Three-dimensional image display apparatus and color reproducing method for three-dimensional image display

• US 6,980,176 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2002
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.), Hitdesign Ltd.
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Kazumi, Nishihara, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Lun-yi
• Application Number:
  US10/241,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20030052836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 345 7- 9, 359462-466, 359/475, 348/42, 348/51, 348/59, 349/64, 349106-110
• US Class Current: 345/6
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/27 involving lenticular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/305 using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/307 using fly-eye lenses, e.g. arrangements of circular 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 13/349 Multi-view displays for displaying three or more geometrical viewpoints without viewer tracking for viewing without the aid of special glasses using fly-eye lenses H04N13/307
• 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

Abstract

In a three-dimensional image display apparatus provided with a shading mask with a minute aperture array in front of a color display device, the minute apertures are provided with color filters, a setting is provided so that the visual angles between the respective centers of the red-light transmitting part, green-light transmitting part, and blue-light transmitting part of the color filters become equal, in an identical parallax image pixel region, to the visual angles between the respective centers of the red, green, and blue sub-pixels of the color display device, the respective red, green, and blue sub-pixels are made so as to be always displayed in a lighted condition at a fixed area ratio, thus color reproduction wherein brightness ratio of the three primary colors in respective parallax image pixels is maintained at an appointed value is carried out.

Claims

1. A color reproducing method for a three-dimensional image display in a three-dimensional image display apparatus provided with a shading mask with a minute aperture array, having minute aperture parts, in front of a color display device, each minute aperture part being provided with a color filter composed of a red-light transmitting part, a green-light transmitting part, and a blue-light transmitting part, said method comprising:

a corresponding step of, between the respective red-transmitting part, the green-transmitting part, and the blue-light transmitting part of the color filters and respective red, green, and blue sub-pixels of the color display device, corresponding the light transmitting parts and the sub-pixels that have a same color and exist in a same parallax image pixel region to each other,

a setting step of setting such that visual angles between the respective centers of the red-light transmitting part, the green-light transmitting part, and the blue-light transmitting part of the color filters become equal, in an identical parallax image pixel region, to visual angles between the respective centers of the red sub-pixel, the green sub-pixel, and the blue sub-pixel of the color display device,

a display step of always displaying the red sub-pixel, the green sub-pixel, and the blue sub-pixel which belong to an identical parallax image pixel region at a fixed area ratio in a lighted condition, and

a color reproducing step of, at a viewing position of the three-dimensional image display apparatus at an optimal viewing distance, performing color reproduction while maintaining the ratio of brightness of the three RGB primary colors at a predetermined value in each of the respective parallax image pixels.

2. A color reproducing method for a three-dimensional image display according to claim 1, wherein parts of the respective red-light transmitting part, the green-light transmitting part, and the blue-light transmitting part of the color filters are overlapped with each other by color mixing according to an additive color mixing method for the three primary colors of light, thereby allowing respective primary-color lights to transmit in an overlapped manner.

3. A color reproducing method for a three-dimensional image display according to claim 1, wherein in terms of the viewing position of the three-dimensional image display apparatus at an optimal viewing distance, the pixel pitch of the color display device, the width of a red-light transmitting part of the color filter, the width of a green-light transmitting part of the color filter, and the width of a blue-light transmitting part of the color filter are observed with an equal visual angle in a direction where the respective primary colors are arranged in an identical parallax image pixel region.

4. A three-dimensional image display apparatus in which a color reproducing method for a three-dimensional image display according to claim 1 is used.

8. A color reproducing method for a three-dimensional image display according to claim 4, wherein the three-dimensional image display apparatus comprises:

the transmission type display device; and

a positive microlens array arranged between the minute light source array and the transmission type display device;

wherein the shading mask includes a minute aperture array, having minute aperture parts such that the minute aperture parts are provided at respective positions of real images of the minute light sources of the minute light source array, formed by the positive microlens array in front of the transmission display device.

5. A color reproducing method for a three-dimensional image display in a three-dimensional image display apparatus provided with a shading mask with a minute light source array, having light sources, in the rear of a transmission type color display device, each light source being composed of a red-light emitting part, a green-light emitting part, and a blue-light emitting part, said method comprising:

a corresponding step of, between the respective red-light emitting part, the green-light emitting part, and the blue-light emitting part of the minute light sources and respective red, green, and blue sub-pixels of the transmission type color display device, corresponding the light emitting parts and the sub-pixels that have a same color and exist in a same parallax image pixel region to each other,

a setting step of setting such that visual angles between the respective centers of the red-light emitting part, the green-light emitting part, and the blue-light emitting part of the minute light sources become equal, in an identical parallax image pixel region, to visual angles between the respective centers of the red sub-pixel, the green sub-pixel, and the blue sub-pixel of the transmission type color display device,

a display step of always displaying the red sub-pixel, the green sub-pixel, and the blue sub-pixel which belong to an identical parallax image pixel at a fixed area ratio in a lighted condition, and

a color reproducing step of, at a viewing position of the three-dimensional image display apparatus at an optimal viewing distance, performing color reproduction while maintaining the ratio of brightness of the three RGB primary colors at a predetermined value in each of the respective parallax images.

6. A color reproducing method for a three-dimensional image display according to claim 5, wherein parts of the respective red-light emitting part, the green-light emitting part, and the blue-light emitting part of the minute light sources are overlapped with each other by color mixing according to an additive color mixing method for the three primary colors of light, thereby allowing respective primary-color lights to be emitted in an overlapped manner.

7. A color reproducing method for a three-dimensional image display according to claim 5, wherein in terms of the viewing position of the three-dimensional display apparatus at an optimal viewing distance, the pixel pitch of the transmission type color display device, the width of a red-light emitting part of the minute light source, the width of a green-light emitting part of the minute light source, and the width of a blue-light emitting part of the minute light source are observed with an equal visual angle in a direction where the respective primary colors are arranged in an identical parallax image pixel region.

9. A three-dimensional image display apparatus in which a color reproducing method for a three-dimensional image display according to claim 5 is performed.

10. A three-dimensional image apparatus comprising:

a display device which has pixel units, each composed of sub-pixels of a plurality of colors arranged in a horizontal direction and each being a unit of display, and which displays two or more parallax images in a composite manner so that approximately identical sections of the two or more parallax images, each having been divided into a plurality of sections in the horizontal direction, are arranged by a predetermined order; and

a mask in which aperture parts and shading parts are alternatively provided in the horizontal direction and which allows light from pixel units for displaying respective sections of a same parallax image to be emitted from all of the pixel units to reach, through the aperture parts, observation regions which are different depending on the parallax image,

wherein on each of the aperture parts of said mask, a filter unit composed of color filters of a plurality of colors which are arranged in the horizontal direction is provided,

wherein the pixel units are each composed of red, green, and blue sub-pixels or yellow, cyan, and magenta sub-pixels, and

wherein the filter units are each composed of color filters of five colors which consist of two colors from red, green, and blue, one color from white and transparent, and two colors from yellow, cyan and magenta.

11. A three-dimensional image display apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said mask allows light from sub-pixels of a plurality of colors, which compose the pixel units for displaying the same parallax image to be emitted from all of the pixel units to reach an approximately identical region.

12. A three-dimensional image display apparatus according to claim 10,

wherein said display device is of a transmission type,

wherein a light emitting surface emits light for illuminating said display device, and

wherein a lenticular lens provided between the light emitting surface and said mask provides the light emitting surface and said mask with a conjugated positional relationship.

13. A three-dimensional image display apparatus according to claim 12, wherein light sources emit light from the light emitting surface and a microlens array is provided in front of the light emitting surface.

14. A three-dimensional image display apparatus according to claim 10, wherein observation regions different, depending on the parallax image at parts thereof, overlap with each other.

15. A three-dimensional image display apparatus comprising:

a display device which has pixel units, each composed of sub-pixels of a plurality of colors arranged in the horizontal direction and each being a unit of display, and which displays two or more parallax images in a composite manner so that approximately identical sections of the two or more parallax images, each having been divided into a plurality of sections in the horizontal direction, are arranged by a predetermined order; and

a mask in which aperture parts and shading parts are alternatively provided in the horizontal direction and which allows light from pixel units for displaying respective sections of a same parallax image to be emitted from all of the pixel units to reach, through the aperture parts, observation regions which are different depending on the parallax image,

wherein on each of the aperture parts of said mask, a filter unit composed of color filters of a plurality of colors which are arranged in the horizontal direction is provided, and

wherein the following conditions are satisfied;

D₁h;

E₁=L₁m₁d₁;

L₁

D₁h/3;

c₁h=L₁m₁d₁+L₁;

L₁

E₁;

3c₁h=L₁m₁d₁+L₁;

L₁m₁d₁

N×

E₁;

m₁h=L₁m₁d₁+L₁;

L₁m₁d₁

e₁;

3c₁h=L₁+L₁m₁f₁;

L₁m₁f₁

L₁m₁d₁=L₁f₁d₁+L₁m₁f₁

D₁h/3;

3c₁h=L₁f₁d₁;

L₁m₁f₁

D₁h/3;

e₁=L₁f₁d₁;

L₁+L₁m₁f₁

where D₁h is the horizontal pitch of the pixel units in said display device,

the D₁h/3 is horizontal pitch of the sub-pixels in said display device,

c₁h is the horizontal pitch of the color filters in said mask,

5c₁h is the horizontal width of the filter unit in said mask,

3c₁h is the horizontal width of each region in the filter unit through which light from each of the sub-pixels of a plurality of colors can transmit,

m₁h is the repeating pitch in the horizontal direction of the shading parts and the filter units in said mask,

L₁m₁d₁ is the distance between said display device and said mask,

L₁ is the distance from said mask to an observation region,

E₁ is the horizontal pitch of the observation regions which is different depending on the parallax image,

N is the number of the parallax images,

when f₁ is an intersection of straight lines between both end parts in the horizontal direction of one of the sub-pixels of the display device and both end parts of the color filters through which light from one of sub-pixel can transmit,

L₁f₁d₁ is the distance between the intersection f₁and said display device,

L₁m₁f₁ is the distance between the intersection f₁and said mask, and

e₁ is the horizontal width of the parallax image at the observation region.

16. A three-dimensional image display apparatus comprising:

a display device which has pixel units, each composed of a plurality of sub-pixels which allow light of mutually different colors to transmit, arranged in a horizontal direction and each being a unit of display, and which displays two or more parallax images in a composite manner so that approximately identical sections of the two or more parallax images, each having been divided into a plurality of sections in the horizontal direction, are arranged by a predetermined order; and

a light source array in which light-emitting parts and non-light-emitting parts are alternatively provided in the horizontal direction and which illuminates said display device so that light from the pixel units for displaying respective sections of a same parallax image is emitted from all of the pixel units and reaches observation regions which are different depending on the parallax image,

wherein the light emitting parts of said light source array are each constructed by arranging a plurality of light sources which emit light of mutually different colors in the horizontal direction,

wherein the pixel units are each composed of red, green, and blue sub-pixels or yellow, cyan, and magenta sub-pixels, and

wherein the light-emitting parts are each composed of light sources which emit light of five colors which consist of two colors from red, green, and blue, one color from white and transparent, and two colors from yellow, cyan and magenta.

17. A three-dimensional image display apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said light source array illuminates said display device so as to allow light from a plurality of sub-pixels of the pixel units to display the same parallax image to be emitted from all of the pixel units to reach an approximately identical region.

18. A three-dimensional image display device according to claim 16, wherein a lenticular lens is provided between said light source array and said display device.

19. A three-dimensional image display apparatus according to claim 16, wherein observation regions, different depending on the parallax image at parts thereof, overlap with each other.

20. A three-dimensional image display apparatus comprising:

a display device which has pixel units, each composed of a plurality of sub-pixels which allow light of mutually different colors to transmit, arranged in a horizontal direction and each being a unit of display, and which displays two or more parallax images in a composite manner so that approximately identical sections of the two or more parallax images, each having been divided into a plurality of sections in the horizontal direction, are arranged by a predetermined order; and

a light source array in which light-emitting parts and non-light-emitting parts are alternatively provided in the horizontal direction and which illuminates said display device so that light from the pixel units for displaying respective sections of a same parallax image is emitted from all of the pixel units and reaches observation regions which are different depending on the parallax image,

wherein the light emitting parts of said light source array are each constructed by arranging a plurality of light sources which emit light of mutually different colors in the horizontal direction, and

wherein the following conditions are satisfied;

E₂;

D₂h=L₂+L₂d₂m₂;

L₂d₂m₂

c₂h;

D₂h/3=L₂+L₂d₂m₂;

L₂

L₂d₂f₂+L₂f₂m₂=L₂d₂m₂

e₂;

(km₂+2)×

c₂h=L₂+L₂d₂f₂;

L₂f₂m₂

kd₂×

D₂h/3;

(km₂+2)×

c₂h=L₂d₂f₂;

L₂f₂m₂

m₂h;

N×

D₂h=L₂+L₂d₂m₂;

L₂

m₂h;

N×

E₂=L₂d₂m₂;

L₂

where D₂h is the horizontal pitch of the pixel units in said display device,

D₂h/3 is the horizontal pitch of the sub-pixels in said display device,

c₂h is the horizontal pitch of the light sources in said light source array,

(km₂+4)c₂h is the horizontal width in the light-emitting part of said light source array,

(km₂+2)c₂h is the horizontal width of each of sets of the light sources which emit a light to transmit through each of the sub-pixels,

when the non-light-emitting part and the light emitting part are provided as a unit, m₂h is the repeating pitch in the horizontal direction of the units,

L₂d₂m₂ is the distance between said display device and said light source array,

L₂ is the distance from said display device to an observation region,

E₂ is the horizontal pitch of the observation regions,

when f₂ is an intersection of straight lines between both end parts in the horizontal direction of the sub-pixel for one color of the lights of the display device and both end parts of the light sources which emit lights to transmit through these sub-pixels for the one color of the lights,

L₂d₂f₂ is the distance between the intersection f₂ and said display device,

L₂f₂m₂ is the distance between the intersection f₂ and said light source arrays,

kd₂ is the pixel aperture ratio in the horizontal direction in said display device,

km₂ is the light source aperture ratio in the horizontal direction in said light source array,

N is the number of the parallax images, and

e₂ is the horizontal width of the parallax image at the observation region.