Projection image display device

• US 6,803,884 B1
• Filed: 03/08/2000
• Issued: 10/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Tanijiri, Yasushi, Ohzawa, Soh
• Primary Examiner(s): Chow, Dennis-Doon
• Application Number:
  US09/521,657
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1.1, 345/1.3, 345/9, 345/7, 345/8, 359/364, 359/630, 352/57, 352/364, 351/206
• US Class Current: 345/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/002 to project the image of a two-dimensional display, such as an array of light emitting or modulating elements or a CRT
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/003 to produce spatial visual effects

Abstract

A projection image display device has a first display unit for displaying a first image based on a first image signal, an enlarging optical system for enlarging the first image and projecting the first image to the eye of an observer and a second display unit for displaying a second image based on a second image signal and directly projecting the second image to the eye of an observer.

Claims

1. A projection image display device comprising:

a first display unit for displaying a first image based on a first image signal;

an enlarging optical system for enlarging the first image and projecting the first image to an eye of an observer;

a second display unit for displaying a second image based on a second image signal and directly projecting the second image to the eye of the observer; and

an image signal controller that controls one or both of the first image signal and the second image signal so as to project the first image and the second image at identical size to the eye of the observer, wherein the first and second images are viewed by the observer'"'"'s eye at the same time.

2. A projection image display device claimed in claim 1, wherein the enlarging optical system is provided so as to match an optical axis with the line of sight of the observer.

3. A projection image display device claimed in claim 1, wherein the first display unit is arranged so as to have an optical axis of the enlarging optical system cross a display surface of the first display unit in a center of the display surface.

4. A projection image display device claimed in claim 1, wherein the enlarging optical system includes an eyepiece lens element.

5. A projection image display device claimed in claim 1, wherein the enlarging optical system includes a concave mirror.

6. A projection image display device claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an image brightness signal controller that controls one or both of the first image signal and second image signal so as to project a projection image of the first display unit and a projection image of the second display unit at identical brightness to the eye of the observer.

7. A method of displaying images to an eye of an observer, comprising:

displaying a first image on a first display unit based on a first image signal;

projecting the first image to an enlarging optical system such that an eye of an observer can view an enlargement of the first image via the enlarging optical system;

displaying a second image on a second display unit based on a second image signal;

projecting the second image directly to the eye of the observer; and

controlling one or both of the first image signal and the second image signal so as to project the first image and the second image at an identical size to the eye of the observer, wherein the first and second images are viewed by the observer'"'"'s eye at the same time.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising controlling one or both of the first image signal and the second image signal so as to project a projection image of the first display unit and a projection image of the second display unit at identical brightness to the eye of the observer.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the enlarging optical system is arranged such that an optical axis of the enlarging optical system matches the line of sight of the eye of the observer.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the enlarging optical system is arranged such that an optical axis of the enlarging optical system crosses a display surface of the first display unit in a center of the display surface.

11. The method claim 7, wherein the enlarging optical system includes an eyepiece lens element.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the enlarging optical system includes a concave mirror.

13. A projection image display device to be positioned in front of the face of an observer, comprising:

a first display unit for displaying a first image based on a first image signal;

a first enlarging optical system for enlarging the first image and projecting the first image to a first eye of an observer;

a second display unit for displaying a second image based on a second image signal and directly projecting the second image to the first eye of the observer;

a body that supports the first display unit, the second display unit, and the first enlarging optical system, wherein the body is configured to be positioned in front of the face of the observer; and

an image signal controller that controls one or both of the first image signal and the second image signal so as to project the first image and the second image at identical size to the first eye of the observer, wherein the first and second images are viewed by the observer'"'"'s eye at the same time.

14. A projection image display device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

image brightness signal control means for controlling one or both of the first image signal and the second image signal so as to project a projection image of the first display unit and a projection image of the second display unit at identical brightness to the eye of the observer.

15. A projection image display device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first enlarging optical system is provided so as to match an optical axis with a line of sight of the observer.

16. A projection image display device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first display unit is arranged so as to have an optical axis of the first enlarging optical system cross a display surface of the first display unit in a center of the display surface.

17. A projection image display device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first enlarging optical system includes an eyepiece lens element.

18. A projection image display device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first enlarging optical system includes a concave mirror.

19. A projection image display device to be positioned in front of the face of an observer, comprising:

a first display unit for displaying a first image based on a first image signal;

a first enlarging optical system for enlarging the first image and projecting the first image to a first eye of an observer;

a second display unit for displaying a second image based on a second image signal and directly projecting the second image to the first eye the observer;

a third display unit for displaying a third image based on a third image signal;

a second enlarging optical system for enlarging the third image and projecting the first third image to a second eye of an observer;

a fourth display unit for displaying a fourth image based on a fourth image signal and directly projecting the fourth image to the second eye the observer; and

a body that supports the first display unit, the second display unit, the third display unit, the fourth display unit, the first enlarging optical system and the second enlarging optical system, and wherein the body is configured to be positioned in front of the face of the observer, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth images are viewed by the observer'"'"'s eyes at the same time.

20. A projection image display device comprising:

a first display unit for displaying a first image based on a first image signal;

an enlarging optical system for enlarging the first image and projecting the first image to an eye of an observer;

a second display unit for displaying a second image based on a second image signal and directly projecting the second image to the eye of the observer; and

image signal control means for controlling one or both of the first image signal and the second image signal so as to project the first image and the second image at identical size to the eye of the observer, wherein the first and second images are viewed by the observer'"'"'s eye at the same time.

21. A projection image display device claimed in claim 20, further comprising:

image brightness signal control means for controlling one or both of the first image signal and the second image signal so as to project image of the first display unit and a projection image of the second display unit at identical brightness to the eye of the observer.

22. A projection image display device comprising:

a first display unit for displaying a first image based on a first image signal;

an enlarging optical system for enlarging the first image and projecting the first image to an eye of an observer; and

a second display unit for displaying a second image based on a second image signal and directly projecting the second image to the eye of the observer,

wherein the first and second image signals representing adjacent parts of a wide range image are transmitted to the first and second displays, respectively, and thereby the first and second images compose an entirety of the wide range image.

23. A projection image display device to be positioned in front of the face of an observer, comprising:

a first display unit for displaying a first image based on a first image signal;

a first enlarging optical system for enlarging the first image and projecting the first image to a first eye of an observer;

a second display unit for displaying a second image based on a second image signal and directly projecting the second image to the first eye of the observer; and

a body that supports the first display unit, the second display unit, and the first enlarging optical system, wherein the body is configured to be positioned in front of the face of the observer, and

wherein the first and second image signals representing adjacent parts of a wide range image are transmitted to the first and second displays, respectively, and thereby the first and second images compose an entirety of the wide range image.