JP4279446B2 - Solid angle display device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a solid angle display device, and more particularly to a solid angle display device suitable for use in calibrating a curved surface when displaying an image on a curved surface.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, a projection display device includes a projection device and a projection material. A slide projector or a projection device is used as the projection device, and a highly reflective screen or a wall surface of a building is used as the projection material. The image is displayed by projecting the image onto the projection material by a projection device. As described above, in order to display an image, an image to be projected and displayed must be prepared in advance. However, an image having high flatness such as a photographic image is usually used due to restrictions of a photographing apparatus such as a camera. .
[0003]
Since the projection optical system is based on a planar image, the projection material is often required to have a planar shape. Therefore, a photographic image or the like is projected onto a substantially planar screen or wall surface. As described above, when projecting an image onto a substantially planar screen or wall, it is conceivable to increase the projection area and project a large image in order to increase the presence.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in order to project a large image, accurate latitude and longitude must be set from the projection side. Therefore, when assembling the screen or setting the position of the projection apparatus, it is necessary to adjust the assembling and setting while displaying an actual image or a test pattern image, and the adjustment work is complicated and takes a long time. It will be.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to obtain a solid angle display device capable of easily setting a projection target surface such as a screen on which an image is projected in consideration of the above fact.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides: In a solid angle display device used for adjusting the position of a curved screen in which latitude and longitude lines can appear in a grid pattern, the position is adjusted before the image is displayed on the curved screen. A point light source that emits light and a curved surface having a focal point, and the focal point Each passing through the focal point from a straight line passing through and having a substantially constant angular interval in at least one of the latitude and longitude directions And a transmission means provided with a light and dark pattern for transmitting or not transmitting a light beam in a direction along a straight line.
[0007]
The solid angle display device of the present invention is suitable for displaying latitude and longitude equal to a curved surface such as a curved screen having a focus. That is, a light-dark pattern is provided on the transmission means formed in a curved surface. This light / dark pattern is for transmitting or not transmitting a light beam in a direction along a straight line having a substantially constant solid angle from the focal point when the transmitting means is formed in a curved surface. Therefore, if a bright and dark pattern is formed so that only a light beam in a direction along a straight line with a substantially constant solid angle from the focal point is transmitted, a point light source is installed at the focal point of the transmitting means and turned on to turn on the light. Light flux is emitted at intervals. In addition, if a bright and dark pattern is formed so that only a light beam in a direction along a straight line with a substantially constant solid angle from the focal point is not transmitted, a point light source is installed at the focal point of the transmitting means and the light is turned on. The light beam is blocked at angular intervals. Thereby, for example, the same latitude and longitude can be displayed on the curved surface such as a curved screen having a focus by the bright part or the dark part, and the position of the curved surface such as the curved screen can be easily adjusted.
[0008]
The transmission means includes a member formed in a curved shape having a focal point, and the member is formed on the member. Straight line Can be formed by a light / dark pattern in which a crossing position of the member and the member is a bright part or a dark part.
[0009]
A light / dark pattern is formed in the transmission means, but a light / dark pattern may be provided by providing a slit for transmitting a light beam as a bright portion in an opaque material such as opaque acrylic. Further, a light and dark pattern may be provided on a transparent material such as transparent acrylic by providing a mark for blocking a light beam as a dark portion. As a result, the transmission means can be easily formed.
[0010]
The transmission means may be formed of at least a part of the spherical surface as a curved surface having a focal point.
[0011]
As the curved surface having a focal point, a sphere is preferably employed and can be easily formed. Further, in order to obtain a substantially equal constant solid angle, it is only necessary to obtain at least one of latitude and longitude at regular intervals. The latitude and longitude at regular intervals can be easily formed on the surface of the sphere (the back surface when the surface of the sphere is used as a nucleus). Therefore, a light and dark pattern for emitting or blocking a light beam at a substantially constant solid angle interval can be easily formed by forming the surface of the sphere as a curved surface having a focal point.
[0012]
The solid angle display device of the present invention can further include a moving means for moving the point light source and the transmitting means in at least one direction.
[0013]
Since the solid angle display device is based on the light beam emitted from the point light source, it is preferable to install the solid angle display device based on the position of the point light source. For this reason, it is possible to easily adjust the position of the solid angle display device by further including a moving means for moving the point light source and the transmitting means in at least one direction. The moving direction of the moving means includes a horizontal direction, a vertical direction, a left-right direction, and a rotation direction with these directions as axes.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a wide viewing angle visual simulator.
[0015]
In a space for presentations such as exhibitions and event venues, images are often presented, and two-dimensional images such as photographic images and CG are often used for the images. In this case, the planar display on the screen or the like is merely an enlargement of the two-dimensional image and does not provide an image display with a visual presence. Therefore, with the intention of taking into account the visual sensation of realism, we have found that it is effective to project and display a two-dimensional image on a curved surface for display on a large screen. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the image is viewed with the user's line of sight and is reflected in the calculation for projecting the two-dimensional image.
[0016]
[Wide viewing angle visual simulator]
As shown in FIG. 1, the wide viewing angle visual simulator 10 of the present embodiment includes a curved screen 12, six liquid crystal projectors 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, a blending unit 26, and an image processing device 28. I have. The curved screen 12 is movable, but is fixed to the ground in the present embodiment. The six liquid crystal projectors 14 to 24 are fixed by a frame 30, and the frame 30 is fixed to the ground. The six liquid crystal projectors 14 to 24 are connected to a blending unit 26, and the blending unit 26 is connected to an image processing device 28.
[0017]
The curved screen 12 has a predetermined curved surface shape, and in this embodiment, a curved surface obtained by extracting a part of a spherical surface is adopted. The spherical surface defines the shape of the curved screen 12 so that the center point is the focal point and the focal position is the viewpoint position of the user OP. The curved screen 12 is not limited to a spherical surface, and may be a curved surface having a focal point. Further, the focal point is not limited to one, and there may be a plurality of focal points.
[0018]
The image processing device 28 stores image data of a reference image that is a basis of an image to be displayed. The image processing device 28 performs image processing on the stored image data and outputs the processed image data to the blending unit 26. The blending unit 26 performs processing for synthesizing the images projected by the six liquid crystal projectors 14 to 24 on the curved screen 12, and after converting into image data for each liquid crystal projector, the liquid crystal Output to each of the projectors 14 to 24. Thereby, each image from the six liquid crystal projectors 14 to 24 is projected onto the curved screen 12.
[0019]
Details of each part of the wide viewing angle visual simulator configured as described above and details of the apparatus used when assembling the wide viewing angle visual simulator will be described.
[0020]
[LCD projector]
The liquid crystal projectors 14 to 24 are installed at six vertical and horizontal positions (see FIG. 1). If classified in the upper and lower directions, the liquid crystal projectors 14, 16, and 18 are installed in the upper stage, and the liquid crystal projectors 20, 22, and 24 are installed in the lower stage. 16 and 22, liquid crystal projectors 18 and 24 are installed on the right side.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 2, in the wide viewing angle visual simulator 10 of the present embodiment, the field of view in which the user OP can see the screen 12 (solid angle with the viewpoint position O as a focus) is the visual range S of the user OP. Stipulate. When the screen 12 is considered in the vertical direction, the liquid crystal projector 16 on the middle side is in charge of the projection area at the bottom of the screen 12, and the liquid crystal projector 22 is in charge of the projection area at the top of the screen 12. That is, the projection axes of the liquid crystal projectors 16 and 22 intersect, the liquid crystal projector 16 installed at the upper part projects the projection area Sdc at the lower part of the screen 12, and the liquid crystal projector 22 installed at the lower part projects at the upper part of the screen 12. A region Suc is projected. The projection areas of these liquid crystal projectors 16 and 22 are set so as to overlap at the center of the screen 12.
[0022]
The projection axes of the liquid crystal projectors 16 and 22 are set in a direction different from the line-of-sight direction of the user OP. This is to avoid projection by the liquid crystal projector from being a shadow of the user OP. That is, when the user visually recognizes an image from the visual recognition position, it is desirable that the image to be visually recognized is projected in a direction along the visual recognition direction. However, when the image is projected onto the reflective projection target curved surface, the user is fogged. In order to avoid this, projection is performed from a position other than the viewing position.
[0023]
Similarly, the left liquid crystal projector 14 is in charge of the projection area Sul at the lower part of the screen 12, and the liquid crystal projector 20 is in charge of the projection area Sul at the upper part of the screen 12 (see FIG. 4). The right liquid crystal projector 18 is in charge of the projection area Sur below the screen 12, and the liquid crystal projector 24 is in charge of the projection area Sur above the screen 12. The projection areas of these liquid crystal projectors 14, 20 and 18, 24 are set so as to overlap at the center of the screen 12.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 3, when the screen 12 is considered in the left-right direction, the middle liquid crystal projector 16 is in charge of the central projection area of the screen 12, and the left and right liquid crystal projectors 14, 18 are the right part of the screen 12. In charge of the left projection area. That is, the projection axes of the liquid crystal projectors 14, 16, 18 intersect, the liquid crystal projector 16 installed at the center projects the projection area Sdc at the center of the screen 12, and the liquid crystal projector 14 installed at the left displays The right projection area Sdr of 12 is projected, and the liquid crystal projector 18 installed on the right area projects the projection area Sdl on the left side of the screen 12. The projection areas of these liquid crystal projectors 14, 16, and 18 are set so that adjacent projection areas on the screen 12 overlap.
[0025]
Similarly, the projection axes of the liquid crystal projectors 20, 22, and 24 intersect, the liquid crystal projector 22 installed at the center projects the projection area Suc at the center of the screen 12, and the liquid crystal projector 20 installed at the left The projection area Sur on the right side of the screen 12 is projected, and the liquid crystal projector 24 installed on the right side projects the projection area Sul on the left side of the screen 12. The projection areas of these liquid crystal projectors 20, 22, and 24 are set so that adjacent projection areas on the screen 12 overlap.
[0026]
FIG. 4 shows a division state of the projection area on the screen 12 described above. The liquid crystal projector 14 projects a projection area Sdr at the lower right of the screen 12. This projection area Sdr is defined by an area divided by a vertical boundary line 40 and a horizontal boundary line 32, and overlap area Br with the upper projection area, overlap area Bdr with the left projection area, upper and left It includes an overlapping area Bbr between the upper and left projection areas. The liquid crystal projector 16 projects a projection area Sdc at the lower center of the screen 12. The projection area Sdc is defined by an area divided by the vertical boundary lines 36 and 42 and the horizontal boundary line 32, and overlaps the upper projection area Bc, the left projection area Bdl, and the right area. An overlap area Bdr with the partial projection area, an overlap area Bbl with the upper, left oblique upper and left projection areas, and an overlap area Bbr with the upper, right oblique upper and right projection areas. The liquid crystal projector 18 projects a projection area Sdl at the lower left of the screen 12. This projection region Sdl is defined by a region divided by a vertical boundary line 38 and a horizontal boundary line 32, and overlap region Bl with the upper projection region, overlap region Bdl with the right projection region, top and right It includes an overlapping area Bbl between the oblique upper and right projection areas.
[0027]
Similarly, the liquid crystal projector 20 projects the projection area Sur in the upper right part of the screen 12 divided by the vertical boundary line 40 and the horizontal boundary line 34, and includes overlapping areas Br, Bur, Bbr. Yes. The liquid crystal projector 22 projects the projection area Suc at the upper center of the screen 12 divided by the boundary lines 36 and 42 in the vertical direction and the boundary line 34 in the horizontal direction, and the overlapping areas Bc, Bul, Bur, Bbl, and Bbr. Is included. The liquid crystal projector 18 projects the upper left projection area Sul of the screen 12 divided by the vertical boundary line 38 and the horizontal boundary line 34, and includes overlapping areas Bl, Bul, and Bbl.
[0028]
[Curved screen]
As shown in FIG. 5, in order to form a curved screen 12 having a large screen formed in a spherical shape, in this embodiment, six curved surface parts 12ul, 12uc, 12ur, and 12dl each extracted from a part of the spherical surface. , 12dc, 12dr are connected to each other and can be assembled. The reason why the curved screen 12 is separated from the curved parts 12ul to 12dr is to facilitate transportation and assembly. In this embodiment, a case where a curved screen is formed by connecting six curved parts is described. However, the number of divisions is not limited to six, and one curved screen is not divided. The curved screen may be formed by connecting two or more curved parts.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 6, the curved screen 12 includes a base material 12P and a coating layer 12Q applied to the surface (the concave side of the curved surface) of the base material 12P. The coating layer 12Q includes ultraviolet fluorescent ink, and the ultraviolet fluorescent ink fluoresces when irradiated with ultraviolet rays. This ultraviolet irradiation can be performed by so-called black light. In the present embodiment, the ultraviolet fluorescent ink is applied in a lattice shape so that the vertical and horizontal intervals are constant. The ultraviolet fluorescent ink is arranged in a lattice pattern so that when curved parts are assembled into a spherical shape, a line appears at a certain solid angle from the focal point of the curved screen 12, that is, a line segment of a certain latitude and longitude appears. It has been applied. Accordingly, nothing appears in the curved screen 12 by illumination of a general light bulb or fluorescent lamp, but the latitude line 44 and the longitude line 46 appear in a lattice pattern by the irradiation of the ultraviolet ray by the ultraviolet lamp 48.
[0030]
In the present embodiment, the description will be made using the latitude line 44 and the longitude line 46 that appear in a lattice pattern, but the line may not be continuous. That is, it is sufficient that the latitude and longitude of the spherical surface can be expressed, and it may be a cross line, or the ultraviolet fluorescent ink may be applied so that the latitude line and the longitude line appear without crossing each other separately. Moreover, it does not need to appear over all surfaces of the spherical surface. That is, as will be described in detail later, when assembling curved parts (when forming a spherical screen), it is only necessary to know the orientation of each curved part and the entire position of the curved screen. Alternatively, it is possible to apply ultraviolet fluorescent ink only to the main part.
[0031]
Alternatively, only one of the latitude line 44 and the longitude line 46 may be applied, and either one may be scattered with dots or marks having a predetermined shape, and the other may be presented as a line segment.
[0032]
[Solid angle display device]
Next, the solid angle display device 50 will be described. The solid angle display device 50 is used when assembling or adjusting the position of the curved screen 12, and is not particularly required when displaying an image.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 7, the solid angle display device 50 includes a general incandescent light source 52 such as a halogen lamp, and the light source 52 is fixed at the center (focal point) position of a hemispherical cover 54. This incandescent light source functions as a point light source, and an arc tube such as an arc lamp can be used. The cover 54 is fixed to the pedestal 56. A moving device 55 is attached to the lower part of the pedestal 56. The moving device 55 adjusts the movement in the vertical direction (arrow Z direction in FIG. 7), the movement adjustment in the horizontal direction (arrow X direction in FIG. 7), the movement adjustment in the front-rear direction (arrow Y direction in FIG. 7), and these In this configuration, movement adjustment in the rotation direction (arrow Rx, Ry, Rz direction in FIG. 7) about each direction is possible. Note that these movement directions may include at least one direction. With this configuration, the positions of the light source 52 and the cover 54 can be freely adjusted. That is, the viewpoint position O of the user OP can be set freely.
[0034]
On the front surface or the back surface of the hemispherical cover 54, a light and dark pattern is provided so that a light beam with a predetermined solid angle is emitted from the light source 52, that is, a light beam with a uniform solid angle beam is emitted.
[0035]
For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, on the front or back surface of the hemispherical cover 54, a line segment of a certain latitude and longitude is formed, and a slit is formed to emit at least light from the intersection position. Has been. The hemispherical cover 54 is composed of a part of a sphere having a radius of 50 cm. As shown in FIG. 8B, an example of a slit pattern formed in the cover 54 is a bright portion on the inside and a dark portion on the outside. By adopting the cross-shaped pattern 54A, the intersection of the latitude line and the longitude line can be expressed. Further, as shown in FIG. 8C, a circular pattern 54B in which the inner side is a bright part and the outer side is a dark part may be employed. In the following description, an example will be described in which a light and dark pattern in which a plurality of circular patterns 54B are formed is provided on the front or back surface of the hemispherical cover 54.
[0036]
In this way, by forming a light and dark pattern on the front or back surface of the hemispherical cover 54, light rays with a predetermined solid angle that is the intersection position of the latitude line and the longitude line are emitted. Therefore, by installing the light source 52 at the viewpoint position of the user OP and turning on the light source 52, the line-of-sight direction of the user OP with a certain solid angle can be displayed as a light beam. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, of the light emitted from the light source 52, a circular bright spot 58 that has passed through the circular pattern 54B appears on the curved screen 12. The bright spot 58 that appears on the curved screen 12 appears at a position on the extension line of the ray in the line-of-sight direction with a certain solid angle of the user OP.
[0037]
In the above description, the light / dark pattern in which at least light rays are emitted at a predetermined solid angle has been described. However, the light / dark pattern is reversed to express a predetermined solid angle at a portion where no light is emitted. It may be. That is, the hemispherical cover 54 is formed of a transparent material (for example, acrylic), and an opaque portion having a pattern shown in FIG. 8B or 8C is formed at a certain solid angle position. A light / dark pattern can be constructed.
[0038]
[Adjustment of curved screen]
Next, adjustment of the curved screen 12 using the solid angle display device 50 will be described. First, the curved screen 12 is formed by assembling six curved surface parts 12ul to 12dr around the viewpoint position O (FIG. 1) of the user OP. At this time, the ultraviolet lamp 48 and the solid angle display device 50 (incandescent light source 52) are turned on. Accordingly, on the curved screen 12, the latitude lines 44 and the longitude lines 46 appear in a lattice pattern by the irradiation of the ultraviolet ray by the ultraviolet lamp 48, and the circular shape of the light emitted from the light source 52 that has passed through the circular pattern 54B. The bright spot 58 appears.
[0039]
As shown in FIG. 10, since the relative relationship between the position of the curved screen 12 and the line-of-sight direction of the user OP is not established at the beginning of assembly, the bright spot on the extension line of the light line in the line-of-sight direction due to a certain solid angle of the user OP. 58 does not coincide with the intersection of the latitude line 44 and the longitude line 46. Therefore, with reference to the line-of-sight direction of the user OP, that is, the bright spot 58 appearing by the solid-angle display device 50, as shown in FIG. 11, the installation positions (left and right, up and down, front and back, rotation) ) To match the bright spot 58 with the intersection of the latitude line 44 and the longitude line 46.
[0040]
In this way, the position of the curved screen 12 is adjusted so that a relative relationship with the line-of-sight direction of the user OP is established. That is, the curved surface of the curved screen 12 is set so as to be positioned at a latitude and longitude that matches the line-of-sight direction of the user OP. Therefore, the focal point of the curved screen 12 is set at the viewpoint O of the user OP.
[0041]
[Blending unit]
Next, the blending unit 26 will be described. The blending unit 26 is a unit for presenting each of the images projected from the six liquid crystal projectors 14 to 24 on the curved screen 12 without any gaps. In the present embodiment, the blending unit 26 projects a part of adjacent images while overlapping them, and adjusts the luminance of the overlapping region to display the images on the curved screen 12 without any gaps. Is. Therefore, the brightness distribution of the projection image set in the blending unit 26 will be described.
[0042]
FIG. 12 schematically shows the brightness distribution of an image projected from one liquid crystal projector. The brightness distribution of an image projected from this liquid crystal projector assumes that another image is projected on the periphery (eight sides). Specifically, the projection area 60 of the projection image of the liquid crystal projector is divided from the blending boundary lines 62, 63, 64, and 65 from the partial areas Pc, Pcu, Pcd, Pl, Plu, Pld, Pr, Pru, and Prd. It is formed.
[0043]
The partial area Pc is an area of a single projection image in which projection images from surrounding liquid crystal projectors do not overlap. Therefore, the projection image of the partial area Pc is projected while maintaining the brightness of the input image as it is 100%. Considering the brightness in the vertical direction with respect to this partial area Pc, the partial area Pcu is an area for overlapping the projection image from the upper liquid crystal projector, and the projection image of the partial area Pcu is the input image. The brightness is projected with a characteristic having a predetermined gradient distribution. The partial area Pcd is an area for overlapping the projection images from the lower liquid crystal projector, and the projection image of the partial area Pcd projects the brightness of the input image with a characteristic that has a predetermined gradient distribution. It will be. Accordingly, the brightness characteristic in the vertical direction is set to the characteristic 66 shown in the left part of FIG.
[0044]
The partial areas Pl, Pl, Pld, Pr, Pru, and Prd are the same as the partial areas Pc, Pcu, and Pcd in terms of brightness in the vertical direction. Assuming that the partial area Plu is an area for overlapping two projection images from the upper liquid crystal projector, the brightness when the projection images overlap is the brightness of the original projection image. The value should be For example, a value obtained by dividing the upper limit value of the brightness distribution of the partial region Pcu by the number of overlapping images may be used. Since the same applies to the partial areas Pld, Pru, and Prd, the description thereof is omitted.
[0045]
Next, considering the brightness in the left-right direction with respect to the partial area Pc, the partial area Pl is an area for overlapping the projection image from the left liquid crystal projector, and the projection image of the partial area Pl is The brightness of the input image is projected with a characteristic having a predetermined gradient distribution. The partial area Pr is an area for overlapping the projection image from the right liquid crystal projector, and the projection image of the partial area Pr is projected with a characteristic that the brightness of the input image has a predetermined gradient distribution. Will do. Therefore, the brightness characteristic in the left-right direction is set to the characteristic 68 shown in the lower part of FIG.
[0046]
The partial areas Plu, Pcu, Pru and Pld, Pcd, Prd are the same as the partial areas Pl, Pc, Pr when viewed in terms of brightness in the left-right direction. Assuming that the partial region Pl is a region for overlapping two projection images from the left liquid crystal projector, the brightness when the projection images overlap is the brightness of the original projection image. The value should be For example, a value obtained by dividing the upper limit value of the brightness distribution of the partial region Pl by the number of overlapping images may be used. Since the same applies to the partial areas Pld, Pru, and Prd, the description thereof is omitted.
[0047]
The brightness characteristics of each partial area can be determined by combining the brightness distribution in the vertical direction and the brightness distribution in the horizontal direction. Therefore, for each of the liquid crystal projectors 14 to 24, the brightness distribution can be determined from the position and number of adjacent liquid crystal projectors. As described above, when the brightness distribution of the projection image is set by the blending unit 26 and the image is projected from each of the liquid crystal projectors 14 to 24 with the set brightness distribution, the image is displayed on the curved screen 12. In addition to being presented without a gap, the brightness in the overlapping region can be presented as a distribution similar to that in other projection regions.
[0048]
The blending unit 26 may use a brightness distribution (characteristics 66 and 68) obtained and stored in advance for each liquid crystal projector, and finely adjust the brightness distribution (characteristics 66 and 68). Functions may be added.
[0049]
In addition, the blending unit 26 can have an adjustment function for adjusting the projection position of the projection image projected from each of the liquid crystal projectors 14 to 24. This adjustment function adjusts the position of the projected image on the curved screen 12.
[0050]
In the above description, the linear brightness characteristic has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the linear characteristic, and may be a curve or a broken line determined by a function, or a combination thereof. The blend boundary line is not limited to a straight line, and may be a curve or a broken line determined by a function, or a combination thereof.
[0051]
[Image processing device]
The image processing device 28 stores image data of a reference image (planar two-dimensional image) that is a basis of an image to be displayed. The image processing device 28 performs image processing on the stored image data, and blending unit 26. Output to. In the image processing device 28, assuming that the image displayed on the curved screen 12 is viewed with the user's line of sight, the stored planar two-dimensional image data is projected from a direction different from the user's line of sight. Conversion processing into a projection image for the purpose. The image processing device 28 can include general functions known as so-called image processing such as brightness adjustment, color adjustment, and trimming adjustment in addition to the functions described below.
[0052]
With reference to FIG. 13, first, the positional relationship between the liquid crystal projector and the user, which is the initial setting for the conversion process, will be described using the liquid crystal projectors 16 and 22 as representative examples. The curved screen 12 is installed on the assumption that the viewpoint position of the user OP is located at the focal position O (the center point of the sphere). The liquid crystal projector 16 is in charge of projection below the curved screen 12, and includes a flat screen (hereinafter referred to as a virtual screen) 70 in which the lower side (below the curved screen 12) of the field of view of the user OP is approximately set. Assume that it is visually observed. In order to project an image on the virtual screen 70, the liquid crystal projector 16 is installed at a position 16 p on the circumference centered on the upper end 70 </ b> A of the virtual screen 70 and in a direction perpendicular to the virtual screen 70 from the upper end 70 </ b> A. By doing so, it is possible to avoid the confusion between the space where the image is projected from the liquid crystal projector 16 to the projection area of the curved screen 12 (virtual screen 70) and the viewing position.
[0053]
Similarly, the liquid crystal projector 22 is in charge of projection above the curved screen 12, and visually observes the virtual screen 72 in which the upper side (above the curved screen 12) of the field of view of the user OP is approximately set. Is installed at a position 22p on the circumference centered on the upper end 72A of the virtual screen 72 and in a direction perpendicular to the virtual screen 72 from the upper end 72A. By doing so, it is possible to avoid the confusion between the space where the image is projected from the liquid crystal projector 22 to the projection area of the curved screen 12 (virtual screen 72) and the viewing position. Since the liquid crystal projectors 18, 20, 24, and 26 are the same, the description thereof is omitted.
[0054]
Next, the basic principle of image conversion will be described.
As shown in FIG. 14, the liquid crystal projector 22 can set parameters Qx, height Qz, horizontal movement Qy, projection direction angle Qq, and projection axis rotation angle Qr from the curved screen 12 as parameters. It is. Assuming that an image is projected from the liquid crystal projector 22 onto the virtual screen 72 virtually approximated as the curved screen 12, each value is set to an initial setting value. Assuming that an image is projected from the liquid crystal projector 22 onto the virtual screen 72, the pixel 76 on the virtual screen 72 projected in the projection direction 80 from the liquid crystal projector 22 (the direction of the projection line indicated by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 14). Is actually projected as pixels 74 on the curved screen 12.
[0055]
Accordingly, since the user OP views the pixel 74, it is only necessary to form a pixel at the intersection 78 between the visual line direction 82 (the visual line direction indicated by the solid line in FIG. 14) and the virtual screen 72. Therefore, polar coordinates are calculated by obtaining the latitude θ and longitude φ in the line-of-sight direction 82 for viewing the pixel 74. From the polar coordinates, the coordinates of the intersection 78 are obtained. As a result, the amount of movement from the pixel 76 on the virtual screen 72 to the intersection 78 can be obtained. By obtaining these processes for all the projection directions from the liquid crystal projector 22, that is, the coordinates of all the pixels, an image for projecting planar two-dimensional image data as an image that matches the user's line-of-sight direction. A deformation filter (geometry filter) to be converted into data can be obtained.
[0056]
Image data for displaying an image in a grid pattern on the flat screen is deformed by the deformation filter in accordance with the projection area of the liquid crystal projector. In the following description, conversion processing for obtaining image data obtained by deforming an image using the deformation filter is referred to as geometry conversion. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, the projection area 60 of the projection image of the liquid crystal projector is deformed according to polar coordinates in the projection direction.
[0057]
In the above, the blending unit 26 that overlaps a part of adjacent images and the image processing device 28 that converts the image data of the reference image (planar two-dimensional image) into a projection image are configured separately. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. That is, the blending unit 26 adjusts each image in order to display an image without a gap on the curved screen 12 by adjusting the luminance of the overlapping region when projecting while overlapping a part of adjacent images. The image processing device 28 converts image data of a reference image (planar two-dimensional image) to be displayed on the curved screen 12 into a projection image projected from a direction different from the user's line of sight (geometry conversion).
[0058]
The blending unit 26 and the image processing device 28 may be configured so as to have the above-described functions in a single device, or the functions may be distributed. In the case of distributing functions, the above-described geometry conversion function may be added to the blending unit 26 (blending geometry unit). In this case, the memory for storing the image data may be provided in the blending unit 26 or in the image processing device 28.
[0059]
The blending unit 26 and the image processing device 28 may be configured by providing a dedicated device, or may be configured such that the above functions are constructed by software and executed by a computer.
[0060]
(Image display)
Next, a process of projecting images processed by the blending unit 26 and the image processing device 28 on the curved screen 12 from the six liquid crystal projectors 14 to 24 in the wide viewing angle visual simulator 10 of the present embodiment will be described. To do. Here, a description will be given according to the flow of a processing routine executed by the image processing device 28.
[0061]
As shown in FIG. 16, when the wide viewing angle visual simulator 10 is turned on, the image processing apparatus 28 proceeds to step 100 and reads initial values of various parameters. This initial value includes the positional relationship of the liquid crystal projector and the positional relationship of the projection area to be projected on the curved screen 12 in each of the liquid crystal projectors. The blending unit 26 reads the characteristics of the brightness distribution of each liquid crystal projector.
[0062]
In the next step 102, for each of the liquid crystal projectors 14 to 24, the initial value read in step 100 is set for image conversion, and in the next step 104, image data to be projected on the curved screen 12 is read. The image data read in step 104 is a planar two-dimensional image data. In the next step 106, conversion processing for presenting the image data read in step 104 as an image that matches the line-of-sight direction of the user OP is executed.
[0063]
The conversion processing in step 106 is performed on the extracted image data, that is, the image data of each projection image, by extracting, from the image data, a projection image to be projected onto a projection area determined for each of the liquid crystal projectors 14 to 24. This conversion process is a process of performing coordinate conversion for each pixel by the above-described deformation filter (geometry filter). By this process, when image data of a planar two-dimensional image is projected from a direction different from the user's line of sight as an image displayed on the curved screen 12, it is converted into a projected image that matches the user's line of sight. become.
[0064]
In the next step 108, the brightness distribution of each of the liquid crystal projectors 14 to 24 determined from the position and the number of the adjacent liquid crystal projectors is read from the blending unit 26, whereby the brightness ( Brightness). In the next step 110, image data is output to each of the liquid crystal projectors 14 to 24 and an image is displayed on the curved screen 12. Note that the processing of step 108 may be performed by the blending unit 26.
[0065]
As described above, in the present embodiment, when image data of a planar two-dimensional image is projected from a direction different from the user's line of sight as the image displayed on the curved screen 12, the projection that matches the user's line of sight Converted to an image. Then, the brightness distribution of each projected image is set, and the image is projected from each of the liquid crystal projectors 14 to 24 with the set brightness distribution. Therefore, an image that matches the line-of-sight direction of the user is displayed on the curved screen 12. In addition, the image is presented on the curved screen 12 without any gaps, and the brightness in the overlapping region can be presented as a distribution similar to other projection regions.
[0066]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, For example, a curved surface such as a curved screen having a focal point can display the same latitude and longitude by a bright part or a dark part, and the position of a curved surface such as a curved screen can be easily adjusted. There is an effect that can be.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a conceptual configuration of a wide viewing angle visual simulator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a vertical projection region by a liquid crystal projector of a wide viewing angle visual simulator.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a horizontal projection region by a liquid crystal projector of a wide viewing angle visual simulator.
FIG. 4 is an image diagram showing a division state of a projection area of a liquid crystal projector projected onto a screen 12;
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a curved part having a structure that can be assembled by connection to form a curved screen.
FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a curved screen on which latitude lines and longitude lines appear by ultraviolet irradiation.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a conceptual configuration of a solid angle display device.
FIG. 8 is an image diagram for explaining a light / dark pattern formed on a hemispherical cover in order to emit equal solid light rays with a solid angle display device;
FIG. 9 is an image diagram for explaining a state in which a bright spot by an equal solid angle ray is displayed on a curved screen by a solid angle display device.
FIG. 10 is an image diagram for explaining a state before the position adjustment of the curved screen.
FIG. 11 is an image diagram for explaining a state after the position of the curved screen is adjusted.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of brightness distribution of a projection image set by a blending unit.
FIG. 13 is an image diagram showing a positional relationship between a liquid crystal projector and a user.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a deformation filter for projecting an image that matches a user's line-of-sight direction;
FIG. 15 is an image diagram showing a state in which a lattice image is deformed by a deformation filter.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow of the image processing apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Wide viewing angle visual simulator
12 Curved screen (curved screen)
12P base material
12Q coating layer
12ul to 12dr curved surface parts
14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 Liquid crystal projector
26 Blending Unit
28 Image processing device
44 Latitude Line
46 Longitude line
50 solid angle display device (solid angle display device)
52 Light source (point light source)
54 Cover (permeation means, member)
54A, 54B pattern (light / dark pattern)
55 Moving device (moving means)
58 bright spots
O Viewpoint position (focus position)

Claims (4)

In a solid angle display device used for position adjustment of a curved screen where latitude lines and longitude lines can appear in a grid pattern,
A point light source that emits light for position adjustment before image display on the curved screen ;
Transmits a light flux in a direction along each straight line that is formed in a curved surface having a focal point and passes through the focal point from a straight line passing through the focal point and has a substantially constant angular interval in at least one of the latitude and longitude directions. Transmission means provided with a light and dark pattern for non-transmission;
A solid angle display device comprising: The transmission means includes a member formed in a curved surface having a focal point, and a light / dark pattern is formed on the member so that a crossing position of the straight line and the member is a bright portion or a dark portion. Item 3. The solid angle display device according to Item 1.   3. The solid angle display device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission means is formed of at least a part of a spherical surface as a curved surface having a focal point. 4.   The solid angle display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a moving means for moving the point light source and the transmitting means in at least one direction.

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