JP2002228976A - Stereoscopic image display device and stereoscopic image display method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a stereoscopic image display device which makes stereoscopic display by utilizing the parallaxes between both eyes or supermultiple eyes and makes stereoscopic images well observable without fatigue and a stereoscopic image display method. SOLUTION: This stereoscopic image display device enables an observer to observe the stereoscopic images by making plural rays incident on the observer's pupils and focusing the adjustment of the observers eyes to the position where the rays intersect with each other. The display device described above has an optical system with which the depth of field in an observation vertical direction when observing the stereoscopic images is deeper than the depth of field in an observation horizontal direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a three-dimensional image display device and a three-dimensional image display method, and more particularly, to reducing a burden on an observer's eyes when observing a three-dimensional image, and making it possible to perform natural observation without fatigue. And a stereoscopic image display method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various methods have been tried as a method of reproducing a three-dimensional image (three-dimensional object, three-dimensional object).

[0003] Among these methods, a method of causing a viewer to perform stereoscopic vision using binocular parallax (for example, a polarized glasses method or a lenticular method) is widely used.

However, in these methods, since inconsistency occurs between stereoscopic recognition by the accommodation function of the eyes and stereoscopic recognition by binocular parallax, the observer often feels tired and uncomfortable. Therefore, some methods of three-dimensional image reproduction satisfying other three-dimensional recognition functions of the eye without relying only on binocular parallax have been attempted.

Proceedings of "3D Image Conference 2000" pp95-98 "3D Image Reproduction by Ray Reproduction Method"
Discloses a new stereoscopic display method for expressing a 3D image (stereoscopic image) using intersections of light rays.

In this method, as shown in FIG. 33, light beam generating means (Light beam production) 281 and light beam deflecting means
(Light beam deflection) 282, light emission point sequence (Emissi
A three-dimensional image is expressed by forming intersections of light rays using three means of on point array (283). Ray generating means 2
Numeral 81 denotes a parallel light beam having a small diameter,
Numeral 82 allows the parallel light beams to cross each other at an arbitrary position in the three-dimensional space to form a ray intersection. All the points where the light beam is deflected are arranged at a high density as a light beam emission point sequence 283.

According to the above document, if two or more rays forming the intersection point are simultaneously incident on the pupil 285 of the observer 284, the focus adjustment of the observer's eyes is guided to the vicinity of the stereoscopic image, and the stereoscopic vision is obtained. It is said that the fatigue and discomfort of the observer when doing it are reduced.

[0008]

In the conventional method of allowing a viewer to recognize a stereoscopic image using only the binocular parallax, a method is known in which the depth recognition by adjusting the observer's eyes and the depth recognition by binocular parallax. Observers often experience fatigue and discomfort due to inconsistencies.

Further, the following problem exists in the stereoscopic image display method shown in FIG.

The most characteristic feature of the three-dimensional display method for expressing a three-dimensional image at the ray intersection is that the focus adjustment of the observer's eyes is guided to the ray intersection position, thereby reducing the fatigue and discomfort of the observer. To generate a ray intersection, it is necessary to generate a large number of rays at extremely small intervals. In this case, since the total amount of information for light beam generation control is inevitably increased, only light beam deflection in the horizontal direction that has a large effect on stereoscopic perception is performed, and light beam deflection in the vertical direction is not performed (for example, in a certain plane, the light beam is deflected in the vertical direction) A method of reducing the amount of information (for example, by diffusing light only in the direction) is often adopted. In the above conventional example, the information amount is actually reduced by this method. However, such an approach leaves the accommodation of the observer's eyes unbalanced. In other words, even if the horizontal focus adjustment of the observer's eye is guided to the ray intersection position, the vertical focus adjustment remains at another position, so that the observer can observe the image where astigmatism has occurred. Will continue to do so. This diminishes the regulation-inducing effect.

According to the present invention, when observing a stereoscopic image using binocular parallax or observing a stereoscopic image using super-multi-view stereoscopic display, the observer can observe the stereoscopic image well without fatigue. It is an object of the present invention to provide a stereoscopic image display device and a stereoscopic image display method that can perform the method.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a three-dimensional image display apparatus in which a plurality of light beams are made incident on an observer's pupil, and the eye of the observer is adjusted at the intersection of the light beams. In a stereoscopic image display device that observes a stereoscopic image by scorching,
It is characterized by having an optical system in which the depth of field in the observation vertical direction when observing the stereoscopic image is deeper than the depth of field in the observation horizontal direction.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a three-dimensional image display device in which a plurality of light beams are made incident on an observer's pupil, and adjustment of the observer's eyes is focused on the intersection of the light beams to form a three-dimensional image. In the stereoscopic image display device to observe, characterized in that it has an optical system such that the depth of field in the observation vertical direction when observing the stereoscopic image is deeper than the depth range of the reproduced stereoscopic image. I have.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a three-dimensional image display device in which a plurality of light beams are made incident on an observer's pupil, and adjustment of an eye of the observer is focused on an intersection of the light beams to form a three-dimensional image. In the stereoscopic image display device to be observed, there is no vertical parallax of the reproduced stereoscopic image, and the observation depth of field when observing the stereoscopic image is greater than the depth range of the reproduced stereoscopic image. It is characterized by having an optical system that becomes deeper.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first, second or third aspect of the present invention, the exit pupil of the optical system is arranged near the pupil of the observer, and the vertical length of the exit pupil is determined by the pupil of the observer. It is characterized in that it is 1/4 or less and 1/20 or more of the diameter.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first, second or third aspect of the present invention, the exit pupil of the optical system is disposed near the pupil of the observer, and the length of the exit pupil in the vertical direction is 1 mm or less.
It is characterized by being at least 10 mm.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first, second or third aspect of the present invention, the optical system has an opening means for limiting a vertical length of light incident on the pupil of the observer. .

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the first, second or third aspect, the optical system forms an exit pupil.
It is characterized in that the image information is formed in the air to be observed by an observer.

An eighth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first, second or third aspect of the present invention, the optical system has spectacles including an opening for limiting a vertical length of light incident on a pupil of the observer. I have.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a three-dimensional image display device in which a plurality of light beams are made incident on an observer's pupil, and adjustment of the observer's eyes is focused on the intersection of the light beams to form a three-dimensional image. In the stereoscopic image display device to be observed, there is no vertical parallax of the reproduced stereoscopic image, and the depth range of the reproduced stereoscopic image is within the range of the depth of field of the observer's eyes in the vertical direction. It is characterized by having.

A three-dimensional image display system according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the three-dimensional image display device according to any one of the first to ninth aspects is applied to a head mounted type or an eyeglass type.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a three-dimensional image display device,
BACKGROUND ART A stereoscopic image display device that allows a viewer to recognize a stereoscopic image using binocular parallax includes an optical system in which the depth of field of the viewer's eyes is deeper than the depth range of a reproduced stereoscopic image. It is characterized by:

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the eleventh aspect, the exit pupil of the optical system is disposed near the pupil of the observer, and the diameter of the exit pupil is 1/4 or less of the pupil diameter of the observer. 2
It is characterized by being 0 or more.

According to a thirteenth aspect, in the eleventh aspect, the exit pupil of the optical system is arranged near a pupil of an observer, and the diameter of the exit pupil is not more than 1 mm and not more than 1/20 mm. I have.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the eleventh aspect, the optical system has an opening means for limiting a diameter of a light beam incident on a pupil of the observer.

According to a fifteenth aspect, in the eleventh aspect, the optical system includes spectacles including an opening for limiting a diameter of a light beam incident on a pupil of the observer.

A three-dimensional image display device according to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention is:
In a three-dimensional image display device in which a plurality of light beams are made incident on an observer's pupil and the eyes of the observer are focused on the intersections of the light beams to observe a three-dimensional image, the depth of a three-dimensional image reproduced The range is within the range of the depth of field of the observer's eye.

A three-dimensional image display system according to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the three-dimensional image display device according to any one of the eleventh to sixteenth aspects is applied to a head mounted type or an eyeglass type.

The three-dimensional image display method according to claim 18 is
A stereoscopic image is observed using the stereoscopic image display device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 or 11 to 16.

[0030] The stereoscopic image display glasses according to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention are stereoscopic image display glasses used for observing a stereoscopic image using monocular parallax or binocular parallax. It is characterized in that the depth of field includes optical means that is deeper than the depth range of the reproduced stereoscopic image.

[0031]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, a technical field to which a stereoscopic image display device (stereoscopic display device) of the present invention is applicable will be described.

The three-dimensional image display device of the present invention is applicable to a three-dimensional display device of a type in which the depth of a three-dimensional image is represented by the intersection of a plurality of light rays incident on a single eye (pupil) of the observer. First, the principle of stereoscopic vision for this type of stereoscopic display device will be described.

Many conventional three-dimensional display devices express a three-dimensional image using binocular parallax. This is because when a human observes a three-dimensional object with both eyes, there is a parallax between the retinal image of the right eye and the retinal image of the left eye. The principle is that stereoscopic recognition becomes possible if two images having the following are independently presented to the left and right eyes.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the principle of the three-dimensional recognition. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the depth of a point 1 on a solid (object) 2 is recognized using binocular parallax. Reference numeral 3 denotes an image display surface, on which a solid 2 is displayed. When the point 1R is displayed on the image display surface 3 and is presented only to the right eye ER, and the point 1L is displayed on the image display surface 3 and is presented only to the left eye EL, the convergence of the eye becomes point 1 And the human visual recognition system uses a straight line connecting the point 1R and the right eye ER, and a point 1L and the left eye EL
Can be three-dimensionally recognized at the intersection of the straight lines connecting.

However, at this time, the adjustment of the lens of the eye is point 1
However, there is a divergence between accommodation and convergence of the eye. It is said that if this deviation is large, an unreasonable load is imposed on the visual recognition system, which may cause fatigue and discomfort.

On the other hand, there has appeared a stereoscopic display device of the type which forms a stereoscopic image at the intersection of a plurality of light rays incident on a single eye as shown in the conventional example.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the principle of the three-dimensional recognition.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the depth of the point 1 on the solid 2 is recognized by using the intersection of the light rays in the same manner as described above. Reference numeral 3 'does not need to be an image display surface, and can be considered as a light beam focal plane where light beams representing a three-dimensional object are the thinnest. (Because the diameter of the light beam is the smallest at the light beam focal plane, and the light seems to diverge therefrom, the light beam cross section at the focal position is referred to herein as a "light source.") In order to guide the observer's adjustment to the position, as shown in the figure, it is necessary for a plurality of light rays to independently enter the different positions of the crystalline lens of the eye at different angles with directivity.

In FIG. 2, the rays incident on the positions 4L, 4R of the crystalline lens 4 of the eye are separated from each other and intersect at the point 1. Under such circumstances, the human visual recognition system recognizes the intersection 1 of the light beam as the divergence point of the light beam, adjusts the crystalline lens so that the eye is in focus on the point 1, and sets the image point 1 on the fundus 5a.
E can be formed. Therefore, in a stereoscopic display device of this type, unlike a conventional binocular parallax stereoscopic display device, adjustment of the observer's eyes can be guided to the vicinity of a stereoscopic image.

However, since this method requires an enormous amount of information for generating light rays, a method of discarding the vertical parallax in order to reduce the amount of information is often used. In this case, the focusing of the observer's eye is placed under an unbalanced state including astigmatism.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are a plan view and a side view, respectively, showing a state in which stereoscopic display is performed in which the parallax in the vertical direction is discarded in the above-described stereoscopic image display method.

FIG. 3 shows that after the horizontal components of the three light beams having different directivities intersect at the point 1 on the surface PH, they all enter the monocular (pupil) 4. On the other hand, FIG. 4 shows that the vertical component of the light beam is diffused by the diffusion optical element 6 in the vertical direction on the surface PV and is incident on the monocular 4.

That is, since the horizontal image forming surface of the three-dimensional image 1 is the surface PH and the vertical image forming surface is the surface PV, astigmatism occurs, and the adjustment mechanism of the observer's eye is unbalanced. There is a possibility that the state of the eye becomes difficult to adjust to the three-dimensional image 1.

The present invention has solved these problems.
Next, features of the present invention will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the vertical component of the light beam spreads over the entire pupil 4 of the observer and enters, the depth of field in the vertical direction of the eye becomes shallow, so that the blur of the image formed on the fundus 5a cannot be adjusted. It becomes minimum when the surface PV is matched, and becomes blurred at other positions. Therefore, when attention is paid only to the vertical component of light, the accommodation of the eye is easily matched to the surface PV.

However, as shown in FIG. 5, when the vertical component of the light beam enters through only a small area of the pupil 4 of the observer, the depth of field in the vertical direction of the eye becomes deep and depends on the accommodation position of the eye. Without this, the blur of the fundus image becomes smaller. That is, the eye can be easily adjusted at any depth position, not limited to the surface PV.

In such a state, if the horizontal component of the light beam forming the intersection as shown in FIG. 3 is incident on the observer's eye, the focal point of the observer's eye is significantly larger than in the unbalanced state described above. The adjustment is easier to match the ray intersection.

Therefore, the present invention provides a stereoscopic display device that expresses the depth of a stereoscopic image at the intersection of a plurality of light rays incident on a single eye, by providing a structure that increases the depth of field in the vertical direction of the eye. To reduce the burden on the eyes.

As described above, the depth of field in the vertical direction of the eye can be increased by reducing the incident range of the vertical component of the light beam entering the pupil. The required depth of field depends on the depth range of the stereoscopic image to be reproduced. For example, if it is known that the depth range of the stereoscopic image is in the range of 500 mm to 1 m from the position of the observer, the apparatus is configured such that the depth of field in the vertical direction of the eye is set to include the above range. I do.

Conversely, the depth range of the stereoscopic image to be reproduced can be limited by the vertical depth of field of the eye determined by the device configuration. For example, if it is known that the depth of field of the eye in the vertical direction is in the range of 500 mm to 1 m from the observer position, the depth range of the reproduced stereoscopic image is limited to the above range. Specifically, when the position at which the intersection of light rays is formed exceeds the above range, the depth of the stereoscopic image in the depth direction is compressed and reproduced.
Work such as compressing and reproducing so that only points outside the range fall within the range can reduce the burden on the eyes of the observer.

(Embodiment 1) In Japanese Patent Application No. 11-253340, a stereoscopic display device that expresses the depth of a stereoscopic image by the intersection of a plurality of light beams incident on a single eye using a head mounted display device (HMD) is constructed. are doing.

FIG. 6 is a basic conceptual diagram of a three-dimensional image display device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 11-253340 (prior application 1).

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 102 denotes an optical system having an image information generating means 105 and an exit pupil control means 106. Reference numeral 101 denotes image information generated and displayed by the image information generating means 105, and is formed as a virtual image in this case. An exit pupil 103 of the optical system 102 is designed so that the exit pupil 103 coincides with the pupil position of the eye 104 of the observer. Therefore, the observer's eye 104 passes the image information 101 through the exit pupil 103.
Can be observed as a whole. In this prior application, the exit pupil 103 is divided into a plurality of regions, and through which region the image information 101 is presented to the observer's eye 104 is switched at high speed by the exit pupil control means 106.
At this time, the image information 101 to be displayed in accordance with the division control of the exit pupil 103 is also switched by the image information generating means 105.

FIGS. 7 to 10 are diagrams for explaining this.

In FIG. 7, the exit pupil control means 106 divides the exit pupil 103 to form a divided exit pupil 103-1. At this time, the image information generating means 105 selects and displays the image information 101-1 as the corresponding image. After a lapse of a minute time, the exit pupil control means 106 forms the divided exit pupil 103-2 as shown in FIG. At this time, the image information generating means 105 switches and displays the image information 101-2 as a corresponding image.

Similarly, when forming the divided exit pupil 103-3, the image information 101-3 (FIG. 9) is stored in the divided exit pupil 103-3.
At the time of forming -4, the image information 101-4 is switched and displayed (FIG. 10).

As described above, the position of the exit pupil 103 and the type of the displayed image information 101 have one-to-one correspondence.
It should be noted that such a switching operation is repeated in a cycle shorter than the afterimage permissible time of the observer's eyes, so that all the switching operations can be performed without being noticed by the observer.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a method of reproducing a three-dimensional image at the intersection of light rays using the three-dimensional image display device.
120 is a stereoscopic image to be reproduced, and 121-1 to 4 are image information 1
01 pixel. While the split exit pupil 103-1 is being formed, luminance is given to the pixel 121-1 to generate a light ray passing through the point 120 and the split exit pupil 103-1;
While the divided exit pupil 103-2 is formed, the point 120
In order to generate a light beam that passes through the divided exit pupil 103-2, luminance is given to the pixel 121-2.

Similarly, the divided exit pupils 103-3, 103
-4 are formed, the pixels 121-3 and 121-4 are formed.
Are given brightness. Of course, when the three-dimensional image is not a point image but a plurality of point images, it is only necessary to give luminance to a plurality of pixels of the image information 101 simultaneously so as to generate a plurality of light rays at the same time.

In this apparatus, if the above-described light beam generation is to be performed in both the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, the exit pupil 103
Need to be divided in both the horizontal and vertical directions. Since an increase in the number of divisions of the exit pupil 103 means an increase in the number of pieces of image information 101 to be displayed within a certain time,
Information processing increases.

Therefore, the method of dividing the exit pupil 103 only in the horizontal direction, which has a large influence on stereoscopic perception, and not in the vertical direction, is intended to reduce the information amount. At this time, when viewed from the front, the exit pupil 103 is divided into a vertically long shape as shown in FIG.

In the present embodiment, a configuration for increasing the depth of field in the vertical direction, which is the object of the present invention, is added to the above disclosed example. That is, when the exit pupil 103 is viewed from the front, the length of the exit pupil in the vertical direction is configured to be small as shown in FIG. 13, and as a result, as shown in FIG. A configuration is adopted in which light enters only through the region and the depth of field in the vertical direction of the eye becomes deep.

FIG. 14 shows a first configuration example for realizing the state of deep depth of field as shown in FIG. A vertical exit pupil restriction window (depth of field adjustment means) 107 is installed just before the observer's eye 104, and the exit pupil 103
Has a limited vertical length. Vertical exit pupil restriction window 10
Reference numeral 7 is attached to the housing of the HMD and has a detachable configuration (not shown), so that it can be removed and observed when observing a two-dimensional image or stereoscopically viewing a normal stereo image. . Ideally, the vertical exit pupil restriction window 107 is set at the same position as the exit pupil 103, but it is necessary to take care that it does not hit the eyes of the observer. Even if it fulfills
It may be installed at a position slightly further from the eyes than the exit pupil 103.

As a second configuration example, in order to limit the length of the exit pupil 103 in the vertical direction itself, the length of the vertical opening of the component in a position optically conjugate with the exit pupil 103 is limited. Method.

FIG. 15 shows the exit pupil 103 in the prior application 1.
FIG. 7 is a diagram of an embodiment in which the lighting unit 110 performs the division control of FIG. The illuminating means 110 illuminates the image display means 109 from behind. At this time, the illuminating means 110 and the exit pupil 103 are in a conjugate relationship by the convex lens (positive lens) 108. Therefore, the division control of the exit pupil 103 can be performed by controlling the lighting area or the position of the illumination unit 110.

Since the purpose of this embodiment is to limit the length of the exit pupil 103 in the vertical direction, divided illumination means 110 having a very short vertical length as shown in FIG. ing. With such a configuration, the side view of the display device is as shown in FIG.
3 becomes shorter, and the depth of field of the observer's eyes in the vertical direction can be increased.

As a third configuration example, there is a method of shortening the length in the vertical direction of the divided aperture placed near the exit pupil position.

FIG. 18 shows the exit pupil 103 in the prior application 1.
FIG. 9 is a diagram of an embodiment in which a divisional aperture 112 is arranged near and the aperture position is controlled to control the division of the exit pupil 103. Since the purpose of this embodiment is to limit the length of the exit pupil 103 in the vertical direction, the configuration of FIG.
The split opening 112 having a very short vertical length as shown in FIG.
Is adopted. With such a configuration, the side view of the display device is as shown in FIG. 17, the vertical length of the exit pupil 103 is reduced, and the depth of field of the observer's eye in the vertical direction can be increased. it can.

The exit pupil 1 is used in each of the first, second, and third configuration examples.
The length of the opening 03 in the vertical direction is set smaller than the pupil diameter of the observer. As a guide, 1/4 of the pupil diameter of the observer
Below 1/20, the depth of field is considered to be deep. In particular, the length of the exit pupil 103 in the vertical direction is 1 m.
By setting the length to 1 m or less, the depth of field becomes sufficiently deep.

(Embodiment 2) In Japanese Patent Application No. 9-368961 (prior application 2), a stereoscopic display device that expresses a stereoscopic depth at the intersection of a plurality of light rays incident on a single eye is realized using liquid crystal shutter glasses. I have.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the above-mentioned prior application 2. As shown in FIG.

In the figure, reference numeral 200 denotes stereoscopic observation glasses as image separating means, and reference numeral 300 denotes a monitor as display means for switching and displaying parallax images at high speed, and displays image information for stereoscopic observation. Reference numeral 400 denotes a controller that controls the switching of parallax images and the slit opening of the stereoscopic glasses 200, and also has an interface function with a video source. The controller 400 includes a monitor driving circuit 401 and a glasses driving circuit 4 that controls a slit of the stereoscopic observation glasses 200.
02, a synchronization circuit 403 for synchronizing the parallax image information displayed on the monitor 300 with the slit formation of the stereoscopic glasses.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a main part of the stereoscopic observation glasses 200. In the drawing, 201L and 201R are observation frames as observation means that can be observed by an observer through the opening, 202
L, 202R, 203L, and 203R are light-shielding portions that block light in the observation frame 201, 204R and 204L are slits through which light can pass, and TS indicates the width of the slit 204. The slit 204 is scanned at high speed in the horizontal direction, and a parallax image corresponding to the position of the slit is displayed on the monitor 300 in synchronization. 205 is a support frame.

FIG. 22 is a front view of the stereoscopic observation glasses 200. Assuming that the width TS of the slit 204 is sufficiently smaller than the pupil of the observer, a plurality of light beams having different directivities enter the monocular, and the depth of the solid is represented by the intersection of the light beams as in the first embodiment. be able to. However, in the above configuration, there is a possibility that the depth of field of the eye in the vertical direction is shallow, and the adjustment mechanism of the eye of the observer is in an unbalanced state, so that it is difficult to adjust the eye to a stereoscopic image.

Therefore, the present embodiment has the above configuration, that is, an image display means for displaying a parallax image, an optical system for guiding a light beam from the image display means to an exit pupil position, and a plurality of exit pupils. Exit pupil control means for spatially and time-divisionally controlling the passing luminous flux to each area, and switching control of the parallax image of the image display means corresponding to the passing luminous flux of each area of the exit pupil In the configuration that has means for recognizing the parallax image of the observer wearing a single eye, a configuration for increasing the depth of field in the vertical direction is provided, and the adjustment of the eye is guided to the stereoscopic image position The reproduction of the image which is easy to be realized is realized.

FIG. 23 is a front view of the stereoscopic observation glasses 200 used in this embodiment. The shaded area in the figure is the light shielding area. This configuration is the observation frame 2 in the configuration of the above-mentioned prior application 2.
The length in the vertical direction of 01L and 201R is greatly reduced.
With such a configuration, the side view of the display device is as shown in FIG. 24, and the vertical length of the opening 204 (= exit pupil) is reduced, so that the depth of field of the observer's eyes in the vertical direction is reduced. Can be deeper.

The length of the opening 204 in the vertical direction is set smaller than the pupil diameter of the observer. As a guide, if the diameter of the pupil of the observer is 1/4 or less and 1/20 or more, it is considered that the depth of field becomes deep. In particular, when the vertical length of the opening 204 is 1 mm or less and 1/10 mm or more, the depth of field becomes sufficiently deep.

(Embodiment 3) Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-174377 (prior application 3) discloses a stereoscopic display device that expresses the depth of a stereoscopic image by the intersection of a plurality of light beams incident on a single eye with a special eyeglass or head mounted device. It is realized without using such.

FIG. 25 is a schematic view of the three-dimensional image reproducing device of the above-mentioned three patents. In the figure, reference numeral 501 denotes an image display, on which an image 507 is displayed. In the figure, 502 is a convex lens,
Reference numeral 503 denotes an opening forming unit. The optical aperture can be formed by electronically switching the transmittance at any position. The image display 501 and the aperture forming unit 503 are driven and controlled by an image controller 505 and an aperture controller 506, respectively. The two control devices are connected by a signal line and can synchronize with each other. The opening 504 moves at high speed over the entire area of the opening forming means 503 at a constant period T.

Referring to FIG. 26, a method of reproducing a stereoscopic image at the intersection of a plurality of light beams using the above-described apparatus will be described. A corresponding image is selected and displayed on the image display 501 in synchronization with the position of the opening 504. The selection of an image is performed as follows. When reproducing the three-dimensional image 1, the intensity distribution of the image 501 serving as a light source of the light may be controlled so that the light emitted from the opening 504 always passes through the three-dimensional image 1.

For example, when the aperture 504 is located at the position 504a in the figure, the ray passing through the three-dimensional image 1 and the aperture 504 is subjected to reverse ray tracing in consideration of the refraction of the convex lens 502, and
It is determined that luminance should be given to the pixel 501a.
That is, when the opening position is the opening 504a, the pixel 501a
To give brightness. The opening 504 moves and the opening 504b in the figure moves.
In the same way, the luminance can be given to the pixel 501b and a light ray passing through the three-dimensional image 1 can be generated.

If these actions are repeated at high speed for all the aperture positions, the observer can recognize as if the luminous flux is diverging from the three-dimensional image 1. Of course, when the three-dimensional image is not a point image but a plurality of point images, it is only necessary to give luminance to a plurality of pixels so as to simultaneously generate a plurality of light beams.

The above-mentioned prior application 3 discloses an embodiment in which the light beam deflection in the vertical direction is omitted in order to reduce the amount of information.

FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram of the embodiment. As the opening 504, a rectangular slit that is long in the vertical direction as shown in the figure is employed. In this case, since the movement of the aperture is performed only in the horizontal direction, the light beam is also deflected only in the horizontal direction.

FIG. 28 is a side view of the above configuration. Image 5
07 in the vertical direction by the convex lens 502 in FIG.
An aerial image is formed at the position 07 ', and the observer observes this aerial image. However, since the depth of the horizontal component of the image is expressed by the intersection of the light rays, the adjustment mechanism of the eye of the observer may be in an unbalanced state, and the adjustment of the eye may not be suitable for the stereoscopic image.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, a configuration for increasing the depth of field in the vertical direction is added to the above configuration, thereby realizing the reproduction of an image in which the adjustment of the eyes is easily guided to the stereoscopic image position.

The first configuration example will be described with reference to FIGS. 29 and 30.

FIG. 29 shows an opening 50 used in the first configuration example.
4 shows the shape of FIG. The length in the vertical direction is greatly reduced, and only movement in the horizontal direction (arrow direction) is performed.

FIG. 30 is a side view of a configuration using the above-described opening 504. The vertical exit pupil of the opening 504 is 51 in the figure.
An image is formed at the position of 0. The observer observes the stereoscopic image 508 through the emission 510. At this time, since the vertical length of the exit pupil 510 is designed to be sufficiently smaller than the observer pupil diameter, the depth of field of the observer's eye in the vertical direction becomes deep.

As a second configuration example, there is a configuration in which the depth of field in the vertical direction of the observer's eye is increased using dedicated observation glasses.

FIG. 31 shows observation glasses 511 used in the second configuration example. The observation glasses 511 include a rectangular slit opening 512 that is short in the vertical direction and long in the horizontal direction, and a light shielding member. The vertical length of the slit opening 512 is designed to be sufficiently smaller than the pupil diameter of the observer. Therefore, the side view at the time of stereoscopic image observation is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 30, the depth of field of the observer's eye in the vertical direction becomes deep as in FIG.

The vertical lengths of the exit pupil 510 and the opening 512 are set smaller than the pupil diameter of the observer. As a guide, if it is 1/4 or less and 1/20 or more of the pupil diameter of the observer,
It is considered that the depth of field is increased. In particular, the exit pupil 51
0 and vertical length of opening 512 1 mm or less 1/10 mm
By doing so, the depth of field becomes sufficiently deep.

Since the present embodiment is provided with a configuration for increasing the depth of field of the observer's eyes in the vertical direction, reproduction of an image in which the adjustment of the eyes is easily guided to the stereoscopic image position is performed. Has been realized.

Next, an embodiment of a stereoscopic image display apparatus using binocular parallax according to the present invention will be described.

In stereoscopic vision using binocular parallax, when a human observes a stereoscopic image with both eyes, a parallax occurs between the retinal image of the right eye and the retinal image of the left eye, and this parallax greatly increases in stereoscopic perception. On the contrary, if two images having such parallax are independently presented to the left and right eyes, the principle is that stereoscopic recognition becomes possible.

FIG. 1 shows the principle of the three-dimensional recognition.
FIG. 1 shows a state in which the depth of a point 1 on a solid (object) 2 is expressed using binocular parallax.

Reference numeral 3 denotes an image display surface. When the point 1R is displayed on the image display surface 3 and presented only to the right eye ER, and the point 1L is displayed on the image display surface 3 and presented only to the left eye EL, the convergence of the eye becomes point 1 And the human visual recognition system can three-dimensionally recognize the point 1 at the intersection of the straight line connecting the point 1R and the right eye and the straight line connecting the point 1L and the left eye.
However, at this time, the adjustment of the crystalline lens of the eye does not coincide with the point 1, and a deviation occurs between the adjustment of the eye and the convergence. If this deviation is large, the visual recognition system will be overburdened,
It is said that it may cause fatigue and discomfort.

The present invention employs the following configuration to solve these problems.

As shown in FIG. 34, when the light spreads to fill the pupil 4 of the observer and enters, the depth of field of the eye becomes shallow, so that the blur of the fundus image is minimized when the adjustment matches the image display surface 3, and At other positions, the blur becomes large. Therefore, accommodation of the eye is easy to fit on the surface 3.

However, as shown in FIG. 35, when light enters only through a very small area of the pupil 4 of the observer, the depth of field of the eye becomes deep, and the blur of the fundus image does not depend on the accommodation position of the eye. Becomes smaller. In other words, the adjustment of the eye is not limited to the surface 3, and it is easy to match at any depth position.

When stereoscopic vision is performed as shown in FIG. 1 in such a state, inconsistency is unlikely to occur between the depth recognition based on the adjustment of the observer's eyes and the depth recognition based on the binocular parallax. Therefore, the burden on the eyes of the observer is reduced.

Therefore, in the present invention, a configuration (optical means) for increasing the depth of field of the eye in a stereoscopic image display device utilizing binocular parallax is provided to reduce the burden on the eyes of the observer. Has been realized.

As described above, the depth of field of the eye can be increased by reducing the range of incidence of light rays entering the pupil. The required depth of field depends on the depth range of the stereoscopic image to be reproduced. For example, when it is known that the depth range of the stereoscopic image is in the range of 500 mm to 1 m from the observer's position, the apparatus is configured so that the depth of field of the eyes is set to include the above range.

Conversely, the depth range of the stereoscopic image to be reproduced can be limited based on the depth of field of the eye determined by the device configuration. For example, when it is known that the depth of field of the eye is in a range of 500 mm to 1 m from the position of the observer, the depth range of the reproduced stereoscopic image is limited to the above range. Specifically, when the position where the intersection of the light rays is formed exceeds the above range, the depth of the stereoscopic image in the depth direction is compressed and reproduced, or only the points outside the range are included in the range. By performing operations such as compression and reproduction, the burden on the eyes of the observer can be reduced.

(Embodiment 4) As stereoscopic observation using binocular parallax, the present invention can be applied to a stereoscopic image display device in which a stereoscopic image is recognized by an observer using special glasses.

Such devices include those using liquid crystal shutter glasses and those using polarizing filter glasses. In any case, in order to apply the present invention, the size of the left and right light transmission regions of the glasses must be reduced. The diameter of the light beam passing through the pupil of the observer may be reduced by limiting the diameter.

For example, as shown in FIG. 39, a light transmission area limiting window (control means) 601 is provided on the front of conventional stereoscopic glasses 600.
And the diameter of the light beam that originally passes through the entire surface of the left and right openings 602 may be reduced. With this configuration,
The side and plan views of the display device are as shown in FIG. 35, and the depth of field of the observer's eyes can be increased.
The light transmission area restriction window 601 has a detachable specification.

In the above configuration example, the light transmission area limiting window 601
Is set smaller than the pupil diameter of the observer. As a guide, if the diameter of the pupil of the observer is 1/4 or less, the depth of field is considered to be deep. Preferably 1/4 or less,
What is necessary is just 1/20 or more. In particular, the light transmission area limiting window 6
By setting the diameter of 01 to 1 mm or less, the depth of field becomes sufficiently deep. Preferably, it is 1 mm or less and 1/20 mm or more.

In this embodiment, since a configuration for increasing the depth of field of the observer's eye is provided, the reproduction of an image in which the adjustment of the eye is easily guided to the stereoscopic image position is realized. I have.

(Embodiment 5) The present invention is also applicable to a stereoscopic image display device that allows a viewer to recognize a stereoscopic image without using special glasses. Such a device includes a large convex lens system, a lenticular system, a parallax barrier system, and the like. In any case, in order to apply the present invention, a configuration in which the diameter of a light beam at the pupil position of the observer is reduced. I do.

For example, as in the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 37, the observer wears special glasses having a light transmission area limiting window 601 for reducing the diameter of a light beam incident on the left and right pupils.
The observer wears the spectacles and observes a stereoscopic image through the light transmission area restriction window 601.

With such a configuration, the side view and plan view of the display device are as shown in FIG. 35, and the depth of field of the observer's eyes can be increased. In the above configuration example, the diameter of the light transmission region restriction window 601 is set smaller than the pupil diameter of the observer. As a guide, 1/4 of the pupil diameter of the observer
If it is below, it is considered that the depth of field becomes deep. Preferably, it should be 1/4 or less and 1/20 or more. In particular, by setting the diameter of the light transmission area limiting window 601 to 1 mm or less, the depth of field becomes sufficiently deep. Preferably, it is 1 mm or less and 1/20 mm or more.

Also, without using the above-mentioned special glasses, the exit pupil for observing the image with the right and left eyes forms an aerial image with a diameter sufficiently smaller than the pupil of the observer.
In addition, when an observer observes an image through each exit pupil, an “observation state with a deep depth of field” as an object of the present invention becomes possible. FIG. 38 is a plan view of a configuration example of a three-dimensional image display device of a large convex lens system (a system using a large effective positive lens).

In this configuration example, the image 707 displayed on the liquid crystal display 703 is transformed into the left and right eyes 5R, 5L of the observer by illumination light provided with directivity by the large convex lens 702.
Is displayed. Reference numeral 701 denotes an illuminating unit having a light emitting unit in a region 706L and a region 706R in the figure. The large convex lens 702 is disposed near a liquid crystal display 703 capable of displaying an image 707. Light emitting unit 706L, 7
06R is indicated by 70 in FIG.
An exit pupil is formed at 4L and 704R to form an aerial image. These exit pupil positions correspond to the positions of the left and right eyes of the observer, and the observer can observe the entire image 707 through the exit pupils 704L and 704R. Reference numeral 705 denotes an image and control means for displaying an image 707 and illuminating means 70.
Switching control can be performed at high speed in synchronization with the selection of one light emitting unit. Due to this property, it is possible to display a three-dimensional image using the present device.

For example, the light emitting unit 7 is
The observer can observe the image 707 only through the exit pupil 704L during the time when luminance is given only to 06L. Therefore, during this time, a parallax image for the left eye is displayed as the image 707. Conversely, the light emitting unit 7 is controlled by the control unit 705.
Since the observer can observe the image 707 only through the exit pupil 704R during the time when the luminance is given to only 06R, the parallax image for the right eye is displayed as the image 707 during this time. If the above actions are repeated within the afterimage allowable time of the observer, the observer is equivalent to independently viewing the corresponding parallax images with the left and right eyes, and can recognize the stereoscopic image by the binocular parallax. . However, as described above, in stereoscopic vision using only binocular disparity, there is a divergence between accommodation and convergence of the eyes, which places an excessive burden on the visual recognition system and may cause fatigue and discomfort. It is said.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the exit pupil 7 is added to the above configuration example.
The configuration of reducing the diameter of the lens 04 is provided so as to increase the depth of field of the observer's eye. 39 and 40 are a plan view and a side view of the present embodiment. The diameter of the light emitting unit 706, which is an optical member optically conjugate with the exit pupil 704, is reduced, and the diameter of the exit pupil 704 is limited to a small value. With such a configuration, the side view and the plan view of the display device are shown in FIG.
Thus, the diameter of the exit pupil is limited, and the depth of field of the observer's eye can be increased.

In the above configuration example, the diameter of the exit pupil 704 is set smaller than the pupil diameter of the observer. As a guide, if the diameter of the pupil of the observer is 1/4 or less, the depth of field is considered to be deep. Preferably, it should be 1/4 or less and 1/20 or more. In particular, by setting the diameter of the exit pupil 704 to 1 mm or less, the depth of field becomes sufficiently deep. Preferably 1 mm
Hereinafter, it may be 1/20 mm or more.

In this embodiment, since the configuration for increasing the depth of field of the observer's eye is provided, the reproduction of an image in which the adjustment of the eye is easily guided to the stereoscopic image position is realized. I have.

[0119]

According to the present invention, when observing a stereoscopic image using binocular parallax or observing a stereoscopic image using super-multi-view stereoscopic display, the observer can be satisfactorily displayed without fatigue. A stereoscopic image display device and a stereoscopic image display method capable of observing a stereoscopic image can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of stereoscopic recognition according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the principle of stereoscopic recognition according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the principle of stereoscopic recognition according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the principle of stereoscopic recognition according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the principle of stereoscopic recognition according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of an image display method of the stereoscopic image display device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of an image display method of the stereoscopic image display device of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an image display method of the stereoscopic image display device of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an image display method of the stereoscopic image display device of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an image display method of the stereoscopic image display device of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of an image display method of the stereoscopic image display device of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a light beam incident on a pupil plane of an observer.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a light beam incident on a pupil plane of an observer.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a part of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of the optical system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a part of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of an optical system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of the optical system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a part of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a schematic view of a main part of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a schematic view of a main part of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram of stereoscopic observation glasses related to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of the stereoscopic observation glasses according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram of an opening of the stereoscopic observation glasses according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram of a stereoscopic image reproducing device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

26 is an explanatory diagram of the optical system of FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram of a part of the stereoscopic image display device of the prior application.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram of the optical system of FIG. 27;

FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram of a part of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram of an optical system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is an explanatory view of a part of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram of an optical system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a schematic view showing an essential part of a conventional stereoscopic image display device.

FIG. 34 is an explanatory diagram of an eyeball.

FIG. 35 is an explanatory diagram of an eyeball according to the present invention.

FIG. 36 is an explanatory view of a part of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 37 is an explanatory view of a part of the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 38 is an explanatory diagram of an optical system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 39 is an explanatory diagram of an optical system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 40 is an explanatory diagram of an optical system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 object point 2 object 3 image display surface 4 pupil 5 monocular 101 image information 102 optical system 103 exit pupil 104 eyeball 105 image information generation means 106 exit pupil restriction means 121 pixel 107 vertical exit pupil restriction window 108 positive lens 109 image display means 110 Illumination unit 200 Image observation glasses 300 Display unit 600 Stereoscopic glasses 601 Light transmission area limiting window 602 Opening 701 Illumination unit 702 Positive lens 703 Liquid crystal display 704 Exit pupil 705 Control unit 706 Light emitting unit 707 Image

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A stereoscopic image display apparatus for observing a stereoscopic image by causing a plurality of light beams to enter a pupil of an observer, focusing an adjustment of an eye of the observer at an intersection of the light beams, and
A stereoscopic image display device comprising an optical system in which the depth of field in the observation vertical direction when observing the stereoscopic image is deeper than the depth of field in the observation horizontal direction. 2. A stereoscopic image display apparatus for observing a stereoscopic image by causing a plurality of light beams to enter a pupil of an observer, focusing an adjustment of an eye of the observer at an intersection of the light beams, and
A stereoscopic image display device comprising an optical system such that the depth of field in the observation vertical direction when observing the stereoscopic image is deeper than the depth range of the reproduced stereoscopic image. 3. A stereoscopic image display apparatus for observing a stereoscopic image by causing a plurality of light beams to enter a pupil of an observer, focusing an adjustment of an eye of the observer at an intersection of the light beams, and observing a stereoscopic image.
An optical system in which there is no vertical parallax of the reproduced stereoscopic image and the depth of field in the observation vertical direction when observing the stereoscopic image is deeper than the depth range of the reproduced stereoscopic image. A stereoscopic image display device comprising: 4. An optical system according to claim 1, wherein an exit pupil of the optical system is arranged near a pupil of the observer, and a length of the exit pupil in a vertical direction is not more than ４ and not less than 1/20 of the pupil diameter of the observer. The stereoscopic image display device according to claim 1, 2 or 3. 5. An exit pupil of the optical system is disposed near a pupil of an observer, and a length of the exit pupil in a vertical direction is 1 mm or less.
The three-dimensional image display device according to claim 1, wherein the length is 10 mm or more. 6. A three-dimensional image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said optical system has an opening means for limiting a vertical length of light incident on a pupil of an observer. 7. The optical system forms an exit pupil,
4. The three-dimensional image display device according to claim 1, wherein the image information is formed into an aerial image to be observed by an observer. 8. A three-dimensional image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said optical system has glasses including an opening for limiting a vertical length of light incident on a pupil of an observer. 9. A stereoscopic image display apparatus for observing a stereoscopic image by causing a plurality of light beams to be incident on an observer's pupil, focusing the adjustment of the observer's eye at the intersection of the light beams,
There is no vertical parallax in the reproduced stereoscopic image, and the depth range of the reproduced stereoscopic image is within the range of the depth of field of the observer's eyes in the vertical direction. Image display device. 10. A three-dimensional image display system, wherein the three-dimensional image display device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 is applied to a head mounted type or an eyeglass type. 11. A stereoscopic image display device that allows an observer to recognize a stereoscopic image using binocular parallax, wherein the depth of field of the observer's eyes is greater than the depth range of the reproduced stereoscopic image. A stereoscopic image display device comprising a system. 12. An optical system according to claim 11, wherein an exit pupil of said optical system is arranged near a pupil of an observer, and a diameter of said exit pupil is not more than ４ and not less than 1/20 of the pupil diameter of the observer. Eleventh stereoscopic image display device. 13. The stereoscopic image display apparatus according to claim 11, wherein an exit pupil of said optical system is arranged near a pupil of an observer, and a diameter of said exit pupil is not more than 1 mm and not less than 1/20 mm. 14. A three-dimensional image display apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said optical system has an opening means for limiting a diameter of a light beam incident on a pupil of an observer. 15. The three-dimensional image display device according to claim 11, wherein said optical system has glasses including an opening for limiting a diameter of a light beam incident on a pupil of an observer. 16. A stereoscopic image display apparatus for observing a stereoscopic image by causing a plurality of light beams to enter a pupil of an observer, focusing an adjustment of an eye of the observer at an intersection of the light beams, and observing a stereoscopic image.
A stereoscopic image display device wherein a depth range of a reproduced stereoscopic image is within a range of a depth of field of an observer's eye. 17. A three-dimensional image display system, wherein the three-dimensional image display device according to claim 11 is applied to a head mounted type or an eyeglass type. 18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second embodiments are different from the first and second embodiments.
A three-dimensional image display method characterized by observing a three-dimensional image using the three-dimensional image display device according to any one of the above. 19. Stereoscopic image display glasses used when observing a stereoscopic image using monocular parallax or binocular parallax,
A pair of glasses for displaying stereoscopic images, comprising optical means for increasing the depth of field of the observer's eyes to a depth range of a reproduced stereoscopic image.