JPH09189884A - Stereoscopic image reproducer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a stereoscopic image reproducer whose optical system is small and which has a wide observable area. SOLUTION: This device has an image projecting means 1 projecting parallactic images, a reflection mirror group in which plural pieces of reflection mirrors 4 having forms which are thin in the horizontal direction and are long in the vertical direction and having condensing characteristics in the vertical direction and being rotatable around vertical revolving shafts are arranged side by side and a control means controlling rotations of plural reflection mirrors and also generating parallactic images to input them to the image projecting part 1. At the time of forming an exit pupil by making the parallactic image displayed in the image projecting means 1 almost form on the reflection group and by making luminous fluxes reflected by respective reflection mirrors 4 cross at almost the same place in the horizontal direction while rotating respective reflection mirrors 4 with the control means, the control means moves the formation position of the exit pupil back and forth periodically in the horizontal direction and also inputs parallactic images having different positions of visual point to the image projecting means 1 according to the formation positions of the exit pupil.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stereoscopic image reproducing apparatus, and more particularly, to a stereoscopic image by temporally changing the exit pupil formed by reflecting the light flux from the parallax image displayed on the image projection means together with the parallax image. The present invention relates to a stereoscopic image reproducing device that widens the observable range.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various methods have been tried as a stereoscopic image display method.

Among these, as a stereoscopic image display method of "without glasses" without using special glasses, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-2525
There is a so-called large convex lens method disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 39. The above-mentioned publication discloses a stereoscopic image display method in which a plurality of parallax images can be observed from a plurality of viewpoints by using a large-diameter convex lens or a cylindrical lens.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory view of a conventional stereoscopic image reproducing apparatus using a convex lens among them. FIG. 27 (A) is an explanatory diagram of a method of inputting a plurality of parallax images. In this input method, the three-dimensional object existing in the region of interest from a to b is imaged on the imaging surface by the small convex lens groups m _{1 to} m _n . That is, imaging, in the region of b ₂ from a ₂ on the imaging surface in the region of b ₁ from a ₁ on the image pickup surface imaging, the second lens m ₂ three-dimensional object by the first lens m _1. three-dimensional object and so .. we are focused respectively independently in the area of the n (n is a natural number) lens m _n b _n from a _n on the image pickup surface by the plurality of parallax by recording them You can input images.

FIG. 27B shows a method of displaying a stereoscopic image by using the parallax image obtained by the above method. The above n pieces of parallax images are arranged on the same plane on a display such as a CRT and displayed as a plane image.Each parallax image is similarly arranged on the same plane and each parallax image is converted into an optical effect of a large convex lens. Focus on the position.

Further, the focal length of this large convex lens is f
However, since the optical effective position of the large convex lens and the optical effective position of the small convex lens group are set 2f apart,
An image of the pupils of the small convex lens groups, that is, the exit pupils, which are arranged next to each other at a position 2f apart from the small convex lens group in the direction opposite to the small convex lens group, is formed. Therefore, the observer can observe different parallax images depending on the positions of the eyes by observing the large convex lens near the exit pupil group, and stereoscopic vision can be obtained by performing the observation with both eyes.

[0007]

The above-mentioned conventional method of displaying stereoscopic images without "glasses" has the following problems.

As can be seen from FIG. 27, in this method, the exit pupil of the convex lens group and the exit pupil of the image forming light formed on the observer side have an image-forming relationship, so that the stereoscopic image observable range and the convex lens group are In order to construct a stereoscopic image observation device having a wider observation area, the number of convex lens groups must be increased or the diameter of each convex lens must be increased in order to construct a stereoscopic image observation device having a wider observation area. This leads to an increase in the size and cost of the device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a stereoscopic image reproducing apparatus having a small optical system and an extremely wide observable range.

[0010]

The stereoscopic image reproducing apparatus of the present invention comprises: (1-1) image projection means for displaying and projecting a parallax image, and a vertical shape with a thin shape in the horizontal direction and a long shape in the vertical direction. Which has a condensing characteristic in a direction, and which has a plurality of reflecting mirrors arranged side by side in the horizontal direction and which can rotate around a vertical rotation axis, and controls the rotation of the plurality of reflecting mirrors and generates a parallax image. And a control means for inputting to the image projecting means, the parallax image displayed on the image projecting means is substantially formed on the reflecting mirror group, and each reflecting mirror is rotated by the controlling means. When forming the exit pupil by intersecting the light fluxes reflected by the light flux at substantially the same position in the horizontal plane, the control means cyclically reciprocates the formation position of the exit pupil in the horizontal direction and at the formation position of the exit pupil. Accordingly, parallax images having different viewpoint positions can be input to the image projection means. It is characterized and the like.

In particular, (1-1-1) the image projecting means is installed outside the optical path from the reflecting mirror to the exit pupil. (1-1-2) The reflecting surface of the reflecting mirror is a concave surface. (1-1-3) The reflecting surface of the reflecting mirror is a Fresnel reflecting surface. (1-1-4) The reflecting mirror group is arranged such that the surface on which the rotation axis of the reflecting mirror group extends is a curved surface. (1-1-5) A convex lens having a size that covers the reflecting mirror group is provided on the image projection means side of the reflecting mirror group. (1-1-6) A plurality of the image projecting means are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction, and signals of parallax images having different viewpoint positions according to the positions of the exit pupils formed by the light beams from the image projecting means are provided. Input from the control means to each image projection means. (1-1-7) The width of the exit pupil in the horizontal direction is 50 mm or less. (1-1-8) The horizontal reciprocating period of the exit pupil is 1/30 seconds or less. It is characterized by

Further, the stereoscopic image reproducing apparatus of the present invention comprises (1-2) image projecting means for displaying and projecting a parallax image, and a shape that is thin in the horizontal direction and long in the vertical direction and focuses in the vertical direction. A reflecting mirror group having a plurality of quadrangular prism type reflecting mirrors arranged side by side in the horizontal direction, which has four reflecting surfaces having characteristics and is rotatable around a vertical rotation axis, and controls the rotation of the plurality of reflecting mirrors. Control means for generating a parallax image and inputting it to the image projection means. The parallax image displayed on the image projection means is substantially formed on the reflecting mirror group, and each reflecting mirror is rotated by the control means. When forming the exit pupil by intersecting the light beams reflected by the respective reflecting mirrors at substantially the same position in the horizontal plane, the control means moves the formation position of the exit pupil in the horizontal direction and at the same time the formation position of the exit pupil. Input parallax images with different viewpoint positions to the image projection means according to It is characterized in Rukoto like.

In particular, (1-2-1) the image projecting means is installed outside the optical path from the reflecting mirror to the exit pupil. (1-2-2) The reflective surface is a Fresnel reflective surface. It is characterized by

Further, the stereoscopic image reproducing apparatus of the present invention comprises (1-3) image projection means for displaying and projecting a parallax image, and a light collecting characteristic in the vertical direction, which is rotated around a vertical rotation axis. A reflecting mirror group in which a plurality of movable reflecting mirrors are two-dimensionally arranged in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and control means for controlling the rotation of the plurality of reflecting mirrors and for generating a parallax image to input to the image projecting means. And a parallax image displayed on the image projecting means is substantially formed on the reflecting mirror group, and each reflecting mirror is rotated by the control means so that the light flux reflected by each reflecting mirror is substantially the same in a horizontal plane. When forming the exit pupil by intersecting at the points, the control means cyclically reciprocates the formation position of the exit pupil in the horizontal direction, and at the same time, the parallax image having different viewpoint positions according to the formation position of the exit pupil. It is characterized by inputting into the image projection means.

In particular, (1-3-1) the image projecting means is installed outside the optical path from the reflecting mirror to the exit pupil. (1-3-2) The reflecting surface of the reflecting mirror is a concave surface. (1-3-3) The reflecting surface of the reflecting mirror is a Fresnel reflecting surface. (1-3-4) A convex lens having a size that covers the reflecting mirror group is provided on the image projection means side of the reflecting mirror group. (1-3-5) A plurality of the image projecting means are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction, and the signals of the parallax images whose viewpoint positions are different according to the position of each exit pupil formed by the light flux from each image projecting means are provided. Input from the control means to each image projection means. (1-3-6) The width of the exit pupil in the horizontal direction is 50 mm or less. (1-3-7) The cycle of the horizontal reciprocating movement of the exit pupil is 1/30 seconds or less. It is characterized by

Further, the stereoscopic image reproducing apparatus of the present invention comprises (1-4) image projection means for displaying and projecting a parallax image, and a horizontal cross section having a wedge shape, thin in the horizontal direction, and long in the vertical direction. A prism group in which a plurality of prisms rotatable around a vertical rotation axis are juxtaposed in the horizontal direction, and a convex lens,
Control means for controlling the rotation of the plurality of prisms, generating a parallax image and inputting the parallax image to the image projection means, and displaying the parallax image on the image projection means on the convex lens via the prism group. When forming substantially an image, each prism is rotated by the control means, and the light flux refracted by the convex lens intersects at approximately the same position in the horizontal plane to form the exit pupil, the control means determines the formation position of the exit pupil. It is characterized by periodically reciprocating in the horizontal direction and inputting a parallax image having different viewpoint positions according to the formation position of the exit pupil to the image projection means.

(1-4-1) In particular, the horizontal width of the exit pupil is 50 mm or less. (1-4-2) The cycle of the horizontal reciprocating movement of the exit pupil is 1/30 seconds or less. It is characterized by

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the essential portions of Embodiment 1 of a stereoscopic image reproducing apparatus of the present invention. 3 is a horizontal sectional view and a vertical sectional view of this embodiment. In the figure, the horizontal direction is the X direction and the vertical direction is the Y direction. In the figure, 1
Is an image projecting unit (image projecting unit), which has the same configuration as a general projector (projector), and receives the signal of the parallax image generated by the image signal generating unit 3 and CR
The image is displayed as a parallax image on an image display means such as T or LCD (liquid crystal display device), and the parallax image is enlarged and projected onto another display surface by the projection optical system of the image projection unit 1.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a rotating mirror (reflecting mirror), which has a minute width in the horizontal direction and a long reflecting surface in the vertical direction, and is configured to rotate about a vertical rotation axis. . This rotating mirror 4 has a Fresnel reflecting surface in which a plurality of reflecting surfaces are sequentially inclined as shown in the vertical sectional view of FIG. 3 (B) (in FIG. 3 (B), there are seven partial reflecting mirrors in the vertical direction). In fact, it is composed of a large number of partial reflection mirrors with a minute width in the vertical direction).

A plurality of rotating mirrors 4 are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction to form a rotating mirror group (reflecting mirror group) 40. Each rotating mirror 4
As shown in Fig. 3, all the rotating shafts of Fig. 3 are arranged on one plane. One end of the rotating shaft is supported by the motor 6 and the other end is supported by the bearing 6b as shown in Fig. 2. Each rotating mirror 4 can be independently rotated by a motor 6 by an arbitrary angle.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a black stripe, which covers the gap between the rotating mirrors. The rotating mirror group 40, the black stripe 5, the motor 6, the bearing 6b, and the like constitute one element of the light flux reflecting unit 2 that dynamically controls the directivity of image forming light.

A motor drive circuit 7 sends a signal to a motor 6 for rotating the rotary mirror 4 to rotate the rotary mirror 4 by a predetermined angle. Reference numeral 8 denotes a synchronization circuit, which sends a predetermined signal to the motor drive circuit 7 in synchronization with the timing when the parallax image generated by the image signal generation unit 3 is projected by the image projection unit 1, and each rotary mirror that constitutes the rotary mirror group 40. Properly control the rotation of 4.

The motor drive circuit 7, the synchronizing circuit 8, the image signal generator 3 and the like constitute one element of the control means.

The display surface of the image projected by the image projection unit 1 is set to coincide with the plane stretched by the axis group of the rotating mirror. However, the plane in which the black stripes 5 are present is set to be shifted to the side farther from the image projection unit 1 than the plane stretched by the axis group for the reason described later.

Next, the operation of forming the exit pupil of the entire system in this embodiment and reciprocating it horizontally will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 5, 6, and 7.

FIGS. 3 (A), 5 (A), 6 (A) and 7 show the states of the optical system of the image projection unit 1 and the rotating mirror group 40 of the light flux reflecting unit 2 at a certain time. It is the figure seen from the vertical upper part of an embodiment. In the figure, 9 is the projection lens of the image projection unit 1, 10 is the exit pupil of this projection lens, 11 is the projected image (parallax image), E is the observer's pupil, E _R is the observer's right eye, E _L is the left eye.

In the state of FIG. 3 (A), each of the rotary mirrors 4 is inclined inward as it is further away from the center in the horizontal direction, and when viewed macroscopically, the rotary mirror group 40 is as shown in FIG. The effect is almost equivalent to that of a concave cylindrical mirror. Each rotating mirror 4 also exerts an effect substantially equivalent to that of a concave cylindrical mirror in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. 3 (B), so that the rotating mirror group 40 as a whole has an effect substantially equivalent to that of a concave mirror. give.

Then, the control means controls the rotation of the respective reflecting mirrors about their respective rotation axes so that the light fluxes reflected by the respective reflecting mirrors intersect at the position of 10 _A 'in the figure in the horizontal plane, and the exit pupil is changed. Form. In the vertical plane, the reflected light sets the observer's pupil.
The Fresnel reflection surface is set so as to converge at the position of 10 _A '. As a result, all the light flux forming the image 11 exits the pupil.
10 _A 'for exiting through the exit pupil 10 _A' by placing the eye in the image 11 can be observed without vignetting whole.

However, since the width of the exit pupil 10 _A 'in the horizontal direction is set smaller than the width of the standard human eye (about 60 mm to 65 mm), observe the image 11 with both eyes at once. I can't.

The state of FIG. 3A is set to the state at time t = t ₀ . Each rotating mirror 4 rotates in the same direction as time passes, and becomes a state as shown in FIG. 5 (A) at time t = t ₁ . At this time, the rotating mirror group 40 provides an effect substantially equivalent to that of the eccentric concave mirror as shown in FIG. 5 (B), and the formation position of the exit pupil 10 _B 'is on the right side as compared with the time of t = t ₀ as shown in the figure. Move in the direction (X direction).

When further time elapses and time t = t ₂ ,
Each of the rotating mirrors 4 further rotates, and the state shown in FIG. 6 (A) is obtained. At this time, the rotating mirror group 40 provides an effect substantially equivalent to that of the eccentric concave mirror as shown in FIG. 6 (B), and the convergence position of the exit pupil 10 _C 'moves to the rightmost as shown in the figure.

At this time, the rotational speed of the rotary mirrors 4 once becomes 0, and then each rotary mirror 4 starts to rotate in the opposite direction.

[0033] The rotating mirror group 40 at time t = t ₃ 5
(A), then at time t = t ₄ , the state of Figure 3 (A) is taken, at time t = t ₅ , the state of Figure 5 (A) is reversed, and then at time t = t ₆ Then, take the state of Fig. 7 which is the reverse of Fig. 6 (A). Here, the exit pupil 10 _D 'is formed at the far left. The rotation speed of each rotary mirror 4 once becomes 0 here, and then each rotary mirror 4 starts to rotate in the opposite direction. Time t =
At t ₇ , the state shown in Fig. 5 (A) is reversed, and then the time
At t = t ₈ , the state shown in Fig. 3 (A) is taken again.

In this way, the control means controls the rotation of the state of each rotary mirror 4 in the order of FIG. 3 (A) → FIG. 6 (A) → FIG. 3 (A) → FIG. 7 → FIG. 10 'is periodically reciprocated horizontally in the vicinity of the observer's pupil position in the figure.

Since each of the rotating mirrors 4 is driven so as to repeat the reciprocating movement of the exit pupil 10 'at a fast cycle of about 30 Hz or more, the rotation of the rotating mirror 4 and the movement of the exit pupil are not observed by the observer's eye. I can't recognize.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of the formation state of the virtual image 11 'of the image 11 when the rotary mirror 4 is rotated. The drawing is a horizontal sectional view of the light flux reflecting unit 2. For example, if both rotating mirrors remain parallel to image 11 as shown in Figure 8 (A),
Since the image of 11 is formed on the plane stretched by the axis group of the rotating mirror 4, the virtual image 11 ′ by the rotating mirror 4 is formed at the same position as the image 11.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8B, when each rotating mirror has a certain angle with respect to the image 11,
A virtual image 11 ′ of the rotating mirrors 4 of 11 is divided into regions of the rotating mirrors 4 and is formed by rotating around the rotation axis of each rotating mirror 4. Thus, the image 11 is originally one continuous image, but its continuity is lost due to the independent rotation of each rotating mirror 4.

However, since the area of the black stripe 5 covering the discontinuous area between the rotating mirrors 4 is extremely small compared to the area of the reflecting surface of the rotating mirror 4, each divided virtual image also has its direction. By just changing the image, the observer can see what is almost the same as the original image.
I could hardly recognize the discontinuity of 11 ', and the image
You will see an image almost equivalent to 11.

Next, the operation of reproducing a stereoscopic image by utilizing the movement of the exit pupil in the present embodiment will be described. The most characteristic feature of the reproduction of the stereoscopic image according to the present embodiment is that the image 11 to be projected is projected in accordance with the movement of the exit pupil 10 '.
Is the point to change. If the image 11 at t = t ₀ in FIG. 3 (A) is image 11 _A and the image 11 at t = t ₁ in FIG. 5 (A) is image 11 _B , these images have a certain solid shape. Two parallax images (so-called stereo pairs) obtained by observing an (observed object) from two different viewpoints are used.

As described above, since the width of the exit pupil 10 'is set smaller than the width of the eye (about 60 mm to 65 mm), the same image 11 cannot be observed by both eyes at the same time. Therefore, the observer observes different images for the right eye and the left eye in time sequence.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3 (A), when t = t ₀ , the exit pupil 10 _A 'is formed near the left eye E _L of the observer, so that the image 11 for the left eye is formed. Display parallax image 11 _A , t = t ₁
At this time, as shown in FIG. 5 (A), the exit pupil 10 _B ′ is formed in the vicinity of the observer's right eye E _R , and therefore the right-eye parallax image 11 _B is displayed as the image 11.

In general, since humans rely on binocular parallax for most of the factors of stereoscopic perception, parallax images 11 _A and 11 _B are independently obtained for the right eye and the left eye within an extremely short time as described above. When presented, the observer can recognize the solid by the afterimage effect. Even when the exit pupil position and the observer's pupil position are different positions, it is possible to reproduce a stereoscopic image by displaying parallax images corresponding to the respective positions.

In particular, in order to increase the naturalness of the stereoscopic image observed at this time, it is desirable that the observation condition and the parallax image generation condition are matched.

That is, the signals of the parallax images whose viewpoint positions for object observation are different according to the formation position of the exit pupil 10 'are input from the image signal generation unit 3 to the image projection unit 1 to project the parallax images.

For example, in the case of FIG. 3A, a parallax image obtained by observing the object 13 from the viewpoint position 12 _A as shown in FIG.
Projected as 11 _{A. In} Fig. 5 (A), the viewpoint position in Fig. 9
The parallax image obtained by observing the object 13 from 12 _B is projected as the image 11 _B.

If the parallax images 11 _{A to} 11 _{D obtained} by observing the object 13 from the viewpoint positions 12 _{A to} 12 _D corresponding to the formation positions of the exit pupil 10 ′ are projected by such a method, the eyes of the observer can be projected. It is possible to reproduce a stereoscopic image having an appropriate parallax according to the position.

As the means for generating the parallax image group, there are a method of photographing a solid by a multi-lens camera and a method of artificially converting the viewpoint of three-dimensional graphics by a computer or the like.

Next, the role of the black stripes 5 of the light flux reflecting unit 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 10 is a view for explaining the structure of the light flux reflecting unit 2 of the first embodiment, and is a partial horizontal sectional view. Reference numeral 14 in the drawing denotes a light flux forming the image 11. When there is almost no gap between the rotating mirrors 4 as shown in Fig. 10 (A), a part of 14 reflected rays are blocked by the adjacent mirrors, as shown by the circled area in the figure, and are seen by the observer. The problem of not being observed occurs. The degree of light shielding is the tilt angle of each rotating mirror,
Since it changes depending on the observer's observation position, the image is likely to be perceived by the observer due to unevenness in image and difference in brightness.

Therefore, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10 (B), the width of each rotary mirror 4 is narrowed, and the resulting gap is filled with the black stripes 5. At this time, if the black stripe 5 is aligned with the plane stretched by the axis group of the rotating mirror, the same problem as in Fig. 10 (A) occurs, so that the black stripe 5 is far from the observer so as not to interfere with the rotating mirror 4. Place it to the side.

Also, in order to save the labor of processing the black stripe 5, one black board as shown in FIG. 10 (C).
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which 5 ′ is arranged behind the rotary mirror group 40.

It should be noted that the pixel structure of the image 11 and the structure of the black stripe 5 are made to match as much as possible, and the projected image
Try to earn 11 effective display areas.

The rotary mirror 4 of the present embodiment has a configuration in which the motor 6 makes a galvano motion, but the configuration and the driving method of the rotary mirror can also have other configurations. For example, in order to simplify the driving of the motor, it may be configured to perform only rotational movement in one direction. At this time, if the rotating mirror is a double-sided mirror, the time that contributes to image display (reflection) increases, and flicker can be reduced and brightness can be improved.

FIG. 11 is a layout side view of the first derivative of the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the image projection unit 1 and the viewer are on the same side of the light flux reflecting unit 2. Therefore,
It is necessary that the image formation of the exit pupil 10 'is not disturbed by the image projection unit 1. Therefore, in this derivative example, FIG.
When viewed from the lateral direction, the optical axis L of the image projection unit 1 at the time of image projection and the light flux reflection unit 2 are not vertical, but the optical arrangement L with a “tilt” is used to image the optical axis L ′ of the reflected light flux as shown in The direction different from that of the projection unit 1 is set so that the image projection unit 1 does not interfere with stereoscopic image observation. That is, the image projection unit 1 is installed outside the optical path from the rotating mirror to the exit pupil 10 '.

Instead of the rotating mirror 4, a polyhedral mirror can be used. FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a main part of a second derivative example of the first embodiment. In this derivative example, a rotating mirror group (reflecting mirror group) in which a plurality of square prism mirrors (reflecting mirrors) 42 each having four reflecting surfaces 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction is used as a rotating mirror. is there. FIG. 12 (A) is a horizontal sectional view, and FIG. 12 (B) is a vertical sectional view. The reflecting surfaces 4a to 4d have the same shape, and are Fresnel reflecting surfaces as described in FIG. 3 (B).

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of the essential portions of Embodiment 2 of the stereoscopic image reproducing apparatus of the present invention. 14 is an explanatory view of the light flux reflecting unit 2 of the second embodiment, and FIG. 14 (A) is a front view thereof,
FIG. 14 (B) is a horizontal sectional view thereof.

In this embodiment, the rotary mirror of the first embodiment is divided in the vertical direction, and rotary mirrors (reflecting mirrors) each having a reflecting surface are two-dimensionally arranged in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. Group). According to this structure, the load per motor can be reduced.

In order to take such a structure, it is difficult to dispose the driving motor 6 on the rotation axis of each rotating mirror. Therefore, as shown in FIG. Motor 6 (on the side far from the
This can be easily realized by arranging 6b between the rotating mirrors.

Further, the rotation speed of each rotating mirror and the exit pupil
The image formation state of 10 'is closely related. In the case of the configuration in which the rotation angle of each mirror is arbitrarily given as described above, the angle of the mirror at any time is optimized (the rotation angle of each mirror is set as a non-constant velocity), and the imaging performance of the exit pupil 10 'is However, if the ease of mirror driving is prioritized over the imaging performance of the exit pupil 10 ', only the mirror angle at a certain moment is optimized and the rest of the rotation of the rotating mirrors is reduced. You may make it the structure that speed becomes equal.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of the essential portions of Embodiment 3 of the stereoscopic image reproducing apparatus of the present invention. In this embodiment, the image projection unit 1 has two units.
They are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction to widen the formation range of the exit pupil 10 'and widen the observable range. The configuration other than the image projecting unit is the same as that of the first embodiment, but the image signal generating unit 3 has two exiting pupils 10 _A ′ and 10 _B ′ formed in parallel with the two image projecting units 1 _A and 1 _B , respectively. It has a function of transmitting a parallax image signal corresponding to a position.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view of the operation of this embodiment. The figure is a view of the present embodiment as viewed from above in the vertical direction. The two image projection units 1 _A and 1 _B have the same configuration, but the images 11 _A and 11 _B projected by the two image projection units 1 _A and 1 _B are both formed on the surface stretched by the rotation axis of each rotating mirror of the light flux reflecting unit 2. . In the present embodiment, since there are two exit pupils 10 _A and 10 _B of the image projection units 1 _A and 1 _B , the image
There are also two exit pupils 10 _A 'and 10 _B ' of the light flux forming 11 _A and 11 _B. When the rotating mirror 4 rotates, the exit pupils 10 _A 'and 10 _B '
Move together, and move to the position shown in FIG. 17 when, for example, the rotary mirror 4 becomes the state shown in FIG. 5 (A).

At this time, the image signal generation unit 3 uses the above-mentioned exit pupil.
_A parallax image from the viewpoint position corresponding to each position of 10 _A 'and 10 _B ' is selected and its signal is sent to each image projection unit 1 _A , 1 _B.

With this operation, it is possible to reproduce a stereoscopic image as in the case where the image projection units 1 _A and 1 _B are one. In this embodiment, since two exit pupils are formed in the observable area by the two image projection units 1 _A and 1 _B and the exit pupil is moved, the rotating mirror 4 is driven in the same manner as when the single image projection unit is used. If so, the formation range of the exit pupil 10 'becomes wider, so that the observable range at the time of reproducing the stereoscopic image is expanded.

Alternatively, in order to secure the same observable area as when one image projection unit is used, the maximum rotation angle of each rotary mirror is half.

Next, the improvement of the imaging performance of the exit pupil 10 'will be described.

In the horizontal section of each embodiment of the present invention, similar to the principle of the Fresnel mirror (reflection type Fresnel lens), if the width of each rotating mirror 4 is sufficiently small, the set of reflecting surfaces of each rotating mirror is It can be macroscopically approximated to a single deformable concave mirror. However, in practice, it is difficult to make the rotating mirror 4 extremely small, and thus the imaging performance of the exit pupil 10 ′ can be improved by configuring as follows.

As a first method, the surface on which the rotation axis of each rotary mirror 4 extends is not a flat surface but a curved surface as shown in FIG. 18, and at the same time, the image plane of the image 11 is curved along the curved surface on which the rotation axis extends. Let By doing so, the macroscopic optical power of the reflecting surface can be made closer to that of one concave mirror, and since the projected image 11 and the rotation axis almost match, the rotation of the rotary mirror 4 The image 11 does not rotate,
"Blur" is not observed.

As a second method, as shown in FIG. 19, each reflecting surface of each rotating mirror has a concave mirror shape. When each reflecting surface is a flat surface, there is no condensing function for one reflecting surface, so the imaging performance deteriorates. However, if each reflecting surface is formed as a concave surface as shown in FIG. 19, the reflected light flux from each rotating mirror is also collected, so that the imaging performance can be improved.

As a third method, as shown in FIG.
A large-diameter convex lens 20 that covers the rotary mirror group 40 is provided in the vicinity of the light flux reflection unit 2, and the image 11 is imaged on the rotary mirror 4 through the convex lens 20. For example, as shown in FIG. 20, when all the rotating mirrors are parallel to the image plane of the image 11 and are in a state equivalent to one plane mirror, the exit pupil 10 ′ is formed only by the optical power of the convex lens 20. The image is formed coaxially with the exit pupil 10 of. This image formation is equivalent to image formation by an optical system using two convex lenses 20 as shown in FIG.
To the exit pupil 10 'is equal to L10.

Further, in this case, the driving of the respective rotating mirrors 4 for moving the exit pupil 10 'can be made to be all at the same speed and in the same phase (all angles are the same at arbitrary times). Fig. 22
Shows this situation. The tilts of the rotary mirrors 4 constituting the rotary mirror group 40 are all the same. The position of the image 11 does not change at all due to the reflection by the rotating mirror group 40, but only the direction of the principal ray of the emitted light beam changes. This image formation is equivalent to image formation by an optical system in which two convex lenses 20 are used and the direction of the principal ray is deflected by a prism 21, as shown in FIG.

With the above configuration, even if the rotating mirror
Even if the width of 4 is not very small, the imaging performance of the exit pupil 10 'can be improved, and the driving of the rotating mirror 4 can be simplified.

FIG. 24 is a schematic view of the essential portions of Embodiment 4 of the stereoscopic image reproducing apparatus of the present invention. The figure is a view of the present embodiment as seen from vertically above. In the present embodiment, the image projecting unit 1 is provided through a rotary prism group in which a plurality of rotary prisms are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction, in which the horizontal cross section is wedge-shaped, thin in the horizontal direction, and long in the vertical direction.
The light flux from the parallax image displayed in Figure 3 is deflected to form an image on the convex lens, and each rotary prism is rotated around the vertical axis via the control means to refract the light flux refracted by the convex lens at substantially the same position in the horizontal plane. The intersection is crossed at to form the exit pupil. The structures of the mechanism for rotating the rotating prism and the control means are the same as those in the first embodiment.

In the figure, reference numeral 22 denotes a rotating prism (prism) which has a wedge-shaped horizontal cross section, is thin in the horizontal direction, and is long in the vertical direction, and rotates around a vertical rotation axis like the rotating mirror 4 of the first embodiment. it can. A large number of rotating prisms 22 constitutes a rotating prism group (prism group) 41. 20 is a convex lens.

The image projection unit 1 of the present embodiment is placed outside the optical axis of the convex lens 20 and at a position shifted in the horizontal direction, and projects an image (parallax image) 11 from the side by the arrangement of the tilt optical system.

The operation of this embodiment will be described. Image projection unit
The light flux from 1 is partially deflected by the rotating prism group 41 at different angles to form an image 11 on the convex lens 20. Since the light flux incident on the convex lens 20 is incident as if it came from the exit pupil 10 ″, the convex lens 20 converges these light fluxes and forms an image of the exit pupil at the position 10 ′.

That is, the rotating prism group 41 serves as means for optically converting the exit pupil 10 into the exit pupil 10 ".

Further, each rotating prism of the rotating prism group 41
Since 22 can be rotated independently, the control means controls the rotation counterclockwise in the figure with the passage of time to move the exit pupil 10 'upward in the figure as shown in FIG. By controlling the rotation clockwise, the exit pupil 10 'is moved downward in the figure as shown in FIG.

At the same time, the control means selects a parallax image having a different viewpoint position according to the formation position of the exit pupil 10 'and inputs the signal to the image projection unit 1 to project the parallax image.

According to the present embodiment, the image projection unit 1 can be arranged on the back surface of the image observation surface (in the direction opposite to the observer's side), and the image projected in the same manner as in the previous embodiments. The position of the exit pupil 10 'can be reciprocated at high speed according to the change of 11, and the observable range can be widened to reproduce a stereoscopic image.

[0080]

As described above, the present invention can achieve a stereoscopic image reproducing apparatus having a small optical system and an extremely wide observable range by the above-mentioned structure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a main part of a stereoscopic image reproducing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the light flux reflecting unit 2 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view and a vertical cross-sectional view of the first embodiment, an explanatory view at time t = t ₀

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an equivalent optical system of the rotating mirror group 40 at time t = t ₀ .

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the _first embodiment at time t = t ₁ .

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the first embodiment at time t = t ₂ .

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the first embodiment at time t = t ₆ .

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a virtual image formation state when the rotating mirror rotates.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a method of forming a parallax image.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a light flux reflecting unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an arrangement side view of a derivative example 1 of the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a light flux reflecting unit of a second derivative of the first embodiment. A horizontal cross-sectional view of an example in which a quadrangular prism mirror having four reflecting surfaces is used as a rotating mirror.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a main part of a stereoscopic image reproducing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a light flux reflecting unit 2 according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of a main part of a third embodiment of a stereoscopic image reproducing device of the invention.

FIG. 16 is an operation explanatory diagram of the third embodiment.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the third embodiment.

FIG. 18 is an embodiment in which the surface on which the rotation axis of each rotating mirror extends is a curved surface.

FIG. 19 is an embodiment in which the reflecting surface of each rotating mirror has a concave mirror shape.

FIG. 20 is an embodiment in which a large-diameter convex lens 20 is provided in the vicinity of the light flux reflection unit.

21 is an explanatory diagram of an optical system equivalent to FIG.

22 is an explanatory diagram in which, in the case of the embodiment of FIG. 20, all the rotating mirrors for moving the exit pupil 10 'can be driven at a constant speed and in the same phase.

23 is an explanatory diagram of an optical system equivalent to the optical system of FIG.

FIG. 24 is a schematic view of the essential portions of Embodiment 4 of the stereoscopic image reproducing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is an operation explanatory view of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 26 is an operation explanatory view of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional stereoscopic image reproducing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image projection unit (image projection means) 2 Luminous flux reflection unit 3 Image signal generation unit 4 Rotating mirror (Reflecting mirror) 5 Black stripe 6 Motor 6b Bearing 7 Motor drive circuit 8 Synchronization circuit 9 Projection lens 10 Projection lens exit pupil 10 ' Exit pupil of whole system 11 Projected image 11 'Virtual image of image formed on rotating mirror 12 Observation viewpoint 13 Object 14 Light flux forming image 11 20 Convex lens 21 Prism 22 Rotating prism 40 Rotating mirror group (reflecting mirror group) 41 rotating prism group 42 square prism mirrors E _L , E _R observer's left eye, right eye E observer's eye L optical axis at the time of image projection of the image projection unit L'optical axis of reflected light flux

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Hideki Morishima 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Kazutaka Inoguchi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. Within

Claims (23)

[Claims] 1. An image projection means for displaying and projecting a parallax image, and a shape which is thin in the horizontal direction and long in the vertical direction and has a light condensing characteristic in the vertical direction, and is rotated around a vertical rotation axis. And a control unit that controls the rotation of the plurality of reflecting mirrors and generates a parallax image and inputs the parallax image to the image projecting unit. A parallax image displayed on the means is formed substantially on the reflecting mirror group, each reflecting mirror is rotated by the control means, and the luminous flux reflected by each reflecting mirror is crossed at substantially the same position in the horizontal plane to form an exit pupil. At the time of formation, the control means periodically reciprocates the formation position of the exit pupil in the horizontal direction and inputs a parallax image having a different viewpoint position to the image projection means according to the formation position of the exit pupil. Characteristic stereoscopic image reproducing device. 2. The stereoscopic image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image projecting means is installed outside the optical path from the reflecting mirror to the exit pupil. 3. The stereoscopic image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reflecting surface of the reflecting mirror is a concave surface. 4. The stereoscopic image reproducing device according to claim 1, wherein the reflecting surface of the reflecting mirror is a Fresnel reflecting surface. 5. The stereoscopic image reproducing device according to claim 4, wherein the reflecting mirror group is arranged such that a surface of the reflecting mirror group on which a rotation axis extends is a curved surface. 6. The three-dimensional image reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a convex lens having a size that covers the reflecting mirror group is provided on the image projection means side of the reflecting mirror group. 7. A plurality of the image projecting means are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction, and a signal of a parallax image having a different viewpoint position according to the position of each exit pupil formed by the light flux from each image projecting means is provided to the control means. The stereoscopic image reproducing device according to claim 1, wherein the stereoscopic image reproducing device further inputs the image to each image projecting unit. 8. The stereoscopic image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal width of the exit pupil is 50 mm or less. 9. The stereoscopic image reproducing device according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal reciprocating period of the exit pupil is 1/30 seconds or less. 10. An image projection means for displaying and projecting a parallax image, and four reflecting surfaces having a shape that is thin in the horizontal direction and long in the vertical direction and has a light collecting property in the vertical direction, and a vertical rotation axis. A group of a plurality of quadrangular prism-shaped reflecting mirrors that are rotatable around the horizontal direction, and a control that controls the rotation of the plurality of reflecting mirrors and also generates a parallax image and inputs it to the image projection means. Means for forming a parallax image displayed on the image projecting means on the reflecting mirror group and rotating each reflecting mirror by the control means so that a light flux reflected by each reflecting mirror is substantially in a horizontal plane. When the exit pupil is formed by intersecting at the same position, the control means moves the formation position of the exit pupil in the horizontal direction, and at the same time, the parallax image having different viewpoint positions depending on the formation position of the exit pupil is projected by the image projection means. A stereoscopic image reproducing device characterized by inputting to. 11. The stereoscopic image reproducing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the image projection means is installed outside the optical path from the reflecting mirror to the exit pupil. 12. The stereoscopic image reproducing device according to claim 10, wherein the reflecting surface is a Fresnel reflecting surface. 13. An image projecting means for displaying and projecting a parallax image and a reflecting mirror having a light collecting characteristic in the vertical direction and rotatable about a vertical rotation axis in two dimensions in the horizontal and vertical directions. A plurality of reflecting mirrors, and a control unit that controls the rotation of the plurality of reflecting mirrors and generates a parallax image and inputs the parallax image to the image projection unit, and the parallax image displayed on the image projection unit. Is formed substantially on the reflecting mirror group, each reflecting mirror is rotated by the control means, and the luminous flux reflected by each reflecting mirror is intersected at substantially the same position in the horizontal plane to form an exit pupil. Means for periodically reciprocating the formation position of the exit pupil in the horizontal direction and inputting a parallax image having different viewpoint positions to the image projection means according to the formation position of the exit pupil. apparatus. 14. The stereoscopic image reproducing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the image projection means is installed outside the optical path from the reflecting mirror to the exit pupil. 15. The stereoscopic image reproducing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the reflecting surface of the reflecting mirror is a concave surface. 16. The stereoscopic image reproducing device according to claim 13, wherein the reflecting surface of the reflecting mirror is a Fresnel reflecting surface. 17. A stereoscopic image reproducing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a convex lens having a size covering the reflecting mirror group is provided on the image projecting means side of the reflecting mirror group. 18. A plurality of said image projecting means are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction, and a signal of a parallax image whose viewpoint position is different depending on the position of each exit pupil formed by the light flux from each image projecting means is said control means. The stereoscopic image reproducing device according to any one of claims 13 to 17, characterized in that the image is input to each image projection unit. 19. The horizontal width of the exit pupil is 50 mm or less, as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 18.
The stereoscopic image reproducing device according to the item. 20. The horizontal reciprocal movement cycle of the exit pupil is 1/30 seconds or less.
9. The stereoscopic image reproducing device according to any one of 9 above. 21. An image projection means for displaying and projecting a parallax image, and a horizontal prism having a wedge-shaped horizontal section, thin in the horizontal direction, and long in the vertical direction and rotatable about a vertical rotation axis. A plurality of prisms juxtaposed in the same direction, a convex lens, and a control unit that controls the rotation of the plurality of prisms and generates a parallax image and inputs the parallax image to the image projection unit. An image is formed substantially on the convex lens through the prism group, each prism is rotated by the control means, and the light flux refracted by the convex lens intersects at approximately the same position in the horizontal plane to form an exit pupil. At this time, the control means periodically reciprocates the formation position of the exit pupil in the horizontal direction and inputs a parallax image having a different viewpoint position to the image projection means according to the formation position of the exit pupil. Standing up Image reproducing apparatus. 22. The stereoscopic image reproducing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the horizontal width of the exit pupil is 50 mm or less. 23. The stereoscopic image reproducing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the horizontal reciprocating period of the exit pupil is 1/30 seconds or less.