Device for displaying imagery three-dimensionally

• US 7,229,176 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2004
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IF Co. Ltd. (Koshimizu Shoji Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: IF Co. Ltd. (Koshimizu Shoji Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Onaga, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey; W. B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sever; Andrew
• Application Number:
  US10/895,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20050151938A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 353 7- 10, 353/94, 348/51, 348/52, 348/54, 359/475, 359477-479
• US Class Current: 353/10
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/26 Projecting separately subsidiary matter simultaneously with main image

Abstract

Device for displaying imagery three-dimensionally, which comprises a first image reproduction element having an image reproduction surface and a second image reproduction element having an image indication surface of reflective property. Those image reproduction and indication surfaces are in an opposedly facing relation with each other, such that an imagery reproduced and indicated on the image reproduction surface is reflected by the image indicating surface to form a reflected imagery which is viewed by the eyes of person as if it was a three-dimensional image. One or both of such image reproduction and indication surfaces may be curved to have convex and concave surface sides, wherein the concave surface side is formed to have diffuse reflective property. The convex surface sides respective of those two surfaces may be in an opposedly facing relation with each other. Preferably, such two surfaces may each be a screen of light-transmissive type.

Claims

1. A device for displaying imagery three-dimensionally on a spherical surface, comprising:

a first spherical image reproduction surface capable of reproducing an image from a first projector and indicating a first imagery, said first image reproduction surface including an image reproduction surface for allowing said first imagery to be indicated thereon; and

a second spherical image reproduction surface capable of reproducing an image from a second projector and indicating a second imagery, said second image reproduction sphere having an image indication surface for allowing said second imagery to be indicated thereon;

wherein said first and second image reproduction surfaces are arranged such that said image reproduction surface of said first image reproduction surface is an opposedly facing relation with said image indication surface of said second image reproduction surface,

and wherein said image indication surface of said second image reproduction surface includes a reflective surface for reflecting said first imagery from said first image reproduction surface,

wherein a three dimensional image is displayed on said second image reproduction spherical surface.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first spherical image reproduction surface is curved so as to have a convex surface side, whereas said second spherical image indication surface is also curved so as to have a convex surface side, and wherein said convex surface sides respectively of said image reproduction and indication surfaces are in an opposedly facing relation with each other.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image reproduction surface is curved so as to have a convex surface side and a concave surface side, whereas said image indication surface is also curved and has a convex surface side and a concave surface side, and wherein said convex surface side of said image reproduction surface is in an opposedly facing relation with said concave surface side of said image indication surface.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image reproduction surface is formed flat, and said image indication surface is curved.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image reproduction surface includes a non-reflective surface portion capable of preventing said second imagery from being reflected thereby.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second image reproduction surface each comprises one selected from the group consisting of a liquid crystal display device and an organic EL display device.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image reproduction surface is disposed at a point above said image indication surface.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, which further comprises a light shielding means provided about a periphery of said image reproduction surface.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image reproduction surface and said indication surface are each of a semispherical shape.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said image reproduction and indication surfaces is of a semispherical shape.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second image reproduction surface includes a plurality of said image indication surfaces with respect to said image reproduction surface of said first image reproduction surface.

12. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first image reproduction surface includes a plurality of said image reproduction surfaces with respect to a plurality of said image indication surfaces of said second image surface.

13. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first image reproduction apparatus comprises:

a first screen of a light-transmissive type which forms said image reproduction surface; and

a first projector for projecting said first imagery to said first screen, wherein a second image reproduction apparatus comprises;

a second screen of a light-transmissive type which forms said image indication surface; and

a second projector for projecting said second imagery to said second screen, and wherein said second screen includes a surface so formed as to diffusely reflect said second imagery projected from said second projector.

14. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherin said first screen is curved so as to have a convex surface side whereas said second screen is also curved so as to have a convex surface side, and wherein said convex surface sides respecttively of said first and second screen are in an opposedly facing relation with each other.

15. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said first screen is curved so as to have a convex surface side and a concave surface side, whereas said second screen is also curved so as to have a convex surface side and a concave surface side, and wherein said convex surface side of said first screen is in an opposedly facing relation with said concave surface side of said first ocean.

16. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said first screen is formed flat, whereas said second screen is curved so as to have a convex surface side, and wherein the thus-flat-formed first screen is in a opposedly facing relationship with said convex surface side of said second screen.

17. The device as clamed in claim 13, wherein said first screen includes a non-reflective surface capable of preventing said second imagery from being reflected thereby.

18. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said first and second projector each includes a fish-eye lens provided therein.

19. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein one of said first and second projectors includes a fish-eye lens provided therein.

20. The device as claimed in claim 1, which includes a projector arranged such that one image is projected from the projector to each of said image reproduction surface and said image indication surface.