Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Image superposition by optical means
Reexamination Certificate
1996-10-07
2002-04-23
Chow, Dennis-Doon (Department: 2675)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Image superposition by optical means
C345S005000, C345S087000, C348S056000, C348S057000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06377230
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display unit and a display method for displaying a variety of information. In particular, the present invention relates to a display unit and a display method, through which being capable of recognizing different images from each other by a plurality of viewers. For example, the present invention relates to a display unit and a display method, through which being capable of viewing a plurality of images displayed on an identical screen by a plurality of observers independently from each other. Also, the present invention relates to a unit and a method, which selectively recognize and display only specific information from a plurality of images which are displayed simultaneously. Also, the present invention relates to a display unit and display method, through which being capable of selectively viewing only specific information. Then, the present invention relates to a display unit and a display method, through which being capable of converting an image recognized by a viewer into a three-dimensional image.
2. Description of the Related Art
Up to now, there have been known techniques by which different images are displayed on an identical screen. For example, there have been known a method of dividing one screen so as to display a large number of programs simultaneously, and a method of superimposing and displaying a plurality of images on one screen.
In the former method, since the respective images are displayed independently on the screen, a large number of programs and images can be viewed simultaneously with relative ease. However, in the latter method, a plurality of images are superimposed on each other, resulting in a program that make it difficult to view those images.
Moreover, in either case, since a plurality of images are displayed simultaneously, a viewer must select an object to be viewed.
This leads to a problem in the case where a plurality of viewers view a plurality of different screens simultaneously. For example, in the case of displaying an image which can be viewed by a viewer A but cannot be viewed by a viewer B, the above-mentioned method cannot be utilized.
Also, there has been known a technique by which a three-dimensional image (cubic image) is displayed as an image (refer to “Three-dimensional Display Unit” written by Chizuro Masuda, published by Sangyo Tosho Co., initially on May 25, 1990).
However, in the above-mentioned technique in which different images are viewed by a plurality of viewers simultaneously, there has not been known a technique in which a three-dimensional image can be viewed by them.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the above, and therefore an object of the present invention is to provide a structure by which a plurality of viewers can view different images displayed on an identical screen, independently. In other words, the object of the present invention is to provide the structure by which the images displayed on the identical screen can be selected individually and viewed.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a structure by which the above images can be converted into three-dimensional images, respectively.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a display method by which the above problems are solved.
In order to solve the above problems, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display unit, through which being capable of viewing different images by a plurality of viewers, respectively, as shown in a specific example of
FIG. 1
, comprising:
means
11
for displaying a plurality of different images on an identical screen; and
means
13
and
14
for selecting said plurality of images for each of the viewers.
The above display unit is designed so that two images which are displayed on a display unit
11
and divided with time are viewed through glasses
13
and
14
each having an optical shutter, thereby being capable of selectively viewing only a predetermined image.
FIG. 1
shows an example in which two images are viewed individually, and as time-division is more increased, more images can be viewed individually. The structure shown in
FIG. 1
enables viewing a desired image by changing a timing of shuttering the glasses
13
or
14
. Also, if a plurality of viewers use shutters having an identical timing, they can view an identical image simultaneously.
According to another structure of the present invention, there is provided, as shown in a specific example of
FIG. 1
, a display unit, through which being capable of viewing different images by a plurality of viewers, respectively, comprising means
11
for dividing a plurality of different images on an identical screen with time to display separated images; and means
13
and/or
14
having an optical shutter; wherein said means
13
and/or
14
having the optical shutter opens and/or shuts said optical shutter in synchronism with a timing at which the plurality of images are separated, and selectively transmits one of the images divided with time.
The above structure allows the glasses (for example, indicated by reference numeral
13
) which is means having the optical shutter to be appropriately selected, thereby being capable of selectively recognizing only a required image. For example, the above structure can realize a situation in which only a specific person can view a specific image or only a specific person cannot view a specific image in a state where a plurality of persons view an identical screen.
According to still another structure of the present invention, there is provided, as shown in a specific example of
FIG. 3
, a display unit, through which being capable of viewing different images by a plurality of viewers, respectively, comprising means (CRT
21
in the figure) for dividing a plurality of different images on an identical screen with time to display separated images; and means (means which is made up of a polarizing plate
22
, a &pgr; cell
23
and a ¼ wavelength plate
24
, or means which is made up of a &pgr; cell
23
in the figure) for giving a different polarizing state to at least one of the separated images.
With the above structure, there can be obtained a unit which divides a plurality of images (may be two or more images) with time to display the separated images, and recognizes one of the images selectively by using a filter that gives a specific polarizing state to one of the separated images to selectively transmit the polarizing state.
For example, in the structure shown in
FIG. 3
, two images from a CRT
21
, which are divided with time, are polarized counterclockwise or clockwise by a polarizing plate
22
and a ¼ wavelength plate
24
. Then, a &pgr; cell
23
is used to further give a specific polarizing state to a specific image which is divided with time, thereby converting its polarizing state into a clockwise circular polarizing state. In this example, the use of clockwise circular polarizing glasses
25
and counterclockwise circular polarizing glasses
26
enables viewing selectively two images.
According to yet still another structure of the present invention, there is provided, as shown in a specific structure of
FIG. 5
, a display unit, through which being capable of viewing different images by a plurality of viewers, respectively, comprising means
31
and
32
for displaying two images having different polarizing states on an identical image
35
; and means
36
and
37
for selectively transmitting said images having different polarizing states in correspondence with said plurality of viewers.
The structure shown in
FIG. 5
is that two images projected from projecting units (for example, liquid-crystal projectors)
31
and
32
are projected on a screen
35
through polarizing plates
33
and
34
having different polarizing directions, respectively. Then, those images projected on the screen
35
are viewed through glasses
36
having a polarizing plate which is identical in polarizing direction with the pol
Hirakata Yoshiharu
Koyama Jun
Teramoto Satoshi
Yamazaki Shunpei
Chow Dennis-Doon
Fish & Richardson P.C.
Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co,. Ltd.
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