Three-dimensional observation apparatus

• US 20030214710A1
• Filed: 04/25/2003
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Morita, Kazuo, Takahashi, Susumu
• Granted Patent: US 7,027,222 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/443
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/26 of the autostereoscopic type

Abstract

A three-dimensional observation apparatus includes a pair of image projection means, an image display means, a position detecting means for detecting movements of an observer of images displayed by the image display means, and a driving means for tracking movements of the observer and for moving the image display means based on changes of signals that are output from the position detecting means. The pair of image projection means and the image display means are configured such that the pair of image projection means projects a right eye image and a left eye image, and the image display means presents these images to the right eye and left eye, respectively, of an observer. A diffusing means may be provided to enlarge the exit pupils of the three-dimensional observation apparatus.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional observation apparatus comprising:

a pair of image projection means;

an image display means;

a position detecting means for detecting movements of an observer of images displayed by the image display means; and

driving means for tracking movements of the observer and for moving the image display means based on changes of signals that are output from the position detecting means;

wherein

the pair of image projection means and the image display means are configured such that the pair of image projection means projects a right eye image and a left eye image, and the image display means presents these images to the right eye and left eye, respectively, of an observer.

2. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the pair of image projection means, the image display means, the position detecting means, and the driving means are mounted on one supporting body;

the position detecting means includes an infrared LED and an infrared camera;

the infrared LED is positioned so as to be capable of irradiating infrared light onto the face or the pupils of the left and right eyes of the observer; and

the infrared camera is positioned so as to be capable of imaging retinal reflected images of the pupils or an outline of the face of the observer.

3. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the pair of image projection means, the image display means, the position detecting means, and the driving means are mounted on one supporting body;

the position detecting means includes an LED and a camera;

the LED is positioned so as to be capable of irradiating the face of the observer by emitting visible light; and

the camera is positioned so as to be capable of imaging an outline of the face of the observer.

4. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the pair of image projection means, the image display means, the position detecting means, and the driving means are mounted on one supporting body;

the position detecting means includes an LED and a CMOS image sensor;

the LED is positioned so as to be capable of irradiating the face of the observer by emitting visible light or infrared light; and

the CMOS image sensor is capable of outputting an edge detection image and is positioned so as to be capable of capturing the outline of the face irradiated by the LED.

5. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the pair of image projection means, the image display means, and the position detecting means are mounted on a first supporting body;

the first supporting body is mounted on a second supporting body via the driving means; and

the driving means is configured so as to be capable of moving the pair of image projection means, the image display means, and the position detecting means via the first supporting body as a whole on the second supporting body.

6. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the pair of image projection means, the image display means, and the position detecting means are mounted on a first supporting body;

the first supporting body is mounted on a second supporting body via the driving means;

the driving means is configured so as to be capable of moving the pair of image projection means, the image display means, and the position detecting means via the first supporting body as a whole on the second supporting body.

7. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

the pair of image projection means, the image display means, and the position detecting means are mounted on a first supporting body;

the first supporting body is mounted on a second supporting body via the driving means;

the driving means is configured so as to be capable of moving the pair of image projection means, the image display means, and the position detecting means via the first supporting body as a whole on the second supporting body.

8. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image display means is mounted so as to be movable also in a direction that is orthogonal to the movement direction resulting from the driving means.

9. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image display means is mounted so as to be movable also in a direction that is orthogonal to the movement direction resulting from the driving means.

10. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the image display means is mounted so as to be movable also in a direction that is orthogonal to the movement direction resulting from the driving means.

11. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a mirror is integrally provided to the image display means, and the mirror is positioned so as to direct infrared light or visible light from the position detecting means to the eyes or face of the observer.

12. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a mirror is integrally provided to the image display means, and the mirror is positioned so as to direct infrared light or visible light from the position detecting means to the eyes or face of the observer.

13. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a mirror is integrally provided to the image display means, and the mirror is positioned so as to direct infrared light or visible light from the position detecting means to the eyes or face of the observer.

14. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the supporting body is configured so as to be capable of folding.

15. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the supporting body is configured so as to be capable of folding.

16. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the supporting body is configured so as to be capable of folding.

17. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second supporting body is configured so as to be capable of folding.

18. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second supporting body is configured so as to be capable of folding.

19. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second supporting body is configured so as to be capable of folding.

20. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

the image display means includes image-forming means and diffusing means;

the image-forming means is configured and positioned so as to be capable of forming a right eye image and a left eye image at respective pupil positions of the observer; and

the diffusing means is configured and positioned so as form, in cooperation with the image-forming means, enlarged images of each aperture of the pair of image projection means.

21. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

the image display means includes image-forming means and diffusing means;

the image-forming means is configured and positioned so as to be capable of forming a right eye image and a left eye image at respective pupil positions of the observer; and

the diffusing means is configured and positioned so as to form, in cooperation with the image-forming means, enlarged images of each aperture of the pair of image projection means.

22. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:

the image display means includes image-forming means and diffusing means;

the image-forming means is configured and positioned so as to be capable of forming a right eye image and a left eye image at respective pupil positions of the observer, and

the diffusing means is configured and positioned so as to form, in cooperation with the image-forming means, enlarging images of each aperture of the pair of image projection means.

23. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the image forming means is eccentric to the center of the image display means.

24. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the image forming means is eccentric to the center of the image display means.

25. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the image forming means is eccentric to the center of the image display means.

26. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the image forming means comprises a Fresnel mirror having positive optical power.

27. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the image forming means comprises a Fresnel mirror having positive optical power.

28. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the image forming means comprises a Fresnel mirror having positive optical power.

29. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the Fresnel mirror is formed into an aspheric surface whereby the radius of curvature increases toward the periphery.

30. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the Fresnel mirror is formed into an aspheric surface whereby the radius of curvature increases toward the periphery.

31. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the Fresnel mirror is formed into an aspheric surface whereby the radius of curvature increases toward the periphery.

32. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the diffusing means comprises an optical member which achieves a diffusing effect via particles with differing refractive indices mixed in the interior thereof.

33. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the diffusing means comprises an optical member which achieves a diffusing effect using particles with differing refractive indexes mixed in the interior thereof.

34. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the diffusing means comprises an optical member which achieves a diffusing effect using particles with differing refractive indices mixed in the interior thereof.

35. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the diffusing means comprises an optical member which includes molecules having birefringent properties in the interior of the optical member.

36. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the diffusing means comprises an optical member which includes molecules having birefringent properties in the interior of the optical member.

37. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the diffusing means comprises an optical member which includes molecules having birefringent properties in the interior of the optical member.

38. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the diffusing means comprises an optical member which produces scattering through a refractive effect resulting from corrugated shapes formed on the surface of the optical member.

39. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the diffusing means comprises an optical member which produces scattering through a refractive effect resulting from corrugated shapes formed on the surface of the optical member.

40. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the diffusing means comprises an optical member which produces scattering through a refractive effect resulting from corrugated shapes formed on the surface of the optical member.

41. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the diffusing means is a transmission hologram.

42. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the diffusing means is a transmission hologram.

43. The three-dimensional observation apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the diffusing means is a transmission hologram.