Optics: motion pictures – Stereoscopic cameras and/or projectors
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-04
2004-08-17
Fuller, Rodney (Department: 2851)
Optics: motion pictures
Stereoscopic cameras and/or projectors
C352S060000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06778253
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an apparatus for displaying a three dimensional (3-D) image, and more particularly, to an apparatus for displaying a 3-D image by combining two typical mirrors and two plane image display devices.
2. Description of the Related Technology
A 3-D image provides a viewer with a sense of depth and distance between objects in an image, as well as a sense of three dimensions with respect to each of objects or persons in the image. Presently, most images are provided only in two dimensions and various studies have been carried out to overcome such a limit.
Most technologies which enables a 3-D image are based on the fact that a human has two eyes. The principle of perceiving an object in three dimensions by a human lies in that two eyes which are horizontally apart a predetermined distance from each other, for example, about 7.5 cm and 5 cm for adults and children, respectively, see an object through the retina at different angles. An image of the object one sees is transferred to the cerebrum via a visual nerve.
Thus, in a conventional method of providing a 3-D image to a viewer, two images are presented in a shutter or refraction manner so as to be seen independently by the left and right eyes.
Although there was a conventional method of realizing a 3-D image by using LCD eyeglasses, this additional apparatus is not commonly used and has a limited in use. Even when this conventional apparatus is used, if separation of the left and right images is not complete, images overlap each other or an image flickers due to an optical interference phenomenon.
SUMMARY OF CERTAIN INVENTIVE ASPECTS
To solve the above problems, it is desirable to provide an apparatus for displaying a 3-D image by combining two reflection mirrors, two image inverting apparatuses, and two 2-dimensional display apparatuses.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide an apparatus for displaying a 3-D image which includes a plurality of reflection mirrors, a plurality of image inverting apparatuses, and a plurality of 2-dimensional display apparatuses, and combines different images output from the 2-dimensional display apparatuses to display a 3-D image.
In another aspect, there is provided an apparatus for displaying a 3-dimensional image comprising left and right plane image display devices for simultaneously outputting left and right plane images received with respect to the same object from the left and right sides to a screen, left and right image inverting apparatuses for inverting original left and right images and outputting the inverted images to the left and right plane image display devices, a left reflection mirror, on which an image output from the left plane image display device is incident at a predetermined angle and by which the left image is reflected at the same angle, so that the left image is perceived by a left eye of a viewer, and a right reflection mirror, on which an image output from the right plane image display device is incident at a predetermined angle and by which the right image is reflected at the same angle, so that the right image is perceived by a right eye of a viewer.
In another aspect of the present invention, positions of the left and right plane image display devices and the left and right reflection mirrors are automatically or manually adjusted to maintain the incident angle of an image input to each of the left and right reflection mirrors from the left and right plane image display devices to be the same as the reflection angle of an image reflected by each of the left and right reflection mirrors which is to be seen by each of the left and right eyes of a viewer.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, the left and right plane image display devices are any of image processing apparatuses selected among television monitors, big-screen wall mount TVs, computer monitors, and LCDs.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, in the left and right reflection mirrors, the incident angle of the left and right plane images and the reflection angle of the images reflected to the viewer are adjusted in a range of about 30°-50°.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises inverting apparatuses for inverting the original images and outputting the inverted images to the left and right plane image display devices so that inverted images are output from the left and right plane image display devices.
Another aspect of the invention includes an apparatus for displaying a 3-dimensional image comprising first left and right plane image display devices for simultaneously outputting same plane images from the left and right sides, second left and right plane image display devices for simultaneously outputting same plane images from the left and right sides which are different from the images output from the first left and right plane image display devices, left and right image inverting apparatuses for inverting original left and right images, a first left reflection mirror for synthesizing an image output from the left plane image display device after inverted by the left image inverting apparatus which is incident at a predetermined angle and the original image output from the second left plane image display device which is incident at a predetermined angle, and reflecting the synthesized image, a first right reflection mirror for synthesizing an image output from the right plane image display device after inverted by the right image inverting apparatus which is incident at a predetermined angle and the original image output from the second right plane image display device which is incident at a predetermined angle, and reflecting the synthesized image, a second left reflection mirror, on which the left synthesized image output from the first left reflection mirror is incident at a predetermined angle and by which the left synthesized image is reflected at the same angle, so that the left synthesized image is perceived by a left eye of a viewer, and a second right reflection mirror, on which the right synthesized image output from the first right reflection mirror is incident at a predetermined angle and by which the right synthesized image is reflected at the same angle, so that the right synthesized image is perceived by a right eye of a viewer.
In another aspect of the invention, the apparatus further comprises at least one pair of left and right plane image display devices and at least one pair of left and right inverting apparatuses; the apparatus further comprises at least one pair of reflection mirrors; the first left reflection mirror and the first right reflection mirror are semi-permeable mirrors; the semi-permeable mirror exhibits a transmittance of about 50% and reflectance of about 50%; and in the first and second left and right reflection mirrors, the incident angle of the left and right plane images and the reflection angle of the images reflected to the viewer are adjusted in a range of about 30°-50°.
Another aspect of the invention includes an apparatus for displaying a 3-dimensional image comprising first and second image display devices configured to substantially simultaneously output first and second plane images for a first object, respectively, each image being produced at first and second positions with respect to the first object; first and second inverting devices configured to invert the left and right sides of the first and second plane images, respectively; a first mirror located between the first and second display devices and configured to receive and reflect the first inverted image in a first direction; and a second mirror located between the first and second display devices and configured to receive and reflect the second inverted image in the first direction; wherein the first and second display devices are located on opposite sides of the first and second mirrors.
In yet another aspect of the invention, the first and second mirrors are arranged such that the two mirrors as a whole are substantially “V” shaped; at least one of the fi
Fuller Rodney
Geo-Rae Co., Ltd.
Knobbe Martens & Olson Bear LLP.
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