Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Image superposition by optical means – Operator body-mounted heads-up display
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-17
2002-05-14
Shalwala, Bipin (Department: 2673)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Image superposition by optical means
Operator body-mounted heads-up display
C345S007000, C348S053000, C348S056000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06388639
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stereoscopic image display apparatus, a method of displaying a stereoscopic image, and a recording medium, and more particularly to a stereoscopic image display apparatus, a method of displaying a stereoscopic image, and a recording medium for displaying a virtual object in a virtual stereoscopic space.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a case where the shape of a vehicle body, a component part, or the like is designed and evaluated, it has been the conventional practice to fabricate a member based on design values (a real object having the same values as the design values) and repeatedly effect processing including the evaluation, examination, and redesign thereof. However, it requires a huge amount of time to fabricate a member and repeat the examination and redesign. For this reason, there has been a demand for an apparatus which permits evaluation and examination without fabricating a member which is a real object.
As such an apparatus, attention has been focused on an apparatus which makes it possible to effect examination and obtain information for redesign by reproducing an image of a real object through a stereoscopic image of computer graphics (CG) in which a virtual object corresponding to the real object to be formed in accordance with design values is displayed in a virtual space. That is, in recent years, computer design using CAD is effected starting with the design stage, and data for a stereoscopic image is generated by using this CAD data, thereby making it possible to display the stereoscopic image. As one example, a stereoscopic display apparatus is known in which a three-dimensional space is generated by using stereoscopic eyeglasses, and a virtual object in that virtual space is operated to improve the operability of CAD (refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 6-131442).
However, faithful reproduction, i.e., display, of design values is required to effect evaluation, examination, and the like without fabricating a member which is a real object. For this reason, a stereoscopic image must be displayed with the same size as that of a real object or on the basis of a fixed scale set in advance. With conventional stereoscopic display apparatuses, sufficient examination has not been made concerning displaying accuracy, so that the conventional stereoscopic display apparatuses cannot display a stereoscopic image with the same size as that of a real object or on the basis of a fixed scale set in advance.
In addition, although there are variations among individual operators in the perception (perceptual information) of a virtual object in a virtual three-dimensional space, sufficient examination has not been made in this respect with the conventional stereoscopic display apparatuses, so that stereoscopic display with high accuracy has been impossible.
Further, although the conventional stereoscopic display apparatuses are able to display a virtual object similar to a real object in a virtual space, it has been possible only for a single operator to view the virtual object. For this reason, it has been difficult for a plurality of operators (viewers) to view the virtual object which is stereoscopically displayed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above-described circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a stereoscopic image display apparatus, a method of displaying a stereoscopic image, and a recording medium which are capable of displaying a virtual object which is faithfully reproduced in a virtual stereoscopic space.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a stereoscopic image display apparatus, a method of displaying a stereoscopic image, and a recording medium which allow a plurality of operators to perceive the virtual object reproduced in a virtual stereoscopic space.
To attain the above objects, in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stereoscopic image display apparatus comprising: display means having a display area for displaying an image; a pair of stereoscopic eyeglasses disposed at a position spaced apart from the display means and having an optical element for a left eye and an optical element for a right eye whose states of transmission and nontransmission of light can be mutually changed over on the basis of signals inputted respectively thereto; visual-point position input means for inputting positions of a pair of eyeballs located in vicinities of the stereoscopic eyeglasses; display-position input means for inputting positions on the display area of the display means; and controlling means for defining as a virtual stereoscopic space a space included between the display means and the stereoscopic eyeglasses on the basis of the inputted positions of the eyeballs and the inputted positions on the display area, for causing an image for the left eye of a virtual object and an image for the right eye of the virtual object to be displayed by the display means by being mutually changed over so as to allow the virtual object to be perceived in the virtual stereoscopic space, and for outputting changeover signals to cause the optical element for the left eye and the optical element for the right eye to repeat the transmission and nontransmission of the light alternately in synchronism with the changeover.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, in the stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, the display means is formed by including a reflecting member for reflecting part of the light, and the visual-point position input means inputs positions of visual points on the basis of the input of the positions on the display means onto which the pair of eyeballs located in the vicinities of the stereoscopic eyeglasses are projected.
In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, in the stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, the visual-point position input means is provided with a position input portion for inputting an operator's own position and a sighting portion for forming a reference visual axis with respect to the position input portion, and the visual-point position input means inputs the position of the visual point on the basis of the inputted operator's own position and the reference visual axis.
In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the second aspect of the invention, the visual-point position input means is provided with a detecting portion for detecting the rotation of the eyeball located in the vicinity of the stereoscopic eyeglasses, and the visual-point position input means inputs the position of the visual point on the basis of the detected rotation of the eyeball.
In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the second aspect of the invention, the visual-point position input means is provided with a detecting means for detecting the rotation of the eyeball from a fixation position on the display means, and the visual-point position input means inputs the position of the visual point on the basis of the detected rotation of the eyeball.
In accordance with a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, the display-position input means is provided with a position input portion for inputting the operator's own position and a light emitting portion for forming a reference optical axis with respect to the position input portion, and the display-position input means inputs the position on the display area on the basis of the inputted operator's own position and the reference optical axis with respect to a reference figure displayed on the display area.
In accordance with a seventh aspect of the present invention, the stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the first aspect of
Hoshino Toshihito
Ozeki Toru
Lewis David L.
Pillsbury & Winthrop LLP
Shalwala Bipin
Toyota Jidosha & Kabushiki Kaisha
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