the screen surface, and having good visibility.

[0007]

A stereoscopic image display device according to the present invention comprises: (1-1) a light source means for emitting a light beam having a predetermined shape, and a micro-optical element having different optical functions in the horizontal and vertical directions. , Having a transmissive display device,
On the display device, a right-eye parallax image and a left-eye parallax image are divided into a large number of stripe-shaped pixels, respectively, and a right stripe pixel and a left stripe pixel are alternately arranged in a predetermined order to form a single image. A stripe image is displayed, and the light beam emitted from the light source means is directed by the micro optical element to irradiate the stripe image, and the light beam is separated into at least two regions to form a stereoscopic image of the stripe image. As a characteristic, in a stereoscopic image display device that can be visually recognized by an observer, the distance between the light source means and the micro optical element is adjusted according to the image displayed on the display device.

In particular, (1-1-1) the light source means has a surface light source and a mask substrate or a self-luminous display element, and the light source means has an opening of a predetermined shape and a light shield on the mask substrate. Forming a mask pattern, and illuminating the mask pattern with the surface light source to emit a light beam from the opening, or a light emitting portion having a predetermined shape and non-light emission on the light emitting surface of the self-luminous display element. A vertical cylindrical lens array in which a vertical direction cylindrical lens long at least in the vertical direction is periodically arranged in the horizontal direction, or a vertical cylindrical horizontal lens array is formed. The display device has a toric lens array in which toric lenses having different focal lengths are arranged two-dimensionally in the vertical and horizontal directions. When displaying by switching stripe image and a two-dimensional image, varying the spacing between the mask pattern or the light emitting surface and the micro-optical element of the light source means. (1-1-2) When changing the distance between the mask pattern or the light emitting surface of the light source means and the micro optical element, the self-luminous display element or the mask substrate is moved. (1-1-3) When changing the distance between the mask pattern or the light emitting surface of the light source means and the micro optical element, the micro optical element or a part of the micro optical element is moved. (1-1-4) The stripe image includes right stripe pixels and left stripe pixels obtained by dividing each of the right-eye parallax image and the left-eye parallax image into a large number of horizontal stripe pixels. It is a horizontal stripe image which is alternately arranged in a predetermined order to form one image, and the openings and the light shielding portions of the mask pattern or the light emitting portions and the non-light emitting portions of the light emitting pattern are formed in a checkered pattern. (1-1-5) The micro optical element includes the vertical cylindrical lens array and a horizontal cylindrical lens array in which horizontal horizontal cylindrical lenses are periodically arranged in the vertical direction. (1-1-6) The vertical cylindrical lens array and the horizontal cylindrical lens array are formed on a single substrate. (1-1-7) When displaying a stripe image in the stereoscopic image display device, the distance from the main plane on the light source means side of the lateral cylindrical lens array to the mask pattern or the light emitting surface is set to substantially zero. To do. (1-1-8) When displaying a stripe image in the stereoscopic image display device, a light flux emitted from one point on the opening portion of the mask pattern or the light emitting portion of the light emitting pattern has a horizontal cross section by the micro optical element. Is converted into a substantially parallel light beam, and in a vertical section, it is converted into a condensed light beam that is substantially condensed on the display device. (1-1-9) When displaying a stripe image in the stereoscopic image display device, the pitch of the openings in the vertical cross section of the mask pattern or the light emitting pattern is Pm, and the lateral cylindrical lens array or the toric lens array is Pt is the vertical pitch, I is the vertical pixel pitch of the image display surface of the display device, and C is the distance from the image display surface of the display device to the observation position.
, The distance from the image display surface of the display device to the observer side main plane in the vertical direction of the lateral cylindrical lens array or the toric lens array is t, the mask pattern from the main plane of the lateral cylindrical lens array on the light source means side Or, when the distance to the light emitting surface is t0, these specifications are I: Pm = C: (C + t + t0) I: Pm = t: t0 I: Pt = C: (C + t) I am almost satisfied with the relationship. (1-1-10) When displaying a two-dimensional image in the stereoscopic image display device, from the main plane on the light source means side of the lateral cylindrical lens array or the toric lens array to the mask pattern or the light emitting surface. The distance is set to be larger than twice the focal length in the vertical direction of the cylindrical lens forming the lateral cylindrical lens array or the toric lens forming the toric lens array. (1-1-11) The stripe image includes right stripe pixels and left stripe pixels obtained by dividing each of the right-eye parallax image and the left-eye parallax image into a large number of vertical stripe pixels. In the vertical stripe image, which is alternately arranged in a predetermined order to form one image, the openings of the mask pattern and the light shielding portions or the light emitting portions and non-light emitting portions of the light emitting pattern are formed in a vertical stripe shape. (1-1-12) When displaying a two-dimensional image in the stereoscopic image display device, the focal length of the vertical cylindrical lens array is f, and the mask pattern is from the main plane of the vertical cylindrical lens array on the light source means side. Or, when the distance to the light emitting surface is t0 'and the distance between the viewer-side principal plane of the vertical cylindrical lens array and the display device is t', these specifications are t '/ t0'> The relation f / (t0'-f) is almost satisfied. (1-1-13) When displaying a three-dimensional image in the three-dimensional image display device, the distance from the main plane of the vertical cylindrical lens array on the light source means side to the mask pattern or the light emitting surface is set as follows. The focal length of the cylindrical lenses forming the vertical cylindrical lens array is set to be substantially equal to the focal length. It is characterized by

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a main part of a stereoscopic image display apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment is a stereoscopic image display device capable of switching and displaying a three-dimensional image (3D image, stereoscopic image) and a two-dimensional image (2D image).

In the figure, 1 is a backlight light source (area light source), 2
Is a mask pattern having a checkered opening 8 and a light shielding part
9 is a mask substrate (mask) on which a mask pattern is formed by patterning chromium or a light absorbing material on a substrate such as glass or plastic. The backlight light source 1 and the mask substrate 2 constitute one element of the light source means. Reference numeral 4 denotes a display device (image display means), which uses a transmissive liquid crystal element in which a display pixel portion (image display surface) is formed between two glass substrates.

A first lenticular lens 31 and a second lenticular lens 32 made of transparent resin or glass are arranged between the mask 2 and the display device 4.
The first lenticular lens 31 is a vertical cylindrical lens array configured by arranging vertically long vertical cylindrical lenses in the left-right direction, and the second lenticular lens 31.
Reference numeral 32 is a horizontal cylindrical lens array configured by vertically arranging horizontal cylindrical lenses that are long in the horizontal direction. The first lenticular lens 31 and the second lenticular lens 32 each form one element of the micro optical element 3H.

First, the configuration and operation when a three-dimensional (3D) image is displayed in this embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view when the first embodiment is in the three-dimensional image display mode.
In Fig. 1, the cross-sectional view along the horizontal plane indicated by line AA is shown in Fig. 1 (A),
FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along a horizontal plane indicated by a line BB (here, a scan line corresponding to a scan line one scan line below the scan line indicated by the line AA). 1 and 2 schematically show the state of the display image on the image display surface.

Although a case where an image created on a computer such as a CG image is used as the parallax image is shown here, a natural image taken by a compound eye camera or a stereo camera can also be used as the parallax image.

An image displayed on the liquid crystal display 4 will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the image (horizontal stripe image). As shown in FIG. 3 (A), the parallax image R for the right eye and the parallax image L for the left eye are each divided into a large number of horizontal stripe-shaped stripe pixels R _i and L _i by the image processing means 5,
R ₁ L ₂ R ₃ L ₄ R ₅ L _{6 for} each scanning line from the top of the screen
・ ・ ・ ・ (Or L ₁ R ₂ L ₃ R ₄ L ₅ R ₆・ ・ ・ ・) are alternately arranged to create one horizontal stripe image (three-dimensional image).
Of the composite stripe image).

The image data of the horizontal stripe image thus created is input to the display drive circuit 6 and the horizontal stripe image is displayed on the display device 4.

The liquid crystal display 4 has horizontal stripe pixels for the right eye corresponding to one opening of the illustrated mask pattern 9.
R _i and the left-eye horizontal stripe pixels L _{i + 1} are alternately arranged so as to be paired vertically.

As shown in FIG. 1 (A), the light emitted from the backlight light source 1 has an opening 8 at a position displaced by a predetermined distance from the optical axis of the cylindrical lens of the first lenticular lens 31. The transmitted light flux of the mask 2 is separated and made incident on the right eye E _R of the observer by the mask 2 having the center of 1 and the cylindrical lens of the first lenticular lens 31.
The light flux incident on the right eye E _R is a stripe pixel (here, a right stripe pixel here) displayed on the display device 4 provided between the first lenticular lens 31 and the observer.
It is modulated by R _i ) and enters the right eye E _R.

Similarly, for a light beam along a section corresponding to a scanning line one scanning line below in FIG. 1A, horizontal stripe pixels forming a left parallax image as shown in FIG. 1B. The light flux modulated by L _i enters the left eye E _L. At this time, as can be seen from FIG. 1, the mask pattern of the mask 2 has openings and light-shielding portions formed in a checkered pattern, and the mask opening 8 in the cross section of FIG. 1 (A) and the mask opening 8 of FIG. 1 (B). The mask openings 8 in the cross section are formed so as to be complementary to each other. Therefore, the observer sees the stripe pixel corresponding to each eye with the left or right eye for each scanning line, and observes the stereoscopic image by visually recognizing the parallax image composed of each stripe pixel. be able to.

At this time, the cylindrical lens forming the second lenticular lens 32 masks the convex vertex of the lens.
It sticks to 2. That is, the second lenticular lens 32
Since the main plane of (1) coincides with the mask pattern, the influence of its refracting power can be almost ignored, and the optical action of the second lenticular lens 32 need not be considered in the horizontal section.

Next, the configuration and operation when a two-dimensional image (2D) is displayed in this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view when the present embodiment is in the two-dimensional image display mode. The control unit (not shown) issues a signal for switching to a mode for displaying a two-dimensional image to the lenticular moving circuit 7, and causes the second lenticular lens 32 to move to the state shown in FIG.
It is moved in the optical axis direction of the cylindrical lens from a position in close contact with the mask 2 to a position separated by a predetermined distance.

At this time, the image processing means 5 does not perform the stripe image synthesizing process, and the display device 4 displays
Display a normal 2D image.

In this embodiment, the pitch Pt of the cylindrical surface 3b of the second lenticular lens 32 facing the mask 2 is equal to the pitch Pm in the vertical cross section of the mask pattern 9, which is slightly smaller than the pixel pitch I of the display device 4. It has a large structure.

When displaying a two-dimensional image, the lens apex of the cylindrical surface 3b of the second lenticular lens 32 is displayed.
The distance tt between H'and the mask pattern 9 is the cylindrical surface.
The focal length of the cylindrical lens composed of 3b is fb.
As a result, tt> 2fb.

At this time, the distance tt 'from the main plane H on the observer side of the second lenticular lens 32 to the image display surface of the display device 4 is set in advance as 1 / tt' ≧ 1 / fb-1 / tt. If so, the opening 8 of the mask 2 is aligned with the image display surface of the display device 4 and the second lenticular lens 32.
The image is reduced in size during. Therefore, with respect to the scanning lines displaying the horizontal stripe pixels L _i and R _i at the time of displaying the three-dimensional image, the respective cylindrical lenses of the first lenticular lens 31 are used to provide the apertures to be directed in the left or right direction. Both images will be formed within the range that the observer can see through the scanning lines, and the light passing through each scanning line (each pixel) on the image display surface travels in both left and right directions and is guided to both eyes. All the pixels of the two-dimensional image can be visually recognized with both eyes, and display can be performed without deterioration of the resolution of the display device 4. The above is the operation in the case of two-dimensional image display.

In this embodiment, since each lenticular lens is behind the display device 4 as seen from the observer,
The lenticular lens is inconspicuous and the screen surface does not flicker.

In the first embodiment, the horizontal stripe image is composed by arranging the left and right horizontal stripe pixels alternately for each scanning line, but one stripe pixel may be displayed with a width of a plurality of scanning lines and combined. it can.

In the first embodiment, the first composite stripe image is used for displaying a stereoscopic image. However, as shown in FIG. 3B, the left stripe pixel L ₁ and the second scan line are included in the first scan line. To the right stripe pixel R ₂ and the 3rd scan line to the left stripe pixel L ₃
It is also possible to use a horizontal stripe image (second composite stripe image) combined with ... However, in that case, a mask pattern in which the checkered opening portion and the light shielding portion are complementary to each other may be used as compared with the case where the first combined stripe image shown in FIG. 3A is used as the mask pattern.

In this embodiment, the lenticular lenses 31, 32 each having a flat surface on one side are used as the micro optical element 3H.
Was used, but for the first lenticular lens 31,
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which both surfaces of the cylindrical lens forming this have appropriate curvatures.

Further, in the first embodiment, the two lenticular lenses 31 and 32 are separately provided, and only the second lenticular lens 32 is moved, but they may be moved integrally. It is also possible to form a cylindrical lens array having periodicity orthogonal to each other on both surfaces of one transparent substrate as an integrated structure and move the same.

Further, instead of moving the lenticular lens, a mechanism for moving the mask 2 is provided, and a space is provided between the mask substrate 2 and the backlight light source 1 when displaying a three-dimensional image, and a two-dimensional image is provided. When displaying an image, the mask substrate 2 may be configured to move so as to satisfy the above relational expression.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a derivative example of the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the backlight light source 1 and the mask 2 having the mask pattern 9 are composed of separate elements, but this derivation is one in which they are integrated. In Figure 5,
14 is a light source such as a fluorescent lamp, 10 is a reflection mirror, 11 is a light guide made of a transparent plastic material such as PMMA, and 13 is a light guide 11.
It is a mask pattern produced by patterning a reflective material on the surface of. Each of the above elements constitutes one element of the light source means.

In this derived example, the light from the light source 14 is incident on the light guide 11 from its end face together with the light reflected from the reflection mirror 10, and is guided inside thereof. Then, the guided light passes through the mask pattern 9 and enters the observer's pupil through the micro optical element 3H and the display device 4.
In this way, a stereoscopic image display device with high light utilization efficiency can be constructed. At this time, a reflector may be formed on the back surface 12 of the light guide body 11.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the essential portions of Embodiment 2 of the stereoscopic image display device of the present invention. In this embodiment, the backlight source 1 of the first embodiment and a CRT instead of the mask pattern 9 are used.
A self-luminous display element 23 such as the above is used to form a light-emitting pattern composed of a light-emitting portion and a non-light-emitting portion of the same shape as the mask pattern 9 on its display surface, and the micro-optical element 3H That is, stereoscopic image display is performed by giving directivity. The operation at the time of 3D image display and 2D image display is the same as that of the first embodiment. The self-luminous display element 23 constitutes one element of the light source means.

At this time, it is desirable that the self-luminous display element 23 and the display device 4 display in synchronization with each pixel or each scanning line.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the essential portions of Embodiment 3 of the stereoscopic image display device of the present invention.

In the first embodiment, the display device 4
Although a horizontal stripe image is displayed in FIG. 3, the right parallax image R 1 and the left parallax image L are divided into a large number of vertical stripe pixels R _i and L _i , respectively, and the left and right stripe pixels are, for example, 1 A vertical stripe image that is composed by alternately arranging each pixel in the left-right direction is used, a single lenticular lens is used, the shape of the mask pattern opening and light shield is vertical stripe, and two-dimensional The difference is that the mask 2 is moved when displaying the image. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. Note that the embodiment
The same elements as those explained in 1 are given the same reference numerals.

That is, in the first embodiment, two
Although one lenticular lens 31 and 32 are used, in the present embodiment, only a lenticular lens (vertical cylindrical lens array) 33 in which a large number of vertical cylindrical lenses are periodically arranged in the left-right direction is used.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal sectional view for explaining the configuration and operation when the present embodiment displays a three-dimensional image.
This will be described. Backlight light source (area light source) 1
The light emitted from is directed by the lenticular lens 33 and the mask 2 having the center of the opening 8 at a position displaced by a predetermined position with respect to the optical axis of each cylindrical lens that constitutes the lenticular lens 33, The light is divided into regions corresponding to the positions of the right eye E _R and the left eye E _L of the observer and condensed.

The luminous fluxes incident on the left and right eyes are the vertical stripe pixels R _i and L _i displayed on the transmissive display device 4 provided between the lenticular lens 33 and the observer.
Are modulated respectively and are incident on each eye. Thereby, a stereoscopic image can be observed.

The setting conditions of each parameter in this embodiment will be described. As shown in Fig. 8, the width of the right or left stripe pixel is I, and the distance (observation distance) from the display device 4 to the condensing area (observer's pupil position) is C.
, The distance (between eyes) between the centers of the two condensing areas is E
, And the display device 4 of the lenticular lens 33
Set the distance from the side principal plane to display device 4 by t
Then, set them so that they satisfy the following relational expressions.

T = I · C / (E / 2-I) Furthermore, the pitch P of the lenticular lens 33 and the width I of the vertical stripe pixel satisfy the following equation.

P = E · I / (E-2I) Further, the period of the opening 8 of the mask 2 is P _AP , one opening is
For example, if the pitch of the right-eye opening H _R is P _R and the pitch of the left-eye opening H _L is P _L , then the sizes are equal, P _AP = P _R = P _L , and P _AP and the vertical stripe pixel The width I has the following relationship when the distance from the main surface of the lenticular lens 33 on the mask 2 side to the mask 2 is t0.

P _AP = 2I {E / (E-2I) + t0 / C} Then, the respective openings H _R and H _L are deviated from each other by Δ, and the following relationship is established.

Δ = (P _AP / 2) -2I · t0 / t Since this embodiment is configured as described above, there is no crosstalk between the right stripe pixel and the left stripe pixel, and a good stereoscopic image is displayed. can do.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration and operation when displaying a two-dimensional image in this embodiment. In this embodiment also, the display device 4 has a normal 2
The three-dimensional image S is displayed.

The focal length of the cylindrical lens that constitutes the lenticular lens 33 is f, and in the configuration for displaying a two-dimensional image, the interval between the mask 2 side main plane of the lenticular lens 33 and the mask 2 is t0 ', and the display of the lenticular lens 33 is As the distance t1 from the principal plane of the device 4 side to the image of the lenticular lens 33 of the mask 2, there is a relation of 1 / t1 = 1 / f-1 / t0 'between them.

In this embodiment, the distance from the main plane of the lenticular lens 33 on the display device 4 side to the display device 4 is t ', and t1 and t1 are set so as to satisfy the relationship of t'> t1. .

Especially from the center of the display device 4, i
When the position of the image Ti ′ of the center Ti of the opening 8 of the mask 2 by the lenticular lens 33 with respect to the th pixel Si is x from the center of the display device 4, the following relation (I (i-1) -E / 2} / {C- (t'-t1)} <(xE / 2) / C <{I (i + 1) -E / 2} / {C
-(t'-t1)} {I (i-1) + E / 2} / {C- (t'-t1)} <(x + E / 2) / C <{I (i + 1) + E / 2} / {C
It is preferable that-(t'-t1)} is satisfied.

By satisfying the above relationship, Ti 'can be seen from the left and right eyes through the pixel Si. If the above relationship is satisfied for any pixel Si on the display device 4, light from any Ti 'is modulated by the pixel Si and guided to the left and right eyes, and the resolution deteriorates with respect to the resolution of the display device 4. It is recognized as a two-dimensional image without.

In the present embodiment, for the same reason as in the first embodiment, the lenticular lens is inconspicuous and the screen surface does not glare.

In the above equation, the center Ti of the opening is described.
In reality, since the aperture has a size, the above equation does not need to be strictly established, and may be appropriately determined in consideration of the size of the aperture, the aberration of the lenticular lens 33, and the like.

Also in this embodiment, the self-luminous display element 23 such as the CRT shown in FIG. 6 is used to form the same light emitting pattern as the mask pattern on the display surface, and the lenticular lens is used for the patterned emitted light. It is also possible to give directionality with 33. At this time, it is desirable that the self-luminous display element 23 and the display device 4 display images in synchronization with each pixel or each scanning line.

Further, in the present embodiment, the lenticular lens 33 having a flat surface on one side is used as the micro-optical element 3H, but it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which both surfaces of the cylindrical lens forming this have appropriate curvatures.

In addition, instead of moving the mask substrate 2, a mechanism for moving the lenticular lens 33 is used.
The lenticular lens 33 may be moved as shown in 1 to satisfy the above relational expression of the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a main part of a derivative example of the third embodiment. This derived example displays a color image. In the present embodiment, when the parallax image is displayed as a vertical stripe image, each pixel (L _i pixel / R _i pixel) of this vertical stripe is displayed.
Pixels), the color filters R, G, and B are arranged in the vertical direction as shown in the partial enlarged view of FIG. 10 (B) (enlarged view of the portion surrounded by an ellipse of the display device 4 in FIG. 10 (A)). Are arranged alternately. By doing so, it is possible to observe a good stereoscopic image without color shift.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of the essential portions of Embodiment 4 of the stereoscopic image display apparatus of the present invention. The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the arrangement order of the lenticular lenses 31 and 32 is changed, and that the mask substrate 2 is moved instead of the lenticular lens during 3D / 2D switching display. . Other configurations are the same.

In the figure, 1 is a backlight as an illumination light source.
(A surface light source), and a mask substrate 2 on which a mask pattern having a checkered opening through which light is transmitted is formed on the observer side. 4 is a display device. Between the mask substrate 2 and the display device 4,
Two lenticular lenses made of transparent resin or glass with their generatrix directions orthogonal to each other as the micro optical element 3H
31 and 32 are arranged.

First, the configuration and operation when performing three-dimensional (3D) image display in this embodiment will be described. FIG. 12 is a horizontal sectional view when the present embodiment displays a three-dimensional image. The mask substrate 2 is illuminated by the backlight light source 1, and light is emitted from the opening 8. A first lenticular lens (longitudinal cylindrical lens lens array) 31 is arranged on the viewer side of the mask substrate 2, and the lens curvature is designed so that the mask pattern 9 is located at approximately the focal position of each cylindrical lens. There is.

The pair of openings and the light-shielding portion in the horizontal cross section of the mask pattern 9 correspond to one pitch of the cylindrical lens forming the substantially lenticular lens 31. In the pattern of the opening and the light-shielding part shown in the figure, the left stripe pixel L _i of the horizontal stripe image displayed on the display device 4 corresponds, and the divergent light flux emitted from the opening 8 is the first lenticular lens 31. After being converted into a substantially parallel light flux, the left stripe pixel L _i on the display device 4 is illuminated and modulated by this, the light is converged in the range shown by the solid line in the figure with directivity. E _L in the figure shows the left eye of the observer, and the light from the opening 8 uniformly gathers in the left eye E _L over the entire width of the screen.

At this time, the pitch of the first lenticular lens 31 is made slightly smaller than the pitch of the pair of openings and the light-shielding portion of the mask pattern, whereby the left stripe pixels displayed on the display device 4 are left eye
It is observed only in the range near E _L.

For the right eye E _R , the mask pattern
The pattern of the opening and the light-shielding part of 9 is opposite to the figure, and it corresponds to the right stripe pixel R _i in the stripe image displayed on the display device 4, and the divergent light flux emitted from the opening 8 is The light is converted into a substantially parallel light flux through the first lenticular lens 31, illuminates the right stripe pixel R _i , is modulated by this, and then converges in the range shown by the dotted line in the figure with directivity. As a result, the right stripe pixel R _i displayed on the display device is observed only in the range near the right eye E _R , and the left and right parallax images are horizontally observed separately for the left eye and the right eye.

FIG. 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view when the present embodiment displays a three-dimensional image. Thus, the observation region in the vertical direction will be described. The openings 8 of the mask pattern 9 of the mask substrate 2 are formed in a checkered pattern as shown in FIG. 11, and correspond to the left or right stripe pixels displayed on the display device 4 in the vertical direction.

Here, the pitch of the openings in the vertical cross section having the mask pattern is Pm, the pitch of the cylindrical lenses forming the second lenticular lens (horizontal cylindrical lens array) 32 is Pt, and the vertical pixels of the display device 4 are The pitch is I, the distance from the image display surface of the display device 4 to the observation position is C, the distance from the image display surface of the display device 4 to the observer side principal plane H of the second lenticular lens 32 is t, the second From the main surface H'of the lenticular lens 32 on the mask side to the mask pattern 9
When the distance to is t0, I: Pm ＝ C: (C + t + t0) I: Pm ＝ t: t0 I: Pt ＝ C: (C + t) .

At this time, the apertures 8 of the mask pattern 9 are focused near the corresponding pixels respectively, so that the image can be observed over the angular range at the time of focusing, and the eye height of the observer can be adjusted to a predetermined value. Thus, an observation region in which the left and right parallax images are uniformly separated can be obtained over the entire width in the vertical direction of the screen.

Next, the configuration and operation when displaying a two-dimensional image in this embodiment will be described. In this case, the normal two-dimensional image S is displayed on the display device 4.

FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional view when the two-dimensional image S is displayed in this embodiment. At this time, the mask substrate 2 sets the focal length of the second lenticular lens 32 to fb,
The distance between the cylindrical surface of the second lenticular lens 32 and the mask 2 is t0 ', and the mask is moved to a position satisfying t0'> 2fb.

At this time, the distance t from the observer-side principal plane H of the second lenticular lens 32 to the image display surface of the display device 4 is set in advance to 1 / t ≧ 1 / fb-1 / t0 ′. In other words, the opening 8 of the mask 2 is reduced in size toward the second lenticular lens 32 side of the image display surface to form an image. Therefore, when displaying 3D images, the lenticular lens
By 32, one aperture that illuminates only the horizontal stripe pixel L _i or R _i, respectively, is imaged in a part that can be expected from vertically adjacent scanning lines when a two-dimensional image is displayed. The light passing through each scanning line travels to both the left and right eyes, is guided to both eyes, and both pixels can see all the pixels of the two-dimensional image. It is possible to display without deterioration.
The above is the operation in the case of two-dimensional image display.

In the present embodiment, for the same reason as in the first embodiment, the lenticular lens is inconspicuous and the screen surface does not glare.

In this embodiment, the lenticular lenses 31 and 32 each having a flat surface on one side are used as the micro-optical element 3H, but both surfaces of the cylindrical lens may have an appropriate curvature.

Further, although the lenticular lenses 31 and 32 are separate bodies in this embodiment, they may have an integral structure in which cylindrical lenses arrays having periodicity orthogonal to each other are formed on both surfaces of one transparent substrate.

Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, the micro-optical element 3H has a structure in which a large number of toric lenses 35 having different curvatures in the vertical and horizontal directions are two-dimensionally arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions. Toric lens array 3
Good as 4.

That is, the vertical pitch of the toric lens 35 forming the toric lens lens array 34 is Pt,
In the vertical cross section, the distance from the display device 4 to the observer-side main plane of the toric lens array 34 is t, and the distance from the mask-side main plane of the toric lens array 34 to the mask pattern 9 is t0. It should be set so as to satisfy.

Further, even if the mechanism for moving the lenticular lens is used instead of the mechanism for moving the mask substrate and the lenticular lens is moved as shown in the first embodiment, the above relational expression of the present embodiment is satisfied. Good.

[0075]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION With the above-described structure, the present invention can switch and display a three-dimensional image (striped image) and a two-dimensional image with a simple structure, and has the resolution of the image display means when displaying the two-dimensional image. On the other hand, it is possible to perform display without resolution deterioration, prevent glare on the screen surface, and achieve a stereoscopic image display device with good visibility.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a main part of a first embodiment of a stereoscopic image display device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view when the first embodiment is in a three-dimensional image display mode.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a horizontal stripe image according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view when the first embodiment is in a two-dimensional image display mode.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a derivative example of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a main part of a stereoscopic image display device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a main part of a stereoscopic image display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration and an action when a three-dimensional image is displayed in the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration and an operation when displaying a two-dimensional image in the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a main part of a derivative example of the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of the essential portions of Embodiment 4 of the stereoscopic image display device of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a horizontal sectional view when the fourth embodiment displays a three-dimensional image.

FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view when the fourth embodiment displays a three-dimensional image.

FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional view when a two-dimensional image is displayed in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of a main part of another configuration example of the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Backlight (surface light source) 2 ... Mask substrate 31 ... First lenticular lens (vertical cylindrical lens array) 32 ... Second lenticular lens (horizontal cylindrical lens array) 4 ... Display device 5 ... Image processing means 6 ... Display drive circuit 7 ... Lenticular moving circuit 17 ... Mask substrate moving circuit 8 ... Opening (opening) 9 ... Mask pattern 33 ... Lenticular lens (vertical cylindrical lens array) 34 ... Toric lens array

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A light source means for emitting a light beam having a predetermined shape, a micro-optical element having different optical functions in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, and a transmissive display device, the display device for the right eye. Each of the parallax image and the parallax image for the left eye is divided into a large number of striped pixels, and the right and left stripe pixels are alternately arranged in a predetermined order to display a striped image. A stereoscopic image which is directed to the light beam emitted from the light source means by the micro-optical element to illuminate the stripe image, and the light beam is divided into at least two regions so that the stripe image can be visually recognized by a viewer as a stereoscopic image. In the image display device, the distance between the light source means and the micro optical element is adjusted according to the image displayed on the display device. Three-dimensional image display apparatus. 2. The light source means includes a surface light source and a mask substrate or a self-luminous display element, and the light source means forms a mask pattern having an opening and a light shielding portion of a predetermined shape on the mask substrate. Then, the surface light source illuminates the mask pattern to emit a light beam from the opening, or a light emitting pattern having a predetermined shape of a light emitting portion and a non-light emitting portion is formed on the light emitting surface of the self-luminous display element. Then, a light beam is emitted from the light emitting portion, and the micro-optical element has a vertical cylindrical lens array in which vertical cylindrical lenses long in the vertical direction are periodically arranged in the horizontal direction, or has a focal length different in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. It has a toric lens array in which toric lenses are two-dimensionally arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions, and a stripe image and a two-dimensional image are displayed on the display device. 2. The stereoscopic image display device according to claim 1, wherein a gap between the mask pattern or the light emitting surface of the light source means and the micro optical element is changed when the images are switched and displayed. 3. When changing the distance between the mask pattern or the light emitting surface of the light source means and the micro-optical element,
The stereoscopic image display device according to claim 2, wherein the self-luminous display element or the mask substrate is moved. 4. When changing the distance between the mask pattern or the light emitting surface of the light source means and the micro optical element,
The stereoscopic image display device according to claim 2, wherein the micro optical element or a part of the micro optical element is moved. 5. The right and left stripe pixels obtained by dividing each of the right-eye parallax image and the left-eye parallax image into a large number of horizontal stripe-shaped pixels are defined as the striped image. It is a horizontal stripe image that is alternately arranged in order to form a single image, and the openings of the mask pattern and the light shielding portions or the light emitting portions and non-light emitting portions of the light emitting pattern are formed in a checkered pattern. Item 3 or 4 stereoscopic image display device. 6. The three-dimensional structure according to claim 5, wherein the micro optical element comprises the vertical cylindrical lens array and a horizontal cylindrical lens array in which horizontal cylindrical lenses long in the horizontal direction are periodically arranged vertically. Image display device. 7. The stereoscopic image display device according to claim 6, wherein the vertical cylindrical lens array and the horizontal cylindrical lens array are formed on a single substrate. 8. When displaying a stripe image in the stereoscopic image display device, a distance from the main plane of the lateral cylindrical lens array on the light source means side to the mask pattern or the light emitting surface is set to substantially zero. The stereoscopic image display device according to claim 6 or 7. 9. When displaying a stripe image in the stereoscopic image display device, a light flux emitted from one point on the opening of the mask pattern or the light emitting portion of the light emitting pattern is substantially horizontal in a horizontal section by the micro optical element. 9. The parallel light flux is converted into a condensed light flux that is substantially condensed on the display device in a vertical section.
The stereoscopic image display device according to any one of 1. 10. When displaying a stripe image in the stereoscopic image display device, a pitch of openings in a vertical cross section of the mask pattern or the light emitting pattern is Pm, and a vertical direction of the lateral cylindrical lens array or the toric lens array. , Pt, the vertical pixel pitch of the image display surface of the display device is I, the distance from the image display surface of the display device to the observation position is C,
The distance from the image display surface of the display device to the main plane of the horizontal cylindrical lens array or the toric lens array on the observer side in the vertical direction is t, and the mask pattern or the mask pattern from the main plane of the horizontal cylindrical lens array on the light source means side. When the distance to the light emitting surface is t0, these specifications are I: Pm = C: (C + t + t0) I: Pm = t: t0 I: Pt = C: (C + t) The three-dimensional image display device according to claim 9, wherein 11. When displaying a two-dimensional image in the three-dimensional image display device, a distance from a main plane of the lateral cylindrical lens array or the toric lens array on the light source means side to the mask pattern or the light emitting surface is set. 11. The cylindrical lens forming the lateral cylindrical lens array or the toric lens forming the toric lens array is set to be larger than twice the vertical focal length of the toric lens array. Stereoscopic image display device. 12. The striped image has predetermined right and left stripe pixels obtained by dividing each of the right-eye parallax image and the left-eye parallax image into a large number of vertical stripe pixels. A vertical stripe image in which the images are alternately arranged in order to form one image, and the openings of the mask pattern and the light-shielding portions or the light emitting portions and non-light emitting portions of the light emitting pattern are formed in a vertical stripe shape. The stereoscopic image display device according to claim 3 or 4. 13. When displaying a two-dimensional image in the three-dimensional image display device, the focal length of the vertical cylindrical lens array is f, the mask pattern from the main plane of the vertical cylindrical lens array on the light source means side, or When the distance to the light emitting surface is t0 'and the distance between the viewer-side principal plane of the vertical cylindrical lens array and the display device is t', these specifications are t '/ t0'> f / 13. The relation (t0'-f) is substantially satisfied.
Stereoscopic image display device. 14. The mask pattern from the main plane of the vertical cylindrical lens array on the light source means side when displaying a three-dimensional image in the stereoscopic image display device.
14. The stereoscopic image display device according to claim 2, wherein a distance to the light emitting surface is made substantially equal to a focal length of a cylindrical lens forming the vertical cylindrical lens array.