Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Image superposition by optical means
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-24
2001-03-13
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Image superposition by optical means
C345S008000, C345S051000, C345S052000, C345S053000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06201517
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stereoscopic image display apparatus, for example, to a stereoscopic image display apparatus used as a head mounted display (HMD) and enabling a stereoscopic image to be viewed as a virtual image.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional HMD is designed so that virtual images for the right eye and for the left eye are projected at a predetermined distance and a stereoscopic image is displayed based on the binocular parallax. According to this HMD, since the focusing function of the human eye is ignored, the eyes are fatigued if a stereoscopic image is viewed for a long time. A stereoscopic image display apparatus intended to solve this problem is disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. H6-235885. In this apparatus, the directions of the lines of sight of both eyes are detected to thereby obtain the convergence position of the eyes and a virtual image is projected onto the convergence position of the eyes.
As another apparatus for displaying a stereoscopic image, an HMD of a laser scanning type (which displays images directly on the retina) is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,181. In this apparatus, a stereoscopic image is displayed by performing focusing at high speed based on distance data concerning each pixel of the image while performing laser scanning.
The apparatus disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. H6-235885 employs a principle that the imaging position is caused to coincide with the convergence position of the eyes by automatically adjusting the imaging position of the displayed image in accordance with variation in convergence position of the left and right eyes. However, since the pupil distance varies among people, it is difficult to obtain the convergence position of the viewer's eyes with accuracy. If the imaging position of the displayed image is inaccurately adjusted, the convergence position of the eyes and the imaging position do not coincide with each other, so that the eyes are apt to get fatigued.
When a close object placed before a far background is viewed through a stereoscopic image display apparatus, it is desirable that the edge of the clear-cut object placed in the foreground should be clearly seen in front of the blurred background. However, according to the apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,181, the image of the blurred background enters the edge of the object placed in the foreground, so that an overlapping image is viewed. For this reason, the displayed stereoscopic image is unnatural and the reality is impaired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a stereoscopic image display apparatus capable of displaying natural stereoscopic images which hardly fatigue the eyes.
To achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, a display apparatus for displaying an image based on image data and distance data concerning each pixel is provided with means for detecting a visual range from a viewer's eye to the viewer's point of regard; means for generating display data based on the image data, the distance data and the visual range; means for displaying an image based on the display data; means for projecting the displayed image as a virtual image; and means for controlling a projection distance of the virtual image so that the virtual image is projected onto the point of regard.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a display apparatus for displaying an image based on image data and distance data concerning each pixel is provided with first means for displaying so as to focus an image situated at a predetermined distance, and second means for displaying so as to blur an image not situated at the predetermined distance.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, a display apparatus is provided with means for receiving image data; means for detecting a visual range; means for performing a blurring processing on the image data in accordance with the detected visual range; and means for displaying an image based on the image data on which the blurring processing has been performed.
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Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Marc-Coleman Marthe Y.
Minolta Co. , Ltd.
Sidley & Austin
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