JP2000172201A - Three-dimensional display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display three-dimensional images having depth without requiring special spectacles. SOLUTION: The three-dimensional display device 51 is constituted to have liquid crystal drive circuits 55a to 55d and liquid crystal display devices 56a to 56d. The liquid crystal display devices 56a to 56d are arrayed in parallel to each other. The liquid crystal display devices 56a to 56d have, for example, 32×32 pixels (display elements). A three-dimensional display drive section 54 drives the three-dimensional display device 51 in accordance with display element drive data. When binary white (transparent) and black data are used, the pixels of the black data are display black in the liquid crystal display devices 56. The region of the black is three-dimensionally displayed by having the depth.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a three-dimensional image,
The present invention relates to a three-dimensional display device that displays with depth.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to display three-dimensional image data while maintaining three-dimensional depth, it is necessary to apply binocular parallax on a two-dimensional display plane (holography or phase difference). Special skills such as wearing glasses and binocular vision were necessary.) That is, the three-dimensional image does not actually appear in the real world, but a plurality of two-dimensional images are assembled in the viewer's brain to generate a three-dimensional sensation. For this reason, the viewer is often burdened and special glasses may be required.

In the conventional method, the viewing direction is restricted in principle, and although a small viewing angle is allowed,
It was fixed in almost one direction. For example, it was not possible to observe a three-dimensional image, such as viewing the aquarium from the front, from the side, from behind, from above, or from below.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and does not place a burden on the viewer, does not require special glasses, and has a three-dimensional image with a large depth. The purpose is to be able to see. In addition, the object is to enable observation from all directions in principle (it may be designed so that observation is not possible from some directions). Of course, the three-dimensional image may be a still image (still image) or a moving image (moving image).

[0005]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, attribute data is stored in a display device for each of attributes of a plurality of three-dimensional space elements filling a predetermined three-dimensional space. Means for performing display at display positions regularly distributed on a plurality of surfaces; means for displaying and driving the display means at a display position corresponding to one or a group of three-dimensional spatial elements based on the attribute data. Are provided. Here, the three-dimensional space element is a unit space or a grid point arranged in a three-dimensional space, and is, for example, a cell having the same shape and the same size such as a unit cube.

In this configuration, data representing the attribute of the three-dimensional image is stored in correspondence with the display position, and display driving is performed at display positions regularly distributed on a plurality of surfaces based on the data. It is possible to easily generate a three-dimensional image having depth and which can be observed from all directions in principle.

[0007] In this configuration, the display means can be realized by a display element arranged at the display position. Further, the display means can be realized by stacking a plurality of liquid crystal display panels. Further, the display means can be realized by stacking electrochromic display plates. Further, the display means is realized by a crystal material, a phosphor doped in the crystal material, and at least one pair of light scanning means for optically scanning the crystal material, wherein light beams of the light scanning means cross each other. The phosphor may be caused to emit light at a position.

The present invention will be described in more detail.

According to the present invention, there is provided a display device which actually has a depth in the real world and performs a unique visual display for each spatial coordinate value. With this display device, a three-dimensional graphics program having three-dimensional data can be displayed as an actual three-dimensional image. Although holography and phase contrast glasses cannot escape virtual reality, according to the present invention, a three-dimensional image (including a moving image) can be displayed with exactly the same reality as the surroundings. Then, there is an advantage that a coordinate sense is very easily obtained.

[0010] Further, in a "three-dimensional graphics editing apparatus" proposed by the present applicant (JP-A-9-288743 and JP-A-9-288744), a set of voxels (three-dimensional spatial elements) is used. By displaying the “three-dimensional bitmap” on a two-dimensional screen, a three-dimensional image can be generated or edited. In the present invention, data of the “three-dimensional bitmap” is used. Perform three-dimensional display and generate and edit three-dimensional images. According to the present invention, the three-dimensional image is displayed as it is in three dimensions, so that the realism is significantly increased and the operation becomes easier as compared with the editing work on the two-dimensional screen. In addition, the present applicant has also proposed a “molding apparatus and method” (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
In the three-dimensional display device of the present invention, it is possible to simulate the object before outputting it. Further, a three-dimensional game device can be realized using the three-dimensional display device of the present invention. This makes it possible to play a game full of realism that is difficult to obtain with the conventional technology. There is also a decorative use as a display design. This display design can be observed from all directions.

In the present invention, the three-dimensional space is regarded as a set of unit solids, and the visual color of each unit solid is made variable and controlled, so that the three-dimensional space as a set of unit solids is visually dynamic. To express. The normal “none” space is defined as a case where each unit solid is visually “transparent”. Specifically, the visual representation of the object is performed by changing the color of the unit solid from “transparent color” to “colored (or colored light) translucent color” or “colored (or colored light) opaque color”. By the way, in the two-dimensional monitor, the two-dimensional visual expression was performed by changing the unit plane from "black" to "color light".

The expression “transparent / opaque” may be replaced by “turning off / lighting” of a light bulb in some cases.

The present invention is characterized in that not only a three-dimensional image having a depth can be displayed, but also a three-dimensional image can be observed from multiple directions or all directions. This point will be described using an example in which a plurality of plate-shaped transparent liquid crystal display devices are used. In FIG. 1, a plurality of (three in the example, for convenience of explanation) liquid crystal display devices 1, 2, and 3 are arranged in parallel at predetermined intervals. In this figure, black opaque areas (black areas) 4 and 5 are displayed on the liquid crystal display devices 1 and 2. The black areas 4 and 5 become one to display one object. Further, a white opaque area (white area) 6 is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 3. Black areas 4, 5,
The area other than the white area 6 is transparent. The viewer A is watching from the front of the figure, and the viewer B is watching from the background. For the viewer A, the black areas 4 and 5 can be seen before the white area 6. For the viewer B, the black area 4,
5, the white area 6 can be seen in the foreground. The viewer A can move and watch from the position of the viewer B. Thus, the three-dimensional image is a real space itself, such as a water tank.

Further, according to the present invention, a three-dimensional image can be dynamically represented. That is, in the case of a normal three-dimensional structure, it does not move unless it has a built-in drive mechanism,
The three-dimensional image of the present invention can dynamically represent a three-dimensional image simply by changing data over time.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a specific configuration of the present invention will be described.

The following are specific examples. Method of stacking liquid crystal plates Method of stacking ECD plates Method of arranging point bulbs equally Method of arranging point balloons Each will be described below.

(1) Method of superimposing liquid crystal plates Overlapping liquid crystal plates that express "transparency / opacity" in individual pixel units by "ON / OFF" of energization by the depth of the hierarchy (the ones that become transparent when energization is ON) And some are opaque, but you can use either). In between,
It is necessary to keep an interval such that they do not affect each other electromagnetically (a shield layer may be provided). Therefore, if the pixel density (resolution) in the xy plane on the liquid crystal panel differs from that in the z-axis (depth) direction, either correct it at the software level or consider the difference from the beginning. Content. In addition, by filling a gap between the liquid crystal plates with a transparent substance having a refractive index different from that of air, visibility can be adjusted (when the liquid crystal is sandwiched between glass substrates, glass may be used).

In the non-display state, all are "transparent", and in the display state, the matrix corresponding to the three-dimensional coordinates to be displayed is "opaque". No light source is provided.

For the color expression, a TFT (thin film transistor) active matrix system, which is widely used in a flat liquid crystal display, may be used. In this case, a transmission light type (a light source is placed on the back surface) and a polarized light are used. You need to sandwich the board on the other side. The same applies to the case where the liquid crystal itself is colored with a dye utilizing the guest-host effect. In the case of a simulation of insects flying around the room, a simulation of fireworks explosion, or a coordinate-type game such as three-dimensional five-by-five, that is no problem, but if you want to display a three-dimensional object on this display device, There is a disadvantage in that light directed toward the viewer from the opposite side is backlit. When color representation is not performed, a three-dimensional object can be displayed in normal light without any problem (displayed in shades of light entering from the front without using a light source on the back). When display is performed with light incident from the front without using a light source on the back, pixels at the depth position become opaque and display is performed.

The transmitted light type can be viewed only from almost one direction (not viewed from the back side). The direct light type can be viewed from behind. The transmitted light type can be used for various purposes and easily, instead of being seen from almost only one direction. For example, even when only a few layers of liquid crystal display panels are simply overlapped, they can be used as a display of a normal personal computer. In this case, the text to be memorized at the time of learning is displayed on the back layer, and a dark color band is displayed on the front layer to block a part of the display on the back layer, and learning is performed while confirming the degree of memorization. There is a use to increase the effect.

In a forward light type display, a viewer cannot see the display from a direction parallel to the liquid crystal plate. However, the present display can be viewed from other various angles (within the range where the viewing angle is limited, if any).

(2) Method of stacking ECD plates ECD (electrochromic display) plates for performing “coloring / transparency” expression in individual cell units by energizing “ON / OFF” are stacked in a depth hierarchy. Unlike liquid crystals, there is no need to consider the electromagnetic effects so much, and it is advantageous that the layers can be adhered to each other to such an extent that the transparency is not lost. In other words, it is easier to construct a three-dimensional stack of individual ECD cells than to stack ECD plates.

In the non-display state, "transparent" is set, and in the display state, the matrix corresponding to the three-dimensional coordinates to be displayed is "colored". No light source is provided.

The color expression is superior to the liquid crystal.
Certain types of ECD also change color depending on the voltage, so that fine color expression is possible. By selectively using colored translucent or cloudy opaque, a three-dimensional object is displayed as a cloudy opaque cell first, and a colored translucent cell is displayed on the outer side of the three-dimensional object. E
Although the expression of CD is more likely to remain than liquid crystal, it can be a disadvantage or an advantage depending on the application.

A viewer may not be able to see the display from a direction parallel to the ECD plate, that is, a direction parallel to the electrode plate. However, the book display can be viewed from various other angles.

(3) Method of Evenly Distributing Point Light Bulbs Point light bulbs as small as possible, such as light emitting diodes, are stacked in a cubic lattice with a gap. The supporting set (and electric circuit) for fixing the individual light bulbs should be as transparent and unobtrusive as possible (small). If the support set is still not visually transparent and you are worried, you can adjust the visibility by filling the gaps between the light bulbs with a transparent substance having a different refractive index from air. If made of glass, it may be glass).

In the non-display state, it is set to "non-lighting", and in the display state, the light bulb corresponding to the three-dimensional coordinates to be displayed is turned on. The disadvantage of this method when displaying a three-dimensional object is that the light bulb in the back can be seen from between adjacent point light bulbs, but it is an advantage when playing a game such as three-dimensional gomoku. (Advantages depending on software). It is not a drawback in simulations that display the coordinates of mosquitoes flying around the room or fireworks in the night sky. Further, it is also possible to devise a method such that the inside of the three-dimensional object to be displayed at the software level is not illuminated (only the surface or only the polygon line is illuminated).

The point light bulb may be capable of performing a limited color display by combining a plurality of light bulbs. If a point light bulb capable of expressing RGB is used, full color display by additive color mixture is also possible. Since there was no demand in the past, there seems to be no RGB light bulb for RGB expression, but the R, G, and B light-emitting diodes were confined in a single light bulb with a frosted glass surface with a scattering effect. By adjusting the light quantity of each diode, a light bulb for RGB expression can be made. If this RGB light bulb is used, a color stereoscopic display is obtained. However, black cannot be displayed positively. There is nothing other than placing the entire display in the dark and making the transparent state black.

Alternatively, instead of using a point light bulb capable of expressing RGB, the R color light emitting diode and the G
A coordinate space in which the color light emitting diodes and the B color light emitting diodes are evenly and finely arranged may be configured. For example, if the R light emitting diode, the G light emitting diode, and the B light emitting diode in the adjacent portions are all illuminated with 100% light, "white" can be expressed by visual mixing in the retina of the viewer. The R and G colors are "yellow" (the print dot is subtractive color mixing in the retina, but is additive color mixing in the case of a display). In this case, the display itself must have a fine structure so that retinal color mixing can occur.

In this method, the viewer can see from any direction. That is, there is no viewing angle restriction. But,
When trying to display a three-dimensional object, the three-dimensional effect is originally obtained by the shadow created by the relationship with the light source,
In this method, such a representation cannot be made because the display object itself is a light source.

(4) Method of arranging point balloons equally A small window that can be opened and closed at equal intervals on a straight pipe (also an electric circuit) that is as transparent as possible and that is all thin and parallel to the z-axis. And cover the windows with a small balloon-like membrane (the position of each window (x, y, z) takes an integer value). The pipes are always supplied with air at high pressure and the opening and closing of individual windows can be controlled electrically. The window is closed in the hidden state, the balloons are shrunk and there is nothing in the space (transparent representation). In the display state,
Open the window corresponding to the three-dimensional coordinates you want to display and inflate the balloon by air pressure. If a hole is made at the base of the balloon, the size of the balloon can be adjusted by the size of opening and closing the window (according to the proportion of air escaping from the hole). When switching from the display state to the non-display state again, close the window and attach a mechanism that allows the air inside the balloon to escape, or shrink the balloon by escaping from the pores (a memory effect is obtained if you do not escape). Is). In this method, the gap between adjacent inflated balloons can be eliminated, so that the balloons at the back can not be seen from between them. Then, in order to avoid unnecessary balloon expansion, it is also possible to devise at the software level so that balloons other than the surface are not expanded.

When only a limited color expression is required, such as in a three-dimensional game, the color expression can be performed by using a large color balloon.

When expressing a three-dimensional object, for example, if the size of the balloon of the primary color becomes smaller as the dot of printing becomes smaller, it becomes possible to mix colors on the retina of the viewer depending on the size of the dot. That is, full color expression is performed by subtractive color mixing of CMYK + W (W is white). Specifically, the windows are further subdivided and windows for five colors are separately provided. The coloring of the three-dimensional object is performed by first expanding the surface of the object with 100% white (to eliminate gaps), and then CM on the surface layer.
The YK balloons may be inflated by an appropriate percentage.

In this method, the viewer can see from any direction. That is, there is no viewing angle restriction. The display is viewed with reflected light, and is very close to the way real objects exist. Further, a technology for combining with the method described in (3) above, in which point light bulbs are evenly arranged, is also conceivable. A light-emitting diode or the like can be placed in a point balloon to use both the light-shielding effect and the light-emitting effect.

[0035]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In this embodiment, three-dimensional data of an object is generated by a normal graphics system (a three-dimensional object is displayed on a two-dimensional monitor), and a three-dimensional display device is used based on the three-dimensional data. Displays objects in three-dimensional coordinates. Of course, three-dimensional data may be input from a predetermined input device while viewing a three-dimensional image having a depth displayed on the three-dimensional display device.

[Example of System] FIG. 2 shows an information processing environment to which the present invention is applied. In this information processing environment, three-dimensional data of an object is generated by the graphics system 10, and the object is three-dimensionally coordinated based on the three-dimensional data using the three-dimensional display device control device 50 and the three-dimensional display device 51. To display. In FIG. 2, the graphics system 10 is realized as a program executed on a computer 11. The computer 11 may be, for example, a normal personal computer. The computer 11 has a display 1
2, a mouse device 13, a keyboard 14, other hardware 15, an operating system 16, a window management system 17, an input / output control system 18, and the like. Of course, the configuration of the computer 11 can be variously changed.

FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional space 100 handled by the graphics system 10. The three-dimensional space is filled with a plurality of regular hexahedral three-dimensional cells 101. In FIG. 3, the number of three-dimensional cells is 32768 (= 32 ×
32 × 32), but according to the resolution of display elements of the three-dimensional display device 51 (interval between display elements), the three-dimensional cell 101
Is preferably set. In this embodiment, optical attributes of the three-dimensional cell 101, for example, lightness, chroma, hue (or RGB signals corresponding thereto) are set. The default attribute is empty or transparent.

In this embodiment, the three-dimensional cell 101
Is designated, as shown in FIG.
2 and depth 103 are used. Since the two-dimensional plane 102 is displayed to the user so as to coincide with or parallel to the display screen of the display 12 on which the graphics are displayed, the user operates a screen pointing device such as a mouse device 13 or a key of a keyboard 14. Two-dimensional plane 1
02 can be designated without discomfort.
The position in the direction along the depth 103 can be designated by moving the keyboard 104 with an upward arrow key or the like.

FIG. 5 shows the correspondence between the three-dimensional space handled by the graphics system 10 and the three-dimensional display space 200 handled by the three-dimensional display device 51. Three-dimensional space 100
The display elements of the three-dimensional display space 200 correspond to the three-dimensional cells. One lump of display elements may correspond to one three-dimensional cell, or one lump of display elements may correspond to one lump of three-dimensional cells. Other various measures are possible. Although the three-dimensional display space 200 is shown as a cube, it may be changed to various forms. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, it may be degenerated in a predetermined direction (indicated by z in the figure). In the example of FIG. 6, one display element corresponds to eight three-dimensional cells arranged in the z-axis direction in the three-dimensional space. FIG.
The curvature may be given in the x-axis direction as shown in FIG.
A curvature may be given to both axes.

As will be described later, the user operates the mouse device 1
Graphics system 1 using the keyboard 3 and the keyboard 14
By interactively operating 0, the attribute of the three-dimensional cell 101 can be changed, thereby rendering three-dimensional graphics.

[Graphics System] FIG. 8 schematically shows the graphics system 10. In this figure, the graphics system 10
1, three-dimensional cell specifying unit 22, three-dimensional cell attribute information storage unit 23, drawing unit 24, image memory 25, output control unit 26,
It comprises an output device 27 and the like. The input unit 21 includes a plane pointing unit 30, a depth pointing unit 31, and an attribute specifying unit 32. Plane pointing unit 3
Reference numeral 0 denotes, for example, a mouse device 13, which is a two-dimensional plane 1 in FIG.
02 is designated. The depth pointing unit 31 is, for example, a predetermined key of the keyboard 14, for example, an upward arrow key, and specifies a position in a direction along the depth 103 in FIG. The attribute specifying unit 32 specifies the attribute of the three-dimensional cell 101 after the change.
More specifically, the attribute is specified based on a menu (palette) or an icon for specifying the attribute on the screen.

The three-dimensional cell attribute information storage unit 23 stores the attribute information of the three-dimensional cell 101 and stores the attribute of the three-dimensional cell 101 specified by the cell specifying unit 22 in the attribute specifying unit 3.
The attribute is changed to the attribute specified in 2. In the initial state, all attribute information is empty or transparent.
The attribute information of the three-dimensional cell may be held in any form. For example, it may be displayed as a one-dimensional array of attribute values, or may be displayed as its run.

The drawing unit 24 draws each three-dimensional cell 101 based on the attribute information in the three-dimensional cell attribute information storage unit 23. The drawing unit 24 includes a three-dimensional drawing unit 35 and a two-dimensional drawing unit 36. The three-dimensional drawing unit 24 calculates and outputs the data of the graphics image of the three-dimensional cell 101 by a predetermined algorithm, for example.
In some cases, drawing may be performed using simplified image data prepared in advance.

The image memory 25 stores drawing data (bitmap data) from the drawing unit 24.
Based on the drawing data, the output control unit 26
7 Output graphic data to a display or a printer, for example.

A case in which graphics are edited using the graphics system 10 will be described. Edit scanning is performed in a pseudo three-dimensional input mode. Here, what is called pseudo is that, unlike a normal perspective view (oblique projection), the corresponding two-dimensional plane 102 in the three-dimensional space looks parallel to the screen, while the projection line for projecting the depth is This is because it is oblique to the screen (projection plane) (oblique projection projection). Although such a view is not accurate as a perspective view, it is possible to sufficiently recognize a three-dimensional position. Further, since the two-dimensional plane 102 is displayed so as to coincide with or be parallel to the display screen of the display 12, the position related to the two-dimensional plane 102 can be input in a user-friendly manner with the mouse device 13 or the like.

When drawing, the user operates while looking at the cursor. The user changes the position of the cursor with respect to the two-dimensional plane 102 by, for example, moving the mouse device 13, and changes the position of the depth by pressing, for example, the up arrow key of the keyboard 14. Both operations can be performed simultaneously. In this way, the cursor is displayed on the screen as if it moves in a three-dimensional space. A three-dimensional cell whose attribute has been updated is displayed on the locus of the cursor.

The 32 pieces arranged in a line at the lower left of FIG. 4 indicate the depth position. In the example shown,
The display of “27” indicates that the 27th depth (27th slice) is designated. The frame before the display of "27" is displayed in a transparent or translucent manner. The depth to which the tool is currently pointing is displayed to the user with such a display. The depth (slice) to be processed at present can be designated by performing a click process (pressing and immediately releasing the button of the mouse device 13) on this piece. After doing so, when the cursor is moved to the inside of the corresponding slice area, the cursor is changed to a drawing tool, for example, a pencil tool cursor, and drawing can be performed with the attribute at the time of setting. Whether or not to perform drawing with the set attribute can be switched by operating a button or the like of the mouse device 13.

[Three-dimensional display device] FIG. 9 shows a configuration of a three-dimensional display device control system 50 and a three-dimensional display device 51. In this figure, the three-dimensional display control system 50 includes a data conversion unit 52, A display element drive data storage unit 53 and a user interface 54 are included. The data converter 52 converts attribute data of a three-dimensional cell into display element drive data based on the correspondence between the three-dimensional space and the three-dimensional display element space. The display element drive data storage unit 53 stores the display element drive data obtained by the conversion. User interface 54
Is used to change the display mode and the like.

The three-dimensional display device 51 is, for example, one in which four liquid crystal display devices are arranged at intervals, and the liquid crystal driving circuits 55a to 55d and the liquid crystal display devices 56a to 56d
Is configured. Liquid crystal display devices 56a to 56d
Are arranged, for example, as shown in FIG. The liquid crystal display devices 56a to 56d have, for example, 32 × 32 pixels (display elements). In this example, as described above, each pixel of the liquid crystal display devices 56a to 56d corresponds to eight three-dimensional cells arranged in the z-axis direction of the three-dimensional space. The intervals between the liquid crystal display devices 56a to 56d can be various values. When this interval is reduced, a three-dimensional display space as shown in FIG. 5 is obtained. When the liquid crystal display devices 56a to 56d are bent and deformed, a three-dimensional display space as shown in FIG. 7 is obtained. The liquid crystal display device 56 is made of a transparent material (glass) having a refractive index equivalent to that of the sandwich glass plate of the liquid crystal display devices 56a to 56d.
The space between a to 56d may be filled.

The three-dimensional display driving section 54 drives the three-dimensional display device 51 based on the display element driving data.

In this example, the data conversion unit 52 of the display system 50 converts eight pieces of three-dimensional cell attribute data into one piece of display element drive data. For example, an average value of eight data can be used. The conversion may be performed in consideration of a dynamic change. Of course, the display drive data may be generated according to the surrounding attributes by referring to not only the eight three-dimensional cells but also the attribute data of the three-dimensional cells in the vicinity.

The display drive data can be various. For example, it may be binary (1, 0) single-color data, gray-scale (multi-tone) single-color data, or binary binary (eg, R, G, B) data. It can also be multi-tone, multi-color data.

For example, when two values of “transparent” and “black” are used, the pixels of the black data are displayed in black on the liquid crystal display device 56. This black area is displayed with a depth (three-dimensionally), that is, the liquid crystal display device 56 in the foreground.
The black area a is displayed in the foreground, and the liquid crystal display 56
The black region of d is displayed at the farthest position, and the black portions of the intermediate liquid crystal display devices 56b and 56c are displayed at the corresponding depth positions. By doing so, it is displayed as if the black area was arranged in the actual space. As described above, a transparent and black three-dimensional image is displayed. In this example,
In particular, since no light-shielding screen (for example, a white screen) is provided on the depth side, the background can be seen through in the transparent data area. If a light-shielding screen is provided, a transparent data portion becomes the color of the light-shielding screen. When a white screen is used, a portion corresponding to the black data is raised with white as a background.

FIG. 11 shows a state where each pixel position (16, 16) of the liquid crystal display devices 56a to 56d becomes a black area and floats three-dimensionally.

As shown in FIG. 12, a liquid crystal display device 56 having four 32 × 32 display cells parallel to the xy plane,
A liquid crystal display device 57 of 3 × 4 32 × 8 display cells parallel to the yz plane and a 3 × 4 × 4 8 × 8 liquid crystal parallel to the xz plane
The display cell liquid crystal display device 58 and the three-dimensional display device 51
May be configured. In this case, the display from any direction can be made the same.

Various devices can be used as the three-dimensional display device 51. When the ECD plate or the LED plate is overlaid, the same method as described above may be used.

As shown in FIG. 13, a plurality of electric wires 61 are loaded between upper and lower support members (shown by broken lines) 59, 60 to form a plurality of electric bulbs 62 (only some electric bulbs are shown). And the display device 51 may be configured.

As shown in FIG. 14, a crystal (for example, CaF ₂ ) 63 is made to contain a fluorescent center (Er ³⁺ ).
Two wavelengths that induce fluorescence (1.53 μm, 0.83 μm
The scanners 64 and 65 that emit the light beam of m) may scan the xz plane and the yz plane to emit light three-dimensionally at the position where both light beams intersect (the energy level of the fluorescent center is 2). Step, and then return to ground level, emitting light). A fluorine compound crystal material can be used as the crystal, and a rare earth metal ion can be used as the fluorescent center. Of course, other materials may be used. In addition, one scanner emits slit-shaped light to irradiate the crystal body 63 in a tomographic manner, and moves the irradiated tomographic plane perpendicular to the plane, and the other scanner moves this tomographic plane in-plane. May be scanned. It is preferable to use the afterimage of the phosphor so that the optical scanning is not bothersome in viewing.

[Three-Dimensional Game Apparatus] Next, an example of configuring a three-dimensional game apparatus using the three-dimensional display device of the embodiment will be described.

In games called board games, such as renju (gomoku), go, reversi (othello), shogi, chess, and haruma (diamond game), the game is played by placing or moving pieces on two-dimensional coordinates.
If you can place the pieces freely on three-dimensional coordinates, you will be able to make much more complicated and interesting games. It is also possible to create a new kind of game that assumes three-dimensional coordinates from the beginning.
By using the three-dimensional display device of the above-described embodiment, a three-dimensional coordinate system for a game, which was conventionally only possible in a limited manner, can be generated using a computer.

More specifically, the graphics editing apparatus for three-dimensional graphics is used not for graphic representation but for coordinate system and frame representation. In the following example, a frame is displayed using the three-dimensional display device described above, and a realistic display is performed.

(1) Outline of Three-Dimensional Game Apparatus In a three-dimensional game apparatus, a three-dimensional space is regarded as a set of individual rooms in which pieces can be placed, and it is visually recognized that pieces are put in and out of each room. Expressive.

(2) Practical Apparatus When applying a graphics editing apparatus for three-dimensional graphics to a three-dimensional game apparatus, the following points should be noted.

The adjacent unit grids (three-dimensional cells) do not need to be in continuous contact on the display screen. In some games, it is more convenient to look deep into the gap. -The size (xxyxz) of the coordinate system itself is often small. Instead, it is necessary to devise ways to clearly see individual unit grids. -Unit grids without frames are displayed as transparent, but it may be better to display the boundaries (frames of the room) depending on the game. In some cases, such as a go board, it is better to display each ruled line in the center of the unit grid (or it may be considered that the frame is placed at the intersection of the ruled lines instead of in the room).・ For more accurate three-dimensional understanding, such as being able to erase all opponent's frames and your own frames during your own time in the game and display it from any direction and distance, etc. You may devise it. -Features unique to computer use may be added. For example, you may be able to play on a network,
You may be able to play against a computer. Games utilizing the random function are also possible. -In combination with the three-dimensional display device, a portable game specialized for each game may be provided. -When writing a program specialized for each game, not only the program necessary for the progress of the game, but also, for example, in three-dimensional gomoku, a beep sounds at the moment a quadruple is created, and that quadruple is another You may make some efforts such as lighting. In the three-dimensional Othello, all the frames of the opponent sandwiched at the moment of placing may be inverted, and each time the number of frames of each other may be displayed in a specific window.

(3) Specific Examples Hereinafter, as specific examples, three-dimensional quincunx, three-dimensional reversi (Othello), three-dimensional haruma (diamond game), three-dimensional chess (shogi), and three-dimensional bomb dropping game will be described.

(A) Three-dimensional renju (device) A three-dimensional coordinate tank having a length and width of 15 × 15 × 15,
Black frame, white frame. (Purpose of the game) Vertical, horizontal, depth, diagonal 10 directions, total 1
You win if you complete a pentagram (gomoku) in one of three directions ahead of your opponent. (Play) Starts alternate. First move is black. The game is started with a black piece placed at the heaven (center of the solid coordinate tank). It is also possible to place restrictions on the first move, such as only the winning form "43". (Features) An accurate three-dimensional version of the two-dimensional "renju". In this case, if the experienced players play each other, they end up in a battle on one plane assumed in the solid coordinate tank, and the purpose of fighting in three dimensions is negligible.

(B) Three-dimensional five-eye cross arrangement (Apparatus) A solid coordinate tank having a vertical and horizontal depth of 9 × 9 × 9, a black frame and a white frame. (Purpose of the game) The player wins when the fifth cross is completed before the opponent on any one of the three directions parallel to the xy plane, the yz plane, and the zx plane. FIG. 15 (left cross) shows a state in which a fifth-eye cross is formed on a plane parallel to the xy plane. The case of the yz plane and the zx plane is the same as in FIG.
In this example, the diagonal cross (right side in FIG. 15) is not a winning shape, but it may be determined as a winning depending on rules (the same applies to the yz plane and the zx plane). (Play) Starts alternate. First move is black. The game is started with a black piece placed at the heaven (center of the solid coordinate tank). (Feature) Unlike 3D Renju, you can enjoy games unique to 3D. "Three-three-three" and "three-three" do not win,
“Fourth four” is the winning form (FIG. 16).

3D Reversi (Othello) (Apparatus) A solid coordinate tank having a vertical and horizontal depth of 6.times.6.times.6, and 216 black and white reversible frames. (Initial layout) Fig. 17
It becomes as shown in. In FIG. 17, white circles and black circles represent frames, and white squares represent vacant coordinates. (Purpose of the game) At the end of the play, the one with more own frames in the solid coordinate tank wins. (Play) The first player is black. The piece must be placed in a position that sandwiches the opponent's piece. Invert the frame of the sandwiched opponent and make it your own color. Total length, width, depth, diagonal 13
You can flip any number of frames in the direction. Starts alternate. The opponent's frames are reversed with each other, and the opponent's frame is completely annihilated, or when both frames fill the entire solid coordinate tank and there are no more frames to be reversed, the play ends.
If the opponent's frame cannot be reversed, their turn is a pass. (Feature) Two-dimensional "reversi (Othello)" is reduced to a three-dimensional coordinate system.

3D Haruma (Diamond Game) (a) Cube Haruma (Apparatus) A solid coordinate tank having a length and width of 8 × 8 × 8. There are 10 pieces each for 4 players and 20 pieces for 2 players. (Purpose of the game) Put all the pieces of your base in the opposite base. (Position) Figure 4 shows the position when four people are involved.
8 ● ○○ 、 ◆ ○ ◇ 、 ▼ ○ ▽ 、 ▲▲ ○ △ In the case of two persons, the pieces are placed at the position of ● and the position of ○, respectively, and put in the position of each other. Enlarge the base further. In FIG. 18, white squares indicate vacant coordinates. (Play) Start one by one in order. At your turn, you can move only one of your frames. The top can be moved by one square in all 26 directions where faces, sides or points are adjacent. Only the empty squares can move the top. You can't put two in the already placed squares. Once in the opposite position, you cannot leave it. (Jump rule) A frame can jump another frame. You can jump when another frame (either your frame or your opponent's frame) is in the next square and the other side of that square is vacant. Continuous jumps are also possible. Jumping is not compulsory.
You can also stop on the way. Jump directions are all possible. (Features) If you are not used to it, it is difficult to play in all 26 directions.

(B) Cube Diamond Game (Concept) This is a simplified version of the device of the previous proposal "Cube Haruma", which prohibits diagonal movements and jumps. A piece can only move in six directions adjacent to each other, and can only jump in six directions. (Originally, the diamond game was a simplification of Haruma.)

Three-dimensional chess (shogi) (a) Conventional three-dimensional chess (concept) At the end of the nineteenth century, Ferdinand Mac devised a three-dimensional chess using an 8 × 8 × 8 (512 square cells) space. ing. Although the game was played by using three 8 × 8 boards, the game can be performed without such a device by using the present apparatus. Also, a three-dimensional chess called "Total Chess" devised by Charles Beatty in 1946 can be easily used by using this apparatus.

(B) Three-dimensional scissors shogi (Apparatus) A three-dimensional coordinate tank having a depth of 7 × 7 × 7. There are 49 pieces for yourself and your opponent. (Initial layout) Arrange your 49 pieces on one square surface of a cubic three-dimensional coordinate tank, and place 49
Arrange the pieces. (Purpose of the game) The one who finishes the opponent's frame earlier wins. (Play) Starts alternate. The top can be moved like a rook only in the six directions up, down, left, and right. Hold the opponent's frame from front to back, left, right or back. If you move to a position sandwiched by your opponent, you will not be taken.

3D bomb release game (Apparatus) A solid coordinate tank having a width and depth of 32 × 32 and an indefinite height (about 30). Black clay piece, white clay piece, red clay piece,
(Other colored earth pieces), bomb pieces. (Initial layout) A state is generated in which the five layers from the bottom are randomly filled with black clay pieces, white clay pieces, red clay pieces, and (other color soil pieces) for each game. When two people compete, the number of black clay pieces and white clay pieces should be the same, and the amount of red clay pieces can be changed by parameters. When three or more players play, the number of clay pieces of each color must be the same. (Purpose of the game) The one who removes all the clay pieces of his own color from the solid coordinate tank quickly wins. (Play) Start one by one in order. There are two things a player can do, one is dropping bomb pieces from above,
The other is to drop your own colored “earth block” (a block made up of 12 frames) from above. If you do one of the following: dropping a clay block or dropping a bomb piece, you can count as one move. When you drop a bomb piece, the soil piece at the top directly below it and the same color soil piece that is in contact with and faces the face disappear in succession. Underground pieces disappear,
If the top frame remains and disappears, the top frame will fall immediately below by gravity. It is good for the game purpose to drop the bomb piece on the soil piece of your own color, but it can be dropped on the opponent's soil color for strategic purposes, or two people play black versus white In some cases, they may be dropped to remove the obstructive red soil (ie, there is no restriction on the drop location). The number of frames blown up by bomb pieces at once is 1
If the number is less than 0, you can take one break due to poor grades. Conversely, if you have more than 40, you can start again with excellent grades. Because of these penalties or bonuses, before you blast, you will need to convert your colored soil
May be connected by dropping them. For example, different types of blocks as shown in FIG. 19 are prepared as soil blocks. By selecting the shape of the lump, you can combine your soil pieces into one piece and eliminate more soil pieces with one bomb piece. The lump at the right end has two layers vertically, and is used to connect two groups of earthen lump with steps up and down into one unit. The “earth mass” may be used to obscure another player's earth mass. For example,
Another strategy is to wait until another player has blown up your sesame seeds (you can blow them up and win). A limit on the holding time before the start may be provided.
“Soil pieces” are prepared in a predetermined shape (hereinafter various soil pieces). In addition, when dropping a "earth mass" on an undulating land, the mass loses its shape according to gravity and rides on the terrain for each frame.

The technical features of the three-dimensional game device described above will be summarized. According to this technical feature, the three-dimensional game device is provided with means for storing data representing a frame attribute (including an empty frame attribute) at each of the coordinate positions in the predetermined three-dimensional space; A means for designating a position, a means for designating a frame attribute, a means for changing a frame attribute at the designated coordinate position to the designated frame attribute, and a corresponding frame based on data representing the frame attribute. Means for displaying an image.

By using such a three-dimensional game device, a three-dimensional game can be easily played. As a means for displaying a frame image, a graphics editing device or a three-dimensional display device may be used.

[0076]

As described above, according to the present invention, a display device having an actual depth is provided.
3D images (including videos) with the same sense of reality as the surroundings
Can be displayed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle properties of a three-dimensional display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention as a whole;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a three-dimensional graphics space used in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an editing operation in the graphics system used in the above-described embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a graphics three-dimensional space and a three-dimensional display space in the above embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the three-dimensional display space.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of the three-dimensional display space.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a graphics system used in the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a three-dimensional display device and a three-dimensional display control system of the above embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the three-dimensional display device.

11 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the three-dimensional display device in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating another configuration example of the three-dimensional display device.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating still another configuration example of the three-dimensional display device.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating another configuration example of the three-dimensional display device.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a three-dimensional game (three-dimensional five-by-five arrangement).

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a three-dimensional game (three-dimensional five-by-five arrangement).

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a three-dimensional game (Othello).

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a three-dimensional game (cubic haruma).

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a three-dimensional game (three-dimensional bomb dropping game).

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 graphics system 23 three-dimensional cell attribute information storage part 50 three-dimensional display control system 51 three-dimensional display device 52 data conversion part 53 display element drive data storage part 54 user interface 55a to 55d liquid crystal drive circuit 56a to 56d liquid crystal display device

Claims (11)

[Claims] A means for storing attribute data for each of a plurality of three-dimensional space elements that fill a predetermined three-dimensional space; a display means for performing display at a plurality of three-dimensionally distributed display positions; Means for displaying and driving the display means at a display position corresponding to one or a group of three-dimensional spatial elements based on the attribute data. 2. The three-dimensional display device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of display positions are regularly arranged on a plurality of parallel surfaces. 3. The three-dimensional display device according to claim 1, wherein said display means includes a display element arranged at said display position. 4. The three-dimensional display device according to claim 1, wherein said display means is configured by laminating a plurality of liquid crystal display panels. 5. The three-dimensional display device according to claim 1, wherein said display means is formed by laminating electrochromic display plates. 6. The three-dimensional display device according to claim 1, wherein said display means is formed by stacking light emitting diode display plates. 7. The display means includes a crystal material, a phosphor doped in the crystal material, and at least one pair of light scanning means for optically scanning the crystal material. The three-dimensional display device according to claim 1, wherein the phosphor emits light at a position where the light beams intersect. 8. A display device formed by laminating a plurality of liquid crystal display panels. 9. A display device comprising a plurality of electroluminescent display plates laminated. 10. A display device in which a plurality of light emitting diode display panels are stacked. 11. A display device comprising a display element for displaying a two-dimensional image arranged in parallel with a plane of the two-dimensional image.