JP3376635B2 - Color display - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color display device for displaying an image in color by dispersing sunlight or light having a spectrum equivalent to that of sunlight.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional color image display system, only the three primary colors of light, red, green and blue, are used to perform color display with a visual illusion of a combination thereof. For example, a cathode ray tube or a liquid crystal display system.

[0003]

Therefore, in the conventional color image display system, the color expression of one dot is a single color,
The color expression by combination was also limited. Also, the three primary colors were decided at the design stage.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is a system in which a spectrum of light is dispersed and color display is performed by using the dispersed light. In particular, the wavelength of the incident light is changed by using a medium, and infinite types It is to provide a novel color display device capable of expressing the color.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 has a light source having sunlight or a light spectrum equivalent to sunlight, a slit through which light emitted from this light source passes, and An optical element such as a prism for entering and refracting and dispersing the light passing through the slit, a driving device for rotating the prism, and a screen for projecting the light dispersed by the optical element are provided.

Further, the invention according to claim 2 is a light source having a light spectrum equivalent to that of sunlight or sunlight, and light capable of changing the refractive index due to the quantum mechanical effect when light emitted from this light source is incident. A modulation element, a controller and a signal processing device for applying an appropriate electric field or magnetic field to the light modulation element, a slit for passing the modulated light emitted by the quantum mechanical effect from the light modulation element, and a slit for passing the slit. And a screen that displays the color of light.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, sunlight emitted from the light source or light having a spectrum equivalent to the sunlight enters the optical element such as the prism through the slit and is dispersed by refraction dispersion by the optical element. The spectrum color corresponding to the screen is projected. Then, by rotating the optical element by the driving device, the color of the spectrum corresponding to the position of the screen changes.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, sunlight emitted from the light source or light having a spectrum equivalent to that of the light source is incident on the light modulation element, and an appropriate electric field or magnetic field is applied by the controller and the signal processing device. The refractive index of the light modulation element is modulated and emitted by a quantum mechanical effect, for example, the Stark effect, and the spectrum color corresponding to the screen is projected through the slit. By properly changing the electric field or magnetic field applied to the light modulation element,
The color of light emitted to the screen changes.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the color display device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. [Embodiment 1] First, the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS.
The color display device according to the example will be described. FIG. 1 illustrates the fundamental principle of the first embodiment of the color display device according to the present invention, and illustrates the light refraction dispersion that occurs when light is made incident on a medium having a different refractive index.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a medium [A], 2 is a medium [B], θ ₁ is an incident angle, θ ₂ is a refraction angle, and n ₁₂ is a medium [A].
1, the refractive index of the medium [B] 2 is ₁ , and c ₁ is the medium [A] 1
The speed of light in the medium, c ₂ is the speed of light in the medium [B] 2, λ ₁ is the wavelength of the light in the medium [A] 1, λ ₂ is the wavelength of the light in the medium [B] 2, and a, b, c are Light of different wavelengths. For example, the light incident from the medium [A] 1 in the air to the medium [B] 2 by the triangular prism at the angle θ ₁ is bent by the refractive index n ₁₂ and is emitted to the medium [B] 2 at the angle θ _2. To be done.
The following expression (1) represents the relationship at this time. sin θ ₁ / sin θ ₂ = n ₁₂ (1) Here, the refractive index n ₁₂ is the wavelength λ of light in the medium [A] 1.
₁ and the medium (B) the ratio of the wavelength lambda ₂ of the light from entering into the 2 is dependent, it illustrates this relationship is the following equation (2). n ₁₂ = c ₁ / c ₂ = λ ₁ / λ ₂ (2) Therefore, since the refraction angle changes depending on the wavelength of the incident light, the light is split into spectral components. Similarly, the light entering the medium [A] 1 from the medium [B] 2 at the incident angle θ ₂ ′ is refracted again and divided into finer light components (lights a, b, c having different wavelengths). reference). The color display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is realized by utilizing the above principle.

FIG. 2 shows a structural example of the main part of a color display device using the prism according to the first embodiment. 1 is a medium [A] in air and 2 is a medium prism [B]. 3 is a slit plate [A], 4 is a slit plate [B], 5
Is a light source, 6 is light emitted from the light source 5, 7 is a reflection plate (see FIG. 3), 8 is a screen, 9 is an optical interference prevention plate, and 10 is spectral light. This configuration example corresponds to one pixel, and three triangular prisms 2 each having a rotation axis 2a that is a vertical axis are arranged side by side, and a slit plate [A] 3 is provided in front of the triangular prism 2 and a slit plate is provided behind the slit plate [A] 3. [B] 4 are arranged in parallel. The three triangular prisms 2, 2 and 2 are rotated by a suitable driving device (not shown) via their rotating shafts 2a, 2a and 2a. Further, a controller (not shown) that controls the operation of the drive unit is configured.

Then, behind the slit plate [B] 4, a light source 5 having a spectrum equivalent to that of sunlight is arranged. Light 6 emitted from the light source 5 illuminates the back surface of the slit plate [B] 4. The slit plate [A] 3 is
Slits 3a, 3 corresponding to each prism 2, 2, 2
a, 3a (see FIG. 3), each slit 3a,
Screens 8, 8 and 8 are assembled in 3a and 3a, respectively. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the reflection plates 7 are provided on both side surfaces in the slit 3a having a cross-sectionally divergent shape, and the transmissive screen 8 is provided at the divergent end. Further, the slit plate [B] 4 is also used for each prism 2, 2,
It has slits 4a, 4a, 4a corresponding to every two. In addition, between the slit plate [A] 3 and the slit plate [B] 4, optical prisms 9 and 9 are used to prevent the prisms 2, 2, respectively.
It is divided into two parts.

According to the above construction, the light 6 emitted from the light source 5 having a spectrum equivalent to that of sunlight passes through the slits 4a, 4a, 4a of the slit plate [B] 4,
It is incident on each triangular prism 2, 2, 2. Then, in each prism 2, the medium is different inside and outside the prism 2, so that the light is refracted. Since the refractive index also depends on the wavelength of incident light, the light emitted from the prism 2 is spectrally separated for each wavelength. The dispersed light 10, 10, 1
0 is each slit 3a, 3a, 3a of the slit plate [A] 3.
to go into. Each slit 3a, 3a of the slit plate [A] 3,
The emission colors of the screens 8, 8 and 8 attached to 3a are due to the color of the spectrum corresponding to the position, so that the prisms 2, 2 and 2 are rotated by the driving device to rotate the rotation axes 2a
By rotating about 2a, 2a as a center, the incident angle of the light passing through the slits 4a, 4a, 4a of the slit plate [B] 4 to the prisms 2, 2, 2 is changed, so that each screen 8 , 8, 8 can also change the color of the spectrum corresponding to the position.

Here, the optical interference prevention plate 9 is configured such that the light wave of the light passing through the slit 4a of the slit plate [B] 4 is
This is to prevent the waves from interfering with each other from strengthening or canceling each other. As described above, according to the color display device of the first embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to display an image in color by changing the color of the light projected on the screen 8 according to the change of the refractive index.

[Embodiment 2] Next, a color display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 will be described. First, since the first embodiment is the modulation of light by the mechanical operation of rotating the prism, problems such as enlargement of the system and slow response speed can be considered. In view of this, in the second embodiment, the purpose is to make the electric operation compact and have a fast response speed, and the application of the quantum mechanical effect of the semiconductor optical modulation device, which is expected to have an ultra-high speed operation, is considered. .

FIG. 4 shows a second color display device according to the present invention.
The fundamental principle of the embodiment is explained, and an example of a semiconductor optical modulator using the quantum confined Stark effect in a quantum well structure in which different semiconductor thin films are laminated is shown. This is because when an electron is confined in a potential well, its energy level becomes discrete, the energy level shifts due to the application of an electric field, and the shape of the wave function changes, so the absorption coefficient of the medium changes, This is an application of the phenomenon that the refractive index also changes.

In FIGS. 4 and 5 (a diagram showing a structural example of a main part of a color display device using the semiconductor optical modulator according to the second embodiment), 5 is a light source, 6 is light emitted from the light source 5, and 11 is a light source. Is a p-type semiconductor, 12 is a quantum well structure, 13 is n
Type semiconductor [A], 14 is an n-type semiconductor [B], 15 is a semiconductor optical modulator, 16 is modulated light, 17 is a slit plate,
18 is a screen, E is a power supply, and SW is a switch.
As shown in FIG. 4, p-type semiconductor 11, quantum well structure 12, n
The semiconductor optical modulator 15 is composed of a group of optical modulation elements formed by stacking the type semiconductor [A] 13 and the n-type semiconductors [B] 14, 14 in a grid-like arrangement.

Then, behind the semiconductor optical modulator 15, as shown in FIG. 5, a light source 5 having sunlight or a spectrum equivalent thereto is arranged. Further, a slit plate 17 is arranged in front of the semiconductor optical modulator 15. The slit plate 17 has the lattice-shaped slits 17a, 17a, 17a, ... Corresponding to the respective light modulation elements of the semiconductor light modulator 15, that is, the p-type semiconductors 11, 11, 11 ,. Lattice-shaped slits 17a, 17a, 17
Screens 18, 18, 18, ... Are assembled in a ,. Although not shown, a controller and a signal processing device for applying an appropriate electric field or magnetic field to the optical modulation element of the semiconductor optical modulator 15 are configured.

According to the above structure, the light 6 emitted from the light source 5 having a spectrum equal to that of sunlight is incident on each optical modulation element of the semiconductor optical modulator 15, and the light incident on the optical modulation element. Are emitted as light 16 of different wavelengths through the medium whose refractive index changes due to the quantum confined Stark effect. In the above, when the steady state of the electron energy is E _n , the energy level after transition is E _m, and the frequency of the electromagnetic wave (light) emitted or absorbed is ν,
It becomes like the following formula (3). _{hν = E n -E m ··· (} 3) where, h is Planck's constant, h = 6.626176 ×
The value is 10 ⁻³⁴ J · s. The following equation (4) has a relationship between the velocity v of the electromagnetic wave, the frequency ν, and the wavelength λ. v = c = νλ (4) The following equation (5) is derived from the above equations (3) and (4). _{λ = hc / (E n -E} m) ··· (5)

A light emission color is projected on the screen 18 by the light 16 modulated by the light modulator of the semiconductor light modulator 15. As described above, according to the color display device of the second embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to display an image in color by changing the color of the light projected on the screen 18 according to the change of the refractive index. Moreover, since the system is based on the application of semiconductor elements, ultra-high speed operation can be expected.

By the way, in addition to the optical modulator of the second embodiment, the Pockels effect in which the refractive index is linearly proportional to the electric field, the Kerr effect in which the refractive index is secondarily proportional to the electric field, and the Faraday effect in which the refractive index changes by the magnetic field are applied. There is also a light modulator. As in the examples of these elements, the refractive index changes depending on the value of the applied electric field, and by using a light modulation element that can change the wavelength within the range of visible light, it can be applied to image display. I can expect.

In addition to the above embodiments, since the current television broadcasting is performed in R, G, and B, it may be set so that only three wavelengths corresponding to them are converted.

[0023]

As described above, according to the color display device of the present invention, when the light is passed through the medium, it is split into a spectrum due to the change of the refractive index of the medium, and the split light is displayed on an image. Since it is used, an infinite variety of colors can be displayed, and thus the original color expression can be performed.

That is, according to the color display device of the first aspect, the sunlight emitted from the light source or the light having a spectrum equivalent to the sunlight is dispersed by the rotation of the prism or the like and applied to the color image display. be able to.

According to the color display device of the second aspect, sunlight emitted from the light source or light having a spectrum equivalent to that of the sunlight is emitted, in particular, a quantum mechanical effect of an optical modulator such as a semiconductor optical modulator, for example, The refractive index can be changed by the Stark effect, the light is modulated and emitted, and it can be applied to a color image display.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view illustrating a fundamental principle of a color display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention and showing light refraction dispersion that occurs when light is made incident on a medium having a different refractive index. is there.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration example of a main part of a color display device similarly using the prism according to the first embodiment.

3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the screen portion shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the fundamental principle of the second embodiment of the color display device according to the present invention, and is an example of a semiconductor optical modulator using the quantum confined Stark effect in a quantum well structure in which different semiconductor thin films are laminated. It is a schematic plan view showing.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway schematic perspective view showing a structural example of a main part of a color display device using the semiconductor optical modulator according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 medium [A] 2 medium [B] (prism) 3 Slit plate [A] 4 Slit plate [B] 5 light sources Light emitted from 6 light sources 7 Reflector 8 screen 9 Optical interference prevention plate 10 dispersed light 11 p-type semiconductor 12 Quantum well structure 13 n-type semiconductor [A] 14 n-type semiconductor [B] 15 Semiconductor optical modulator 16 modulated light 17 slit plate 18 screen

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A light source having sunlight or a light spectrum equivalent to sunlight, a slit through which the light emitted from this light source passes, an optical element for refracting and dispersing the light passing through this slit, and this optical element. A color display device, comprising: a drive device that rotates the optical element; and a screen that displays the light dispersed by the optical element. 2. A light source having sunlight or a light spectrum equivalent to that of sunlight, a light modulation element capable of changing the refractive index by a quantum mechanical effect when light emitted from the light source is incident, and the light modulation element. A controller and a signal processing device for applying an appropriate electric field or magnetic field to the slit, a slit through which the modulated light emitted from the light modulation element due to the quantum mechanical effect passes, and a screen that projects the color of the light passing through the slit. A color display device comprising: