Apparatus for displaying a stereoscopic two-dimensional image and method therefor

• US 6,906,686 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2001
• Issued: 06/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Masaru
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kovalick, Vincent E.
• Application Number:
  US09/801,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20010022563A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1.1, 345/1.2, 345/5, 345/905, 345/6, 345/7, 345/9, 345/55, 348/51, 348/54, 348/59, 348/42, 359/462, 359/621, 359/622, 359/463, 359/466, 359/467, 382/154, 382/276, 382/285, 382/295, 349/15
• US Class Current: 345/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/003 to produce spatial visual effects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/305 using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

An apparatus for displaying a stereoscopic two-dimensional picture includes a display unit having a flat image display screen for displaying a two-dimensional picture containing a stereoscopic image and an image transmitting panel placed parallel to and apart from the image display screen. The image transmitting panel has a microlens array of a plurality of lenses and an effective area larger than that of the stereoscopic image contained in the two-dimensional picture, and a lens frame area surrounding a perimeter of the effective area of the microlens array. The image transmitting panel generates an image-formation plane for displaying a real image of the two-dimensional picture in a space located on an opposite side to the display unit with respect to the microlens array. The apparatus also includes a stereoscopic frame for defining a space for accommodating the image-formation plane.

Claims

1. An apparatus for displaying a stereoscopic two-dimensional picture comprising:

a display unit having a flat image display screen for displaying a two-dimensional picture containing a stereoscopic image;

an image transmitting panel placed to and apart from said image display screen, the image transmitting panel having a microlens array of a plurality of lenses and an effective area larger than that of the stereoscopic image contained in said two-dimensional picture, and a lens frame area surrounding a perimeter of the effective area of said microlens array, so that said image transmitting panel generates an image-formation plane for displaying a real image of said two-dimensional picture in a space located on an opposite side to said display unit with respect to said microlens array; and

a stereoscopic frame for defining a space for accommodating said image-formation plane.

2. An apparatus for displaying a stereoscopic two-dimensional picture according to claim 1, wherein said microlens array is a micro-convex-lens board formed of a plurality of lens systems each consisting of a pair of convex lenses coaxially arranged, the lens systems being arranged in the two-dimensional manner so that the optical axes of the lens systems are parallel to one another.

3. An apparatus for displaying a stereoscopic two-dimensional picture according to claim 2, wherein said microlens array forms an erect real image of the two-dimensional picture.

4. An apparatus for displaying a stereoscopic two-dimensional picture according to claim 1, wherein said lens frame area is a dark color area.

5. An apparatus for displaying a stereoscopic two-dimensional picture according to claim 1, further comprising a supporting member supporting said lens frame area and defining a distance between the image display screen and the image transmitting panel, at least an optical path side of the supporting member being a dark color.

6. An apparatus for displaying a stereoscopic two-dimensional picture according to claim 1, further comprising a picture signal supply circuit for generating a picture signal for exhibiting an image portion other than stereoscopic images which is filling with a dark color in the two-dimensional picture to be reproduced and supplying the picture signal to said display unit.

7. An apparatus for displaying a stereoscopic two-dimensional picture according to claim 1, further comprising an image-formation-spot indicating unit placed adjacent to said image-formation-plane in the stereoscopic frame.

8. An apparatus for displaying a stereoscopic two-dimensional picture according to claim 1, wherein said stereoscopic frame is a glass tank filled with water.

9. An apparatus for displaying a stereoscopic two-dimensional picture according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second display unit placed on a bottom side of the glass tank with water and having a second flat image display screen for displaying a two-dimensional picture containing a second stereoscopic image;

a second image transmitting panel placed parallel to and apart from said second image display screen, the second image transmitting panel having a microlens of a plurality of image contained in said two-dimensional picture, and a lens frame area surrounding a perimeter of the effective area of said microlens array, so that said second image transmitting panel generates an image-formation plane for displaying a real image of said two-dimensional picture in a space located on an opposite side to said second display unit with respect to said microlens array.

10. An apparatus for displaying a stereoscopic two-dimensional picture according to claim 1, wherein said display unit comprises;

a back-light illuminating unit;

a color liquid crystal display panel arranged so as to cover a whole surface of the back-light illuminating unit; and

picture signal supply unit supplying a picture signal including two-dimensional picture data and stereoscopic image data to the color liquid crystal display panel.

11. A method for displaying a stereoscopic two-dimensional picture comprising the steps of:

providing a display unit having a flat image display screen for displaying a two-dimensional picture containing a stereoscopic image;

arranging an image transmitting panel parallel to and apart from said image display screen, said image transmitting panel having a microlens array of a plurality of lenses and an effective area larger than that of the stereoscopic image contained in said two-dimensional picture, and a lens frame area surrounding a perimeter of the effective area of said microlens array; and

arranging a stereoscopic frame for defining a space for accommodating an image-formation plane so that said image transmitting panel generates said image-formation plane for displaying a real image of said two-dimensional picture in a space located on an opposite side to said display unit with respect to said microlens array.

12. A method for displaying a stereoscopic two-dimensional picture according to claim 11, further comprising a step of generating a picture signal for exhibiting an image portion other than stereoscopic images which is filled with a dark color in the two-dimensional picture to be reproduced and supplying the picture signal to said display unit.

13. A method for displaying a stereoscopic two-dimensional picture according to claim 11, further comprising a step of placing an image-formation-spot indicating unit adjacent to said image-formation plane.