JPH07111664A - Head-mounted type stereoscopic video display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a head-mounted type stereoscopic video display device preventing the sense of incompatibility from being given to an observer by adjusting the display position of the object to be displayed so as to be matched with the focused position of eyeballs. CONSTITUTION:LCD 1R, 2R, 3R and LSC 1L, 2L and 3L guide videos inputted from a controller not shown figure and divided for respective display positions in a depth direction to the right and left eyeballs of the observer through prisms 4R and 4L and eyepieces 5R and 5L since the lengths of optical paths to the eyeballs 6R and 6L differ from each other. When the magnified projection images of the videos for right and left eyes are formed in the front of the face and a stereoscopic video is displayed by the parallax of the both eyes, the images having the plural different depths are displayed for the respective depths.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a head-mounted type stereoscopic image display device capable of observing stereoscopic images by guiding different images to the left and right eyes of an observer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional example of a head-mounted stereoscopic image display device is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-281891. In this conventional example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) and a magnifying lens are provided for the left and right eyes of the observer, respectively, and a frame for supporting the left and right images formed in front of the observer's face by the magnifying lens is supported. Provided,
Stereoscopic observation is performed by binocular parallax.

In a video display device, a sense of discomfort generally arises unless the convergence angle and the diopter are configured to match. Therefore, in the above-described conventional example, the convergence angle and the diopter match with respect to the displayed image under a predetermined condition. It is configured to do.

[0004]

When observing a stereoscopic image according to the above conventional example, as shown in FIG. 7, a right eye image signal is input to the LCD 51R for stereoscopic display, and the LCD is displayed.
The image for the right eye is displayed on 51R, the image for the right eye is projected on the right eyeball 53R of the observer through the eyepiece lens 52R, and the image signal for the left eye is input to the LCD 51L to LC.
A left-eye image having a parallax with respect to the right-eye image is displayed on D51L, and this left-eye image is projected on the right eyeball 53L of the observer via the eyepiece lens 52L. Here, the LCD 51
When the same object is displayed at points A and B on L and 51R, the object displayed at point A appears to be at point D, and the object displayed at point B is displayed at point C. Although there appears to be one, the corresponding image is formed at infinity as shown in the left eye optics. At this time, the observer feels uncomfortable because the focus (diopter) of the eyeball is at infinity, even though the object appears to be at the points C and D.

Therefore, when the LCDs 51R and 51L are moved to the positions shown by the dotted lines in the figure, an image is formed on the plane H as shown in the right eye optical system, and the object seen at the point C has its eyeball focused on the point C as well. Therefore, the discomfort described above can be eliminated. However, even when the object seen at the point D is seen, the eyeball is focused on the plane H, so that the uncomfortable feeling cannot be eliminated in all cases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it shows a display position of an object to be displayed,
An object of the present invention is to provide a head-mounted stereoscopic image display device that does not give an observer a sense of discomfort by adjusting the display position of an object so that the in-focus positions of the eyes match at that time.

[0007]

To this end, the present invention provides a right-eye image display means for displaying a right-eye image, and a right-eye image projecting the right-eye image on the right eyeball of an observer. A right-eye image projecting unit including a projection optical system, a left-eye image displaying unit that displays a left-eye image having a parallax with respect to the right-eye image, and the left-eye image on the left side of the observer. A head-mounted type that includes a left-eye image projecting unit that is formed by a projection optical system for the left eye that projects onto the eyeball, and that forms an enlarged projection image of the left-eye image on the front of the observer's face. In the stereoscopic image display device, the right-eye image projection means and the left-eye image projection means each adjust a depth so as to display images having a plurality of different depths in front of the observer's face, respectively. Depth adjusting means and an image having the plurality of different depths It is characterized in that it comprises a video dividing means for dividing every depth an image displayed on the right and left eye image display means at the time of formation.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the image division means divides the image displayed on the left and right eye image display means for each depth when an image having a plurality of different depths is formed in front of the observer's face, Since the depth adjusting means adjusts the depth in order to display a plurality of images having different depths for each depth, even when an observer observes an object displayed at a long distance, it is displayed at a short distance. Even when observing an object that is to be displayed, the displayed position of the object to be displayed and the in-focus position of the eyeball at that time coincide with each other, and the discomfort is eliminated.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing the configuration of a first embodiment of a head-mounted stereoscopic image display device of the present invention. In FIG. 1, three right-eye image display means for displaying a right-eye image are provided.
The left-eye image display means for displaying the left-eye image is composed of three LCDs (LCD1L, LCD2L, L).
CD3L), and each LCD has a different optical path length with respect to the eyeball. Also, in order to allow the left and right eyes of the observer to simultaneously view the images from the three LCDs on the left and right, the projection optical system for the right eye is configured by the prism 4R and the eyepiece 5R, and the image for the left eye is formed. The projection optical system includes a prism 4L and an eyepiece lens 5.
L for the right eye image of the observer's right eye 6R
The image for the left eye having a parallax with respect to the image for the right eye is projected on the left eyeball of the observer while projecting to the front face of the observer, whereby the image for the left and right eyes is enlarged and projected. An image is formed.

Next, with respect to the appearance of an object by the head-mounted stereoscopic image display apparatus of the first embodiment, referring to FIG. 2 in which the optical axes of three LCDs having different optical path lengths with respect to the eyes are aligned. explain. In the first embodiment, 3
Although the optical path lengths are made different by shifting the positions of the LCDs, even if the optical path lengths are made different by making the prisms constituting the prisms 4R and 4L not shown in FIG. 2 have different curvatures. Good. In FIG. 2, LCD3R
And the object displayed at the point A on the LCD 3L appears at the point D on the plane H2 in front of the observer's face, and the objects LCD2R and L
The object displayed at the point B of CD2L appears at the point C on the plane H1. At this time, the image of the object displayed on LCD1R and LCD1L is formed at infinity, the image of the object displayed on LCD2R and LCD2L is formed on plane H1, and the image of the object displayed on LCD3R and LCD3L is formed on the plane. It is formed on H2.

At this time, the objects to be seen near the plane H2 are displayed on the LCDs 3R and LCD3L, and the objects to be seen near the plane H1 are displayed on the LCDs 2R and LCD2L so that they are farther than the plane H1. By displaying the objects to be seen on the LCD 1R and the LCD 1L, the position in the depth direction of the object that the observer feels due to the binocular parallax and the position in the depth direction of the object that the observer feels due to the focus change of the eyeball are matched. It is possible and the observer does not feel uncomfortable.

Next, as described above, the left eyeball and the right eyeball respectively receive 3
A control system for projecting different images displayed on one LCD to observe a stereoscopic image will be described with reference to the block diagram of the LCD controller shown in FIG. The controller 11 shown in FIG. 3 is input with a stereoscopic video composite video signal including each signal for performing stereoscopic video observation. This stereoscopic composite video signal is a right-eye video signal, a left-eye video signal,
It is composed of a synchronization signal and a position information signal, and is configured such that, for example, an odd field is a right-eye video signal and an even field is a left-eye video signal, and is supplied from, for example, a video camera.

In FIG. 3, first, the composite video signal for stereoscopic video is input to the sync signal separation circuit 12. The sync signal separation circuit 12 separates only the sync signal and inputs it to each LCD via the LCD drive circuits 13R and 13L, and inputs the remaining signals to the position information detection circuit 14. The position information detection circuit 14 extracts only the position information signal and inputs it to the signal distribution circuits 15R and 15L, and inputs the remaining signals to the left and right video separation circuit 16. The position information signal represents the position information in the horizontal direction of the horizontal blanking period or the position of the object in the horizontal blanking period in the depth direction. As the position information signal, a focus signal from a video camera may be used. it can.

The left and right video separation circuit 16 separates the remaining signals into a right-eye video signal and a left-eye video signal and inputs them to the signal processing circuits 17R and 17L, respectively. Signal processing circuit 1
The signals 7R and 17L process the input right-eye video signal and left-eye video signal into a signal for LCD, and perform signal distribution circuit 1
Input to 5R and 15L, and signal distribution circuits 15R and 15L
Is a corresponding LC for the right-eye video signal and the left-eye video signal processed for the LCD according to the position information signal.
Distribute to D. With this image display method, it is possible to make the display position of the image different in the depth direction, and the position where the observer feels that an object exists due to binocular parallax matches the focal position of the eyeball at that time.

By the way, in the above description, if the focus signal is simply used as the position information, only one position information can be obtained for one screen, and the configuration provided with three LCDs cannot be fully utilized. Is divided into a plurality of screens so that a focus signal can be obtained for each divided screen. As a result, it is possible to display the object by changing the depth for each divided screen of one screen. In that case, as a method of dividing the image, in the case of computer graphics, a method of allocating images corresponding to different depths is used, and in the case of images taken by a video camera, an image with high focusing accuracy is obtained for each depth. It is also possible to use a method in which the captured image is divided into a plurality of images and the respective images are distributed corresponding to the appropriate depth.

FIG. 4 is a system diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the head-mounted stereoscopic image display device of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the right eye image display means for displaying the right eye image is constituted by the LCD 21R, and the left eye image display means for displaying the left eye image is constituted by the LCD 21L.
The optical path lengths of the 1R and LCD 21L with respect to the eyeballs can be changed in the depth direction by the motors 22R and 22L, respectively. Further, the right-eye projection optical system for guiding the right-eye image from the LCD 21R to the right eye 24R of the observer is configured by the eyepiece lens 23R, and the left-eye image from the LCD 23L having a parallax with respect to the right-eye image is formed. The projection optical system for the left eye which leads to the left eyeball 24L of the observer is constituted by the eyepiece lens 23L, whereby an image in which the left and right eye images are enlarged and projected is formed in front of the observer's face.

Next, how an object is viewed by the head-mounted stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, LCD21R and LCD21
The object displayed at the point A of L appears at the point D in front of the observer's face due to the binocular parallax, and is displayed on the LCD 21R and LCD 2
The object displayed at the 1L point B appears at the point C on the plane H3. At this time, if the LCD 21R and the LCD 21L are moved to the positions indicated by the dotted lines in the figure, the focus position of the eyeballs also becomes the plane H3, and the observer does not feel uncomfortable.

That is, an object (for example, LCD 21R and LCD 21) that should be seen farther than the plane H3.
When displaying the object displayed at the point E of L), the LCD 21
LC when moving the R and LCD 21L to the position indicated by the solid line in the figure and displaying an object to be seen on the plane H3
When the D21R and the LCD 21L are moved to the positions indicated by the dotted lines in the figure, and an object to be seen in front of the plane H3 (for example, an object displayed at the point A of the LCD 21R and the LCD 21L) is displayed, the LCD 21R and the LCD 21 are displayed.
L is moved to the position further than the position indicated by the dotted line in the figure. Accordingly, the position in the depth direction of the object that the observer feels due to the binocular parallax and the position in the depth direction of the object that the observer feels due to the focus change of the eyeball can be matched, and the observer does not feel discomfort.

Next, a control system for projecting different images on the right and left eyes as described above to observe a stereoscopic image will be described with reference to the block diagram of the LCD controller shown in FIG. To the controller 31 shown in FIG. 5, a stereoscopic video composite video signal including each signal for performing stereoscopic video observation is input. This stereoscopic composite video signal is composed of a right-eye video signal, a left-eye video signal, a synchronization signal, and a position information signal. For example, an odd field is a right-eye video signal and an even field is a left-eye video signal. And is supplied from, for example, a video camera.

In FIG. 5, first, the stereoscopic video composite video signal is input to the sync signal separation circuit 32. The sync signal separation circuit 32 separates only the sync signal to separate the left and right LCDs.
LCD 21R, 21L through the drive circuit 33R, 33L
To the position information detection circuit 34. The position information detection circuit 34 extracts only the position information signal and inputs it to the motors 22R and 22L via the left and right motor controllers 35R and 35L, and inputs the remaining signals to the left and right video separation circuit 36. The position information signal represents the position information in the horizontal direction of the horizontal blanking period or the position of the object in the horizontal blanking period in the depth direction. As the position information signal, a plurality of screens are used as in the first embodiment. Although the focus signal for each of the divided screens when the image is divided into the portions is used, the position information signal may be generated from the positional relationship in the depth direction of the object to be displayed by using an image processing technique.

The left / right video separation circuit 36 separates the remaining signals into a right-eye video signal and a left-eye video signal and inputs them to the signal processing circuits 37R and 37L, respectively. Signal processing circuit 3
7R and 37L process the input right-eye video signal and left-eye video signal into an LCD signal and then display the LCD 21.
Input to R and 21L. Thereby, the motors 22R, 2
The 2L is driven in synchronization with the object to be displayed on the LCD 21R, 21L by the right-eye image signal and the left-eye image signal, and changes the position of the LCD 21R, 21L in the depth direction. By this image display method, the display position of the image can be changed according to the position in the depth direction of the object to be displayed, the position where the observer feels that the object exists due to binocular parallax, and the focus of the eyeball at that time. The position matches.

By the way, in the block diagram of FIG. 5, the LCD 2 is arranged according to the position of the object to be displayed in the depth direction.
Although 1R and 21L are moved in the depth direction to display the right-eye image and the left-eye image directly on them, as shown in FIG. 6, the input right-eye image signal and the left-eye image signal are input. The video signals for the eyes are once stored in the memories 38R and 38L, and the motors 22R and 22L are operated by the motor controller 3
It may be configured such that only a reciprocating motion is performed in response to a command from 5. In this case, based on the display position in the depth direction instructed from the left and right address decoders 39R and 39L to which the position information signal is input, the display position is selected from the right-eye video signal and the left-eye video signal. Only the data stored in the address
It is possible to read from 38L.

In the first and second embodiments, the optical path lengths of the three LCDs with respect to the left and right eyes are made different,
The position of the object to be displayed in the depth direction is adjusted by moving the position of the left and right LCDs in the depth direction with respect to the left and right eyes. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is configured to be movable in the depth direction, or for position adjustment in the depth direction, the liquid crystal optical system that can change the refractive index is used to adjust the applied voltage etc. to electrically change the refractive index and adjust the depth. May be performed. In addition, in the second embodiment,
By providing a liquid crystal optical system for optical path length adjustment in place of the LCD position adjusting motor, dividing the screen of the liquid crystal optical system into a plurality of screens, and inputting the position information signal to the liquid crystal optical system, The refractive index may be adjusted according to the position in the depth direction of the object to be displayed for each divided screen.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a different image is displayed on the left and right eyes of an observer to observe a stereoscopic image, the image dividing means moves the image forward of the observer's face. When the images having a plurality of different depths are formed, the image displayed on the left and right eye image display means is divided for each depth,
Since the depth adjusting means adjusts the depth in order to display a plurality of images having different depths for each depth, even when an observer observes an object displayed at a long distance, it is displayed at a short distance. Even when observing an object that is to be displayed, the displayed position of the object to be displayed and the in-focus position of the eyeball at that time coincide with each other, and the discomfort is eliminated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing the configuration of a first embodiment of a head-mounted stereoscopic image display device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing how the object is viewed by the head-mounted stereoscopic image display device of the first embodiment, with the optical axes of three LCDs having different optical path lengths with respect to the eyeball aligned.

FIG. 3 is an L of the head-mounted stereoscopic image display device according to the first embodiment.
It is a block diagram of a controller of CD.

FIG. 4 is a system diagram showing the configuration of a second embodiment of the head-mounted stereoscopic image display device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an L of the head-mounted type stereoscopic image display device according to the second embodiment.
It is a block diagram of a controller of CD.

FIG. 6 is an L of the head-mounted stereoscopic image display device according to the first embodiment.
It is a block diagram of other examples of a controller of CD.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

1R, 2R, 3R LCD (right eye image display means, depth adjustment means), 1L, 2L, 3L LCD (left eye image display means, depth adjustment means) 4R, 4L Prism (projection optical system) 5R, 5L Eyepiece Lens (projection optical system) 6R, 6L Left and right eyes of observer

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A right-eye image projection means comprising a right-eye image display means for displaying a right-eye image and a right-eye projection optical system for projecting the right-eye image on the right eyeball of an observer. A left-eye image display means for displaying a left-eye image having a parallax with respect to the right-eye image, and a left-eye projection optical system for projecting the left-eye image on the left eyeball of the observer. A head-mounted stereoscopic image display device, comprising: a left-eye image projection means, wherein an enlarged projection image of the left-eye images is formed in front of the observer's face, wherein the right-eye image projection means The image projection means for the left eye and the image projection means for the left eye respectively adjust the depth so as to display a plurality of images having different depths in front of the observer's face, and an image having the different depths. Displayed on the left and right eye image display means when forming Characterized in that it comprises a video dividing means for dividing each depth image to be head mounted stereoscopic video display device.