JPH11168680A - Image entrance device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make the lines of sight coincide conducting of video conference and video telephone by optically connecting an image entrance screen which switches transmission and display of video and an image entrance device, which is provided with an image-pickup function and a video display function and where pixels are arranged two-dimensionally with an optical system. SOLUTION: This device is provided with an image entrance screen 101 that permeates of shows video, a lens optical system 102A, an image entrance device 103 which has an image-pickup function and a video display function and a light source 104 which projects an image from the device 103 onto the image entrance screen. Light that permeates the screen 101 is made incident on the device 103 through the system 102 and picks up an image when the image is picked up. An image that is formed on the device 103 is projected onto the screen 101 by using light from the source 104 and the image is displayed when the video is shown.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image entrance apparatus in which image pickup and video display are integrated so as to enable eye-gaze coincidence in a TV conference or the like using a display such as a personal computer or a portable tool.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a videoconference or a videophone call is performed on a desktop or portable computer connected to a network, a small camera is conventionally mounted on or on the side of the monitor. The other person's gaze does not look at me.

[0003]

The reason why a TV conference or a TV phone is expected as a means of communication in the future is that the expression of eyes is effective in transmitting more subtle emotions than words. Distracting the eyes even in a normal conversation often indicates an intention to reject or reject the conversation with the other party.

[0004] Therefore, in an unnatural conversation environment in a TV where the eyes are not the same as in the current situation, the fact that the face of the other party can be seen has an adverse effect.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, during a period other than the vertical retrace period of a TV, incident light from the inside is converted into a visible image of scattered light to be displayed on the outside, and during the vertical retrace period, A pixel that integrates an image entrance screen that electrically switches between two modes in which external incident light passes through as transmitted light inside, a photoelectric conversion unit that performs imaging, and a video display unit that performs video display Are arranged in m rows and n columns, and an imaging vertical scanning circuit and an imaging horizontal scanning circuit for scanning the photoelectric conversion unit of the pixel, a display vertical scanning circuit for scanning the video display unit of the pixel, and a display An image entrance device comprising: an image entrance device including a horizontal driver; and an optical system connecting the screen and the device.

According to the present invention, a video conference and a videophone call are performed because the image entrance screen serves as a surface on which images are displayed at the same time as a surface on which images are to be captured, thanks to the shared use of an optical system for image pickup and image display. In this case, the eye-gaze matching which has been impossible so far becomes possible. Eye-gaze matching is an indispensable function for portable TV phones and the like, for which explosive spread is considered essential.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1A shows an image entrance screen 101 for transmitting or displaying an image, a lens optical system 102A, an image entrance device 103 having an image pickup function and an image display function, and an image for image display. From the image entrance device 103 to the image entrance screen
1 is a schematic diagram of an image entrance device provided with the image entrance device.

FIG. 1B shows an image entrance screen 101, a reflection optical system 102B, and an image entrance device 103 according to the present invention.
It is an entrance device.

Here, the reflection optical system 102 is a free-form surface reflection mirror, which is an effective optical system for all the spectrums from ultraviolet to infrared, and can be formed by resin formation.

The use of this reflection type optical system facilitates the incorporation of a display / imaging device into a small device such as a mobile phone.

FIG. 2 shows the image entrance of FIG.
This shows the circuit configuration of the device.
Are a photodiode 201 that performs photoelectric conversion, an imaging vertical MOS switch 202, an imaging vertical signal line 204, a liquid crystal display unit 221, and a display vertical MOS switch 2.
21 and a display vertical signal line 224.

The imaging vertical scanning circuit 207, the imaging horizontal scanning circuit 206, the imaging vertical pulse transmission line 209, the display vertical scanning circuit 227, the display horizontal driver circuit 226, and the display A vertical pulse transmission line 229 is arranged in the periphery.

At the time of image pickup, light transmitted through the image entrance screen is made incident on the image entrance device 103 through the optical system 102 to perform image pickup. For image display, light from the light source 104 is used to project an image formed on the image entrance device 103 onto the image entrance screen 101.
Display an image.

FIG. 3 shows the image entrance of FIG.
This is an example of the screen material.

FIG. 3A shows a polymer dispersion type liquid crystal (PD-
LCD: NCAP (nem) in polymer dispersed LCD
This is called an “atic-curvilinear-aligned-phase” type, in which the liquid crystal 302A is dispersed as fine droplets in the polymer matrix 301A. This is because when no voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules 302A are oriented along the inside of the polymer wall surface, so that the liquid crystal molecules 302A have a random arrangement when viewed from the light incident direction. In this method, since the refractive index of the liquid crystal and the refractive index of the polymer are combined so as to be different from each other, the incident light is scattered and has a cloudy appearance. On the other hand, when a voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules 302A are arranged in the direction of the electric field, so that if the ordinary light refractive index of the liquid crystal and the refractive index of the polymer are set to be equal, incident light will not be scattered, so that a transparent appearance is exhibited. In order to apply this material to the image entrance screen of the present invention, it is sufficient that the material is designed not to have a cloudy appearance when no voltage is applied but to become a diffusion transmission layer.

FIG. 3B shows a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PD-
LCD: PN (polymer) in polymer dispersed LCD
When no voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules 302B are oriented along the interface of the three-dimensional network structure of the polymer matrix 301B and have a completely random arrangement, so that incident light is scattered and becomes cloudy. Take on the appearance. on the other hand,
When a voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules 302B are uniformly oriented in the direction of the electric field, that is, in the direction of light incidence, so that the incident light has a transparent appearance without being scattered. This material is used in the image
In order to apply to an entrance screen, it is only necessary to design so as not to have a cloudy appearance when no voltage is applied but to become a diffusion transmission layer.

FIG. 4 shows the basic timing for driving the image entrance device of the present invention. During the vertical blanking period of the TV, the image entrance screen 101 becomes transparent. At this time, the image display function is stopped and the imaging function is executed. Next, when the vertical blanking period ends and the image display period starts, the imaging function is stopped and the image display function is executed.

The operation will be specifically described with reference to FIG. In the vertical retrace period, the image entrance screen 101 enters a transparent state, so that in the period 401, the image entrance device 103 starts an operation of accumulating imaging information. Thereafter, in a period 402, imaging information is read from the imaging pixels. That is, the imaging vertical scanning circuit 207 sequentially outputs pulses to the vertical pulse transmission line 209. With this pulse, the imaging MOS switch 202 is turned on, a signal charge is read out from the photodiode 201 to the imaging vertical signal line 204, and is turned on by the pulse of the imaging horizontal scanning circuit 206 via the imaging horizontal MOS switch 203. Read out to the horizontal signal line for imaging, and output
Is converted into an electric signal.

When the vertical retrace period ends, the image entrance screen 101 changes to a diffuse transmission state,
Video display is performed in a period 403. That is, the display MOS switch 222 is turned on by a pulse output from the display vertical scanning circuit 227 to the display pulse transmission line 229, and the display vertical driver 226 is turned on by the display horizontal driver 226.
The video signal given to 24 is displayed on the liquid crystal device 221.

[0021]

As is apparent from the above description,
According to the present invention, a TV conference or TV using a network
On the telephone, a smooth and natural conversation is realized by matching the line of sight of the other party displayed on the display with the line of sight of the user. In addition, depending on the degree of technological progress, it is possible to place a movable mirror between the optical system and the image entrance device, and use conventional elements such as an image entrance device and an image display device as the image entrance device. The practical effects provided by the present invention, such as being possible, are extremely large.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of an image entrance device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of the image entrance device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a liquid crystal material applied to the image entrance screen of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing drive timing of the image entrance device of the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 101 Image entrance screen 102 Optical system 103 Image entrance device 104 Light source

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image entrance screen for switching transmission or display of an image on the same plane,
An image, comprising: an image entrance device in which pixels having an imaging function and a video display function are two-dimensionally arranged; and an optical system connecting the image entrance screen and the image entrance device.・ Entrance device. 2. An image entrance screen for electrically switching between a state in which incident light from inside is displayed as scattered light to the outside and a state in which incident light from outside is passed through as transmitted light, and an image pickup unit An image entrance device comprising a picture display unit and pixels arranged in m rows and n columns and scanning means for the pixels, and an optical system connecting the image entrance screen and the image entrance device. An image entrance device, characterized in that: 3. An image entrance screen for transmitting an image during a vertical blanking period of a TV and displaying an image otherwise, and an image entrance screen for capturing an image during a vertical blanking period and displaying an image except during imaging. An image entrance apparatus comprising: a device; and an optical system connecting the image entrance screen and the image entrance device. 4. The image entrance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical system is a free-form surface reflection optical system. 5. An imaging vertical scanning circuit for arranging pixels composed of a photoelectric conversion unit for performing imaging and a video display unit for displaying images in m rows and n columns, and for scanning the photoelectric conversion units of the pixels. A display vertical scanning circuit for scanning a video display section of the pixel and a display horizontal driver.
device. 6. The polymer-dispersed liquid crystal, wherein the refractive indices of the liquid crystal molecules and the polymer matrix are set so as to become a diffusion transmission layer when no voltage is applied and to become a completely transparent layer when a voltage is applied. Entrance screen.