Image display apparatus for displaying superimposed images from a plurality of projectors

• US 6,984,043 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2003
• Issued: 01/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Ajito, Takeyuki, Komiya, Yasuhiro, Nakamura, Tomoyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Judy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cruz, Magda
• Application Number:
  US10/441,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20040046939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 353/7, 353/70, 353/94, 345/418, 345/744, 348/744, 700/59, 358/518, 359/462
• US Class Current: 353/94
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 42/08 Visualisation of records by optical means

Abstract

An image display apparatus is provided which includes a screen and a plurality of projectors which respectively project images relating to a same object so that the images are superimposed on each other on the screen. One of the plurality of projectors is arranged spatially in substantially a plane symmetric relationship with another of the plurality of projectors so that the images are projected at projectors angles onto the screen to be substantially in alignment on the screen.

Claims

1. An image display apparatus for displaying an image on a screen, said image display apparatus comprising:

a first projector and a second projector which have substantially identical color projection characteristics, and which project respective images relating to a same object onto the screen;

wherein the first projector is arranged spatially to be upside down with respect to the second projector; and

wherein the image projected by the first projector is projected to be upside down with respect to the first projector, so that the respective images projected by the first and second projectors substantially align with each other in a same orientation on the screen.

2. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the respective images projected by the first and second projectors are based on corresponding image data, and the image data is input into the first and second projectors such that the image projected by the first projector is projected to be upside down with respect to the first projector.

3. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second projectors have respective optical axes which are perpendicular to the screen, and the first and second projectors project the respective images thereof at elevation angles with respect to the optical axes thereof.

4. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second projectors are positioned at a same side of the screen.

5. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first projector is provided in a plane symmetric relationship with respect to the second projector.

6. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first projector and the second projector are arranged back to back.

7. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a geometric correction section which performs geometric correction for the respective images projected by the first and second projectors to be superimposed on each other on the screen.

8. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second projectors outputs at least one of a color image output of at least four primary colors, an image output for stereo-vision, and an image output for heightening image display luminance.

9. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the respective images projected at different angles onto the screen by the first and second projectors exit the screen as diffused light rays having a substantially uniform directivity.

10. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second projectors are substantially identical in structure.

11. An image display apparatus for displaying an image on a screen, said image display apparatus comprising:

first projecting means for projecting an image onto a screen; and

second projecting means for projecting an image onto a screen, the second projecting means having substantially identical color projection characteristics to the first projecting means;

wherein the first projecting means is arranged spatially to be upside down with respect to the second projecting means; and

wherein the image projected by the first projecting means is projected to be upside down with respect to the first projecting means, so that the respective images projected by the first and second projecting means substantially align with each other in a same orientation on the screen.