Stereoscopic display

• US 6,069,649 A
• Filed: 08/04/1995
• Issued: 05/30/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tomohiko Hattori
• Original Assignee: Tomohiko Hattori
• Inventors: Hattori, Tomohiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Tommy P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Vu
• Application Number:
  US08/511,585
• Time in Patent Office: 1,761 Days
• Field of Search: 348/51, 348/42, 348/43, 348/44, 348/52, 348/54, 348/56-60, 359/495, 359/619, 359/458, 359/462
• US Class Current: 348/51
• 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 13/286 having separate monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/305 using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/31 using parallax barriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/32 using arrays of controllable light sources; using moving apertures or moving light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/324 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/346 using prisms or semi-transparent mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/368 for two or more viewers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

A stereoscopic display which enables plural persons to simultaneously observe stereoscopic images includes a color liquid crystal plate for displaying stereo-pairs composed of left and right eye perspectives in time-interlaced manner, a monochrome TV display disposed behind the color liquid crystal plate for displaying binary and inverted binary images of half face of each observer so as to be synchronized with the time-interlaced display of the color liquid crystal plate, and a large convex lens disposed between the color liquid crystal plate and the monochrome TV display so as to focus the observers'"'"' optical images on the screen of the monochrome TV display in geometrical agreement with the observers'"'"' face images displayed thereby. And an infrared TV camera is disposed so as to take observers'"'"' images by way of the large convex lens and input observers'"'"' face images to the monochrome TV display.

Claims

1. A stereoscopic display comprising:

stereo-pairs display means for selectively displaying stereo-pairs composed of right and left eye perspectives to be observed by observers;

observers'"'"' face images display means for displaying observers'"'"' face images,

focusing means operable in conjunction with said observers'"'"' face images display means for directing the stereo-pairs displayed by said stereo-pairs display means to right and left eyes of each observer based on the observers'"'"' face images displayed by said observers'"'"' face images display means, said focusing means being positioned to focus observers'"'"' optical images substantially on a screen of said observers'"'"' face images display means in geometric agreement with the observers'"'"' face images displayed by the observers'"'"' face images display means; and

taking means for continuously taking observers'"'"' visible light images or non-visible light images focused through said focusing means and adapted to form said observers'"'"' face images to be displayed by said observers'"'"' face images display means,

said stereo-pairs display means being composed of transparent type electro-optical spatial modulation elements disposed between the observers and said focusing means to display the stereo-pairs in time-interlaced state, and said observers'"'"' face images display means being composed of a surface light source unit disposed behind said focusing means to display pairs of observers'"'"' face images of which flashing regions are inverted with each other in time-interlaced manner, one of each pair of observers'"'"' face images displayed by said surface light source unit selectively serving as backlight for said transparent type electro-optical spatial modulation elements so as to be synchronized with the time-interlaced display of said surface light source unit.

2. The stereoscopic display according to claim 1, wherein said surface light source unit is composed of a surface light source of which flashing regions are variable so as to be synchronized with the time-interlaced display of said electro-optical spatial modulation elements.

3. The stereoscopic display according to claim 2, wherein said surface light source unit comprises of at least one light source and transparent type electro-optical spatial modulation elements provided an a light emission side of said at least one light source.

21. The stereoscopic display according to claim 1, 4, 9, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20, wherein said taking means is disposed between said focusing means and said observers'"'"' face images display means.

22. The stereoscopic display according to claim 21, wherein said taking means is composed of a half mirror and a video camera which detects the optical strength of a predetermined light reflected by said half mirror.

23. The stereoscopic display according to claim 22, wherein said taking means further comprising:

a diffuser disposed in the vicinity of a position where observers'"'"' images are focused by said half mirror, said video camera taking observers'"'"' images focused on said diffuser.

24. The stereoscopic display according to claim 23, further comprising:

at least one large convex lens, Fresnel convex lens, Selfoc lens, arrayed Fresnel convex lens and arrayed Selfoc lens, which is disposed in front of said diffuser.

25. The stereoscopic display according to claim 21, wherein said taking means is composed of a member which detects the optical strength of a predetermined light transmitted by way of said focusing means in the vicinity of a screen of said observers'"'"' face images display means.

26. The stereoscopic display according to claim 21, further comprising:

illuminating means for illuminating observers with a predetermined light.

27. The stereoscopic display according to claim 26, wherein said illuminating means illuminates said observers from one side thereof.

28. The stereoscopic display according to claim 26, wherein said illuminating means illuminates said observers by way of said focusing means.

29. The stereoscopic display according to claim 26, wherein said illuminating means illuminates said observers with infrared light.

30. The stereoscopic display according to claim 21, further comprising:

correcting means for correcting optical strength of observers'"'"' images obtained by said taking means based on a stereo-pairs signal input to said stereo-pairs display means so as to eliminate the influence of said stereo-pairs on said taking means.

31. The stereoscopic display according to claim 1, 4, 9, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20, further comprising

image modulation processing means for forming binary face images of each observer based on said observers'"'"' images taken by said taking means and outputting formed binary face images to said observers'"'"' face images display means.

32. The stereoscopic display according to claim 31, further comprising:

image analyzing means for analyzing images taken by said taking means into observers'"'"' images.

33. The stereoscopic display according to claim 1, 4, 9, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20, wherein said focusing means is at least one of a large convex lens, Fresnel convex lens, Selfoc lens, concave mirror, Fresnel concave mirror, arrayed convex lens, arrayed Fresnel convex lens and arrayed Selfoc lens, arrayed concave mirror and Fresnel concave mirror.

34. The stereoscopic display according to claim 1, 4, 9, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20, further comprising:

at least one member out of a large convex lens, Fresnel convex lens, Selfoc lens, arrayed Fresnel concave lens and arrayed Selfoc lens, which is disposed in front of a screen of said observers'"'"' face images display means.

35. The stereoscopic display according to claim 1, 4, 9, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20, further comprising:

at least one member out of a large convex lens, Fresnel convex lens, Selfoc lens, arrayed Fresnel convex lens and arrayed Selfoc lens, which is disposed in front of a screen of said stereo-pairs display means.

36. The stereoscopic display according to claim 1, 4, 9, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20, further comprising:

a mechanism for automatically adjusting the distance between said observers'"'"' face images display means and said focusing means such that observers'"'"' optical images are focused substantially on a screen of said observers'"'"' face images display means.

37. The stereoscopic display according to claim 1, 4, 9, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20, wherein said stereoscopic display is used as a display for digital images.

38. The stereoscopic display according to claim 1, 4, 9, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20, wherein said stereoscopic display is used as a display for analog images.

39. The stereoscopic display according to claim 1, 4, 9, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20, wherein said stereoscopic display is used as a display for one-way communication.

40. The stereoscopic display according to claim 1, 4, 9, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20, wherein said stereoscopic display is used as a display for two-way communication.

4. A stereoscopic display comprising:

stereo-pairs display means for selectively displaying stereo-pairs composed of right and left eye perspectives to be observed by observers;

observers'"'"' face images display means for displaying observers'"'"' face images,

focusing means operable in conjunction with said observers'"'"' face images display means for directing the stereo-pairs displayed by said stereo-pairs display means to right and left eyes of each observer based on the observers'"'"' face images displayed by said observers'"'"' face images display means, said focusing means being positioned to focus observers'"'"' optical images substantially on a screen of said observers'"'"' face images display means in geometric agreement with the observers'"'"' face images displayed by the observers'"'"' face images display means; and

taking means for continuously taking observers'"'"' visible light images or non-visible light images focused through said focusing means and adapted to form said observers'"'"' face images to be displayed by said observers'"'"' face images display means,

said stereo-pairs display means being composed of transparent type electro-optical spatial modulation elements disposed between the observers and said focusing means to display the stereo-pairs in time-parallel state, and said observers'"'"' face images display means being composed of a surface light source unit which is disposed behind said focusing means to display pairs of observers'"'"' face images of which polarization axes are oriented approximately 90°

with respect to each other, said one of each pair of observers'"'"' face images displayed by said surface light source unit selectively serving as backlight for said transparent type electro-optical spatial modulation elements.

5. The stereoscopic display according to claim 4, wherein said surface light source unit includes a surface light source of which regions for emitting light rays of polarization axes oriented approximately 90°

with respect to each other are variable.

6. The stereoscopic display according to claim 4, wherein said surface light source unit includes a surface light source of which flashing regions are substantially variable and two polarization plates of which polarization axes are oriented approximately 90°

so as to correspond to the displayed pairs of observers'"'"' face images.

7. The stereoscopic display according to claim 4, wherein said surface light source unit is composed of a monochrome liquid crystal TV display, and in two polarization plates of said monochrome liquid crystal TV display, two kinds of regions of which polarization axes are oriented approximately 90°

with respect to each other are distributed with uniformity.

8. The stereoscopic display according to claim 4, wherein said transparent type electro-optical spatial modulation elements are composed of a color liquid crystal image display plate wherein regions displaying left eye perspectives and those displaying right eye perspectives are alternately distributed with uniformity, and a polarizer on an input side thereof has such a member as to rotate polarization axes approximately 90°

so as to correspond to said regions of said color liquid crystal image display plate.

9. A stereoscopic display comprising:

stereo-pairs display means for selectively displaying stereo-pairs composed of right and left eye perspectives to be observed by observers;

observers'"'"' face images display means for displaying observers'"'"' face images,

focusing means operable in conjunction with said observers'"'"' face images display means for directing the stereo-pairs displayed by said stereo-pairs display means to right and left eyes of each observer based on the observers'"'"' face images displayed by said observers'"'"' face images display means, said focusing means being positioned to focus observers'"'"' optical images substantially on a screen of said observers'"'"' face images display means in geometric agreement with the observers'"'"' face images displayed by the observers'"'"' face images display means; and

taking means for continuously taking observers'"'"' visible light images or non-visible light images focused through said focusing means and adapted to form said observers'"'"' face images to be displayed by said observers'"'"' face images display means,

said stereo-pairs display means being composed of a surface light source disposed behind said observers'"'"' face images display means to display stereo-pairs in time-interlaced state, and said observers'"'"' face images display means being composed of transparent type electro-optical spatial modulation elements behind said focusing means to display pairs of observers'"'"' face images of which transparent regions are substantially inverted in time-interlaced manner.

10. The stereoscopic display according to claim 9, wherein said surface light source unit is composed of a surface light source of which flashing regions are variable so as to be synchronized with the time-interlaced display of said electro-optical spatial modulation elements.

11. The stereoscopic display according to claim 9, wherein said surface light source unit is composed of at least one light source and transparent type electro-optical modulation elements provided on a light emitting side of said at least one light source.

12. A stereoscopic display comprising:

stereo-pairs display means for selectively displaying stereo-pairs composed of right and left eye perspectives to be observed by observers;

observers'"'"' face images display means for displaying observers'"'"' face images,

focusing means operable in conjunction with said observers'"'"' face images display means for directing the stereo-pairs displayed by said stereo-pairs display means to right and left eyes of each observer based on the observers'"'"' face images displayed by said observers'"'"' face images display means, said focusing means being positioned to focus observers'"'"' optical images substantially on a screen of said observers'"'"' face images display means in geometric agreement with the observers'"'"' face images displayed by the observers'"'"' face images display means; and

taking means for continuously taking observers'"'"' visible light images or non-visible light images focused through said focusing means and adapted to form said observers'"'"' face images to be displayed by said observers'"'"' face images display means,

said stereo-pairs display means being composed of a surface light source disposed behind said observers'"'"' face images display means to display the stereo-pairs in time-parallel manner, said observers'"'"' face images display means being composed of transparent type electro-optical spatial modulation elements disposed behind said focusing means to display pairs of observers'"'"' face images of which polarization axes are oriented approximately 90°

with respect to each other, said transparent type electro-optical spatial modulation elements selectively transmitting one of said stereo-pairs displayed by said surface light source.

13. The stereoscopic display according to claim 12, wherein said surface light source is composed of a color liquid crystal display of which a polarization plate as an analyzer has two polarization axes, each corresponding to the right eye perspective display part or the left eye perspective display part, which are alternately oriented approximately 90°

with respect to each other.

14. The stereoscopic display according to claim 12, wherein said surface light source is composed of two projectors which respectively project the right eye perspectives and left eye perspectives having different polarization axes oriented approximately 90°

with respect to each other, and a diffuser which is provided in the projection surface of the two projectors to compose the right eye perspectives and left eye perspectives without any variation of the polarization axes thereof.

15. The stereoscopic display according to claim 12, wherein said transparent type electro-optical spatial modulation elements are composed of a monochrome liquid crystal display wherein two kinds of areas of which the polarization axes are oriented approximately 90°

with respect to each other are distributed substantially uniformly in the polarization plates thereof.

16. A stereoscopic display comprising:

stereo-pairs display means for selectively displaying stereo-pairs composed of right and left eye perspectives to be ob served by observers;

observers'"'"' face images display means for displaying observers'"'"' face images,

focusing means operable in conjunction with said observers'"'"' face images display means for directing the stereo-pairs displayed by said stereo-pairs display means to right and left eyes of each observer based on the observers'"'"' face images displayed by said observers'"'"' face images display means, said focusing means being positioned to focus observers'"'"' optical images substantially on a screen of said observers'"'"' face images display means in geometric agreement with the observers'"'"' face images displayed by the observers'"'"' face images display means; and

taking means for continuously taking observers'"'"' visible light images or non-visible light images focused through said focusing means and adapted to form said observers'"'"' face images to be displayed by said observers'"'"' face images display means,

said stereo-pairs display means being composed of transparent type electro-optical spatial modulation elements disposed between observers and said focusing means to display stereo-pairs in time-parallel state, and said observers'"'"' images display means being composed of a surface light source unit disposed behind said focusing means to display pairs of observers'"'"' face images of which flashing regions are substantially inverted in time-interlaced manner, said transparent type electro-optical spatial modulation elements selectively using one of each pair of observer'"'"'s face images displayed by the surface light source unit as backlight so as to be synchronized with the time-interlaced display of the surface light source unit, an electrical-optical spatial modulation element being disposed between said surface light source unit and said spatial modulation elements for rotating the polarization axes of the pairs of observers'"'"' face images displayed by the surface light source unit approximately 90°

so as to be synchronized with the time-interlaced display of the surface light source unit.

17. A stereoscopic display comprising:

stereo-pairs display means for selectively displaying stereo-pairs composed of right and left eye perspectives to be observed by observers;

observers'"'"' face images display means for displaying observers'"'"' face images,

focusing means operable in conjunction with said observers'"'"' face images display means for directing the stereo-pairs displayed by said stereo-pairs display means to right and left eyes of each observer based on the observers'"'"' face images displayed by said observers'"'"' face images display means, said focusing means being positioned to focus observers'"'"' optical images substantially on a screen of said observers'"'"' face images display means in geometric agreement with the observers'"'"' face images displayed by the observers'"'"' face images display means; and

taking means for continuously taking observers'"'"' visible light images or non-visible light images focused through said focusing means and adapted to form said observers'"'"' face images to be displayed by said observers'"'"' face images display means.

said stereo-pairs display means being composed of transparent type electro-optical spatial modulation elements disposed between said observers and said focusing means to display the stereo-pairs in time-interlaced state, and said observers'"'"' face images display means being composed of a surface light source unit disposed behind said focusing means to display pairs of observers'"'"' face images of which polarization axes are oriented approximately 90°

with respect to each other, a transparent type electro-optical spatial modulation element being disposed between said surface light source unit and said spatial modulation elements for rotating said polarization axes of the pairs of observers'"'"' face images displayed by said surface light source unit approximately 90°

so as to be synchronized with the time-interlaced display by said transparent type electro-optical spatial modulation elements.

18. A stereoscopic display comprising:

stereo-pairs display means for selectively displaying stereo-pairs composed of right and left eye perspectives to be observed by observers;

observers'"'"' face images display means for displaying observers'"'"' face images,

focusing means operable in conjunction with said observers'"'"' face images display means for directing the stereo-pairs displayed by said stereo-pairs display means to right and left eyes of each observer based on the observers'"'"' face images displayed by said observers'"'"' face images display means, said focusing means being positioned to focus observers'"'"' optical images substantially on a screen of said observers'"'"' face images display means in geometric agreement with the observers'"'"' face images displayed by the observers'"'"' face images display means; and

taking means for continuously taking observers'"'"' visible light images or non-visible light images focused through said focusing means and adapted to form said observers'"'"' face images to be displayed by said observers'"'"' face images display means,

said stereo-pairs display means being composed of a surface light source disposed behind said observers'"'"' face images display means to display said stereo-pairs in time-parallel state, said observers'"'"' face images display means being composed of a transparent type electro-optical spatial modulation elements disposed behind said focusing means to display pairs of observers'"'"' face images of which transparent regions are substantially inverted in time-interlaced state, said transparent type electro-optical spatial modulation elements selectively transmitting one of said stereo-pairs in spatial-multiplexing state, an electro-optical spatial modulation element being disposed between said surface light source unit and said spatial modulation elements for rotating the polarization axes of the stereo-pairs displayed by said surface light source unit approximately 90°

so as to be synchronized with the time-interlaced display of said spatial modulation elements.

19. A stereoscopic display comprising:

stereo-pairs display means for selectively displaying stereo-pairs composed of right and left eye perspectives to be observed by observers;

observers'"'"' face images display means for displaying observers'"'"' face images,

focusing means operable in conjunction with said observers'"'"' face images display means for directing the stereo-pairs displayed by said stereo-pairs display means to right and left eyes of each observer based on the observers'"'"' face images displayed by said observers'"'"' face images display means, said focusing means being positioned to focus observers'"'"' optical images substantially on a screen of said observers'"'"' face images display means in geometric agreement with the observers'"'"' face images displayed by the observers'"'"' face images display means; and

taking means for continuously taking observers'"'"' visible light images or non-visible light images focused through said focusing means and adapted to form said observers'"'"' face images to be displayed by said observers'"'"' face images display means,

said stereo-pairs display means being composed of a surface light source unit disposed behind said observers'"'"' face images display means to display said stereo-pairs in time-interlaced state, and said observers'"'"' face images display means being composed of a surface light source unit disposed behind said observers'"'"' face images display means to display said stereo-pairs in time-interlaced state, and said observers'"'"' face images display means being composed of transparent type electro-optical spatial modulation elements disposed behind said focusing means to display observers'"'"' two face images of which polarization axes are oriented approximately 90°

with respect to each other in spatial-multiplexing state, said transparent type electro-optical spatial modulation elements selectively transmitting one of said stereo-pairs in spatial-multiplexing state, an electro-optical spatial modulation element being disposed between said surface light source unit and said spatial modulation elements for rotating said polarization axes of said stereo-pairs displayed by said surface light source unit approximately 90°

so as to be synchronized with the time-interlaced display of said surface light source unit.

20. A stereoscopic display comprising:

stereo-pairs display means for selectively displaying stereo-pairs composed of right and left eye perspectives to be observed by observers;

observers'"'"' face images display means for displaying observers'"'"' face images,

focusing means operable in conjunction with said observers'"'"' face images display means for directing the stereo-pairs displayed by said stereo-pairs display means to right and left eyes of each observer based on the observers'"'"' face images displayed by said observers'"'"' face images display means, said focusing means being positioned to focus observers'"'"' optical images substantially on a screen of said observers'"'"' face images display means in geometric agreement with the observers'"'"' face images displayed by the observers'"'"' face images display means; and

taking means for continuously taking observers'"'"' visible light images or non-visible light images focused through said focusing means and adapted to form said observers'"'"' face images to be displayed by said observers'"'"' face images display means,

said stereo-pairs display means being composed of right eye perspectives display means and left eye perspectives display means, said observers'"'"' face images display means being composed of right half face images display means and left half face images display means, and said focusing means being composed of right eyes focusing means which faces said right half face images display means and left eyes focusing means which faces said left half face images display means, a half mirror for distributing observers'"'"' optical images to said right eyes focusing means and said left eyes focusing means, respectively, and composing said right eye perspectives displayed by said right eye perspectives display means and left eye perspectives displayed by said left eye perspectives display means being further included.