JP2007101970A - Three-dimensional image display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a three-dimensional image display device capable of displaying the surface of a three-dimensional object more naturally. <P>SOLUTION: A rotary table 4 is rotated at high speed through a gear 24 and a shaft 20 by the rotation of a motor 26. A plurality of light-emitting arrays 8, having a plurality of light emitting elements 6, are erected on the rotary table 4. An image data supply part 28 applies shading processing, to shade the image data of the three-dimensional object. After the image data supply part 28 has applied the shading processing, a light-emitting element driver turns on and off the respective light-emitting elements 6 in the predetermined timing, while the rotary table 4 is rotated, by using image data generated by converting black into a predetermined color. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for displaying a surface of a three-dimensional object using a light emitting element.

In Patent Document 1, the present inventor discloses a technique for displaying a surface model of a three-dimensional object using a light emitting element. In this disclosed technique (also referred to as “disclosed technique”), the surface model is displayed by lighting a light emitting element using image data of a three-dimensional object. In the three-dimensional image display device according to the disclosed technology, since the light emitting element array having the light emitting elements is arranged with a depth, the surface of the three-dimensional object is actually expressed as a three-dimensional image. In this respect, it can be said that this disclosed technique is very innovative.
JP 2004-40667 A

  About the above-mentioned technique, this inventor recognized that there was room for improvement in order to express the surface of a three-dimensional object more naturally.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to display the surface of a three-dimensional object more naturally.

  One embodiment of the present invention relates to a three-dimensional image display device. The three-dimensional image display device includes a light-emitting display unit having a plurality of light-emitting elements, a rotatable support unit on which the light-emitting display unit is erected, a driving unit that rotates the support unit, and a rotation of the support unit And an image data supply unit that supplies image data for three-dimensionally displaying the surface of the three-dimensional object to the light emitting display unit by turning on the light emitting element at a predetermined position. A reconstructing unit is provided that virtually performs processing for reconstructing image data. The reconstruction unit may perform a shading process on the image data that illuminates and shades a three-dimensional object from a virtually provided light source.

  In the image processing technology, the shading process is generally performed for a two-dimensional display. In other words, because the display is two-dimensional, it is necessary to perform a shading process to add a shadow in order to represent the object three-dimensionally. On the other hand, in the above-described three-dimensional image display device invented by the present inventor, the light emitting element array is arranged with a depth, and the display itself is three-dimensional. This device displays an object by causing the light emitting element itself to emit light, that is, by self-light emission. Usually, an object does not emit light itself and reflects light emitted from a light source. When the reflected light enters the human eye, the human visually recognizes the color and shape of the object. The inventor of the present invention invented the three-dimensional image display device according to the present invention, paying attention to the difference in appearance between an object displayed by the device and a normal object. Since this three-dimensional image display device displays the surface of an object by self-light emission using image data that has been shaded and shaded, the surface of the object can be displayed more naturally than in the past.

  The reconstruction unit may perform a process on the image data to convert the color of the black portion of the three-dimensional object to a predetermined color other than black. Since the light emitting element cannot emit black light, when displaying the surface of an object having a black part, the black part cannot be expressed by self-light emission. As a method for displaying black, it is conceivable that the light emitting element is not lit. However, in this method, the black portion is displayed in the back from the user's viewpoint as compared with the other color portions, and the display of the object as a whole becomes unnatural. According to the three-dimensional image display device according to the present invention, it is possible to display the surface of an object having a black portion by causing black to emit light with a predetermined color close to black other than black. The “predetermined color” may be, for example, a dark color.

  The reconstruction unit may perform processing on the image data to convert the color in the portion that has become black as a result of the shading processing to a color in which the brightness of the color in the portion before the shading processing is darkened. As a result, the shaded portion of the color as a result of the shading process is converted to a color reflecting the color before the shading process. As a result, the surface of the three-dimensional object can be displayed with a color that is essentially closer to the color of the three-dimensional object.

  When the color before the shading process in the part that has become black as a result of the shading process is black, the reconstruction unit may perform a process for converting the color of the part into a predetermined color other than black. . When the color before the shading process is black, the color of the shaded and shaded part cannot be converted to black that cannot be expressed by self-light emission as described above. In the three-dimensional image display device, the light emitting element emits light in a predetermined color close to black in a color other than black. As a result, even when an object having a black portion is shaded, the surface of the object can be displayed. The “predetermined color” may be, for example, a dark color.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements and the expression of the present invention converted between a method, a system, a computer program, a recording medium, etc. are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

  According to the three-dimensional image display device of the present invention, the surface of a three-dimensional object can be displayed more naturally.

  In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which a 3D image display device displays a shaded surface of a 3D object. Specifically, the shading process is performed on the image data of the three-dimensional object to be displayed to add a shadow. When the color of the black part in the image data after the shading process is the color before the shading process, that is, the original color is a color other than black, the color of the part is converted to a color in which the lightness of the color before the shading process is darkened. . On the other hand, when the color of the black portion before the shading process is black, the color of the portion is converted to a predetermined color close to dark black with lightness. Image data is reconstructed by these shading processing and color conversion processing, and the surface of the three-dimensional object is displayed three-dimensionally using this image data.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a three-dimensional image display device 100 according to this embodiment. The three-dimensional image display apparatus 100 includes a plurality of light-emitting element arrays 8 including a base 2, a rotary table 4, and a plurality of light-emitting elements 6. As shown in the figure, the three-dimensional image display device 100 includes two sets of light emitting element array groups 9 each consisting of twelve light emitting element arrays 8. In FIG. 1, only eight light emitting elements 6 included in each light emitting element array 8 are shown, but in fact, each light emitting element array 8 includes 60 light emitting elements 6. The light emitting element 6 is, for example, a light emitting diode. The number of sets of light emitting element array groups 9, the number of light emitting element arrays 8, and the number of light emitting elements 6 per each light emitting element array 8 are examples, and are not limited thereto. The base 2 includes a first light source position setting switch 10 and a second light source position setting switch 12. The base 2 includes a shaft 20, a rotary connector 22, a gear 24, a motor 26, an image data supply unit 28, and a rotary encoder 42. Further, a light emitting element driver (not shown) is provided at a position corresponding to each light emitting element 6, for example, a position corresponding to the back side of each light emitting element 6 in the light emitting element array 8.

  The rotary table 4 is pivotally supported on the base 2 by a shaft 20 at the center thereof, and rotates at a speed of, for example, 540 rpm through the gear 24 and the shaft 20 by the rotation of the motor 26. The electric power required for lighting the light emitting elements 6 is finally supplied to each light emitting element 6 through the rotary connector 22 and a path laid inside the shaft 20. A light-emitting element array 8 is erected on the rotary table 4, and the image data supply unit 28 lights each light-emitting element 6 at a predetermined timing while the rotary table 4 is rotating at a high speed. The surface can be expressed in the three-dimensional image display device 100.

  The user operates the first light source position setting switch 10 and the second light source position setting switch 12 to adjust the position of a virtually provided light source used for shading processing described later. Thereby, the user can set the position from which the image of the illuminated three-dimensional object is displayed. These switches are knob-shaped, and the user operates them by turning these switches. The first light source position setting switch 10 is for adjusting the position of the light source in the horizontal direction. In accordance with the operation of the first light source position setting switch 10 by the user, the light source moves around the object in the horizontal direction. The second light source position setting switch 12 is for adjusting the height of the light source. The light source moves in the vertical direction according to the operation of the second light source position setting switch 12 by the user.

  The rotary encoder 42 has a pinion at the top, and acquires rotation information of the turntable 4 via this and the gear 24. The rotation information refers to information on the state of rotation, such as the position of a reference point (not shown) set on the rotary table 4, and relates to the position of the light emitting element array 8 on the rotating table 4 during rotation. is there. The acquired rotation information is input to the image data supply unit 28 through a path (not shown), and is used to generate a data read signal to be described later. Each light emitting element driver turns on and off each light emitting element 6 based on an input from the image data supply unit 28 via a path (not shown).

  FIG. 2 is a plan view of the three-dimensional image display device 100. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. Each light-emitting element array 8 included in one set of light-emitting element array groups 9 has an arc that gradually approaches the center O from the outer periphery of the rotary table 4 at equal angular intervals with respect to the center O of the rotary table 4. Arranged along. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the arrays are arranged at an interval of 8 degrees with respect to the center O of the rotary table 4 and at an interval of 7 mm from the outer periphery toward the center O. The other light emitting element array group 9 includes the light emitting element array 8 and the light emitting element array 8 disposed at point-symmetrical positions with respect to the center O of the turntable 4. Each light emitting element array 8 is directed in the radial direction from the center O of the turntable 4. Therefore, a clear three-dimensional image can be recognized from any position around the turntable 4 by the user. Thus, in the present embodiment, the light emitting element array 8 is arranged with a predetermined regularity, but the arrangement is not limited to this.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the image data supply unit 28. Each block shown here can be realized in hardware by various elements such as a processor and RAM, and various devices such as sensors, and in software, it can be realized by a computer program. Depicts functional blocks realized by. Therefore, those skilled in the art will understand that these functional blocks can be realized in various forms by a combination of hardware and software.

  The image data supply unit 28 includes an original image data holding unit 30, a light source position holding unit 32, a shading processing unit 36, an image data reconstruction unit 38, an image data conversion unit 40, a data read signal generation unit 44, and a display data holding unit 46. including. The original image data holding unit 30 receives image data about the surface of the three-dimensional object from the outside, and holds this image data. As another example, the original image data holding unit 30 may accept input of image data for a volume of a three-dimensional object and extract image data for a surface. The light source position holding unit 32 holds information on the position of the light source set by the user operating the first light source position setting switch 10 and the second light source position setting switch 12.

  The shading processing unit 36 performs shading processing on the original image data. Here, “original image data” refers to image data about the surface of the three-dimensional object before being subjected to the shading process. The “shading process” refers to a process of generating image data of a three-dimensional object that is shaded by being illuminated from a virtually provided light source. In the shading process, the three-dimensional object is illuminated from the position of the light source held by the light source position holding unit 32. The image data reconstruction unit 38 performs processing for converting the color of the image data subjected to the shading process. The color conversion process will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  The image data conversion unit 40 generates display data using the image data whose color has been converted. It is assumed that the space on the turntable 4 is a space composed of a plurality of pixels for displaying the surface of the object. This space can be considered as a coordinate system composed of the radial direction, the circumferential direction, and the height direction of the rotary table 4, and the position of each pixel can be expressed as the coordinates of a point in this coordinate system. The display data is generated by associating coordinates of each pixel with color information (hereinafter also referred to as “lighting information”) displayed in each pixel. At this time, for a pixel that is not at a position for displaying the surface of the object, the coordinates of the pixel are associated with information that turns off the light emitting element at the coordinates of the position (hereinafter also referred to as “light-off information”). That is, the display data for each light emitting element array 8 indicates which light emitting element 6 is lit and extinguished at which position while the turntable 4 is rotating, and in which color when the light is lit. Content. The image data conversion unit 40 is a means (not shown) that gives instructions on how to display an object in the above-described coordinate system, that is, the display position and size of the object, the display angle, and the like based on the above-described coordinate system. Display data is generated in accordance with this received from the user. The display data holding unit 46 holds the generated display data.

  The data read signal generator 44 determines the position of each light emitting element array 8 based on the inputted rotation information, and designates the timing for outputting the display data held in the display data holding unit 46 based on the timing. A signal (hereinafter also referred to as “data read signal”) is generated. The display data holding unit 46 outputs display data to each light emitting element driver according to the data read signal. Each light emitting element driver turns on and off each light emitting element 6 based on the display data.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of an object to be displayed three-dimensionally by the three-dimensional image display device 100 of the present embodiment. Here, a cube is taken up as the model 300 to be displayed. Model 300 has vertices ag as shown. The surface defined by the vertex abcd is defined by the surface A, the surface defined by the vertex cdgh is defined by the surface B, the surface defined by the vertex adhe is defined by the surface C, the surface defined by the vertex abfe is defined by the surface D, and the vertex efgh is defined. A surface is a surface E, and a surface defined by the vertex bcgf is a surface F.

  FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing how the model 300 of FIG. 4 is displayed on the three-dimensional image display device 100. In the figure, only the base 2, the rotary table 4, and the model 300 are shown. For convenience of the following description, a reference line 0 is drawn on the left side of the drawing from the axis 20 which is the center O of the rotary table 4. It is assumed that the model 300 is displayed in the display space of the three-dimensional image display device 100 described above so that the surface F is the bottom surface and the bottom surface is level with the rotary table 4. Details of other display positions and angles will be described below.

  FIG. 5B is a plan view when the 3D image display device 100 is looked down vertically when the model 300 is displayed as shown in FIG. Each dotted line shows the locus of each light emitting element array 8 when the turntable 4 rotates. As described above, the two light emitting element array groups 9 are composed of twelve light emitting element arrays 8 each corresponding to a point-symmetrical position with respect to the center O of the turntable 4. Therefore, the two light emitting element arrays 8 that correspond in position in the two light emitting element array groups 9 move on one locus. The total number of trajectories is 12, and they are called r1, r2,..., R11, r12 from the outer periphery of the turntable 4 toward the center O, respectively.

  In the figure, the surface C and each vertex adhe are shown to view the model 300 from directly above. It is assumed that the model 300 is displayed such that the vertex d is on the locus r3 and the vertex e is on the locus r8. To be precise, the side dc is displayed on the locus r3 and the side ef is displayed on the locus r8. Further, it is assumed that the diagonal line of the plane C connecting the vertex d and the vertex e is on an extension line of the reference line 0 (a chain line in the figure).

  FIG. 5C is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 5B showing the relationship between the model 300 and the trajectory. The vertex d is located at a distance from the reference line 0 to s3 on the circumference of the locus r3. Further, the intersection of the locus r4 and the side ad is at the position of the reference line 0 to s4, and the intersection of the side dh is at the position of s'4. The locus r5 intersects with the side ad at the position of the reference lines 0 to s5, and intersects with the side dh at the position of s'5. The intersection of the locus r6 and the side ae is located at s6, and the intersection with the side he is at a distance of s′6 from the reference position 0 on the locus r6. The locus r7 intersects the side ae at a distance from the reference position 0 to s7, and intersects the side he at the position s'7. The vertex e is located at a distance from the reference line 0 to s8 on the locus r8.

FIG. 5D is a plan view of the model 300 viewed from the horizontal direction when the model 300 is displayed as shown in FIG. It is assumed that the 3D image display apparatus 100 is observed from a direction perpendicular to the reference line 0. Model 300 as illustrated is that the face F which corresponds to the bottom surface at a height of h ₁ from the turntable 4, a surface C which corresponds to the upper surface appears from the turntable 4 to the height of h _2.

  FIGS. 6A to 6F are conceptual diagrams showing display data when the model 300 is displayed at the positions shown in FIGS. 5A to 5D. In the three-dimensional image display apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, each light emitting element 6 of the light emitting element array 8 that moves at high speed expresses a cross section of a display target object as a planar image using an afterimage phenomenon, and stacks these images. A device for displaying an object to be displayed or an approximate object. 6A to 6F correspond to images obtained by slicing the model 300 on a plane perpendicular to the turntable 4 on the trajectories r3 to r8. The model 300 can be expressed by turning on and off predetermined light-emitting elements 6 of each light-emitting element array 8 according to the lighting information and the light-off information shown here. In the figure, the solid line is lighting information, and the other part is light-off information.

In the three-dimensional image display apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the three-dimensional object is expressed by stacking the cross-sectional images of the objects. However, this is a phenomenon seen in all types of image display devices of a type that displays an image with discrete pixels, whether it is three-dimensional or two-dimensional. For example, in the model 300 of this embodiment, since there is no light emitting element array 8 that passes through the side ab and the side hg, they cannot be expressed, but at least the user can display the model 300 so as to be recognized as a substantially cube. Suppose that In the above circumstances and reality, it is easy for those skilled in the art to increase the number of displayable pixels, that is, to increase the resolution of the three-dimensional image display device 100 to reduce the difference between the object to be displayed and the actual display. It is understandable. In the present specification, the model 300 is not necessarily displayed as a cube but as a pseudo cube, but even in that case, the model 300 is expressed as “display”.

FIG. 6A shows how the light emitting elements 6 of the light emitting element array 8 moving on the locus r3 are turned on and off. When the light emitting element array 8 on the locus r3 moves in the direction from 0 to t, it shows which height of the light emitting element 6 is lit at which timing. As described above, the side dc of the model 300 is located on the locus r3. That is, the side dc is represented by a plane obtained by slicing the model 300 with the locus r3. Accordingly, the lighting information as in the figure, when the light emitting element array 8 has come to the position of s3, the straight line indicating that turn on the light-emitting element 6 from the height h ₁ to the height h _2.

FIG. 6B shows the lighting and extinguishing states of the light emitting elements 6 of the light emitting element array 8 moving on the locus r4. When the model 300 is sliced by the plane of the locus r4, the cross section becomes a rectangle. Therefore, the light emitting element array 8 on the locus r4 displays the rectangular image. Its lighting information, as shown by the solid line in the figure, equal to the difference between the distance s4 and s'4 from the reference line 0 horizontal side in the figure, the vertical side the difference in height h ₂ and h ₁ This is data indicating that the light emitting element 6 located at a position corresponding to the rectangle is lit.

FIG. 6C shows the lighting and extinguishing states of the light emitting elements 6 of the light emitting element array 8 moving on the locus r5. When the model 300 is sliced by the plane of the locus r5, the cross section becomes a rectangle. Therefore, the light emitting element array 8 on the locus r5 displays the rectangular image. Its lighting information, as shown by the solid line in the figure, equal to the difference between the distance s5 and s'5 from the reference line 0 horizontal side in the figure, the vertical side the difference in height h ₂ and h ₁ This is data indicating that the light emitting element 6 located at a position corresponding to the rectangle is lit.

6D to 6F also show how the light emitting elements 6 of the light emitting element array 8 moving on the trajectories r6 to r8 are turned on and off, respectively. In FIG. 6 (d), lighting information is equal to the difference between the distance s6 and s'6 from the reference line 0 horizontal side in the figure, the vertical sides is equal to the difference in height h ₂ and h ₁ It is shown as a rectangle with a solid line. In FIG. 6 (e), the lighting information is equal to the difference between the distance s7 and s'7 from the reference line 0 horizontal side in the figure, the vertical sides is equal to the difference in height h ₂ and h ₁ It is shown as a rectangle with a solid line. In FIG. 6 (f), the lighting information is a straight line from _{h 1} to _{h 2} at s8. As described above, the locus r8 is for passing through the side ef of the model 300, and the lighting information is data for displaying the side ef.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing actual lighting and extinguishing of the light emitting elements 6 in the light emitting element array 8. FIG. 7A shows how each light emitting element 6 is turned on and off by the lighting information of FIG. 6A when the light emitting element array 8 moves from the reference line 0 to the t direction on the locus r3. It shows that. In the drawing, the light-emitting element 6 filled in black indicates that the light-emitting element 6 is in a lighted state, and the light-emitting element 6 that is not colored is turned off. By lighting the light-emitting element 6 from the height h ₁ to the height h ₂ when the light emitting element array 8, as shown in the figure comes to the position of s3, sides cd model 300 can be represented.

FIG. 7B shows a state in which each light emitting element 6 of the light emitting element array 8 moving on the locus r4 is turned on and off based on the lighting information of FIG. 6B. As illustrated, the light emitting element 6 from the height h ₁ to h ₂ is illuminated when the light emitting element array 8 has come to the position of s4. Thereafter, only the light-emitting element 6 having the height h _{1 and} the light-emitting element 6 having the height h ₂ are turned on, and the light-emitting element 6 having the height h ₁ to h _{2 is} again at the position of the light-emitting element array 8 s′4. Lights up. In this way, a cross section obtained by slicing the model 300 with the plane of the locus r4 can be expressed using the afterimage phenomenon. In addition, the cross-sectional images of the model 300 are also displayed on the locus r5 and later on the same principle, but the description is omitted.

  FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of the image data reconstruction unit 38. The image data reconstruction unit 38 includes a black color detection unit 50, a first converted color holding unit 52, a first color converting unit 54, a second converted color holding unit 56, and a second color converting unit 58. The black color detection unit 50 detects a black portion of the image data that has been shaded by the shading processing unit 36. At this time, the black detection unit 50 determines whether or not the gradation of the pixel of the image data is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, and detects a black portion. For example, the colors in the image data are generated using three colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B), and these three colors are expressed by 256 gradations with integer values of 0 to 255, respectively. And When describing the colors using the notation (R, G, B) for these three gradations, (0, 0, 0) is the darkest black, and (255, 255, 255) is the brightest white. . Here, if the threshold is set to (15, 15, 15), it is determined that all colors having gradation values of 15 or less are black. For example, the black detection unit 50 determines that (5, 6, 3) is black and (20, 10, 5) is not black.

  The first converted color holding unit 52 holds a plurality of colors for the first color converting unit 54 to convert the color of the image data. These colors are colors close to black in which the brightness of colors other than black is darkened by a predetermined degree. The first color conversion unit 54 retains the color of the black portion detected by the black detection unit 50 and the non-black color before the shading process, which is held by the first conversion color holding unit 52. The brightness of the previous color is converted to a color darkened by a predetermined degree. For example, when a part of a color in a three-dimensional object is red and the part is black after shading processing, the color of the part is converted to red with a lightness of a predetermined degree.

  The second converted color holding unit 56 holds a predetermined blue color (also referred to as “dark blue”) having a lightness for the second color converting unit 58 to convert the color of the image data. The second color conversion unit 58 converts the color of the black portion detected by the black detection unit 50 and having the black color before the shading process into dark blue held by the second conversion color holding unit 56. Convert. In the present embodiment, the color of the black portion is converted to dark blue, but the color to be converted is not limited to this. The color to be converted may be a color other than black, such as dark brown with lightness, and may be dark with lightness close to black. The image data whose color has been converted by the first color conversion unit 54 and the second color conversion unit 58 is output to the image data conversion unit 40.

  In the present embodiment, the black portion in the image data after the shading process is converted into a predetermined color, but it may be converted into a plurality of colors according to the gradation of the black portion. For example, for a black part, (R, G, B) = (7, 7, 7) is set as a threshold value, and when the gradation is equal to or lower than the threshold value, it is converted into a darker blue color than when it is equal to or higher than the threshold value Also good. As a result, a more natural image reflecting the original image data can be displayed.

  Further, the color of the black portion after the shading process may be converted into a color that is generally considered natural based on the type of the three-dimensional object. For example, the first converted color holding unit 52 and the second converted color holding unit 56 hold colors that are generally considered to be natural for a plurality of types of three-dimensional objects in association with the respective three-dimensional objects. The first color conversion unit 54 and the second color conversion unit 58 are arranged based on the type of the displayed three-dimensional object from the colors held by the first conversion color holding unit 52 and the second conversion color holding unit 56 respectively. A color corresponding to the original object is selected, and the color of the black portion is converted to the selected color. For example, if the 3D object is a human head and the hair portion is black, it is better to display the hair portion in dark brown than in dark blue lightness. The head can be expressed naturally. The second converted color holding unit 56 holds dark brown having a lightness as the color of the hair portion in association with the human head that is a three-dimensional object. The second color conversion unit 58 selects a dark brown having a lightness corresponding to the human head from the colors held in the second conversion color holding unit 56, and a dark brown having the selected lightness as the color of the hair portion. Convert to As a result, the three-dimensional object can be displayed more naturally.

  The color conversion in the image data subjected to the shading process will be described. In the above description of the object display, a cube has been described as an example, but here, an automobile model having more surfaces will be described as an example. FIGS. 9A and 9B show a car model 62 as an example of a three-dimensional object. FIG. 9A is a diagram illustrating the model 62 before the shading process, and FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating the model 62 after the shading process. Here, the surface of the roof portion of the vehicle body is the surface G, the surface of the windshield portion is the surface H, the surface of the bonnet portion is the surface I, the front surface of the vehicle body is the surface J, the left side surface of the vehicle body is the surface K, and the left side of the vehicle body The surfaces of the two tires positioned at are called plane L. As shown in FIG. 9A, the original colors of the surfaces G, H, J, and K are red, and the original colors of the surfaces I and L are black. As shown in FIG. 9B, the shading process is performed by irradiating the model 62 with a light source α provided virtually at the upper left of the model 62. As a result, in the shaded model 62, the lightness of the colors on the surface H, the surface J, the surface K, and the surface L becomes dark and the lightness of the colors on the surfaces G and I changes as shown in FIG. Do not do. Here, it is assumed that light reflection is not considered. On the surface where the lightness of the color is dark, the lightness is darkest in the order of the surface K and the surface L, followed by the surfaces J and H in the darkest order. As for the color of each surface after the shading process, using the expression (R, G, B), the surface G is (170, 120, 130), the surface H is (150, 80, 80), and the surface I is (4). 4, 4), the surface J is (120, 40, 40), the surface K is (2, 2, 2), and the surface L is (2, 2, 2).

  Assuming that the gradation threshold for determining whether or not the color is black is (R, G, B) = (15, 15, 15), in the model 62, the black surface is the surface I, surface K and plane L. Of these, the surface K is originally red and is black as a result of the shading process. The first color conversion unit 54 converts the color of the surface K into, for example, a predetermined red color (also referred to as “dark red color”) close to black in which the brightness is darkened at a predetermined level. Surface I is the bonnet portion and is originally black. In other words, if the reflection of light or the like is not considered now, the brightness of the color of the surface I does not change even when the shading process is performed. Surface L is a tire portion and is originally black. The surface L is a surface whose color brightness is darkened by the shading process. The second color conversion unit 58 converts the color of the surface I and the surface L into dark blue. In addition, the color of the surface G, the surface H, and the surface J which are not a black surface is not converted.

  As a result, the light emitting element 6 displaying the surface G is red, the light emitting element 6 displaying the surface H is converted by the color of the surface H after the shading process, and the light emitting element 6 displaying the surface I is converted by the second color conversion unit 58. The light emitting element 6 that displays the dark blue, surface J is the color of the surface J after the shading process, and the light emitting element 6 that displays the surface K is the light emission that displays the dark red, surface L converted by the first color conversion unit 54. The element 6 emits light in the dark blue color converted by the second color conversion unit 58.

  The operation of the above configuration will be described below. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process of displaying a three-dimensional object using image data subjected to shading processing and color conversion processing. The original image data holding unit 30 acquires the original image data from the outside and holds it (S10). The user operates the first light source position setting switch 10 and the second light source position setting switch 12 to set the light source position (S12). The shading processing unit 36 performs shading processing on the original image data (S14). The image data reconstruction unit 38 converts the color of the black portion of the image data subjected to the shading process (S16). The color conversion process will be described later with reference to FIG. The image data conversion unit 40 converts the image data whose color has been converted into display data (S18). The display data holding unit 46 holds display data (S20). The data read signal generating unit 44 determines the position of the light emitting element array 8 based on the rotation information from the rotary encoder 42 (S22), and outputs the display data held in the display data holding unit 46 based on the timing. A signal for designating timing, that is, a data read signal is generated (S24). The display data holding unit 46 outputs the display data to the light emitting element driver at the designated timing (S26). The light emitting element driver turns on and off each light emitting element 6 based on the input display data (S28), whereby the 3D image display apparatus 100 displays the surface of the 3D object (S29).

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the color conversion process in the image data reconstruction unit 38. The black color detection unit 50 detects a black portion of the image data that has been subjected to the shading process (S30). When there is no black portion in the image data (N in S30), the color is not converted. When there is a black part (Y in S30) and the color before the shading process of that part is a color other than black (N in S32), the first color conversion unit 54 performs a shading process on the color of the black part The lightness of the previous color is converted to a color darkened by a predetermined degree (S34). On the other hand, when there is a black part (Y in S30) and the color before the shading process is black (Y in S32), the second color conversion unit 58 changes the color of the black part to dark blue Conversion is performed (S36).

  In the present embodiment, since the light emitting element 6 emits light using the image data of the three-dimensional object shaded by the shading process, the three-dimensional object can be expressed more naturally than when no shadow is given. In the present embodiment, for the black portion, the color of the portion is converted to a predetermined dark color other than black, and the light emitting element 6 is caused to emit light with that color. Thereby, the surface of the three-dimensional object having a black portion can be naturally expressed. Further, when the color of the black portion before the shading process is a color other than black, the color is converted to a color darkened by a predetermined degree. Thereby, since the black color reflecting the color inherent to the three-dimensional object is expressed, a more natural expression is possible.

  The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. The embodiments are exemplifications, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to combinations of the respective constituent elements and processing processes, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. . For example, the following modifications can be considered.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the image data supply unit 28 is included in the three-dimensional image display device 100 independently of an external computer that generates original image data (not shown). In a modification, the image data supply unit 28 may be included in a computer that generates original image data. In this case, the computer and the 3D image display device 100 that does not have the image data supply unit 28 can be considered as a 3D image display device.

  A case where the 3D image display apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is actually used will be described. First, the user creates and prepares image data about the surface of a three-dimensional object to be displayed by using, for example, a CG (Computer Graphics) tool. Then, for example, the image data is input to the image data supply unit 28 by operating a keyboard or the like (not shown). The input image data is original data, for example, the state where the surface G, surface H, surface J and surface K of the automobile model 62 shown in FIG. 9A are red, and the surface I and surface L are black. It is data of. The user operates the first light source position setting switch 10 and the second light source position setting switch 12 to determine the light source position for the shading process. Next, the shading process and the color conversion process shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 10 and 11 are performed in the image data supply unit 28. As a result, for the original image data, for example, image data subjected to shading processing as shown in FIG. 9B is obtained. As the turntable 4 rotates, the surface of the shaded three-dimensional object is three-dimensionally displayed in a virtual cylindrical space formed by the light emitting element array 8.

It is a perspective view of the three-dimensional image display apparatus in an embodiment. It is a top view of the three-dimensional image display apparatus in embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of the image data supply part in an embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the object displayed with the three-dimensional image display apparatus in embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the display position of the model of FIG. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the display data of the model of FIG. It is a figure which shows a mode that a light emitting element is turned on and off based on the display data of FIG. It is a functional block diagram of the image data reconstruction part in an embodiment. (A) is a figure which shows the model before a shading process, (b) is a figure which shows the model after a shading process. It is a flowchart which shows the process of displaying a three-dimensional object. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the color conversion in an image data reconstruction part.

Explanation of symbols

  2 base, 4 rotating table, 6 light emitting element, 8 light emitting element array, 9 light emitting element array group, 10 first light source position setting switch, 12 second light source position setting switch, 20 axis, 22 rotary connector, 24 gear, 26 motor 28 image data supply unit, 30 original image data holding unit, 32 light source position holding unit, 36 shading processing unit, 38 image data reconstruction unit, 40 image data conversion unit, 42 rotary encoder, 44 data read signal generation unit, 46 Display data holding unit, 50 black detection unit, 52 first conversion color holding unit, 54 first color conversion unit, 56 second conversion color holding unit, 58 second color conversion unit, 62 model, 100 three-dimensional image display device, 300 models.

Claims (5)

A light-emitting display portion having a plurality of light-emitting elements;
A rotatable support portion on which the light emitting display portion is erected and disposed;
A drive unit for rotating the support unit;
An image data supply unit that supplies the light emitting display unit with image data for three-dimensionally displaying the surface of the three-dimensional object by turning on the light emitting element at a predetermined position according to the rotation of the support unit;
With
The three-dimensional image display device, wherein the image data supply unit includes a reconstruction unit that virtually provides a light source and performs a process of reconstructing the image data.   The three-dimensional image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reconstruction unit performs a shading process on the image data to illuminate and shade the three-dimensional object from a light source provided virtually.   3. The three-dimensional image according to claim 1, wherein the reconstruction unit performs processing for converting the color of a black portion of the three-dimensional object into a predetermined color other than black on the image data. Display device.   The reconstruction unit performs a process on the image data to convert a color in a black portion as a result of the shading processing into a color in which the lightness of the color in the portion before the shading processing is darkened. The three-dimensional image display device according to claim 2 or 3.   When the color before the shading process in the black part as a result of the shading process is black, the reconstruction unit converts the color of the part into a predetermined color other than black to the image data. The three-dimensional image display device according to claim 2, wherein the three-dimensional image display device is provided.

Images