JP3123808B2 - 3D image display device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for displaying a stereoscopic image, and more particularly to a stereoscopic image display device which enables a large number of observers to observe a stereoscopic image without using glasses.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various stereoscopic television systems utilizing binocular parallax of an observer have been proposed. In particular, a lenticular plate system which is a space division method is known as a system which does not require wearing of glasses. (Eg, JP-A-63-242093 [H04N13 / 04]).

FIG. 3 shows a structure of an image display section of a conventional stereoscopic image display device employing a lenticular plate system, wherein the left and right eyes shifted horizontally in accordance with the binocular parallax of an observer. Lenticular plate (7) and front lenticular plate for separating and projecting the two images to both eyes of an observer on both sides of a light transmissive screen (1) for displaying two images for use (2) is arranged.

Each of the lenticular plates (7) and (2) is formed by repeatedly forming a large number of lens elements (71) and (21) extending in the vertical direction of the screen in the horizontal direction at a constant pitch.

[0005] Behind the rear lenticular plate (7), images for the left and right eyes shifted horizontally in accordance with the binocular parallax of the observer are projected toward the back of the screen (1). Two projectors (not shown) to be photographed are arranged.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional three-dimensional image display device, the position where the three-dimensional image can be correctly observed with both eyes is as follows.
Since the distance is defined by the distance between the pupils of the observer, there is a disadvantage that the number of persons who can observe a stereoscopic image is limited. Therefore, the applicant has proposed a lenticular plate-type stereoscopic image display device in which many observers can observe a stereoscopic image from different positions (Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 3-98976).

As shown in FIG. 4, the stereoscopic image display apparatus proposed by the applicant is a set of a left-eye projector (8) and a right-eye projector at a position behind the screen (1).
A plurality of sets of (9) are repeatedly arranged to form a set of right-eye pixels Ri and left-eye pixels Li within the width region of one lens element (71) of the screen (1) as shown in FIG. A plurality of pixel units are repeatedly formed in the horizontal direction, and the same unit image is displayed on each pixel unit in the same lens element.

According to the stereoscopic image display apparatus, as shown in FIG. 4, each unit image formed on the screen (1) is formed by the lens element of the front lenticular plate (2) and the right eye image element R and the left eye image element R. After being separated into image elements L, these image elements are projected radially as shown in the figure.

Therefore, the binoculars capable of correctly observing a stereoscopic image
(61) The position of (62), that is, the position where the predetermined interpupillary distance a can be set on the two projection lines of the image element R for the right eye and the image element L for the left eye is, for example, 6 as shown in the figure. This makes it possible for more viewers to observe the stereoscopic image than before.

[0010]

However, in the three-dimensional image display device proposed by the applicant, the images displayed on the screen are only two types of left and right images, but are contained within one lens element. A large number of projectors (eight in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4) corresponding to the number of pixels to be formed are required, and the problem that the apparatus becomes large remains.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to reduce the number of projectors to be equipped in a projector type stereoscopic video display device in which a large number of observers can observe a stereoscopic video and to downsize the device.

[0012]

In the stereoscopic video display apparatus according to the present invention, left and right eye projectors (4) and (5) are arranged behind the screen (1), and the rear of the screen (1). The rear lenticular plate (3) has a plurality of lens elements (31) at a pitch which is an integer (excluding 1) of the arrangement pitch of the plurality of lens elements (21) constituting the front lenticular plate (2) on the front of the screen. ) (32), (33) and (34) are arranged.

[0013]

[Function] Lens element of rear lenticular plate (3)
(31), (32), (33), and (34) are arranged at a pitch that is a fraction of the array pitch of the lens elements (21) of the front lenticular plate (2), By projecting two images for the left eye and the right eye toward the rear lenticular plate (3) by the two projectors (4) and (5),
On the screen (1), a pair of right-eye pixels Ri and left-eye pixels Li, which are pixel units, are provided within the width region of each lens element (21) of the front lenticular plate (2). It is formed repeatedly so that one set of pixel units is included in the width region of each lens element of 3).

Accordingly, a plurality of unit images formed on the screen (1) are separated into a right-eye image element R and a left-eye image element L by the lens element (21) of the front lenticular plate (2). The image elements are projected radially.

As a result, the position of both eyes at which a stereoscopic image can be correctly observed, that is, the position at which a predetermined interpupillary distance a can be set on two projection lines of a pair of right-eye image elements and left-eye image elements is As in the case of the stereoscopic image display device according to the proposal of the applicant, there are a plurality of locations more than the conventional device.

[0016]

In the three-dimensional image display device according to the present invention, by disposing at least two projectors for the left eye and the right eye, it is possible to observe a three-dimensional image at more positions than the conventional device. The size of the device can be reduced.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, back lenticular plate
(3) is configured by arranging the lens elements (31), (32), (33), and (34) at a pitch that is a quarter of the arrangement pitch of the lens elements (21) constituting the front lenticular plate (2). Have been.

As shown in FIG. 2, a left-eye projector (4) and a right-eye projector (5) are provided behind the screen (1) on the rear lenticular plate (3) side. Two images for the left and right eyes are projected toward the rear lenticular plate (3).

As a result, the screen (1) is shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, a pair of right-eye pixels Ri and left-eye pixels Li serving as pixel units are provided in the width region of each lens element (21) of the front lenticular plate (2).
It is formed repeatedly so that one set of pixel units is included in the width region of each lens element of (3).

For example, light rays corresponding to one pixel of an image projected by the left-eye projector (4) are formed by four lens elements (31) and (32) of the rear lenticular plate (3).
(33) By the lens action of (34), the front lenticular plate
Images are formed at four points in the screen area corresponding to one lens element (21) of (2), and four pixels Li are formed.

The arrangement of the pixel units formed on the screen (1) in this manner is the same as that formed on the screen (1) of the stereoscopic video display device shown in FIG. Accordingly, each unit image formed on the screen (1) is separated into a right-eye image element R and a left-eye image element L by the lens element of the front lenticular plate (2), and these image elements are shown in FIG. It is projected radially to the observer side.

In this case, a predetermined pupil is located at the position of the two eyes (61) and (62) at which the stereoscopic image can be correctly observed, that is, on the two projected lines of the right-eye image element R and the left-eye image element L. Distance a
Can be set, for example, at six locations as shown in the figure.

As described above, according to the three-dimensional image display device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, by providing two projectors (4) and (5), the size of the device can be increased without increasing the size of the device. Many observers can observe a stereoscopic image.

The description of the above embodiments is for the purpose of illustrating the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the invention described in the claims or reducing the scope thereof. Further, the configuration of each part of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims.

For example, in the above embodiment, two images for the right eye and the left eye taken by two television cameras are converted into two images.
Although the description has been made of the two-lens system in which projection is performed by one projector, the principle of the present invention can be applied to a multi-lens stereoscopic image display device in which television cameras are installed in three or more directions.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view showing a main part of a stereoscopic video display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the stereoscopic video display device.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing a main part of a conventional stereoscopic video display device proposed by the applicant.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the stereoscopic video display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) Screen (2) Front lenticular plate (21) Lens element (3) Rear lenticular plate (31) Lens element (4) Left eye projector (5) Right eye projector

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 13/00-15/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A light-transmitting screen for left-eye and right-eye images shifted horizontally in accordance with the binocular parallax of an observer.
Multiple projectors to be projected toward the back of (1)
(4) In a stereoscopic image display device comprising (5) and a lenticular plate disposed on both sides of the screen (1), the rear lenticular plate (3) on the back of the screen is connected to the front lenticular plate (2) on the front of the screen. A plurality of lens elements (31), (32), and (33) are arranged at a pitch that is a fraction of an integer (excluding 1 ) of the arrangement pitch of the plurality of lens elements (21) that constitute the lens elements.
The screen (1) has a set of right-eye pixels Ri and left-hand pixels, which form a pixel unit, within the width region of each lens element (21) of the front lenticular plate (2). A stereoscopic image display device comprising a plurality of ophthalmic pixels Li arranged repeatedly so that one set of pixel units is included in a width region of each lens element of a rear lenticular plate (3).