JPH09138371A - Polarizing spectacle type stereoscopic video display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an inexpensive polarizing spectacle type stereoscopic video display device which is simple in structure and small in power consumption by composing the device of one projector and one screen. SOLUTION: The device consists of the projector composed of a light source 1, a polarizing plate 2 which equalizes the polarizing direction of light emitted by the light source, a liquid crystal panel 3 which rotates the polarizing direction of the light on a time-division basis, and a mirror surface reflection type optical modulator 4 which displays video, the screen 6, polarizing spectacles 7, etc. The light emitted by the light source 1 passes through the polarizing plate 2. Here, the projection light is all made into a P wave. This P wave passes through the liquid crystal panel 3 which rotates the polarizing direction on the time-division basis and is projected on the mirror surface reflection type optical modulator 4 as it is, and the light which is reflected by its mirror element is made incident on a projection lens 5, and enlarged and displayed on the screen 6. Here, the mirror surface reflection type optical modulator 4 displays images for the right and left eyes on a time-division basis corresponding to the liquid crystal panel 3 which rotates the polarizing direction on the time-division basis.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a polarizing glasses type stereoscopic image display device for observing stereoscopic images using polarizing glasses.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A left-eye image and a right-eye image captured from different viewing angles are displayed, and the respective images are separately incident on the left and right eyes of an observer. Various stereoscopic image display devices have been proposed that are capable of obtaining stereoscopic vision based on parallax.

Among known stereoscopic image display devices, there is a polarized glasses type stereoscopic image display device which separates left and right images into left and right eyes by using polarized glasses. FIG. 8 shows the configuration of this polarizing glasses type stereoscopic image display device.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 8 uses two projectors 81 and 82 for a left-eye image and a right-eye image. The two projectors 81 and 82 respectively project a right-eye image and a left-eye image on the screen 83. Light emitted from the projectors 81 and 82 are both linearly polarized light, and their polarization directions are orthogonal to each other.

Here, an observer wears glasses 84 made so that polarizing plates that pass only light of the corresponding polarization directions are arranged on the front surfaces of the left and right eyes, respectively, and the screen 83
As a result, the right eye observes only the right eye image and the left eye observes only the left eye image, and as a result, a stereoscopic image is observed.

When liquid crystal projectors are used as the projectors 81 and 82, the polarization directions of the polarizing plates on the emission side of the liquid crystal panels arranged in the two projectors are orthogonal to each other.

CR is used as the projectors 81 and 82.
When a T projector is used, a polarizing plate is arranged on the exit side of the projection lens so that the polarization directions of the two projectors are orthogonal to each other.

[0008]

However, in the conventional polarizing glasses type stereoscopic image display device, since two projectors are used, the structure is complicated, and the power consumption is large and the cost is high. .

There is also a problem that the right-eye image and the left-eye image need to be accurately aligned on the screen, and the adjustment is troublesome.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a polarizing glasses type stereoscopic image display device having a simple structure, low power consumption, and low cost. .

[0011]

The present invention is directed to a light source, a means for aligning the polarization directions of light emitted from the light source, a means for arbitrarily rotating the polarization direction of the light in a time division manner, and a specular reflection type light modulation. It is characterized in that it is provided with an image display means consisting of a container, a projection means for projecting an image, a screen on which the image is projected, and polarizing glasses for observing the screen.

According to the above construction, a stereoscopic image display device can be constructed from one projector and a screen, the structure can be simplified, and the power consumption is low and an inexpensive device can be obtained.

Further, according to the present invention, the means for aligning the polarization directions of the light emitted from the light source can be constituted by a polarizing plate.

Further, the present invention can be constituted by means for rotating the polarized light, means for separating the polarized light, and means for reflecting the light, as means for aligning the polarization directions of the light emitted from the light source.

With this structure, all the light emitted from the light source becomes P waves or S waves, and the light is effectively used, and a brighter image can be obtained.

Further, according to the present invention, the means for arbitrarily rotating the polarization direction in a time division manner can be constituted by a liquid crystal panel for arbitrarily rotating the polarization direction by an applied voltage.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that means for arbitrarily selecting transmission or blocking of light is arranged at any position of the optical path.

With the above-mentioned structure, the light is shielded while the image on the specular reflection type optical modulator for displaying the image is being rewritten, and unnecessary images are prevented from being projected on the screen. it can.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are schematic diagrams showing the principle of the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the stereoscopic image display apparatus of the present invention comprises a light source 1 comprising a lamp and a reflector, a means 2 for aligning the polarization directions of the light emitted from the light source 1, and a light source. Means 3 for rotating the polarization direction in time division
An image display means 4 including a specular reflection type light modulator for displaying an image, a projection lens 5, a screen 6, and polarizing glasses 7 for observing the image.

The light emitted from the light source 1 passes through the means 2 for aligning the polarization directions of the light. In this embodiment, the emitted lights are all aligned with P waves.

This P wave passes through means 3 for rotating the polarization direction in a time division manner. FIG. 2 shows the case where the polarization direction is not rotated. In this case, the P wave is directly emitted to the image display means 4. Further, FIG. 1 shows the case where the polarization direction is rotated, and in this case, the S wave obtained by rotating the P wave is emitted to the image display means 4.

The image display means 4 is composed of a specular reflection type optical modulator having a micro mirror array. This micro mirror array has movable micro mirror elements arranged in an array, and electrodes and transistors for moving the mirror are arranged below the mirror. The tilt of the mirror is changed by controlling the on / off of the transistor. The specular reflection type light modulator 4 provided with the micro mirror array displays a left-eye image and a right-eye image in a time division manner.

The light reflected by the mirror element of the specular reflection type light modulator 4 enters the projection lens 5 and is enlarged to display an image on the screen 6. Here, when the P wave is incident on the specular reflection type optical modulator 4, the right eye image is displayed, and when the S wave is incident on the specular reflection type optical modulator 4, the left eye image is displayed. Corresponding to the means 3 for rotating the direction in time division, the specular reflection type light modulator 4 displays the image for the left eye and the image for the right eye in time division.

In this state, the observer puts a polarizing plate through which the P wave passes only on the front surface of the right eye and a polarizing plate through which the S wave passes only on the front surface of the left eye through the polarizing glasses 7. When observing 6, the right eye observes only the image for the right eye and the left eye observes only the image for the left eye, and as a result, the stereoscopic image is observed.

According to the present invention, since the polarizing glasses type stereoscopic image display device is composed of one projector and a screen, the polarizing glasses type stereoscopic image display device has a simple structure, consumes less power and is inexpensive. Is obtained.

If the means 3 for rotating the polarization direction of light in a time-division manner is provided after the means 2 for aligning the polarization direction of light,
It may be arranged at any position in the optical path.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of the present invention in which a polarizing plate is used as the means 2 for aligning the polarization directions of light and a liquid crystal panel is used as the means 3 for rotating the polarization directions in a time division manner. Show.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lamp 11,
The light emitted from the light source 1 including the reflector 12 and the condenser lens 13 is applied to the polarizing plate 2 that aligns the polarization directions. Then, the light condensed by the condenser lens 13 and emitted from the light source passes through the polarizing plate 2, and the polarization direction of the light is aligned. In this embodiment,
Since the polarizing plate 2 that transmits only the P wave is used, the light from the light source 1 is aligned with the P wave by the polarizing plate 2.

Then, the light from the polarizing plate 2 is given to the liquid crystal panel 3 which rotates the polarization direction of the light by an applied voltage. The liquid crystal panel 3 rotates the direction of light when the voltage is off, and polarizes the P wave into the S wave. Further, when a voltage is applied, the light is allowed to pass as it is. The S wave or P wave transmitted through the liquid crystal panel 4 is given to the specular reflection type light reflection modulator 4 for displaying an image, and the light reflected by the specular reflection type light modulator 4 is passed from the projection lens 5 to the screen 6. It is imaged. The observer observes the image formed on the screen 7 using the polarizing glasses 7.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the voltage of the liquid crystal panel 3 is off and the S-wave is emitted by rotating the polarization direction. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the voltage of the liquid crystal panel 3 is on and the polarization direction is rotated. It shows a state in which the P wave is emitted without being performed.

Similar to the first embodiment described above, in the second embodiment as well, the specular reflection type optical modulator 4 receives the P wave in time division in synchronization with the on / off of the liquid crystal panel 3. It is driven so as to display the image for the right eye sometimes and the image for the left eye when S wave enters the specular reflection type optical modulator 4.

Here, the observer observes the screen 6 through the glasses 7 made so that a polarizing plate that allows only the P wave to pass therethrough is arranged in front of the right eye and a polarizing plate that allows only the S wave to pass through the front surface of the left eye.
By observing, the right eye observes only the image for the right eye and the left eye observes only the image for the left eye, and as a result, the stereoscopic image is observed.

The liquid crystal panel 3 for rotating the polarization direction of light in a time division manner by the applied voltage may be arranged at any position in the optical path as long as it is after the polarizing plate 2.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a third embodiment of the invention. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the voltage of the liquid crystal panel 3 is off and the S direction is emitted by rotating the polarization direction, and FIG. 6 shows a state in which the voltage of the liquid crystal panel 3 is on and the P direction is rotated without rotating the polarization direction. It is a schematic diagram which respectively shows the state from which a wave is emitted.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in this third embodiment, the means for aligning the polarization directions of the light from the light source 1 are a λ / 4 plate 21 for rotating the polarization and a polarization for separating the polarization. It comprises a beam splitter 22 and a mirror 23 that reflects light.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the lamp 11,
The light emitted from the light source 1 including the reflector 12 and the condenser lens 13 passes through the λ / 4 plate 21, and is then separated into P wave and S wave by the polarization beam splitter 22. For example, in the polarization beam splitter 22, as shown in FIG. 5, the P wave goes straight and the S wave refracts. A mirror 23 is arranged in the direction in which the S wave travels, and the S reflected by this mirror
The wave passes through the beam splitter 22 again to the light source 1. The S wave passes through the λ / 4 plate 21 before reaching the light source 1, is reflected by the reflector 12 of the light source, and is again reflected by the λ / 4 plate 21.
Pass through. Eventually, the S wave passes through the λ / 4 plate 21 twice, so that it is converted into a P wave and goes straight through the polarization beam splitter 22 and is emitted. In this way, all the light emitted from the light source 1 becomes P waves, and the light is effectively used, and a brighter image can be obtained.

Then, the light from the polarization beam splitter 22 is given to the liquid crystal panel 3 which rotates the polarization direction of the light by an applied voltage, and the S wave or the P wave transmitted through the liquid crystal panel 4 is mirror-reflected for displaying an image. The light reflected by the specular reflection type light modulator 4 is given to the type light reflection modulator 4 and imaged on the screen 6 from the projection lens 5. The observer observes the image formed on the screen 7 using the polarizing glasses 7.

Since the operation after the light is emitted from the polarization beam splitter 22 is the same as that of the second embodiment, the description thereof is omitted here to avoid duplication of description.

In the third embodiment, the liquid crystal panel 3 for rotating the polarization direction of light in a time division manner by the applied voltage is arranged at any position in the optical path after the polarization beam splitter 22. Is also good.

In FIG. 7, the liquid crystal panel 3 in which the polarization direction is arbitrarily rotated in the third embodiment is provided with a liquid crystal panel 8 on which light transmission and shielding can be arbitrarily selected by an applied voltage on the light emission side. It is a schematic diagram which shows 4th Embodiment.

The liquid crystal panel 8 is designed to block light when the voltage is off and to transmit light when the voltage is applied. Then, while the image on the specular reflection type light modulator 4 for displaying the image is being rewritten, the liquid crystal panel 8
The voltage is turned off to block light so that an unnecessary image is not projected on the screen 6.

In FIG. 7, (a) and (c) show the state when the image is displayed, and (b) and (d) show the state when the image is rewritten.

Since the other operations are the same as those in the third embodiment, their description will be omitted here to avoid duplication of description.

Further, in the fourth embodiment described above,
The liquid crystal panel 3 may be arranged at any position in the optical path as long as it is after the liquid crystal panel 8.

[0046]

As described above, the polarizing glasses type stereoscopic image display device according to the present invention is composed of one projector and a screen, so that the structure is simple, the power consumption is small, and the polarizing glasses are inexpensive. A stereoscopic image display device is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the principle of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing another state of the principle of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the principle of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing another state of the principle of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the principle of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing another state of the principle of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the principle of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a conventional polarizing glasses type stereoscopic image display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Light source 2 Polarizing plate 3 Liquid crystal panel 4 Specular reflection type light modulator 5 Projection lens 6 Screen 7 Polarizing glasses for observing the screen

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] December 26, 1995

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0038

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Then, the light from the polarization beam splitter 22 is given to the liquid crystal panel 3 which rotates the polarization direction of the light by an applied voltage, and the S wave or the P wave transmitted through the liquid crystal panel 4 is mirror-reflected for displaying an image. The light that is given to the type optical modulator 4 and reflected by the specular reflection type optical modulator 4 is focused on the screen 6 from the projection lens 5. Screen 7
The observer observes the image formed on the image using the polarization glasses 7.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A light source, means for aligning polarization directions of light emitted from the light source, means for arbitrarily rotating the polarization direction of light in a time division manner, and image display means comprising a specular reflection type optical modulator. A polarizing glasses-type stereoscopic image display device comprising: a projection means for projecting an image, a screen on which the image is projected, and polarizing glasses for observing the screen. 2. The means for aligning the polarization directions of the light emitted from the light source is a polarizing plate.
Polarized glasses type three-dimensional image display device according to. 3. The means for aligning the polarization directions of the light emitted from the light source comprises a means for rotating the polarized light, a means for separating the polarized light, and a means for reflecting the light. The polarizing glasses type stereoscopic image display device according to 1. 4. The stereoscopic polarizing glasses according to claim 1, wherein the means for arbitrarily rotating the polarization direction is a liquid crystal panel for arbitrarily rotating the polarization direction by an applied voltage. Video display device. 5. The polarizing glasses-type stereoscopic image according to claim 1, further comprising: a device capable of arbitrarily selecting transmission or blocking of light is disposed at any position of the optical path. Display device.