JPH1124597A - Image display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make an image display device compact. SOLUTION: In an image display device which has a storage display means of a spatial optical modulation element 1 which stores an original image by receiving the writing light from an original 2 reflected on a reflection means 4 and displays the stored image by receiving reading lights from plural read lighting means 5 or the like, the plural read lighting means 5 are arranged roughly symmetrically around the optical axis of the writing light and the reading lights from these read lightings means 5 are made to be reflected with the reflection means 4 to irradiate on the storage display means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a spatial light modulator (SLM: Spatial Light M
The present invention relates to an image display device for viewing with an odulator or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a film photographed by a camera is developed and printed on photographic paper to be viewed as a photograph. However, recently, a film image is electronically read by a film scanner or the like, and the film is read. Devices that can view electronic images on a television or the like are commercially available.

Further, the present applicant has proposed an image display device in which a film image photographed by a camera is stored in a spatial light modulator, which is read and viewed. Here, FIG. 6 shows a configuration of an image display device proposed by the present applicant.

In this image display device, the film 82 is illuminated from behind with writing light emitted from a xenon tube 87.
The writing light transmitted through the film 82 is projected on a spatial light modulator 81 via a projection optical system including a projection lens 83 and reflection mirrors 91 and 84, and a film image formed by the writing light is transmitted to the spatial light modulator 81. It is memorized.

Here, the spatial light modulator 81 is composed of a ferroelectric liquid crystal, a photoelectric conversion film, and the like, and image information written by the memory function of the ferroelectric liquid crystal can be stored for a long time. .

After the film image is stored in the spatial light modulator 81, when the observer 89 views the stored image, the spatial light modulator 81 is illuminated with backlight by the readout light emitted from the fluorescent lamp 85, The stored image is displayed by the read light transmitted through the spatial light modulator 81.

[0007]

However, in the conventional image display device shown in FIG. 6, the fluorescent lamp 85 illuminates the spatial light modulator 1 from behind when viewing a stored image.
Is disposed between the spatial light modulator 81 and the reflection mirror 84 which is a part of the projection optical system, and a space for disposing the fluorescent lamp 65 between the spatial light modulator 81 and the reflection mirror 84 is required. However, there has been a problem that the depth dimension of the apparatus becomes large.

Further, since the fluorescent lamp 85 is arranged in the vicinity of the spatial light modulation element 81, the unevenness of the illumination of the spatial light modulation element 81 by the fluorescent lamp 85 is likely to occur, and the quality of the displayed image deteriorates. there were.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the first invention of the present application, an original image is stored by receiving writing light from an original reflected by a reflecting means, and a plurality of reading illumination means are provided. In an image display apparatus having storage display means such as a spatial light modulator for receiving a readout light and displaying a stored image, the plurality of readout illumination means are arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to the optical axis of the write light, and the readout light is read out. The reading light from the illuminating means is reflected by the reflecting means and is radiated to the storage and display means.

Further, in the second invention of the present application, the storage and display means for receiving the writing light from the original reflected by the reflecting means, storing the original image, and receiving the reading light from the reading illumination means to display the stored image. In the image display device having, the optical axis of the read light coincides with the optical axis of the write light,
This reading light is reflected by the above-mentioned reflecting means and is irradiated on the storage and display means.

In other words, in these inventions, the reading illumination means is arranged together with a projection lens or the like on the document side of the reflecting means in the projection optical system, so that the reading illumination means is connected to the storage display means and the reflection means. The device is made more compact as compared with the case where it is arranged between the means. In addition, instead of illuminating the storage and display means directly with the read illuminating means as in the prior art, the storage means is illuminated by reflecting the writing light by the reflecting means which originally reflects the writing light, so that a reflecting means dedicated to the reading light is newly provided. This allows uniform illumination of the storage and display means without improving the quality of the displayed image.

In each of the above-mentioned inventions, it is desirable to provide a light diffusing means for diffusing the readout light and irradiating the light to the storage display means to further improve the uniformity of illumination of the storage display means.

Further, it is preferable to use a straight tube lamp having a length substantially equal to the side dimension of the image storage surface of the storage display means as the readout illumination means so that the entire surface of the image storage section can be uniformly and reliably illuminated. desirable.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 3 show the configuration of a display device (image display device) according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows an electric circuit of the display device, and FIG. 3 shows an operation flowchart of the display device.

The display device of this embodiment includes a spatial light modulator (hereinafter, referred to as an SLM) 1, a xenon tube 7 for illuminating a film 2 drawn from a film cartridge (not shown) from behind (below), and a xenon tube 7. A reflection shade 8 for efficiently collecting the writing light emitted from the tube 7 on the film 2, a projection lens 3 and a reflection mirror 4 for projecting the film image onto the SLM 1, and a polymer disposed near the back surface of the SLM 1 Dispersion type liquid crystal element (light diffusing means) 12, a fluorescent lamp (reading illuminating means) 5 for illuminating the SLM 1 storing the film image from the same direction as the projection direction of the film image, and light emitted from the fluorescent lamp 5 And a reflector 6 for efficiently collecting the readout light on the SLM 1.

Here, the fluorescent lamp 5 is a straight tube type lamp having a length substantially equal to the width of the image storage surface of the SLM 1, and in combination with a readout illumination system described later, the entire surface of the image storage surface is uniformly illuminated. can do.

The operation and the like of the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal element 12 are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-2229232.

Further, the SLM 1 has a color filter of a pure color or a complementary color and an ITO forming one transparent electrode.
And a photocon layer made of an organic semiconductor film, a liquid crystal layer made of a ferroelectric liquid crystal FLC or the like, an alignment film, ITO constituting another transparent electrode, and a polarizing plate and glass sandwiching these two sides. When an image is projected with a predetermined voltage applied to the transparent electrode, this image is stored in the liquid crystal layer, and the stored image is retained even after the voltage application is released. Then, the fluorescent lamp 5 from behind (the image projection surface side)
, The stored image of the liquid crystal layer can be viewed from the front. As shown in FIG. 2, a control unit for controlling the display device includes an SLM driving circuit 101 for applying a voltage to the SLM 1 to perform an image storing operation, and a fluorescent lamp driving circuit 102 for controlling light emission of the fluorescent lamp 5.
A film feeding circuit 103 for winding and rewinding the film 2; a strobe light emitting circuit 104 for controlling light emission of the xenon tube 7; a CPU 100 for controlling the operation of each of the above circuits; It comprises a signal input circuit 105 for inputting a signal from a switch or the like to the CPU 100, and a polymer dispersed liquid crystal element driving circuit 106 for controlling the transmission / diffusion state of the polymer dispersed liquid crystal element 12.

The display device (CPU 100) thus configured operates according to the flowchart of FIG. The display device is turned on by the observer
Then, the CPU 100 sends a signal to the fluorescent lamp drive circuit 102 to turn on the fluorescent lamp 5 (# 200). At this time, the power supply to the polymer dispersed liquid crystal element 12 is stopped in the polymer dispersed liquid crystal element driving circuit 106 to cause the polymer dispersed liquid crystal element 12 to be in a diffusion state. As a result, the reading light from the fluorescent lamp 5 is transmitted through the reflection mirror 4 and the polymer dispersed liquid crystal element 12 in the diffusion state to the SL.
By illuminating M1 uniformly, the observer can appreciate the film image already stored in SLM1 (# 201).

When the observer turns on an image switch button (not shown) to switch the image to be viewed, the CPU 1
00 detects the state via the signal input circuit 105 (# 202). Further, the CPU 100 sends a signal to the fluorescent lamp driving circuit 102 to turn off the fluorescent lamp 5 (#
203), a signal is sent to the film feeding circuit 103 to feed the film 2 to a predetermined position (# 204). At this time, the film 2 is pulled out from the film cartridge 21 and wound on a spool 22.

When the film 2 is fed to a predetermined position,
A predetermined voltage is applied to the SLM 1 by the SLM drive circuit 101 (# 205). Further, the xenon tube 7 emits light to the strobe light emitting circuit 104 to illuminate the film 2 (# 2).
06). A part of the strobe light emitted from the xenon tube 7 is reflected by the reflector 8 to illuminate the film 2 uniformly. Then, the film image formed by the writing light transmitted through the film 2 is projected onto the SLM 1 via the projection lens 3, the reflection mirror 4, and the polymer dispersed liquid crystal element 12 in the transmission state. At this time, a voltage is applied to the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal element 12 to the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal element driving circuit 106 to cause the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal element 12 to be in a transmission state, and the writing light is incident on the SLM 1. Not to be disturbed. In addition, regarding the projection lens 3, the film 2 and the SL
It is conjugate with M1.

When the film image is projected on the SLM 1 and the film image is stored by the memory function of the ferroelectric liquid crystal constituting a part of the SLM 1, the voltage to the SLM 1 is cut off (# 207).

When the writing of the film image to the SLM 1 is completed, the CPU 100 sends a signal to the fluorescent lamp driving circuit 102 to turn on the fluorescent lamp 5 (# 208).
Further, the power supply to the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal element 12 is stopped in the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal element driving circuit 106 to cause the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal element 12 to be in a diffusion state. The light transmitted through the SLM 1 uniformly illuminated by the fluorescent lamp 5 through the polymer dispersed liquid crystal element 12 in the diffused state allows the observer 9 to appreciate the subject image photographed on the film 2.

Here, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, two readout illumination systems including a fluorescent lamp 5 and a reflection shade 6 are arranged near the projection lens 3. For this reason, the SLM 1 and the reflection mirror 4 can be arranged closer to each other than when the read illumination system is arranged between the SLM 1 and the reflection mirror 4, and the optical path length of the projection optical system for writing light can be shortened. Thus, the device can be made compact.

Moreover, in this embodiment, the two reading illumination systems are arranged symmetrically with respect to the optical axis of the writing light which is projected on the reflecting mirror 4 through the projection lens 3, and the fluorescent lamp 5 is The emitted read light is reflected by the reflection mirror 4 which originally reflects the write light, and then diffused by the polymer dispersed liquid crystal element 12 to illuminate the SLM 1. For this reason, the SLM 1 can be uniformly illuminated as compared with the case where the SLM 1 is directly illuminated by the fluorescent lamp 5 without newly providing a reflecting means dedicated to the reading light, and the observer 9 can obtain a high-quality image without uneven illumination. The displayed image can be observed.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
1 illustrates a display device (image display device) according to an embodiment. Note that the display device of the present embodiment is the first device.
The second embodiment has the same components as those of the first embodiment, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and description thereof is omitted. Further, the configuration and operation of the control unit of the display device of the present embodiment are almost the same as those of the first embodiment, and the first embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a halogen lamp driving circuit (not shown) is provided instead of the fluorescent lamp driving circuit 102. Different from the embodiment.

In the present embodiment, a movable sub-reflection mirror 42 is disposed between the film 2 and the projection lens 3, and a halogen lamp instead of the fluorescent lamp 5 in the first embodiment is provided in front of the sub-reflection mirror 42. (Reading illumination means) 51 and the light emitted by the SLM1
Shade 61 and condenser lens 3 for focusing light on
1 is arranged. Note that the optical axis of the reading illumination system coincides with the optical axis of the writing light from the film 2 after being reflected by the sub-reflection mirror 42.

In the display device configured as described above, when the observer 9 turns on a frame advance (frame return) button (not shown) in order to write an image to be viewed, the CPU 1
00 detects the state via the signal input circuit 105,
A signal is sent to the film feeding circuit 103 to feed the film 2 to a predetermined position.

When the film 2 is fed to a predetermined position,
A predetermined voltage is applied to the SLM 1 by the SLM drive circuit 101. Further, the strobe light emitting circuit 104 illuminates the film 2 by causing the xenon tube 7 to emit light. Film 2
The film image formed by the writing light transmitted through is projected onto the SLM 1 via the projection lens 3, the reflection mirror 4, and the polymer dispersed liquid crystal element 12. At this time,
The sub-reflection mirror 42 is located at a position outside the optical path of the projection optical system (FIG. 4).
(The position shown by the dotted line in FIG. 3). In addition, film 2
And the SLM 1 are conjugated with respect to the projection lens 3.

The polymer-dispersed liquid crystal element 12 is set to a transmissive state by applying a voltage by its driving circuit 106, so that the writing light does not impede the SLM 1. Thus the film image is S
When the data is projected on the LM1 and stored by the memory function of the ferroelectric liquid crystal constituting a part of the SLM1, the voltage to the SLM1 is cut off.

When the writing of the film image on the SLM 1 is completed, the image written on the film image is
The CPU 100 sends a signal to the halogen lamp driving circuit to turn on the halogen lamp 51 so that the user can appreciate the image. At this time, the sub-reflection mirror 42 is arranged at a position shown by a solid line in FIG. 4, and the readout light emitted by the halogen lamp 51 is applied to the condenser lens 31, the sub-reflection mirror 42, the projection lens 3, the reflection mirror 4, and the polymer dispersed liquid crystal. The SLM 1 is illuminated via the element 12.

The condenser lens 31 is set such that the halogen lamp 51 and the pupil of the projection lens 3 are conjugate, so that the readout light emitted from the halogen lamp 51 is efficiently incident on the pupil of the projection lens 3. ing. Further, the pupil of the condenser lens 31 is arranged at a position conjugate with the polymer dispersed liquid crystal element 12 with respect to the projection lens 3.

When the reading light illuminates the SLM 1, the voltage application to the polymer dispersed liquid crystal element 12 is released and the polymer dispersed liquid crystal element 12 is set in a diffusion state. As a result, the pupil image of the condenser lens 31 due to the read light is changed to the polymer dispersed liquid crystal element 1.
2, the SLM 1 is uniformly illuminated, and the observer 9 can observe a high-quality display image without uneven illumination.

In this embodiment, the halogen lamp 5
1, a readout illumination system including a reflection shade 61 and a condenser lens 31 is arranged near the projection lens 3. For this reason, the SLM 1 and the reflection mirror 4 can be arranged closer to each other than in a case where the reading illumination system is disposed between the SLM 1 and the reflection mirror 4, and the optical path length of the projection optical system for writing light can be reduced. By making it shorter, the device can be made more compact.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
1 illustrates a display device (image display device) according to an embodiment. Note that the display device of the present embodiment is the first device.
The second embodiment has the same components as those of the first embodiment, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and description thereof is omitted. The configuration and operation of the control unit of the display device of the present embodiment are almost the same as those of the first embodiment.

The first embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that two illumination units each including a fluorescent lamp 5, a reflection shade 62 and a light guide member 11 are disposed between the projection lens 3 and the reflection mirror 4. And different. Here, the two lighting units are
They are arranged symmetrically with respect to the optical axis of the writing light that irradiates the reflection mirror 4 through the projection lens 3.

In the display device configured as described above, when the observer 9 turns on a frame advance (frame return) button (not shown) in order to write an image to be viewed, the CPU 1
00 detects the state via the signal input circuit 105,
A signal is sent to the film feeding circuit 103 to feed the film 2 to a predetermined position.

When the film 2 is fed to a predetermined position,
A predetermined voltage is applied to the SLM 1 by the SLM drive circuit 101. Further, the strobe light emitting circuit 104 illuminates the film 2 by causing the xenon tube 7 to emit light. Film 2
The film image formed by the writing light transmitted through the SLM 1 through the projection lens 3 and the reflection mirror 4.
Projected to At this time, the illumination unit is retracted to a position outside the optical path of the projection optical system (a position indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 5). Note that the film 2 and the SLM 1 are conjugate with respect to the projection lens 3. Thus the film image is SLM
1 and stored for a long time by the memory function of the ferroelectric liquid crystal constituting a part of the SLM1, the voltage to the SLM1 is cut off.

When the writing of the film image on the SLM 1 is completed, the CPU 100 sends a signal to the fluorescent lamp driving circuit 102 to turn on the fluorescent lamp 5 so that the observer can view the image written on the film image. At this time, the illumination unit is arranged at a position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 5, and the readout light emitted by the fluorescent lamp 5 is diffused by a light guide member (light diffusion means) 11 having a diffusive property, and Illuminate SLM1. The readout light emitted from the light guide member 11 is uniform in the plane, and the readout light is reflected by the reflection mirror 4 to illuminate the SLM 1, so that the observer 9 can display a film image with high quality without unevenness in illumination. It can be observed as an image.

In this embodiment, since the illumination unit that emits the reading light is arranged near the projection lens 3, the SLM 1 and the reflection mirror 4 can be arranged close to each other. Therefore, the optical path length of the projection optical system can be shortened, and the apparatus can be made compact.

In each of the embodiments described above, the image display device using the liquid crystal type spatial light modulator as the storage and display means has been described. However, the present invention relates to a spatial light modulator other than the liquid crystal type, for example, BSO. The present invention can also be applied to an image display device using a spatial light modulation element using the above or other storage display means.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the image on the photographic film is viewed has been described.
The present invention can also be applied to a case where an original (transparent original) other than a photographic film is viewed.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the reading illumination means can be arranged together with the projection lens and the like on the original side of the reflection means in the projection optical system, the reading illumination means is arranged between the storage display means and the reflection means as in the related art. The device can be made more compact than in the case.

In addition, instead of illuminating the storage and display means directly with the read illuminating means as in the prior art, the storage display means is illuminated by reflecting the writing light by the reflection means which originally reflects the writing light, so that the reflection dedicated to the read light is performed. It is possible to uniformly illuminate the storage and display means without newly providing any means, thereby improving the quality of the displayed image.

By providing a light diffusing means for diffusing the reading light from the reading illumination means and irradiating the light to the storage display means, the uniformity of illumination of the storage display means can be further improved.

Further, if a straight tube lamp having a length substantially equal to the side dimension of the image storage surface of the storage and display means is used as the readout illumination means, the entire surface of the image storage section can be illuminated uniformly and reliably. This is more effective for improving the image quality.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control unit of the display device.

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the control unit.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a conventional display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... SLM 2 ... Film 3 ... Projection lens 4 ... Reflection mirror 5 ... Fluorescent lamp 6,8,62 ... Reflection shade 7 ... Xenon tube 9 ... Observer 11 light guide member 12 polymer dispersed liquid crystal element 51 halogen lamp

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image display apparatus comprising a storage display unit for receiving a writing light from a document reflected by a reflection unit, storing an original image, and receiving a reading light from a plurality of reading illumination units to display a storage image. Wherein the plurality of read illumination means are disposed substantially symmetrically with respect to the optical axis of the write light, and the read light from these read illumination means is reflected by the reflection means to irradiate the storage display means. Image display device. 2. An image display device comprising a storage display unit for receiving a write light from a document reflected by a reflection unit, storing a document image, and receiving a readout light from a readout illumination unit to display a stored image. An image display device, wherein the optical axis of the read light is made coincident with the optical axis of the write light, and the read light is reflected by the reflection means and irradiated to the storage display means. 3. The image display device according to claim 1, further comprising a light diffusing unit for diffusing the readout light and irradiating the storage display unit with the readout light. 4. The lamp according to claim 1, wherein the reading illumination means is a straight tube lamp having a length substantially equal to a side dimension of an image storage surface of the storage display means. Image storage device. 5. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein said storage and display means is a spatial light modulator. 6. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the original is a photographic film.