Optical: systems and elements – Stereoscopic – Stereo-viewers
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-05
2001-04-17
Henry, Jon (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Stereoscopic
Stereo-viewers
C349S159000, C385S116000, C385S120000, C348S052000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219184
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to stereoscopic image display apparatuses and, more particularly, to a stereoscopic image display apparatus suitable for computer graphics technology.
With recent development in computer graphics technology, it is required that display apparatuses be capable of displaying high-quality stereoscopic images.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1
shows a stereoscopic image display apparatus
10
according to the related art. In order to view a stereoscopic image, a viewer wears special glasses
11
. The special glasses
11
have a right-eye liquid crystal shutter
12
, a left-eye liquid crystal shutter
13
and a liquid crystal shutter driving unit
14
. In cooperation with a two-dimensional image display unit
15
displaying right-eye image information
16
and left-eye image information
17
alternately, the right-eye liquid crystal shutter
12
and the left-eye liquid crystal shutter
13
of the special glasses
11
open alternately so that the viewer is able to view a stereoscopic image on the two-dimensional display unit
15
.
FIGS. 2A and 2B
show another stereoscopic image display apparatus
20
according to the related art. The stereoscopic image display apparatus
20
uses an image display unit
21
constructed such that a lenticular lens
23
formed of an array of longitudinally elongated cylindrical lenses is disposed on a display surface
22
. The display surface
22
displays an image
26
comprising longitudinal stripes of a right-eye image
24
and a left-eye image
25
. As shown in
FIG. 2B
, a light beam carrying the image
26
is refracted by the lenticular lens
23
so that the right-eye image
24
enters a right eye
27
of a viewer viewing the image display unit
21
and the left-eye image
25
enters a left eye
28
of the viewer viewing the image display unit
21
. In this way, the viewer is able to view a stereoscopic image.
The conventional stereoscopic image display apparatuses
10
and image
20
have a drawback in that viewers viewing at different positions relative to the two-dimensional image display unit
15
or the image display unit
21
can only view the same stereoscopic image. A viewer moving in front of the two-dimensional image display unit
15
or the image display unit
21
can not recognize a variation in the stereoscopic image viewed. Accordingly, display of a realistic stereoscopic image that gives an impression that an actual three-dimensional object is present behind the screen of the two-dimensional image display unit
15
or the image display unit
21
is impossible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a stereoscopic image display apparatus in which the aforementioned problem is eliminated.
Another and more specific object of the present invention is to provide a realistic stereoscopic vision in which different aspects of an object are smoothly disclosed depending on a position and a viewing angle of a viewer and an impression that an object is present behind an image display apparatus is delivered to the viewer.
The aforementioned objects can be achieved by a stereoscopic image display apparatus comprising: multi-angle image information generating means for generating angle-specific image information for a plurality of viewing angles from which an object is viewed; image display means for displaying an angle-specific image derived from the angle-specific image information supplied by the multi-angle image information generating means; angle-specific image radial distribution means which, provided at the front of the image display means, radially distributes an angle-specific image by providing directivity to a light beam carrying the angle-specific image displayed on the image display means and thus directs the angle-specific image to a corresponding angle.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4173391 (1979-11-01), Schure et al.
patent: 4299447 (1981-11-01), Soltan et al.
patent: 4569571 (1986-02-01), Reidinger
patent: 4807965 (1989-02-01), Garakani
patent: 5105183 (1992-04-01), Beckman
patent: 5465175 (1995-11-01), Woodgate et al.
patent: 5475419 (1995-12-01), Carbery
patent: 5506903 (1996-04-01), Suzuki et al.
patent: 5521726 (1996-05-01), Zimmerman et al.
Fujitsu Limited
Greer Burns & Crain Ltd.
Henry Jon
LandOfFree
Stereoscopic image display apparatus with radial display... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Stereoscopic image display apparatus with radial display..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Stereoscopic image display apparatus with radial display... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2524467