JP2002290966A - Compound image display system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that the formation of one high definition image over all the multi-screen is not tried in a conventional system for synthesizing the pictures of respective display units or displaying these pictures while expanding them when displaying a multi-picture by using the display unit of a large screen. SOLUTION: Concerning an optical image, with which one optical subject of one image pickup area 36 is divided into three, an image pickup signal overlapping boundary parts is outputted by each of cameras 23d, 24d and 26d. This image pickup signal is inputted through a transmission part 40 to each of projectors 51b, 51c and 51a inside a projection part 50. In each of projectors 51a, 51b and 51c, the image pickup signal is converted from electric to optic and projected on a plane screen 52 and the image of a divided image pickup area corresponding to the input image pickup signal is displayed. On the screen 52, the image of one consecutive optical subject in an image pickup area 36 as a whole is displayed, This image is a high definition image having the number of pixels almost triple as many as that of HDTV image and is displayed on the screen 52 as a large picture.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a composite image display system, and more particularly to a composite image display system for synthesizing and displaying an image on a large screen having a larger number of pixels than a high definition television (HDTV) image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional composite image display system for synthesizing and displaying an image on a large screen, a system for preparing a plurality of display units and displaying an image on a multi-screen is known (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-214534). . In this conventional composite image display system, various image displays are performed by switching screens while synchronizing the display units constituting the multi-screen. The system controller that controls each display unit performs reproduction display so that the display position of each display unit on the multi-screen can be identified. In this conventional system, a multi-screen is used while the boundaries between display units are easily visible. Thus, for example, it is easy to configure a large screen using a plurality of display units having a small number of pixels.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional composite image display system, when a high-definition moving image is captured and a multi-screen display is to be performed by using a large-screen display unit, it is difficult to obtain a multi-screen display. The individual screens of the display unit are combined or enlarged and displayed, and it has not been conventionally considered to attempt to form a high-definition image of one image on the entire multi-screen. Therefore, even if a single image is displayed using the entire multi-screen, the image lacks sharpness per display unit, and only an image with a conspicuous boundary portion can be obtained.

[0004] Even when the entire stadium with a large area such as soccer or baseball is displayed by using the HDTV image which has recently become popular, if a large screen is displayed as it is, only an image lacking in sharpness can be obtained. There was a problem. Further, even when an HDTV image is displayed on a multi-screen as a display unit, the image lacks sharpness, and only an image with a conspicuous boundary is obtained, and there is no specificity as to how to obtain a high-definition image without a boundary. It is a big challenge.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above points,
By capturing an optically continuous high-resolution image by dividing it into a plurality of images and obtaining a high resolution even in a moving image state, this image is transmitted, converted into a plurality of optical images, and optically continuous. It is an object of the present invention to provide a composite image display system capable of displaying a high-definition image with sharpness by making the boundary portion inconspicuous by displaying the image.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an object to be displayed on one screen by a plurality of image pickup devices each having a larger number of pixels than an image of a standard television system. An imaging unit that divides an optical image into a plurality of images and outputs an imaging signal by imaging the imaging unit; a transmission unit that transmits a plurality of imaging signals; and a plurality of imaging devices that are output from a plurality of imaging devices and input through the transmission unit. A plurality of projectors for converting the imaging signal into a plurality of light images, and a screen for displaying a subject light image to be displayed on one screen as a whole, wherein a plurality of light images divided by the plurality of projectors are projected. And a projection unit.

According to the present invention, a light image of a subject to be displayed on one screen is divided into a plurality of images, captured, converted into a plurality of image signals, transmitted, and a plurality of light images divided by a plurality of projectors are formed. The object light image to be projected and displayed as a whole on a single screen is displayed on the screen. The image can be reproduced.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for forming a subject light image to be displayed on one screen by a plurality of image pickup devices each having a larger number of pixels than an image of a standard television system. An imaging unit that divides the boundary into a plurality of overlapping images and outputs an imaging signal; a transmission unit that transmits a plurality of imaging signals; and a transmission unit that is output from a plurality of imaging devices and input through the transmission unit. And a plurality of projectors that convert the plurality of imaging signals into a plurality of optical images and that perform correction processing on a continuous image by controlling the gain of the imaging signal at the overlapping boundary portion, and are divided by the plurality of projectors. A plurality of light images are projected, and a projection unit including a screen for displaying a subject light image to be displayed on one screen as a whole is provided.

According to the present invention, a plurality of projectors control a gain of an image pickup signal at an overlapped boundary portion to perform a correction process on a continuous image, and project a plurality of divided light images on a screen. Since the subject light image to be displayed on one screen is displayed on the screen, the overlap portion can be converted into a continuous image, and the subject light image on one screen can be reproduced as an image with no visible joints.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image pickup unit comprising: a single imaging lens for receiving light from a subject light image to be displayed on one screen; and an incident light from the imaging lens. A plurality of imaging devices arranged in parallel with each other to receive and convert into a plurality of imaging signals, and an optical path is set so that the optical paths of incident lights respectively incident on the plurality of imaging devices from a single imaging lens are parallel to each other. And a light path setting means. According to the present invention, since the plurality of imaging devices are arranged in the same direction, it is hardly affected by terrestrial magnetism, and when the imaging unit is moved, the division position can be prevented from changing.

[0011]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of each example of a main part of the composite image display system according to the present invention. FIG. 1 (A)
There are two cameras or projectors A and B for photographing a subject light image as shown by A and B, and two cameras or projectors A and B are used for the same continuous subject light image or screen 11. , 12 are overlapped and imaged or projected. In the case of a screen, it is installed on the same plane. The cameras each have the same number of pixels as the number of pixels of the HDTV image and are projected onto the screen by the two projectors with the overlapped portion 12.
It is possible to construct a display system that displays one large, high-definition image having a large number of pixels, which is smaller by twice the number of pixels of the overlap portion 12 than the number of pixels of the V-type image.

FIG. 1B shows three cameras or projectors A to C, and the same continuous light image of the subject or the screen 13.
Is imaged or projected with overlapping portions 14a and 14b. FIG. 1C shows four identical cameras or projectors A to D, and the same continuous subject light image or screen 15.
Is imaged or projected with overlapping portions 16a, 16b and 16c. As described above, as the number of cameras and projectors increases, the size of the screen increases, and a high-definition image can be displayed.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram of each embodiment of the camera used in the system of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, when a plurality of cameras are used, it is difficult to use them at the same interval as the projector. Here is a possible example. In an example in which image division is performed by a half mirror, the division positions are at right angles. For example, the example of FIG.
By arranging one half mirror 22 for one, the positions of the two cameras are at right angles to each other as shown by 23a and 24a. In this arrangement example, when the cameras 23a and 24a are easily moved by the geomagnetism, the division positions fluctuate.

In order to prevent this, as shown in FIG. 2B, one more half mirror 25 is added so that the two cameras are aligned in the same direction as indicated by 23b and 24b. In the example of FIG. 2B, the image forming distance of the imaging lens 21 is L2 in which one half mirror 25 is added to L1 in consideration of an increase of one half mirror 22 in FIG. 2A. It is longer and is configured to be larger. Therefore, when the camera is used while being fixed, the arrangement shown in FIG. 2A may be used, and when the camera is often used while being moved, the arrangement shown in FIG. 2B may be used.

The three cameras are the same as the two cameras described above, and two half mirrors 22 and 27 are arranged in a linear direction with respect to one imaging lens 21. Thereby, incident light from the subject transmitted through the imaging lens 21 is
The light is branched into two at right angles by the half mirror 22, one of which is changed the optical path in the right direction and enters the camera 24c.
The other goes straight and enters another half mirror 27 and is branched into two at right angles to each other.
The light enters the camera 26c while the light path is changed in the perpendicular direction. In this configuration example, the positions of the three cameras are at right angles to each other as shown by 23c, 24c and 26c. In this arrangement example, when the cameras 23c, 24c, and 26c are easily moved by the geomagnetism, the division positions fluctuate.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2D, by adding two more half mirrors 28 and 29, the influence of the above-mentioned geomagnetism can be reduced. That is, in the example of FIG. 2D, the incident light whose optical path has been changed in the right angle direction by the half mirror 22 is further changed in the right angle direction by the half mirror 28, and the light is transmitted straight through the half mirror 22. Light path in the same direction as the light of
d.

The other incident light transmitted through the half mirror 22 is incident on the half mirror 27, where the optical paths are further changed in the direction perpendicular to each other. Then, the other light path is further changed in the right angle direction by the half mirror 29 so that the light path is in the same direction as the light traveling straight through the half mirror 27 and enters the camera 26d. Thereby, three cameras 23
The light incident directions of d, 24d and 26d are all aligned in the same direction.

Here, the imaging distance of the imaging lens 21 is shown in FIG.
L in consideration of the two half mirrors 22 and 27 in FIG.
On the other hand, in the arrangement example of FIG. 2D, the arrangement example of FIG. 2D is longer than that of the arrangement example of FIG. Therefore, when three cameras are used in a fixed manner, FIG.
In the arrangement shown in FIG. 2C, when it is often used by moving, the arrangement shown in FIG. 2 (C) and 2 (D), the rectangular one provided on the incident side of the cameras 24c, 23d and 24d is a glass material for matching the optical path length with light incident on other cameras. , Half mirror 2
It is made of the same material as 2, 27, 28 and 29.

Next, an example of the arrangement of the projectors when the screen is curved and straight will be described. FIG.
(A) is an example in which the screen is a curved screen.
a and 32a are shifted from point P to the curved screen 30a side by R
Two projectors 31a and 32a are arranged at a position closer to 1 and on a straight line connecting the center lines of projectors 31a and 32a and point P. At this time, the two projectors 31a
And 32a have overlapping projection portions O.O. on curved screen 30a. The angle of the projector is set so that L exists.

FIG. 3B shows an example in which the screen is a straight line, and two projectors 31b and 32b are parallel to each other at a distance D from the linear screen 30b. Position, the linear projection 30B overlaps the projected portion O. The interval L is set so that L 'exists.

Next, the configuration and operation of an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 shows a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the composite image display system according to the present invention. In FIG.
The same components as those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. The composite image display system according to the embodiment shown in FIG.
It comprises an imaging unit 35, a transmission unit 40, and a projection unit 50. The imaging unit 35 includes the half mirrors 22 and 2 shown in FIG.
The three cameras 23d, 24d and 26 are arranged so that subject light images are incident from the same direction by 7 to 29.
d is arranged so as to have an overlapped imaging portion as shown in FIG. Also, the camera 23
Each of d, 24d, and 26d has the same number of pixels as the HDTV system image, and outputs the same video signal as the HDTV system video signal.

The transmitting section 40 includes a transmitting device 41 for transmitting image signals from the cameras 23d, 24d and 26d, a transmission line 42 for transmitting the transmitted image signals, and receiving an image signal transmitted via the transmission lines 42. And a receiving device 43.

The projection unit 50 comprises three projectors 51a, 51b and 51c provided corresponding to the three cameras 23d, 24d and 26d provided in the imaging unit 35, and a large screen screen 52. The large screen screen 52 is flat, and the projectors 51a, 51b and 51c
As described with (C), they are arranged at intervals so as to have overlap projection portions 53a and 53b, and in parallel with the screen surface.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. Incident light from one continuous subject light image in the imaging area 36 is incident on the half mirror 22 through one imaging lens 21 and is split into two here. The optical path is changed in the perpendicular direction and the light enters the camera 24d.

The other incident light transmitted through the half mirror 22 is incident on the half mirror 27, where the optical paths are further changed in the direction perpendicular to each other. Then, the other light path is further changed in the right angle direction by the half mirror 29 so that the light path is in the same direction as the light traveling straight through the half mirror 27 and enters the camera 26d. Thus, the camera 23d,
Incident light is incident on 24d and 26d from directions parallel to each other.

Here, the camera 23d converts an object light image portion of a central divided region of the three divided image pickup regions in the horizontal direction from one continuous object light image in the image pickup region 36 into an electric signal. The camera 24d converts the signal into a certain first HDTV image pickup signal, and the camera 24d converts the subject light image portion of the right divided area in the subject light image into a second HDT signal which is an electric signal.
The camera 26d converts the subject light image portion of the above-described subject light image into the third HDTV method image signal which is an electric signal. However, as described with reference to FIG. 1B, the boundaries of the imaging regions of the cameras 23d and 24d overlap by a predetermined width, and similarly, the boundaries of the imaging regions of the cameras 23d and 26d overlap by a predetermined width. I have.

The imaging signals output from the cameras 23d, 24d and 26d are supplied to the transmission device 41,
After being multiplexed here, it is converted into a predetermined signal form suitable for transmission and transmitted. The imaging signal transmitted from the transmission device 41 is received by the reception device 43 via the transmission path 42.
The receiving device 43 demodulates and separates the received combined image signal, and outputs the first to third HDTVs input to the transmitting device 41.
The same imaging signal as the imaging signal is taken out and input to the projectors 51b, 51c and 51a.

The projectors 51a, 51b and 51c convert the input image signals into electric-optical signals and project them on the flat screen 52 to display the images of the divided image areas corresponding to the input image signals. .

Here, the projectors 51a and 51b have an overlap portion 53a of the image, which is
This is the same image in the image portion of the boundary portion overlapping by a predetermined width between the imaging regions d and 26d. Similarly, the projectors 51b and 51
c has an overlapped portion 53b of the image, which is the same image at the boundary portion overlapping by a predetermined width of the imaging area of the cameras 23d and 24d.

Therefore, an image of one continuous subject light image of the image pickup area 36 is displayed on the flat screen 52 as a whole. This image is the first to third H
Since it is a composite image based on the DTV image pickup signal, the number of pixels is three times as large as the HDTV image as a whole. However, since there are overlap portions 53a and 53b, the number of pixels is three times as large as the HDTV image. Is the number of pixels obtained by subtracting the number of pixels of the overlap portions 53a and 53b from the image. However, a high-definition image having approximately three times the number of pixels of the HDTV image can be displayed on the large screen 52 on a large screen.

Next, the overlapping portions 53a and 53
The processing of the projectors 51a to 51c in b will be described in more detail. Overlap portions 53a and 53b
Now, the images from the two projectors are simultaneously
When the projection light amount is the same as that on the screen 52 other than the overlap portion, a large difference occurs in the brightness from the image portion on the screen 52 other than the overlap portion.

Therefore, the optical gain of the projector 51b is shown in FIG.
As indicated by I, the overlap portions 53a, 53b
Is set to "1" at one end (the end that does not overlap with the projection light from the other projectors 51a and 51c), and the other end (the end that overlaps with the projection light from the other projectors 51a and 51c) Then, it is set to “0”. Similarly, the projector 51a and the projector 51
As shown by II in FIG. 5, the optical gain of c is "1" at one end of the overlap portions 53a and 53b (the end that does not overlap with the projection light from the other projector 51b), and the other is Edge (the edge that overlaps with the projection light from the other projector 51b)
Then, it is set to “0”. The change from the gain “1” to the gain “0” is a linear change in light amount conversion.

As a result, since the images at the boundaries (overlaps 53a and 53b) are added by optical distribution, they always have an optical gain of "1". Image quality degradation is not noticeable.

Next, when the electric signal is linear in proportion to the optical image, the brightness when this electric signal is projected on a screen in addition to the projector shows a curved characteristic like R1 in FIG. The correction method in the case of the above will be described. FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the main parts of each of the projectors 51a to 51c.

In this embodiment, the camera 23 shown in FIG.
After roughly adjusting the width of the overlapped imaging area by d, 24d, and 26d and the width of the overlapped portions 53b, 53a by the projectors 51b, 51c, and 51a to be substantially the same width, the standard pattern (equally vertically and horizontally) is used. One with lines,
(E.g., a pattern in which 0 patterns are arranged at equal intervals, a pattern in which a superimposed portion is emphasized, etc.) are captured before capturing an actual subject, and the optical gains of the projectors 51a to 51c in the horizontal direction are obtained.
The optical gain in the vertical direction is determined, and the horizontal direction gain setting circuit 62 in FIG.
1c and 51a overlap portions 53b, 53
The gain for correcting the horizontal optical gain of “a” is set in advance.

Here, the projectors 51b, 51c and 51a
When the horizontal optical gains of the overlap portions 53b and 53a due to the non-linear characteristic shown by R1 in FIG. 6 show the non-linear characteristic shown by R2 in FIG. The characteristic gain is set according to the horizontal address. Thus, at the time of actual screen projection, a horizontal address signal is output from the horizontal address signal generation circuit 61 in synchronization with the horizontal synchronization signal and the clock signal, and supplied to the horizontal gain setting circuit 62.

The gain is read out from the horizontal gain setting circuit 62 in accordance with the horizontal address and supplied to the horizontal gain control circuit 63, where the input signal from the projector 51a, 51b or 51c is input. To control the horizontal gain for. That is, the horizontal gain control circuit 6
3 is a signal level of B1 when the input signal level of the projection unit is A1, a signal level of B2 when the input signal level of the projection unit is A2, and a signal level of B2 when the input signal level of the projection unit is A3.
When the input signal level of the projection unit is A4, the gain is controlled so that the signal level becomes B4.

The output signal of the projection section taken out from the horizontal gain control circuit 63 thus gain-controlled is electro-optically converted by a light-emitting section (not shown) or the like to be converted into projection light, and then applied to the screen 52. Is done. The brightness on the screen 52 at this time has a linear characteristic in which the brightness changes linearly in proportion to the signal level, as indicated by R3 in FIG. Thereby, the overlap portions 53a and 53b
Since the optical gain in the horizontal direction has a non-linear characteristic indicated by R1 in FIG. 6, distortion occurs in the overlap portions 53a and 53b as it is, but the distortion is generated by the above-described correction processing. Can be prevented.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the camera is an image pickup device having a larger number of pixels than a standard television (NTSC, PAL, etc.) image. The present invention is not limited to an imaging apparatus that outputs an HDTV imaging signal.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A subject light image to be displayed on one screen is divided into a plurality of images, imaged, converted into a plurality of imaging signals, transmitted, and a plurality of light images divided by a plurality of projectors are projected, and as a whole, By displaying the subject light image to be displayed on the screen on the screen, the subject light image is reproduced on the screen with the number of pixels about the number of times the number of pixels of the image of the standard television system several times the number of imaging devices, One continuous subject light image can be displayed on the screen with high definition on a large screen.

According to the present invention, a plurality of projectors control a gain of an image pickup signal at an overlapping boundary portion to perform a correction process on a continuous image and project a plurality of divided light images on a screen. By displaying the subject light image to be displayed on one screen as a whole on the screen,
Converting the overlapped part to a continuous image and reproducing the subject's light image on one screen as a seamless image, the overlapping boundary part is inconspicuous, and an image with high definition and high definition is displayed on a large screen Can be displayed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of each example of a main part of a composite image display system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of each embodiment of a camera used in the system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of projectors when the screen is curved and straight.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a composite image display system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a signal gain of a boundary portion of a projection unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of signal conversion at a boundary of a projection unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a main part of the projector according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11, 13, 15 Object light image or screen 12, 14a, 14b, 16a, 16b, 16c Boundary part 21 Imaging lens 22, 25, 27, 28, 29 Half mirror (prism) 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, 24a, 24b, 2
4c, 24d, 26c, 26d, 31a, 31b, 32
a, 32d Camera 30a Curved screen 30b, 52 Linear screen 35 Imaging unit 36 Imaging region 40 Transmission unit 41 Transmitting device 43 Receiving device 50 Projecting unit 51a, 51b, 51c Projector 53a, 53b Optically overlapping portion (boundary portion) ) 61 horizontal address signal generation circuit 62 horizontal gain setting circuit 63 horizontal gain control circuit A, B, C, D Camera or projector

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A subject light image to be displayed on one screen is divided into a plurality of images and imaged by a plurality of image pickup devices each having a larger number of pixels than the number of pixels of a standard television image. An imaging unit that outputs a signal; a transmission unit that transmits the plurality of imaging signals; and a plurality of units that convert the plurality of imaging signals output from the plurality of imaging devices and input through the transmission unit to a plurality of optical images. And a projection unit comprising a screen that displays a subject light image to be displayed on the entire screen, wherein the plurality of light images divided by the plurality of projectors are projected. Characteristic composite image display system. 2. A subject light image to be displayed on one screen is divided into a plurality of images having overlapping boundaries by a plurality of imaging devices each having a larger number of pixels than the number of pixels of a standard television image. An imaging unit that captures and outputs an imaging signal; a transmission unit that transmits the plurality of imaging signals; and a plurality of the imaging signals that are output from the plurality of imaging devices and input through the transmission unit. A plurality of projectors that convert to an optical image and perform a correction process to a continuous image by controlling the gain of the imaging signal of the overlapped boundary portion, and the plurality of optical images divided by the plurality of projectors are A composite image display system, comprising: a projection unit configured to project a light image of a subject to be displayed on the single screen as a whole. 3. An image pickup unit, comprising: a single image pickup lens that receives light from a subject light image to be displayed on the one screen; and an incident light from the image pickup lens that converts the light into the plurality of image pickup signals. A plurality of imaging devices arranged in parallel with each other, and an optical path setting means for setting an optical path so that optical paths of incident lights respectively incident on the plurality of imaging devices from the single imaging lens are parallel to each other. 3. The composite image display system according to claim 1, wherein: