3-dimensional image display device and 3-dimensional image display equipment

• US 7,626,607 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2003
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Aoki, Hiroyuki, Yokota, Katsunari, Kawaguchi, Yukinori, Kamio, Toshihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Senfi; Behrooz
• Application Number:
  US10/449,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20030227541A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,374 Days
• Field of Search: 348/58, 348/51, 348/42, 348/44, 348/36, 348/47, 348/52, 348/54, 348/43, 348/46, 348/53, 348/55, 348/48, 348/56, 348/57, 348/59, 348/60, 348/121, 348/122, 348/123, 348/124, 375/240.01, 345/1.2, 345/1.1, 345/1.3, 345/4, 345/5, 345/7, 345/8, 345/156, 345/158, 345/145, 345/146
• US Class Current: 348/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/279 the virtual viewpoint locations being selected by the viewers or determined by tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/289 Switching between monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/337 using polarisation multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/366 using viewer tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/368 for two or more viewers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2213/008 Aspects relating to glasses for viewing stereoscopic images

Abstract

To contrive a reduction in the overall size of the device in the case of arranging at least two screens, to reduce color shading of a 3-dimensional image, and thereby to give a further absorbedness feeling to the viewer. A 3-dimensional image display device includes a space partitioned by a frame assembled in a box shape, the space accommodating a plurality of viewers, three screens disposed so as to partition the space, three projectors disposed correspondingly to the screens, respectively, and a controller for supplying image data to the projectors and further includes a phase plate disposed between the first projector and the front screen, and further, a phase plate disposed between the third projector and a reflective mirror member.

Claims

1. A 3-dimensional image display device comprising:

a frame surrounding a viewing space;

a projector-installing frame disposed behind the frame surrounding the viewing space;

at least a first, second, and third image projector;

at least a first, second, and third screen disposed within the frame, each of the screens having an inside surface facing the viewing space and an outside surface facing away from the viewing space, said first and second image projectors for projecting images onto the outside surfaces of said first and second screens respectively, and the third image projector for projecting images through the viewing space and onto the inside surface of said third screen;

a controller for outputting image data for a 3-dimensional display according, respectively, from said first, second, and third image projectors to said first, second, and third screens;

wherein the first projector is disposed behind one side of the projector-installing frame, and the third projector is fixed inside the projector-installing frame disposed behind the frame,

wherein the images from said first image projector are projected through the projector-installing frame and directly onto said first screen;

the images from said second image projector are projected onto said second screen through reflection by a reflective member disposed outside of the frame, and the images from said third image projector fixed inside the projector-installing frame are projected onto said third screen through reflection by another reflective member, and

wherein at least one set of said image projectors and said screens includes a polarizing means for polarizing light, said polarizing means being disposed between said image projector and said screen.

2. The 3-dimensional image display device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said polarizing means is disposed between said first image projector and said first screen.

3. The 3-dimensional image display device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said polarizing means is disposed between said second image projector and said second screen.

4. The 3-dimensional image display device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said controller outputs image data for a 3-dimensional display according to the positions of said screens and a viewer.

6. The 3-dimensional image display device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the another reflective member is fixed to the projector-installing frame at a predetermined angle.

7. The 3-dimensional image display device as set forth in claim 1, and further including liquid crystal shutter spectacles adapted to be worn by a viewer for perceiving said 3-dimensional image.

8. The 3-dimensional image display device as set forth in claim 7, and further including a magnetic field generator operatively disposed relative to said first and second screens for generating a magnetic field and a magnetic-type position sensor operatively disposed within said liquid crystal shutter spectacles for outputting a position of a viewer relative to said first and second screens.

9. The 3-dimensional image display device as set forth in

claim 1, wherein the third screen is a flat floor screen upon which viewers stand, and

wherein the another reflective member is mounted above the flat floor screen so that said third image projector fixed inside the projector-installing frame is capable of projecting the images through the viewing space and onto the inside surface of the flat floor screen.

10. The 3-dimensional image display device as set forth in claim 9, wherein said polarizing means polarizes the light projected from said third image projector, said polarizing means being disposed between the third image projector and the third screen.

21. The 3-dimensional image display device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second screen and the third screen, each of which receives the images thorough reflection, are arranged substantially orthogonally to each other.

24. The 3-dimensional image display device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the another reflective member is disposed at the ceiling position of the viewing space, and the third screen is a flat floor screen at a bottom of the frame upon which viewers stand, and

wherein the images projected from the third projector pass downwardly from the ceiling portion, through the viewing space, and to the flat floor screen at the bottom of the frame.

25. The 3-dimensional image display device as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the polarizing means includes a phase plate arranged between the first image projector and the first screen,

wherein linearly polarized light of the images projected from the first image projector through the phase plate onto said first screen is converted into elliptically polarized light,

while the linearly polarized light of images emitted from the second image projector is reflected by the reflective member onto the second screen, and

wherein the images projected onto each of the first, second, and third screens are elliptically polarized.

26. The 3-dimensional image display device as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the polarizing means includes a phase plate arranged between the second image projector and the second screen,

wherein linearly polarized light of the images emitted from the first image projector is projected directly onto said first screen,

while the images from emitted from the second image projector, which are reflected by the reflective member onto the second screen, are converted to linear polarization by the phase plate,

wherein the images projected onto each of the first, second, and third screens are linearly polarized.

5. A 3-dimensional image display device, comprising:

a frame surrounding a viewing space;

a projector-installing frame disposed behind the frame surrounding the viewing space;

at least a first, second, and third image projector;

at least a first, second, and third screen disposed within the frame, each of the screens having an inside surface facing the viewing space and an outside surface facing away from the viewing space, said first and second image projectors for projecting images onto the outside surfaces of said first and second screens respectively, and the third image projector for projecting images through the viewing space and onto the inside surface of said third screen;

a controller for outputting image data for a 3-dimensional display according, respectively, from said first, second, and third image projectors to said first, second, and third screens;

wherein the first projector is disposed behind one side of the projector-installing frame, and the third projector is fixed inside the projector-installing frame disposed behind the frame,

wherein the images from said first image projector are projected through the projector-installing frame and directly onto said first screen;

the images from said second image projector are projected onto said second screen through reflection by a reflective member disposed outside of the frame, and the images from said third image projector fixed inside the projector-installing frame are projected onto said third screen through reflection by another reflective member, and

wherein at least one set of said image projectors and said screens includes a polarizing means for polarizing light, said polarizing means being disposed between said image projector and said screen,

the first and third projectors being disposed behind a same side of the frame surrounding the viewing space.

11. A 3-dimensional image display equipment comprising:

a mobile body having a closed space;

a 3-dimensional image display device having frame installed in said closed space of said mobile body, the frame surrounding a viewing space;

a projector-installing frame disposed behind the frame surrounding the viewing space,

at least a first, second, and third image projector;

at least a first, second and third screen disposed within the frame, each of the screens having an inside surface facing the viewing space and an outside surface facing away from the viewing space, said first and second image projectors for projecting images onto the outside surfaces of said first and second screens, respectively, and the third image projector for projecting images through the viewing space and onto the inside surface of said third screen;

a controller for outputting image data for a 3-dimensional display, the image data adjusted to a left and a right eye of a viewer according, respectively, from said first and second image projectors to said first and second screens;

wherein the first projector is disposed behind one side of the projector-installing frame, and the third projector is fixed inside the projector-installing frame disposed behind the frame,

wherein the images from said first image projector are projected through the projector-installing frame and directly onto said first screen;

the images from said second image projector are projected onto said second screen through reflection by a reflective member disposed outside of the frame, and the images from said third image projector fixed inside the projector-installing frame are projected onto said third screen through reflection by another reflective member, and

wherein at least one set of said image projectors and said screens includes a polarizing means for polarizing light, said polarizing means being disposed between said image projector and said screen.

12. The 3-dimensional image display equipment as set forth in claim 11, wherein said polarizing means is disposed between said first image projector and said first screen.

13. The 3-dimensional image display equipment as set forth in claim 11, wherein the another reflective member is fixed to the projector-installing frame at a predetermined angle.

14. The 3-dimensional image display equipment as set forth in claim 11, wherein said controller outputs the image data for the 3-dimensional display according to the positions of said screens and the viewer.

15. The 3-dimensional image display equipment as set forth in claim 11, the first and third projectors being disposed behind a same side of the frame surrounding the viewing space.

16. The 3-dimensional image display equipment as set forth in claim 13, wherein said controller outputs the image data for the 3-dimensional display according to the positions of said screens and the viewer.

19. The 3-dimensional image display equipment as set forth in claim 11,

wherein the third screen is a flat floor screen upon which viewers stand, and

wherein the another reflective member is mounted above the flat floor screen so that said third image projector fixed inside the projector-installing frame is capable of projecting the images through the viewing space and onto the inside surface of the flat floor screen.

20. The 3-dimensional image display equipment as set forth in claim 19, wherein said polarizing means polarizes the light projected from said third image projector, said polarizing means being disposed between the third image projector and the third screen.

17. A 3-dimensional image display device, comprising:

a frame surrounding a viewing space within which a viewer is positioned;

a projector-installing frame disposed behind the frame surrounding the viewing space;

at least a first, second, and third image projector;

at least a first, second, and third screen disposed within the frame and correspondingly to said first, second, and third image projectors, said first, second, and third projectors for projecting first, second, and third images, respectively, onto the first, second, and third screens;

a controller for outputting image data for a 3-dimensional display, the image data adjusted to a left and a right eye of a viewer according, respectively, from said first and second image projectors to said first and second screens;

wherein the first projector is disposed behind one side of the projector-installing frame, and the third projector is fixed inside the projector-installing frame disposed behind the frame,

wherein the first image from said first image projector is projected through the projector-installing frame and directly onto said first screen;

the second image from said second image projector is projected onto said second screen through reflection by a reflective member disposed outside of the frame, and the third image from said third image projector fixed inside the projector-installing frame is projected onto said third screen through reflection by another reflective member;

the 3-dimensional display device further comprising;

liquid crystal shutter spectacles adapted to be worm by the viewer for perceiving a 3-dimensional image;

a magnetic field generator operatively disposed on an upper cross beam of the frame above the viewing space for generating a magnetic field; and

a magnetic-type position sensor operatively disposed within said liquid crystal shutter spectacles for outputting a position of the viewer relative to said first and second screens,

wherein each of the three screens includes an inside surface facing the viewing space and an outside surface facing away from the viewing space.

18. The 3-dimensional image display equipment as set forth in claim 17, wherein the another reflective member is arranged at a ceiling portion of the viewing space so that an image from the third image projector is projected onto the third screen,

wherein said polarizing means polarizes the light projected from said third image projector, said polarizing means being disposed between the third image projector and the another reflective member.

22. The 3-dimensional image display device as set forth in claim 17, wherein the another reflective member is mounted above the flat floor screen so that said third image projector fixed inside the projector-installing frame is capable of projecting the images through the viewing space and onto the inside surface of the flat floor screen.

23. The 3-dimensional image display device as set forth in claim 17, wherein the another reflective member is fixed to the projector-installing frame at a predetermined angle, and the reflective member outside of the frame and the another reflective member reflect the second and third images, respectively, onto the second screen and the third screen, and

wherein the third screen on which the third images are projected is a flat floor screen, and the third screen is substantially orthogonal to the second screen.