Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Plural display systems – Tiling or modular adjacent displays
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-22
2001-07-17
Shankar, Vijay (Department: 2673)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Plural display systems
Tiling or modular adjacent displays
C345S004000, C345S005000, C345S009000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06262694
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to image display systems, and more particularly to an image display system which can display an image on a large screen in a three-dimensional manner.
Recently, systems have been proposed which can provide images with real life presence by displaying images in a three-dimensional manner. Such three-dimensional image display systems are used in amusement parks or the like, and provide images with real life presence to a large number of observers.
In this type of three-dimensional image display system, images are superimposed on the actual object to realize the effect of real life presence with respect to the large number of observers.
There are demands to provide images with real life presence by using the three-dimensional image display system described above in concert halls and stadiums, so as to display three-dimensional images of events performed in another concert hall or stadium. Because the field of view is wide and the set up conditions of equipments are limited in the concert hall or stadium, there are demands to realize a system which can provide a sufficient real life presence using a relatively simple construction.
2. Description of the Related Art
The IMAX dome theater is an example of the conventional three-dimensional image display system of the type described above. According to this three-dimensional image display system, images observed from a plurality of directions are subjected to polarization display on a large screen. The displayed three-dimensional image is viewed by each viewer who wears equipment such as polarization glasses.
On the other hand, a three-dimensional image display system has been proposed which arranges a lenticular lens or the like on the surface of a two-dimensional display. According to this three-dimensional image display system, a three-dimensional image is displayed by changing the emission direction for each of the images from a plurality of directions.
However, according to the conventional three-dimensional image display system which displays the three-dimensional image on the large screen, each viewer must wear special equipment to see the three-dimensional image, and there were problems in that the arrangement is complex and it is troublesome for the viewers to wear the special equipment.
On the other hand, according to the conventional three-dimensional image display system which arranges the lenticular lens on the two-dimensional display, a large two-dimensional display and a large lenticular lens are required if a large screen is to be realized. As a result, there were problems in that the system is expensive and unsuited for large display systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image display system which does not require the viewer to wear special equipment such as polarization glasses in order to see three-dimensional images, and which can display the three-dimensional images on a large screen using display units having a relatively simple construction.
FIG. 1
is a block diagram for explaining an operating principle of the present invention. In
FIG. 1
, an image dividing means
1
divides an input image into a plurality of images depending on distances from an image pickup position. Display means
2
-
1
through
2
-n are successively arranged at different distances from an observation position. The display means
2
-
1
to
2
-n display the plurality of images divided by the image dividing means
1
. In the present invention, the plurality of images divided in the image dividing means
1
are displayed on corresponding display means
2
-x of the plurality of display means
2
-
1
through
2
-n corresponding to the distances from the image pickup position.
According to the present invention, from the input image, the image existing nearby is displayed on the display means arranged near the observer, and the image existing far away is displayed on the display means arranged far away from the observer. For this reason, the observer can recognize the images displayed on the plurality of display means as a three-dimensional image.
Adjacent display means of the plurality of display means are set at intervals proportional to distances from the observation position. The depth perception of the human eyes becomes poorer as the distance from the observation point becomes longer. Hence, the intervals between adjacent display means may be set proportional to the distances from the observation position, so that it is possible to reduce the number of display means without deteriorating the depth perception and to simplify the system structure.
The plurality of display means are set at intervals proportional to squares of the distances from the observation position. The plurality of display means are set at intervals matching the depth perception of the human eyes, by arranging the plurality of display means at the intervals proportional to the squares of the distances from the observation position. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the number of display means without deteriorating the depth perception and to simplify the system structure.
The plurality of display means are set with pixel pitches proportional to the distances from the observation position. The resolving power to the human eyes becomes poorer as the distance from the observation position becomes longer, and thus, the displayed images do not become unnatural to the human eyes even if the pixel pitches of the display means located far away from the observation position is set coarse. Hence, it is possible to provide a natural display to the observer and to simplify the system structure, by setting the pixel pitches of the plurality of display means proportional to the distances from the observation position.
The plurality of display means include a projector projecting the plurality of images, and diffusing means for diffusing light output from the projector. Since the images projected from the projector are output to the diffusing means to be displayed thereon, it is possible to form a large screen using a relatively simple construction, and the system structure can be simplified.
The diffusing means includes transmitting and diffusing means which can switch between diffusing and transmitting states, and switch control means for successively switching the transmitting and diffusing means to the diffusing state. Since the diffusing means includes the transmitting and diffusing means which switches between the diffusing and transmitting states, and the switch control means successively switches the transmitting and diffusing means to the diffusing state, it is possible for the observer to positively recognize the overlapping image portions even when the displayed images overlap between adjacent diffusing means. As a result, it is possible to display the images with a real life presence effect across the plurality of display means.
The switch control means successively switches to the diffusing state within a predetermined number of consecutive display means having display images which do not overlap when an observation is made from the observation position. It is possible to increase the number of display means which simultaneously assume the diffusing state, by successively switching to the diffusing state within the predetermined number of consecutive display means having display images which do not overlap when the observation is made from the observation position. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the number of images which are not displayed, and to display the images with a real life presence effect.
The projector is set so that luminances of image portions overlapping with other display means are higher than luminances of image portions which do not overlap. No difference is introduced between the luminance of the image portion overlapping with the other display means and the luminance of the image portion not overlapping with the other display means, because the luminances of the image portions
Aritake Hirokazu
Ishimoto Manabu
Iwata Satoshi
Matsuda Takahiro
Nakashima Masato
Armstrong Westerman Hattori McLeland & Naughton LLP
Fujitsu Limited
Shankar Vijay
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