JP3444577B2 - 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 display device which enables a stereoscopic view by the observer by utilizing the binocular parallax of the observer and realizes the stereoscopic view on a large screen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the concept of a conventional display device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-225344. This display device uses a large convex lens 1,
The light source 3 is arranged at the image forming position of the observer 2. A spatial modulation element 4 such as a liquid crystal panel is installed between the observer 2 and the light source 3 as shown in the figure, for example.

Now, the light source 3 is placed at a position where an image of the face of the observer 2 is imaged, and the light source 3 is made to illuminate at the size of the image of the face to have directivity for the right eye and the left eye, respectively. The observer 2 is irradiated with the emitted light. The right eye and the left eye of the light source 3 are emitted in a time-division manner, and in synchronization with this, the right-eye and left-eye images are displayed in a time-division manner. Can be seen as a stereoscopic view.

By the way, in the display device having the above structure, the screen size is large-sized convex lens 1 and spatial modulation element 4.
Is determined by the size of. It is difficult to increase the size of the spatial light modulator 4, and it is very expensive. This is particularly remarkable when a liquid crystal panel is used as the spatial modulation element 4, and it is difficult to realize a large screen at a low price.

Therefore, the present applicant applied for a display device capable of realizing a large screen using a small liquid crystal panel as Japanese Patent Application No. 7-341840. Fig. 15 is Japanese Patent Application No. 7-34
It is a figure which shows typically the principal part structure of the display apparatus shown in 1840. It should be noted that this figure shows only a state in which either one of the two images for the right eye and the left eye corresponding to one observer is imaged.

This display device has a surface light source 5, convex lenses 6 and 7, a liquid crystal panel 8 and a convex lens 9.
The light emitted from the surface light source 5 is collimated by the convex lens 6 and then incident on the liquid crystal panel 8. Then, the light transmitted through the liquid crystal panel 8, that is, the optical image corresponding to the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 8 is projected by the convex lens 7 onto the convex lens 9 to realize a large screen.

By the way, the light emitting region of the surface light source 5 is appropriately controlled according to the position of the observer. Therefore, when the observer is present at a position vertically displaced from the optical axis of the convex lens 9, the state until the image is formed on the observer is as shown by the broken line in FIG. 15, for example. The incident positions of the light in 9 are different.

Therefore, the display position of the image on the display surface changes depending on the position of the observer. In addition, since the display position of the image on the display changes depending on the position of the observer in this way, in order to display the image correctly without always missing, the convex lens 9 is sufficiently larger than the size of the image to be displayed. Have to be big.

On the other hand, in the display device of Japanese Patent Application No. 7-341840, the image for the right eye and the image for the left eye are made to be the same, and by radiating all the radiable rays, it is possible to perform a normal planar display. Is.

However, since the right eye and the left eye are separated from each other in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the convex lens 9, the display positions of the right eye image and the left eye image are the same as those described above. It will shift. Therefore, when the image for the right eye and the image for the left eye are the same, these images are displayed in a state of being overlapped with each other in a shifted state, resulting in a defocused image. Similarly, an image shifted corresponding to all observer positions within a certain range is projected on the convex lens 9, resulting in a blurred image.

By the way, the above two problems were caused by the shift of the image forming position in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the convex lens 9, but the observation along the optical axis of the convex lens 9 was performed. Since the optimum position of the observer is defined as a fixed distance by the set value of the optical system, it is not possible to cope with the forward and backward movement of the observer. That is, the image visible to the observer becomes blurred as the observer moves away from the image forming position of the convex lens 9.

[0012]

As described above, the conventional display device has the following problems in realizing the stereoscopic vision in the projection type. (1) Since the projection image position changes on the projection screen (display surface) depending on the observer position, the observer may feel uncomfortable. In addition, in order to prevent image loss even when the projected image position changes, a convex lens that becomes the projection screen must be larger than necessary, resulting in an unnecessarily large external shape of the device and an increase in manufacturing cost. Come on.

(2) Since the projected image positions for the right eye and the left eye are different, the left and right images are made the same, and if normal light is radiated by all radiable rays, normal planar view display is performed. It becomes an image.

(3) Since different images are projected on the left and right eyes by utilizing the directivity of the lens, the observation position in the optical axis direction of the optical system is fixed by the parameters of the optical system, and the optical system It is not possible to cope with the movement of the observer in the optical axis direction.

The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and the first object thereof is a projection screen regardless of the image forming position in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical system. It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device in which the light transmission position of a convex lens can be made constant, and thus the projection image position can always be made constant.

Secondly, even when the observer moves in the optical axis direction of the optical system, the observation position can be appropriately changed by following the movement, and the display image can be observed well from an arbitrary position. It is to provide a display device capable of performing.

[0017]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above first object, the first invention is to provide the observer's right and left eyes with
In a display device for stereoscopically viewing an image for the observer by respectively forming an image for the right eye and an image for the left eye generated in consideration of human binocular parallax, a position and a size of a light emitting region are arbitrarily set. A light source that can be changed, for example, a lamp and a black and white liquid crystal panel, and a spatial modulation element, such as a liquid crystal panel, that forms an optical image corresponding to a predetermined image using light emitted from the light source, and A first optical element such as a convex lens having an opening larger than the image forming area of the spatial light modulator, and a predetermined area of the first optical element and the image forming area of the spatial light modulator have an image forming relationship. And a second optical element such as a convex lens arranged in the optical path from the spatial modulation element to the first optical element.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the first optical element in the first aspect is arranged such that its optical axis is displaced from the optical axis of the second optical element, and the light is emitted from the spatial modulation element. A third optical element such as a prism is provided which gives a bias angle to the light incident on the second optical element by refracting the light.

A third aspect of the invention uses a synthetic lens composed of two convex lenses as the second optical element in the first aspect of the invention. In a fourth aspect of the invention, the spatial modulation element according to the first aspect is covered with a predetermined medium having a refractive index higher than that of air.

In order to achieve the second object, a fifth invention is to form an image for the right eye and an image for the left eye, which are generated in consideration of the binocular parallax of the human, respectively on the right eye and the left eye of the observer. By doing so, in the display device that allows the observer to stereoscopically view an image, the position and size of the light emitting region can be arbitrarily changed, for example, a light source including a lamp and a black and white liquid crystal panel, and a light source emitted from this light source. A spatial modulation element such as a liquid crystal panel that forms a light image corresponding to a predetermined image by using the emitted light; and a first optical element such as a convex lens that has an opening larger than the image forming area of the spatial modulation element. A fifth optical element such as a convex lens for magnifying and projecting the optical image formed by the spatial modulation element onto the first optical element, and magnifying and projecting by the fifth optical element. Image forming position changing means for changing the image forming position of the formed optical image by the first optical element, and a camera arranged at a predetermined position with respect to the first optical system for respectively imaging an observer. The plurality of image pickup means, and the position of the eyes of the observer with respect to the first optical system is detected based on the image pickup result by each of the plurality of image pickup means, and the optical image formed by the first optical element is formed at that position. The image forming position changing means is controlled so as to match the image position, and a control means including, for example, an arithmetic unit and a voltage applying unit is provided.

A sixth aspect of the invention is to provide a light scattering plate for scattering the light emitted from the light source according to any one of the first to fifth aspects of the invention, at a position in an image forming relationship with a predetermined observation position. The spatial modulator is configured to form a light image corresponding to a predetermined image by using the light scattered by the light scattering plate.

In a seventh aspect of the invention, the scattering lens for scattering the light emitted from the light source according to any one of the first to fifth aspects of the invention is focused on a position where an imaging relationship is formed with respect to a predetermined observation position. The spatial modulation element is provided so as to be positioned so as to form an optical image corresponding to a predetermined image by using the light scattered by the scattering lens.

In addition to the fifth aspect of the invention, the eighth aspect of the invention is provided so that the focal point is located at a position having an image forming relationship with a predetermined observation position, and scatters the light emitted from the light source. And a variable refractive index material arranged so as to change the focal position of the scattering lens by changing the refractive index as image forming position changing means.
Moreover, the control means controls the refractive index of the refractive index variable material so that the focal position of the scattering lens and the position of the eyes of the observer have an image forming relationship.

A ninth aspect of the invention is to provide the variable refractive index material according to the eighth aspect of the invention so as to correspond to each of a large number of microlens cells provided in the microlens array, and the control means includes a plurality of observers. The refractive index of each variable refractive index material is individually changed according to the position of the eye, and the focal positions of each of the plurality of microlens cells are individually controlled.

According to the first to fourth inventions, the optical image formed by the spatial modulation element is enlarged and projected onto the first optical element having an aperture larger than that of the spatial modulation element, whereby a large screen display is achieved. Although realized, the image forming area of the spatial modulation element and the predetermined area (image display area) of the first optical element are the second area.
Due to the image forming relationship with each other by the optical means,
Light that has passed through the image forming area of the spatial modulation element, that is, light that forms an optical image, always passes through a predetermined area of the first optical element. Therefore, even if the light focused on the observer at a position deviated from the optical axis of the optical system passes through the spatial modulation element in a tilted state, the light always passes through the predetermined area in the first optical element. Therefore, the image display position on the first optical element is fixed to a predetermined area regardless of the position of the observer.

According to the fifth, eighth and ninth aspects, the position of the observer's eyes with respect to the first optical element is detected, and the image formation position by the first optical element coincides with the position of the observer's eyes. To be controlled automatically.

Further, according to the sixth to ninth inventions,
The light applied to the spatial modulation element is scattered by the scattering lens or the light scattering plate, and the uneven brightness on the display surface is reduced.

The present invention includes various inventions as described below. (1) It has a sixth optical element arranged in the optical path from the spatial modulation element to the second optical element, and the second optical element is the sixth optical element.
The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the spatial modulation element and the first optical element have an image-forming relationship in cooperation with an optical element.

(2) A seventh optical element for converting light emitted from a light source, a scattering lens or a light scattering plate into parallel rays, and then entering the light into a spatial modulation element. The display device according to claim 7 or (1).

(3) The display device according to (2) above, further comprising an eighth optical element for condensing light emitted from the light source, the scattering lens or the light scattering plate on the seventh optical element.

(4) The display device as described in (2) or (3) above, wherein a microlens (compound eye lens, fly-eye lens) is used as the scattering lens. (5) The display device according to (2) or (3) above, wherein a lenticular lens is used as the scattering lens.

(6) The display device according to (2) or (3), characterized in that frosted glass is used as the light scattering plate. (7) The spatial light modulating element forms an optical image corresponding to an image for the right eye and an optical image corresponding to the image for the left eye in a time division manner, and the above (1) to (1) to
The display device according to any one of (6).

(8) The spatial modulation element has a first element for forming a light image corresponding to the right-eye image and a second element for forming a light image corresponding to the left-eye image. Claims 1 to 7 and the above
The display device according to any one of (1) to (6).

(9) The spatial light modulating element is capable of forming the same light image corresponding to the image for the right eye and the light image corresponding to the image for the left eye in a time division manner. Item 7. The display device according to any one of items 1 to 8 above.

(10) The spatial modulation element superimposes the same image on the same image as a light image corresponding to the image for the right eye and a light image corresponding to the image for the left eye or separate images for binocular stereoscopic vision. An image corresponding to the formed image can be formed as necessary, and the image forming device can be formed.
And the display device according to any one of (1) to (9) above.

(11) At the time of starting, the light emitting region of the light source is forcibly made to be the entire surface.
And the display device according to any one of (1) to (10) above.

(12) The display device according to any one of (5) to (7) and (1) to (10), further comprising auxiliary illumination for illuminating an observer. (13) When the position of the observer's eyes cannot be detected, the same light image corresponding to the right-eye image and the left-eye image are formed on the spatial modulation element, and the light emitting area of the light source is entirely covered. The display device according to any one of claims 5 to 7 and (1) to (12) above.

[0038]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a main configuration of a display device according to this embodiment. In addition,
The same parts as those in FIG. 15 are designated by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 1, the display device of this embodiment has a convex lens 6, a convex lens 7, a liquid crystal panel 8, a convex lens 9, a lamp 10, a black and white liquid crystal panel 11, a microlens array 12, a convex lens 13 and a convex lens 14. It becomes.

The convex lens 6 and the convex lens 7 are arranged to face each other with their optical axes aligned with each other. A liquid crystal panel 8 as a spatial modulation element is installed between the convex lens 6 and the convex lens 7 so as to face the convex lenses 6 and 7 and to be close to the convex lens 7.

The convex lens 9 has a size corresponding to the screen size to be obtained, and its position is at the liquid crystal panel 8.
The liquid crystal panel 8 is arranged on the opposite side of the convex lens 7 from the liquid crystal panel 8 so that the convex lens 7 and the convex lens 14 form an image.

The lamp 10 has a lamp light source 10a and a concave mirror 10b. The light from the lamp light source 10a is condensed by the concave mirror 10b, and the convex lens 6 is formed in a shape close to parallel rays.
The light is emitted in the optical axis direction of 7, 9 and the microlens array 12.

The black and white liquid crystal panel 11 is arranged so that the light emitted from the lamp 10 enters.
The transmission area of the light emitted by is arbitrarily controlled in pixel units.
The microlens array 12 has a large number of microlens cells 12a and faces the black and white liquid crystal panel 11 so that the light transmitted through each pixel of the black and white liquid crystal panel 11 enters each of the microlens cells 12a. Are arranged. The position where the convex lenses 13, 6, 7, 14 and 9 form an image with respect to the focal points of the microlens cells 12a of the microlens array 12 or the vicinity thereof is the observation position.

The convex lens 13 is the microlens array 1
3 and the convex lens 6, each microlens cell 12a
It is arranged so that the light emitted from is condensed on the convex lens 6.

The convex lens 14 is installed at a position where the liquid crystal panel 8 and the convex lens 9 have an image forming relationship in cooperation with the convex lens 7. Since the convex lens 7 is arranged close to the liquid crystal panel 8, it can be considered that the convex lens 7 is in close contact with the liquid crystal panel 8 and the effect of the convex lens 7 can be ignored.

Next, the operation of the display device configured as described above will be described. Since the principle for realizing stereoscopic vision is the same as that of the display device shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-225344 and Japanese Patent Application No. 7-341840, detailed description thereof will be omitted, and it will be for the right eye or the left eye. The operation of only one of them will be described.

First, in the display device of this embodiment, the following various display modes are possible by appropriately controlling the operations of the liquid crystal panel 8 and the monochrome liquid crystal panel 11. (1) Stereoscopic display mode: A known binocular stereoscopic image for left and right is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 8 in a time-division manner, and the black and white liquid crystal panel 11 is operated for left and right in synchronization with the time-division operation of the liquid crystal panel 8. Switch the transparent mode to time division. (2) Planar view display mode: The same image as the left and right images is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 8, and the monochrome liquid crystal panel 11 is switched to the left and right transmissive mode in a time division manner. (3) Mixed mode of stereoscopic view and planar view: The same image as the left and right images and the image for two-lens stereoscopic view are superimposed and displayed on the liquid crystal panel 8, and the black and white liquid crystal panel 11 is transmitted for the left and right. Switch to time division mode. (4) Full-plane view mode: The same image is displayed as left and right images on the liquid crystal panel 8, and the monochrome liquid crystal panel 1
1 is the full-face transmission mode.

The switching of these display modes is performed by
This can be performed by receiving information whether the video signal supplied from the signal source is a binocular stereoscopic video signal or a two-dimensional image. Alternatively, it is also possible to add a function of determining whether the two video signals provided are a binocular stereoscopic video signal or a two-dimensional image and perform the determination based on the determination result. Also, if the observer is outside the stereoscopic observation range,
Display mode switching can be used even if the control system fails.

Now, the light emitted from the lamp 10 is transmitted by the black and white liquid crystal panel 11 only in the region corresponding to the observation position. The light transmitted through the black and white liquid crystal panel 11 enters the microlens cell 12a corresponding to the transmitted picture element.

The microlens cell 12a converts the parallel light (plane wave) into scattered light (spherical wave) as shown in FIG. 2 to irradiate the liquid crystal panel 8 with uniform light. The convex lens 13 enlarges the convergence point (light source) with a virtual image and converts the apparent light source position. That is, the microlens cell 12
a scatters the light transmitted through the black-and-white liquid crystal panel 11 in order to reduce the uneven brightness on the display surface (convex lens 9).

The light emitted from the microlens cell 12a is condensed by the convex lens 13 and enters the convex lens 6. The light that has entered the convex lens 6 is collimated by the convex lens 6 and then enters the liquid crystal panel 8. As a result, an optical image corresponding to the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 8 is emitted from the liquid crystal panel 8 and projected by the convex lens 7 onto the convex lens 9.

At this time, since the liquid crystal panel 8 and the convex lens 9 are arranged so as to form an image with each other by the convex lens 7 and the convex lens 14, the light transmitted through the liquid crystal panel 8 may have the same transmitted picture element. For example, the light always enters the same position of the convex lens 9 regardless of the inclination during transmission. That is, the optical image corresponding to the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 8 is always projected on the fixed position of the convex lens 9.

The image projected on the convex lens 9 is formed by the convex lens 9 on either the right eye or the left eye of the observer at the observation position corresponding to the light transmission area on the monochrome liquid crystal panel 11.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, even when observing from different observation positions in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the convex lens 9, the image projection position on the convex lens 9, that is, the projection screen is constant. Position. As a result, even if the observer moves in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the convex lens 9, the display position of the image does not change. In addition, the right-eye image and the left-eye image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 8 are the same, and light is transmitted through the entire area of the black and white liquid crystal panel 11, so that the right-eye image can be displayed even when performing planar display. Since the image projection positions of the left-eye image and the left-eye image coincide with each other, a clear image without blur is obtained.

(Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment described above, the liquid crystal panel 8 is composed of the convex lens 14 and the convex lens 9.
Is enlarged and projected. The magnification k at this time is as shown in FIG.
As shown in, the distance between the liquid crystal panel 8 and the convex lens 14 is A
Then, if the distance between the convex lens 14 and the convex lens 9 is B, then k = B / A.

On the other hand, the angle between the observation position and the center of the convex lens 9 which is the display surface (viewer viewing angle) is α, and the angle of light from the center of the liquid crystal panel 8 to the convex lens 14 (liquid crystal panel viewing angle) is β. Then, β = tan ⁻¹ (k · tan α) (1)

Therefore, if α << 1, β = k
・ It becomes α. This indicates that when the magnification k is set to a large value, the viewing angle of the liquid crystal panel needs to be extremely large in order to obtain a sufficient viewing angle of the observer. In practice, the viewing angle of the liquid crystal panel 8 has a limited capability, but the viewing angle of the observer is further limited to about 1 / k with respect to the possible viewing angle of the liquid crystal panel 8.

As described above, in the above-described first embodiment, the provision of the convex lens 14 causes a large inclination of the light when passing through the liquid crystal panel 8 depending on the observation position, resulting in a narrow viewing angle of the observer. Will end up.

Therefore, a second embodiment of the present invention which can alleviate the inclination of light when passing through the liquid crystal panel 8 will be described below. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a main part configuration of the display device according to the present embodiment. Note that FIG.
The same parts as those of the above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 4, the display device of this embodiment has a convex lens 6, a convex lens 7, a liquid crystal panel 8, a convex lens 9, a lamp 10, a black and white liquid crystal panel 11, a microlens array 12, a convex lens 13, a convex lens 14 and a prism. 41 is included.

That is, in the display device of this embodiment, in addition to the display device of the first embodiment described above, a prism 41 is provided at a position where the light emitted from the convex lens 7 enters, and the optical axis of the convex lens 9 is set to another optical axis. It is shifted from the optical axis of the system.

Also in the display device of this embodiment, the liquid crystal panel 8 and the convex lens 9 are in an image forming relationship with each other, as in the display device of the first embodiment described above. The light emitted from the liquid crystal panel 8 is incident on the convex lens 14 after the angle is changed by the prism 41. Therefore, even when the viewing angle of the observer is 0, a bias angle is set between the convex lens 14 and the prism 41.

From the equation (1), when the observer viewing angle is large, the change amount of the liquid crystal panel viewing angle with respect to the change amount of the observer viewing angle is small. As can be inferred from this, by setting the bias angle between the convex lens 14 and the prism 41 in advance as described above, the required viewing angle of the liquid crystal panel 8 can be suppressed low.

(Third Embodiment) Next, the liquid crystal panel 8
A third embodiment of the present invention that can alleviate the inclination of light when passing through will be described.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a main structure of the display device according to the present embodiment. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
As shown in FIG. 5, the display device of this embodiment has a convex lens 6, a liquid crystal panel 8, a convex lens 9, a lamp 10, a black and white liquid crystal panel 11, a microlens array 12, a convex lens 13, a concave lens 51 and a convex lens group 52.

That is, the display device according to the present embodiment is provided with the concave lens 51 in place of the convex lens 7 in the display device according to the first embodiment and the convex lens group 52 in place of the convex lens 14.

The concave lens 51 is for adjusting the inclination of light when passing through the liquid crystal panel 8. The convex lens group 52 is composed of two convex lenses 52a and 52b. The combination of the two convex lenses 52a and 52b can be handled as a compound lens as known in the art. In the example of FIG. 5, the principal point SH2-1 on the observer side is the position of the liquid crystal panel 8, and the principal point SH2-2 on the liquid crystal panel 8 side is the intermediate position between the convex lens 52a and the convex lens 52b. ing.

The convex lenses 52a and 52b are arranged so as to cooperate with the concave lens 51 so that the liquid crystal panel 8 and the convex lens 9 form an image-forming relationship with each other. Also,
Each microlens cell 12 of the microlens array 12
Convex lenses 13 and 6 and concave lens 51 for each a
The position where the convex lenses 52b, 52a, and 9 have an image forming relationship is the observation position.

In the display device having the above configuration,
The distance between the liquid crystal panel 8 and the principal point SH2-2 is A ', and the principal point SH2-1
If the distance between the convex lens 9 and the convex lens 9 is B ', the magnification between the liquid crystal panel 8 and the convex lens 9 is expressed by k = A' / B '.

In FIG. 3, the viewing angle α and the viewing angle β of the liquid crystal panel are uniquely determined by the projection magnification k. However, when the parameters are appropriately selected by using the synthetic lens of the convex lenses 52a and 52b, as can be seen from FIG. 5, the relationship between the observer viewing angle α ′ and the liquid crystal panel viewing angle β ′ has a certain degree of freedom. Can be set. That is, even if the magnification k is increased, it is possible to prevent the viewing angle β ′ of the liquid crystal panel from becoming much larger than the viewing angle α ′ of the observer.

(Fourth Embodiment) Next, the liquid crystal panel 8
A fourth embodiment of the present invention that can alleviate the inclination of the light when passing through will be described.

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the main structure of the display device according to the present embodiment. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
As shown in FIG. 6, the display device of this embodiment includes a convex lens 6, a convex lens 7, a liquid crystal panel 8, a convex lens 9, a lamp 10, a black and white liquid crystal panel 11, a microlens array 12, a convex lens 13, a convex lens 14, a case 61, and an enclosure. It has a medium 62.

The case 61 is arranged so as to surround the liquid crystal panel 8 together with the convex lens 7. Encapsulation medium 6
Reference numeral 2 has a refractive index higher than that of air, and encloses the space formed by the convex lens 7 and the case 61.

That is, the display device of this embodiment has a structure in which the periphery of the liquid crystal panel 8 in the display device of the first embodiment described above is covered with the encapsulating medium 62 having a refractive index higher than that of air.

With such a structure, the light having the angle x which is incident on the case 61 from the convex lens 7 is relaxed to have the angle y = sin ⁻¹ {(1 / n) sin x} in the enclosed medium 62. It Therefore, the required viewing angle of the liquid crystal panel 8 becomes smaller.

(Fifth Embodiment) By the way, in each of the above embodiments, the control of the light emitting region and the display of the image are performed.
Although a display device of a type in which a single black-and-white liquid crystal panel 11 and a single liquid crystal panel 8 perform time division for the right eye and the left eye is illustrated, the control of the light emitting area and the display of images are performed for the right eye and the left eye. The same means as those in the above-described embodiments can be applied to the display devices of different types, which are different in use.

The fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described below in which the same means as in the third embodiment described above is applied to a display device of a type in which the light emitting area is controlled and the image is displayed in different systems for the right eye and the left eye. An embodiment will be described.

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a main structure of the display device according to the present embodiment. The same parts as those in FIGS. 1 and 5 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 7, the display device according to this embodiment has convex lenses 6-R and 6-L, liquid crystal panels 8-R and 8-L.
, Convex lens 9, lamp 10-R, 10-L, monochrome LCD panel 11-
R, 11-L, micro lens array 12-R, 12-L, convex lens 1
It has 3-R, 13-L, concave lenses 51-R, 51-L, a convex lens group 52 and a half mirror 71.

The convex lens 6-R, the liquid crystal panel 8-R, the convex lens 9, the lamp 10-R, the monochrome liquid crystal panel 11-R, the microlens array 12-R, the convex lens 13-R, the concave lens 51-R, and the convex lens group 52 are , The convex lens 6, the liquid crystal panel 8, the convex lens 9, the lamp 10, the black and white liquid crystal panel 11, and the microlens array 1 in the display device of the third embodiment described above.
2, convex lens 13, concave lens 51, and convex lens group 52
However, in the optical path from the concave lens 51 to the convex lens group 52, the concave lens 51 to the convex lens group 5
The half mirror 71 is arranged in a state where the light traveling toward 2 is transmitted as it is.

On the other hand, convex lens 6-L, liquid crystal panel 8-L, lamp 10-L, black and white liquid crystal panel 11-L, microlens array
12-L, the convex lens 13-L and the concave lens 51-L have the same function and positional relationship with each other, the convex lens 6, the liquid crystal panel 8, the lamp 10 in the display device of the third embodiment described above.
The same as the black and white liquid crystal panel 11, the microlens array 12, the convex lens 13 and the concave lens 51, but their optical axes are the convex lens 6-R, the liquid crystal panel 8-R, the convex lens 9, the lamp 10-R, and the black and white liquid crystal panel 11-. R, microlens array
12-R, convex lens 13-R, concave lens 51-R, and convex lens group 5
The optical axis formed by 2 is different by 90 degrees, and the concave lens 51
The light emitted from is reflected by the half mirror 71 and is incident on the convex lens group 52.

The liquid crystal panel 8-R and the convex lens 9 are in an image forming relationship by the cooperation of the convex lens group 52 and the concave lens 51-R, and the convex lens group 52 and the concave lens 51-L are formed.
The liquid crystal panel 8-L and the convex lens 9 are in an image forming relationship in cooperation with. In addition, a convex lens 13 is provided for each microlens cell 12a of the microlens array 12-R.
-R, 6-R, the concave lens 51-R, the convex lens group 52, and the convex lens 9 form an imaging position for the right eye, and for each microlens cell 12a of the microlens array 12-L. The position where the convex lenses 13-L and 6-L, the concave lens 51-L, the convex lens group 52, and the convex lens 9 form an image-forming relationship is the observation position for the left eye. With the configuration as described above, it is possible to achieve the same effect as that of the display device of the third embodiment described above.

(Sixth Embodiment) In the above-described embodiments, the movement of the observer in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical system is dealt with. By taking the following means in addition to each embodiment, it is possible to deal with the movement of the observer in the optical axis direction of the optical system.

Therefore, a sixth embodiment of the present invention, which can deal with the movement of the observer in the optical axis direction of the optical system, will be described below based on the display device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the main part of the display device according to the present embodiment. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
As shown in FIG. 8, the display device of this embodiment includes a convex lens 6, a convex lens 7, a liquid crystal panel 8, a convex lens 9, a lamp 10, a black and white liquid crystal panel 11, a convex lens 13, a convex lens 14, a variable refractive index optical element 81, and a camera 82. (82-1 ~
82-4), and has a calculation unit 83 and a voltage application unit 84.

That is, the display device of the present embodiment is provided with a variable refractive index optical element 81 in place of the microlens array 12 in the display device of the first embodiment described above, and a camera 82 (82-1 to 82-4). The calculation unit 83 and the voltage application unit 84 are provided.

In the variable refractive index optical element 81, a large number of variable refractive index materials 813 are sandwiched between the microlens array 811 and the glass plate 812, and the microlens array 811 is used.
And a variable refractive index material 813, and a transparent electrode 814 is formed between the glass plate 812 and the variable refractive index material 813.

The microlens array 811 has a large number of microlens cells 811a, like the microlens array 12, and each microlens cell 811a.
A variable refractive index optical element 81 is arranged facing the black and white liquid crystal panel 11 so that the light transmitted through each picture element of the black and white liquid crystal panel 11 is incident on each of the above.

The variable refractive index material 813 is the transparent electrode 814.
The refractive index n (dielectric constant) changes according to the strength of the electric field generated between the transparent electrode 815 and the transparent electrode 815, and is provided corresponding to each microlens cell 811a. The refractive index n is determined by the microlens cell 811a.
Different from the refractive index of.

A voltage applying section 84 is connected between the transparent electrode 814 and the transparent electrode 815, and this voltage applying section 8 is connected.
4, the applied voltage is controlled for each refractive index variable material 813. As shown in FIG.
They are arranged in the respective corners and are arranged so as to capture an image of the observer. Each of the cameras 82 gives a video signal generated by picking up an image of a predetermined image pickup range to the calculation unit 83. In the present embodiment, the camera 82 is assumed to be 30 frames / second (fps) like the camera normally used.
However, these camera information may be 30 fps or less as long as the display of the present invention has a time resolution capable of following the movement of the observer.

The calculation unit 83 determines the observation position based on the video signal supplied from the camera 82, and controls the voltage application unit 84 to form an image at the observation position. The voltage application section 84 is controlled by the calculation section 83 to control the transparent electrode 8
The voltage applied between the transparent electrode 814 and each transparent electrode 815 is changed to change the strength of the electric field generated between the transparent electrode 814 and each transparent electrode 815.

Next, the operation of the display device configured as described above will be described. The basic operation of the display device of this embodiment is the same as that of the display device of the first embodiment described above. However, in the display device of this embodiment, the observation position is controlled as follows.

First, the refractive index variable material 813 of the variable refractive index optical element 81 has a refractive index n (dielectric constant) depending on the strength of the electric field generated between the transparent electrodes 811 and 812 provided at both ends. Change. The strength of the electric field generated between the transparent electrode 811 and the transparent electrode 812 is
1 and the transparent electrode 812, depending on the magnitude of the voltage applied.

Therefore, the focal point of the light emitted from the microlens cell 811a is the transparent electrode 811 and the transparent electrode 81.
By changing the voltage applied between 2 and 2, it changes as indicated by f1 and f2 in FIG. 11, for example. The microlens array 811 corresponds to the microlens array 12 in the display device of the first embodiment described above, and in this embodiment as well, the focal point of the microlens cell 811a forms an image at the observation position by the optical system thereafter. To be done. Therefore, the microlens cell 811a
The observation position is changed by changing the focal point of the light emitted from the light source as described above.

Here, the refractive index variable material 813 is generally
It is difficult to significantly change the refractive index, and the amount that can change the focus of light emitted from the microlens cell 811a is limited. However, in the present embodiment, the light emitted from the variable refractive index optical element 81 is enlarged and projected on the convex lens 9 by the subsequent optical system.
As shown in, the change in the focus of the light emitted from the microlens cell 811a is magnified and appears as a change in the observation position, and the observation position can be sufficiently changed.

FIG. 12 shows the microlens cell 811.
When the focus of the light emitted from a is Pa, the observation position is Pa1, the observation position when the focus of the light emitted from the microlens cell 811a is Pb is Pb1, and the focus of the light emitted from the microlens cell 811a. Indicates that the observation position is Pc1 when is Pc.

In the present embodiment, the arithmetic unit 83 controls the observation position as follows by utilizing the above-mentioned property.
That is, the calculation unit 83 first takes in the video signals output from each of the cameras 82-1 to 82-4 (step ST1 in FIG. 13).

Next, the calculation section 83 performs preprocessing (step ST2) such as noise reduction and signal level adjustment from each camera and contour extraction, and then based on the result of this preprocessing. , Feature extraction (step ST3) such as extraction of topological (topological) features and geometric features.

Subsequently, the calculation section 83 identifies the faces and the number of the observers, and the left and right eye parts of each observer (step ST4), and the positions of the left and right eyes of each of the identified observers are convex lenses. Position vector detection (step ST5) for detecting as a three-dimensional position vector with 1 as a reference (hereinafter referred to as a position vector) is performed.

Then, the calculation section 83 creates control information for setting the state of the refractive index variable material 813 of the refractive index variable optical element 81 so that the position indicated by the detected position vector is the observation position, and this is used. Refractive index control applied to the voltage application unit 84 (step ST6) is performed. When the voltage application section 84 receives the control information, the voltage is applied between the transparent electrode 814 and each transparent electrode 815 so that the refractive index of each refractive index variable material 813 of the variable refractive index optical element 81 is in the state indicated by the control information. The applied voltage is controlled respectively.

The calculation section 83 repeats the above processing each time a video signal for one frame is output from the cameras 82-1 to 82-4. However, the feature extraction in step ST3 and the identification in step ST4 may be thinned out in the time direction. For example, even if the processing speed is about 3 fps, no unnaturalness occurs in the overall operation.

The algorithm shown by the bold line in FIG. 13 above is feedforward control, and is essentially an error in the optical system and the liquid crystal panel 8 constituting the display device, product variation due to a deviation between design and manufacturing, etc. Subject to the error of. However, this can be less affected by incorporating it in advance so as to correct an error during manufacturing.

However, by executing the feedback control by the algorithm shown by the thin line in FIG. 13, it is possible to improve the error of the optical system and the manufacturing error. That is, the calculation unit 84 calculates the light emitted from the display from the light reflected by the left eye and the right eye of each observer based on the video signal input in step ST1 and the position vector detected in step ST5. Right and left light separation (step ST7) for separating information is performed. Although the video signal input in step ST1 is referred to here, the result of the preprocessing in step ST2 can also be referred to.

The left-right light separation can be easily performed in synchronization with the time-division operation of this display if the right-eye image and the left-eye image are displayed in a time-division manner as in this embodiment. The information on the light reflected by the left and right eyes can be separated. However, when the image for the right eye and the image for the left eye are combined at the same time as in the fifth embodiment described above, the information of the light reflected by the left eye and the information reflected by the right eye cannot be separated by the time division operation. Therefore, in this case, the polarizations for the left eye and the right eye of the light projected on the convex lens 1 are set in an orthogonal relationship, and for example, a polarizing plate that transmits the polarization component for the left eye to the cameras 82-1 and 82-2 is provided. , Again camera 82-3, 82
-4 may be attached to each polarizing plate that transmits the polarized component for the right eye. At this time, it is considered that the reflected light from the observer due to the natural light other than the light emitted by the display device is uniform in all polarization components. Therefore, the cameras 82-1 and 82-2
When the difference between the output signal of the camera and the output signals of the cameras 82-3 and 82-4 is calculated, the signal of natural light becomes almost 0, and the reflection component of the light emitted by the display remains. Then, depending on the polarity of the difference, for example, the positive electrode signal can be separated and extracted as the reflection component of the irradiation light for the left eye and the negative electrode signal as the reflection component of the irradiation light for the right eye.

Subsequently, the calculation section 84 detects the irradiation state of the left eye and the right eye of each observer based on the result of the left-right light separation (step ST8), and the result is used for the refractive index control in step ST6. provide feedback. At this time, in the refractive index control in step ST6, if there is a deviation in the irradiation situation of the left eye and the right eye for each observer, the calculation unit 84 corrects the deviation and makes an adjustment so as to be optimum.

By the way, if the observer is under some illumination, the image data is obtained by the camera 82 and the system starts up, but there is a problem in starting up in the dark. Therefore,
When the system is started, the black-and-white liquid crystal panel 11 is entirely in a transmissive state, and the observer is irradiated with light from the display device of the present embodiment, whereby the startability can be secured. Alternatively, the startability can be ensured by additionally mounting auxiliary lighting.

When the position of the observer cannot be determined, the same image is displayed as the left and right images, and the monochrome liquid crystal panel 11 is set to the full transmissive mode to enter the full planar view display mode. Image display can be executed by forcibly switching the operation mode.

Note that the observation position control described here is
This is to deal only with the movement of the observer in the optical axis direction of the optical system. To deal with the movement of the observer in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical system, Japanese Patent Application No. 7-341840 is used.
Control of the light emitting region of the light source, that is, in the present embodiment, control of the light transmitting region of the monochrome liquid crystal panel 11.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment described above can be obtained, and even if the observer moves in the optical axis direction of the optical system, the eyes of the observer are always visible. The observation position can be controlled to the position of 1, and the movement of the observer in the optical axis direction of the optical system can be dealt with.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the third embodiment, the operation of the concave lens 51 is described, but the same effect can be obtained by replacing the concave lens 51 with a convex lens.

In the fifth embodiment, the twin-lens type display device is shown. However, it is easy to obtain the same composition by providing m (integer) systems of components having L and R suffixes in FIG. It goes without saying that the eye type (m-eye type) can be realized. At this time, a multi-view corresponding image may be displayed according to the viewing angle of the observer.

The sixth embodiment exemplifies the one based on the configuration of the display device of the first embodiment and has the convex lens 14, but the convex lens 14
May be omitted.

In the sixth embodiment, the variable refractive index material 8 is used.
By changing the focal point of the microlens cell 811a by using 13, it is possible to change the observation position in the optical axis direction of the optical system. However, any of various lenses provided in each embodiment can be used. It is also possible to change the observation position in the optical axis direction of the optical system by moving the position of (1) by, for example, a mechanical moving mechanism to move the focus of the lens. In this case, it is necessary to change the position of the convex lens 14 or the lens group 52 to maintain the liquid crystal panel 8 and the convex lens 9 in an image forming relationship. However, in this case, only one observer can be dealt with.

In the sixth embodiment, the camera 82 is set to 4
Although two cameras are used, at least two cameras 82 may be used. However, as the number of cameras 82 is increased, the detection system of the position of the observer is improved, so that the number is preferable.

In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the liquid crystal panel 8 and the black and white liquid crystal panel 11 are described as the transmissive type, but it is obvious that the reflective type can also be used. Further, the device is not limited to the liquid crystal panel as long as it can perform spatial modulation.

Naturally, the various lenses used in each of the above embodiments may be realized by combining a plurality of lenses. The various lenses used in each of the above embodiments may be replaced with a reflecting mirror having the same effect. The various lenses used in each of the above embodiments may be plastic lenses, Fresnel lenses, or aspherical lenses in addition to ordinary glass lenses.

A high-intensity cathode ray tube may be used instead of the lamp 10 and the black and white liquid crystal panel 11 in each of the above embodiments. In each of the above embodiments, the microlens arrays 12 and 811 are used as the scattering lens, but a lenticular lens or the like may be used. Further, instead of the scattering lens, a light scattering plate such as frosted glass or a light diffusing material can be used.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the microlens arrays 12 and 811 are of the convex lens type, but the concave lens type also functions in a similar manner. Further, even if the direction of the side on which the microlens cells 12 and 811 are formed is reversed, the same function is achieved.

Further, the basic effects of the present invention can be obtained without necessarily using the convex lenses 6, 7, and 13.
In addition, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0120]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, an image for the observer is formed by forming an image for the right eye and an image for the left eye, which are generated in consideration of the binocular parallax of a human, in the right and left eyes of the observer. In a display device for stereoscopic viewing, a position and size of a light emitting area can be arbitrarily changed, for example, a light source including a lamp and a black and white liquid crystal panel, and a predetermined image using the light emitted from the light source. A spatial modulation element, such as a liquid crystal panel, that forms an optical image corresponding to, and a first optical element, such as a convex lens, that has an opening larger than the image forming area of the spatial modulation element,
A first lens such as a convex lens arranged in the optical path from the spatial modulation element to the first optical element so that a predetermined area of the first optical element and an image forming area of the spatial modulation element have an image forming relationship. 2 optical elements.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the first optical element in the first aspect is arranged such that its optical axis is displaced from the optical axis of the second optical element, and the light is emitted from the spatial modulation element. A third optical element such as a prism is provided which gives a bias angle to the light incident on the second optical element by refracting the light.

The third invention uses a synthetic lens composed of two convex lenses as the second optical element in the first invention. In a fourth aspect of the invention, the spatial modulation element according to the first aspect is covered with a predetermined medium having a refractive index higher than that of air.

As a result, the light which has passed through the image forming area of the spatial light modulator, that is, the light which forms an optical image is always the first light.
It will pass through a predetermined area of the optical element. Therefore, even if the light focused on the observer at a position deviated from the optical axis of the optical system passes through the spatial modulation element in a tilted state, the light always passes through the predetermined area in the first optical element. Therefore, the image display position on the first optical element is fixed to a predetermined area regardless of the position of the observer, and projection is performed regardless of the image forming position in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical system. The light transmitting position of the convex lens serving as the screen can be made constant, and thus the display device can always make the projection image position constant.

On the other hand, a fifth aspect of the invention is to form an image for the observer by forming an image for the right eye and an image for the left eye, which are generated in consideration of the binocular parallax of a human, in the right and left eyes of the observer. In a display device for stereoscopic viewing, a position and size of a light emitting area can be arbitrarily changed, for example, a light source including a lamp and a black and white liquid crystal panel, and a predetermined image using the light emitted from the light source. A spatial modulation element such as a liquid crystal panel for forming an optical image corresponding to the first optical element, a first optical element such as a convex lens having an opening larger than the image forming area of the spatial modulation element, and the spatial modulation element. A fifth optical element such as, for example, a convex lens, which magnifies and projects the expanded optical image onto the first optical element, and the first light of the optical image magnified and projected by the fifth optical element. Image-forming position changing means for changing the image-forming position by the element, a plurality of image-pickup means such as a camera, which are arranged at predetermined positions with respect to the first optical system, and which respectively image the observer, The position of the eyes of the observer with respect to the first optical system is detected based on the image pickup result of each of the image pickup means, and the image formation is performed so that the image formation position of the optical image by the first optical element is aligned with the position. The control means for controlling the position varying means is provided with, for example, a computing section and a voltage applying section.

The sixth invention is that a light scattering plate for scattering the light emitted from the light source according to any one of the first to fifth inventions is provided at a position which is in an image forming relationship with a predetermined observation position. The spatial modulator is configured to form a light image corresponding to a predetermined image by using the light scattered by the light scattering plate.

In a seventh aspect of the invention, the scattering lens for scattering the light emitted from the light source according to any one of the first to fifth aspects of the invention is focused on a position having an image forming relationship with a predetermined observation position. The spatial modulation element is provided so as to be positioned so as to form an optical image corresponding to a predetermined image by using the light scattered by the scattering lens.

The eighth invention is, in addition to the fifth invention, provided so that the focal point is located at a position having an image-forming relationship with respect to a predetermined observation position, and scatters the light emitted from the light source. And a variable refractive index material arranged so as to change the focal position of the scattering lens by changing the refractive index as image forming position changing means.
Moreover, the control means controls the refractive index of the refractive index variable material so that the focal position of the scattering lens and the position of the eyes of the observer have an image forming relationship.

A ninth aspect of the invention is to provide the variable refractive index material according to the eighth aspect of the invention so as to correspond to each of a large number of microlens cells provided in the microlens array, and the control means includes a plurality of observers. The refractive index of each variable refractive index material is individually changed according to the position of the eye, and the focal positions of each of the plurality of microlens cells are individually controlled.

As a result, the position of the observer's eyes with respect to the first optical element is detected, and the image formation position by the first optical element is automatically controlled so as to coincide with the position of the observer's eyes. A display device capable of appropriately changing the observation position by following the movement of the observer even when the observer moves in the optical axis direction of the optical system, and observing the displayed image from an arbitrary position. Become.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a main part configuration of a display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the operation of a microlens array 12 in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a defect that may occur in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a main configuration of a display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a main configuration of a display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a main part of a display device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a main configuration of a display device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a main part of a display device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a diagram showing a specific configuration example of a variable refractive index optical element 81 in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an arrangement state of cameras 82.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing how the focal point of the variable refractive index optical element 81 shown in FIG. 9 changes.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing how the observation position changes with respect to the focus of light emitted from the microlens cell 811a shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an algorithm of processing of an arithmetic unit in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional display device.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

6,6-R, 6-L… Convex lens 7 ... Convex lens 8, 8-R, 8-L ... Liquid crystal panel 9 ... Convex lens 10, 10-R, 10-L ... Lamp 11, 11-R, 11-L ... Monochrome LCD panel 12, 12-R, 12-L ... Micro lens array 13, 13-R, 13-L ... Convex lens 14 ... Convex lens 41 ... Prism 51, 51-R, 51-L ... concave lens 52 ... Convex lens group 61 ... Case 62 ... Encapsulating medium 71 ... Half mirror 81 ... Variable refractive index optical element 811 ... Micro lens array 812 ... Glass plate 813 ... Refractive index variable material 814 ... Transparent electrode 815 ... Transparent electrode 82 (82-1 to 82-4) ... Camera 83 ... Operation unit 84 ... Voltage application unit

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. The human eyes of the observer's right and left eyes.
Right-eye image and left-eye image generated in consideration of parallax
The three-dimensional image is formed on the observer by imaging
In the display device to be viewed, the position and size of the light emitting area can be changed arbitrarily.
And a light source that can generate a
With a spatial modulation element that forms an optical image of light and an aperture that is larger than the image formation area of this spatial modulation element.
And a predetermined area of the first optical element and an image of the spatial modulation element.
The spatial modulation element such that the image forming region and the image forming region are in an image forming relationship.
Second optical element disposed in the optical path from the optical path to the first optical element
An optical element , the first optical element is arranged such that its optical axis is displaced with respect to the optical axis of the second optical element, and the light emitted from the spatial modulation element is refracted to cause the second optical element. A display device comprising a third optical element for imparting a bias angle to light incident on the element. 2. The human right and left eyes of the observer
Right-eye image and left-eye image generated in consideration of parallax
The three-dimensional image is formed on the observer by imaging
In the display device to be viewed, the position and size of the light emitting area can be changed arbitrarily.
And a light source that can generate a
With a spatial modulation element that forms an optical image of light and an aperture that is larger than the image formation area of this spatial modulation element.
And a predetermined area of the first optical element and an image of the spatial modulation element.
The spatial modulation element such that the image forming region and the image forming region are in an image forming relationship.
Second optical element disposed in the optical path from the optical path to the first optical element
Comprising a device, a display device which comprises using a composite lens consisting of two convex lenses as the second optical element. 3. The human right and left eyes of the observer
Right-eye image and left-eye image generated in consideration of parallax
The three-dimensional image is formed on the observer by imaging
In the display device to be viewed, the position and size of the light emitting area can be changed arbitrarily.
And a light source that can generate a
With a spatial modulation element that forms an optical image of light and an aperture that is larger than the image formation area of this spatial modulation element.
And a predetermined area of the first optical element and an image of the spatial modulation element.
The spatial modulation element such that the image forming region and the image forming region are in an image forming relationship.
Second optical element disposed in the optical path from the optical path to the first optical element
And a spatial modulation element covered with a predetermined medium having a refractive index higher than that of air. 4. The human right and left eyes of the observer
Right-eye image and left-eye image generated in consideration of parallax
Stereoscopic image by the observer
In the display device to be viewed, the position and size of the light emitting area can be changed arbitrarily.
And a light source that can generate a
With a spatial modulation element that forms an optical image of light and an aperture that is larger than the image formation area of this spatial modulation element.
The optical image formed by the first optical element and the spatial modulation element
A fifth optical element that magnifies and projects the element, and the first optical image magnified and projected by the fifth optical element.
Image forming position for changing image forming position by optical element
The changing means and the first optical system, which are arranged at predetermined positions with respect to each other.
A plurality of imaging means for imaging the observer is, based on the imaging result in each of the plurality of image pickup means
The position of the observer's eyes with respect to the first optical system is detected,
The position of the optical image formed by the first optical element at the position
Control means for controlling the imaging position varying means so that
Is provided so that the focal point is located at a position having an image-forming relationship with respect to a predetermined observation position, and a scattering lens for scattering light emitted from the light source is provided, and by changing the refractive index, The refractive index variable material arranged so as to change the focal position of the scattering lens is provided as the imaging position variable means, and the control means makes the focal position of the scattering lens and the position of the observer's eye an imaging relationship. The display device is characterized in that the refractive index of the variable refractive index material is controlled as described above. 5. An observer's right and left eyes, both human eyes
Right-eye image and left-eye image generated in consideration of parallax
Stereoscopic image by the observer
In the display device to be viewed, the position and size of the light emitting area can be changed arbitrarily.
And a light source that can generate a
With a spatial modulation element that forms an optical image of light and an aperture that is larger than the image formation area of this spatial modulation element.
The optical image formed by the first optical element and the spatial modulation element
A fifth optical element that magnifies and projects the element, and the first optical image magnified and projected by the fifth optical element.
Image forming position for changing image forming position by optical element
The changing means and the first optical system, which are arranged at predetermined positions with respect to each other.
A plurality of imaging means for imaging the observer is, based on the imaging result in each of the plurality of image pickup means
The position of the observer's eyes with respect to the first optical system is detected,
The position of the optical image formed by the first optical element at the position
Control means for controlling the imaging position varying means so that
A position that has an image forming relationship with a predetermined observation position.
The light is emitted from the light source provided so that the focal point is located at
With a scattering lens that scatters light, the focal position of the scattering lens can be changed by changing the refractive index.
A variable refractive index material that is arranged to change can be imaged
The control means is provided as a change means, and the focus position of the scattering lens and the observer's
The refractive index variable material so that the eye position has an image forming relationship.
The refractive index variable material is provided in correspondence with each of the large number of scattering lens cells provided in the scattering lens, and the control means is provided according to the positions of the eyes of a plurality of observers. A display device, wherein the refractive index of each refractive index variable material is individually changed to individually control the focal positions of the plurality of scattering lens cells.