JP2007072050A - Image display device and image display method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve display characteristic when an image display device enabling a viewer to view a different image in accordance with viewer's position relative to a display surface is made to be the color one. <P>SOLUTION: In the image display device where a plurality of projectors are arranged in accordance with the arranging direction of parallactic images displayed on the display surface and a predetermined image of the parallactic images formed on the display surface by the plurality of projectors is selectively made to reach the viewer by a parallactic image selection means, the respective projectors 1a to 1j form one image constituting the parallactic image on the display surface by modulating a plurality of light color beams emitted time-sequentially and emitting them as image light. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image display device and an image display method.

Some image display devices allow the viewer to visually recognize different images depending on the position of the viewer with respect to the display surface.
As such an image display device, for example, a viewer can visually recognize a stereoscopic image by selectively viewing different images (parallax images) between the viewer's right eye position and the viewer's left eye position. In addition, there are some that allow a plurality of viewers viewing the display surface from different angles to visually recognize different content images.

For example, Non-Patent Document 1 describes a specific configuration of an image display device that allows a viewer to visually recognize a stereoscopic image that can be viewed dynamically. The dynamic stereoscopic view referred to here is a stereoscopic view in which the viewing angle of the stereoscopic image viewed by the viewer changes according to the change in the viewing position of the viewer.
Specifically, in Non-Patent Document 1, a plurality of projectors are arranged in a direction corresponding to the arrangement direction of parallax images, and selectively used for the viewer's right eye and left eye using a concave mirror (parallax image selection means). A viewer can visually recognize a stereoscopic image by selectively viewing a predetermined image among images formed by a plurality of projectors. In such an image display device, if the viewer changes the viewing position, different images are visually recognized by the viewer's right eye and left eye. Therefore, this image is converted into a stereoscopic image corresponding to the viewing position. By doing so, dynamic stereoscopic viewing is possible.
JP-A-5-107504 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-140083 “Development of 3D image display device by projection optical system fan array” 3D image conference 2001 Lecture number 7-3 "Display of 3D objects computer-synthesized with 64-eye 3D color display" 3D image conference 2002 Lecture number 5-3

Since such an image display device capable of dynamic stereoscopic viewing can provide viewers with a natural stereoscopic image that is more similar to a real space, a technique for improving display characteristics will be further developed in the future. It will be developed.
For example, in an image display device capable of dynamic stereoscopic viewing as described above, the image viewed by the viewer's right eye and left eye can be changed even when the viewer's position change amount is small. However, this is important in order for the viewer to visually recognize a natural three-dimensional image similar to the real space. For this reason, in Non-Patent Document 2, when the projectors are arranged in a straight line by arranging the projectors so as to be shifted in the vertical direction, the projectors are arranged at intervals that cannot be physically arranged from the shape of the projectors. Techniques to do this are disclosed. According to this technology, more parallax images can be displayed on the display surface, so that even if the amount of change in the position of the viewer is small, the image viewed by the viewer's right eye and left eye can be changed. Thus, display characteristics can be improved.

In order to provide a natural three-dimensional image similar to the real space, colorization of the three-dimensional image is also an important requirement.
However, when a stereoscopic image is colorized, it is necessary to mount a light modulation element having a color filter in each projector. For this reason, when the size of the light modulation element is the same, the number of pixels of the light modulation element for each color is reduced and the resolution of the image is lowered as compared with the case of monochromatic display.
At present, no technique has been proposed for improving display characteristics when a stereoscopic image is colored. For this reason, a proposal of a technique for improving display characteristics in the case of colorization is desired.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and aims to improve display characteristics when an image display device that allows a viewer to view different images according to the position of the viewer on the display surface is colored. With the goal.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the image display device of the present invention, a plurality of projectors are arranged according to the arrangement direction of the parallax images displayed on the display surface, and the parallax formed on the display surface by the plurality of projectors An image display device that selectively reaches a viewer by a parallax image selection unit, and each of the projectors modulates a plurality of color lights emitted in time series and emits them as image light. Thus, one image constituting the parallax image is formed on the display surface.

According to the image display device of the present invention having such a feature, each of the projectors modulates a plurality of color lights emitted in time series and emits the light as image light, whereby the parallax image is displayed on the display surface. One image constituting the image is formed.
For this reason, since the projector can modulate the entire area of the modulation element for each color light, it is possible to prevent the resolution of the image displayed on the display surface from being lowered.
Therefore, according to the image display device of the present invention, it is possible to improve display characteristics when the image display device that allows the viewer to visually recognize different images according to the position of the viewer on the display surface is colored. .

In addition, in the image display device of the present invention, specifically, each of the light source devices includes light sources that emit different color lights, and the light sources are emitted in time series by intermittently driving the light sources in time series. It is possible to adopt a configuration comprising:
Further, when the configuration in which the light source is a solid light emitting light source is employed, each solid light emitting light source is intermittently driven, so that the life of the solid light emitting light source can be extended.
Further, by adopting a configuration including a red light source that emits red color light, a green light source that emits green color light, and a blue light source that emits blue color light as the light source, full color display is possible. Become.

In the image display device of the present invention, it is preferable to adopt a configuration in which the color tone of image light emitted from adjacent projectors at the same time is different.
By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the amount of change in luminance of the entire display surface, and it is possible to reduce flicker.

  In the image display device of the present invention, specifically, a configuration in which the parallax image selection unit is a lenticular lens arranged in contact with the display surface can be employed.

  Next, according to the image display method of the present invention, a plurality of projectors are arranged according to the arrangement direction of the parallax images displayed on the display surface, and a predetermined one of the parallax images formed on the display surface by the plurality of projectors. An image display method for selectively reaching an observer for an image, wherein each of the projectors modulates a plurality of color lights emitted in time series and emits the image light as image light. One image forming the image is formed.

According to the image display method of the present invention having such a feature, each of the projectors modulates a plurality of color lights emitted in time series and emits them as image light, whereby the parallax image is displayed on the display surface. One image constituting the image is formed.
For this reason, since the projector can modulate the entire area of the modulation element for each color light, it is possible to prevent the resolution of the image displayed on the display surface from being lowered.
Therefore, according to the image display device of the present invention, it is possible to improve display characteristics when the image display device that allows the viewer to visually recognize different images according to the position of the viewer on the display surface is colored. .

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image display device and an image display method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the scale of each member is appropriately changed in order to make each member a recognizable size.

(First embodiment)
1 and 2 are schematic views showing a schematic configuration of the image display device S1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the image display device S1 as viewed from above, and FIG. 2 is a side view. .
As shown in these drawings, the image display device S1 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of projectors 1, a control device 2, a screen 3, and a lenticular lens 4.

The projectors 1 are arranged in accordance with the arrangement direction of parallax images formed on the screen 3 (in this embodiment, the vertical direction on the paper surface of FIG. 1). An image is projected on the screen 3 by each projector 1, and these images are arranged and displayed on the screen 3, thereby forming a parallax image on the screen 3.
Note that, in a broad sense, a parallax image indicates a different image when viewed, that is, a different image. In this embodiment, images obtained by capturing the same object from different angles are used as parallax images. It has been.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of the projector 1 from the side.
As shown in FIG. 3, the projectors R, G, and B are configured to include a light source device 100, an integrator 200, a PBS array 300, a condenser lens 400, a liquid crystal light valve 500, and a projection lens 600. ing.

  The light source device 100 emits different color light (a plurality of color lights), and includes a red light source 101 that emits red light, a green light source 102 that emits green light, and a blue light source 103 that emits blue light. Configured. And in image display apparatus S1 of this embodiment, each of these light sources 101-103 is comprised from the LED (light emitting diode) light source which is one of the solid light emission light sources.

  The integrator 200 is for the light emitted from the light source 100 to have a uniform illuminance distribution on the subsequent liquid crystal light valve 500. In the present embodiment, the integrator 200 includes two fly-eye lenses 201 and 202. It is configured. As the integrator 200, a rod lens or the like can be used.

The PBS array 300 is an optical element in which polarization beam splitters are arranged in an array, and emits light with the polarization direction of light emitted from the light source 100 aligned in one direction. In the present embodiment, the PBS array 300 emits light with the polarization direction of the light from the light source 100 matched to the polarization direction that can enter the liquid crystal light valve 500 at the subsequent stage.
The condensing lens 400 is for condensing the light from the light source 100 onto the liquid crystal light valve 500.

The liquid crystal light valve 500 emits incident light, that is, light from the light source 100 after luminance modulation. The liquid crystal light valve 500 is driven based on an image signal input from the outside, and is driven based on an image signal input from the control device 2 in the present embodiment.
The projection lens 600 projects the light from the light source 100 modulated by the liquid crystal light valve 500 toward the screen 3 as image light.

  1 and 2, the control device 2 controls the projectors 1a to 1j, and specifically supplies image signals to the projectors 1a to 1j. For example, the control device 2 stores three-dimensional data of a stereoscopic image to be displayed in advance, and supplies appropriate data from the three-dimensional data to the liquid crystal light valves 500 of the projectors 1a to 1j.

The control device 2 also controls the operation of the light source device 100 of each projector 1a to 1j. Specifically, the red light source 101, the green light source 102, and the blue light source 103 included in the light source device 100 are turned on and off. The operation is controlled. In the image display device S1 of the present embodiment, the light source 101 to 103 is intermittently driven in time series by the control device 2, so that a plurality of color lights (red light, green light, blue light) are emitted from the light source device 100. ) Is injected.
As a result, in the projectors 1a to 1j, a plurality of color lights emitted from the light source device 100 are modulated by the liquid crystal light valve 500 in time series and emitted as image light. Specifically, when red light is emitted from the light source device 100 by driving the red light source 101, red tone image light is projected from the projectors 1 a to 1 j and the red tone image is projected on the screen 3. Is displayed. When green light is emitted from the light source device 100 by driving the green light source 102, green tone image light is projected from the projectors 1 a to 1 j, and a green tone image is displayed on the screen 3. The When blue light is emitted from the light source device 100 by driving the blue light source 103, blue tone image light is projected from the projectors 1 a to 1 j and a blue tone image is displayed on the screen 3. . Note that the liquid crystal light valve 500 similarly modulates the luminance of each color light until the type of the color light emitted from the light source device 100 is rotated once.
Then, as shown in FIG. 4, red-tone image light, green-tone image light, and blue-tone image light are repeatedly emitted from the projectors 1 a to 1 j in time series, thereby forming each image light. The images to be mixed are mixed on the screen 3, and the viewer sees a full-color image.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, when the image light of the same color light is emitted from all the projectors 1a to 1j, the brightness on the screen 3 periodically changes due to the difference in the luminance component included in the color light, May cause flicker. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 5, it is preferable that the light source device 100 of each projector 1a-1j is controlled so that the color tone of the image light emitted from the adjacent projectors 1a-1j at the same time is different.
By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the amount of change in luminance of the entire screen 3 and to reduce flicker.

  The lenticular lens 4 is formed by connecting a plurality of cylindrical lenses in the lateral direction. In the present embodiment, the lenticular lens 4 is disposed in contact with both sides with the screen 3 serving as a diffusion member interposed therebetween. Further, the lenticular lens 4 is arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical lens is in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the parallax images (in the present embodiment, the vertical direction of the screen 3).

The lenticular lens 41 arranged on the projector 1 side directs the image light from each projector 1 to a predetermined location on the screen 3 so that the image projected from each projector 1 is divided and displayed in the horizontal direction of the screen 3. Make an image.
More specifically, since the projectors 1 are arranged corresponding to the parallax image forming direction, the image light projected from the projectors 1 a to 1 j is sent to different parts of the screen 3 by the cylindrical lenses 40 of the lenticular lens 4. Images are sequentially formed. That is, the images from the projectors 1 a to 1 j that are incident on the cylindrical lens 40 are displayed on the screen 3 that is in contact with the back surface (flat surface) of each cylindrical lens 40.

The lenticular lens 42 (parallax image selection means) arranged on the viewer side selectively allows the images of the projectors 1a to 1j divided and displayed on the screen 3 to reach the viewer's right eye and left eye, respectively. It is.
More specifically, the lenticular lens 42 emits light of an image displayed on the screen 3, that is, dispersed light with directivity in the arrangement direction of the parallax image. The cylindrical lens 40 constituting the lenticular lens 42 has a curved surface from which all the images projected from the same projector 1 out of the images divided and displayed on the screen 3 are emitted at the same angle. ing. By such a lenticular lens 42, image light projected from different projectors 1 reaches the viewer's right eye and left eye.

Here, in the image display device S1 of the present embodiment, since images obtained by capturing the same object from different angles are used as parallax images, the images projected from the projectors 1 have the same object at a predetermined angle. The image captured from For this reason, an image obtained by capturing the object from different angles reaches each of the viewer's right eye and left eye, and the viewer can visually recognize the stereoscopic image of the object.
Also, when the viewer changes the viewing position, different images reach the viewer's right eye and left eye, respectively, so that the viewer can view the stereoscopic image of the object from different angles. it can. That is, the image display device S1 of the present embodiment is configured to be capable of dynamic stereoscopic viewing.

According to such an image display apparatus and image display method of the present embodiment, each projector 1a to 1j modulates a plurality of color lights emitted in time series and emits them as image light, thereby producing a parallax on the screen 3. One image constituting the image is formed.
For this reason, since the projectors 1a to 1j can modulate the entire area of the liquid crystal light valve 500 for each color light, it is possible to prevent the resolution of the image displayed on the screen 3 from being lowered.
Therefore, according to the image display device of the present invention, it is possible to improve display characteristics when the image display device that allows the viewer to visually recognize different images according to the position of the viewer on the display surface is colored. .

  Further, according to the image display device S1 of the present embodiment, since the light sources 101 to 103 are intermittently driven, the life of the light sources 101 to 103 can be extended.

In the image display device S1 of the present embodiment, a small LED light source is used as the light source. For this reason, it is possible to adopt a short focus lens with a short back focus, and wide angle projection is possible.
In addition, since each image is synthesized on the screen without synthesizing each color light in the projector, it is not necessary to have a synthesis optical system such as a dichroic prism, and this synthesis optical system and the liquid crystal light valve This eliminates the need for highly accurate alignment.
In addition, by reducing the size of the projector 1 itself, more projectors 1 can be arranged in a direction corresponding to the arrangement direction of the parallax images, and thus smoother dynamic stereoscopic vision can be achieved. .

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the description of the second embodiment, the description of the same parts as in the first embodiment will be omitted or simplified.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of the image display device S2 of the second embodiment. As shown in this figure, in the image display device S2 of the present embodiment, the projectors 1 are arranged in a direction corresponding to the arrangement direction of the parallax images, as in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the imaging lens 5 is disposed at the rear stage of the projector 1, and the one-way diffusive transparent optical member 6 and the screen 7 are disposed at the subsequent stage.

  The imaging lens 5 constitutes a telecentric imaging system with the projection lens 600 of each projector RGB, and can form an image on the screen 7 using image light from each projector RGB as directional image light. To do. Specifically, a Fresnel lens can be used as the imaging lens 5.

The unidirectional diffusive transparent optical member 6 diffuses incident image light in a predetermined direction and emits it. In other words, the one-way diffusive transparent optical member 6 emits image light in a state where the directivity of the incident image light in a direction orthogonal to a predetermined one direction is preserved.
In the image display device S2 of the present embodiment, the direction in which the image light is diffused by the unidirectional diffusing transparent optical member 6 is a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the parallax images. That is, when the image light is transmitted through the one-way diffusive transparent optical member 6, the directivity is preserved in the arrangement direction of the parallax images and is diffused in the direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the parallax images. By adopting such a configuration, red, green, and blue can be uniformly mixed to prevent color unevenness.
As such a unidirectional diffusing transparent optical member 6, a lenticular lens having a cylindrical lens extending in the lateral direction and having a diffusion surface, a transparent optical member subjected to hairline processing in the lateral direction, or the like can be used. .

The screen 7 is configured as a reflective screen in the image display device S2 of the present embodiment.
Specifically, a screen whose surface is subjected to a reflective layer treatment with silver or aluminum can be used.

  Although the reflection type screen configuration has been described with reference to FIG. 6, a rear projection type configuration having a transmission type screen made of a unidirectionally diffusing transparent optical member may be employed. In this case, the order of parallax is reversed from that in the case of reflection.

In such an image display device S2 of the present embodiment, the image light emitted from each projector RGB of the projector 1 becomes image light having directionality by the imaging lens 5 and forms an image on the screen 7. The light is diffused in one direction by the direction diffusing transparent optical member 6 and then reflected to reach the viewer.
Here, as described above, since the image light that reaches the viewer has directivity in the direction in which the parallax image is formed, different images arrive at the right and left eyes of the viewer. In addition, when the position of the viewer changes, different images arrive at each of the viewer's right eye and left eye. Accordingly, the image display device S2 of the present embodiment is also configured so that the viewer can perform dynamic stereoscopic viewing.

  Also in the image display device S2 of the present embodiment, as in the image display device S1 of the first embodiment, the projectors 1a to 1j modulate a plurality of color lights emitted in time series as image light. By ejecting, one image forming a parallax image is formed on the screen 7. Therefore, it is possible to improve display characteristics when the image display device that allows the viewer to visually recognize different images according to the position of the viewer with respect to the screen is colored.

  The preferred embodiments of the image display apparatus and method according to the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Various shapes, combinations, and the like of the constituent members shown in the above-described embodiments are examples, and various modifications can be made based on design requirements and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the LED light source has been described as an example of the solid-state light source. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a solid light-emitting light source (for example, EL (electroluminescence) or semiconductor laser) having high reliability and lighting performance similar to the LED light source can also be used.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a light source device 700 including a light source 701 that emits white light and a rotating color wheel 702 that converts the white light into red light, green light, or blue light and emits the light is used. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the light emitted from the light source device 700 is distributed and incident in the projector 1 by installing the light source device 700 and each projector 1 by the optical fiber 703 instead of the light source device 700.
In the case of adopting such a configuration, it is not necessary to install a light source device in each projector, and color light used in each projector can be obtained only by installing a single light source device.

  In addition, when the projector is arranged in a straight line by applying the technique described in Non-Patent Document 2 and arranging the projector in a vertical direction, it cannot be physically arranged from the shape of the projector. Projectors may be arranged at intervals. As a result, more parallax images can be displayed on the display surface, so that even if the amount of change in the position of the viewer is small, it is possible to change the image viewed by the viewer's right eye and left eye. The display characteristics can be improved.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the image display device intended to provide a stereoscopic image to the viewer has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to an image display device that provides a planar image or a stereoscopic image of different contents to a plurality of viewers viewing from different positions.

In the above-described embodiment, the liquid crystal light valve is used as the light modulation element. However, a micromirror array device or the like can be used as the light modulation element.
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the image was displayed by projecting image light on a projection screen using a projection lens, it is also possible to use a projection mirror instead of a projection lens.

1 is a plan view schematically showing a schematic configuration of an image display apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is the side view which showed typically schematic structure of the image display apparatus which is 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic diagram which showed schematic structure of the projector. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating operation | movement of the image display apparatus which is 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating operation | movement of the image display apparatus which is 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic diagram which showed schematic structure of the image display apparatus which is 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the modification of the light source device with which the image display apparatus of this invention is provided.

Explanation of symbols

S1, S2: Image display device, 1 (1a to 1j) ... Projector, 2 ... Control device, 3, 7 ... Screen (display surface), 4 (41, 42) ... Lenticular lens, 5 ... Imaging lens, 6 ... one-way diffusing transparent optical member, 100, 700 ... light source device

Claims (7)

A plurality of projectors are arranged according to the arrangement direction of the parallax images displayed on the display surface, and a predetermined image among the parallax images formed on the display surface by the plurality of projectors is selectively viewed by the parallax image selection unit. An image display device that reaches the user,
Each of the projectors forms a single image constituting the parallax image on the display surface by modulating a plurality of color lights emitted in time series and emitting the light as image light. . The image display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a light source device that includes light sources that emit different color lights, and intermittently drives the light sources in time series to emit the plurality of color lights in time series. The image display device according to claim 2, wherein the light source is a solid-state light-emitting light source. 4. The image display device according to claim 2, wherein the light source includes a red light source that emits red color light, a green light source that emits green color light, and a blue light source that emits blue color light. 5. . The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein color tone of image light emitted from adjacent projectors at the same time is different. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the parallax image selection unit is a lenticular lens disposed in contact with the display surface. An image in which a plurality of projectors are arranged according to the arrangement direction of the parallax images displayed on the display surface, and a predetermined image among the parallax images formed on the display surface by the plurality of projectors is selectively made to reach the viewer Display method,
Each of the projectors forms a single image constituting the parallax image on the display surface by modulating a plurality of color lights emitted in time series and emitting them as image light. .

Images