JP2003215478A - Image display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image display device equipped with a new light beam scanning means which can project the light beam emitted from a light source in an arbitrary direction by freely deflecting it and freely vary integration density. <P>SOLUTION: The light beam scanning means is composed of liquid 3 or drop 4 of liquid 3 put in a cavity part formed between a transparent substrate 1 and a packing material 2. The liquid 3 changes its shape with external energy and the drop 4 of liquid shifts in position with the external energy to move. The light beam (image information) emitted from the specified light source is refracted differently by the deformation of the liquid 3 and the movement of the drop 4 of liquid and deflected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional stereoscopic image display device without glasses called an integral photography or fly-eye lens has a predetermined number of microlenses formed by a microlens array or a lenticular lens array. By arranging different image information of an object, and when an observer tries to observe the image information through the plurality of microlenses, the predetermined object is provided by providing different image information according to the observation direction. It is intended to provide a stereoscopic image of.

However, in these stereoscopic image display devices, the resolution is determined by the arrangement density of microlenses and the image information density. A liquid crystal element or the like is used as the image information source, and in this case, the image information density is determined by the number of pixels of the liquid crystal element. Normally, only about four pixels can be arranged under each microlens, and it has been difficult to obtain a stereoscopic image with high resolution.

In view of such a situation, the present inventors have
A plurality of microlenses are arranged so as to correspond to each of the plurality of light sources, and the microlenses are moved relative to the light source, and are synchronized with the relative movement based on image information of a predetermined object. In addition, an image display method and an image display device, which change the light emitted from the light source to obtain a stereoscopic image of the predetermined object, have been developed and filed (Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-37370).
No. 6).

[0005]

However, it is preferable that the image display device as described above is provided with a light beam scanning means for deflecting the image information emitted from the light source in a specific direction. Then, in order to correspond to the image information emitted from the plurality of light sources one by one, it is necessary to densely integrate and form the light beam scanning means above (in front of) the plurality of light sources.

According to the present invention, a plurality of microlenses are arranged so as to correspond to each of a plurality of light sources, the microlenses are moved relative to the light source, and based on image information of a predetermined object, A novel light beam scanning means is provided, which can be preferably applied to an image display device or the like that changes the light emitted from the light source so as to synchronize with the relative movement and obtains a stereoscopic image of the predetermined object. An object is to provide an image display device.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object,
The image display device according to the present invention comprises: a predetermined light source; and a light beam scanning means, which is formed in front of the light source, at least a part of which is made of a substance that changes its shape in response to external energy. A first image display device).

Further, the present invention is characterized by comprising a predetermined light source and a light beam scanning means composed of a liquid droplet which can be moved by energy from the outside in front of this light source. 2 image display device).

In the image display device, a light beam (image information) emitted from a predetermined light source is deflected by passing through the light beam scanning means and emitted in a specific direction. Since the refraction state of the light beam changes depending on the form, the deflection direction thereof changes. According to the first image display device of the present invention, at least a part of the light beam scanning means is made of a substance that changes its shape in accordance with energy from the outside. By loading the beam scanning means, the form can be changed appropriately, and the deflection direction can be controlled appropriately.

Further, in the second image display device of the present invention, the light beam scanning means is composed of droplets, and the droplets are moved in accordance with energy from the outside.
Therefore, according to the movement of the droplet, the light beam (image information) emitted from the predetermined light source passes through different portions in the droplet, and the different refraction states on the curved surfaces having different curvatures of the droplet. After that, it is emitted to the outside. As a result, the light beam is deflected according to the movement of the droplet and is emitted in a specific direction.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a process of deflecting a light beam (image information) by the light beam scanning means of the first image display device of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the packaging member 2 is provided on the transparent substrate 1, and the liquid 3 is contained in the cavity formed by the transparent substrate 1 and the packaging member 2. When external energy does not act on the liquid 3, the state shown in the center of FIG. 1 is exhibited.

On the other hand, pressure, that is, kinetic energy, is applied to the liquid 3 by, for example, electrostatic force, that is, electrostatic energy is applied from an electrode embedded in the substrate 1 or gas is pressed into the cavity. Is loaded, the liquid 3 changes its form, as shown on the right or left side of FIG. Similarly, expansion and contraction caused by heating the liquid 3 particularly locally, i.e. by applying thermal energy, causes the liquid 3 to change its morphology, as shown on the right or left side of FIG.

In such a case, for example, the liquid 3
When no external force acts on the liquid and the light is in a state as shown in the center of FIG. 1, assuming that the light beam is transmitted almost vertically through the liquid 3, the liquid 3 is in the state of the right side or the left side of FIG. In this case, the light beam is deflected so that it is tilted from the vertical direction to the left and right, and then emitted.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a process of deflecting a light beam (image information) by the light beam scanning means of the second image display device of the present invention. In FIG. 2, as in FIG. 1, the packaging member 2 is provided on the transparent substrate 1, and the droplet 4 is contained in the hollow portion formed by the transparent substrate 1 and the packaging member 2. When the external energy does not act on the droplet 4, the state shown in the center of FIG. 2 is exhibited.

On the other hand, for example, an electrostatic force, that is, electrostatic energy is applied to the droplet 4 from an electrode embedded in the substrate 1, or a pressure, that is, a movement due to a gas being pressed into the hollow portion. When energy is applied, the droplet 4 moves by changing its position as shown on the right side or the left side of FIG. Similarly, the expansion and contraction of the droplet 4 caused by heating the droplet 4 particularly locally, i.e. by applying thermal energy, also results in the droplet 4
Changes its position as shown on the right or left side of FIG.

In such a case, for example, the droplet 4
In the state shown in the center of FIG. 2, when external rays do not act on the droplets, and the light beam is transmitted through the droplet 4 almost vertically, the droplet 4 appears as shown on the right side or the left side of FIG. In the state, the light beam passes through the curved surfaces of the droplet 4 having different curvatures and is emitted to the outside, so that the light beam is deflected in a state of being inclined to the left and right from the vertical direction.

As described above, according to the present invention, the light beam scanning means is composed of a fluid such as a liquid or droplets. The light beam (image information) emitted from the light source is deflected by changing the form of the liquid or changing the position of the droplet. Therefore, the light beam can be deflected extremely freely.

Further, by appropriately controlling the size of the hollow portion of the packaging member 2, the size (volume and area) of the liquid contained therein can be freely controlled, and the amount of droplets and the transparency can be controlled. By controlling the contact angle with the substrate 1 and the like, the size of the droplet can be freely controlled. Therefore, the integration degree of the light beam scanning means can be freely changed, and the integration degree of the light beam scanning means can be increased by reducing the size of the droplet or the like, and a high resolution image display device can be obtained. Will be able to provide.

In the first image display device of the present invention, the light beam scanning means is not limited to the liquid described above, but may be composed of any other substance whose form can be changed by external energy. For example,
It may be composed of a gel-like substance, a high-pressure gas, a gas containing fine particles at a high density, or the like.

When the light beam scanning means is made of a liquid in the first image display device, or in the second image display device, it is preferable that the liquid or the liquid droplet contains bubbles. In such a case, particularly when heat energy is used as the external energy, the bubble portion reacts more sensitively to the heat energy, and the whole of the liquid or the like is expanded through expansion and contraction of the bubble portion. It becomes possible to perform expansion and contraction easily and efficiently. Therefore, it becomes possible to deflect the light beam passing through the light beam scanning means composed of these liquids in a simpler and wider range.

In the second image display device of the present invention, the droplets forming the light beam scanning means can be formed as follows. For example, a hydrophilic portion and a hydrophobic portion are formed on the main surface of the transparent substrate 2 shown in FIG. 2 by irradiating the main surface with plasma or ultraviolet rays or by locally performing heat treatment or the like. . Specifically, the hydrophilic portion is formed by irradiating the surface of the transparent substrate 2 made of a hydrophobic material with oxygen plasma or light from a high pressure mercury lamp.

Alternatively, a hydrophilic portion and a hydrophobic portion are formed by directly forming a portion made of a hydrophobic material on the main surface of the transparent substrate 2. Then, by applying or dropping a liquid containing water at least partially on the main surface, the liquid will be present in the hydrophilic portion in the form of droplets.

It should be noted that, when the transparent substrate 1 is manufactured, the hydrophilic portion and the hydrophobic portion are added to the main material by adding a predetermined additive to make the transparent substrate 1 itself hydrophilic and hydrophobic. It can also be made to have parts.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a state in which droplets are formed on the main surface of the transparent substrate 1. As shown in FIG. 3, on the main surface 1A of the transparent substrate 1, a hydrophilic portion 1B and a hydrophobic portion 1 are provided.
C and C are formed, and the droplet 4 exists only in the hydrophilic portion 1B. The size of the droplet 4 can be adjusted by adjusting the droplet amount itself, that is, the amount of liquid to be applied or dropped. However, the width of the hydrophilic portion 1B and / or
Alternatively, the size of the droplet 4 can be controlled more accurately by controlling the contact angle φ of the droplet 4 with the main surface 1A. Furthermore, it is possible to control by rotating the transparent substrate 2 at a predetermined rotation speed after applying or dropping the liquid, and scattering a predetermined amount of the liquid.

The contact angle φ is controlled by appropriately selecting the material forming the main surface of the transparent substrate 1 and the liquid forming the droplets 4. Further, the intensity and irradiation time of plasma or ultraviolet rays to be applied to the main surface of the transparent substrate 2, or the heating temperature and heating time in the heat treatment are appropriately adjusted and controlled.

[0026]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described below in detail based on the embodiments of the invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an example of the image display device according to the present invention. The image display device shown in FIG. 4 includes a light source 10 such as an LCD, and a light beam scanning means 30 provided on the transparent substrate 20 above the light source 10.
And above the beam scanning means 30, the transparent substrate 4
0 and a microlens 50 provided above.

Predetermined image information is transmitted from the PC to the LCD 10, and this image information is emitted upward from the display screen 11 of the LCD 10 as a specific optical signal (light ray). The optical signal (light beam) thus emitted reaches the transparent substrate 20 and is appropriately deflected by the light beam scanning means 30 based on the principle described with reference to FIGS. Then, the transparent substrate 4
It reaches 0 and is emitted to the outside through the microlens 50. The image information is an optical signal (light ray) whose light intensity and / or wavelength changes depending on the state of each part of a predetermined object.
Is emitted from the LCD 10 and the microlens 50
When the image is formed at a predetermined position by, a three-dimensional image can be obtained.

At this time, based on the image information from the PC,
The microlens 50 is synchronized with the transmission of this image information.
When is moved relative to the LCD 10, a wide range of optical signals emitted from the LCD 10 can be received by only a single microlens. That is, even when a wide range of optical signals are emitted based on detailed image information, a certain number of microlenses can be used, and a high-resolution three-dimensional image can be obtained.

In FIG. 4, the light beam scanning means 30
The microlenses 50 and the microlenses 50 are provided in a one-to-one correspondence, but a plurality of light beam scanning means may be associated with one microlens. Further, a prism can be used instead of the microlens.

The present invention has been described in detail based on the embodiments of the invention with reference to specific examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the above contents and does not depart from the scope of the present invention. All modifications and changes are possible.

For example, in the present invention, the case where the above-mentioned light beam scanning means is used for the image display device has been described, but it may be used for an image pickup element and other elements. When used as an image sensor, a light receiving element such as an optical sensor is provided instead of the light source such as the LCD 10 shown in FIG. In this case, light information regarding the appearance of a predetermined object reaches the light beam scanning means 30 through the microlens 50, is appropriately deflected, and then reaches the light receiving element to be received. Then, the optical information is converted into an electric signal, and the PC
Accumulated inside. Therefore, by monitoring the electrical signals stored in the PC, an image of the object can be obtained.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention,
An image display device having a novel light beam scanning means capable of freely deflecting a light beam (image information) emitted from a light source and emitting it in an arbitrary direction, and also capable of freely changing an integration density. Can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a deflection process of a light beam (image information) by a light beam scanning means of a first image display device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a process of deflecting a light beam (image information) by a light beam scanning means of the second image display device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which droplets are formed on the main surface of a transparent substrate.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an example of an image display device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 transparent substrate 1A Main surface of transparent substrate 1B Hydrophilic part on main surface of transparent substrate 1C Hydrophobic part on main surface of transparent substrate 2 packaging materials 3 liquid 4 droplets 10 Light source (LCD) 20 transparent substrate 30 light beam scanning means 40 transparent substrate 50 micro lens

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. An image display device, comprising: a predetermined light source; and a light beam scanning means, which is formed in front of the light source, at least a part of which is made of a substance that changes its shape in response to external energy. . 2. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the substance is composed of a fluid. 3. The image display device according to claim 2, wherein the substance is a liquid. 4. The image display device according to claim 3, wherein the substance has bubbles inside. 5. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the substance changes its form according to electrostatic energy. 6. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the substance changes its form according to kinetic energy. 7. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the substance changes its form according to thermal energy. 8. An image display device, comprising: a predetermined light source; and a light beam scanning means composed of a liquid droplet that can be moved by energy from the outside in front of the light source. 9. The droplet contains water in at least a part thereof and is formed on the hydrophilic portion on a main surface of a predetermined transparent substrate having a hydrophilic portion and a hydrophobic portion. The image display device according to claim 8. 10. The image display device according to claim 9, wherein the size of the droplet is determined by adjusting the width of the hydrophilic portion of the main surface of the transparent substrate. . 11. The image display device according to claim 9, wherein the size of the droplet is determined by controlling a contact angle of the transparent substrate with respect to the main surface. 12. The image display device according to claim 8, wherein the droplet has bubbles inside. 13. The image display device according to claim 8, wherein the droplet is moved by electrostatic energy. 14. The image display device according to claim 8, wherein the droplet is moved by kinetic energy. 15. The image display device according to claim 8, wherein the droplet is moved by thermal energy.