JP2009103865A - Display device, image processing method, and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the amount of data and improve display quality in a display device that performs stereoscopic display and multi-view point display without using special glasses. <P>SOLUTION: The display device includes: a display section (3) in which a plurality of pixels, each of which is composed of a plurality of sub-pixels of different colors, are arrayed in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction; an image processing means (2) by which each of a plurality of original images is separated into a plurality of lines of images arrayed in the horizontal direction in one image plane, the plurality of lines of images are thinned out per line unit, thereby the plurality of original images are compressed, and the image data of the plurality of compressed original images are combined so that each of one line portion of images of the plurality of compressed images is displayed in a display section over the plurality of lines alternately in the horizontal direction and vertical direction for each sub-pixel, thereby image data on the composite images are created; and an image separating means (B1) by which the composite images displayed on the display section are spatially separated for each of the plurality of compressed original images. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technical field of a display device, an image processing method, and an electronic apparatus that perform stereoscopic display or multi-viewpoint display without using special glasses.

  As an example of this type of display device, a stereoscopic image display device that displays a three-dimensional stereoscopic image to an observer using a parallax barrier is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). One type of such a display device is a parallax barrier type display device. This display device includes, for example, a liquid crystal display panel and a parallax barrier provided on the viewer side of the display surface of the liquid crystal display panel. Openings are formed in stripes at predetermined positions of the parallax barrier. When providing a three-dimensional stereoscopic image to the observer, the parallax barrier is configured so that the image for the left eye enters the left eye of the observer and the image for the right eye enters the right eye of the observer. An opening is formed. The observer recognizes that the image is a three-dimensional image by synthesizing the right-eye image and the left-eye image in the brain.

Japanese Patent No. 3096613

  In the above-described parallax barrier type display device, on the screen of the liquid crystal display panel, the right-eye image and the left-eye image are alternately displayed for each column corresponding to the stripe-shaped opening in the parallax barrier. Is displayed. For this reason, there is a technical problem that an observer may feel that vertical stripes exist in a stereoscopic image. On the other hand, in this type of display device, in addition to improving display quality, it is required to reduce the amount of image data processed by the display device.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, for example, and can reduce the amount of image data and perform high-quality stereoscopic display and multi-viewpoint display, an image processing method, and the display. It is an object to provide an electronic device including the device.

  In order to solve the above problems, the display device of the present invention should display a display unit in which a plurality of pixels each having a plurality of sub-pixels having different colors are arranged in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, and display on the display unit Each of a plurality of original images as an image source is separated into a plurality of columns of images arranged in the horizontal direction within one screen, and the plurality of columns of images are thinned out in units of columns to compress the plurality of original images. Then, one column image of each of the plurality of compressed original images is alternately displayed for each of the sub-pixels across the plurality of columns and in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction on the display unit. As described above, the image processing means for combining the compressed image data of the plurality of original images to generate the image data of the combined image as the image to be displayed on the display unit, and the composition displayed on the display unit Image compressed And for each of the plurality of original images and an image separating means for spatially separating.

  The display device of the present invention is typically a display device that includes image separation means that is a barrier having an opening and a light-shielding portion, and can perform stereoscopic display or multi-view display.

  According to the display device of the present invention, during the operation, the image data of a plurality of original images, for example, a pair of right-eye images and left-eye images, is synthesized by the image processing means, whereby image data of the synthesized image Is generated, and a composite image is displayed on the display unit based on the image data. The displayed composite image is separated for each image corresponding to a plurality of original images by the image separation means. For example, when a plurality of original images are an image for the right eye and an image for the left eye, the observer synthesizes the image for the right eye and the image for the left eye separated by the image separation means in the brain. Thus, it is recognized as a stereoscopic image.

  In the present invention, the display unit is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display panel, and a plurality of pixels each having a plurality of sub-pixels having different colors are arranged in the display area in the horizontal direction (that is, the row direction, in other words, the X direction) and For example, they are arranged in a matrix along the vertical direction (that is, the column direction, in other words, the Y direction) intersecting the horizontal direction. Typically, each pixel is composed of sub-pixels of three colors of red, green, and blue, and the sub-pixels of the three colors are arranged along the horizontal direction in the same order in each pixel.

  Particularly in the present invention, the image processing means first separates each of the plurality of original images into a plurality of columns of images arranged in the horizontal direction within one screen, and thins out the plurality of columns of images in units of columns. Compress the original image respectively. For example, when the plurality of original images are two images of a right eye image and a left eye image, each of the right eye image and the left eye image is compressed 1/2 times along the horizontal direction. .

  Subsequently, the image processing means alternately displays one column image of each of the plurality of compressed original images across the plurality of columns and for each sub-pixel in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction on the display unit. As described above, image data of a plurality of compressed original images is synthesized to generate image data of a synthesized image.

  For example, in the case where each pixel is composed of sub-pixels of three colors, the image for one column of each of the right-eye image and the left-eye image that are respectively compressed 1/2 times along the horizontal direction is displayed on the display unit. The image data of the composite image is generated so as to be displayed alternately for each sub-pixel in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction across the two pixel columns (that is, six sub-pixel columns). In other words, the left-eye image and the right-eye image are alternately displayed for each sub-pixel in the horizontal direction, and the left-eye image and the right-eye image are alternately displayed for each sub-pixel in the vertical direction. Image data is generated. In other words, the sub-pixel that displays the image for the left eye and the sub-pixel that displays the image for the right eye are arranged in a checkered pattern or a check pattern in the display unit. Therefore, when the observer recognizes the composite image as a three-dimensional image by observing the composite image through the image separation means, the observer feels that vertical stripes exist in the three-dimensional image. Can be prevented. Therefore, according to the display device of the present invention, it is possible to make an observer recognize a three-dimensional image with high definition or resolution as compared with, for example, a parallax barrier type display device.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, as described above, since a plurality of original images are compressed and the image data of the plurality of compressed original images are combined to generate the image data of the combined image, The amount of image data to be processed can be reduced.

  As described above, according to the display device of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the amount of image data and perform high-quality stereoscopic display and multi-viewpoint display.

  In one aspect of the display device of the present invention, the plurality of original images are a right-eye image and a left-eye image.

  According to this aspect, stereoscopic display with high definition can be performed. Here, the image for the right eye is an image for the observer to observe with the right eye, and the image for the left eye is an image for the observer to observe with the left eye. In this aspect, since the plurality of original images are composed of two images, the right-eye image and the left-eye image, each of the right-eye image and the left-eye image is 1 in the horizontal direction by the image processing means. / 2 times compressed.

  In another aspect of the display device of the present invention, the plurality of original images are a plurality of viewpoint images that are respectively observed at a plurality of different viewpoints.

  According to this aspect, high-definition multi-viewpoint display can be performed. In this aspect, the plurality of original images are N (where N is a natural number equal to or greater than 2) viewpoint images (that is, the first viewpoint image observed at the first viewpoint, the second viewpoint image). Second viewpoint image observed at the viewpoint,..., Nth viewpoint image observed at the Nth viewpoint), so that each of the N viewpoint images is horizontally aligned by the image processing means. Compressed 1 / N times.

  In another aspect of the display device of the present invention, the plurality of original images include a first image displayed in a first direction and a second image displayed in a second direction.

  According to this aspect, the first image can be displayed to the first observer positioned in the first direction with respect to the display unit, and the first direction is different from the first direction with respect to the display unit. It becomes possible to display a second image different from the first image for the second observer located in the two directions.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image processing method of the present invention displays an image on a display unit in which a plurality of pixels each having a plurality of sub-pixels having different colors are arranged in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. Each of a plurality of original images that are the basis of an image to be displayed on the display unit is separated into a plurality of columns of images arranged in the horizontal direction within one screen, and the plurality of columns of images are arranged in units of columns. The step of compressing each of the plurality of original images by thinning out, and the image for one column of each of the plurality of compressed original images is crossed over the plurality of columns and in the horizontal direction and the The image data of the plurality of compressed original images is synthesized so as to be alternately displayed for each of the sub-pixels in the vertical direction, and image data of a synthesized image as an image to be displayed on the display unit is generated. Process and before Based on the image data of the composite image and a step of displaying an image on the display unit.

  The image processing method of the present invention can perform high-quality stereoscopic display and multi-viewpoint display while reducing the amount of image data, as with the display device of the present invention described above.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes the above-described display device according to the present invention (including various aspects).

  According to the electronic apparatus of the present invention, since the display device of the present invention described above is provided, the amount of image data can be reduced and high-quality stereoscopic display and multi-view display can be performed.

  The operation and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the best mode for carrying out the invention described below.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<First Embodiment>
The display device according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, the overall configuration of the display device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the display device according to this embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, a display device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a timing control circuit 8, an image processing circuit 2, a display panel 3, and a barrier B1. The image processing circuit 2 is an example of an “image processing unit” according to the present invention, the display panel 3 is an example of a “display unit” according to the present invention, and the barrier B1 is an “image” according to the present invention. It is an example of a “separating means”.

  The timing control circuit 8 is configured to output various timing signals used in the image processing circuit 2 and the display panel 3. The timing control circuit 8 generates a Y clock signal CLY, an inverted Y clock signal CLYinv, an X clock signal CLX, an inverted X clock signal CLXinv, a Y start pulse DY, and an X start pulse DX based on a dot clock supplied from an external circuit. Generate. The timing control circuit 8 supplies the Y clock signal CLY, the inverted Y clock signal CLYB, the Y start pulse DY, the X clock signal CLX, the inverted X clock signal CLXB, and the X start pulse DX to the image processing circuit 2 and the display panel 3. .

  The image processing circuit 2 generates composite image data D to be displayed in the image display area W of the display panel 3 from the multiple image data D ′ including the right eye image data DR ′ and the left eye image data DL ′, The composite image data D is output to the display panel 3. More specifically, the image processing circuit 2 includes an S / P (Serial to Parallel) conversion circuit 20, a read control circuit 21, a memory 22, and a read control circuit 23.

  The S / P conversion circuit 20 converts one system of multiplexed image data D ′ input from the outside into image data DR′r, DR′g and DR′b for the right eye and image data DL′r for the left eye. , DL′g and DL′b are divided into six systems of image data (ie, phase-expanded into 6-phase image data) and output to the read control circuit 21 as 6-system image data. . As will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 5, the multiple image data D ′ includes right-eye image data DR ′ and left-eye image data DL ′, and right-eye image data DR ′ and Each of the left-eye image data DL ′ includes three-color image data corresponding to the red, green, and blue sub-pixels constituting the pixels of the display panel 3. That is, the right-eye image data DR ′ includes red image data DR′r, green image data DR′g, and blue image data DR′b, and the left-eye image data DL ′ is red. Image data DL′r, green image data DL′g, and blue image data DL′b.

  The read control circuit 21 receives a part of the six systems of image data DR′r, DR′g, DR′b, DL′r, DL′g and DL′b output from the S / P conversion circuit 20. It is configured to be thinned out (that is, compressed) and output to the memory 22 as new six systems of image data DRr, DRg, DRb, DLr, DLg, and DLb. The image data DRr, DRg, and DRb are image data for the right eye, and are red, green, and blue image data, respectively. The image data DLr, DLg, and DLb are image data for the left eye, and are red, green, and blue image data, respectively.

  The memory 22 is a memory that stores the image data DRr, DRg, DRb, DLr, DLg, and DLb output from the read control circuit 21.

  The read control circuit 23 rearranges the image data DRr, DRg, DRb, DLr, DLg, and DLb stored in the memory 22 to display the composite image data D to be displayed in the image display area W of the display panel 3 as the display panel 3. It is configured to output to. At this time, the read control circuit 23 outputs the composite image data D to the display panel 3 based on various timing signals supplied from the timing control circuit 8.

  The display panel 3 is a liquid crystal display panel. In the image display area W, an image (specifically, based on the composite image data D output from the image processing circuit 2 and various timing signals supplied from the timing control circuit 8 is displayed. Specifically, it is configured to display a composite image composed of a right-eye image R and a left-eye image L, which will be described later. The detailed configuration of the display panel 3 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The barrier B1 includes a plurality of openings B1a and a plurality of light-shielding portions B1b corresponding to the right-eye image R and the left-eye image L constituting the composite image displayed in the image display area W of the display panel 3. It is arranged between the display panel 3 and the observer H. The barrier B1 is configured such that the right-eye image R is incident on the right eye of the observer H and the left-eye image L is incident on the left eye of the observer H by the plurality of openings B1a. At the same time, the plurality of light shielding portions B1b are configured so that the image R for the right eye does not enter the left eye of the observer H and the image L for the left eye does not enter the right eye of the observer H. In other words, the barrier B1 prevents the right-eye image R from entering the right eye of the observer H and the left eye of the observer H, and the left-eye image L to the left eye of the observer H. It is configured not to enter the right eye of the observer H while entering. That is, the barrier B <b> 1 has a function of spatially separating the right eye image R and the left eye image L displayed in the image display area W of the display panel 3.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of the barrier B1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of openings B1a and the plurality of light-shielding portions B1b in the barrier B1 correspond to the checkered pattern or the sub-pixel 33 (see FIG. 3) constituting the image display area W of the display panel 3. It is arranged in a check form.

  Next, the configuration of the display panel of the display device according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the display panel of the display device according to this embodiment.

  In FIG. 3, the display panel 3 includes a plurality of sub-pixels 33 in an image display region W on a substrate 30 made of, for example, a glass substrate, and a plurality of sub-pixels 33 in a peripheral region located around the image display region W. A scanning line driving circuit 31, a data line driving circuit 32, and a sampling circuit 38 for driving the sub-pixel 33 are provided.

  The plurality of sub-pixels 33 are arranged in a matrix at a predetermined pitch in the image display region W. That is, in the image display region W, the plurality of sub-pixels 33 are arranged in the horizontal direction (that is, the row direction or the X direction, in other words, the direction in which the scanning line 34 extends) and the vertical direction (that is, the column direction or the Y direction, In other words, the data lines 35 are arranged in the extending direction.

  Although not shown, the sub-pixel 33 includes a pixel switching TFT, a pixel electrode, a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode, and a liquid crystal element composed of a liquid crystal sandwiched between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode. I have. The TFT for pixel switching has a source electrically connected to the data line 35, a gate electrically connected to the scanning line 34, and a drain electrically connected to the pixel electrode of the liquid crystal element. The pixel switching TFT is switched on and off by a scanning signal supplied from the scanning line driving circuit 104. The composite image data D output from the image processing circuit 2 (that is, the composite image data Dr, Dg, and Db) is written to the liquid crystal elements of the sub-pixels 33 through the image signal lines 37 and the data lines 35, whereby the image An image can be displayed in the display area W.

  Although not shown here, in the image display area W, a plurality of color filters having any one of red, green, and blue are formed in stripes extending along the vertical direction (that is, the Y direction). . That is, a red color filter, a green color filter, and a blue color filter are provided corresponding to the columns of the sub-pixels 33 arranged along the vertical direction, and the sub-pixels along the horizontal direction. 33 are alternately arranged (in FIG. 3, among the plurality of sub-pixels 33, sub-pixel 33 provided with a red color filter is indicated by “r”, and sub-pixel provided with a green color filter. "G" is attached to 33, and "b" is attached to sub-pixel 33 provided with a blue color filter). That is, a red color filter is formed corresponding to the plurality of sub-pixels 33 forming the i-th column (where i is a natural number), and the green color corresponding to the plurality of sub-pixels 33 forming the i + 1-th column. A filter is formed, and a blue color filter is formed corresponding to the plurality of sub-pixels 33 forming the (i + 2) th column. In other words, the sub-pixel 33 forming the i-th column is formed as a red sub-pixel, the sub-pixel 33 forming the i + 1-th column is formed as a green sub-pixel, and the sub-pixels forming the i + 2-th column. Reference numeral 33 denotes a blue sub-pixel.

  The scanning line driving circuit 31 is configured to receive the Y clock signal CLY, the inverted Y clock signal CLYinv, and the Y start pulse DY from the timing control circuit 8 described above with reference to FIG. When the Y start pulse DY is input, the scanning line driving circuit 31 sequentially generates the scanning signals G1, G2,..., Gm at the timing based on the Y clock signal CLY and the inverted Y clock signal CLYinv to the scanning line 34. Output.

  The data line driving circuit 32 is configured to receive the X clock signal CLX, the inverted X clock signal CLXinv, and the X start pulse DX from the timing control circuit 8 described above with reference to FIG. When the X start pulse DX is input, the data line driving circuit 32 sequentially generates sampling signals S1, S2,..., Sn at a timing based on the X clock signal CLX and the inverted X clock signal CLXinv to the sampling circuit 38. Output.

  The sampling circuit 38 is configured to include a plurality of sampling switches 36 composed of N-channel TFTs. The sampling switch 36 may be composed of a P-channel TFT or a complementary TFT.

  The composite image data Dr, Dg, and Db are supplied to the sampling circuit 38 via the image signal line 37 from the image processing circuit 2 described above with reference to FIG. In the sampling circuit 38, each sampling switch 36 corresponds to the sampling signals S1,..., Sn output from the data line driving circuit 32 for each data line group including three data lines 6a as one group (in other words, For example, it is configured to supply the composite image data Dr, Dg, and Db to each panel pixel including a set of three sub-pixels 33 of red, green, and blue adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction.

  Next, image processing by the image processing circuit of the display device according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7 in addition to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the image processing by the image processing circuit of the display device according to this embodiment. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram conceptually showing the configuration of multiplexed image data input to the image processing circuit of the display device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram conceptually showing the configuration of image data stored in the memory of the image processing circuit of the display device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram conceptually showing the structure of the composite image data output from the image processing circuit of the display device according to the present embodiment.

  1 and 4, first, the image processing circuit 2 takes in multiple image data D '(step S10). More specifically, first, one system of multiplexed image data D ′ is input to the S / P conversion circuit 20 of the image processing circuit 2 from the outside. Subsequently, the S / P conversion circuit 20 outputs one set of multiplexed image data D ′ to the read control circuit 21 as six sets of image data, and the read control circuit 21 outputs the multiple image data D ′ (that is, right The image data for eye DR ′ and the image data for left eye DL ′) are captured.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the multiplexed image data D ′ is for the right eye corresponding to the panel pixels for one screen in the image display region W (in this embodiment, 480 rows × 800 columns panel pixels). Image data DR ′ and left-eye image data DL ′ are included.

  In FIG. 5, the configuration of the right-eye image data DR ′ and the left-eye image data DL ′ included in the multiple image data D ′ is schematically shown in the upper part, and the right-eye image data is shown in the lower part. Each configuration of DR ′ and left-eye image data DL ′ is shown in more detail. Further, here, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the multiplexed image data D ′ includes right-eye image data DR ′ and left-eye image data DL ′ respectively corresponding to panel pixels of 480 rows × 800 columns. However, the size of the multiplexed image data D ′ is not limited to this. That is, the multiplexed image data D ′ is configured to include right-eye image data DR ′ and left-eye image data DL ′ corresponding to panel pixels of M rows × N columns (where M and N are natural numbers), respectively. May be.

  In FIG. 5, the image data DR ′ for right eye for one screen is image data R (1,1) r, R (1,1) g, R (1), which is image data in units of subpixels 33. 1) b, R (1,2) r, R (1,2) g, R (1,2) b,..., R (480,800) r, R (480,800) g, R (480) , 800) b. That is, the image data DR ′ for the right eye for one screen includes the image data R (s, t) r for red, the image data R (s, t) g for green, and the image data R (s, t) for blue. t) It is composed of b (where s and t are natural numbers).

  The left-eye image data DL ′ for one screen is image data L (1, 1) r, L (1, 1) g, L (1, 1) b, which is image data in units of sub-pixels 33. , L (1,2) r, L (1,2) g, L (1,2) b,..., L (480,800) r, L (480,800) g, L (480,800) b It is composed of That is, the left-eye image data DL ′ for one screen includes red image data L (s, t) r, green image data L (s, t) g, and blue image data L (s, t) It is composed of b (where s and t are natural numbers).

  1 and 4 again, next, the multiple image data D 'is compressed (step S20). More specifically, the read control circuit 21 thins out (that is, compresses) a part of the captured multiple image data D ′ (that is, right-eye image data DR ′ and left-eye image data DL ′). ), New right-eye image data DR and left-eye image data DL as shown in FIG. 6 are generated.

  That is, in the read control circuit 21, first, a part of the right eye image data DR ′ is thinned out, and new right eye image data DR is generated and stored in the memory 22. Specifically, the read control circuit 21 causes the image data R (1,1) r, R (1,1) g, R (1,1) b, R (1,3) of the right-eye image data DR ′. ) R, R (1, 3) g, R (1, 3) b, R (1, 5) r, R (1, 5) g, R (1, 5) b, ..., R (480, 797) ) R, R (480, 797) g, R (480, 797) b, R (480, 799) r, R (480, 799) g, R (480, 799) b are stored in the memory 22, Of the image data DR ′ for the right eye, image data R (1,2) r, R (1,2) g, R (1,2) b, R (1,4) r, R (1,4) g , R (1,4) b, R (1,6) r, R (1,6) g, R (1,6) b,..., R (480,798) r, R (480,798) g , R (480, 798) b, R (480, 00) r, R (480,800) g, R (480,800) not stored in the memory 22 for b. As a result, the memory 22 stores new right-eye image data DR obtained by compressing the right-eye image data DR ′.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, among the right-eye image data DR ′ for one screen, the pixels in the even-numbered columns (that is, the pixels in the second column, the pixels in the fourth column,... The image data corresponding to the pixels in the 800th column are thinned out and not stored in the memory 22, and the pixels in the odd columns (that is, the pixels in the first column, the pixels in the third column,... 799). Only the image data corresponding to the pixels in the column) is stored in the memory 22, whereby new right-eye image data DR for the panel pixels of 480 rows × 400 columns is generated. Here, since the new image data DR for the right eye is partially thinned out from the multiple image data DR ′, the data amount or the information amount thereof is the right eye image data included in the multiple image data D ′. It is ½ times (that is, half) the data amount of DR ′.

  In FIG. 6, the configuration of new right-eye image data DR and left-eye image data DL is schematically shown in the upper part, and the right-eye image data DR and left-eye image data DL are shown in the lower part. Each configuration is shown in more detail.

  After the new right-eye image data DR is generated, the left-eye image data DL ′ is processed in the same manner as the right-eye image data DR ′. That is, a part of the left-eye image data DL ′ is thinned out, and new left-eye image data DL is generated and stored in the memory 22. Specifically, the read control circuit 21 causes the image data L (1, 1) r, L (1, 1) g, L (1, 1) b, L (1, 3) of the left-eye image data DL ′. ) R, L (1, 3) g, L (1, 3) b, L (1, 5) r, L (1, 5) g, L (1, 5) b, ..., L (480, 797) ) R, L (480, 797) g, L (480, 797) b, L (480, 799) r, L (480, 799) g, L (480, 799) b are stored in the memory 22, Image data L (1,2) r, L (1,2) g, L (1,2) b, L (1,4) r, L (1,4) g among the image data DL ′ for the left eye , L (1,4) b, L (1,6) r, L (1,6) g, L (1,6) b,..., L (480,798) r, L (480,798) g , L (480, 798) b, L (480, 00) r, L (480,800) g, L (480,800) not stored in the memory 22 for b. As a result, the memory 22 stores new left-eye image data DL obtained by compressing the left-eye image data DL ′.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, among the left-eye image data DL ′ for one screen, the image data corresponding to the pixels in the even-numbered rows is thinned out and not stored in the memory 22, and the odd-numbered rows By storing only the image data corresponding to the eye pixels in the memory 22, new left-eye image data DL for the panel pixels of 480 rows × 400 columns is generated. Here, since the new left-eye image data DL is partially thinned out from the multiple image data DL ′, the data amount is the data amount of the left-eye image data DL ′ included in the multiple image data. It is ½ times.

  As described above, the new right-eye image data DR and the new left-eye image data DL are respectively the right-eye image data DR ′ and the left-eye image data DL ′ included in the multiplexed image data D ′. The data amount is ½ times, and the data amount is smaller than the right-eye image data DR ′ and the left-eye image data DL ′. Therefore, if the multiple image data D ′ (that is, the right-eye image data DR ′ and the left-eye image data DL ′) is stored in the memory 22 as it is, the storage capacity of the memory 22 is reduced. Can do.

  1 and 4 again, next, composite image data D is generated (step S30). More specifically, the read control circuit 23 reads the right-eye image data DR and the left-eye image data DL from the memory 22 according to a predetermined rule, thereby generating composite image data D as shown in FIG.

  That is, first, image data L (1, 1) r, R (1, 1) g, and red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixel at coordinates (1, 1) in the image display area W are displayed. Image data L (1,1) r, R (1,1) g and L (1,1) b are read from the memory 22 so that L (1,1) b is supplied. Subsequently, the image data R (1,1) r, L (1,1) g, and R are applied to the red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixel at the coordinates (1,2) in the image display area W. Image data R (1,1) r, L (1,1) g and R (1,1) b are read from the memory 22 so that (1,1) b is supplied. Subsequently, image data L (1,3) r, R (1,3) g, and L are applied to the red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixel at the coordinates (1,3) in the image display area W. Image data L (1,3) r, R (1,3) g and L (1,3) b are read from the memory 22 so that (1, 3) b is supplied. Subsequently, the image data R (1,3) r, L (1,3) g, and R are applied to the red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixel at the coordinates (1, 4) in the image display area W. Image data R (1,3) r, L (1,3) g and R (1,3) b are read from the memory 22 so that (1,3) b is supplied. Hereinafter, coordinates (1, 5), coordinates (1, 6),..., Coordinates (1, 800) are read in the same manner. In this way, first, image data to be supplied to the red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixels in the first row in the image display area W is read.

  Next, image data to be supplied to the red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixels in the second row in the image display region W is read out. That is, first, image data R (2,1) r, L (2,1) g, and red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixel at coordinates (2,1) in the image display area W and Image data R (2,1) r, L (2,1) g and R (2,1) b are read from the memory 22 so that R (2,1) b is supplied. Subsequently, image data L (2, 1) r, R (2, 1) g, and L are applied to the red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixel at the coordinates (2, 2) in the image display area W. Image data L (2,1) r, R (2,1) g and L (2,1) b are read from the memory 22 so that (2, 1) b is supplied. Subsequently, image data R (2,3) r, L (2,3) g, and R are applied to red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixel at coordinates (2,3) in the image display area W. Image data R (2,3) r, L (2,3) g and R (2,3) b are read from the memory 22 so that (2, 3) b is supplied. Subsequently, image data L (2, 3) r, R (2, 3) g, and L are applied to the red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixel at the coordinates (2, 4) in the image display area W. Image data L (2,3) r, R (2,3) g and L (2,3) b are read from the memory 22 so that (2, 3) b is supplied. Hereinafter, coordinates (2, 5), coordinates (2, 6),..., Coordinates (2, 800) are read in the same manner.

  Similarly, the red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixels of the i-th row (i = 3,..., 480) in the image display area W are then subjected to i-th image data DR for the right eye. Image data R (i, k) r, R (i, k) g and R (i, k) b (where k = 1, 3,..., 797, 799) and image data for the left eye The image data L (i, k) r, L (i, k) g and L (i, k) b (where k = 1, 3,..., 797, 799) in the i-th row in DL Reading is performed so that pixels are alternately supplied. At this time, the right-eye image data DR and the left-eye image data DL are alternately read out for each sub-pixel in the sub-pixels 33 forming a column along the vertical direction in the image display region W. As a result, the image data for one column of panel pixels in the image data DR for the right eye and the image data for one column of panel pixels in the image data for the left eye DL are for two columns of panel pixels adjacent to each other in the image display area W. Are synthesized as image data. As a result, composite image data D in which the right-eye image data DR and the left-eye image data DL are combined is generated.

  The display panel 3 displays a composite image in the image display area W based on the composite image data D output from the image processing circuit 2.

  Next, in addition to FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, an image of the observer H viewing the composite image displayed by the display panel 3 based on the composite image data D as described above through the barrier B <b> 1 is shown. 8 and FIG. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an image of the observer's right eye viewing the composite image through the barrier, and FIG. 9 is an image of the observer's left eye viewing the composite image through the barrier. It is a schematic diagram shown.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the observer H has the right eye image R (that is, image data R (1) among the composite images (that is, images based on the composite image data D) displayed on the display panel 3 with the right eye. 1) r, R (1, 1) g, R (1, 1) b, R (1, 3) r, R (1, 3) g, R (1, 3) b, ..., R (480) 799) r, R (480,799) g, R (480,799) b). That is, the right-eye image R of the composite image is incident on the right eye of the observer H through the opening B1a of the barrier B1 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, and the left eye of the composite image. The image L is blocked by the light blocking portion B1b of the barrier B1 so as not to enter the right eye of the observer H.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, the observer H sees the left eye image L of the composite image displayed on the display panel 3 with the left eye. That is, the left-eye image L of the composite image enters the left eye of the observer H through the opening B1a of the barrier B1, and the right-eye image R of the composite image is the left eye of the observer H. Is blocked by the light blocking portion B1b of the barrier B1.

  Here, in FIG. 8 again, the image R for the right eye viewed by the observer H with the right eye is an image displayed at an interval of one sub-pixel in the image display region W, and the image data DR for the right eye. The image corresponding to is an image that has been expanded twice in the horizontal direction. That is, the image R for the right eye viewed by the observer H with the right eye is an image having the same length ratio in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction as the image corresponding to the image data DR ′ for the right eye. Therefore, the image R for the right eye viewed by the observer H with the right eye is not distorted in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction.

  The same applies to the left-eye image L viewed by the observer H with the left eye shown in FIG. That is, in FIG. 9, the left-eye image L viewed by the observer H with the left eye is an image that is displayed in the image display area W with an interval of one sub-pixel, and corresponds to the left-eye image data DL. The image to be expanded is an image expanded twice in the horizontal direction. That is, the image L for the left eye that the viewer H sees with the left eye is an image having the same length ratio in the horizontal and vertical directions as the image corresponding to the image data DL ′ for the left eye. Therefore, the image L for the left eye viewed by the observer H with the left eye is not distorted in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction.

  Furthermore, according to the display device according to the present embodiment, the observer H is configured to view the composite image through the barrier B1 described above with reference to FIG. For example, the image R and the left-eye image L can be hardly or completely prevented from feeling as if vertical stripes along the vertical direction exist. Therefore, when the observer H recognizes the composite image as a stereoscopic image by viewing the composite image through the barrier B1, the observer H feels that vertical stripes exist in the stereoscopic image. Can be prevented. Thereby, for example, a three-dimensional image with high definition or high resolution can be recognized by the observer as compared with a display device of a parallax barrier system.

As described above, according to the display device according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the amount of image data and perform high-quality stereoscopic display.
Second Embodiment
Next, a display device according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, the overall configuration of the display device according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the display device according to the second embodiment. 10, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  In FIG. 10, the display device 1b according to the second embodiment includes the image processing circuit 2b and the barrier B2 in place of the image processing circuit 2 and the barrier B1 in the first embodiment described above, respectively. Unlike the display device 1 according to the embodiment, other points are substantially the same as those of the display device 1 according to the first embodiment described above. Note that the display device 1b according to the second embodiment is configured as a display device capable of performing multi-viewpoint display, as will be described later.

  The image processing circuit 2b displays from the multiplexed image data D ′ including the first viewpoint image data DP1 ′, the second viewpoint image data DP2 ′, the third viewpoint image data DP3 ′, and the fourth viewpoint image data DP4 ′. The composite image data D to be displayed in the image display area W of the panel 3 is generated, and the composite image data D is output to the display panel 3. More specifically, the image processing circuit 2b includes an S / P conversion circuit 20b, a read control circuit 21b, a memory 22, and a read control circuit 23b.

  The S / P conversion circuit 20b converts one set of multiplexed image data D ′ input from the outside into image data DP1′r, DP1′g and DP1′b for the first viewpoint, and image data DP2 for the second viewpoint. 'r, DP2'g and DP2'b, third viewpoint image data DP3'r, DP3'g and DP3'b, and fourth viewpoint image data DP4'r, DP4'g and DP4'b The image data is divided into 12 systems (that is, phase-expanded into 12-phase image data) and output to the read control circuit 21b as 12-system image data. As will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 12, the multiplexed image data D ′ in the present embodiment is the first viewpoint image data DP1 ′, the second viewpoint image data DP2 ′, and the third viewpoint image data. DP3 ′ and fourth viewpoint image data DP4 ′ are included. First viewpoint image data DP1 ′, second viewpoint image data DP2 ′, third viewpoint image data DP3 ′, and fourth viewpoint image data DP4 are included. Each of 'includes image data of three colors corresponding to the sub-pixels of three colors of red, green and blue constituting the pixels of the display panel 3. That is, the first viewpoint image data DP1 ′ includes red image data DP1′r, green image data DP1′g, and blue image data DP1′b, and the second viewpoint image data DP2 ′ includes , Red image data DP2′r, green image data DP2′g, and blue image data DP2′b. The third viewpoint image data DP3 ′ includes red image data DP3′r and green image data DP3′r. Image data DP3′g and blue image data DP3′b. The fourth viewpoint image data DP4 ′ includes red image data DP4′r, green image data DP4′g, and a blue image. It consists of data DP4′b.

  The read control circuit 21b outputs image data DP1′r, DP1′g, DP1′b, DP2′r, DP2′g, DP2′b, DP3′r, DP3′g, output from the S / P conversion circuit 20b. DP3′b, DP4′r, DP4′g and DP4′b are partially thinned out (ie, compressed), and new image data DP1r, DP1g, DP1b, DP2r, DP2g, DP2b, DP3r, DP3g , DP3b, DP4r, DP4g, and DP4b are output to the memory 22. The image data DP1r, DP1g, and DP1b are image data for the first viewpoint V1, and are red, green, and blue image data, respectively. The image data DP2r, DP2g, and DP2b are image data for the second viewpoint V2, and are red, green, and blue image data, respectively. The image data DP3r, DP3g, and DP3b are image data for the third viewpoint V3, and are red, green, and blue image data, respectively. The image data DP4r, DP4g, and DP4b are image data for the fourth viewpoint V4, and are red, green, and blue image data, respectively.

  The read control circuit 23b rearranges the image data DP1r, DP1g, DP1b, DP2r, DP2g, DP2b, DP3r, DP3g, DP3b, DP4r, DP4g, and DP4b stored in the memory 22, and displays the image display area W of the display panel 3. Are output to the display panel 3 as composite image data D to be displayed on the display panel 3. At this time, the read control circuit 23 b outputs the composite image data D to the display panel 3 based on various timing signals supplied from the timing control circuit 8.

  The barrier B2 includes a first viewpoint image P1, a second viewpoint image P2, a third viewpoint image P3, and a fourth viewpoint image P4 that constitute the composite image displayed in the image display area W of the display panel 3. It consists of a plurality of corresponding openings B2a and a plurality of light shielding parts B2b, and is arranged between the display panel 3 and the viewpoints V1, V2, V3, and V4. The barrier B2 has a plurality of openings B2a so that the first viewpoint image P1 is incident on the first viewpoint V1, and the second viewpoint image P2 is incident on the second viewpoint V2, and for the third viewpoint. The image P3 is configured to be incident on the third viewpoint V3 and the fourth viewpoint image P4 is incident on the fourth viewpoint V4. The plurality of light shielding portions B2b allows the first viewpoint image P1 to be viewed. The second viewpoint image P2 is not incident on the viewpoints V1, V3, and V4, and the third viewpoint image P3 is not incident on the viewpoints V1, V2, and V4. The four-viewpoint image P4 is configured not to enter the viewpoints V1, V2, and V3. In other words, the barrier B2 prevents the first viewpoint image P1 from entering the first viewpoint V1, and does not enter the viewpoints V2, V3, and V4, and the second viewpoint image P2 enters the second viewpoint V2. The fourth viewpoint image P4 is not incident on the viewpoints V1, V3, and V4, and the third viewpoint image P3 is incident on the third viewpoint V3 and is not incident on the viewpoints V1, V2, and V4. It is configured to enter the fourth viewpoint V4 and not to enter the viewpoints V1, V2, and V3. That is, the barrier B2 spatially combines the first viewpoint image P1, the second viewpoint image P2, the third viewpoint image P3, and the fourth viewpoint image P4 displayed in the image display area W of the display panel 3. Has the function of separating.

  FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the configuration of the barrier B2.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the plurality of openings B <b> 2 a in the barrier B <b> 2 correspond to one sub pixel 33 (see FIG. 3) constituting the image display area W of the display panel 3, from the upper left in the figure. The plurality of light shielding portions B2b in the barrier B2 are arranged obliquely from the upper left to the lower right in the figure corresponding to the three sub-pixels 33. ing.

  Next, image processing by the image processing circuit of the display device according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14 in addition to FIG. FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram conceptually showing the structure of the multiplexed image data input to the image processing circuit of the display device according to this embodiment. FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram conceptually showing the configuration of image data stored in the memory of the image processing circuit of the display device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram conceptually showing the structure of the composite image data output from the image processing circuit of the display device according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 10, first, the image processing circuit 2b takes in the multiple image data D '. More specifically, first, one set of multiplexed image data D 'is input from the outside to the S / P conversion circuit 20b of the image processing circuit 2b. Subsequently, the S / P conversion circuit 20b outputs one system of multiplexed image data D ′ to the read control circuit 21b as 12 systems of image data, and the read control circuit 21b outputs the multiple image data D ′ (that is, the first image data D ′). 1-viewpoint image data DP1 ′, second-viewpoint image data DP2 ′, third-viewpoint image data DP3 ′, and fourth-viewpoint image data DP4 ′).

  Here, as shown in FIG. 12, the multiple image data D ′ in the present embodiment corresponds to the panel pixels for one screen in the image display area W (panel pixels of 480 rows × 800 columns in the present embodiment). The first viewpoint image data DP1 ′, the second viewpoint image data DP2 ′, the third viewpoint image data DP3 ′, and the fourth viewpoint image data DP4 ′ are included.

  In the upper part of FIG. 12, the first viewpoint image data DP1 ′, the second viewpoint image data DP2 ′, the third viewpoint image data DP3 ′, and the fourth viewpoint image included in the multiplexed image data D ′. The configuration of the data DP4 ′ is schematically shown, and the configuration of the first viewpoint image data DP1 ′ is shown in more detail below. Further, here, for convenience of explanation, the multiplexed image data D ′ is converted into the first viewpoint image data DP1 ′, the second viewpoint image data DP2 ′, the third image data corresponding to the panel pixels of 480 rows × 800 columns, respectively. Although described as including the viewpoint image data DP3 ′ and the fourth viewpoint image data DP4 ′, the size of the multiplexed image data D ′ is not limited to this. In other words, the multiple image data D ′ includes first-viewpoint image data DP1 ′, second-viewpoint image data DP2 ′, third data corresponding to panel pixels of M rows × N columns (where M and N are natural numbers). You may comprise so that viewpoint image data DP3 'and 4th viewpoint image data DP4' may be included.

  In FIG. 12, the first viewpoint image data DP1 ′ for one screen is image data P1 (1,1) r, P1 (1,1) g, P1 () which is image data in units of subpixels 33. 1, 1) b, P1 (1,2) r, P1 (1,2) g, P1 (1,2) b,..., P1 (480,800) r, P1 (480,800) g, P1 ( 480, 800) b. That is, the first viewpoint image data DP1 ′ for one screen includes red image data P1 (s, t) r, green image data P1 (s, t) g, and blue image data P1 (s. , T) b (where s and t are natural numbers).

  Although not shown here, the second viewpoint image data DP2 ′, the third viewpoint image data DP3 ′, and the fourth viewpoint image data DP4 ′ are also configured in the same manner as the first viewpoint image data DP1. ing. That is, the image data DPi ′ for the i-th viewpoint for one screen (where i = 2, 3, 4) includes the image data Pi (s, t) r for red and the image data Pi (s, t for green). ) G and blue image data Pi (s, t) b (where s and t are natural numbers).

  In FIG. 10 again, the image processing circuit 2b compresses the multiple image data D 'after taking the multiple image data D'. More specifically, the read control circuit 21b captures the multiplexed image data D ′ (that is, the first viewpoint image data DP1 ′, the second viewpoint image data DP2 ′, the third viewpoint image data DP3 ′, and the first viewpoint image data DP1 ′). A part of the 4-viewpoint image data DP4 ′) is thinned out (ie, compressed), and new first-viewpoint image data DP1, second-viewpoint image data DP2, and third-viewpoint image as shown in FIG. Data DP3 and fourth viewpoint image data DP4 are generated.

  That is, in the read control circuit 21 b, first, a part of the first viewpoint image data DP <b> 1 ′ is thinned out, and new first viewpoint image data DP <b> 1 is generated and stored in the memory 22. Specifically, the read control circuit 21b causes the image data P1 (1,1) r, P1 (1,1) g, P1 (1,1) b, P1 (1,1) out of the first viewpoint image data DP1 ′. 5) r, P1 (1,5) g, P1 (1,5) b, P1 (1,9) r, P1 (1,9) g, P1 (1,9) b,..., P1 (480, 793) r, P1 (480, 793) g, P1 (480, 793) b, P1 (480, 797) r, P1 (480, 797) g, P1 (480, 797) b are stored in the memory 22. , Image data P1 (1,2) r, P1 (1,2) g, P1 (1,2) b, P1 (1,3) r, P1 (1,3) out of the first viewpoint image data DP1 ′. ) G, P1 (1,3) b, P1 (1,4) r, P1 (1,4) g, P1 (1,4) b, P1 (1,6) r, P1 (1 6) g, P1 (1,6) b, P1 (1,7) r, P1 (1,7) g, P1 (1,7) b, P1 (1,8) r, P1 (1,8) g, P1 (1,8) b, P1 (1,10) r, P1 (1,10) g, P1 (1,10) b,..., P1 (480,798) r, P1 (480,798) g, P1 (480, 798) b, P1 (480, 800) r, P1 (480, 800) g, and P1 (480, 800) b are not stored in the memory 22. As a result, the memory 22 stores new first viewpoint image data DP1 obtained by compressing the first viewpoint image data DP1 '.

  That is, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, among the first viewpoint image data DP1 ′ for one screen, the (4 × i−2) th column, the (4 × i−1) th column, and (4 × i) Image data corresponding to the pixels in the column (where i = 1, 2,..., 200) is thinned out and not stored in the memory 22, and the (4 × i-3) column (where i = Only the image data corresponding to the pixels of 1, 2,..., 200) is stored in the memory 22, so that new first viewpoint image data DP1 for 480 rows × 200 columns of panel pixels is generated. Here, since a part of the multiple image data DR ′ is thinned out from the new first viewpoint image data DP1, the data amount or the information amount thereof is for the first viewpoint included in the multiple image data D ′. This is 1/4 times the data amount of the image data DP1 ′.

  In FIG. 13, the upper part schematically shows the configuration of the first viewpoint image data DP1, the second viewpoint image data DP2, the third viewpoint image data DP3, and the fourth viewpoint image data DP4. Shows the configuration of the first viewpoint image data DP1 in more detail.

  After the first viewpoint image data DP1 is generated, a part of the second viewpoint image data DP2 ′ is subsequently thinned out to generate new second viewpoint image data DP2, which is stored in the memory 22. Is done. Specifically, the second viewpoint image data DP2 ′ is compressed and a new second viewpoint image data DP1 is generated in the same manner as the first viewpoint image data DP1 ′ is compressed to create a new first viewpoint image data DP1. The viewpoint image data DP2 is created. That is, in the second viewpoint image data DP2 ′ for one screen, the (4 × i−2) -th column, the (4 × i−1) -th column, the (4 × i) -th column (where i = 1). ,..., 200) pixels are thinned out and not stored in the memory 22, and the (4 × i-3) -th column (where i = 1, 2,..., 200) pixels. Only the image data corresponding to is stored in the memory 22, so that new second viewpoint image data DP2 for 480 rows × 200 columns of panel pixels is generated. Here, since a part of the multiple image data DL ′ is thinned out from the new second viewpoint image data DP2, the amount of the data is the amount of the second viewpoint image data DP2 ′ included in the multiple image data. The data amount is 1/4 times.

  After the new second-viewpoint image data DP2 is generated, the first-viewpoint image data DP1 ′ (and the third-viewpoint image data DP3 ′ and the fourth-viewpoint image data DP4 ′ are also continuously generated. Similarly to the second viewpoint image data DP2 ′), a part thereof is thinned out to generate new third viewpoint image data DP3 and new fourth viewpoint image data DP4, which are stored in the memory 22. The

  As described above, the first viewpoint image data DP1, the second viewpoint image data DP2, the third viewpoint image data DP3, and the fourth viewpoint image data DP4 are each included in the multiple image data D ′. The viewpoint image data DP1 ′, the second viewpoint image data DP2 ′, the third viewpoint image data DP3 ′, and the fourth viewpoint image data DP4 ′ are ¼ times the first viewpoint image data DP1. The amount of data is smaller than ', second viewpoint image data DP2', third viewpoint image data DP3 ', and fourth viewpoint image data DP4'. Accordingly, the multiplex image data D ′ (that is, the first viewpoint image data DP1 ′, the second viewpoint image data DP2 ′, the third viewpoint image data DP3 ′, and the fourth viewpoint image data DP4 ′) is stored in the memory as it is. Compared with the case where the data is stored in the memory 22, the storage capacity of the memory 22 can be reduced.

  In FIG. 10 again, after the first viewpoint image data DP1, the second viewpoint image data DP2, the third viewpoint image data DP3, and the fourth viewpoint image data DP4 are stored in the memory 22, the image processing circuit 2b The composite image data D is generated. More specifically, the read control circuit 23b in the image processing circuit 2b reads from the memory 22 the first viewpoint image data DP1, the second viewpoint image data DP2, the third viewpoint image data DP3, and the fourth viewpoint image data. By reading out DP4 according to a predetermined rule, composite image data D as shown in FIG. 14 is generated.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 14, first, image data P1 (1,1) r, P2 is applied to the red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixel at the coordinates (1,1) in the image display area W. The image data P1 (1,1) r, P2 (1,1) g, and P3 (1,1) b are stored in the memory 22 so that (1,1) g and P3 (1,1) b are respectively supplied. Read from. Subsequently, image data P4 (1,1) r, P1 (1,1) g, and P2 are applied to the red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixel at coordinates (1,2) in the image display area W. Image data P4 (1,1) r, P1 (1,1) g and P2 (1,1) b are read from the memory 22 so that (1, 1) b is supplied. Subsequently, image data P3 (1, 1) r, P4 (1, 1) g, and P1 are applied to the red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixel at the coordinates (1, 3) in the image display area W. Image data P3 (1,1) r, P4 (1,1) g, and P1 (1,1) b are read from the memory 22 so that (1, 1) b is supplied. Subsequently, image data P2 (1,1) r, P3 (1,1) g, and P4 are applied to the red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixel at the coordinates (1, 4) in the image display area W. Image data P2 (1,1) r, P3 (1,1) g and P4 (1,1) b are read from the memory 22 so that (1, 1) b is supplied.

  Subsequently, image data P1 (1,5) r, P2 (1,5) g, and P3 are applied to the red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixel at the coordinates (1, 5) in the image display area W. Image data P1 (1,5) r, P2 (1,5) g and P3 (1,5) b are read from the memory 22 so that (1, 5) b is supplied. Subsequently, image data P4 (1,5) r, P1 (1,5) g, and P2 are applied to the red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixel at the coordinates (1, 6) in the image display area W. Image data P4 (1,5) r, P1 (1,5) g and P2 (1,5) b are read from the memory 22 so that (1, 5) b is supplied. Subsequently, image data P3 (1,5) r, P4 (1,5) g, and P1 are applied to the red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixel at the coordinates (1, 7) in the image display area W. Image data P3 (1,5) r, P4 (1,5) g, and P1 (1,5) b are read from the memory 22 so that (1, 5) b is supplied. Subsequently, image data P2 (1,5) r, P3 (1,5) g, and P4 are applied to the red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixel at coordinates (1, 8) in the image display area W. Image data P2 (1,5) r, P3 (1,5) g and P4 (1,5) b are read from the memory 22 so that (1, 5) b is supplied.

  Hereinafter, coordinates (1, 9), coordinates (1, 10),..., Coordinates (1, 800) are read in the same manner.

  In this way, first, image data to be supplied to the red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixels in the first row in the image display area W is read.

  Next, image data to be supplied to the red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixels in the second row in the image display region W is read out.

  That is, first, the image data P4 (2,1) r, P1 (2,1) g, and the red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixel at the coordinates (2,1) in the image display area W are displayed. Image data P4 (2,1) r, P1 (2,1) g and P2 (2,1) b are read from the memory 22 so that P2 (2,1) b is supplied. Subsequently, image data P3 (2,1) r, P4 (2,1) g, and P1 are applied to the red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixel at coordinates (2, 2) in the image display area W. Image data P3 (2,1) r, P4 (2,1) g and P1 (2,1) b are read from the memory 22 so that (2, 1) b is supplied. Subsequently, image data P2 (2,1) r, P3 (2,1) g, and P4 are applied to the red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixel at coordinates (2,3) in the image display area W. Image data P2 (2,1) r, P3 (2,1) g and P4 (2,1) b are read from the memory 22 so that (2, 1) b is supplied. Subsequently, image data P1 (2,1) r, P2 (2,1) g, and P3 are applied to the red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixel at the coordinates (2, 4) in the image display area W. Image data P1 (2,1) r, P2 (2,1) g and P3 (2,1) b are read from the memory 22 so that (2, 1) b is supplied.

  Subsequently, the image data P4 (2,5) r, P1 (2,5) g, and P2 are applied to the red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixel at the coordinates (2, 5) in the image display area W. Image data P4 (2,5) r, P1 (2,5) g and P2 (2,5) b are read from the memory 22 so that (2, 5) b is supplied. Subsequently, image data P3 (2, 5) r, P4 (2, 5) g, and P1 are applied to the red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixel at coordinates (2, 6) in the image display area W. Image data P3 (2,5) r, P4 (2,5) g, and P1 (2,5) b are read from the memory 22 so that (2, 5) b is supplied. Subsequently, image data P2 (2,5) r, P3 (2,5) g, and P4 are applied to the red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixel at coordinates (2, 7) in the image display area W. Image data P2 (2,5) r, P3 (2,5) g and P4 (2,5) b are read from the memory 22 so that (2, 5) b is supplied. Subsequently, image data P1 (2,5) r, P2 (2,5) g, and P3 are applied to the red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixel at the coordinates (2, 8) in the image display area W. Image data P1 (2,5) r, P2 (2,5) g, and P3 (2,5) b are read from the memory 22 so that (2, 5) b is supplied.

  Hereinafter, the coordinates (2, 9), coordinates (2, 10),..., Coordinates (2, 800) are read in the same manner.

  In this way, image data to be supplied to the red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixels in the second row in the image display area W is read out.

  Hereinafter, similarly, the red, green, and blue sub-pixels 33 included in the panel pixels of the i-th row (i = 3,..., 480) in the image display area W are transferred to the first viewpoint image data DP1. Image data P1 (i, k) r, P1 (i, k) g and P1 (i, k) b (where k = 1, 5,..., 793, 797) for the i-th row and for the second viewpoint Image data P2 (i, k) r, P2 (i, k) g and P2 (i, k) b (where k = 1, 5,..., 793, 797) of the i-th row in the image data DP2. , Image data P3 (i, k) r, P3 (i, k) g and P3 (i, k) b (where k = 1, 5,..., I-th row in the third viewpoint image data DP3). 793, 797), and the image data P4 (i, k) r, P4 (i, ) G and P4 (i, k) b (where, k = 1,5, ..., 793,797) and are read out to be supplied alternately every sub-pixel. At this time, the first-viewpoint image data DP1, the second-viewpoint image data DP2, the third-viewpoint image data DP3, and the fourth-viewpoint image data are added to the sub-pixels 33 forming a column along the vertical direction in the image display area W. DP4 is alternately read for each sub-pixel. Accordingly, the image data for one column of panel pixels in each of the first viewpoint image data DP1, the second viewpoint image data DP2, the third viewpoint image data DP3, and the fourth viewpoint image data DP4 is stored in the image display area. In W, they are combined as image data for four columns of panel pixels adjacent to each other. As a result, combined image data D is generated by combining the first viewpoint image data DP1, the second viewpoint image data DP2, the third viewpoint image data DP3, and the fourth viewpoint image data DP4.

  The display panel 3 displays a composite image in the image display area W based on the composite image data D output from the image processing circuit 2b.

  Next, with respect to images obtained by viewing the composite image displayed by the display panel 3 based on the composite image data D as described above from the viewpoints V1, V2, V3, and V4 through the barrier B2, FIG. 10, FIG. Description will be made with reference to FIG. 15 in addition to FIG. FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing an image obtained by viewing the composite image through the barrier from the first viewpoint.

  As shown in FIG. 15, from the first viewpoint V1, the first viewpoint image P1 (that is, the image data P1 (1) of the combined image (that is, the image based on the combined image data D) displayed on the display panel 3 is displayed. 1) r, P1 (1, 1) g, P1 (1, 1) b, P1 (1, 5) r, P1 (1, 5) g, P1 (1, 5) b, ..., P1 (480) 797) r, P1 (480,797) g, P1 (480,797) b). That is, the first viewpoint image P1 in the composite image enters the first viewpoint V1 through the opening B2a of the barrier B2 described above with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, and the second viewpoint in the composite image. The image P2, the third viewpoint image P3, and the fourth viewpoint image P4 are blocked by the light blocking portion B2b of the barrier B2 so as not to enter the first viewpoint V1.

  On the other hand, although illustration is omitted here, the second viewpoint image P2 in the composite image displayed on the display panel 3 can be seen from the second viewpoint V2 as in the case of the first viewpoint V1 described above. . That is, the second viewpoint image P2 of the composite image enters the second viewpoint V2 through the opening B2a of the barrier B2, and among the composite images, the first viewpoint image P1, the third viewpoint image P3, and The fourth viewpoint image P4 is blocked by the light blocking portion B2b of the barrier B2 so as not to enter the second viewpoint V2.

  Similarly, from the third viewpoint V3, the third viewpoint image P3 of the composite image displayed on the display panel 3 can be seen, and from the fourth viewpoint V4, the composite image displayed on the display panel 3 is displayed. Of these, the fourth viewpoint image P4 can be seen.

  Here, in FIG. 15 again, the first viewpoint image P1 that can be seen from the first viewpoint V1 is an image that is displayed in the image display area W with an interval of three sub-pixels, and the first viewpoint image data. The image corresponding to DP1 is an image that is expanded four times in the horizontal direction. That is, the first viewpoint image P1 that can be seen from the first viewpoint V1 is an image having the same length ratio in the horizontal and vertical directions as the image corresponding to the first viewpoint image data DP1 '. Therefore, the first viewpoint image P1 seen from the first viewpoint V1 is not distorted in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction.

  The same applies to the second viewpoint image P2, the third viewpoint image P3, and the fourth viewpoint image P4 that can be seen from the viewpoints V2, V3, and V4, respectively. That is, each of the second viewpoint image P2, the third viewpoint image P3, and the fourth viewpoint image P4 is an image that is displayed in the image display area W with an interval of three sub-pixels. The images corresponding to each of the viewpoint image data DP2, the third viewpoint image data DP3, and the fourth viewpoint image data DP4 are images that have been expanded four times in the horizontal direction. That is, the second viewpoint image P2, the third viewpoint image P3, and the fourth viewpoint image P4 that can be seen from the viewpoints V2, V3, and V4 are the second viewpoint image data DP2 ′ and the third viewpoint image data DP3 ′, respectively. In addition, the image corresponding to the fourth viewpoint image data DP4 ′ is the same in the ratio of the lengths in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. Therefore, the second viewpoint image P2, the third viewpoint image P3, and the fourth viewpoint image P4 viewed by the viewpoints V2, V3, and V4, respectively, are not distorted in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction.

  Furthermore, according to the display device according to the present embodiment, since the composite image can be seen from the viewpoints V1, V2, V3, and V4 through the barrier B2, the viewer can view the first viewpoint image P1, For example, it is possible to eliminate the feeling that vertical stripes along the vertical direction exist in the two-viewpoint image P2, the third viewpoint image P3, and the fourth viewpoint image P4, for example. Therefore, when the observer views the composite image through the barrier B2, it can be prevented that the observer feels that vertical stripes are present in the image. This makes it possible to perform multi-viewpoint display with higher definition or higher resolution than, for example, a parallax barrier display device.

  As described above, according to the display device according to the present embodiment, the amount of image data can be reduced and high-quality multi-viewpoint display can be performed.

  In the above embodiment, a liquid crystal display panel has been described as an example of the display panel 3. However, as the display panel, an electrophoretic panel, an electroluminescence panel (EL panel), or the like can be used in addition to the liquid crystal display panel. It is.

The display device according to the present invention is different for two observers (that is, the first and second observers) positioned in different directions with respect to the display area of the display panel of the display device. It is also possible to display an image. For example, in the first embodiment, instead of the right-eye image R and the left-eye image L, a first observer image and a second observer image are displayed in the image display area W. The barrier B1 is configured so that the first observer image is incident on the first observer's eye and not on the second observer's eye by the plurality of openings Ba1 and By configuring the second observer image so as to be incident on the second observer's eye and not on the first observer's eye, the first and second observers can be compared with each other. It is also possible to display different images. That is, according to the above-described display device, for example, navigation information is displayed for an observer located in the driver's seat and an image such as a television or a DVD is displayed for an observer located in the passenger seat. It is also possible to simultaneously display different images for two observers positioned in different directions such as the left-right direction on the display device.
<Electronic equipment>
Next, the case where the above-described display device is applied to a mobile phone which is an example of an electronic device will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a mobile phone as an example of the electronic apparatus of the present invention.

  In FIG. 16, a mobile phone 1300 includes the above-described display device 1 as a display unit 1005 together with a plurality of operation buttons 1302, an earpiece 1304, and a mouthpiece 1306. Therefore, according to the mobile phone 1300, high-quality stereoscopic display can be performed on the display portion 1005.

  In addition to the electronic device described with reference to FIG. 16, a mobile personal computer, a liquid crystal television, a viewfinder type, a monitor direct view type video tape recorder, a car navigation device, a pager, an electronic notebook, a calculator, Examples include a word processor, a workstation, a videophone, a POS terminal, and a device having a touch panel. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to these various electronic devices.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit or idea of the invention that can be read from the claims and the entire specification, and a display device with such a change, An image processing method and an electronic apparatus provided with the display device are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the whole structure of the display apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a top view which shows the structure of the barrier of the display apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the display panel of the display apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the image processing by the image processing circuit of the display apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows notionally the structure of the multiplex image data input into the image processing circuit of the display apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows notionally the structure of the image data memorize | stored in the memory of the image processing circuit of the display apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows notionally the structure of the composite image data output from the image processing circuit of the display apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the image which the observer's right eye looked at the synthesized image through the barrier. It is a schematic diagram which shows the image which the left eye of the observer saw the synthetic image through the barrier. It is a schematic diagram which shows the whole structure of the display apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a top view which shows the structure of the barrier of the display apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows notionally the structure of the multiplex image data input into the image processing circuit of the display apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows notionally the structure of the image data memorize | stored in the memory of the image processing circuit of the display apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows notionally the structure of the composite image data output from the image processing circuit of the display apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the image which looked at the synthesized image through the barrier from the 1st viewpoint. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the mobile telephone which is an example of the electronic device to which the display apparatus of this invention is applied.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Image processing circuit, 3 ... Display panel, 8 ... Timing control circuit, 20 ... S / P conversion circuit, 22 ... Memory, 23 ... Read-out control circuit, 33 ... Sub pixel, B1 ... Barrier, W ... Image display area

Claims (6)

A display unit in which a plurality of pixels each having a plurality of sub-pixels having different colors are arranged in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction;
By separating each of a plurality of original images that are the basis of an image to be displayed on the display unit into a plurality of columns of images arranged in the horizontal direction within one screen, the plurality of columns of images are thinned out in units of columns. Each of the plurality of original images is compressed, and one column image of each of the compressed plurality of original images is crossed over the plurality of columns and in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction in the display unit. Image processing means for synthesizing image data of the plurality of compressed original images so as to be alternately displayed every time, and generating image data of a synthesized image as an image to be displayed on the display unit;
An image separation unit that spatially separates the composite image displayed on the display unit for each of the plurality of compressed original images.   The display device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of original images are a right-eye image and a left-eye image.   The display device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of original images are a plurality of viewpoint images that are respectively observed at a plurality of different viewpoints.   The display device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of original images include a first image displayed in a first direction and a second image displayed in a second direction. An image processing method for displaying an image on a display unit in which a plurality of pixels each having a plurality of sub-pixels having different colors are arranged in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction,
Separating each of a plurality of original images that are the basis of an image to be displayed on the display unit into a plurality of columns of images arranged in the horizontal direction within one screen, and thinning out the plurality of columns of images in units of columns. A step of compressing each of a plurality of original images;
An image for each column of the compressed plurality of original images is alternately displayed for each of the sub-pixels across the plurality of columns and in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction on the display unit. Combining the compressed image data of the plurality of original images to generate image data of a combined image as an image to be displayed on the display unit;
An image processing method comprising: displaying an image on the display unit based on image data of the composite image.   An electronic apparatus comprising the display device according to claim 1.

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