JP2007101829A - Aspect ratio varying device, projector, image display apparatus and image display method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an aspect ratio varying device, projector, image display apparatus and image display method, which can be applied in, for example, multiple image screen display using a plurality of projectors, and which make it possible to freely vary, by a simple configuration, the aspect ratio of an image projected on a screen. <P>SOLUTION: Image light is projected on the screen via a first transparent cylindrical member 31 and a second cylindrical transparent member 32 in order. The second transparent member 32 is rotated so as to change an angle formed between the emission face 35 of the first transparent cylindrical member 31 and the incident face 36 of the second transparent member 32. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an aspect ratio variable device, a projector, an image display device, and an image display method, and can be applied to multi-screen display by a plurality of projectors, for example. In the present invention, the image light is projected onto the screen through the first and second transparent columnar members in order, and the exit surface of the first transparent columnar member and the incident surface of the second transparent columnar member are formed. By rotating the second transparent columnar member so that the angle changes, the aspect ratio of the image projected on the screen can be freely changed with a simple configuration.

  Conventionally, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-198989 has proposed a method of displaying a large-screen image with high resolution by multi-screen display using a plurality of display devices.

  That is, FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a multi-screen display image display device in which a projector is applied to the display device. The image display device 1 includes a rear projection type large-area screen 2, and a plurality of projectors 3 </ b> A to 3 </ b> F are disposed on the back surface of the screen 2. Here, these projectors 3A to 3F receive video signals from the same source, and are assigned assigned areas ARA to ARF in charge of display by dividing the screen 2 into approximately equal parts. The projectors 3A to 3F selectively acquire the video signals of the assigned areas ARA to ARF from the input video signals, respectively, and project the images onto the corresponding assigned areas, whereby the image display apparatus according to the example of FIG. 1 is configured such that a high-resolution image can be displayed as compared with a case where an image is displayed with the same area using a single projector.

  By the way, in an image, the amount of information per unit area varies in various parts. Specifically, for example, in a blue sky portion, it can be said that the change in pixel value between consecutive pixels is small, and thus the amount of information per unit area is small. Such a portion can display an image with sufficiently high quality without arranging pixels at high density. On the other hand, it can be said that, for a portion where the street is photographed from a distant view, the pixel value changes greatly between consecutive pixels, and thus the amount of information per unit area is large. This makes it difficult to display an image with sufficiently high quality without arranging pixels at a high density.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, if the pixel density used for display is changed according to the amount of information per unit area by changing the areas of the assigned regions AR11 to AR46 of the projectors, It is considered that a large screen image can be displayed with high image quality.

  In FIG. 18A, seven projectors and four projectors are arranged in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively, and the areas of the assigned areas AR11,..., AR34,. This is a case where the area is set so that the pixel density becomes equal in each of the assigned areas AR11,..., AR34,. On the other hand, FIG. 18B shows, for example, a case where the upper half is a blue sky and the lower half is a townscape, and thus, compared with the assigned areas AR11,..., AR16 related to the upper half display. .., AR 34,..., AR 46 related to the display of the lower half, and the area density of the lower half is increased compared to the upper half.

  Thus, in the case of changing the area allocated to each projector in multi-screen display by a plurality of projectors, as shown in FIGS. 19A and 19C in comparison with FIG. 19B. It is necessary to change the aspect ratio of the image projected on the screen by each projector in various ways, and it is necessary to control the driving of the projector so as to cope with such a change in the aspect ratio. .

  However, in changing the aspect ratio of the image projected on the screen, for example, as shown in FIG. 20, a cylindrical lens is used, or as shown in FIG. 21, it functions in the same manner as the cylindrical lens. This can be realized by using a concave mirror. However, such a variable aspect ratio using a cylindrical lens and a concave mirror has a problem that the screen 2 cannot be focused. There is also a problem that it is difficult to freely change the aspect ratio.

As one method for solving this problem, a method of configuring this type of optical system by combining a plurality of mirrors having complicated curved surfaces such as a free-form surface mirror, a method of configuring this type of optical system using an optical fiber, etc. However, these methods have a problem that the configuration is complicated.
JP 2001-198989 A

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and with a simple configuration, the aspect ratio variable device capable of freely changing the aspect ratio of the image projected on the screen, the projector according to this device, and the image display device And an image display method.

  In order to solve such a problem, the invention of claim 1 is applied to an aspect ratio variable device that varies the aspect ratio of an image by the image light by entering and emitting image light for display of the image to an optical unit. The optical unit includes a first transparent columnar member that enters the image light from an incident surface and exits from the exit surface, and an exit light of the first transparent columnar member that enters the entrance surface from the exit surface. A second transparent columnar member that emits light, and a rotation mechanism that rotates the second transparent columnar member, wherein the first transparent columnar member is a columnar member having a polygonal bottom surface; The image that is held in such a manner that the vertical direction or the horizontal direction of the image is the direction in which the central axis extends, the one side is set as the incident surface, the image light is incident, and the image is incident from the incident surface. For the incident surface where light reaches A side surface that is not a row is set as the emission surface, and the second transparent columnar member is a columnar member having a polygonal bottom surface, and the central axis is parallel to the central axis of the first transparent columnar member. The image light that is held in such a way that one side surface is set as the incident surface, the output surface of the first transparent columnar member is opposed to the incident surface, and is incident from the incident surface. A side surface that is not parallel to the incident surface that is reached is set as the output surface, and the rotating mechanism includes the output surface of the first transparent columnar member and the incident surface of the second transparent columnar member. By rotating the second transparent columnar member so as to change the angle formed by the above, the horizontal or vertical length of the image is changed to vary the aspect ratio of the image.

  The invention of claim 9 is applied to the projector applied to the multi-screen display image display device using a plurality of projectors, and the image display device detects the amount of information of each part of the image to be displayed. And the area of charge of the plurality of projectors so that the amount of information in the area of charge for each of the plurality of projectors is in accordance with the detection result by the information amount detector. An assigned area setting means for setting the size of the assigned area, and the projector has a projection optical system for projecting an image of the assigned area set by the assigned area setting means on a screen, and the projection optical system A position variable unit that changes the display position of the image by the video light by changing at least the emission direction of the video light to the assigned area, and the aspect ratio of the image And changing the aspect ratio of the image by the image light by emitting the image light for display of the image incident on the optical unit, and changing the aspect ratio of the image by the image light, The optical unit includes a first transparent columnar member that enters the image light from an incident surface and exits from the exit surface, and an exit light of the first transparent columnar member that enters from the incident surface and exits from the exit surface. A second transparent columnar member; and a rotation mechanism for rotating the second transparent columnar member, wherein the first transparent columnar member is a columnar member having a polygonal bottom surface, and the image by the image light The vertical direction or the horizontal direction of the image is held so as to be the direction in which the central axis extends, and one side surface is set as the incident surface, the image light is incident, and the image light incident from the incident surface is Side surface that is not parallel to the incident surface that reaches it The second transparent columnar member is set to the emission surface, and the bottom surface is a polygonal columnar member, and is held so that the central axis is parallel to the central axis of the first transparent columnar member And one side surface is set as the incident surface, the output surface of the first transparent columnar member is held so as to face the incident surface, and the image light incident from the incident surface arrives. A side surface that is not parallel to the entrance surface is set as the exit surface, and the rotation mechanism has an angle formed by the exit surface of the first transparent columnar member and the entrance surface of the second transparent columnar member. By rotating the second transparent columnar member so as to change, the horizontal or vertical length of the image is changed to vary the aspect ratio of the image.

  The invention of claim 10 is applied to an image display device for multi-screen display using a plurality of projectors, and an information amount detection unit for detecting an information amount of each part of an image to be displayed, and the information amount detection unit Based on the detection result of the above, a responsible area setting means for setting the size of the responsible area of the plurality of projectors so that the amount of information in the responsible area responsible for display by each of the plurality of projectors is equalized; The projector has a projection optical system that projects an image of the assigned area set by the assigned area setting means onto a screen, and the projection optical system is responsible for at least the emission direction of the video light. A variable position portion that changes the display position of the image light by changing the area; and a variable aspect ratio portion that changes the aspect ratio of the image. The image light for display of the image is incident on and emitted from an optical unit, thereby changing the aspect ratio of the image by the image light, and the optical unit receives the image light from an incident surface and emits the image light. A first transparent columnar member that is emitted from the first transparent columnar member, a second transparent columnar member that is incident on the light emitted from the first transparent columnar member and is emitted from the emission surface, and the second transparent columnar member is rotated. The first transparent columnar member is a columnar member having a polygonal bottom surface, and a vertical direction or a horizontal direction of the image by the image light is a direction in which a central axis extends. One side surface is set as the incident surface, the image light is incident, and a side surface that is not parallel to the incident surface that the image light incident from the incident surface reaches is the exit surface. The second transparent columnar portion is set Is a columnar member having a polygonal bottom surface, is held so that the central axis is parallel to the central axis of the first transparent columnar member, and one side surface is set as the incident surface, The exit surface of the first transparent columnar member is held so as to face the entrance surface, and a side surface that is not parallel to the entrance surface where the image light incident from the entrance surface reaches is set as the exit surface. The rotation mechanism rotates the second transparent columnar member so that an angle formed by the emission surface of the first transparent columnar member and the incident surface of the second transparent columnar member changes. As a result, the horizontal or vertical length of the image is changed to vary the aspect ratio of the image.

  The invention of claim 11 is applied to an aspect ratio varying method for varying the aspect ratio of the image by the image light by entering and emitting the image light for display of the image, and the bottom surface is a polygonal shape. The image light is incident on the first transparent columnar member from the incident surface formed by the side surface of the first transparent columnar member, and is not parallel to the incident surface on which the image light incident from the incident surface reaches. The image light is emitted, and the image light emitted from the first transparent columnar member is incident on the second transparent columnar member from an incident surface formed by a side surface of the second transparent columnar member having a polygonal bottom surface. In addition, the image light is emitted from a side surface that is not parallel to the incident surface on which the image light incident from the incident surface reaches, and the emission surface of the first transparent columnar member and the second transparent columnar member Angle formed with the incident surface So it changed, by rotating the second transparent columnar member, to vary the aspect ratio of the image.

  According to the configuration of claim 1, the optical unit is applied to an aspect ratio varying device that varies the aspect ratio of the image by the image light by entering and emitting the image light used for image display to the optical unit. The first transparent columnar member that enters the image light from the incident surface and exits from the exit surface, and the second transparent that emits the light emitted from the first transparent columnar member from the entrance surface and exits from the exit surface A columnar member and a rotation mechanism for rotating the second transparent columnar member, wherein the first transparent columnar member is a columnar member having a polygonal bottom surface, and the vertical direction of the image by the video light or The horizontal direction is held so as to be the direction in which the central axis extends, and one side surface is set as the incident surface, the image light is incident, and the image light incident from the incident surface reaches the incident The side that is not parallel to the surface is The second transparent columnar member is set as an exit surface, and the bottom surface is a polygonal columnar member, and is held so that the central axis is parallel to the central axis of the first transparent columnar member, One incident surface is set as the incident surface, the incident surface is held so that the emergent surface and the incident surface of the first transparent columnar member face each other, and the incident surface from which the image light incident from the incident surface reaches A side surface that is not parallel to the output surface is set as the exit surface, and the rotation mechanism changes an angle formed by the exit surface of the first transparent columnar member and the entrance surface of the second transparent columnar member. As described above, if the horizontal or vertical length of the image is changed by rotating the second transparent columnar member to change the aspect ratio of the image, the first and second transparent The horizontal or vertical length of the image is changed by the columnar member. And as the cause, the change in angle formed between said exit surface and the incident surface of the second transparent columnar member of the first transparent columnar member, it is possible to set the change in length in various ways. Thus, the aspect ratio of the image projected on the screen can be freely changed with a simple configuration.

  Thus, according to the configurations of claims 9, 10, and 11, the projector and the image display according to the aspect ratio variable device capable of freely changing the aspect ratio of the image projected on the screen with a simple configuration. An apparatus and an image display method can be provided.

  According to the present invention, the aspect ratio of an image projected on a screen can be freely changed with a simple configuration.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.

(1) Configuration of Embodiment FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an image display apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The image display device 11 is formed by arranging a plurality of projectors 13A to 13F having the same configuration in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction on a back surface of a large-area screen 12 of a rear projection type at a constant pitch. In the image display device 11, high resolution video data DV1 from the same source is input to the projectors 13A to 13F, and each part of an image based on the video data DV1 is projected onto the screen 12 by the projectors 13A to 13F, respectively. As a result, the image display device 11 constitutes a multi-screen display image display device using a plurality of projectors 13A to 13F.

  In the image display device 11, one of the projectors 13A to 13F is set as a master projector, and responsible areas ARA to ARF in which the projectors 13A to 13F are responsible for display are determined by the master projector. As described with reference to FIG. 18, images are projected onto the assigned areas ARA to ARF by the projectors 13 </ b> A to 13 </ b> F by the control based on this determination. Variable to display a large screen image.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the projectors 13A to 13F. The projectors 13 </ b> A to 13 </ b> F are configured in the same manner except that control by the control unit 22 is different between when set as a master projector and when set as a slave projector.

  That is, when the projectors 13A to 13F are set as master projectors, the information amount detection unit 21 operates under the control of the control unit 22, and the information amount D1 is detected for each part of the image based on the video data DV1. That is, in the master projector, the information amount detection unit 21 receives the video data DV1 to be displayed, detects the information amount D1 for each part of the image based on the video data DV1, and notifies the control unit 22 of the information amount D1. Here, the information amount D1 is information indicating the local dynamic range in each part of the image to be displayed, in other words, information indicating the flatness of the pixel value. The image display device 11 determines the assigned areas ARA to ARF in which the projectors 13A to 13F are responsible for display based on the information amount D1.

  Accordingly, in this embodiment, the information amount detection unit 21 detects the information amount D1 of each unit in units of pixels based on the absolute difference value of the pixel value between adjacent pixels for each pixel. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the information amount detection unit 21 includes each of the eight pixels G11 to G33 around the information amount detection target pixel G22 and the information amount detection target pixel G22. The absolute difference value of the pixel value is detected, the maximum value is detected from the detected absolute difference value, and is set to the information amount D1 of the pixel G22 to be detected. In addition, the absolute difference value of the pixel value is detected by a luminance signal.

  If the assigned areas ARA to ARF can be allocated to the projectors 13A to 13F sufficiently practically, various parameters used for image evaluation can be applied to the information amount. Specifically, for example, instead of detecting the maximum absolute value of the pixel value difference between adjacent pixels, the absolute value of the pixel value between adjacent pixels is detected and the amount of information is detected. May be set. Further, the information amount may be detected by a variance value of pixel values, and further, the information amount may be detected by a color difference signal or a primary color signal instead of or in addition to the luminance signal. Further, instead of detecting the information amount for each pixel value, the pixels may be sampled at a constant sampling pitch, and the information amount of each part may be detected for each sampled pixel. Further, an image based on the video data DV1 may be divided by blocks having a predetermined number of pixels in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and the amount of information may be detected for each block.

  On the other hand, when the slave is set, the information amount detection unit 21 stops its operation under the control of the control unit 22.

  The arrangement information switch 23 is a switch for inputting the arrangement position of the projector 13M. The number of the projectors 13A to 13F arranged in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction in the image display device 11 by the user or serviceman, and these projectors. The position of the own apparatus in 13A-13F is set. Thus, for example, in the example shown in FIG. 2, in the projector 13A arranged at the upper left, three and two projectors 13A to 13F are arranged in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, respectively. This is set by the arrangement information switch 23.

  The control unit 22 executes the processing procedure related to the master projector when the device is arranged at a preset position by the arrangement information switch 23, and the information amount detection unit 21 calculates the information amount D1. To detect. Here, this preset location is, for example, the head of the video data DV1 on the scanning start end side. Further, in this case, the control unit 22 determines the assigned areas ARA to ARF of the projectors 13A to 13F based on the information amount D1, and notifies the slave projectors. The control unit 22 is in charge of the projectors 13A to 13F so that a portion where the image is not projected on the screen does not occur and the total amount of the information amount D1 is equal in the assigned areas ARA to ARF of the projectors 13A to 13F. Regions ARA to ARF are set.

  Therefore, the control unit 22 adds up the information amount D1 by one screen to detect the information amount for one screen, and divides the information amount for one screen by the number of arrangement in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, respectively. As shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 22 divides the display area of one screen in the vertical direction by the division value calculated in this way, and similarly, the display area of one screen is divided as shown in FIG. By dividing in the horizontal direction, the assigned areas AR11 to AR65 of the projectors 13A to 13F are set. The example shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is a case where four projectors are arranged in the horizontal direction H and the vertical direction V, respectively. In addition, the total value of the information amount D1 is further calculated for each area (the areas AR1 to AR4 according to FIG. 5) divided in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction, and each area is vertically or horizontally determined based on the calculation result. The assigned area may be set by dividing. In this way, the amount of information in each assigned area can be made more uniform.

  When the control unit 22 determines the assigned areas ARA to ARF of the projectors 13A to 13F in this manner, the control unit 22 detects the center coordinates O and the horizontal and vertical sizes W and H of the assigned areas ARA to ARF. Further, these are notified to the corresponding slave projectors 13A to 13F, thereby notifying the slave projectors 13A to 13F of the assigned areas ARA to ARF, respectively. In this case, instead of the center coordinates O and the horizontal and vertical sizes W and H, the assigned areas ARA to ARF are notified by, for example, notification of addresses on the scanning start end side and scanning end end side. May be.

  The control unit 22 of the master projector (FIG. 2) determines the control unit 22 of the slave projector based on the center coordinates O of the area in charge of the own device determined by the own device, and the horizontal and vertical sizes W and H. The operation of the image processing unit 24 is controlled so that an image based on the video data DV1 is projected onto the screen 12 based on the center coordinates O of the assigned area notified from the master projector and the horizontal and vertical sizes W and H. At the same time, the operation of the projection optical system 26 is controlled via the drive unit 25.

  Here, the image processing unit 24 selectively acquires the video data of the assigned area from the sequentially input video data DV1 under the control of the control unit 22. Further, the image processing unit 24 selects the selectively acquired video data so that the number of samplings in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction becomes the number of pixels in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of the image display element in the projector, respectively. The acquired video data is resampled by interpolation processing and output.

  The projection optical system 26 projects an image based on the video data DV <b> 2 by the image processing unit 24 onto the assigned area of the screen 2. That is, in the projection optical system 26, the image display unit 27 is an image display element such as a transmissive liquid crystal display panel, a light source that supplies light to the image display element, and the image display element is driven by video data DV2 from the image processing unit 24. And an optical system that emits the image light L1 spatially modulated by the image display element, and the projection image light L1 spatially modulated by the video data DV2 is emitted. The projection optical system 26 displays the image of the assigned area on the screen 2 by emitting the video light L1 toward the screen 2.

  In this series of processing, the variable magnification unit 28 is a zoom lens that varies the magnification by driving the drive unit 25, and the size of an image formed on the screen 2 by the video light L 1 emitted from the image display unit 27. The size is set according to an instruction from the control unit 22.

  The position variable unit 29 sets the position of the image formed on the screen 2 by the video light L <b> 1 by the driving of the driving unit 25 to a position instructed by the control unit 22. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the position changing unit 29 is configured to change the display position by the tilt method, and the image light is reflected by the mirror and projected onto the screen 12, and the display is rotated by the mirror. A configuration for changing the position can be applied.

  The aspect ratio variable unit 30 varies the aspect ratio of the image formed on the screen 2 by the video light L <b> 1 by driving the driving unit 25. The projection optical system 26 corresponds to the assigned areas ARA to ARF of the projectors 13A to 13F by controlling the magnification variable unit 28, the position variable unit 29, and the aspect ratio variable unit 30 by the control unit 22 via the drive unit 25, respectively. Thus, the image display device 11 changes the pixel density of each part in accordance with the amount of information per unit area, thereby displaying a large screen image with high image quality.

  1A to 1C are a front view, a side view, and a plan view showing the aspect ratio variable unit 30 in detail, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view for explaining the operation principle of the aspect ratio variable unit 30. is there. The aspect ratio variable unit 30 is formed by an optical block including first and second transparent columnar members 31 and 32 and a rotation mechanism 34. Here, the first and second transparent columnar members 31 and 32 are polygonal columnar members made of optical glass, transparent plastic or the like. In this embodiment, the first and second transparent columnar members 31 and 32 are formed in the same shape and further have side surfaces. It is formed by a flat surface.

  The aspect ratio variable unit 30 changes the vertical or horizontal length of the image projected on the screen 2 to change the aspect ratio of the image formed on the screen 2, so that the first and second transparent columnar shapes are formed. The member 31 is arranged so that the horizontal direction or the vertical direction on the side where the length is not changed is the extending direction of the central axis extending in a columnar shape.

  The first transparent columnar member 31 is arranged such that one side surface is set as the incident surface 34 and the image light L2 emitted from the position variable unit 29 is incident obliquely on the incident surface 34. As shown in FIG. 9, the first transparent columnar member 31 is set so that the image light L2 is incident obliquely in a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the transparent columnar member 31, and the center of the transparent columnar member 31 is In the plane including the axis, the image light L2 is set so as to enter perpendicularly. However, in the case where the image light L2 is formed with a sufficiently large size, the transparent columnar member 31 also includes a plane including the central axis. You may set so that it may incline.

  Further, the first transparent columnar member 31 can emit the image light from the side surface to which the image light L2 incident on the first transparent columnar member 31 thus reaches, and the emission surface 35 by this side surface. However, the shape is selected so as not to be parallel to the incident surface 34. Thus, in this embodiment, equilateral triangular prisms are applied to the first and second transparent columnar members 31 and 32. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the first transparent columnar member 31 is held so that the emission surface 35 is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the image light, thereby preventing the second transparent columnar member 32 to be described later. The emission direction of the emitted video light is set so as not to change greatly by changing the aspect ratio.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 10, when light is incident obliquely on a parallel plate 36 having an incident surface 34 and an output surface 35 that are parallel to each other, the emitted light is emitted by simply shifting the optical path with respect to the incident light. Will be. In this case, assuming that the incident light is formed by a large number of light beams with a constant interval, and assuming that the density of the light beams is a light beam density, the light beam has no change in the light beam density with respect to the incident light. Become.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11 in comparison with FIG. 10, when the exit surface 35 is not held parallel to the entrance surface 34 as in the transparent columnar members 31 and 32, the incident light is The light beam density of the emitted light changes, and in the example of FIG. 11, the light beam density becomes coarse and the emitted light is emitted. Thereby, in this case, the image displayed on the screen 12 can be enlarged in the in-plane direction shown in FIG. However, in this case, it becomes difficult to vary the degree of enlargement. Also, chromatic aberration occurs.

  In this case, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, if the angle formed by the entrance surface 34 and the exit surface 35 is varied, the light density changes in accordance with this angle, thereby varying the degree of enlargement. It becomes possible to change to.

  As a result, in the aspect ratio variable unit 30, the second transparent columnar member 32 is arranged at a certain interval following the first transparent columnar member 31. Further, at this time, when the incident surface 37 of the second transparent columnar member 32 is held in parallel with the emission surface 35 of the first transparent columnar member 31, The second transparent columnar member 32 is arranged with respect to the first transparent columnar member 31 so that the incident surface 34 and the emission surface 38 of the second transparent columnar member 32 are parallel to each other. Thereby, the 1st and 2nd transparent columnar members 31 and 32 are arrange | positioned so that a central axis may become parallel.

  Further, as shown by the arrow A, the second transparent columnar member 32 is rotated about the central axis as shown by an arrow A, and as a result, the first transparent columnar member 32 is rotated as shown in FIGS. An image AR formed on the screen 12 by the video light L3 emitted from the second transparent columnar member 32 by changing the angle formed by the emission surface 35 of the columnar member 31 and the incident surface 37 of the second transparent columnar member 32. Variable aspect ratio.

  For this reason, the aspect ratio variable unit 30 is provided with a resin holder 42 on a base 41 made of, for example, a metal plate, and the first transparent columnar member 31 is held by the holder 42. The second transparent columnar member 32 is held on the base 41 by a resin holder 44 provided with a rotation mechanism 43 by a motor or the like on the base side, and the second drive unit 25 of the rotation mechanism 43 drives the second transparent columnar member 32. The transparent columnar member 32 is rotated to change the aspect ratio of the image AR formed on the screen 12.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 14, in the first transparent columnar member 31, the optical path difference generated by each of the image lights LR, LG, and LB due to red, green, and blue is corrected by the second transparent columnar member 32, and the screen 12 Occurrence of chromatic aberration in the image projected onto the screen is prevented.

  Thus, in this embodiment, the position variable unit 29 controls the emission direction of the video light L3 so that the video light L3 is emitted toward the center O of the assigned area determined by the control unit 22. In addition, the horizontal or vertical length or height of the image projected on the screen 12 on the side whose length is not changed by the aspect ratio variable unit 30 is the width W or height of the assigned area determined by the control unit 22. The size of the entire image to be projected on the screen 12 is set by the magnification variable unit 28 so as to be H, and the remaining height and width in the vertical or horizontal direction are further controlled by the control unit 22 by the aspect ratio variable unit 30. The image light L3 is corrected so as to be the determined height H or width W of the assigned area, thereby changing the pixel density of each part in accordance with the amount of information per unit area, Display an image.

(2) Operation of Embodiment In the above configuration, in the image display device 11 (FIG. 2), a large screen image by the video data DV1 is displayed on the screen 12 by multi-screen display by a plurality of projectors 13A to 13F. .

  In this image display device 11 (FIG. 3), the information amount D1 indicating the local dynamic range of the video data DV1 used for this display is sequentially detected in pixel units by the information amount detection unit 21 of the projector set as the master. (FIG. 4). Further, in the control unit 22 of the projector set as the master, the information amount D1 detected by the information amount detection unit 21 is totaled and divided by the number of projectors arranged in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, respectively, and the information amount in each region The display area of the screen 12 is divided in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction so that the total value of D1 becomes this division value. Thereby, in the image display apparatus 11, the area in charge of the display of each projector 13A to 13F is determined (FIGS. 5 and 6).

  In this image display device 11 (FIG. 2), in each projector 13A and 13F, the video data DV1 related to each responsible area is selectively acquired by the image processing unit 24, and the image display element provided in the image display unit 27 is used. The video data DV2 is generated by resampling so as to correspond. Further, in the image display unit 27, the image display element is driven by the video data DV2, the light from the light source is spatially modulated, and the resulting image light L1 is projected onto the screen 12 by the projection optical system 26.

  In the image display device 11, in the projection optical system 26, the size of the image on the screen 12 by the video light is set to be the length of one side of the assigned region by varying the magnification by the magnification varying unit 28. Further, the display position of the image on the screen 12 is set to be the assigned region by the subsequent correction of the emission direction by the position variable unit 29 (FIGS. 7 and 8). Further, by changing the aspect ratio in the subsequent aspect ratio variable unit 30, the length of the other side remaining after changing the magnification by the magnification variable unit 28 is corrected so as to be the length of the corresponding side of the assigned area, thereby the information. Images are displayed by the projectors 13A to 13F in the assigned areas set according to the amount D1.

  Thereby, in this image display device 11, the pixel density used for display is changed according to the amount of information per unit area by changing the area of the area in charge of each projector 13A to 13F, and with higher image quality than before. Large screen images can be displayed.

  In this way, in changing the assigned area of each projector 13A to 13F, in the aspect ratio variable unit 30 (FIGS. 1 and 9), the bottom surface is incident on the incident surface 34 of the first transparent columnar member 31 having a polygonal shape. The image light L2 emitted from the position variable unit 29 is incident obliquely and is emitted from the emission surface 35 that is not parallel to the incident surface 34. Further, the image light emitted from the exit surface 35 enters from the entrance surface 37 of the same second transparent columnar member 32 and exits from the exit surface 38 (FIG. 13). The second transparent columnar member 32 is rotated by driving the rotation mechanism 43 by the driving unit 25, and the emission surface 35 of the first transparent columnar member 31 and the incident surface 37 of the second transparent columnar member 32 are The angle formed by can be varied.

  Thereby, in the aspect ratio variable unit 30, the image formed on the screen 12 in accordance with the angle formed by the exit surface 35 of the first transparent columnar member 31 and the incident surface 37 of the second transparent columnar member 32. The vertical or horizontal length changes, and the aspect ratio of the image by the video light L2 can be varied. At this time, the vertical or horizontal length of the image formed on the screen 12 is changed by the change in the angle between the emission surface 35 of the first transparent columnar member 31 and the incident surface 37 of the second transparent columnar member 32 in this way. In this case, there is a feature that the second transparent columnar member is largely changed by a minute angle rotation, and the focus change is small. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the aspect ratio of the image projected on the screen can be freely set by a simple configuration including two transparent columnar members and a rotation mechanism that rotates one of the two transparent columnar members. Can be changed. This also simplifies the configuration of each projector and even the image display apparatus 11.

  In this embodiment, the aspect ratio of the image projected onto the screen 12 can be freely changed by the first and second columnar members 31 and 32, and in this embodiment, the first and second columnar members 31 are used. And 32 are formed in the same shape, whereby the chromatic aberration generated in the first columnar member 31 is corrected by the second columnar member 32 (FIG. 14). Thus, in this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of chromatic aberration by freely changing the aspect ratio of the image projected on the screen 12 with a simple configuration.

(3) Effects of the Embodiment According to the above configuration, the image light is projected onto the screen sequentially through the first and second transparent columnar members, and the emission surface of the first transparent columnar member and the second By rotating the second transparent columnar member so that the angle formed with the incident surface of the transparent columnar member changes, the aspect ratio of the image projected on the screen can be freely changed with a simple configuration. it can.

  Further, by forming the first and second transparent columnar members with the same shape, the occurrence of chromatic aberration can be prevented.

  FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a projector applied to the image display apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention in comparison with FIG. The image display apparatus according to the present embodiment is the same as the image display apparatus 11 described above with reference to the first embodiment except that the projectors 53A to 53F illustrated in FIG. 3 are applied instead of the projectors 13A to 13F described above. Configured. Further, the projectors 53A to 53F are configured in the same manner as the projectors 13A to 13F described above with respect to the first embodiment except that a projection optical system 56 is provided instead of the projection optical system 26. In this projection optical system 56, the magnification variable unit 28 is omitted, and an aspect ratio variable unit 60 is provided instead of the aspect ratio variable unit 30.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 16, the aspect ratio variable unit 60 includes a second block formed by the third and fourth transparent columnar members 61 and 62 in addition to the optical block formed by the first and second transparent columnar members 31 and 32. The optical block is provided. Here, the optical block formed by the transparent columnar members 31 and 32 is configured in the same manner as the aspect ratio variable unit 30 described above with reference to the first embodiment. On the other hand, the second optical block is an optical block formed by the transparent columnar members 31 and 32 so that the length of the side on the side where the length is not changed depending on the optical block formed by the transparent columnar members 31 and 32 is variable. On the other hand, it is arranged in a state where the optical axis of the image light is set as the rotation axis and rotated by 90 degrees, and the fourth transparent columnar member 62 is rotated by the drive unit. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the length of the image projected on the screen 12 can be varied by the aspect ratio varying unit 60 in both the vertical direction and the horizontal direction.

  In this embodiment, the aspect ratio of the image projected on the screen 12 is varied by the aspect ratio varying unit 60 and the overall size is varied.

  As in this embodiment, in addition to the optical block formed by the first and second transparent columnar members, the second optical block formed by the third and fourth transparent columnar members is provided on the screen 12. It is possible to change the aspect ratio by changing the length in both the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the image. Thus, the configuration relating to the zoom lens can be omitted when applied to the projector.

  In this embodiment, for all or any of the transparent columnar members 31, 32, 61, 62 described above, the incident surface and / or the exit surface are formed by curved surfaces, and various aberrations of the image formed on the screen 12 are corrected. In addition, in this curved surface, for example, a curved surface shape is different between a case where a cross section is taken by a surface including the central axis of a transparent columnar member and a case where a cross section is seen by a surface perpendicular to the central axis. For example, a cylindrical surface can be applied.

  As in this embodiment, for all or any of the transparent columnar members, the incident surface and / or the exit surface are formed by curved surfaces, thereby correcting various aberrations of the image formed on the screen, and correspondingly higher quality. An image can be displayed on the screen.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the bottom surface shape of the transparent columnar member is set to an equilateral triangle shape has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the point is that the incident surface and the exit surface are not parallel. Alternatively, it may be an isosceles triangle shape, or may be a quadrilateral shape obtained by cutting off an extra portion from the triangle shape, and various shapes can be widely applied.

  In the above-described embodiments, the case where the position variable unit is separately provided has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the position of the variable output unit can be changed by rotating the entire aspect ratio variable unit. The variable part may be omitted.

  In the above-described embodiments, the case where the magnification variable portion, the position variable portion, and the aspect ratio variable portion are sequentially provided from the image display portion 27 side has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and in this order, However, it may be changed as appropriate.

  Further, in the above-described embodiments, the case where the information amount is detected by the master projector and the responsible area of each projector is set has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and such information amount detection and responsible area are set. These settings may be executed by a dedicated device different from the projector.

  In the above-described embodiments, the case where the present invention is applied to the image display apparatus using the rear projection type projector has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is also applicable to the image display apparatus using the front projection type projector. be able to.

  Further, in the above-described embodiments, the case where the aspect ratio variable device according to the present invention is applied to a projector has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various devices related to images, such as panoramic image shooting and display, for example. Can be widely applied to.

  The present invention can be applied to multi-screen display by a plurality of projectors, for example.

It is a figure which shows the aspect ratio variable part of the image display apparatus which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. 1 is a perspective view showing an image display device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the projector applied to the image display apparatus of FIG. It is a basic diagram with which it uses for description of the detection of information amount. It is an approximate line figure used for explanation of setting of a charge area. It is a basic diagram with which it uses for description of the division setting of the horizontal direction of a charge area. It is an approximate line figure used for explanation of variable of a display position. It is a basic diagram with which it uses for description of the change of the display position using a mirror. It is a perspective view with which it uses for description of the aspect ratio variable part of FIG. It is a basic diagram with which it uses for description of the transmission of the light in a parallel plate. It is a basic diagram with which it uses for description of the permeation | transmission of the light in the member in case an incident surface and an output surface have a fixed angle. It is a basic diagram with which it uses for description of the variable aspect ratio. It is an approximate line figure showing change of an aspect ratio. It is an approximate line figure used for explanation of amendment of chromatic aberration. It is a block diagram which shows the projector applied to the image display apparatus which concerns on Example 2 of this invention. FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram for explaining an aspect ratio variable unit applied to the projector of FIG. 15. It is a perspective view with which it uses for description of a multiscreen display. It is an approximate line figure used for variable explanation of a charge area. It is a basic diagram with which it uses for description of the variable aspect ratio. It is a basic diagram with which it uses for description of the variable aspect ratio by a cylindrical lens. It is a basic diagram with which it uses for description of the variable aspect ratio by a mirror.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,11 ... Image display apparatus, 2, 12 ... Screen, 3A-3F, 13A-13F, 53A-53F ... Projector, 21 ... Information amount detection part, 22 ... Control part, 26, 56 ... Projection optical system, 27... Image display section, 28... Variable magnification section, 29 ....... position variable section, 30, 60... Aspect ratio variable section, 31, 32, 61, 62.

Claims (11)

An aspect ratio variable device that varies the aspect ratio of an image by the image light by emitting the image light used for displaying an image by being incident on an optical unit,
The optical unit is
A first transparent columnar member that enters the image light from an incident surface and emits the image light from an output surface;
A second transparent columnar member that emits light emitted from the first transparent columnar member from an incident surface and exits from the output surface;
A rotation mechanism for rotating the second transparent columnar member,
The first transparent columnar member is
The bottom is a polygonal columnar member,
The vertical direction or horizontal direction of the image by the image light is held so as to be the direction in which the central axis extends,
One side surface is set as the incident surface, and the image light is incident.
A side surface that is not parallel to the incident surface that the image light incident from the incident surface reaches is set as the exit surface,
The second transparent columnar member is
The bottom is a polygonal columnar member,
The central axis of the first transparent columnar member is held so that the central axis is parallel,
One side surface is set as the incident surface, and is held so that the emission surface and the incident surface of the first transparent columnar member face each other.
A side surface that is not parallel to the incident surface that the image light incident from the incident surface reaches is set as the exit surface,
The rotation mechanism is
By rotating the second transparent columnar member so that the angle formed by the exit surface of the first transparent columnar member and the incident surface of the second transparent columnar member changes, the horizontal direction of the image is increased. The aspect ratio variable device characterized in that the aspect ratio of the image is varied by changing the length in the direction or the vertical direction. The aspect ratio variable device according to claim 1, wherein the first transparent columnar member and the second transparent columnar member are formed in the same shape. The entrance surface and / or exit surface of the first transparent columnar member and / or the entrance surface and / or exit surface of the second transparent columnar member are formed by curved surfaces. Aspect ratio variable device. A second optical unit that varies an aspect ratio of an image by video light emitted from the optical unit;
The second optical unit includes:
A third transparent columnar member that enters the image light emitted from the optical unit from an incident surface and emits the light from the exit surface;
A fourth transparent columnar member that emits light emitted from the third transparent columnar member from an incident surface and exits from the output surface;
A second rotating mechanism for rotating the fourth transparent columnar member,
The third transparent columnar member is a columnar member having a polygonal bottom surface,
The horizontal direction or vertical direction of the image by the image light is held so as to be the direction in which the central axis extends,
One side surface is set as the incident surface, and the image light is incident.
A side surface that is not parallel to the incident surface that the image light incident from the incident surface reaches is set as the exit surface,
The fourth transparent columnar member is
The bottom is a polygonal columnar member,
The central axis of the third transparent columnar member is held so that the central axis is parallel,
One side surface is set as the incident surface, and is held so that the emission surface and the incident surface of the third transparent columnar member face each other,
A side surface that is not parallel to the incident surface that the image light incident from the incident surface reaches is set as the exit surface,
The second rotation mechanism includes:
By rotating the fourth transparent columnar member so that the angle formed by the exit surface of the third transparent columnar member and the incident surface of the fourth transparent columnar member changes, the image The aspect ratio variable device according to claim 1, wherein the aspect ratio of the image is varied by changing a length in a vertical direction or a horizontal direction. The aspect ratio variable device according to claim 4, wherein the first transparent columnar member and the second transparent columnar member are formed in the same shape. The aspect ratio variable device according to claim 5, wherein the third transparent columnar member and the fourth transparent columnar member are formed in the same shape. The entrance surface and / or exit surface of the first transparent columnar member and / or the entrance surface and / or exit surface of the second transparent columnar member are formed by curved surfaces. Aspect ratio variable device. The entrance surface and / or exit surface of the third transparent columnar member and / or the entrance surface and / or exit surface of the fourth transparent columnar member are formed by curved surfaces. Aspect ratio variable device. The projector applied to a multi-screen display image display device using a plurality of projectors,
The image display device includes:
An information amount detection unit for detecting the amount of information of each part of the image to be displayed;
Based on the detection result by the information amount detection unit, setting of the responsible area for setting the responsible area of the plurality of projectors so that the information amount in the responsible area where the plurality of projectors are responsible for display becomes equal. Means,
The projector is
A projection optical system that projects an image of the assigned area set by the assigned area setting means onto a screen;
The projection optical system is
A position variable unit that varies the display position of the image by the image light by varying at least the emission direction of the image light in the assigned region;
An aspect ratio variable unit that varies the aspect ratio of the image,
The aspect ratio variable part is:
By entering and emitting image light for display of the image to an optical unit, the aspect ratio of the image by the image light is varied,
The optical unit is
A first transparent columnar member that enters the image light from an incident surface and emits the image light from an exit surface;
A second transparent columnar member that emits light emitted from the first transparent columnar member from an incident surface and exits from the output surface;
A rotation mechanism for rotating the second transparent columnar member,
The first transparent columnar member is
The bottom is a polygonal columnar member,
The vertical direction or horizontal direction of the image by the image light is held so as to be the direction in which the central axis extends,
One side surface is set as the incident surface, and the image light is incident.
A side surface that is not parallel to the incident surface that the image light incident from the incident surface reaches is set as the exit surface,
The second transparent columnar member is
The bottom is a polygonal columnar member,
The central axis of the first transparent columnar member is held so that the central axis is parallel,
One side surface is set as the incident surface, and is held so that the emission surface and the incident surface of the first transparent columnar member face each other.
A side surface that is not parallel to the incident surface that the image light incident from the incident surface reaches is set as the exit surface,
The rotation mechanism is
By rotating the second transparent columnar member so that the angle formed by the exit surface of the first transparent columnar member and the incident surface of the second transparent columnar member changes, the horizontal direction of the image is increased. A projector characterized in that the aspect ratio of the image is varied by changing the length in the direction or the vertical direction. An image display device for multi-screen display using a plurality of projectors,
An information amount detection unit for detecting the amount of information of each part of the image to be displayed;
Based on the detection result by the information amount detection unit, setting of the responsible area for setting the responsible area of the plurality of projectors so that the information amount in the responsible area where the plurality of projectors are responsible for display becomes equal. Means,
The projector is
A projection optical system that projects an image of the assigned area set by the assigned area setting means onto a screen;
The projection optical system is
A position variable unit that varies the display position of the image by the image light by varying at least the emission direction of the image light in the assigned region;
An aspect ratio variable unit that varies the aspect ratio of the image,
The aspect ratio variable part is:
By entering and emitting image light for display of the image to an optical unit, the aspect ratio of the image by the image light is varied,
The optical unit is
A first transparent columnar member that enters the image light from an incident surface and emits the image light from an output surface;
A second transparent columnar member that emits light emitted from the first transparent columnar member from an incident surface and exits from the output surface;
A rotation mechanism for rotating the second transparent columnar member,
The first transparent columnar member is
The bottom is a polygonal columnar member,
The vertical direction or horizontal direction of the image by the image light is held so as to be the direction in which the central axis extends,
One side surface is set as the incident surface, and the image light is incident.
A side surface that is not parallel to the incident surface that the image light incident from the incident surface reaches is set as the exit surface,
The second transparent columnar member is
The bottom is a polygonal columnar member,
The central axis of the first transparent columnar member is held so that the central axis is parallel,
One side surface is set as the incident surface, and is held so that the emission surface and the incident surface of the first transparent columnar member face each other.
A side surface that is not parallel to the incident surface that the image light incident from the incident surface reaches is set as the exit surface,
The rotation mechanism is
By rotating the second transparent columnar member so that the angle formed by the exit surface of the first transparent columnar member and the incident surface of the second transparent columnar member changes, the horizontal direction of the image is increased. An image display device characterized in that the aspect ratio of the image is varied by changing the length in the direction or the vertical direction. An aspect ratio variable method for varying an aspect ratio of an image by the image light by entering and emitting image light for display of an image,
The image light is incident on the first transparent columnar member from the incident surface formed by the side surface of the first transparent columnar member having a polygonal bottom surface, and the image light incident from the incident surface reaches the incident surface on which the image light reaches. The image light is emitted from a side that is not parallel to the side,
The image light emitted from the first transparent columnar member is incident on the second transparent columnar member and incident from the incident surface from the incident surface by the side surface of the second transparent columnar member having a polygonal bottom surface. The image light is emitted from a side surface that is not parallel to the incident surface to which the image light reaches,
By rotating the second transparent columnar member so that the angle formed by the exit surface of the first transparent columnar member and the incident surface of the second transparent columnar member changes, the vertical and horizontal directions of the image are changed. A method for varying the aspect ratio, characterized by varying the ratio.

Images