Display apparatus and image information generating method adapted to display apparatus

• US 7,396,135 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2005
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Hasegawa, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Sever; Andrew T
• Application Number:
  US11/198,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20060033890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 353/70, 353/69, 353/94, 353/121, 348/778, 348/745, 348/744, 348/739
• US Class Current: 353/94
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/26 Projecting separately subsidiary matter simultaneously with main image
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/04 with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/74 Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/12 Picture reproducers H04N9/11 takes precedence

Abstract

Aspects of the invention can provide a display apparatus that displays one image plane using plural projection type image display devices. The plural projection type image display devices that together form the display apparatus can be disposed in such a manner that at most one projection type image display device among the plural projection type image display devices forms a projection region of an original shape of projection on a screen.

Claims

1. A display apparatus that displays one image plane using plural projection type image display devices, wherein:

the plural projection type image display devices that together form the display apparatus are disposed in such a manner that at most one projection type image display device among the plural projection type image display devices forms a projection region of an original shape of projection on a screen;

the plural projection type image display devices are disposed in such a manner that a ratio between a maximum value and a minimum value of maximum luminance on the screen of each pixel of a projected image from each projection type image display device is a predetermined value or larger; and

the ratio between the maximum value and the minimum value of the maximum luminance of each pixel is such that a maximum value of luminance is nearly twice or larger a minimum value of luminance.

2. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the original shape of projection of each projection type image display device is a rectangular shape, and the plural projection type image display devices are disposed in such a manner that at most one projection type image display device forms a projection region of a rectangular shape.

3. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the plural projection type image display devices are disposed in such a manner that a ratio between a maximum value and a minimum value of a projection area on the screen by pixels of each projection type image display device is a specific value or larger.

4. A display apparatus that displays one image plane using plural projection type image display devices, wherein:

the plural projection type image display devices that together form the display apparatus are disposed in such a manner that at most one projection type image display device among the plural projection type image display devices forms a projection region of an original shape of projection on a screen;

the plural projection type image display devices are disposed in such a manner that a ratio between a maximum value and a minimum value of a projection area on the screen by pixels of each projection type image display device is a specific value or larger; and

a ratio between the maximum value and the minimum value of the projection area on the screen of the pixels of each projection type image display device is such that the maximum value of the projection area is nearly twice or larger the minimum value of the projection area.

5. A display apparatus that displays one image plane on a screen using at least first and second projection type image display devices, wherein:

let P1 be a pixel of the first projection type image display device corresponding to a position at a particular screen coordinate Ps included in a superimposed region in which projection regions formed on the screen by the first and second projection type image display devices are superimposed, and let P2 be a pixel of the second projection type image display device corresponding to the position at the screen coordinate Ps;

each projection type image display device is disposed with respect to the screen in such a manner that a differential vector on the screen, DP1=(P1′

−

P1), between the pixel P1 of the first projection type image display device and at least one pixel P1′

adjacent to the pixel P1 is different from a differential vector on the screen, DP2=(P2′

−

P2), between the pixel P2 of the second projection type image display device and a pixel P2′

adjacent to the pixel P2;

the at least first and second projection type image display devices are disposed in such a manner that a ratio between a maximum value and a minimum value of maximum luminance on the screen of each pixel of a projected image from each projection type image display device is a predetermined value or larger;

the ratio between the maximum value and the minimum value of the maximum luminance of each pixel is such that a maximum value of luminance is nearly twice or larger a minimum value of luminance.

6. An image information generating method adapted to a display apparatus for generating image information given to respective projection type image display devices that together form the display apparatus that displays one image plane using plural projection type image display devices, the method comprising:

generating plural sub-regions by dividing the screen;

acquiring resolution of each projection type image display for each one of the sub-regions obtained by dividing the screen; and

allocating a pixel value to a pixel of each projection type image display device corresponding to a sub-region of interest, first from a projection type image display device judged as having lowest resolution for the sub-region of interest.

7. The image information generating method according to claim 6, wherein:

when the pixel value is allocated, a given pixel value that is equal to or smaller than a pixel value of a pixel having a minimum pixel value among desired pixel values that should be displayed on the screen by pixels within the sub-region of interest is first given to each pixel corresponding to the sub-region of interest of the projection type image display device judged as having the lowest resolution for the sub-region of interest, and a difference between the pixel value given from the projection type image display device judged as having the lowest resolution and the desired pixel value is given to each pixel corresponding to the sub-region of interest of another projection type image display device.

8. The image information generating method according to claim 6, wherein:

the pixel value is a luminance value.