JPH10282453A - Time division lenticular three-dimensional display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a three-dimensional display device using a lenticular board and capable of displaying directional parallax images more than several times the number of pixels between the width dimensions of respective cylindrical lenses of the lenticular board. SOLUTION: The display device is provided with the lenticular board 333 arraying plural cylindrical lenses 3, a shutter panel 444 having shutters 4 corresponding to respective lenses, 3 of the board 333, collecting adjacent n shutters 4 as one unit shutter part 44 and simultaneously opening/closing n shutters 4 of each unit shutter part 44 repeatedly one by one and a two-dimensional display face 888 for selecting and displaying plural pixel strings from multi- directional parallax images correspondingly to the opening/closing of n shutters 4 of each unit shutter part 44 and the lenticular board 333 and the shutter panel 444 are adjacently arranged in the front of the display face 888.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-view three-dimensional display device using a lenticular plate.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of three-dimensional display device is known as one of typical three-dimensional display devices without using glasses. For example, “Hamazaki:“ Trends in Three-Dimensional Image Display ”, The Institute of Image Electronics Engineers of Japan, 13, pp. 51-56.
(1990) "," R. Borner: "Autost
reoscopic Photography and
Video Projection of Para
llax-Stereopanoramagrams
onto LargeLenticular Screen
ens ”, Japan Display '89, 4-1
(1989).

FIG. 5 is a principle diagram of a two-lens lenticular system showing the principle of this type of three-dimensional display device. The left and right images are arranged in the form of vertical stripes on the focal plane of a lenticular plate on which cylindrical lenses are arrayed, and the pixel rows of the images taken from the a ′ and b ′ directions are respectively displayed in the pixel display rows corresponding to a and b corresponding to each cylindrical lens. Is displayed. By the action of the lenticular plate, the vertical stripe images in each direction enter the left and right eyes separately, and a stereoscopic image can be seen.

Further, in order to enlarge the viewing area of stereoscopic vision in the horizontal direction and obtain a more natural three-dimensional image, a plurality of pixel display rows are arranged corresponding to one cylindrical lens, and vertical stripes in multiple directions are provided. It is known that a parallax image should be displayed.

[0005] Further, when it is desired to widen the viewing area of the stereoscopic view in the horizontal direction without increasing the number of pixel display rows corresponding to the cylindrical lenses, a side lobe can be used.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a side lobe image. The image projected and displayed from the pixel display columns of the right-eye and left-eye images corresponding to the respective cylindrical lenses is a main lobe image, and is emitted and displayed from the pixel display column corresponding to the cylindrical lens adjacent to the cylindrical lens. The image is first
It is a side lobe image. Further, an image emitted from the pixel display row corresponding to the adjacent cylindrical lens and a further adjacent cylindrical lens and displayed is a second side lobe image. Since the order of the parallax images of the main lobe is maintained in the second side lobe and the third side lobe, the lateral lobe can be expanded by the side lobe.

[0006]

However, the conventional method described above has the following problems. Since the width of the cylindrical lens of the lenticular plate is limited to the resolution of the displayed three-dimensional image, it is difficult to arrange a large number of pixel display rows in a narrow width of each cylindrical lens and make it correspond.

[0007] In addition, the viewing area in the horizontal direction can be expanded by using the side lobes. However, since the same image can be seen in the main lobe and the side lobe, a geometrical correspondence between the observation position and the stereoscopic image can be obtained. Absent. Further, when the image is observed at the boundary between the main lobe and the side lobe and between the side lobe and the adjacent side lobe, the left and right images are reversed, and the stereoscopic vision is lost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and does not increase the number of pixel display rows corresponding to each cylindrical lens, but provides a more natural three-dimensional image or a three-dimensional image having a wider viewing area. It is an object of the present invention to provide a high-resolution three-dimensional display device capable of displaying an image.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a lenticular plate on which cylindrical lenses are arranged, and a shutter corresponding to each of the cylindrical lenses of the lenticular plate. The shutter is one unit shutter unit, and n of each unit shutter unit is
A shutter panel for repeatedly opening and closing one shutter at a time, and selecting and displaying a plurality of pixel rows from a multidirectional parallax image corresponding to the opening and closing of n shutters of each unit shutter unit. A dimensional display surface is provided, and the lenticular plate and the shutter panel are installed close to each other in front of the two-dimensional display surface.

[0010]

Since n shutters in each unit shutter section are repeatedly opened and closed one by one, at a certain moment,
The plurality of cylindrical lenses on both sides of the open cylindrical lens are closed. Therefore, the parallax image corresponding to the viewpoint position in the main lobe of the lenticular plate is displayed on the pixel display row corresponding to the open cylindrical lens, and the lenticular plate is displayed on the pixel display row corresponding to the closed cylindrical lens. If the parallax image corresponding to the viewpoint position in the side lobe of the side lobe is displayed, the afterimage phenomenon of the eye causes the observer to observe the viewpoint in the side lobe, the main lobe and the side lobe, and the boundary between the side lobe and the adjacent side lobe. The correct main lobe image corresponding to the position can be seen. This allows the observer to view a natural 3D image or a 3D image having a wider viewing area.

[0011]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 333 denotes a plurality of cylindrical lenses 3.
Are arranged in a plane, and a shutter panel 444 having a shutter 4 corresponding to each of the cylindrical lenses 3 is provided in the vicinity of the rear of the lenticular plate, and a two-dimensional display surface 888 is further provided behind the shutter panel 444.
33 are arranged near the focal point.

The shutter panel 444 includes a unit shutter section 44 in which three adjacent shutters 4A, 4B, and 4C are arranged.
Are connected, and three shutters 4A, 4B, and 4C in each unit shutter section 44 are simultaneously opened and closed one by one simultaneously.

As the shutter panel 444, for example, a liquid crystal panel in which ferroelectric liquid crystal shutters are arranged can be used, and the position of each cylindrical lens 3 of the lenticular plate 333 and the position of the ferroelectric liquid crystal shutter are matched.

The two-dimensional display surface 888 includes pixel display columns '81, 82 ', '83, 84', '8 corresponding to the shutters 4A, 4B, 4C of each unit shutter section 44, respectively.
5, 86 ′, and each pixel display column 81, 82, 83, 84, 8 according to the opening and closing of each shutter in the unit shutter section.
It is assumed that a large number of pixel rows are selected and displayed from the parallax images in the six directions at 5, 86. As the two-dimensional display surface 888, for example, a fluorescent display surface of a flat CRT 6 can be used.
It is assumed that one cylindrical lens corresponds to two pixel display rows 8 on the fluorescent display surface 6.

The multi-directional parallax image displayed on the two-dimensional display surface 888 is emitted to the main lobe or the side lobe of the lenticular plate 333 by the action of the cylindrical lens 3 of the lenticular plate 333. In the figure, 71, 72,
Reference numerals 73, 74, and 75 indicate observation positions of the observer. The observation position 73 is in the main lobe for both eyes, and the observation positions 71 and 7
5 is in the side lobe for both eyes, and observation positions 72 and 74
Shall have one eye in the main lobe and one eye in the side lobe.

The multi-directional parallax images displayed on the two-dimensional display surface 888 correspond to the shutters 4A, 4A,
B and 4C can be directly created, selected and displayed by a computer according to the opening and closing of B and 4C, but real images taken by a plurality of video cameras as shown in the figure can also be used.
Reference numerals 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, and 96 denote video cameras arranged at the distance between the eyes, which are adjusted in focus with respect to the object 2,
It is assumed that the convergence angles formed by the optical axes between the respective video cameras are equal. The video signal selection circuit 5 includes a unit shutter section 44
According to the open / close state of the shutters 4A, 4B and 4C,
Pixel rows of images from the video cameras 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96 are selected and displayed on the two-dimensional display surface 888.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 show a shutter panel 4.
Shutters 4A, 4B, 4
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing how pixel rows of a multidirectional parallax image are selected and displayed when C is sequentially opened and closed one by one at the same time.

When the shutter 4A of each unit shutter section 44 of the shutter panel 444 is opened, the shutter 4
B and 4C are closed. At that time, as shown in FIG.
Shutter 4 opened by video signal selection circuit 5
The pixel columns of the images of the video cameras 93 and 94 are displayed in the pixel display columns 81 and 82 corresponding to A, and the pixel display columns '83 and 8 corresponding to the closed shutters 4B and 4C.
4 ', '85, 86' has a video camera '9
The pixel rows of the images 5, 96 ', '91, 92' are displayed. At this time, through the cylindrical lens 3 corresponding to the shutter 4A to be opened, at the observation position 73 in the main lobe, a stereoscopic image taken by the video camera '93, 94 'pair can be observed, and the observation position in the side lobe can be observed. 7
1 and 75, video cameras '91 and 9 respectively
It is possible to observe a stereoscopic image photographed in pairs of 2 ', '95, 96'. Since a stereoscopic image corresponding to the viewpoint is displayed in each side lobe, a video camera '92, 93 ', '94, 95' pair corresponding to the viewpoint position also exists at the boundary position 72, 74 between the main lobe and the side lobe. Can be observed.

When the shutter 4B in each unit shutter section 44 of the shutter panel 444 is opened, the shutter 4
A and 4C are closed. At that time, as shown in FIG.
Shutter 4 opened by video signal selection circuit 5
The images of the video cameras 93 and 94 are displayed in the pixel display columns 83 and 84 corresponding to B, and the shutter 4 is closed.
A, 4C, pixel display columns '81, 82 ',' 8
5, 86 'are video cameras '91, 92', respectively.
'95, 96 'images are displayed. At this time, through the cylindrical lens 3 corresponding to the shutter 4B to be opened, at the observation position 73 in the main lobe, a stereoscopic image taken by the video camera '93, 94 'pair is observed, and the observation position in the side lobe is observed. At 71 and 75, a stereoscopic image taken by a pair of video cameras '91, 92 ', '95, 96' can be observed. Since a stereoscopic image corresponding to the viewpoint is displayed in each side lobe, video cameras '92, 93 'corresponding to the viewpoint position also at boundary positions 72, 74 between the main lobe and the side lobe.
A stereoscopic image from the '94, 95 'pair can be observed.

The unit shutter section 4 of the shutter panel 444
4 when the shutter 4C is opened.
A and 4B are closed. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the shutter 4C opened by the video signal selection circuit 5
Each of the pixel display columns 85 and 86 corresponding to
Shutter 4 that displays 3, 94 images and is closed
Pixel display columns '81, 82 ',' 8 corresponding to A, 4B
The video cameras '95, 96 ',
The images '91, 92 'are displayed. At this time, through the cylindrical lens 3 corresponding to the shutter 4C to be opened, at the observation position 73 in the main lobe, a stereoscopic image taken by the video camera '93, 94 'pair can be observed, and the observation position in the side lobe can be observed. At 71 and 75, a stereoscopic image taken by a pair of video cameras '91, 92 ', '95, 96' can be observed. Since a stereoscopic image corresponding to the viewpoint is displayed in each side lobe, video cameras '92, 93 'corresponding to the viewpoint position also at boundary positions 72, 74 between the main lobe and the side lobe.
A stereoscopic image from the '94, 95 'pair can be observed.

As described above, if the shutters 4A, 4B, and 4C in each unit shutter section 44 of the shutter panel 444 are sequentially opened and closed one by one, the main lobe and the side lobe in the main lobe and the side lobe are passed through the shutters 4A, 4B, and 4C. At each viewpoint position, an image corresponding to the viewpoint position is displayed in a time-division manner. An observer using each of the above viewpoints can see a three-dimensional image corresponding to the observation position by the afterimage phenomenon of the eyes.
If the shutters 4 in 4 are sequentially opened and closed at high speed, a three-dimensional image without flicker can be obtained.

In this embodiment, a description has been given of a display device in which one cylindrical lens 3 is associated with two pixel rows 8 and one unit shutter section 44 is composed of three shutters 4A, 4B and 4C. The present invention relates to a pixel display row 8 corresponding to the cylindrical lens 3 and a unit shutter section 4.
The number of the shutters 4 in the shutter 4 is not limited. In general, when the number of the corresponding pixel display columns 8 is increased between the widths of the cylindrical lenses 3, the region that can be stereoscopically viewed is enlarged, and the distance between the eyes is increased. By arranging a large number of pixel display rows 8 at finer pitches corresponding to a plurality of viewpoints having narrow intervals, a more natural three-dimensional image can be obtained. When the number of shutters 4 constituting the unit shutter section 44 is increased, a correct main lobe image can be seen in the second side lobe and the third side lobe, and the viewing area can be further expanded.

In this embodiment, the two-dimensional display surface 888 is a flat CRT fluorescent display surface, but a display surface of another display may be used. For example, a high-speed liquid crystal display, a plasma display (PDP), an electroluminescence (EL), a projection display using a projector and a screen, and the like can be used. Also, of course, a two-dimensional display surface 888 capable of color display.
Is used, a three-dimensional color image can be displayed. In the present embodiment, the shape of the two-dimensional display surface 888 is a plane, but may be a curved surface that matches the focal plane of the lenticular plate. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a configuration using a plurality of projectors and a double lenticular screen can be used. Shutter panel 4 in the figure
44 and the lenticular plate 333 in front are installed close to each other,
The plurality of projectors project onto a two-dimensional display surface 888 via a rear lenticular plate. In this case, the number of pixel display columns of the transmissive screen serving as the two-dimensional display surface 888 is twice the number of projectors.

In this embodiment, the multi-directional parallax images displayed on the two-dimensional display surface 4 are selected by the video signal selection circuit 5 from multi-directional images photographed by the video cameras 9 installed at different positions. However, it can also be created by a computer and displayed according to the opening and closing of each shutter 4 of the unit shutter 44. Also, a large number of parallax images from a video camera or a computer can be recorded and stored in an image recording device such as a video player, and can be reproduced according to the opening and closing of each shutter 4 of the unit shutter 44 when observation is desired.

Although the shutter panel of this embodiment uses a ferroelectric liquid crystal shutter, other liquid crystal panels or electric optical shutters can be used. Furthermore, it is also possible to use a mechanical device that vibrates a panel having a plurality of slits in the lateral direction.

[0026]

As described above, according to the structure of the present invention, it is possible to expand the viewing zone for stereoscopic viewing without being limited by the number of pixels between the widths of the cylindrical lenses of the lenticular plate. In a wide range between the main lobe and the side lobe, a stereoscopic image can be observed even if many observers move simultaneously. This has made it possible to realize a three-dimensional display device with high resolution and a wide viewing area. Further, since the observer can observe a three-dimensional image that does not have a sense of incongruity that geometrically corresponds to the viewpoint position,
This can greatly contribute to the practical use and expansion of applications of a three-dimensional display device using a lenticular plate.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of a three-dimensional image display device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a method for selectively displaying a pixel column when a shutter 4A is opened.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a method of selecting and displaying a pixel row when a shutter 4B is opened.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a method for selectively displaying a pixel row when a shutter 4C is opened.

FIG. 5 is a principle diagram of a lenticular system.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side lobe image.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a display row on a double lenticular screen.

[Description of Signs] 2 Object 333 Lenticular plate 3 Cylindrical lens 444 Shutter panel 44 Unit shutter unit 4, 4A, 4B, 4C Shutter 5 Video signal selection circuit 6 Two-dimensional display device 7, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 Observation Position 888 Two-dimensional display surface 8, 81, 82, 83 Pixel display column 84, 85, 86 Pixel display column 9, 91, 92, 93 Video camera 94, 95, 96 Video camera

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A lenticular plate on which cylindrical lenses are arranged, and a shutter corresponding to each cylindrical lens of the lenticular plate, wherein n adjacent shutters constitute one unit shutter portion, and n shutters in each unit shutter portion are provided.
A shutter panel for repeatedly opening and closing one shutter at a time, and selecting and displaying a plurality of pixel columns from a multi-directional parallax image corresponding to opening and closing of n shutters in each unit shutter unit. A three-dimensional time-division lenticular display device, comprising: a three-dimensional display surface, wherein the lenticular plate and the shutter panel are disposed close to each other in front of the two-dimensional display surface.