JP5391662B2 - Stereoscopic image display apparatus, polarization separation / synthesis apparatus, stereoscopic image display method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a stereoscopic image display device and a stereoscopic image display method in which a user (viewer) can see a stereoscopic image by wearing so-called polarized glasses, and further used in the stereoscopic image display device. The present invention relates to a polarized light separating and synthesizing apparatus.

JP-A-2005-73013

In recent years, development of stereoscopic image display devices has been active. Various image display apparatuses that generate different images for the right eye and the left eye on a conventional two-dimensional television have been proposed. In particular, a method of guiding different images to the right eye and the left eye using polarized light can be expected to spread in the future because of its compatibility with a liquid crystal display and the simplicity of glasses.
Among them, an image display device using a projector can set the size of an image freely, and is promising as a means for realizing a display exceeding 100 inches in the future.

Most of the stereoscopic image display devices using conventional projectors are realized by incorporating two projectors and incorporating a mechanism for orthogonally polarizing the respective polarization directions.
However, in this case, there are many demerits such as the fact that the apparatus becomes large, the cost is doubled, and it is difficult to adjust the registration of the two units.

For example, FIG. 9 shows a configuration example of a conventional stereoscopic image display apparatus.
In this case, two projectors 100S and 100P that project a right-eye image and a left-eye image, respectively, are used.

The projector 100S will be described. Illumination light from a light source (not shown) is made uniform in illumination intensity by the fly-eye lens 101, and further converted into illumination light having only a P-polarized component by the P / S converter 102.
This illumination light is applied to the dichroic mirrors 104 and 105 via the condenser lens 103. The R light (red light: indicated by a one-dot chain line) and the G light (green light: indicated by a dotted line) are reflected by the dichroic mirror 104 and travel to the mirror 107 side.
On the other hand, B light (blue light: indicated by a solid line) is reflected by the dichroic mirror 105 and travels to the mirror 106 side.
The R light and G light reflected by the mirror 107 are further wavelength-separated by the dichroic mirror 108. That is, the R light is transmitted through the dichroic mirror 108 and the G light is reflected by the dichroic mirror 108.
In the above optical path, the R light is guided to the polarization beam splitter 121, the G light is guided to the polarization beam splitter 122, and the B light is guided to the polarization beam splitter 123.

An R liquid crystal panel 110 (hereinafter “R panel”) is disposed on one side of the polarizing beam splitter 121. The R panel 110 is supplied with, for example, an R image signal for the right eye, and performs display based on the R image signal.
Further, a G liquid crystal panel 111 (hereinafter referred to as “G panel”) is disposed on one side of the polarizing beam splitter 122. The G panel 111 is supplied with a G image signal for the right eye, for example, and performs display based on the G image signal.
A B liquid crystal panel 112 (hereinafter referred to as “B panel”) is disposed on one side of the polarizing beam splitter 123. The B panel 112 is supplied with a B image signal for the right eye, for example, and performs display based on the B image signal.

The R light, which is only the P-polarized component, passes through the polarization beam splitter 121 and is irradiated on the R panel 110. The S-polarized image light (display image light of the R panel 110) obtained by being reflected by the R panel 110 is reflected by the polarization beam splitter 121 and guided to the color synthesis prism 124.
Similarly, the G light, which is only the P-polarized component, passes through the polarization beam splitter 122 and is irradiated on the G panel 111. Then, the S-polarized image light (display image light of the G panel 111) obtained by being reflected by the G panel 111 is reflected by the polarization beam splitter 122 and guided to the color synthesis prism 124.
Similarly, the B light, which is only the P-polarized component, passes through the polarization beam splitter 123 and is irradiated on the B panel 112. The S-polarized image light (display image light of the B panel 112) obtained by being reflected by the B panel 112 is reflected by the polarization beam splitter 123 and guided to the color combining prism 124.
The R, G, and B image lights are combined by the color combining prism 124 and projected by the projection lens 125.
In this case, the image projected from the projector 100S becomes R, G, B image light based on the S polarization component, for example, as an image for the right eye.

The other projector 100P has substantially the same configuration. However, the R panel 110, the G panel 111, and the B panel 112 are different in that display is performed based on the R image signal, the G image signal, and the B image signal for the left eye. Further, a λ / 2 plate 126 is disposed on the exit end side of the projection lens 126.
Therefore, the image projected from the projector 100P becomes R, G, B image light by the P-polarized component, for example, as an image for the left eye.

For an image projected by such projectors 100S and 100P, the user can wear a pair of polarized glasses with a P-polarization blocking filter on the right eye side and an S-polarization blocking filter on the left eye side. You can see the image.
However, such a stereoscopic image display system using two projectors 100S and 100P has a large apparatus scale as described above, and has many disadvantages in terms of cost and adjustment of registration of two units.

FIG. 10 shows another configuration example employing an optical system called a quad type.
In this case, S-polarized R light, P-polarized G light, and S-polarized B light are incident on an illumination optical system from a light source (not shown). Then, the B light is separated by the dichroic prism 131, and this B light is guided to the polarization beam splitter 137. A B panel 137 is provided on one surface side of the polarization beam splitter 134, and the B light is reflected by the polarization beam splitter 121 and irradiated to the B panel 137. The P-polarized B image light obtained by being reflected by the B panel 137 passes through the polarization beam splitter 134 and is guided to the dichroic prism 132.

The S-polarized R light and the P-polarized G light reflected by the dichroic prism 131 enter the polarization beam splitter 133. A G panel 135 is provided on one surface side of the polarizing beam splitter 133, and an R panel 136 is provided on the other surface side.
The S-polarized R light is reflected by the polarization beam splitter 133 and applied to the R panel 136. The P-polarized R image light obtained by being reflected by the R panel 136 passes through the polarization beam splitter 133 and is guided to the dichroic prism 132.
The P-polarized G light passes through the polarization beam splitter 133 and is irradiated on the G panel 135. The S-polarized G image light obtained by being reflected by the G panel 135 is reflected by the polarization beam splitter 133 and guided to the dichroic prism 132.
In the dichroic prism 132, R image light, G image light, and B image light are combined, and the combined image light is incident on the projection lens 125 to project an image.
However, in this case, the combined image light from the projection lens 125 becomes P-polarized R image light, S-polarized G image light, and P-polarized B image light.

Even when a projector having this configuration is used, two units are required to display a stereoscopic image. Furthermore, since the light beams need to be separated by the polarization beam splitter 133, it is necessary that the R light and the G light have different polarizations, which complicates the configuration of an illumination optical system from a light source (not shown).
In addition, for example, only G image light becomes S-polarized light from the projection lens 138. For this reason, if a stereoscopic image display system is to be configured with two units, a color-selective wave plate that rotates only G light is required, or if it is used as it is, for example, for the left eye and the right eye A very complicated process such as projecting with only the G signal replaced is required.

  In view of these circumstances, an object of the present invention is to realize an easy-to-handle stereoscopic image display apparatus with a simple configuration using a single projector using a reflective liquid crystal.

The stereoscopic image display device of the present invention includes a light source unit that emits non-polarized light, a polarization separation / synthesis device unit, and a projection lens unit. The polarization separation / combination unit is disposed at a position where a polarization separation / combination element that transmits and reflects non-polarized incident light from the light source unit by a polarization component and a polarization component that passes through the polarization separation / combination element are incident. A first reflective display panel that is supplied with an image signal corresponding to one eye and forms a display image, and an image signal corresponding to the other eye that is disposed at a position where a polarization component reflected by the polarization separation / combination element is incident Is supplied to form a display image, and the first image light reflected by the first reflection display panel is reflected by the polarization separation / combination element, and The second image light reflected by the second reflective display panel is transmitted through the polarization splitting / combining element, and the combined image light of the first and second image lights is emitted. The projection lens unit projects the combined image light emitted from the polarization separation / synthesis unit.
The light source unit includes a laser light source and a square core optical fiber that transmits a laser from the laser light source, and emits non-polarized light as an output of the square core optical fiber.

The light source unit includes a red light source unit that emits non-polarized red light, a green light source unit that emits non-polarized green light, and a blue light source unit that emits non-polarized blue light. Further, as the polarization separation / combination unit, the red light is used as incident light and a red light polarization separation / combination unit that emits red composite image light, and the green light is used as incident light and emits green composite image light. A green light polarization separation / combination unit and a blue light polarization separation / synthesis unit that emits blue composite image light with the blue light as incident light are provided. The image forming apparatus further includes a color combining optical element unit that combines the red combined image light, the green combined image light, and the blue combined image light and guides them to the projection lens unit.
The color synthesizing optical element section is composed of a plurality of dichroic prisms.
Further, a speckle removal mechanism is provided between the color synthesis optical element and the projection lens.
And a fourth color light source unit that emits fourth color light, and a fourth color light polarization separation / synthesis unit unit that emits the fourth color combined image light. The element unit synthesizes the red composite image light, the green composite image light, the blue composite image light, and the fourth color composite image light and guides them to the projection lens unit.

  The polarization separation / synthesis apparatus of the present invention is arranged at a position where a polarization separation / synthesis element that transmits and reflects non-polarized incident light by a polarization component and a polarization component that transmits the polarization separation / synthesis element are incident on one eye. A first reflective display panel that is supplied with a corresponding image signal to form a display image and a polarization component that is reflected by the polarization separation / combination element are disposed at a position where an image signal corresponding to the other eye is supplied. And a second reflective display panel that forms a display image, and the first image light reflected by the first reflective display panel is reflected by the polarized light separating / combining element, and The second image light reflected by the reflective display panel is transmitted through the polarization separation / combination element, so that the composite image light of the first and second image lights is emitted.

  In the stereoscopic image display method of the present invention, non-polarized incident light is incident on a polarization separation / combination element, and an image signal corresponding to one eye supplies the polarization component of the incident light that passes through the polarization separation / combination element. The polarized light component incident on the first reflective display panel that forms the display image and reflected by the polarization separation / combination element in the incident light is supplied with an image signal corresponding to the other eye to display the display image. The first image light incident on the second reflective display panel to be formed and reflected by the first reflective display panel is reflected by the polarization separation / combination element, and the second reflective display panel is formed. The second image light reflected by the light is transmitted through the polarized light separation / combination element, thereby forming the composite image light of the first and second image light, and projecting the composite image light by the projection lens unit.

Such a stereoscopic image display apparatus and stereoscopic image display method of the present invention enable stereoscopic image display by a single projector by using the polarization beam splitting / combining apparatus of the present invention.
In the polarized light separation / combination apparatus of the present invention, a reflective display panel (for example, a reflective liquid crystal panel) is disposed on each of a transmitted light traveling surface side and a reflected light traveling surface side of a polarized light separating / combining element (for example, a polarization beam splitter). Each reflective display panel displays a left-eye image and a right-eye image. In this case, the P-polarized component is incident on one reflective display panel, and the S-polarized component is incident on the other reflective display panel.
Reflected light from each reflective display panel, that is, image light, returns to the polarization separation / combination element again, but the P-polarized component incident on one reflective display panel is reflected to become S-polarized component image light, while the other The S-polarized component incident on the reflective display panel is reflected and becomes P-polarized component image light. Therefore, the image light of the S-polarized component and the image light of the P-polarized component are synthesized and output from a surface different from the surface on which the original non-polarized light is incident.
That is, the combined light of the image light for the left eye and the image light for the right eye can be obtained by one polarization separation / synthesis device. Therefore, if this polarization separation / synthesis apparatus is used, it means that one projector can project the image light for the left eye and the image light for the right eye as the P-polarized component and the S-polarized component, respectively. For this reason, the user can view a stereoscopic image by viewing with polarized glasses.

  In the stereoscopic image display device of the present invention, non-polarized light is incident on the polarization separation / synthesis device unit. For this reason, the light source section may be anything that emits non-polarized light, but it is particularly preferable that the light source section is constituted by a laser light source and a square core optical fiber.

According to the present invention, in a stereoscopic image display device as a projector, a polarization separation / synthesis device as a simple optical unit using a reflective display panel is used. Thereby, a stereoscopic image display can be performed by one projector. Therefore, a large-scale system configuration using two projectors is unnecessary, adjustment between the two projectors is unnecessary, and an effect of realizing a low-cost, small-scale, and easy-to-use stereoscopic image display apparatus can be realized. There is. Further, the polarization separation / synthesis apparatus itself has a simple configuration, and the configuration of the projector itself is not complicated.
In addition, by configuring the light source unit with a laser light source and a square core optical fiber, the degree of freedom of the optical configuration of the projector is increased, which is suitable for device development and can promote downsizing and performance improvement.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
[1.3D Separation and Synthesis Device Example]
[2. Stereoscopic image display apparatus example I]
[3. Stereoscopic image display device example II]
[4. Stereoscopic image display device example III]
[5. Stereoscopic image display device example IV]
[6. Stereoscopic image display device example V]
[7. Stereoscopic image display device example VI]

[1.3D Separation and Synthesis Device Example]

FIG. 1 shows a 3D separation / synthesis apparatus 1 as an embodiment of the polarization separation / synthesis apparatus of the present invention.
The 3D separation / synthesis apparatus 1 includes a polarization beam splitter 2 as a polarization separation element, a left-eye reflection liquid crystal display panel (hereinafter, left-eye panel) 3, and a right-eye reflection liquid crystal display panel (hereinafter, referred to as a left-eye reflection liquid crystal display panel). A right-eye panel) 4.
The left-eye panel 3 is mounted on the surface on the side where the reflected light reflected by the polarizing beam splitter 2 travels, with the position adjusted. That is, the light reflected by the polarizing beam splitter 2 is incident on the left eye panel 3.
The right-eye panel 4 is mounted on the surface on the side where the transmitted light that passes through the polarizing beam splitter 2 travels, with the position adjusted. That is, light that passes through the polarizing beam splitter 2 is incident on the right-eye panel 4.

  Unpolarized light having a P-polarized component and an S-polarized component is incident on the polarizing beam splitter 2. As shown in the figure, for example, the S-polarized component is reflected by the polarizing beam splitter 2 by 45 ° and irradiated to the left-eye panel 3, and the P-polarized component is transmitted through the polarizing beam splitter 2 and irradiated to the right-eye panel 4. The

Here, the left-eye panel 3 is supplied with an image signal VD (L) that is an image for the left eye when a stereoscopic image is formed. The left-eye panel 3 performs liquid crystal driving based on the image signal VD (L). Therefore, the reflected light of the light (S-polarized component) irradiated to the left eye panel 3 becomes image light based on the left eye image. When this image light is reflected by the liquid crystal panel surface, the plane of polarization is rotated and becomes P-polarized light. Therefore, it passes through the beam splitter 2.
The right eye panel 4 is supplied with an image signal VD (R) that is an image for the right eye when a stereoscopic image is formed. The right-eye panel 4 performs liquid crystal driving based on the image signal VD (R). Accordingly, the reflected light of the light (S-polarized component) irradiated to the left eye panel 3 becomes image light based on the right eye image. When this image light is reflected by the liquid crystal panel surface, the polarization plane is rotated, and becomes S-polarized light. Therefore, it is reflected by the beam splitter 2 and emitted.
As a result, the image light for the left eye based on the P-polarized component and the image light for the right eye based on the S-polarized component are combined and emitted from the exit surface (the lower surface in the figure) of the polarization beam splitter 2. Will be.

That is, the 3D separation / combination device 1 performs P / S polarization separation on the incident non-polarized light, further generates image light for the left eye and image light for the right eye, and each image light. Are combined and output as a P-polarized component and an S-polarized component, respectively.
In other words, the left and right images are modulated and combined by one optical core using each polarization component of incident light. As a result, the left and right image light can be modulated and combined with a very simple configuration.

[2. Stereoscopic image display apparatus example I]

As an embodiment of the stereoscopic image display apparatus of the present invention, a color stereoscopic image display projector 10 using the 3D separation / synthesis apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

The projector 10 has a lamp 11 as an illumination light source. As the lamp 11, for example, a ride lamp, a high-pressure mercury lamp, a xenon lamp, or the like can be used as the metal. Alternatively, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) may be used. In the case of this example, any light source that emits non-polarized light may be used.
The lamp 11 emits illumination light having a P-polarized component and an S-polarized component as R, G, and B wavelength components.

Illumination light from the lamp 11 is made uniform by the fly-eye lens 12 and irradiated to the dichroic mirrors 14 and 15 via the condenser lens 13.
Then, R light (red light: indicated by a one-dot chain line) and G light (green light: indicated by a dotted line) are reflected by the dichroic mirror 14 and proceed to the mirror 17 side.
On the other hand, B light (blue light: indicated by a solid line) is reflected by the dichroic mirror 15 and travels to the mirror 16 side.
The R light and G light reflected by the mirror 17 are further wavelength-separated by the dichroic mirror 18. That is, the R light is transmitted through the dichroic mirror 18 and the G light is reflected by the dichroic mirror 18.
In the above optical path, the R light is guided to the polarization beam splitter 31, the G light is guided to the polarization beam splitter 32, and the B light is guided to the polarization beam splitter 33.

The polarization beam splitters 31, 32, and 33 are components of the 3D separation / synthesis apparatus 1 described with reference to FIG.
That is, with respect to the R light, the polarizing beam splitter 31, the R light left panel (hereinafter referred to as the left eye R panel) 21, and the R light right eye panel (hereinafter referred to as the right eye R panel) 22 are used. The 3D separation / synthesis apparatus 1R is formed.
The left-eye R panel 21 is supplied with a left-eye R image signal when forming a stereoscopic image and performs a liquid crystal driving operation, and the right-eye R panel 22 is used for a right-eye when forming a stereoscopic image. The R image signal is supplied to perform the liquid crystal driving operation.

Further, the G light is generated by the polarizing beam splitter 32, the G light left eye panel (hereinafter, left eye G panel) 23, and the G light right eye panel (hereinafter, right eye G panel) 24. A 3D separation / synthesis apparatus 1G is formed.
The left-eye G panel 23 is supplied with a left-eye G image signal when forming a stereoscopic image and performs a liquid crystal driving operation. The right-eye G panel 24 is used for a right-eye when forming a stereoscopic image. The G image signal is supplied to perform the liquid crystal driving operation.
Further, the B light is generated by the polarizing beam splitter 33, the left-eye panel for B light (hereinafter referred to as the left-eye B panel) 25, and the right-eye panel for B light (hereinafter referred to as the right-eye B panel) 26. A 3D separation / synthesis apparatus 1B is formed.
The left-eye B panel 25 is supplied with a left-eye B image signal when forming a stereoscopic image and performs a liquid crystal driving operation, and the right-eye B panel 26 is used for a right-eye when forming a stereoscopic image. The B image signal is supplied to perform the liquid crystal driving operation.

The R light transmitted through the dichroic mirror 18 includes the P-polarized component and the S-polarized component and enters the polarizing beam splitter 31. The P-polarized component is transmitted and applied to the right-eye R panel 22, and the S-polarized component is reflected by 45 ° and applied to the left-eye R panel 21.
The left-eye R panel 21 and the right-eye R panel 22 are liquid crystal driven by a left-eye R image signal and a right-eye R image signal, respectively.
For this reason, the reflected light of the left-eye R panel 21 becomes R image light based on the left-eye R image. The R image light is P-polarized light and passes through the polarization beam splitter 31. The reflected light of the right-eye R panel 22 is R image light based on the right-eye R image. The R image light is S-polarized light and is reflected by the polarization beam splitter 31. The P-polarized light and S-polarized R image light are guided to a color synthesis prism (4-piece prism) 34.

Further, the G light reflected by the dichroic mirror 18 enters the polarization beam splitter 32 including the P-polarized component and the S-polarized component. Then, the P-polarized component is transmitted and applied to the right-eye G panel 24, and the S-polarized component is reflected by 45 ° and applied to the left-eye G panel 23.
The left-eye G panel 23 and the right-eye G panel 24 are liquid crystal driven by a left-eye G image signal and a right-eye G image signal, respectively.
For this reason, the reflected light of the left-eye G panel 23 becomes G image light based on the left-eye G image. The G image light is P-polarized light and passes through the polarization beam splitter 32. Further, the reflected light of the right-eye G panel 24 becomes G image light based on the right-eye G image. The G image light is S-polarized light and is reflected by the polarization beam splitter 32. The P-polarized and S-polarized G image light is guided to the color synthesis prism 34.

Furthermore, the B light reflected by the mirror 16 includes the P-polarized component and the S-polarized component and enters the polarizing beam splitter 33. Then, the P-polarized component is transmitted and applied to the right-eye B panel 26, and the S-polarized component is reflected by 45 ° and applied to the left-eye B panel 25.
The left-eye B panel 25 and the right-eye B panel 26 are liquid crystal driven by a left-eye B image signal and a right-eye B image signal, respectively.
For this reason, the reflected light of the left-eye B panel 25 becomes B image light based on the left-eye B image. The B image light is P-polarized light and passes through the polarization beam splitter 33. The reflected light of the right-eye B panel 26 becomes B image light based on the right-eye B image. The B image light is S-polarized light and is reflected by the polarization beam splitter 33. The P-polarized light and S-polarized B image light are guided to the color synthesis prism 34.

The color synthesizing prism 34 synthesizes each image light and guides it to the projection lens 35. Then, an image is projected by the projection lens 35.
In this case, the image projected from the projector 10 has, for example, R, G, and B image light with an S-polarized component as an image for the right eye, and R, G with a P-polarized component as an image for the left eye. And B image light.

That is, one projector 10 can project a color image for the right eye and a color image for the left eye as an S-polarized component and a P-polarized component, and the user can view a stereoscopic image by wearing polarized glasses. Can do. Therefore, a large-scale system configuration using two projectors is unnecessary, and adjustment between the two projectors is unnecessary, and a stereoscopic image display device that is low-cost, small-scale, and easy to use can be realized.
Further, the projector 10 has a tri-core type optical system similar to the conventional configuration shown in FIG. 9, and the configuration of the projector itself does not cause complication of the configuration as compared with the conventional configuration. . That is, the projector 10 itself has the advantage of having the same configuration scale as the conventional one while having the functions of two projectors for displaying a stereoscopic image.

Since the light incident on the polarization beam splitters 21, 22, and 23 may be non-polarized light, the method for uniformizing the illumination light is not limited to the one using the fly-eye lens 12, for example, a rod integrator or an optical fiber is used. It is also possible to employ the configuration used. For example, a configuration in which light from the lamp 11 is introduced into an optical system (after the dichroic mirrors 14 and 15) with an optical fiber is also conceivable.

[3. Stereoscopic image display device example II]

Next, an example using a laser light source will be described.
FIG. 3 shows an example in which a laser unit 6 that emits laser light and a square core optical fiber 7 are used as a light source unit that obtains non-polarized illumination light.

Since the polarization of the laser light is uniform, it is not appropriate to enter the 3D separation / synthesis apparatus 1 as it is.
On the other hand, laser light is a point light source and is suitable for incidence on an optical fiber. Furthermore, since the polarization is randomly rotated by the optical fiber, particularly the square core optical fiber 7, almost complete non-polarized illumination light can be obtained.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the laser light from the laser unit 6 is introduced into the 3D separation / synthesis apparatus 1 via the lens 5 using the square core optical fiber 7.
Since the rectangular core optical fiber 7 can obtain a highly uniform, rectangular light, the aspect ratio can be freely shaped by the lens 5 or the like, and the left eye panel 3 and the right eye panel 4 can be illuminated. .
In this way, it is possible to easily make the non-polarized light with uniform intensity incident on the 3D separation / synthesis apparatus 1.

The configuration of the 3D separation / combination apparatus 1 is as described with reference to FIG. 1. Therefore, the left-eye image light and the right-eye image light modulated by the left-eye panel 3 and the right-eye panel 4 are synthesized. And output from the polarization beam splitter 2. This is projected by the projection lens 8 to display a stereoscopic image.
Note that FIG. 3 displays a stereoscopic image as a monochrome image. A configuration example in the case of performing color display will be described next.

[4. Stereoscopic image display device example III]

The configuration of the projector 10 that performs color stereoscopic image display in the configuration using the laser unit and the optical fiber as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

A G laser unit 41 that outputs G laser light, an R laser unit 42 that outputs R laser light, and a B laser unit 43 that outputs B laser light are used as light sources.
Laser beams from the laser units 41, 42, and 43 are introduced into the optical system by square core optical fibers 44, 45, and 46, respectively.

As for the configuration of the optical system, 3D separation / synthesis apparatuses 1R, 1G, and 1B are provided for the respective colors R, G, and B.
The non-polarized and uniform-intensity G light obtained from the square core optical fiber 44 is incident on the polarization beam splitter 32 after the aspect ratio is shaped by the lens 47.
The polarization beam splitter 32, the left-eye G panel 23, and the right-eye G panel 24 form a 3D separation / synthesis apparatus 1G for G light. Accordingly, the P-polarized component and the S-polarized component incident on the polarization beam splitter 32 are applied to the right-eye G panel 24 and the left-eye G panel 23, respectively. Then, left-eye and right-eye G image light is obtained as reflected light from the left-eye G panel 23 and reflected light from the right-eye G panel 24, and these are combined by the polarization beam splitter 32 to obtain a color. Guided to the combining prism 34.

The non-polarized and uniform intensity R light obtained from the square core optical fiber 45 is incident on the polarization beam splitter 31 after the aspect ratio is shaped by the lens 48.
The polarization beam splitter 31, the left-eye R panel 21, and the right-eye R panel 22 form a 3D separation / combination device 1R for R light. Accordingly, the P-polarized component and the S-polarized component incident on the polarization beam splitter 31 are irradiated to the right-eye R panel 22 and the left-eye R panel 21, respectively. Then, left-eye and right-eye R image light is obtained as reflected light from the left-eye R panel 21 and right-eye R panel 22, and these are combined by the polarization beam splitter 31 to obtain a color. Guided to the combining prism 34.

The non-polarized and uniform intensity B light obtained from the square core optical fiber 46 is incident on the polarization beam splitter 33 after the aspect ratio is shaped by the lens 49.
The polarization beam splitter 33, the left-eye B panel 25, and the right-eye B panel 26 form a 3D separation / synthesis apparatus 1B for B light. Accordingly, the P-polarized component and the S-polarized component incident on the polarization beam splitter 33 are applied to the right-eye B panel 26 and the left-eye B panel 25, respectively. Then, left-eye and right-eye B image lights are obtained as the reflected light from the left-eye B panel 25 and the reflected light from the right-eye B panel 26, and these are combined by the polarization beam splitter 33 to obtain the color. Guided to the combining prism 34.

  The color synthesizing prism 34 synthesizes each image light and guides it to the projection lens 35. Then, an image is projected by the projection lens 35. In this case, the image projected from the projector 10 has, for example, R, G, and B image light with an S-polarized component as an image for the right eye, and R, G with a P-polarized component as an image for the left eye. And B image light.

  In the configuration of FIG. 4, the right eye color image and the left eye color image can be projected as an S-polarized component and a P-polarized component with a single projector 10, and the user can wear polarized glasses. A stereoscopic image can be seen.

Further, when RGB is an independent light source such as a laser light source, the configuration using the laser unit and the optical fiber greatly simplifies the optical system. That is, the dichroic mirrors 14, 15, 18 and the mirrors 16, 17 in the configuration shown in FIG. 2 are unnecessary, and only the three 3D separating / combining devices 1 R, 1 G, 1 B and the color combining prism 34 as shown in FIG. Good.
Further, since the illumination light is introduced by the square core optical fibers 44, 45, and 46, the degree of freedom of arrangement of the laser units 41, 42, and 43 is high, and the design becomes easy.
Since the laser light is a point light source, it is easy to introduce light from the laser units 41, 42, 43 to the square core optical fibers 44, 45, 46.
In addition, laser light with uniform polarization is originally made non-polarized by an optical fiber. On the other hand, P polarization intensity and S polarization intensity can be made almost uniform by random polarization rotation. Therefore, the luminance balance on the display of the right eye image and the left eye image is further improved.

When laser light is used as a projection light source, the biggest problem is speckle. Conventionally, various countermeasures have been taken, but it is known that it can be considerably reduced by guiding the optical fiber to an optical fiber and giving it a minute vibration.
However, the compatibility with the liquid crystal panel has been considered not to be very good due to the necessity of the polarized light.
However, the 3D separation / synthesis apparatus 1 (1R, 1G, 1B) of the present embodiment does not require polarized light while using a liquid crystal panel. Conversely, the optical fiber output must be unpolarized.
Then, for example, speckle avoidance by adding a configuration that gives minute vibration to the square core optical fibers 44, 45, and 46 can be suitably employed as it is.

[5. Stereoscopic image display device example IV]

FIG. 5 shows another example of the optical system configuration of the stereoscopic image display apparatus 10.
Although the illumination system is not shown in FIG. 5, similarly to FIG. 4, the laser units 41, 42, 43, the square core optical fibers 44, 45, 46, and the lenses 47, 48, 49 are respectively in the required positions. You can think that it is arranged in.

In this case, it is the same as FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 to have three 3D separation / combination apparatuses 1R, 1G, and 1B corresponding to R, G, and B colors.
In addition, dichroic prisms 51 and 52 and a transmission core 53 are provided. The polarization beam splitters 31, 32, 33, the dichroic prisms 51, 52, and the transmission core 53 have the same optical path length for the image light from each panel (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27), respectively. It is arranged as an optical core to be formed.

The B illumination light is incident on the 3D separation / synthesis apparatus 1B. Similarly to the example described above, the B image light for the left eye and the right eye is obtained by the 3D separation / combination device 1B (polarization beam splitter 33, left eye B panel 25, right eye B panel 26). Is obtained.
Each B image light passes through the transmission core 53, is reflected by the dichroic prism 52, and is guided to the projection lens 35.

The R illumination light is incident on the 3D separation / synthesis apparatus 1R. The 3D separating / combining apparatus 1R (polarizing beam splitter 31, left eye B panel 21, right eye B panel 22) obtains R image light for left eye and right eye.
Each R image light is reflected by the dichroic prism 51, further passes through the dichroic prism 52, and reaches the projection lens 35.

The G illumination light is incident on the 3D separation / synthesis apparatus 1G. Then, the G image light for the left eye and the right eye is obtained by the 3D separation / combination device 1G (polarization beam splitter 32, left eye B panel 23, right eye B panel 24).
Each G image light passes through the dichroic prisms 51 and 52 and reaches the projection lens 35.

  Then, the projection lens 35 performs image projection with each image light. Also in this case, for example, the image projected from the projector 10 has R, G, and B image light with an S-polarized component as an image for the right eye, and R, G with a P-polarized component as an image for the left eye. And B image light.

The advantages of the configuration of FIG. 5 are as follows.
When a light source having a very straight line like laser light is used in a projector, the shadow of the color synthesis prism 34 having a four-piece structure shown in the configuration examples shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 may be a problem.
However, in the configuration of FIG. 5, the color synthesis prism is not used, and color synthesis is performed by the dichroic prisms 51 and 52, so that it is possible to avoid the shadow of the 4-piece prism from affecting the image.
Further, in the configuration of FIG. 5, as viewed from the projection lens 35, an optical path distance for three cores can be obtained as the back focus of each image light.
In other words, it is suitable as a configuration when it is desired to take back focus, and if it is a laser light source, even if it is the back focus of the projection lens corresponding to the distance of three cores, sufficient illumination brightness can be obtained. Become.

[6. Stereoscopic image display device example V]

Still another configuration example will be described with reference to FIG.
As described above, when it is necessary to take measures against speckles when a laser light source is used, it is conceivable to adopt a structure that applies minute vibrations to an optical fiber that guides laser light.
However, in the case of high brightness where speckle becomes a problem even if such a structure is adopted, the configuration shown in FIG. 6 may be adopted.

In FIG. 6, the configuration of the illumination system and the optical system is the same as that in FIG. 4.
In this case, when the R, G, B image light is emitted from the color synthesis prism 34, a relay is immediately formed in a one-to-one manner, and a minute oscillating or rotating motion is applied by the diffraction diffusion plate 62. To do.
That is, the lens 61 and the diffraction diffusion plate 62 are disposed between the color synthesis prism 34 and the projection lens 35. The diffraction diffusion plate 62 includes a movable portion and a fixed portion, and has a structure in which the movable portion is oscillated or rotated by the driving portion 63.
In the case of a structure in which the movable part of the diffraction diffusion plate 62 is swung, the driving part 63 vibrates the movable part on the order of several KHz, for example. Alternatively, in the case of a structure in which the movable part is rotated, the driving unit 63 rotates the movable part on the order of several Hz, for example.

The image light condensed by the lens 61 is converted into image light from which speckles have been eliminated by being subjected to minute swinging or rotating motion by the diffraction diffusion plate 62, and this is projected by the projection lens 35.
With such a configuration, appropriate speckle countermeasures can be taken, and high-quality stereoscopic image display can be performed as the projector 10 of this example using laser light as a light source.
In this case, a divergence angle is generated in the diffraction diffusion plate 62. However, in the case of light with very good straightness such as laser light, there is a sufficient margin in the light capture angle of the projection lens 35. It will not be.

[7. Stereoscopic image display device example VI]

Next, an example of a configuration having better color reproducibility will be described with reference to FIGS.
For the three primary colors of R, G, and B, it is conceivable to add the fourth color when there is a shortage of color reproduction range. For example, FIG. 8 shows the UCS chromaticity diagram, but the color gamuts for the R, G, and B3 primary colors are indicated by broken lines. On the other hand, by adding cyan (Cy) to form a four-color laser configuration, the reproducible color gamut can be expanded as shown by the solid line.

FIG. 7 shows a configuration example in the case of a four-color laser configuration.
In FIG. 6, the configuration of the illumination system and the optical system is the same as that in FIG. 4.
In this case, in addition to the R, G, and B laser units 41, 42, and 43, a Cy laser unit 74 is provided. The Cy laser light from the Cy laser unit 74 is guided by the square core optical fiber 75.

As an optical system, a 3D separation / synthesis apparatus 1C corresponding to Cy is provided in addition to the 3D separation / synthesis apparatuses 1R, 1G, and 1B corresponding to R, G, and B colors.
The 3D separation / combination device 1 </ b> Cy includes a polarizing beam splitter 73, a Cy light left-eye panel (hereinafter, left-eye Cy panel) 71, and a Cy-light right-eye panel (hereinafter, right-eye Cy panel). ) 72.
The Cy panel 71 for the left eye is supplied with a Cy image signal for the left eye when forming a stereoscopic image and performs a liquid crystal driving operation, and the Cy panel 72 for the right eye is used for the right eye when forming a stereoscopic image. The Cy image signal is supplied to perform the liquid crystal driving operation.
In addition, dichroic prisms 81, 82, and 83 are provided.

In this case, the B illumination light from the illumination system as the B laser unit 43, the square core optical fiber 46, and the lens 49 is incident on the 3D separation / synthesis apparatus 1B. The 3D separating / combining apparatus 1B (polarizing beam splitter 33, left eye B panel 25, right eye B panel 26) obtains B image light for left eye and right eye.
Each B image light passes through the dichroic prism 81, is reflected by the dichroic prism 83, and is guided to the projection lens 35.

The R illumination light from the illumination system as the R laser unit 42, the square core optical fiber 45, and the lens 48 is incident on the 3D separation / synthesis apparatus 1R. The 3D separating / combining apparatus 1R (polarizing beam splitter 31, left eye B panel 21, right eye B panel 22) obtains R image light for left eye and right eye.
Each R image light is reflected by the dichroic prism 82, further passes through the dichroic prism 83, and reaches the projection lens 35.

G illumination light from the illumination system as the G laser unit 41, the square core optical fiber 44, and the lens 47 is incident on the 3D separation / synthesis apparatus 1G. Then, the G image light for the left eye and the right eye is obtained by the 3D separation / combination device 1G (polarization beam splitter 32, left eye B panel 23, right eye B panel 24).
Each G image light passes through the dichroic prisms 82 and 83 and reaches the projection lens 35.

Cy illumination light from the illumination system as the Cy laser unit 74, the square core optical fiber 75, and the lens 76 is incident on the 3D separation / combination device 1Cy. Then, the Cy image light for the left eye and the right eye is obtained by the 3D separation / combination device 1Cy (polarization beam splitter 73, left eye B panel 71, right eye B panel 72).
Each Cy image light is reflected by the dichroic prism 81 and further reflected by the dichroic prism 83 to reach the projection lens 35.

Then, the projection lens 35 performs image projection using R, G, B, and Cy image lights. In this case, the image projected from the projector 10 has, for example, R, G, B, and Cy image lights based on the S-polarized component as an image for the right eye, and R based on the P-polarized component as an image for the left eye. G, B, and Cy image light is included.
Accordingly, a high-quality stereoscopic image display capable of reproducing a very wide range of colors can be performed.
Further, as can be seen from this configuration, a configuration for adding the fourth color can be easily realized.
The fourth color added to the three primary colors R, G, and B may be other than cyan.

As described above, various examples of the embodiment have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above examples, and various modifications are assumed.
For example, various arrangements of optical elements and formed optical paths are conceivable. Further, a configuration in which each example is combined, such as providing a speckle removal mechanism by the diffraction diffusion plate 62 in FIG.

It is explanatory drawing of the separation-and-synthesis apparatus for 3D of embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the stereo image display apparatus example I of embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the example 2 of the stereo image display apparatus of embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the stereoscopic image display apparatus example III of embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the stereo image display apparatus example IV of embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the stereoscopic image display apparatus example V of embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the stereoscopic image display apparatus example VI of embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the color reproduction by the stereoscopic image display apparatus example VI of embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the conventional stereoscopic image display apparatus. It is explanatory drawing of the conventional stereoscopic image display apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

  1, 1R, 1G, 1B, 1Cy 3D separation and synthesis device, 2 polarizing beam splitter, 3 left eye panel, 5 lens, 4 right eye panel, 6 laser unit, 7 square core optical fiber, 8 projection lens, 11 lamp , 12 Fly-eye lens, 13 Condenser lens, 14, 15, 18 Dichroic mirror, 16, 17 mirror, 21 Left-eye R panel, 22 Right-eye R panel, 23 Left-eye G panel, 24 Right-eye G panel 25, B panel for left eye, 26 B panel for right eye, 31, 32, 33, 73 Polarizing beam splitter, 34 color synthesis prism, 35 projection lens, 41 G laser unit, 42 R laser unit, 43 B laser unit, 44, 45, 46, 75 Square core optical fiber, 47, 48, 49, 76 Lens 51, 5 , 81, 82, 83 dichroic prism, 74 Cy laser unit

Claims (7)

A light source that emits unpolarized light;
A polarization separation / combination element that transmits and reflects non-polarized incident light from the light source unit by a polarization component, and an image signal corresponding to one eye is disposed at a position where the polarization component that transmits the polarization separation / combination element is incident. A first reflective display panel that is supplied to form a display image and a polarized light component reflected by the polarization separation / combination element are arranged at a position where an image signal corresponding to the other eye is supplied to form a display image The first image light reflected by the first reflective display panel is reflected by the polarization separation / combination element and reflected by the second reflective display panel. The second image light that has been transmitted through the polarization separation / combination element, so that the polarization separation / synthesis device unit that emits the combined image light of the first and second image lights;
A projection lens unit that projects the combined image light emitted from the polarization separation / synthesis unit,
Equipped with a,
The three-dimensional image display device , wherein the light source unit includes a laser light source and a square core optical fiber that transmits a laser from the laser light source, and emits non-polarized light as an output of the square core optical fiber . As the light source unit,
A red light source that emits unpolarized red light;
A green light source that emits unpolarized green light;
A blue light source that emits unpolarized blue light;
Have
As the polarization separation / synthesis unit,
The red light is made incident light, and a red light polarized light separating and synthesizing unit that emits red composite image light; and
Green light polarized light separating and synthesizing unit that emits green synthesized image light with the green light as incident light,
Blue light polarized light separating and synthesizing unit that emits blue synthesized image light with the blue light as incident light,
And having
The stereoscopic image display apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a color synthesis optical element unit that synthesizes the red synthesized image light, the green synthesized image light, and the blue synthesized image light and guides them to the projection lens unit. The three-dimensional image display device according to claim 2 , wherein the color combining optical element unit is configured by a plurality of dichroic prisms. The stereoscopic image display apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein a speckle removal mechanism is provided between the color synthesis optical element and the projection lens. And a fourth color light source that emits fourth color light;
A fourth color light polarization beam splitting and synthesizing unit that emits the fourth color synthesized image light with the fourth color light as incident light;
With
The color combining optical element unit combines the red combined image light, the green combined image light, the blue combined image light, and the fourth color combined image light and guides them to the projection lens unit. 3. The stereoscopic image display device according to 2. Non-polarized incident light emitted from a light source unit having a laser light source and a rectangular core optical fiber that transmits a laser from the laser light source, and configured to emit non-polarized light as an output of the square core optical fiber A polarization separating / synthesizing element that transmits and reflects the light by a polarization component;
A first reflective display panel that is arranged at a position where a polarized light component transmitted through the polarization beam splitting / combining element is incident, and an image signal corresponding to one eye is supplied to form a display image;
A second reflective display panel that is disposed at a position where a polarization component reflected by the polarization separation / combination element is incident and an image signal corresponding to the other eye is supplied to form a display image;
Have
The first image light reflected by the first reflective display panel is reflected by the polarization separation / synthesis element, and the second image light reflected by the second reflection display panel is the polarization separation / synthesis element. A polarized light separating and synthesizing device that emits the combined image light of the first and second image lights by transmitting the light. Non-polarized incident light emitted from a light source unit having a laser light source and a rectangular core optical fiber that transmits a laser from the laser light source, and configured to emit non-polarized light as an output of the square core optical fiber Is incident on the polarization separating / combining element,
Of the incident light, the polarization component transmitted through the polarization separation / combination element is incident on a first reflective display panel that is supplied with an image signal corresponding to one eye and forms a display image,
Of the incident light, the polarization component reflected by the polarization separation / combination element is incident on a second reflective display panel that is supplied with an image signal corresponding to the other eye to form a display image,
The first image light reflected by the first reflective display panel is reflected by the polarization separation / combination element, and the second image light reflected by the second reflection display panel is the polarization separated. By transmitting the composite element, the composite image light of the first and second image light is formed,
A stereoscopic image display method for projecting the composite image light by a projection lens unit.