JPH11326828A - Stereoscopic picture display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display two images and many images while switching them by switching the pattern of a mask pattern in accordance with the number of pictures of a parallax picture. SOLUTION: Relating to a stereoscopic picture display device, a mask pattern where plural openings and light shielding parts are arranged with prescribed pitches in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction is formed on the display surface of an optical modulator 2 having a discrete picture element structure. The optical modulator 2 is irradiated with a luminous flux from a back light source 1 to obtain a patterned luminous flux. This patterned luminous flux passes an optical system to illuminate a display device 4 which has a discrete picture element structure and uses scanning lines to display at least two parallax pictures. Luminous fluxes based on two or more parallax pictures displayed on the display device 4 are transmitted to observer's right and left eyes to stereoscopically observe picture information displayed on the display device 4. The stereoscopic picture display device switches the pattern shape of the mask pattern in accordance with the number of parallax pictures.

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, and more particularly to a stereoscopic image display device for displaying image information on a display device (display) such as a television, a video, a computer monitor, a game machine, etc. from a predetermined observation area. This is suitable when stereoscopic observation of image information is performed without using.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, stereoscopic image observation methods include:
For example, a method of observing parallax images based on different polarization states using polarized glasses, or guiding a predetermined parallax image from a plurality of parallax images (perspective images) to an observer's eyeball using a lenticular lens. A way to do that has been proposed.

A method using a lenticular lens for displaying a stereoscopic image without wearing special polarized glasses is provided with a lenticular lens on the viewer side of a display device, and for each pixel of a parallax image displayed on the display device. By giving directivity, an observer can recognize a stereoscopic image.

A method using a lenticular lens has an advantage that stereoscopic viewing can be performed without using polarizing glasses.
According to this method, since the lenticular lens sheet is arranged on the front of the display, there is a problem that the screen is rough.

On the other hand, the present inventors have disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 8-148.
No. 611 and Japanese Patent Application No. 8-250943 have achieved a stereoscopic image display device capable of observing a good stereoscopic image in a wide viewing area.

In the same publication, there is provided a mask pattern having a checkered opening, a light source means for illuminating the mask pattern, a micro-optical element having different optical functions in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, and a transmission type display device. The display device displays a stripe composite image obtained by dividing each of the right-eye parallax image and the left-eye parallax image into a number of stripe-shaped pixels. There has been proposed a stereoscopic display device which irradiates the stripe composite image by giving directivity by an element, divides the light beam into at least two regions, and allows the observer to visually recognize the stripe composite image as a stereoscopic image.

As a method suitable for observing a three-dimensional image on a large screen, a projection type three-dimensional display is disclosed in JP-A-3-65943 and JP-A-4-4044.
No. 0 publication. A part of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 40440 is cited. FIG. 46 is a perspective view showing the configuration. The outputs of the cameras 31-34 for photographing the object 100 from four different directions are input to the four projectors 21-24 and projected onto the three-dimensional display panel 10 'with the lenticular lens arrays 11, 12 back to back.
Since the stereoscopic display panel 10 'is used as a transmissive double screen, the projector 20 and the observer 200 are located on opposite sides of the stereoscopic display panel 10'.

FIG. 47 shows the principle that the three-dimensional display device of FIG. 46 looks three-dimensional. The projector 20 directs images of the object 100 in four different directions to the three-dimensional display panel 10 ′ which is a transmissive double screen. Projection. The three-dimensional display panel 10 ′ has two lenticular lens arrays 11 and 12 bonded to each other, and a diffusion layer 13
Is provided. The position of the diffusion layer 13 is set to be substantially at the focal plane of the lenticular lenses 11 and 12. The feature of the lenticular lens arrays 11 and 12 is that the projected image is reproduced at the same distance as the distance that the projected image is projected on the lenticular lens array 11 by the projector 20.

If the intervals between adjacent projectors 21-24 are arranged at the distance between the eyes, re-developments 41-44 are also reproduced at the distance between the eyes at the observation distance. Observer 2 at that position
If 00 is present, the projected redevelopments 42 and 43 have a video parallax, so that the observer 200 can see a stereoscopic image.

[0010]

The three-dimensional image display device proposed by the present inventors has a mask pattern in which a plurality of openings and light-shielding portions are formed in a checkered pattern. A lenticular lens composed of a plurality of cylindrical lenses having a refractive power is arranged such that two cylindrical lenses are arranged so that the directions of arrangement are orthogonal to each other.

In the stereoscopic image display device proposed above,
A special micro-optical element was required according to the number of parallax images to be displayed and the viewing distance. The first object of the present invention is two images,
Alternatively, it is an object of the present invention to provide a stereoscopic image display device capable of switching and displaying two images and multiple images when displaying a multi-image parallax image of three or more images for expanding a stereoscopic viewing area or displaying a wraparound image.

Further, the stereoscopic image display device proposed above requires an optical modulator for displaying a mask pattern of the same size as the display screen and a display device for displaying a parallax image.

Further, the projection type stereoscopic image display device is suitable for displaying a large screen, but the optical system requires an optical path length, and the shape tends to be large. A second object of the present invention is to provide a large-screen three-dimensional image which is small in form and easy to produce, using a plurality of three-dimensional image display devices obtained by improving the three-dimensional image display device satisfying the first object. It is to provide a display system.

Further, in the three-dimensional image display device satisfying the first object, when the number of images is switched, the observation distance of the three-dimensional image changes, so that there is an inconvenience when displaying multiple images by one unit.

[0015] A third object of the present invention is to provide a stereoscopic image display apparatus in which the observation distance does not change even when the number of images is switched.

[0016]

According to the present invention, there is provided a stereoscopic image display apparatus comprising: (1-1) a display surface of an optical modulator having a discrete pixel structure; Forming a mask pattern arranged in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, irradiating the light modulator with a light beam from a light source means to form a patterned light beam, and passing the patterned light beam through an optical system to form a discrete light beam. Pixel structure and at least two pixels using scanning lines.
Illuminating a display that displays two parallax images, guiding light beams based on at least two or more parallax images displayed on the display to the right and left eyes of the observer, respectively, and stereoscopically displaying the image information displayed on the display. In the three-dimensional image display device for observing in the above, the pattern shape of the mask pattern is switched according to the number of images of the parallax image.

In particular, (1-1-1) the optical system includes a vertical cylindrical lens array composed of a vertical cylindrical lens having a generatrix in the vertical direction and a horizontal cylindrical lens array composed of a horizontal cylindrical lens having a generatrix in the horizontal direction. Have.

(1-1-2) The arrangement pitch of the horizontal cylindrical lenses of the horizontal cylindrical lens array is 2 × m with respect to the display pixel width of the optical modulator, where m is an integer.
Set equal to double.

(1-1-3) The parallax image is set to be equal to n parallax images, where n is a divisor of 2 or more and 2 or more.

(1-1-4) According to the number n of the parallax images, the pattern shape of the mask pattern is changed so that the parallax images are projected onto n vertical stripe regions at the observation position. A mask pattern switching means for switching is provided.

(1-1-5) When the n parallax images are projected on n vertical stripe-shaped regions at the observation position,
The pattern shape of the mask pattern is periodically changed, and the parallax image displayed on the display is switched and displayed in synchronization with the pattern shape, and the parallax image projected on the same region of the vertical stripe is always the same parallax image. The synchronization means was provided. And so on.

The three-dimensional image display system according to the present invention is characterized in that (2-1) the three-dimensional image display device having the configuration (1-1) is a unit, and a plurality of the units are juxtaposed.

In particular, (2-1-1) the configuration in which the pattern shape of the mask pattern is switched in accordance with the number of the plurality of juxtaposed stereoscopic image display units and the number of parallax images is switched and used at the same time. It was done.

(2-2) A mask pattern in which a plurality of openings and light-shielding portions are arranged in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction at a predetermined pitch on a display surface of an optical modulator having a discrete pixel structure, The light modulator is irradiated with a light beam from a light source means to form a patterned light beam, and the patterned light beam passes through an optical system, has a discrete pixel structure, and has at least 2 pixels using a scanning line. Illuminating a display that displays two parallax images, guiding light beams based on at least two or more parallax images displayed on the display to the right and left eyes of the observer, respectively, and stereoscopically displaying the image information displayed on the display. In the three-dimensional image display device for observation in the above, the optical system is composed of a vertical cylindrical lens array composed of a vertical cylindrical lens having a generatrix in the vertical direction, and a horizontal cylindrical lens having a generatrix in the horizontal direction. When switching and displaying the number of parallax images, m is an integer of 3 or more and n is an integer of 2 or more in order to enable stereoscopic viewing at the same observation distance when switching and displaying the number of parallax images. The lens pitch Hv of the horizontal cylindrical lens array is set to m times the pixel width of the optical modulator, and the lens pitch Hl of the vertical lenticular lens is set to around 3 m × n times.

[0025]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 of a stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an external view of the first embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 500 denotes a main body showing the entire apparatus. Reference numeral 600 denotes a display unit, and 600a denotes a window unit (display unit) for displaying a stereoscopic image.
It is.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the system according to the first embodiment. Referring to FIG.
0 indicates a transmissive display device (display) 4 such as a liquid crystal for displaying a stereoscopic image (parallax image) with parallax or a normal image (two-dimensional image) without parallax, and a mask pattern. Transmission type light modulator 2 such as a liquid crystal for backlighting, and a backlight light source (light source means) 1
And two lenticular lenses 3 and 7 whose generatrix directions are orthogonal to each other are disposed between the display device 4 and the optical modulator 2.

The optical modulator driving circuit 10 drives the optical modulator 2 based on a signal from a mask pattern processing means 11 for processing a mask pattern displayed on the optical modulator 2. The display drive circuit 6 displays a parallax image or a two-dimensional image on the display 4 based on a signal from the image processing means 5.

The image number switching means 12 is provided on the display 4
Are switched by the observer in accordance with the number of parallax images to be displayed. The signal from the image number changing means 12 is transmitted to the image processing means 5 and the mask pattern processing means 11. Further, the mask pattern processing unit 11 and the image processing unit 5 exchange synchronization signals and exchange position information of the window 600a when displaying a parallax image and a two-dimensional image together.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are schematic views showing a main part of a part of a window section 600a for displaying a three-dimensional image according to the present invention.

These drawings are the same in other configurations except that the pattern content of the mask pattern 9 displayed on the light modulator 2 and the content of the parallax image displayed on the display device 4 are different. The components other than the window 600a have the same configuration except that the pattern content of the mask pattern displayed on the optical modulator 2 is different.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a backlight light source (light source means), and 2 denotes an optical modulator.
In a portion corresponding to 00a, a mask pattern 9 including a predetermined opening 8 and a light shielding portion is formed on the display surface.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a horizontal lenticular lens (horizontal cylindrical lens array) having a generatrix in the horizontal direction H,
A large number of plano-convex horizontal cylindrical lenses are arranged in the vertical direction V.

The lateral lenticular lens 7 has a lens curvature set so that the opening of the mask pattern 9 forms an image on the image display surface of the display device 4.

The lens pitch (width) Vl of the lateral lenticular lens 7 is set equal to 2 × m times the vertical width Vm of the opening 8 of the mask pattern 9, where m is an integer. This figure shows the case where m = 3.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a vertical lenticular lens (vertical cylindrical lens array) having a generatrix in the vertical direction V, which is constituted by arranging a large number of plano-convex vertical cylindrical lenses in the horizontal direction H. The vertical lenticular lens 3 has a lens curvature set such that the mask pattern 9 is located substantially at the focal position of each cylindrical lens constituting the lens.

The horizontal pitch Hm of the opening 8 and the light shielding portion of the mask pattern 9 corresponds to one pitch (width) Hl of the vertical cylindrical lens of the vertical lenticular lens 3.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a display device (display) for displaying an image, which is constituted by a transmission type liquid crystal element or the like.

In FIG. 3, the display device 4,
A cover glass, a polarizing plate, electrodes, and the like of the optical modulator 2 are omitted, and a display image on a display surface and a mask pattern shape are schematically displayed. El and Er indicate the left and right eyes of the image observer. Here, the mask pattern 9 composed of an opening and a light shielding portion displayed on the display surface of the optical modulator 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 show front views of the mask pattern 9 shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, respectively.

As shown in these figures, the mask pattern 9 is composed of an opening 8 having a horizontal pitch Hm and a vertical width Vm, and a light shielding portion. Horizontal pitch Hm
Is composed of 2 × m pixels, and the width Vm in the vertical direction is 1
It is composed of pixels. The figure shows the case where m = 3.

However, in FIG. 7 and FIG.
Is used to correct the pitch in the horizontal direction. The details of the pitch correction will be described later. Next, a parallax image displayed on the display device 4 will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are explanatory diagrams of parallax image synthesis, and show cases corresponding to FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively.

The image processing means 5 shown in FIG. 2 uses the parallax images G1 and G2 in FIG. 9 and the parallax images G1 and G1 in FIG.
G2 and G3 are divided into a number of horizontal stripe-shaped stripe images as shown in the figure, and stripe images G1i, G2i and G3i created from the parallax images G1, G2 and G3 are represented by:
The combined parallax image is rearranged for each scanning line.

That is, in FIG. 9, a synthesized parallax image synthesized from two parallax images is obtained, and in FIG. 10, a synthesized parallax image synthesized from three parallax images is obtained. The image data created in this way is input to the display drive circuit 6 in FIG. 2 and displayed on the display device 4.

Similarly, stripe image data corresponding to FIG. 5 is also synthesized from six parallax images.

Next, the operation of displaying a stereoscopic image will be described with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 11 to 14 correspond to FIG. 3 in which two parallax images are displayed, and FIGS. 15 to 20 are explanatory diagrams corresponding to FIG. 4 in which three parallax images are displayed.

FIG. 11 shows a stereoscopic image display window 60.
It is a horizontal sectional view of a part of Oa.

In the figure, light from the backlight source 1 is emitted from the opening 8 of the mask pattern 9 of the optical modulator 2 and passes through the horizontal cylindrical lens 7. (In this cross-sectional direction, the horizontal lenticular lens does not particularly act.) Then, the transmitted light flux of the mask pattern 9 is irradiated on the eyeball E1 of the observer by each of the cylindrical lenses constituting the vertical lenticular lens 3.

The light beam emitted for the eyeball E1 is modulated by an image (composite parallax image) displayed on the display device 4 provided between the vertical lenticular lens 3 and the observer. In this section, the parallax image G1 shown in FIG.
Stripe images G11, G1 synthesized from
, An eyeball E of width E at the observation position
It becomes the irradiation stripe light flux for one.

Similarly, as shown in FIG.
A light beam having a cross section corresponding to a scanning line below the scanning line is applied to the eyeball E2. The luminous flux emitted for the eyeball E2 is modulated by an image (composite parallax image) displayed on the display device 4 provided between the vertical lenticular lens 3 and the observer. In this cross section, linear stripe images G22 and G2 synthesized from the parallax image G2 shown in FIG.
4, G26,..., And becomes an irradiation stripe light beam for the eyeball E2 having the width E at the observation position.

FIG. 13 shows a window 600 for displaying a three-dimensional image.
It is a vertical sectional view of a. In this cross section, the opening 8 of the mask pattern 9 illuminated by the backlight light source 1 causes the pixel width of the light modulator 2 to be the pixel width of the display device 4 on the image display surface of the display device 4 by the action of the lateral lenticular lens 7. Since the image is formed at a magnification, only the element stripe image of the parallax image G1 is emitted by appropriately setting the positions of the light modulator 2, the display device 4, and the lateral lenticular lens 7.

Similarly, as shown in FIG.
In the pixel row adjacent to the pixel, only the element stripe image of the parallax image G2 is irradiated. Therefore, by setting the parallax images G1 and G2 to the parallax images corresponding to the eyeballs E1 and E2, the observer can observe each parallax image separately and independently with the left and right eyes, and can observe a stereoscopic image.

Similarly, in the case of the three parallax images shown in FIGS. 15 to 20, the components from the parallax images G1, G2 and G3 are shown in FIG.
5, as shown in FIG. 16 and FIG.
The stereoscopic image can be observed by irradiating E3 and placing both eyes in this area. Similarly, in the case of FIG. 5 where there are six parallax images, a region of width 6 × E is irradiated with the six parallax images, so that a stereoscopic image can be observed in a wide observation region.

Next, the configuration conditions of the optical system in a horizontal section will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the distance between each optical element is treated as a converted distance. The converted distance is the display surface in the case of a display device or an optical modulator, and the lenticular lens is obtained by converting the distance between two optical system elements into a value in the air using the principal point on the side where the distance is to be measured as a reference point. This is a so-called optical distance.

As shown in the figure, the distance between the vertical lenticular lens 3 and the mask pattern 9 (the optical distance obtained by converting the distance between the principal point of the vertical lenticular lens 3 on the mask side and the mask pattern 9 into a value in the air) ) Is Lh2, the distance from the predetermined observation position to the vertical lenticular lens 3 (the optical distance between the observation position and the principal point of the vertical lenticular lens 3 on the viewer side) is Lh1, the mask. The horizontal width of the opening 8 of the pattern 9 in the horizontal direction is Hmw, the horizontal pitch between the adjacent opening 8 and the light shielding unit is Hm, the pitch (width) of the vertical cylindrical lens forming the vertical lenticular lens 3 is Hl, When the distance between the left and right eyes of the observer is E, the following conditions are satisfied. E / (Hm / 2) = Lh1 / Lh2 Equation 1 Lh1 / (Lh1 + Lh2) = Hl / Hm Equation 2

Next, the contents of the pitch correction of the mask pattern 9 when the number of parallax images is switched from the display of two images (two parallax images) in FIG. 3 to three images and six images as shown in FIGS. This will be described with reference to FIGS.

These figures show a horizontal section of the present apparatus 500, where A is the position of the mask pattern 9, B is the principal point position of the vertical lenticular 3, C is the image display position 4, and D is the observation position. FIG. 21 shows a case where two parallax images are displayed.
22 corresponds to FIG. 4 in the three-image display, and FIG. 23 corresponds to FIG. 5 in the six-image display. In FIG. 21 of the two-image display, the opening 8 of the mask pattern 9 illuminated with the width E to the eyeball position E1 of the observer is indicated by Hmw1 and the opening illuminated by E2 is indicated by Hmw2. It consists of three pixels. The specifications satisfy Equations 1 and 2 as described above. Next, in FIG. 22 when three images are replaced,
Opening H illuminating eyeball positions E1, E2, E3 with width E
Each of mw1, Hmw2 and Hmw3 is composed of two pixels. In this case, the observation distance is set to 3 × Lh / 2, and the mask pattern 9 is configured to satisfy the following condition.

E / (Hm / 3) = (3 × Lh1 / 2) / Lh2 Equation 3 (3 × Lh1 / 2) / ((3 × Lh1 / 2) + Lh2) = Hl / He Equation 4 Since Lh1 >> Lh2, Equation 4 is approximately He = (1−Lh2 / (3 × Lh1)) × Hm Equation 5

However, since the configuration of the mask pattern 9 is discrete, the pattern pitch is corrected as required.
The discontinuous portion of the pitch indicated by ＠ in FIG. 7 schematically illustrates this situation.

Similarly, when the parallax images shown in FIG. 23 are six images, the observation distance is set to 3 × Lh1, and He = (1-2 × Lh2 / (3 × Lh1)) × Hm (6) Construct a mask pattern. However, since the configuration of the mask pattern 9 is discrete, the pattern pitch is corrected as needed. The discontinuous portion of the pitch indicated by ＠ in FIG. 8 schematically shows this situation.

Next, a countermeasure for deterioration of the resolution when the number of parallax images is multiplied will be described. In the description so far, FIG.
6, the mask pattern 9 of the optical modulator is shown in FIG. 6, and the parallax image of the display device 4 is shown in FIG. 9, and in the three-image display of FIG. 4, the mask pattern is shown in FIG. And the observer sees the left and right eyes,
For two images, 1/2 of the original image, for 3 images, 1 of the original image
An image having a vertical resolution of / 3 is observed. FIG.
Similarly, in the case of the six images, an image having a vertical resolution of 1/6 of the original image is observed.

In order to avoid this resolution degradation, in the present embodiment, for example, in the case of three images, the display of the mask pattern 9 and the parallax image are synchronized as shown in FIGS. 7, 10, and 24 to 27. The display is switched and time-division displayed to allow the observer to observe an image having the same resolution as the original image.

The contents will be described below. FIG. 7 shows a first state of the mask pattern, and FIG. 10 shows a first state of the corresponding parallax image. In this case, from the viewpoint E1 of the observer, the images of G11, G14, G17,... Shown in FIG. 10 are observed.

Next, the mask pattern is switched to the second state in FIG. 26 and the parallax image is switched to the second state in FIG.
From 1, the images of G12, G15, G18,... Can be observed. Further, by switching to the third state of FIGS. 25 and 27, the images of G13, G16, G19... Can be observed. By switching and displaying these first to third states within one frame time of image display, the vertical resolution can be improved.

The second embodiment is a multi-screen display three-dimensional display device in which a plurality of three-dimensional display devices having the contents shown in the first embodiment are juxtaposed. The second embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 28 is basically the same as the display device having the configuration shown in the first embodiment. The difference from the first embodiment is that the display 500 is easy to use when a plurality of the displays 500 are juxtaposed, and that a positioning member is provided when juxtaposed.

In this embodiment, a positioning member is provided on the back surface (not shown) of the main body 500.

FIG. 29 shows a state in which the display 500 of FIG. 28 is arranged, for example, three vertically and three horizontally. Reference numeral 700 denotes a back holding plate which holds a plurality of display units by using a positioning member provided on the back of the main body 500. A pedestal 800 supports the entire apparatus.

FIG. 30 is a system block diagram of the second embodiment. Each display 500 includes the display driving circuit 6, the image processing unit 5, the light modulator driving circuit 10, and the mask pattern processing unit 1 shown in FIG.
1 and a display control means 13 comprising an image number switching means 12.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a multi-display control means, which has a multi-image switching means for controlling the number-of-images switching means of each display control means 13, an image processing means, and a synchronizing means for ensuring synchronization of the mask pattern control means. .

With the above configuration, the observer operates the multi-display control means 14 as necessary,
28. As shown in FIG. 28, two images are observed as one display, and the number of images is switched to, for example, six in a multi-screen in which a plurality of displays are juxtaposed as shown in FIG. As described above, it is possible to increase the observation distance for observation.

Known techniques can be applied to display independent images individually on a multi-screen or to display one image using a plurality of displays as one screen.

In the first and second embodiments, when the parallax images are switched, the observation distance changes accordingly.
This is suitable for use on a large screen with a large viewing distance as in the second embodiment, but it is inconvenient for the viewing distance to change when using one display with a different number of images. It is.

The third embodiment of the present invention is a display device which solves such inconveniences and does not change the observation distance even when the observation area is enlarged or multiple images are formed in order to perform a wraparound display.

Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram of a main part of the third embodiment, showing a case where two parallax images are displayed. 3, which is different from FIG. 3 showing the first embodiment, in the pitch Vl of the lenticular lens of the horizontal lenticular 7 and the pattern shape of the mask pattern 9.

In the third embodiment, the pitch Vl is three times the vertical width Vm of the mask pattern 9.

FIGS. 32 and 33 are explanatory diagrams of the mask pattern 9 in the present embodiment. FIG. 32 shows the case of displaying two images corresponding to FIG. 31, and FIG. 33 shows the case of displaying three images. The parallax images are the same as in the first embodiment, and in the case of two images, the image of FIG. 9 and in the case of three images, the image of FIG. 10 is used.

FIGS. 34 to 37 are explanatory views of the horizontal section of the display for displaying two images, and FIGS. 38 to 43 are explanatory views of the horizontal section for displaying three images.

In FIG. 34, the light beam from the opening 8 of the mask pattern 9 having the shape shown in FIG. 32 is a stripe image G of the light modulator 4 having the image data shown in FIG.
The eyeball positions E1, E3 through 11, G13, G15 ...
E5 is irradiated. FIG. 3 shows a section of the scanning line immediately below that.
As shown in FIG. 5, the luminous flux from the opening 8 is G22, G24,
The viewpoints E2, E4, and E6 are emitted through G26.

FIG. 36 is a vertical sectional view of the display, in which the horizontal lenticular lens 7 has three pixels of the optical modulator as one.
The openings 8 and the light shielding portions of the mask pattern 9 form an image on the image display surface of the optical modulator.

FIG. 37 is an explanatory vertical sectional view of the next adjacent part. With the above configuration, the eyeball positions E1, E in FIG.
By placing both eyes on 2, or E3, E4, or E4, E6, a stereoscopic image can be observed.

FIG. 38 is a horizontal sectional view in the case of displaying three images. In this case, the mask pattern shown in FIG. 33 is used, and the luminous flux from the opening 8 of the mask pattern 9 passes through G11, G14, G17... Of the stripe image in FIG. You. Similarly, in the horizontal sectional view 39 one line below, G22, G25, G28.
2 and E4, and in the lower line, FIG.
G33, G36, G39... Are irradiated to E3 and E6.

Therefore, stereoscopic vision is possible by placing both eyes in the range of E1, E2, E3 or E4, E5, E6.

FIGS. 41, 42 and 43 are vertical sectional views.
It shows adjacent cross sections. The state of image formation of the mask pattern on the image display surface is the same as in the case of two-image display. The contents will be further described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 44 shows a case of displaying two images corresponding to FIG. 32, and FIG. 45 shows a case of displaying three images corresponding to FIG. Since the width Hmw of the opening of the mask pattern is the same in both figures, the observation distance Lh1
Is constant regardless of two images and three images.

In the present embodiment, the lens pitch Hl of the vertical lenticular lens is set to 6 times the horizontal pixel width of the optical modulator.
In the vicinity of x, the description is given for switching between two images and three images in which the lens pitch Vl of the horizontal lenticular lens is three times the vertical width Vm of the optical modulator, where m is an integer of 3 or more and n is an integer of 2 or more. By setting the lens pitch Hv of the horizontal cylindrical lens array to m times the pixel width of the optical modulator, and setting the lens pitch Hl of the vertical lenticular lens to be close to m × n times the pixel width of the optical modulator. In addition, it is possible to provide a stereoscopic image display device that can be switched with a desired number of images and does not change the observation distance.

Further, if the time-division image display described in the first embodiment is applied to the present embodiment, a high-definition display can be obtained.

[0086]

According to the present invention, as described above, by changing the mask pattern displayed on the optical modulator and the number of parallax images displayed on the display device in conjunction with each other, the observation distance changes with the same hardware configuration. It is possible to provide a stereoscopic image display device of the image number switching type, or a stereoscopic image display device of the image number switching type in which the observation distance does not change.

Further, a multi-type large-screen stereoscopic image display device can be provided by juxtaposing a plurality of image-number switching type stereoscopic image display devices in which the observation distance changes. Therefore, it is possible to enlarge the stereoscopic viewing area by the multi-image display and to display the wraparound of the stereoscopic image, and also possible to perform the stereoscopic display on a large screen.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system block diagram of a first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a waist of a display unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a waist of a display unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a waist of a display unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a mask pattern according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a mask pattern according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a mask pattern according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of image composition according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of image composition according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of an optical function according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of an optical function of the first embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of an optical function of the first embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of an optical function of the first embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of an optical function of the first embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of an optical function of the first embodiment.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of an optical function of the first embodiment.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of an optical function of the first embodiment.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of an optical function of the first embodiment.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of an optical function of the first embodiment.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram of switching the number of images according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram of switching the number of images according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of switching the number of images according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram of a mask pattern according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram of a mask pattern according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram of an image area according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram of an image area according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 28 is an external view of Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is an external view of Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a system block diagram of a second embodiment.

FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram of the waist of the display unit according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram of a mask pattern according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 33 is an explanatory diagram of a mask pattern according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 34 is an explanatory diagram of the optical function of the third embodiment.

FIG. 35 is an explanatory diagram of an optical function of the third embodiment.

FIG. 36 is an explanatory diagram of an optical function of the third embodiment.

FIG. 37 is an explanatory diagram of an optical function of the third embodiment.

FIG. 38 is an explanatory diagram of the optical function of the third embodiment.

FIG. 39 is an explanatory diagram of the optical function of the third embodiment.

FIG. 40 is an explanatory diagram of the optical function of the third embodiment.

FIG. 41 is an explanatory diagram of an optical function of the third embodiment.

FIG. 42 is an explanatory diagram of the optical function of the third embodiment.

FIG. 43 is an explanatory diagram of the optical function of the third embodiment.

FIG. 44 is an explanatory diagram of switching the number of images according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 45 is an explanatory diagram of switching the number of images according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 46 shows a conventional example of a projection type stereoscopic image display device.

FIG. 47 shows a conventional example of a projection type stereoscopic image display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 backlight light source 2 optical modulator 3 vertical lenticular lens (vertical cylindrical lens array) 4 display device 5 image processing means 6 display drive circuit 7 horizontal lenticular lens (horizontal cylindrical lens array) 8 opening of mask pattern 9 mask pattern 10 light Modulator driving circuit 11 Mask pattern processing means 12 Image number switching means 13 Display control means 14 Multi-display control means 54 Observer 500 Stereoscopic display device 600 Image display unit 700 Display holding plate 800 Pedestal E Eye-to-eye distance Hm Mask pattern The horizontal pitch width of the opening of the mask pattern Vm The vertical width of the opening of the mask pattern Hl The pitch width of the vertical cylindrical lens forming the vertical lenticular lens Hmw Mask pattern Pv1 Vertical width of stripe pixels on display device Lv1 Converted distance between observer and vertical lenticular lens Lh2 Converted distance between vertical lenticular lens and mask pattern Vl Horizontal cylindrical constituting horizontal lenticular lens Lens pitch Lv1 Conversion distance between display device and horizontal lenticular lens Lv2 Conversion distance between horizontal lenticular lens and mask pattern

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] September 8, 1999

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Fig. 9

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[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

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FIG. 10

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] FIG.

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[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] FIG.

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FIG. 45

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Hideki Morishima 6-145 Hanasaki-cho, Nishi-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa M.R.

Claims (9)

[Claims] A mask pattern in which a plurality of openings and light shielding portions are arranged on a display surface of a light modulator having a discrete pixel structure in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction at a predetermined pitch is formed. A light beam from the light source means is applied to the light source to form a patterned light beam, and the patterned light beam passes through an optical system, has a discrete pixel structure, and has at least two parallax images using scanning lines. Illuminate the display showing
Guide the light flux based on at least two or more parallax images displayed on the display to the right and left eyes of the observer, respectively.
A stereoscopic image display device for stereoscopically observing image information displayed on the display, wherein a pattern shape of the mask pattern is switched according to the number of images of the parallax image. 2. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein the optical system includes a vertical cylindrical lens array including a vertical cylindrical lens having a generatrix in a vertical direction, and a horizontal cylindrical lens array including a horizontal cylindrical lens having a generatrix in a horizontal direction. The stereoscopic image display device according to claim 1, wherein 3. An arrangement pitch of the horizontal cylindrical lenses of the horizontal cylindrical lens array is 2 × m times m as an integer with respect to a display pixel width of the optical modulator. Stereoscopic image display device. 4. The stereoscopic image display device according to claim 3, wherein the parallax image is composed of n parallax images, where n is a divisor of 2 × m equal to or greater than 2. 5. The pattern shape of the mask pattern is switched according to the number n of the parallax images, and the parallax images are projected on n vertical stripe-shaped regions at an observation position. 4. A three-dimensional image display device. 6. When the n parallax images are projected onto n vertical stripe-shaped regions at an observation position, the pattern shape of the mask pattern is periodically changed, and the pattern shape is synchronously displayed on the display. 6. The stereoscopic image display device according to claim 5, wherein the displayed parallax images are switched and displayed, and the parallax images projected on the same vertical stripe area are always the same parallax image. 7. A light modulator having a discrete pixel structure, wherein a mask pattern in which a plurality of openings and light-shielding portions are arranged at predetermined pitches in the horizontal and vertical directions is formed on the display surface. A light beam from the light source means is applied to the light source to form a patterned light beam, and the patterned light beam passes through an optical system, has a discrete pixel structure, and has at least two parallax images using scanning lines. Illuminate the display showing
Guide the light flux based on at least two or more parallax images displayed on the display to the right and left eyes of the observer, respectively.
A stereoscopic image display device for stereoscopically observing image information displayed on the display, wherein the pattern shape of the mask pattern is switched in accordance with the number of images of the parallax image. A stereoscopic image display system comprising a unit and a plurality of units arranged side by side. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pattern shape of the mask pattern is switched according to the number of units of the plurality of three-dimensional image display devices juxtaposed, and the number of parallax images is switched and used. 7. A stereoscopic image display system. 9. A light modulator having a discrete pixel structure, wherein a mask pattern in which a plurality of openings and light shielding portions are arranged in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction at a predetermined pitch is formed on a display surface of the optical modulator. A light beam from the light source means is applied to the light source to form a patterned light beam, and the patterned light beam passes through an optical system, has a discrete pixel structure, and has at least two parallax images using scanning lines. Illuminate the display showing
Guide the light flux based on at least two or more parallax images displayed on the display to the right and left eyes of the observer, respectively.
In a stereoscopic image display apparatus for stereoscopically observing image information displayed on the display, the optical system includes a vertical cylindrical lens array including a vertical cylindrical lens having a generatrix in a vertical direction, and a horizontal cylindrical lens having a generatrix in a horizontal direction. With m being an integer of 3 or more and n being an integer of 2 or more, and setting the lens pitch Hv of the horizontal cylindrical lens array to m times the display pixel width of the optical modulator, A stereoscopic image display device, wherein a lens pitch Hl of a vertical lenticular lens is set to a value close to m × n, and stereoscopic viewing is possible at the same observation distance when switching and displaying the number of parallax images.