Stereoscopic image display apparatus

• US 6,215,590 B1
• Filed: 02/09/1999
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Okano, Hideaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Audrey
• Application Number:
  US09/246,696
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 359/462, 359/463, 359/464, 359/466, 348/56, 348/58, 348/59, 348/57
• US Class Current: 359/464
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/24 involving temporal multiplexing, e.g. using sequentially activated left and right shutters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• 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 13/346 using prisms or semi-transparent mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/361 Reproducing mixed stereoscopic images; Reproducing mixed monoscopic and stereoscopic images, e.g. a stereoscopic image overlay window on a monoscopic image background
• 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 13/376 for tracking left-right translational head movements, i.e. lateral movements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/597 specially adapted for multi-view video sequence encoding

Abstract

A stereoscopic image display apparatus having a light source that defines at least one right and left light-cells which provide plural pairs of right and left lights. A spatial modulator, spaced apart from the light source, spatially modulates the right and left lights from the light source so as to focus the right and left lights on the eyes of at least one viewer. A display mode changer is capable of automatically changing the display mode of the image display between a stereoscopic image display mode and a normal plane image display mode. The display is automatically changed in accordance with the location of the viewer or in response to an instruction from the viewer.

Claims

1. A stereoscopic image display apparatus, comprising:

a light source having right and left shutter-cells for providing plural pairs of right and left lights to project right and left images, respectively;

a spatial modulator spaced apart from the light source for spatially modulating said plural pairs of right and left lights from said light source so as to provide said right and left images on the eyes of at least one viewer;

a display mode changer, coupled to and controlling said light source, for changing a display mode between a stereoscopic image display mode and a normal plane image display mode in accordance with a location of said at least one viewer; and

a lighting controller located within said display mode changer for controlling said right and left shutter-cells;

wherein said light controller alternately activates said right and left shutter-cells to alternately project said right and left lights to said spatial modulator when said display mode is selected to operate in said stereoscopic image display mode; and

wherein said light controller simultaneously activates all right and left shutter-cells in synchronization with the projection of said right or left lights, respectively, to said spatial modulator when said display mode is selected to operate in said normal plane image display mode.

3. A stereoscopic image display apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said lighting controller controls said light source to illuminate a region containing both said right and left shutter-cells in said normal plane image display mode to display one of said right and left images.

4. A stereoscopic image display apparatus as claimed in claim 3,

at least one or more viewers viewing said right and left images in said normal plane image display;

at least one or more viewers viewing said right and left images in said stereoscopic image display mode;

at least one of said right or left shutter panel defining a first region for positioning said shutter cells associated with displaying said right and left images in said normal plane image display mode; and

at least one of said right or left shutter panel defining a second region for position said shutter cells associated with displaying said right and left images in said stereoscopic image display mode so that first region and the second region do not overlap.

9. A stereoscopic image display apparatus as in claim 1,2,5 or 6, wherein said display mode changer changes said display mode to said normal plane image display mode when alignment of both the right and left eyes of said at least one viewer has tilted from an image display screen more than a specific angle.

2. A stereoscopic image display apparatus, comprising:

a light source having right and left shutter-cells for providing plural pairs of right and left lights to project right and left images, respectively;

a spatial modulator spaced apart from said light source for spatially modulating said plural pairs of right and left lights from said light source so as to provide said right and left images on the eyes of at least one viewer;

a display mode changer, coupled to and controlling said light source, for changing a display mode between a stereoscopic image display mode and a normal plane image display mode in accordance with instructions received from said at least one viewer; and

a lighting controller located within said display mode changer for controlling said right and left shutter-cells;

wherein said light controller alternately activates said right and left shutter-cells to alternately project said right and left lights to said spatial modulator when said display mode is selected to operate in said stereoscopic image display mode; and

wherein said light controller simultaneously activates all right and left shutter-cells in synchronization with the projection of said right or left lights, respectively, to said spatial modulator when said display mode is selected to operate in said normal plane image display mode.

5. A stereoscopic image display apparatus, comprising:

a light source projecting a right light and a left light to provide a right image and a left image, respectively;

a right shutter panel having a right and left shutter-cells for receiving said right light projected from said light source and for providing plural pairs of lights to project said right image;

a left-shutter panel having a right and left shutter-cells for receiving said left light projected from said light source and for providing plural pairs of lights to project said left image;

a first spatial modulator spaced apart from the light source for spatially modulating said right light from said right shutter panel so as to provide said right image on the right eye of at least one viewer;

a second spatial modulator spaced apart from the light source for spatially modulating said left light from said left shutter panel so as to provide said left image on the left eye of at least one viewer;

a display mode changer, coupled to and controlling said light source, for changing a display mode between a stereoscopic image display mode and a normal plane image display mode in accordance with a location of said at least one viewer; and

a lighting controller located within said display mode changer for designating light to said right and left shutter-cells located in the right shutter panel and the left shutter panel; and

wherein said light controller alternately activates said right and left shutter-cells of said right and left shutter panels in synchronization when said display mode is selected to operate in said stereoscopic image display mode; and

wherein said light controller simultaneously activates said right and left shutter-cell of said right shutter panel and simultaneously activates the right and left shutter-cells of the left shutter panel alternately when said display mode is selected to operate in said normal plane image display mode.

7. A stereoscopic image display apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said lighting controller controls said light source to illuminate a region containing both said right and left shutter-cells in said normal plane image display mode to display one of right and left images so as to project the lights spatially modulated by one of said first and second spatial modulators on both the right and left eyes of said at least one viewer.

8. A stereoscopic image display apparatus as claimed in claim 7,

at least one or more viewers viewing said right and left images in said normal plane image display;

at least one or more viewers viewing said right and left images in said stereoscopic image display mode;

at least one of said right or left shutter panel defining a first region for positioning said shutter cells associated with displaying said right and left images in said normal plane image display mode; and

at least one of said right or left shutter panel defining a second region for position said shutter cells associated with displaying said right and left images in said stereoscopic image display mode so that first region and the second region do not overlap.

6. A stereoscopic image display apparatus, comprising:

a light source projecting a right light and a left light to provide a right image and a left image, respectively;

a right shutter panel having a right and left shutter-cells for receiving said right light projected from said light source and for providing plural pairs of lights to project said right image;

a left shutter panel having a right and left shutter-cells receiving said left light projected from said light source and for providing plural pairs of lights to project said left image;

a first spatial modulator spaced apart from the light source for spatially modulating said right light from said right shutter panel so as to provide said right image on the right eye of at least one viewer;

a second spatial modulator spaced apart from the light source for spatially modulating said left light from said left shutter panel so as to provide said left image on the left eye of at least one viewer;

a display mode changer, coupled to and controlling said light source, for changing a display mode between a stereoscopic image display mode and a normal plane image display mode in accordance with instructions received from said at least one viewer; and

a lighting controller located within said display mode changer for designating light to said right and left shutter-cells located in the right shutter panel and the left shutter panel; and

wherein said light controller alternately activates said right and left shutter-cells of said right and left shutter panels in synchronization when said display mode is selected to operate in said stereoscopic image display mode; and

wherein said light controller simultaneously activates said right and left shutter-cells of said right shutter panel and simultaneously activates the right and left shutter-cells of the left shutter panel alternately when said display mode is selected to operate in said normal plane image display mode.

10. A stereoscopic image display apparatus, comprising:

a light source having right and left shutter-cells for providing plural pairs of right and left lights to project right and left images, respectively;

a spatial modulator spaced apart from the light source for spatially modulating said plural pairs of right and left lights from said light source so as to provide said right and left images on the eyes of at least one viewer;

a display mode changer, having a tracker mechanism and a controller interface therein, said tracker mechanism connected to said controller interface for determining a location of said at least one viewer, said controller interface being connected to said light source and said spatial modulator for controlling said light source so as to adjust the position of said right and left shutter-cells, for changing a display mode between a stereoscopic image display mode and a normal plane image display mode in accordance with a location of said at least one viewer; and

a light controller located within said display mode changer for controlling said right and left shutter-cells;

wherein said light controller alternately activates said right and left shutter-cells to alternately project said right and left lights to said spatial modulator when said display mode is selected to operate in said stereoscopic image display mode; and

wherein said light controller simultaneously activates all right and left shutter-cells in synchronization with the projection of said right or left lights, respectively, to said spatial modulator when said display mode is selected to operate in said normal plane image display mode.

11. A stereoscopic image display apparatus, comprising:

a light source having right and left shutter-cells for providing plural pairs of right and left lights to project right and left images, respectively;

a spatial modulator spaced apart from the light source for spatially modulating said plural pairs of right and left lights from said light source so as to provide said right and left images on the eyes of at least one viewer;

a display mode changer, having a tracker mechanism and a controller interface therein, said tracker mechanism connected to said controller interface for determining a location of said at least one viewer, said controller interface being connected to said light source and said spatial modulator for controlling said light source so as to adjust the position of said right and left shutter-cells, for changing a display mode between a stereoscopic image display mode and a normal plane image display mode in accordance with instructions received from said at least one viewer; and

a light controller located within said display mode changer for controlling said right and left shutter-cells;

wherein said light controller alternately activates said right and left shutter-cells to alternately project said right and left lights to said spatial modulator when said display mode is selected to operate in said stereoscopic image display mode; and

wherein said light controller simultaneously activates all right and left shutter-cells in synchronization with the projection of said right or left lights, respectively, to said spatial modulator when said display mode is selected to operate in said normal plane image display mode.