Multiple-screen simultaneous displaying apparatus, multi-screen simultaneous displaying method, video signal generating device, and recorded medium

• US 6,956,543 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2001
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sato, Seiji, Sekizawa, Hidehiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHENG, TOM V
• Application Number:
  US10/182,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20030006943A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,714 Days
• Field of Search: 345/9, 348/51, 348/52, 348/54, 348/57, 348/58, 359/464, 359/465, 359/618
• US Class Current: 345/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/12 using special optical effects
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/302 characterised by the form or geometrical disposition of the individual elements
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/40 in which the desired character is selected from a number of characters arranged one beside the other, e.g. on a common carrier plate
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/026 Video wall, i.e. juxtaposition of a plurality of screens to create a display screen of bigger dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/002 to project the image of a two-dimensional display, such as an array of light emitting or modulating elements or a CRT
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/003 to produce spatial visual effects
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/20 for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters

Abstract

There are provided: a display surface (20) (mixed picture display part) for assigning a plurality of pieces of video information, respectively, to a plurality of a first divided area (S-I), a second divided area (S-II) and a third divided area (S-III), so as to display the plurality of the pieces of the video information on the display surface (20); a first picture separating mechanism disposed on the display surface (20) corresponding to the first divided area (S-I) of the plurality of the divided areas (S-I, S-II, S-III), and defining a predetermined polarizing direction; a second picture separating mechanism disposed on the display surface (20) corresponding to the second divided area (S-II) and the third divided area (S-III) of the plurality of the divided areas (S-I, S-II, S-III), and defining a predetermined polarizing direction different from the polarizing direction of the first picture separating mechanism; mirrors (optical means) (31, 32) disposed rightward and leftward relative to the display surface (20) in such a manner as to form respective predetermined angles relative to the display surface (20); and a third picture separating mechanism (40) defining a polarizing direction same as the polarizing direction of the first picture separating mechanism, and allowing a picture displayed on the display surface (20) and a picture displayed on the mirror (31, 32) to pass through the third separating mechanism (40) for a viewer to view the pictures.

Claims

1. A multi-picture simultaneous display device comprising:

a mixed picture display part on which a plurality of pieces of video information are assigned, for display, to a plurality of respective divided areas of a display screen, the divided areas being divided by a rule;

a first picture separating mechanism disposed on the mixed picture display part corresponding to one of the plurality of the divided areas, the first picture separating mechanism defining a first polarizing element;

a second picture separating mechanism disposed on the mixed picture display part corresponding to the other of the plurality of the divided areas, the second picture separating mechanism defining a second polarizing element which is different in a polarizing direction from the first polarizing element of the first picture separating mechanism;

a plurality of optical means each of which is disposed in such a manner as to form a predetermined angle relative to the mixed picture display part; and

a third picture separating mechanism for separating a picture displayed on the mixed picture display part and on the plurality of the optical means so as to allow the picture to be viewable, the third picture separating mechanism defining a third polarizing element which is equal in the polarizing direction to one of the first polarizing element of the first picture separating mechanism and the second polarizing element of the second picture separating mechanism,

wherein,

the plurality of the divided areas of the mixed picture display part comprise;

a first divided area defining one of the divided areas formed by dividing the display screen into a transverse direction belt-like; and

at least one of the following two;

a second divided area and a third divided area defining the other of the divided areas formed by dividing the display screen into a transverse direction belt-like, the second divided area and the third divided area being separated, respectively, into left and right, and

a fourth divided area and a fifth divided area defining the other of the divided areas formed by dividing the display screen into a transverse direction belt-like, the fourth divided area and the fifth divided area being separated, respectively, into upper and lower;

and characterized in that the plurality of the optical means are disposed in at least one of the following two manners;

sidewise relative to the mixed picture display part, and

lengthwise relative to the mixed picture display part.

2. The multi-picture simultaneous display device as described in claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of the optical means have such a function as to reverse a picture and to rotate a polarized light by reflection.

3. The multi-picture simultaneous display device as described in claim 1, characterized in that each of the plurality of the optical means is a mirror.

4. The multi-picture simultaneous display device as described in claim 1, characterized in that the first picture separating mechanism, the second picture separating mechanism, and the third picture separating mechanism are formed with a combination of a linearly polarizing element.

5. The multi-picture simultaneous display device as described in claim 1, characterized in that the first picture separating mechanism, the second picture separating mechanism, and the third picture separating mechanism are formed with a combination of a circularly polarizing element.

6. The multi-picture simultaneous display device as described in claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of the optical means have a door mechanism for opening and closing.