Liquid crystal cells – elements and systems – Liquid crystal system – Heads-up display
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-22
2001-04-10
Sikes, William L. (Department: 2871)
Liquid crystal cells, elements and systems
Liquid crystal system
Heads-up display
C349S005000, C359S630000, C345S007000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06215532
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image observing apparatus arranged to enable an observer to observe a scene of the outside (outside information) and an image (display image) presented by a display device (image display means) in a single field or to an image observing apparatus intended to permit the observer to have various pseudo-experiences by superimposing an image artificially produced by a computer or the like or a picture recorded by a video system or the like on the real scene (outside information) directly observed by the observer.
2. Related Background Art
FIG. 18
is a schematic diagram to show the main part of a conventional image observing apparatus arranged to permit the observer to observe both the outside information and the display image in a single field. In
FIG. 18
, an image produced by computer graphics or the like is displayed on display
101
, the image is reflected via a half mirror
102
by a concave mirror
103
, the image is projected again via the half mirror
102
at a fixed magnification onto the eye
104
of the observer, and at the same time, the real scene of the outside world where the observer exists is superimposed through the half mirror
102
on the image to permit the observer to directly observe a superimposed image.
The apparatus of this structure has, for example, such an advantage that a worker, while carrying out an actual work, simultaneously obtains information necessary for the work through characters, a picture, etc. displayed on the display
101
, and can be applied to such use.
In another application, the apparatus can also be applied to a head-mounted observing apparatus arranged to enable the observer to have various pseudo-experiences, for example, in such a manner that images of vase
106
with parallax are produced by computer graphics or the like and are displayed on respective displays for the left and right eyes of the observer whereby the observer looks as if the vase
106
exists on a desk
105
in the real space as illustrated in FIG.
19
.
In the conventional observing apparatus, however, the images displayed on the displays are seen as a virtual image for the observer's eyes and, therefore, the displayed images are observed as a transparent or see-through image.
There thus arises a problem that the display images such as characters, the picture, or the like displayed on the displays become too dark to look in circumstances where the outside information is too bright, particularly, outside where the sunlight is strong. A conceivable countermeasure is to adjust the amount of the light from the outside by a filter or the like, so as to improve the visibility of the display screen. It was, however, impossible to adjust the light quantity only in the background part of the characters or the picture.
When the vase produced by computer graphics or the like is intended to be superimposed on the desk present in the real space so as to allow the observer to view the vase as if it is actually present on the desk, the vase looks see-through and thus a sight is different from that in the case where an actual vase is present. If a black image is attempted to be displayed, it will also become see-through and will not be able to be displayed.
In order to avoid this phenomenon, it is also conceivable to employ a method for converting the scene of the real world to an electric signal by a photographing apparatus such as a CCD camera or the like and synthesizing it with an imaginary image produced by computer graphics or the like. In this case, however, the quality of the scene of the real world is dependent on the resolving power of the camera and it is the present status that an image with a higher resolution than that of the images observed directly through the eyes cannot be obtained. There was, therefore, an unavoidable issue that the scene observed was different from that in the real world.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an image observing apparatus that makes both the display image and the outside image easier to see by accurately intercepting the outside information from the outside in the background part of the image (display image) displayed on the display (image display means) in correspondence to the display image or to provide an image observing apparatus that permits good observation of both images by preventing the imaginary image from becoming see-through when the imaginary image (display image) produced by computer graphics or the like is superimposed on the scene in the real space (the outside information).
An image observing apparatus of the present invention includes:
(
1
-
1
) an image observing apparatus arranged to observe outside information from the outside and a display image displayed on image display means via optical path combining means and via an eyepiece lens superimposed, wherein the outside information and the display image are imaged so as to be superimposed on a surface of a spatial modulator having a two-dimensional pixel structure, part or all of the outside information and display image is selected on an area basis by said spatial modulator, and the outside information and image information thus selected is observed through said eyepiece lens.
Another embodiment of the image observing apparatus of the present invention includes:
(
1
-
2
) an image observing apparatus arranged to observe outside information from the outside and a display image displayed on image display means via optical path combining means and via an eyepiece optical system superimposed, wherein the outside information is imaged on a spatial modulator having a two-dimensional pixel structure, part or all of the outside information and said display means is selected on an area basis by the spatial modulator, and the outside information and image information thus selected is observed through said eyepiece optical system.
Particularly, in the structure (
1
-
1
) or (
1
-
2
), the image observing apparatus is characterized:
(
1
-
2
-
1
) in that said outside information is imaged on the surface of said spatial modulator by an imaging optical system.
In the structure (
1
-
1
), the image observing apparatus is characterized:
(
1
-
2
-
2
) in that said display image is imaged on the surface of said spatial modulator by an imaging optical system.
In the structure (
1
-
1
) or (
1
-
2
), the image observing apparatus is characterized:
(
1
-
2
-
3
) in that said outside information and display image imaged on the surface of said spatial modulator are comprised of linearly polarized light beams perpendicular to each other;
(
1
-
2
-
4
) in that said spatial modulator comprises a transmission type liquid crystal panel;
(
1
-
2
-
5
) in that said spatial modulator comprises a reflection type liquid crystal panel;
(
1
-
2
-
6
) in that said spatial modulator and said image display means are constructed of a single member;
(
1
-
2
-
7
) in that said outside information is input into image input means and operation of said spatial modulator is controlled based on a signal from the image input means and a signal from said image display means;
(
1
-
2
-
8
) in that said image display means comprises a liquid crystal panel, a light source for illuminating the liquid crystal panel, and a polarizing member for controlling a state of polarization of a beam from the liquid crystal panel;
(
1
-
2
-
9
) in that the display image displayed on said image display means is an imaginary image produced by computer graphics;
(
1
-
2
-
10
) in that said display image is two-dimensional image information or/and three-dimensional image information;
(
1
-
2
-
11
) in that a focal length of an imaging optical system for imaging said outside information on said spatial modulator is substantially equal to a focal length of said eyepiece optical system;
(
1
-
2
-
12
) in that a field lens is disposed near said spatial modulator;
(
1
-
2
-
13
) in that operation of said spatial modulator is controlled based on a signal from said image display means;
(
1
-
2
-
1
Saito Yoshihiro
Sudo Toshiyuki
Takagi Akinari
Taniguchi Naosato
Chowdhury Tarifur R.
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Mixed Reality Systems Laboratory Inc.
Sikes William L.
LandOfFree
Image observing apparatus for observing outside information... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Image observing apparatus for observing outside information..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Image observing apparatus for observing outside information... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2536194