Image display system

• US 5,790,184 A
• Filed: 04/21/1993
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Shirochi, Yoshiki, Kamaya, Naoki, Sato, Seizi
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, RICHARD J
• Application Number:
  US08/050,823
• Time in Patent Office: 1,931 Days
• Field of Search: 358/88, 358/92, 358/105, 348/42, 348/43, 348/44, 348/46, 348/51, 348/52, 348/53, 348/56, 348/39, 348/115, 351/153, 351/158
• US Class Current: 348/53
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/10 Processing, recording or transmission of stereoscopic or multi-view image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/15 for colour aspects of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/161 Encoding, multiplexing or demultiplexing different image signal components for multi-view video sequence encoding H04N19/597
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/167 Synchronising or controlling image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/324 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 with head-mounted left-right displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/376 for tracking left-right translational head movements, i.e. lateral movements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/38 for tracking vertical translational head movements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

An image display system stereoscopically reproduces a visual scene and includes an image display unit with a pair of LCD panels each starting its operation in response to a start pulse received every vertical field of an input video signal; a source of input video signals representing right and left stereoscopic video images every field; a circuit for generating right and left start pulses, which are mutually in an opposite-phase relationship, in synchronism with the arrival of the right and left video images; and a driver for driving the pair of LCD panels by the right and left start pulses. The image display unit is shaped into a virtual viewer incorporated in a ski-goggle type frame which is adapted to be worn on a user'"'"'s head. The video images displayed on the two LCD panels are refreshed alternately to obtain a flickerless image without the necessity of employing any particular circuit or terminal.

Claims

1. An image display system for flickerless stereoscopic reproduction of a visual scene, comprising:

MOS FET image display means incorporated into a frame adapted for wearing on a user'"'"'s head and having right and left LCD panels each starting operation thereof in response to a start pulse received at every vertical field of an input video signal, said LCD panels receiving respective right and left video image data, said LCD panels being of a continuous-display type not incorporating write/hold terminals;

a source for providing said input video signal to said image display means representing right and left stereoscopic video field images to the right and left eyes, respectively, of said user;

start pulse generating means incorporated into the frame for generating right and left start pulses in synchronism with the arrival of said right and left video image data representing the right and left stereoscopic video field images, respectively, said start pulses being mutually in an opposite-phase relationship; and

means for respectively driving said right and left LCD panels by said right and left start pulses so that, during a given field interval, a right field proper to said given field interval is presented to said right eye and a held-over left field proper to a field interval immediately preceding said given field interval is simultaneously presented to said left eye; and

, during a field interval immediately following said given field interval, a held-over right field proper to said given field interval is presented to said right eye and a left field proper to a field interval immediately is presented to said left eye, whereby the user perceives a flickerless stereoscopic image.

2. The image display system according to claim 1, wherein said start pulse generating means consists of a circuit to discriminate between odd and even fields of the stereoscopic video field images.

3. The image display system according to claim 1, wherein said LCD panels are of an active-matrix display type.

4. The image display system according to claim 1, wherein said right and left start pulses serve to refresh or reset said LCD panels.

5. The image display system according to claim 1, wherein the frame of said image display means comprises means for enabling the user to selectively and simultaneously view the surroundings outside of said image display means and the image displayed on said right and left LCD panels, so that the video signal displayed on said right and left LCD panels and said outside view can be selectively seen.

6. The image display system according to claim 5, wherein said frame further comprises shock detection means for detecting vertical or horizontal movement, and the video signal and said outside view are automatically switched in response to an output of said detection means.

7. The image display system according to claim 5, wherein said means for enabling the user to see said outside view comprises a third LCD panel which can be gradationally adjusted between an opaque state and a transparent state by a control voltage fed to said third LCD panel.