JPH0759118A - Stereoscopic video image display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a stereoscopic video image display device in which a stereoscopic picture with high resolution is stably displayed with a few liquid crystal projectors with respect to the stereoscopic video image display device. CONSTITUTION:Green light bulbs 4, 5 whose number is a half of visual points, red and blue color light bulbs 6, 7 whose number is a half of visual points, a color separation means 3 dispersing the light from one white color light source 1 and making the dispersed light incident onto each light bulb, a color synthesis means 8 synthesizing optical images from the light bulbs 4-7 into one optical image and a projection lens 9 are provided in one set of projector forming a picture displayed while being separated into the number of pictures equal to the number of visual points optically by a lenticular plate or a compound eye lens.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stereoscopic image display device using projectors that does not require special glasses, and more particularly to a stereoscopic image display device capable of displaying high resolution stereoscopic images with a small number of projectors.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a stereoscopic image is displayed by utilizing stereoscopic perception by human's binocular parallax by using electronic and optical means so that images having different parallaxes are independently perceived by human eyes. A stereoscopic image display device has been developed. This stereoscopic image display device is roughly classified into a system with glasses using special glasses and a system without glasses disclosed in, for example, JP-A-63-248293.

The system with glasses is a system for displaying independent images on the left and right eyes by wearing special glasses such as polarized glasses and liquid crystal shutter glasses. The system without glasses is a special system such as a lenticular plate and a compound eye lens. It is a method that displays an independent image on the left and right eyes by arranging an optical screen with directivity when transmitting light such as a lens or parallax barrier in front of the screen.

In the system without glasses using a lenticular plate, for example, as shown in the principle diagram of FIG. 1, a pixel 102 for displaying video information for the left eye and a pixel 103 for displaying video information for the right eye are provided on a display screen 101. One lenticular plate 104 is arranged alternately in the horizontal direction, and a large number of striped cylindrical lenses are arranged on the front surface of the display screen 101 at intervals substantially corresponding to the pitch of two pixels.

The light flux generated from each pixel reaches the left and right eyes 105 and 106 of the human being located in front of the lenticular plate 4 by the refracting action when passing through each cylindrical lens of the lenticular plate. At this time, the luminous flux emitted from the pixel 102 displaying the video information for the left eye reaches only the left eye 105, and the luminous flux emitted from the pixel 103 displaying the video information for the right eye reaches only the right eye 106. If image information having parallax under the condition similar to the condition in which a human performs stereoscopic perception with binocular parallax is displayed on each of the display pixels 102 and 103 for the left and right eyes, two images having such parallax are displayed. A stereoscopic image can be perceived by visualizing image information.

In the system without glasses using such a lenticular plate, the number of images having parallax can be further increased to not only two as in the conventional example, but the number of images having parallax. When the number of images is two, it is called a twin-lens type, and when the number of images is three or more, it is called a multi-lens type. It has been confirmed that the adoption of the multi-view system expands the observation area in which a human can perceive a stereoscopic image, and further enhances the sense of presence. Further, it has been attempted to further enhance the sense of presence by using a projector as a device for displaying an image having the parallax and performing stereoscopic display on a large screen.

In this type of projector, light is emitted from a light source to a light hull, and a light valve modulates the light intensity according to a video signal to form an optical image, which is enlarged and projected on a screen by a projection lens. The liquid crystal panel is most often used as the light valve.

A projector using a liquid crystal panel as a light valve is called a liquid crystal projector, and a so-called three-plate type liquid crystal projector is typical when performing color display on this liquid crystal projector. In this three-plate type liquid crystal projector, white light from a light source is color-separated into RGB three primary colors using a color separation means such as a dichroic mirror, and an image of each color is formed by three liquid crystal panels according to a video signal of each color. An image of each color is combined using a color combining means such as a mirror, and the combined optical image is enlarged and projected on a screen by a projection lens.

[0009]

In a stereoscopic image display device using a liquid crystal projector, when the multi-view type is adopted, the horizontal resolution of an image from a certain viewpoint is proportional to the number of horizontal pixels of the display image. , Inversely proportional to the number of viewpoints.

A method of increasing the number of pixels of a liquid crystal panel can be adopted in order to solve the problem that the resolution deteriorates as the horizontal resolution increases with the number of viewpoints, that is, the number of parallax images. Liquid crystal panels that can obtain sufficient resolution for multi-view stereoscopic display of high-quality images such as that have not been developed at the present time, and their development involves difficulties in fine processing technology. There is also a problem that the yield is deteriorated and the cost is increased.

Therefore, it is conceivable to increase the number of pixels equivalently by superimposing each image on one place by using a plurality of liquid crystal projectors using a liquid crystal panel currently in practical use. The pixel arrangement relationship for each liquid crystal projector projected on the screen requires very precise positioning.

However, when a plurality of independent liquid crystal projectors are used, there are performance errors such as magnification, distortion, and chromatic aberration of the projection lens mounted on each liquid crystal projector, and the liquid crystals installed independently of each other. Errors may occur in the installation position of the projector, and due to these errors, the pixel array may not be sufficiently adjusted, or external factors such as vibration may affect the pixel array.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a stereoscopic image display device capable of stably displaying a high-resolution stereoscopic image with a small number of liquid crystal projectors.

[0014]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, images from a plurality of viewpoints are sequentially displayed side by side on the same display surface at predetermined intervals in the horizontal direction and optically viewed by a lenticular plate or a compound eye lens. In order to achieve the above object, a three-dimensional image display device that separates and displays the same number of images as the number of points has taken the following means.

That is, a white light source, color separation means for separating the white light of the light source into green light which is half the number of viewpoints and red and blue light which is half the number of viewpoints, and the separated green light corresponds to a video signal. Light valve for green, which is half the number of viewpoints that form an optical image by performing intensity modulation, and half of the number of viewpoints that form an optical image by performing intensity modulation corresponding to video signals on the separated red and blue lights. A red-blue light valve and a color synthesizing means for synthesizing the optical image of each light valve are provided, and the red-blue liquid crystal panel is arranged alternately in the vertical direction by one pixel and is formed in a horizontal stripe shape. And a red transmission filter and a blue transmission filter.

[0016]

In the present invention, the white light emitted from one light source is separately projected to the green light valve and the red-blue light valve corresponding to each viewpoint, and the green light formed by each light valve is projected. By combining the image and the red and blue images, color images of a plurality of viewpoints can be obtained. Since the number of horizontal pixels of this color image is a product of the number of horizontal pixels of each light valve and the number of viewpoints, one liquid crystal projector can display a high-resolution stereoscopic image.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following is a specific description of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a four-lens type stereoscopic image display device, with reference to the drawings.

A four-lens type stereoscopic image display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises one liquid crystal projector, and this liquid crystal projector has a white light source 1, a reflector 2 and a light source, as shown in the configuration diagram of FIG. It is provided with a color separation device 3, two green liquid crystal panels 4,5, two red blue liquid crystal panels 6.7, a photosynthesis device 8 and a projection lens 9.

The color separation device 3 includes a first dichroic mirror 10, a first mirror 11, a second dichroic mirror 12, a half mirror 13 and a second mirror 14.
The first dichroic mirror 10 is red, as shown in FIG.
The blue component is totally reflected and the green component has a spectral transmittance of about 50%.

As shown in FIG. 2, the white light emitted from the light source 1 is reflected by the reflector 2 to be converted into substantially parallel light, and the first
It is incident on the dichroic mirror 10. The green light GI transmitted through the first dichroic mirror 10 is reflected by the first mirror 1
1, the light is totally reflected and enters the green liquid crystal panel 4, and is converted into a green optical image in which pixels are arranged as shown in the explanatory view of FIG.

That is, in FIG. 4, G indicates a green pixel, the left number indicates the row address, the upper subscript number indicates the column address, and the subscript number at the column address indicates each parallax. The figures are numbered and shown.

The red light, the blue light and the 50% green light reflected by the first dichroic mirror 10 are separated by the second dichroic mirror 12 into a combined light of red and blue light and a green light GII. The combined light of red and blue light is incident on the half mirror 13, and 50% of each of the red and blue liquid crystal panels 6 and
7 and are converted into red and blue optical images, respectively.

Each of the red-blue liquid crystal panels 6 and 7 has a red transmission filter and a blue transmission filter which are alternately arranged in the vertical direction one pixel at a time and formed in a horizontal stripe shape. The pixel configuration of the liquid crystal panels 6 and 7 is, for example, as shown in the explanatory diagram of FIG. 7 or FIG. 6, red and blue are alternately arranged in the vertical direction, and the odd-numbered or even-numbered parallax of the four parallax images is arranged. The images are arranged alternately in the horizontal direction.

That is, in FIG. 7 and FIG. 6, B indicates a blue pixel, R indicates a blue pixel, the left number indicates the row address, the upper subscript indicates the column address, and the column address indicates The added subscripts indicate the parallax images by numbering.

Further, the green light GII transmitted through the second dichroic mirror 12 enters the green liquid crystal panel 5 through the second mirror 14 and is converted into a green optical image in which pixels are arranged as shown in the explanatory view of FIG. To be done.

Here, in FIG. 5, G indicates a green pixel, the number on the left side indicates the row address, the number on the upper side indicates the column address, and the number on the column address indicates each. The parallax images are numbered and shown.

The photosynthesis device 8 comprises a third dichroic mirror 15, a fourth dichroic mirror 16 and a half mirror 17. The third and fourth dichroic mirrors 15 and 16 transmit green and reflect red and blue. Let

Accordingly, the green optical image of the green liquid crystal panel 4 and the red and blue optical images of the red-blue liquid crystal panel 7 are combined by the third dichroic mirror 15 and reach the half mirror 17.

Here, in the liquid crystal panel 4 for green and the liquid crystal panel 7 for red and blue, the green image and the red or blue image synthesized by the third dichroic mirror 15 have the same address as shown in FIG. The pixels are arranged at the same position as each other.

Similarly, the green optical image of the green liquid crystal panel 5 and the red and blue optical images of the red-blue liquid crystal panel 6 are combined by the fourth dichroic mirror 16 and reach the half mirror 17. In the liquid crystal panel 5 for green and the liquid crystal panel 6 for red / blue, the green image and the red or blue image combined by the fourth dichroic mirror 16 are located at the same pixel position as shown in FIG. It is placed in a position that overlaps.

These two dichroic mirrors 15
The optical images incident on the half mirror 17 from 16 are further combined and enlarged and projected by the projection lens 9. In the half mirror 17, for example, as shown in the explanatory view of FIG. The pixels of the optical image synthesized by the other dichroic mirror 16 are embedded between the pixels of the synthesized optical image so that the parallax image numbers are arranged in order.

As a result, the number of effective pixels in the horizontal direction is equal to that of two liquid crystal panels, and one liquid crystal projector can display information for two conventional liquid crystal projectors to improve the resolution. The resolution in the vertical direction is halved for red and blue, but the number of green pixels that make the largest contribution to luminosity is the same as in the past and does not deteriorate, so there is almost no problem in terms of resolution. Absent.

In the above embodiment, two half of the liquid crystal panels 4.5 for green and two liquid crystal panels for red and blue 6 and 7 are used.
Is used to display a 4-viewpoint multi-view stereoscopic image, and a single liquid crystal projector can display a parallax number twice that of the conventional one. By using 4.5 and the red and blue liquid crystal panels 6.7, a multi-view stereoscopic image display of 6 viewpoints can be performed.

In a stereoscopic image display device according to another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 10, a color separation device 23 and a color synthesis device 28 are provided.
The configuration is the same as that of the above-described embodiment except that the configuration is different.

That is, the white light emitted from the light source 21 is reflected by the reflector 22 and becomes substantially parallel light, and the color separation device 2
It is incident on the polarization beam splitter 30 of No. 3, and is split into P polarization and S polarization by this polarization beam splitter 30.

The separated P-polarized light is split by the dichroic mirror 31 into red-blue P-polarized light and green P-polarized light,
The red-blue P-polarized light is reflected by the half mirror 32 to be incident on the red-blue liquid crystal panel 26, and the green P-polarized light split by the dichroic mirror 31 is reflected by the reflection mirror 33 to be incident on the green liquid crystal panel 24.

The S-polarized component is split into red-blue S-polarized light and green S-polarized light by the dichroic mirror 34, and the red-blue S-polarized light is reflected by the half mirror 32 to be reflected in the red-blue liquid crystal panel 2.
7, the green S-polarized light is reflected by the reflection mirror 35 and is made incident on the green liquid crystal panel 25.

The optical images of the liquid crystal panels 24 to 27 are combined into a P-polarized optical image and an S-polarized optical image by the half mirrors 36 and 37, respectively, and then combined by a polarizing beam splitter 38, and a projection lens 29 displays a screen (not shown). Is enlarged and projected.

In each of the above embodiments, the liquid crystal panel is taken as an example of the light valve, but a light valve capable of displaying an optical image according to a video signal may be used instead of the liquid crystal panel.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, the light valve for green which is half the number of viewpoints, the light valve for red and blue which is half the number of viewpoints, and the light of one white light source are provided in one projector. A color separation unit that splits the light into each light valve and enters the light valves, a color combination unit that combines the optical images of the light valves into one optical image, and a projection lens are provided. A resolution stereoscopic image can be formed. Therefore, the required number of liquid crystal projectors is reduced to less than half as compared with the conventional stereoscopic image display device using a plurality of three-plate type liquid crystal projectors.

Further, it is possible to solve the problem of pixel array position accuracy due to performance errors such as magnification, distortion, and chromatic aberration of the projection lens of each liquid crystal projector and structural installation errors due to the individual liquid crystal projectors becoming independent. In addition, the alignment work of arranging a plurality of liquid crystal projectors at appropriate positions corresponding to the respective errors is unnecessary, and the temporal deviation of the superimposed images is less likely to occur, so that a high-quality stereoscopic image can be stably formed. I can do it.

Further, according to the present invention, with respect to the visual sensitivity,
Since the number of green pixels, which has the largest contribution, is an integer multiple of 2 or more as compared with the liquid crystal projector of the three-panel type, it is said that a higher resolution can be obtained than that of the liquid crystal projector of the three-panel type even when performing normal two-dimensional image display. Benefits are obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle diagram of a glasses-free type stereoscopic image display device using a lenticular plate.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an optical system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a spectral characteristic diagram of first and second dichroic mirrors 10 and 12.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a pixel configuration of a green liquid crystal panel 4.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a pixel configuration of a green liquid crystal panel 5.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a pixel configuration of a red-blue liquid crystal panel 7.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a pixel configuration of the red-blue liquid crystal panel 6.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a pixel configuration of a composite image of the liquid crystal panel 4 for green and the liquid crystal panel 7 for red and blue.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a pixel configuration of an image enlarged and projected by the projection lens.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an optical system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 light source 3 color separation means 4, 5 green liquid crystal panel 6, 7 red blue liquid crystal panel 8 color composition means

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] August 11, 1994

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0036

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

The separated P-polarized light is split by the dichroic mirror 31 into red-blue P-polarized light and green P-polarized light,
The red-blue P-polarized light is reflected by the half mirror 32 and is incident on the red-blue liquid crystal panel 26, and the dichroic mirror 31
The green P-polarized light split by is reflected by the reflection mirror 33 and is incident on the green liquid crystal panel 24.

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0038

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

The optical images of the liquid crystal panels 24 to 27 are combined into a P-polarized optical image and an S-polarized optical image by the green transmissive dichroic mirrors 36 and 37, respectively, and then combined by the polarization beam splitter 38 and illustrated by the projection lens 29. No Projected enlarged on the screen.

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0039

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

In each of the above embodiments, the liquid crystal panel is taken as an example of the light valve, but a light valve capable of displaying an optical image according to a video signal may be used instead of the liquid crystal panel. Further, the half mirror 32 may have both front and back surfaces as reflection mirrors formed by Al vapor deposition or the like.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A projector is used to display images from a plurality of viewpoints in a horizontal direction at predetermined intervals side by side next to each other on the same display surface, and the number of viewpoints is optically the same as the number of viewpoints by a lenticular plate or a compound eye lens. In a stereoscopic image display device for separating and displaying an image, the projector separates a white light source and white light of the light source into green light of half the number of viewpoints and red and blue light of half the number of viewpoints. And a green light valve that is half the number of viewpoints that forms an optical image by performing intensity modulation corresponding to the video signal on the separated green light, and intensity modulation corresponding to the video signal on the separated red and blue light. A red-blue light valve, which is half the number of viewpoints for performing an optical image, and a color synthesizing unit for synthesizing the optical images of the light valves are provided. The red-blue light valve alternates one pixel in the vertical direction. Distributed to Is, stereoscopic image display apparatus characterized by having a red transmission filter and a blue transmission filter that is formed in a stripe shape in the horizontal direction.