U.S. patent application number 11/180446 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-01 for stereoscopic image display apparatus, display apparatus, divided wave plate filter, plate-shaped filter, and filter position adjusting mechanism attached to the display apparatus, aligning apparatus, filter position adjusting method, and filter aligning method.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sony Corporation. Invention is credited to Sato, Seiji, Sekizawa, Hidehiko.
Application Number | 20050264904 11/180446 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27346851 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050264904 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sato, Seiji ; et
al. |
December 1, 2005 |
Stereoscopic image display apparatus, display apparatus, divided
wave plate filter, plate-shaped filter, and filter position
adjusting mechanism attached to the display apparatus, aligning
apparatus, filter position adjusting method, and filter aligning
method
Abstract
A stereoscopic image display apparatus includes: an image
display unit 22 for displaying image information corresponding to
parallax in a first division and a second division; a divided wave
plate filter unit 12 having a frame 41 and disposed adjacent to the
first division and the second division of the image display unit,
for rotating polarized light of the image information from the
first division to a direction different from polarized light of the
image information from the second division; and position adjusting
means 35R and 35L for acting on the frame of the divided wave plate
filter unit and thereby allowing adjustment of a relative position
between the image display unit and the divided wave plate filter.
Also, a display apparatus includes: a filter unit used in a state
of being laid over an image display unit for displaying image
information in a first division and a second division; and a filter
frame portion disposed integrally around a periphery of the filter
unit; wherein the filter unit has a first wave plate in a region
corresponding to the first division of the image display unit for
rotating polarization direction of the image information from the
first division to a direction different from polarization direction
of the image information from the second division; and the filter
frame portion has an alignment mark formed therein by a second wave
plate for rotating polarization direction.
Inventors: |
Sato, Seiji; (Kanagawa,
JP) ; Sekizawa, Hidehiko; (Kanagawa, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SONNENSCHEIN NATH & ROSENTHAL LLP
P.O. BOX 061080
WACKER DRIVE STATION, SEARS TOWER
CHICAGO
IL
60606-1080
US
|
Assignee: |
Sony Corporation
|
Family ID: |
27346851 |
Appl. No.: |
11/180446 |
Filed: |
July 13, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11180446 |
Jul 13, 2005 |
|
|
|
10343422 |
Jun 2, 2003 |
|
|
|
10343422 |
Jun 2, 2003 |
|
|
|
PCT/JP02/05380 |
Jun 1, 2001 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
359/885 ;
348/E13.034; 348/E13.038 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 13/337 20180501;
G02B 30/25 20200101; H04N 13/327 20180501 |
Class at
Publication: |
359/885 |
International
Class: |
G09G 003/10; G02B
005/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 1, 2001 |
JP |
P2001-166706 |
Aug 17, 2001 |
JP |
P2001-247779 |
Sep 4, 2001 |
JP |
P2001-267966 |
Claims
1. A position adjusting mechanism of a divided wave plate filter,
characterized by comprising: a divided wave plate filter unit
having a frame attachable to an image display unit for displaying
image information corresponding to parallax, for dividing said
image information and controlling polarization direction; and
position adjusting means for acting on said frame of said divided
wave plate filter unit and thereby allowing adjustment of a
relative position between said image display unit and said divided
wave plate filter.
2. A position adjusting mechanism of a divided wave plate filter as
claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: said divided wave plate
filter unit is divided into lines, and the polarization direction
is controlled to differ between an even-numbered line and an
odd-numbered line.
3. A position adjusting mechanism of a divided wave plate filter as
claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: a dividing direction of
the lines of said divided wave plate filter unit is a horizontal
direction or a vertical direction.
4. A position adjusting mechanism of a divided wave plate filter as
claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: said divided wave plate
filter unit is constructed by forming a half-wave plate in every
other line.
5. A position adjusting mechanism of a divided wave plate filter as
claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: said position adjusting
means makes said frame movable in a direction substantially
perpendicular to a dividing direction of the lines of said divided
wave plate filter unit.
6. A position adjusting mechanism of a divided wave plate filter as
claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: said position adjusting
means includes an elastic member attached to said frame and a screw
member in contact with said frame for making said frame movable in
a direction to advance toward the elastic member and a direction to
retreat from the elastic member.
7. A position adjusting mechanism of a divided wave plate filter as
claimed in claim 6, characterized in that: said screw member
includes a knob portion for rotational operation by a user and an
eccentric portion in contact with said frame for moving in
positions eccentric with respect to a center of rotation of the
rotational operation while interlocked with the knob portion.
8. A position adjusting mechanism of a divided wave plate filter as
claimed in claim 6, characterized in that: said position adjusting
means is disposed at a plurality of positions.
9. A position adjusting mechanism of a divided wave plate filter as
claimed in claim 6, characterized in that: said position adjusting
means is formed by interposing a semi-fixing resin material between
said frame and a member for holding said screw member.
10. A position adjusting mechanism of a divided wave plate filter
as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: said position
adjusting means is used in conjunction with regulating means for
regulating a position in a dividing direction of the lines of said
divided wave plate filter unit.
11. A position adjusting mechanism of a divided wave plate filter
as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: said position
adjusting means has a mechanism for adjusting a position of said
divided wave plate filter unit in an oblique direction with respect
to a dividing direction of the lines of said divided wave plate
filter unit and adjusting a position of a lower portion of said
divided wave plate filter unit.
12. A position adjusting mechanism of a divided wave plate filter
as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: said divided wave
plate filter unit includes a quarter-wave plate formed on a light
output side thereof.
13. A stereoscopic image display apparatus characterized by
comprising: an image display unit for displaying image information
corresponding to parallax in a first division and a second
division; a divided wave plate filter unit having a frame and
disposed adjacent to said first division and said second division
of said image display unit, for rotating polarized light of said
image information from said first division to a direction different
from polarized light of said image information from said second
division; and position adjusting means for acting on said frame of
said divided wave plate filter unit and thereby allowing adjustment
of a relative position between said image display unit and said
divided wave plate filter.
14. A stereoscopic image display apparatus as claimed in claim 13,
characterized in that: said first division and said second division
are formed by an even-numbered line and an odd-numbered line
divided in a line form.
15. A stereoscopic image display apparatus as claimed in claim 14,
characterized in that: a dividing direction of lines said image
display unit and said divided wave plate filter unit is a
horizontal direction or a vertical direction.
16. A stereoscopic image display apparatus as claimed in claim 14,
characterized in that: said divided wave plate filter unit is
constructed by forming a half-wave plate in every other line.
17. A stereoscopic image display apparatus as claimed in claim 14,
characterized in that: said position adjusting means makes said
frame movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to a
dividing direction of lines of said divided wave plate filter
unit.
18. A stereoscopic image display apparatus as claimed in claim 13,
characterized in that: said position adjusting means includes an
elastic member attached to said frame and a screw member in contact
with said frame for making said frame movable in a direction of a
position of said elastic member.
19. A stereoscopic image display apparatus as claimed in claim 18,
characterized in that: said screw member includes a knob portion
for rotational operation by a user and an eccentric portion in
contact with said frame for moving in positions eccentric with
respect to a center of rotation of the rotational operation while
interlocked with the knob portion.
20. A stereoscopic image display apparatus as claimed in claim 18,
characterized in that: said position adjusting means is disposed at
a plurality of positions.
21. A stereoscopic image display apparatus as claimed in claim 18,
characterized in that: said position adjusting means is formed by
interposing a semi-fixing resin material between said frame and a
member for holding said screw member.
22. A stereoscopic image display apparatus as claimed in claim 14,
characterized in that: said position adjusting means is used in
conjunction with regulating means for regulating a position in a
dividing direction of lines of said divided wave plate filter
unit.
23. A stereoscopic image display apparatus as claimed in claim 13,
characterized in that: said divided wave plate filter unit includes
a quarter-wave plate formed on a light output side thereof.
24. A stereocopic image display apparatus as claimed in claim 13,
characterized in that: said image display unit uses one of a liquid
crystal display device, a light emitting element array display
device, an organic electroluminescence display device, a
cathode-ray tube, and a plasma display device.
25. A filter position adjusting method for a stereoscopic image
display apparatus, characterized by comprising the steps of:
mounting a divided wave plate filter unit for dividing image
information corresponding to parallax and controlling polarization
direction on an image display unit for displaying the image
information; displaying said image information through said divided
wave plate filter unit; and adjusting a relative position between
said image display unit and said divided wave plate filter by
operating position adjusting means provided to said divided wave
plate filter unit for allowing adjustment of the relative position
between said image display unit and said divided wave plate filter
unit while viewing the displayed image information.
26. A display apparatus characterized by comprising: an image
display unit for displaying image information in a first division
and a second division; a divided wave plate filter unit having a
frame and disposed adjacent to said first division and said second
division of said image display unit, for rotating polarized light
of said image information from said first division to a direction
different from polarized light of said image information from said
second division; and position adjusting means for acting on said
frame of said divided wave plate filter unit and thereby allowing
adjustment of a relative position between said image display unit
and said divided wave plate filter unit; wherein images for two
screens are displayed on a display screen for a single screen.
27. A position adjusting mechanism of a divided wave plate filter,
characterized by comprising: a frame fixed to a divided wave plate
filter unit for dividing pixel information and controlling
polarization direction; and position adjusting means for acting on
said frame and thereby allowing adjustment of a relative position
between said image display unit and said divided wave plate
filter.
28. A position adjusting mechanism of a divided wave plate filter
as claimed in claim 27, characterized in that: said position
adjusting means includes an elastic member attached to said frame
and a screw member in contact with said frame for making said frame
movable in a direction to advance toward the elastic member and a
direction to retreat from the elastic member.
29-62. (canceled)
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a display apparatus that
makes it possible to view an image with parallax information, a
plate-shaped filter attached to such a display apparatus, a filter
position adjusting mechanism, and a filter position adjusting
method, and particularly to a filter position adjusting mechanism
and a filter position adjusting method for mounting a divided wave
plate filter with high precision for display of an optimum
stereoscopic image.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Conventionally, various attempts have been made for
technology of representing a three-dimensional image, and methods
of display of a three-dimensional image have been studied and put
to practical use in many fields such as photography, movies,
television and the like. Methods of displaying a three-dimensional
image are roughly classified into methods of a glasses type and
methods of a no-glasses type. Both types of methods input an image
with binocular parallax to a right and a left eye of an observer,
so that the image can be viewed as a stereoscopic image. Typical
glasses type methods include anaglyph methods in which so-called
red and blue glasses are worn and polarizing glasses methods. Color
separation methods such as the anaglyph methods have many
disadvantages in terms of quality, such as difficulty in color
representation, degradation in a field of view and the like. The
polarizing glasses methods in general had problems such as
necessity of using two projectors. However, a method of enabling
stereoscopic display with a single direct view type display
apparatus has recently been proposed.
[0003] FIG. 1 schematically shows a stereoscopic image display
apparatus using the polarizing glasses method. A stereoscopic image
display apparatus 200 has a structure formed by a liquid crystal
panel unit 201 and a divided wave plate filter unit 202 attached to
the liquid crystal panel unit 201. The liquid crystal panel unit
201 has a pair of transparent supporting substrates 204 and 206
formed between a pair of polarizing plates 203 and 207, and a pixel
liquid crystal unit 205 having RGB pixels formed therein which unit
is disposed between the pair of transparent supporting substrates
204 and 206. A divided wave plate filter unit 202 is disposed on a
surface of the liquid crystal panel unit 201. The divided wave
plate filter unit 202 has a structure in which a divided wave plate
208 is disposed in every other line on one side of a transparent
protective substrate 209, for example. The divided wave plate
filter unit 202 is also referred to as a .mu.-Pol or
micropolarizer.
[0004] The stereoscopic image display apparatus 200 of such a
structure rotates a direction of linearly polarized light emitted
from the liquid crystal panel unit 201, and thereby converts pieces
of the linearly polarized light from an even-numbered line and an
odd-numbered line of the display screen into pieces of linearly
polarized light perpendicular to each other. That is, the linearly
polarized light from the liquid crystal panel is emitted as it is
from the even-numbered line, and in the odd-numbered line, the
divided wave plate 208 acts to convert the linearly polarized light
from the liquid crystal panel into linearly polarized light
perpendicular to the linearly polarized light from the liquid
crystal panel. When the light of the display apparatus is observed
by glasses 210 having polarizing directions perpendicular to each
other, light of an image for a right eye enters the right eye, and
light of an image for a left eye enters the left eye. By looking
through the glasses 210, it is possible to observe a full-color,
flicker-free stereoscopic image.
[0005] In addition, a stereoscopic image display apparatus of the
no-glasses type has been devised which uses a wave plate filter as
described above effectively to eliminate the need for an observer
to wear the glasses (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei
10-63199). Furthermore, as an example that uses a wave plate filter
as described above effectively, a system that displays two or more
mixed pictures on a single display screen potentially having an
image separating mechanism and extracts predetermined original
images by the image separating mechanism has been devised by the
present inventor et al., such as a double-screen display for
displaying multiple screens from a single display screen (see
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 11-249593).
[0006] However, when the divided wave plate filter unit 202 is
mounted on the display apparatus having the liquid crystal panel
unit 201 and the like, the divided wave plate filter unit 202 needs
to be securely fixed to a mounting position corresponding to a
predetermined region (pixel position) of the display apparatus.
This is not easy, and causes the following problems.
[0007] A first problem occurs in mounting the divided wave plate
filter unit. Since the foregoing display method divides the display
screen into predetermined regions and thus uses the display screen,
it is effective to make the divided regions as fine as possible in
a nested manner for enhanced resolution. While a high-definition
panel is available as pixels on a display screen with an
increasingly high resolution have become finer, it is extremely
difficult to fabricate the corresponding high-definition wave plate
filter and fix the divided wave plate filter unit fabricated by the
different process with high precision in correspondence with pixels
corresponding to the predetermined regions.
[0008] Even if the divided wave plate filter unit can be mounted
with high precision, the divided wave plate filter unit is
generally fixed by a resin or the like, and therefore positional
displacement tends to occur during a fixing period before the resin
is cured even after the position of the divided wave plate filter
unit is adjusted once. In addition, various factors such as
vibration during transportation, heat and the like often cause
positional displacement. A glass substrate is generally used for
the divided wave plate filter unit to maintain precision of the
predetermined regions in many cases because of problems in
manufacturing, and hence its own weight, in particular, causes
positional displacement. In addition, positional displacement of
the filter may be caused due to various conditions in durability
such as deterioration of the fixing agent and the like. Once the
cured resin is displaced, it is extremely difficult to thereafter
correct the position, and thus the relatively expensive display
panel will be totally wasted.
[0009] Furthermore, the stereoscopic image display system has a
characteristic in that an optimum disposing position of the filter
is determined by a height position of an eye of an observer at the
time of viewing. This presents a problem in that a prefixed
position is not necessarily the optimum position at the time of
observation. FIG. 2 shows such a state. A display apparatus 220 in
FIG. 2 is formed by a pixel unit 223 sandwiched between transparent
supporting substrates 221 and 222 and a divided wave plate filter
unit 225. In the figure, the optimum disposing position of the wave
plate filter for an observer at an observation position .alpha. is
a position of the wave plate filter indicated by solid lines, and
similarly the optimum disposing position of the wave plate filter
for an observer at an observation position .beta. is a position of
the wave plate filter indicated by broken lines in the figure.
Thus, as is clear from FIG. 2, the optimum disposing position of
the filter is determined by the height position of an eye of an
observer at the time of viewing, or even by an angle of the liquid
crystal panel and monitor and the like. Hence, this presents a
problem in that a position at which the divided wave plate filter
unit is prefixed is not necessarily the optimum position at the
time of observation of the divided wave plate filter unit.
[0010] Further, the factors as described above cause a problem in
that displacement of the divided wave plate filter unit by a few to
a few ten % of a pixel (a few ten .mu.m in the above example) is
observed as a significant cross talk between images. When the
divided wave plate filter unit is mounted properly, light from
corresponding pixels passes through a corresponding wave plate
region at all times, and light from pixels other than the
corresponding pixels does not pass through the corresponding wave
plate region. However, in a case where the divided wave plate
filter unit slants, even when the displacement is only about a few
to a few ten % of a pixel, or an absolute amount of displacement is
about 50 .mu.m, for example, an amount of displacement in a
vertical direction at both edges becomes large, and therefore some
of the light from the corresponding pixels may not pass through the
corresponding wave plate region. This results in a problem in that
cross talk between images occurs and hence a good stereoscopic
image cannot be displayed.
[0011] Conventionally, in mounting the divided wave plate filter
unit, a synthetic image for stereoscopic display similar to an
ordinary image is displayed on a screen, and then the position of
the divided wave plate filter is determined on the basis of whether
the image can be actually viewed as a stereoscopic image with
polarizing glasses worn. However, whether the image can be viewed
as a stereoscopic image is determined very vaguely; it is therefore
desired to be able to position the divided wave plate filter by
using a more exact method.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0012] Accordingly, in view of the technical problems described
above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
stereoscopic image display apparatus that realizes reliable display
of a stereoscopic image with viewing-field information even when a
divided wave plate filter unit is attached thereto, a divided wave
plate filter attached to such a display apparatus, a filter
position adjusting mechanism, and a filter position adjusting
method.
[0013] In order to solve the above problems, according to the
present invention, there is provided a position adjusting mechanism
of a divided wave plate filter, characterized by comprising: a
divided wave plate filter unit having a frame attachable to an
image display unit for displaying image information corresponding
to parallax, for dividing the image information and controlling
polarization direction; and position adjusting means for acting on
the frame of the divided wave plate filter unit and thereby
allowing adjustment of a relative position between the image
display unit and the divided wave plate filter.
[0014] According to an example of the present invention, the
divided wave plate filter unit is divided into lines, the
polarization direction is controlled to differ between an
even-numbered line and an odd-numbered line, and a dividing
direction of the lines of the divided wave plate filter unit is a
horizontal direction or a vertical direction. The divided wave
plate filter unit is constructed by forming a half-wave plate in
every other line.
[0015] The divided wave plate filter unit is an area for changing
the polarization direction of light from the image display unit in
such a manner as to correspond to parallax. The light passed
through the divided wave plate filter unit is controlled such that
image information for a right eye and image information for a left
eye have different polarization directions, preferably directions
perpendicular to each other. The divided wave plate filter unit has
a frame for forming the wave plate for changing the polarization
direction. The position adjusting means acts on the frame and
thereby allows adjustment of the relative position between the
image display unit and the divided wave plate filter unit.
[0016] Also, according to the present invention, there is provided
a stereoscopic image display apparatus characterized by comprising:
an image display unit for displaying image information
corresponding to parallax in a first division and a second
division; a divided wave plate filter unit having a frame and
disposed adjacent to the first division and the second division of
the image display unit, for rotating polarized light of the image
information from the first division to a direction different from
polarized light of the image information from the second division;
and position adjusting means for acting on the frame of the divided
wave plate filter unit and thereby allowing adjustment of a
relative position between the image display unit and the divided
wave plate filter unit.
[0017] With the stereoscopic image display apparatus according to
the present invention, the divided wave plate filter unit effects
control such that the polarized light from the image display unit
for displaying the image information corresponding to parallax in
the first division and the second division is rotated to directions
different for the first division and the second division. The
divided wave plate filter unit has a frame for forming a wave plate
for changing polarization direction. The position adjusting means
acts on the frame and thereby allows adjustment of the relative
position between the image display unit and the divided wave plate
filter.
[0018] Further, according to the present invention, there is
provided a filter position adjusting method for a stereoscopic
image display apparatus, characterized by comprising the steps of:
mounting a divided wave plate filter unit for dividing image
information corresponding to parallax and controlling polarization
direction on an image display unit for displaying the image
information; displaying the image information through the divided
wave plate filter unit; and adjusting a relative position between
the image display unit and the divided wave plate filter by
operating position adjusting means provided to the divided wave
plate filter unit for allowing adjustment of the relative position
between the image display unit and the divided wave plate filter
while viewing the displayed image information.
[0019] With the filter position adjusting method according to the
present invention, optimizing operation can be performed while
observing the image display unit for displaying the image
information corresponding to parallax. It is thus possible to save
trouble, readily check the relative position between the image
display unit and the divided wave plate filter unit in real time,
and make separate displays without causing cross talk.
[0020] By displaying an adjustment pattern on the display
apparatus, it is possible to adjust the position of the filter
simply while viewing a stereoscopic image, which has conventionally
been impossible. Thus, the position of the filter at the time of
actual viewing can be set to an optimum state to view video (image)
in its best state. Also in the case of the no-glasses methods and
the multiple screen display, video can be viewed in its best
state.
[0021] Further, in order to solve the above problems, according to
the present invention, there is provided a plate-shaped filter
characterized by comprising: a filter unit used in a state of being
laid over an image display unit for displaying image information in
a first division and a second division; and a filter frame portion
disposed integrally around a periphery of the filter unit; wherein
the filter unit has a first wave plate in a region corresponding to
the first division of the image display unit for rotating
polarization direction of the image information from the first
division to a direction different from polarization direction of
the image information from the second division; and the filter
frame portion has an alignment mark formed therein by a second wave
plate for rotating polarization direction.
[0022] With the plate-shaped filter according to the present
invention, the filter unit has the first wave plate provided
thereon for rotating the polarization direction of the image
information from the first division to a direction different from
the polarization direction of the image information from the second
division. Therefore, control can be effected such that the image
information from the different divisions corresponding to the
polarization directions is received by both eyes by viewing the
display apparatus through polarizing glasses or the like. Thus,
display of a stereoscopic image and double-screen display are
realized easily. Since the filter frame portion is disposed
integrally around the periphery of the filter unit, it is possible
to move the filter unit as a whole by moving the filter frame
portion. Because the filter frame portion does not directly form
the image display unit, provision of the alignment mark does not
impair display capability of the image display unit, and allows
reliable and high-precision alignment of the filter unit and the
image display unit with each other.
[0023] Further, according to the present invention, there is
provided a display apparatus characterized by comprising: an image
display unit for displaying image information in a first division
and a second division; an image display frame portion disposed
integrally around a periphery of the image display unit; a filter
unit used in a state of being laid over the image display unit and
having a first wave plate in a region corresponding to the first
division of the image display unit for rotating polarization
direction of the image information from the first division to a
direction different from polarization direction of the image
information from the second division; and a filter frame portion
disposed integrally around a periphery of the filter unit; wherein
the filter frame portion has a first alignment mark formed therein;
and the image display frame portion has a second alignment mark
formed therein in correspondence with the first alignment mark.
[0024] The display apparatus according to the present invention has
the foregoing plate-shaped filter, as well as the image display
unit and the image display frame portion disposed integrally around
the periphery of the image display unit. With a combination of the
foregoing plate-shaped filter and the image display unit, display
of a stereoscopic image and double-screen display are realized
easily. The image display frame portion has the second alignment
mark formed therein in correspondence with the first alignment mark
formed in the filter frame portion. By using the first and second
alignment marks corresponding to each other in combination, it is
possible to pick up both the alignment marks simultaneously by the
same image pickup means or other position detecting means and
thereby align the positions of the plate-shaped filter and the
image display unit with each other. Thus, higher-precision
alignment is performed at the time of mounting.
[0025] According to the present invention, there is provided a
filter aligning method for disposing, on an image display unit for
displaying image information in a first division and a second
division, a plate-shaped filter including a filter unit used in a
state of being laid over the image display unit and having a first
wave plate in a region corresponding to the first division of the
image display unit for rotating polarization direction of the image
information from the first division to a direction different from
polarization direction of the image information from the second
division and a filter frame portion disposed integrally around a
periphery of the filter unit, such that the first wave plate
corresponds in position to the first division, the filter aligning
method characterized by comprising the steps of: detecting a
position of the plate-shaped filter using an alignment mark formed
in the filter frame portion in a state in which the plate-shaped
filter is laid over the image display unit; obtaining a
displacement between the position of the plate-shaped filter and a
position of the image display unit on the basis of information of
the detected position of the plate-shaped filter; and correcting
the position of the plate-shaped filter with respect to the image
display unit on the basis of an obtained value.
[0026] With the filter aligning method according to the present
invention, the position of the plate-shaped filter is first
detected using the alignment mark formed in the filter frame
portion. Since the filter frame portion forms part of the
plate-shaped filter, the position of the plate-shaped filter can be
grasped by forming the alignment mark in the filter frame portion.
In addition, since the alignment mark is formed in the filter frame
portion, the alignment mark does not interfere with display of a
stereoscopic image. The displacement between the position of the
plate-shaped filter and the position of the image display unit is
obtained by a method such as calculation or the like on the basis
of the information of the detected position of the plate-shaped
filter. The position of the plate-shaped filter with respect to the
image display unit is corrected on the basis of the obtained value.
In this case, the position of the plate-shaped filter is already
known, and the position is corrected by moving the plate-shaped
filter, the image display unit, or the display panel in a direction
that reduces the displacement between the position of the
plate-shaped filter and the position of the image display unit.
[0027] Further, according to the present invention, there is
provided another filter aligning method for disposing, on a display
panel including an image display unit for displaying image
information in a first division and a second division and an image
display frame portion disposed integrally around a periphery of the
image display unit, a plate-shaped filter including a filter unit
used in a state of being laid over the image display unit and
having a first wave plate in a region corresponding to the first
division of the image display unit for rotating polarization
direction of the image information from the first division to a
direction different from polarization direction of the image
information from the second division and a filter frame portion
disposed integrally around a periphery of the filter unit, such
that the first wave plate corresponds in position to the first
division, the filter aligning method characterized by comprising
the steps of: forming a first alignment mark in the filter frame
portion and forming a second alignment mark in the image display
frame portion in correspondence with the first alignment mark;
detecting a position of the display panel using the second
alignment mark formed in the image display frame portion in a state
in which the plate-shaped filter is laid over the image display
unit; detecting a position of the plate-shaped filter using the
first alignment mark formed in the filter frame portion in a state
in which the plate-shaped filter is laid over the image display
unit; calculating a displacement between the position of the
plate-shaped filter and a position of the image display unit on the
basis of information of the detected position of the display panel
and the detected position of the plate-shaped filter; and
correcting the position of the plate-shaped filter with respect to
the image display unit on the basis of a calculated value.
[0028] In the filter aligning method according to the present
invention, the first alignment mark is formed in the filter frame
portion and the second alignment mark is formed in the image
display frame portion in correspondence with the first alignment
mark. It is therefore possible to detect both the position of the
image display frame portion, that is, the display panel and the
position of the filter frame portion, that is, the plate-shaped
filter individually, and to thus align the plate-shaped filter with
higher precision.
[0029] According to the present invention, in order to realize the
filter aligning method as described above, there is provided a
filter aligning apparatus characterized by comprising: filter
supporting means for movably supporting, over an image display unit
for displaying image information in a first division and a second
division, a plate-shaped filter including a filter unit used in a
state of being laid over the image display unit and having a first
wave plate in a region corresponding to the first division of the
image display unit for rotating polarization direction of the image
information from the first division to a direction different from
polarization direction of the image information from the second
division and a filter frame portion disposed integrally around a
periphery of the filter unit, in a state in which the plate-shaped
filter is laid over the image display unit; filter position
detecting means for detecting a position of the plate-shaped filter
using an alignment mark formed in the filter frame portion; and
control means for obtaining a displacement between the position of
the plate-shaped filter and a position of the image display unit on
the basis of information of the detected position of the
plate-shaped filter, and operating the filter supporting means so
as to correct the position of the plate-shaped filter with respect
to the image display unit on the basis of an obtained value.
[0030] With the filter aligning apparatus according to the present
invention, the filter position detecting means for detecting the
position of the plate-shaped filter detects the position of the
plate-shaped filter using the alignment mark formed in the filter
frame portion. In this state, the plate-shaped filter is supported
by the filter supporting means, and the supporting means can be
controlled by a signal from the control means on the basis of the
information of the detected position. It is therefore possible to
adjust the positions of the plate-shaped filter and the display
panel reliably.
[0031] Further, according to the present invention, there is
provided another filter aligning apparatus characterized by
comprising: display panel supporting means for movably supporting a
display panel including an image display unit for displaying image
information in a first division and a second division and an image
display frame portion disposed integrally around a periphery of the
image display unit and having a second alignment mark formed
therein; filter supporting means for movably supporting a
plate-shaped filter including a filter unit used in a state of
being laid over the image display unit and having a first wave
plate in a region corresponding to the first division of the image
display unit for rotating polarization direction of the image
information from the first division to a direction different from
polarization direction of the image information from the second
division and a filter frame portion disposed integrally around a
periphery of the filter unit and having a first alignment mark
formed therein, in a state in which the plate-shaped filter is laid
over the image display unit; display panel position detecting means
for detecting a position of the display panel using the second
alignment mark formed in the image display frame portion in a state
in which the plate-shaped filter is laid over the image display
unit; filter position detecting means for detecting a position of
the plate-shaped filter using the first alignment mark formed in
the filter frame portion in a state in which the plate-shaped
filter is laid over the image display unit; and control means for
obtaining a displacement between the position of the plate-shaped
filter and a position of the image display unit on the basis of
information of the detected position of the display panel and the
detected position of the plate-shaped filter, and operating at
least one of the filter supporting means and the display panel
supporting means so as to correct a relative position of the
plate-shaped filter with respect to the image display unit on the
basis of an obtained value.
[0032] With the filter aligning apparatus, the filter position
detecting means for detecting the position of the plate-shaped
filter detects the position of the plate-shaped filter using the
alignment mark formed in the filter frame portion, and the display
panel position detecting means detects the position of the display
panel using the second alignment mark formed in the image display
frame portion. In this state, the plate-shaped filter and the
display panel are supported by their respective supporting means,
and the supporting means can be each controlled by a signal from
the control means on the basis of the information of the detected
position. It is therefore possible to adjust the positions of the
plate-shaped filter and the display panel reliably.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0033] FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded view of a structure of a
pixel unit and a divided wave plate filter unit of a related-art
stereoscopic image display apparatus.
[0034] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a structure of a divided wave
plate filter unit of a related-art stereoscopic image display
apparatus.
[0035] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a stereoscopic image display
apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0036] FIG. 4 are schematic exploded views of a structure of a
pixel unit and a divided wave plate filter unit of the stereoscopic
image display apparatus according to the first embodiment of the
present invention.
[0037] FIG. 5 is a waveform chart of an example of an image signal
used by the stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the
first embodiment of the present invention.
[0038] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an image pattern of
the stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0039] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the stereoscopic image
display apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present
invention in a state before position adjustment.
[0040] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the stereoscopic image
display apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present
invention in a state after the position adjustment.
[0041] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of assistance in explaining
fine adjustment of the position of the divided wave plate filter
unit of the stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the
first embodiment of the present invention.
[0042] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of assistance in explaining
fine adjustment of the position of the divided wave plate filter
unit of the stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the
first embodiment of the present invention, and is a schematic
diagram of a displaced state.
[0043] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of assistance in explaining
fine adjustment of the position of the divided wave plate filter
unit of the stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the
first embodiment of the present invention, and is a schematic
diagram of a state at the time of height position adjustment.
[0044] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of assistance in explaining
fine adjustment of the position of the divided wave plate filter
unit of the stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the
first embodiment of the present invention, and is a schematic
diagram of a state at the time of rotation adjustment.
[0045] FIG. 13 is a flowchart of operation for fine adjustment of
the position of the divided wave plate filter unit of the
stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0046] FIG. 14 is a front view of a structure of the divided wave
plate filter unit of the stereoscopic image display apparatus
according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0047] FIG. 15 is a sectional view of the structure of the divided
wave plate filter unit of the stereoscopic image display apparatus
according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0048] FIG. 16 is a rear view of an adjusting knob and its
peripheral portion of the divided wave plate filter unit of the
stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0049] FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the adjusting knob and its
peripheral portion of the divided wave plate filter unit of the
stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0050] FIG. 18 is a front view of another structure of the divided
wave plate filter unit of the stereoscopic image display apparatus
according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0051] FIG. 19 is a sectional view of the other structure of the
divided wave plate filter unit of the stereoscopic image display
apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0052] FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of an adjustment
pattern to be displayed at the time of adjustment of the
stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0053] FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of an adjustment
pattern to be displayed at the time of adjustment of the
stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the first
embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram showing a
state of a screen as viewed by a user after proper adjustment.
[0054] FIG. 22 is a diagram showing another example of an
adjustment pattern to be displayed at the time of adjustment of the
stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0055] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing the other example of the
adjustment pattern to be displayed at the time of adjustment of the
stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the first
embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram showing a
state of a screen as viewed by a user after proper adjustment.
[0056] FIG. 24 is a flowchart of assistance in explaining
adjustment operation at a start of display of the stereoscopic
image display apparatus according to the first embodiment of the
present invention.
[0057] FIG. 25 is a schematic exploded view of another example of
the structure of a pixel unit and a divided wave plate filter unit
of the stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0058] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a stereoscopic image
display apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present
invention.
[0059] FIG. 27 is an exploded perspective view of a liquid crystal
panel unit and a divided wave plate filter of the stereoscopic
image display apparatus according to the second embodiment of the
present invention.
[0060] FIG. 28 are plan views of other examples of alignment marks
formed in the liquid crystal panel unit and the divided wave plate
filter of the stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the
second embodiment of the present invention.
[0061] FIG. 29 is a schematic perspective view of an aligning
apparatus used at the time of mounting the display apparatus
according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[0062] FIG. 30 is a perspective view of main parts of the aligning
apparatus in FIG. 29.
[0063] FIG. 31 is a sectional view of assistance in explaining
steps in aligning, for mounting, the liquid crystal panel unit and
the divided wave plate filter of the display apparatus according to
the second embodiment of the present invention, and is a sectional
view of assistance in explaining a step of detecting a position of
the liquid crystal panel unit.
[0064] FIG. 32 is a sectional view of assistance in explaining
steps in aligning, for mounting, the liquid crystal panel unit and
the divided wave plate filter of the display apparatus according to
the second embodiment of the present invention, and is a sectional
view of assistance in explaining a step of detecting a position of
the divided wave plate filter via a wave plate.
[0065] FIG. 33 is a sectional view of assistance in explaining
steps in aligning, for mounting, the liquid crystal panel unit and
the divided wave plate filter of the display apparatus according to
the second embodiment of the present invention, and is a sectional
view of assistance in explaining a step of aligning the liquid
crystal panel unit and the divided wave plate filter with each
other.
[0066] FIG. 34 is a flowchart of assistance in explaining aligning
operation in aligning, for mounting, the liquid crystal panel unit
and the divided wave plate filter of the display apparatus
according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[0067] FIG. 35 is a schematic perspective view of another example
of an aligning apparatus used at the time of mounting the display
apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present
invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0068] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will
hereinafter be described with reference to the drawings. It is to
be noted that while in the embodiments, stereoscopic image display
apparatus for displaying image information with parallax will be
described mainly, double-screen display is possible by a similar
configuration, and a display apparatus of a double-screen display
type can be similarly configured.
[0069] FIG. 3 schematically shows a configuration of a stereoscopic
image display apparatus 10 according to a first embodiment of the
present invention. The stereoscopic image display apparatus 10
according to the first embodiment includes a notebook computer 11;
a divided wave plate filter unit 12 as a plate-shaped filter
attachable to the notebook computer 11; and a pair of a right and a
left adjusting screw 35R and 35L as position adjusting means
integrally attached to the divided wave plate filter unit 12.
[0070] The notebook computer 11 includes a liquid crystal panel
unit 22 of a folding structure having a liquid crystal display unit
28, which serves as an image display unit. An image including
parallax can be displayed from the liquid crystal panel unit 22. As
later described, the liquid crystal panel unit 22 itself may be a
liquid crystal display unit of a normal notebook computer 11. When
an application for displaying a stereoscopic image is not opened,
the liquid crystal panel unit 22 can display ordinary images
(moving images and still images), for example.
[0071] A keyboard unit 21 including keys corresponding to
alphanumeric characters, hiragana, and katakana, as well as various
control keys is formed on a side of the notebook computer 11 which
side is opposed to the liquid crystal panel unit 22. A palm rest
unit 23 is provided on a side nearer to a user in a manner
continuous with the keyboard unit 21. A pointer pad unit 24 is
formed on substantially a central portion of the palm rest unit 23.
The keyboard unit 21 and the like are connected to the liquid
crystal panel unit 22 via hinge parts 25 and 25, and the liquid
crystal panel unit 22 is rotatable on the hinge parts 25 and 25.
Thus, a viewer of a stereoscopic image can control an angle of the
liquid crystal panel unit 22 with the hinge parts 25 and 25 as a
center of rotation. A program for displaying a position adjusting
pattern is stored within a hard disk of the notebook computer 11.
The program is read into a CPU and then executed, whereby a
position adjusting pattern is displayed on the liquid crystal panel
unit 22.
[0072] The liquid crystal panel unit 22 has around the periphery
thereof a supporting frame 27 of a synthetic resin for holding the
image display portion. The liquid crystal display unit 28 of the
liquid crystal panel unit 22 is formed in a state of being held by
the supporting frame 27. A projecting portion 26 is provided by
forming a part of the supporting frame 27 into a projection on a
side under the liquid crystal display unit 28. In order to hold a
bottom portion of the divided wave plate filter unit 12, the
projecting portion 26 is projecting to an extent that the
projecting portion 26 does not become an obstacle when the liquid
crystal panel unit 22 is folded and the projecting portion 26 can
fully engage and stop the bottom portion of the divided wave plate
filter unit 12.
[0073] As later described, the divided wave plate filter unit 12 is
a polarized light control unit provided with a half-wave plate of a
band shape for every other horizontal line of pixels. The divided
wave plate filter unit 12 is provided in particular with a
horizontal holding member 15 of a metal or a synthetic resin with a
required stiffness at the bottom portion of the divided wave plate
filter unit 12, and a left adjusting knob 35L and a right adjusting
knob 35R forming part of the position adjusting means at portions
near both ends of the horizontal holding member 15, respectively. A
pair of mounting screws 36 and 36 is provided on an upper edge side
of the divided wave plate filter unit 12. At the time of mounting
the divided wave plate filter unit 12, the mounting screws 36 and
36 are screwed into screw holes 37 formed in the supporting frame
27 of the liquid crystal panel unit 22 via holes not shown in the
figure provided at the upper edge portion of the divided wave plate
filter unit 12.
[0074] The stereoscopic image display apparatus 10 according to the
first embodiment has the position adjusting means such as the left
adjusting knob 35L and the right adjusting knob 35R and the like.
As described above, it is thereby possible to control rotation of
the divided wave plate filter unit 12 including fine control of a
position of the divided wave plate filter unit 12 in a direction
perpendicular to a horizontal direction, that is, a direction in
which each divided wave plate of the band shape of the divided wave
plate filter unit 12 extends. Thus, optimum stereoscopic display is
realized.
[0075] FIG. 4A is an exploded perspective view of assistance in
explaining a display structure of the stereoscopic image display
apparatus according to the first embodiment. A structure of the
liquid crystal panel and a structure of the divided wave plate
filter unit are combined with each other to enable stereoscopic
display. First, the liquid crystal panel has a structure in which
liquid crystal pixel units 32 are disposed between a pair of
transparent supporting substrates 31 and 33. The liquid crystal
pixel units 32 are each formed by a combination of a red pixel unit
32R, a green pixel unit 32G, and a blue pixel unit 32B. The pixel
portions each formed of the three colors are arranged in a matrix
manner. The pixel units 32 are provided with necessary electric
wiring to form a passive matrix structure, an active matrix
structure or the like. When displaying a stereoscopic image, the
pixel units 32 display image information corresponding to parallax.
It is to be noted that while in the first embodiment, description
is made of an example using a liquid crystal panel as an image
display unit, the image display unit of a stereoscopic image
display apparatus according to the present invention can be formed
by various image display devices such as a light emitting element
array display device, an organic electroluminescence display
device, a cathode-ray tube, a plasma display device and the like,
and that the divided wave plate filter unit can be operated in
combination with these various image display devices.
[0076] A polarizing plate 34 is disposed on a viewer side of the
transparent supporting substrate 33. Light after passing through
the polarizing plate 34 becomes a linear polarization, and the
linearly polarized light reaches the divided wave plate filter
unit. The divided wave plate filter unit has divided wave plates 42
each in a band shape formed on one side of a transparent supporting
substrate 41 made of glass or the like and serving as a frame, or
on the liquid crystal panel side in this example. The divided wave
plates 42 are each extended such that a longitudinal direction of
the divided wave plates 42 is a horizontal direction. The band
shape of each of the divided wave plates 42 has a width
substantially equal to a pixel pitch of the liquid crystal pixel
units 32 mentioned above. A number of divided wave plates 42 is
half a number of pixels in a vertical direction of the liquid
crystal pixel units 32.
[0077] The divided wave plates 42 each in the band shape are formed
one for every other line at the pixel pitch of the liquid crystal
pixel units 32. Hence, either one of a stereoscopic image for a
right eye and a stereoscopic image for a left eye passes through
the divided wave plates 42, whereby a direction of polarization of
the stereoscopic image is rotated by 90 degrees. The stereoscopic
image that does not pass through the divided wave plates 42 is
emitted as it is without a direction of polarization thereof being
rotated. It is to be noted that while in the first embodiment, the
divided wave plates 42 are extended one for every other line in the
horizontal direction, divided wave plates 42 may be formed one for
each line such that the direction of polarization differs between a
stereoscopic image for a right eye and a stereoscopic image for a
left eye. Also, the direction in which the divided wave plates 42
are extended is not limited to the horizontal direction; the
direction may be a vertical direction or an oblique direction.
Furthermore, a divided wave plate 42 may be provided for each area
rather than for each line (Faris U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,285, for
example). While in the first embodiment, the divided wave plates 42
are formed on a surface on the liquid crystal panel side of the
transparent supporting substrate 41, the divided wave plates 42 can
be formed on the viewer side.
[0078] A horizontal holding member 15 is attached to the bottom
portion of the transparent supporting substrate 41 serving as a
frame. Screw holes 44L and 44R to which position adjusting means
such as a left adjusting knob 35L and a right adjusting knob 35R
and the like as later described is attached are formed at a part of
both end portions of the horizontal holding member 15. The
adjusting mechanism will be described later.
[0079] For stereoscopic display, light is controlled to a direction
of polarization that differs between lines, and at a point in time
when the light has passed through the divided wave plates 42, two
kinds of linearly polarized light perpendicular to each other occur
in a mixed state. A viewer wears polarizing glasses 51 as shown in
FIG. 4B to selectively receive a stereoscopic image for a right eye
and a stereoscopic image for a left eye by both the eyes. Lens
parts 52R and 52L of the glasses are each a polarizing filter, and
therefore when a polarizing angle of the polarizing filter does not
coincide with an angle of the linear polarization, it becomes
difficult to view the stereoscopic image. Thus, in the first
embodiment, a quarter-wave plate 45 is further formed on an outside
portion of the divided wave plate filter unit to convert the
linearly polarized light into circularly polarized light. A
quarter-wave plate 53 is also attached to a surface of the
polarizing glasses 51, whereby the circularly polarized light is
again converted into linearly polarized light to pass through the
polarizing glasses 51. The pair of quarter-wave plates 45 and 53
allows a stereoscopic image to be viewed reliably even when the
direction of polarization is somewhat changed.
[0080] Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, image information in the
stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the first
embodiment will next be described in brief. An image signal P as
shown in FIG. 5 is used in the stereoscopic image display apparatus
according to the first embodiment. Specifically, in horizontal
scanning periods divided by pulses of a vertical synchronizing
signal PS, image data R for a right eye and image data L for a left
eye are alternately sent to each line.
[0081] FIG. 6 shows divisions of image data displayed on an image
display unit 60. As described above, first divisions 61 for the
right eye and second divisions 62 for the left eye are arranged
alternately for each line in accordance with the image data R for
the right eye and the image data L for the left eye alternately
sent to each line as shown in FIG. 5. Thus, when a certain pixel
line of the liquid crystal panel displays the image data R for the
right eye, a next pixel line displays the image data L for the left
eye, and thereafter the first division 61 for the right eye and the
second division 62 for the left eye are repeated alternately for
each line to display a stereoscopic image as a whole.
[0082] By mounting the divided wave plate filter unit on an
ordinary liquid crystal panel or the like, it is possible to
readily view a stereoscopic image. However, incorrect adjustment of
positional relation between pixel units of the display apparatus
and the divided wave plate filter unit typically results in a
relation between pixel units 32 of the display apparatus and
divided wave plates 42 as shown in FIG. 7. Even when the divided
wave plate filter unit having the divided wave plates 42 formed
thereon slants slightly, in a case where an amount of displacement
Z1 in a vertical direction is a few to a few ten % of a pixel, or
an absolute amount of displacement is about 50 .mu.m for a pixel of
250 .mu.m, for example, some of light from the originally
corresponding pixels does not pass through the predetermined
divided wave plates 42. As a result, cross talk between images may
occur.
[0083] Suppression of such cross talk is necessary for display of
an optimum stereoscopic image, and a position adjusting operation
is required for this purpose. FIG. 8 shows the divided wave plates
42 adjusted to a correct position by the position adjusting
operation. As shown in FIG. 8, a divided wave plate 42 formed in
the band shape is disposed so as to lie exactly on a pixel line of
a pixel unit 32 of the display apparatus. Light from pixel units 32
corresponding to the divided wave plates 42 passes through the
divisions of the corresponding divided wave plates 42 without fail,
and light from pixels of other than the corresponding pixel units
does not pass through the regions within the divided wave plates
42. Thus, a good stereoscopic image is displayed without occurrence
of cross talk.
[0084] The position adjusting operation will be described in the
following with reference to FIGS. 9 to 13. An apparatus structure
for realizing the operation will be described in detail after
description of the position adjusting operation. As described
above, in the stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the
first embodiment, the divided wave plate filter unit 12 is formed
on the surface of the liquid crystal panel unit 22, the horizontal
holding member 15 is provided at the bottom portion of the divided
wave plate filter unit 12, and the left adjusting knob 35L and the
right adjusting knob 35R are attached as the position adjusting
means to the two end portions of the horizontal holding member
15.
[0085] As shown in FIG. 9, by operating the left adjusting knob 35L
and the right adjusting knob 35R shown in enlarged dimension by a
finger 70, for example, it is possible to readily and surely adjust
the height position of each of the filter wave plates while viewing
a state of the display screen, which has conventionally been
impossible. By rotating a peripheral portion of each of the
adjusting knobs 35L and 35R with a fingertip, it is possible to
finely adjust the position of the divided wave plate filter unit 12
in a direction of the, height of the divided wave plate filter unit
12, or a vertical direction. Specifically, when both the left
adjusting knob 35L and the right adjusting knob 35R are operated at
the same time in the same manner, since the left adjusting knob 35L
and the right adjusting knob 35R are of substantially the same
structure, the position of the divided wave plate filter unit 12
can be finely adjusted in the direction of the height of the
divided wave plate filter unit 12, or the vertical direction. When
one of the left adjusting knob 35L and the right adjusting knob 35R
is operated, only the side where the operation is performed is
finely adjusted in the vertical direction, which means that the
divided wave plate filter unit 12 is adjusted in position while
rotated relatively to the image display unit.
[0086] In the fine position adjustment, as later described, a
display pattern for adjustment is displayed, for example. By using
the display pattern for adjustment, it is possible to make the
adjustment while viewing the display pattern. Thus, the
stereoscopic image display apparatus according to the first
embodiment allows the position of the divided wave plate filter
unit 12 to be reliably optimized, allows real-time checking of the
position, and makes separate displays without causing cross
talk.
[0087] A typical adjusting operation will be described in the
following with reference to schematic diagrams of FIGS. 10 to 12
and a flowchart of FIG. 13. It is to be noted that this adjusting
method is a mere example, and the position of the divided wave
plate filter unit of the stereoscopic image display apparatus
according to the first embodiment can be adjusted by other
operating methods.
[0088] First, suppose that the transparent supporting substrate 41
serving as the frame of the divided wave plate filter unit is
mounted on the projecting portion of the liquid crystal panel unit,
and in a state shown in FIG. 10, for example, the transparent
supporting substrate 41 is somewhat slanting downward to the left
side and upward to the right side in the figure. Since the pixel
pitch is 200 to 300 .mu.m, for example, even a slight displacement
may make it impossible to obtain a good image of the display
pattern for adjustment on display.
[0089] In a state of such a positional displacement, the left
adjusting knob 35L on the left side to which the transparent
supporting substrate 41 is somewhat slanting downward is operated
as shown in FIG. 11 to adjust the height of the transparent
supporting substrate 41 so that the transparent supporting
substrate 41 is supported substantially horizontally (step S11).
Although as a result of such height adjustment, the divided wave
plate filter unit comes to substantially correspond to the pixel
units of the liquid crystal panel, a slight positional displacement
remains in practice because of an error in product dimensions of
the panel, expansion due to the temperature and the like. Hence, as
shown in FIG. 12, by operating both the left adjusting knob 35L and
the right adjusting knob 35R, for example in directions opposite to
each other, adjustment of rotational displacement and leveling of
the transparent supporting substrate 41 are performed to correct
positional displacement (step S12).
[0090] Positional displacement between the divided wave plate
filter unit and the image display unit is ultimately determined
while monitoring the display pattern for adjustment (step S13). The
display pattern for adjustment being displayed is observed through
polarizing glasses. When there is no problem, it is determined that
the adjustment is completed, and thereby the adjustment is ended.
When observation of the display pattern for adjustment shows that a
pattern such as a moire pattern is still displayed, the adjustment
is insufficient, and thus the steps S11 and S12 are repeated to
proceed with the adjustment.
[0091] FIGS. 14 to 17 are diagrams showing the left adjusting knob
35L and the right adjusting knob 35R as the position adjusting
means and a peripheral mechanism thereof. As shown in FIG. 14, the
horizontal holding member 15 is attached to the lower edge of the
transparent supporting substrate 41 serving as a frame, and the
horizontal holding member 15 is formed of a material with a
relatively high stiffness such as a metal, resin or the like. The
horizontal holding member 15 is formed throughout the lower edge of
the transparent supporting substrate 41. As shown in FIG. 15, the
horizontal holding member 15 is of substantially a U-shape in
section, for example. As shown in FIG. 17, the horizontal holding
member 15 is attached to the lower edge of the transparent
supporting substrate 41 via a semi-fixing resin agent 17. The
intermediate semi-fixing resin agent 17 prevents the horizontal
holding member 15 from being completely separated from the
transparent supporting substrate 41, and even when the position of
the transparent supporting substrate 41 is finely adjusted by
operating the left adjusting knob 35L and the right adjusting knob
35R, the semi-fixing resin agent 17 connects the transparent
supporting substrate 41 and the horizontal holding member 15 to
each other while accommodating the adjustment.
[0092] An upper edge member 16 is mounted on an upper edge of the
transparent supporting substrate 41, and a pair of a right and a
left spring 30 as an elastic member is disposed within the upper
edge member 16. The spring 30 has an upper end in contact with the
inside of the upper edge member 16, and a lower end in contact with
an upper side surface of the transparent supporting substrate 41.
Such springs 30 are formed to allow fine adjustment by the left
adjusting knob 35L and the right adjusting knob 35R and facilitate
adjustment in the height direction perpendicular to the direction
in which the divided wave plate filter extends. The upper edge
member 16 also functions to fix the position after the adjustment
and prevent positional displacement due to play. Further, as part
of the adjusting means, a guide 29 can be provided on the
supporting frame 27, as shown in FIG. 14. The guide 29 functions as
regulating means for regulating the position in a dividing
direction of the lines of the divided wave plate filter unit. Thus,
by fitting the transparent supporting substrate 41 to the guide 29
and thus mounting the transparent supporting substrate 41, control
can be effected so as to prevent displacement in the dividing
direction of the divided wave plate filter unit when the wave plate
filter of the stereoscopic image display apparatus is moved for
adjustment, and therefore the adjustment can be facilitated.
[0093] The left adjusting knob 35L and the right adjusting knob 35R
as the position adjusting means have a structure using a so-called
eccentric screw. FIG. 16 is a rear view of the left adjusting knob
35L or the right adjusting knob 35R and a peripheral portion
thereof. FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the left adjusting knob 35L
or the right adjusting knob 35R and the peripheral portion
thereof.
[0094] As shown in FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, the adjusting knobs 35L and
35R as a position adjusting mechanism are provided at the lower
edge portion of the transparent supporting substrate 41. A screw
shaft 82 is formed off the center of rotation of the adjusting
knobs 35L and 35R so as to be screwed into a screw hole formed so
as to penetrate the horizontal holding member 15. An end portion 83
of the screw shaft 82 is in contact with a side portion of a lower
edge notch portion 41d of the transparent supporting substrate 41,
the side portion having a thickness of the substrate. Rotational
movement of the adjusting knobs 35L and 35R raises the lower edge
notch portion 41d of the transparent supporting substrate 41 and
lowers the transparent supporting substrate 41 while in contact
with the lower edge notch portion 41d of the transparent supporting
substrate 41 by gravity or the like. A rotation of the adjusting
knobs 35L and 35R in a clockwise direction in FIG. 16 can raise the
lower edge notch portion 41d of the transparent supporting
substrate 41 and a rotation of the adjusting knobs 35L and 35R in a
counterclockwise direction in FIG. 16 can lower the lower edge
notch portion 41d of the transparent supporting substrate 41. As
shown in FIG. 17, the lower edge notch portion 41d forms the shape
of an indentation in the edge surface of the transparent supporting
substrate 41 to allow smooth rotational operation of the adjusting
knobs 35L and 35R. The rotational operation of the adjusting knobs
35L and 35R can be readily performed by operating a disk portion 81
having non-slip indentations formed around the periphery thereof.
While the screw shaft 82 is bent at a bent portion 84, the screw
shaft 82 may be formed by a crank-shaped screw shaft or the like.
Also, the center for rotation of the disk portion 81 is not limited
to the screw hole formed so as to penetrate the horizontal holding
member 15, and modifications in which other members are used as the
center of rotation are possible.
[0095] A modification of the position adjusting means will be
described with reference to FIG. 18 and FIG. 19. In this
modification, a horizontal holding member 15a is formed throughout
the lower edge portion of a transparent supporting substrate 41,
and further adjusting knobs 90L and 90R are attached so as to
project from a bottom surface side of the horizontal holding member
15a toward an under side of the horizontal holding member 15a. The
adjusting knobs 90L and 90R are screwed into a screw hole that
penetrates a bottom portion of the horizontal holding member 15a in
a substantially vertical direction via a spring 91, and end
portions 92 on the upper side of the adjusting knobs 90L and 90R
are thus in contact with the bottom portion of the horizontal
holding member 15a to allow fine adjustment of the transparent
supporting substrate 41 in the vertical direction.
[0096] Moving the end portions 92 upward by rotating the adjusting
knobs 90L and 90R adds an upward force to the transparent
supporting substrate 41 connected by a semi-fixing resin, and thus
moves the transparent supporting substrate 41 in an upward
direction for adjustment. Similarly, rotating the adjusting knobs
90L and 90R in the opposite direction moves the end portions 92 in
a downward direction, and therefore the transparent supporting
substrate 41 is moved in a downward direction for adjustment. The
position of the transparent supporting substrate 41 can also be
adjusted reliably by the adjusting knobs 90L and 90R of such a
structure.
[0097] FIGS. 20 to 23 are diagrams of assistance in explaining
adjustment patterns to be displayed on the display apparatus at the
time of adjustment. FIG. 20 shows an example of an adjustment
pattern to be displayed on the display apparatus at the time of
adjustment. The pattern displayed on the display apparatus such as
an adjustment pattern 112 has a letter of a black R and a letter of
a black L superimposed on each other, and has a red background 110
of the letter R and a green background 111 of the letter L
displayed alternately for each line. The red background 110 of the
letter R is an image for a right eye, and the green background 111
of the letter L is an image for a left eye.
[0098] If the adjustment pattern 112 is viewed without polarizing
glasses, the adjustment pattern 112 displayed as it is can be
viewed. In a case where the divided wave plate filter unit is in
the correct position, when wearing polarizing glasses 114, the left
eye sees the green background 111 of the letter L and the right eye
sees the red background 110 of the letter R, as shown in FIG.
21.
[0099] However, in a case where the position of the divided wave
plate filter unit is displaced, a part of the image for the right
eye passes through a part of a divided wave plate (see FIG. 7, for
example), and therefore polarization direction is rotated. Thus,
the part of the image for the right eye passes through a lens for
the left eye of the polarizing glasses and is consequently seen by
the left eye. Furthermore, a part of the image for the left eye
does not pass through a divided wave plate, so that the
polarization direction is not rotated, then passes through a lens
for the right eye of the polarizing glasses, and is consequently
seen by the right eye. Thus, when the divided wave plate filter
unit is slanted, the two background colors 111 and 110 are seen by
both the right eye and the left eye.
[0100] When the position of the divided wave plate filter unit is
displaced in the vertical direction, the image for the right eye
that is not intended to pass through the divided wave plates passes
through the divided wave plates, and at the same time, the image
for the left eye that is intended to pass through the divided wave
plates does not pass through the divided wave plates, for example.
As a result, the image for the right eye passes through the
opposite lens for the left eye and is then seen by the left eye,
and the image for the left eye passes through the opposite lens for
the right eye and is then seen by the right eye.
[0101] Hence, occurrence of a state of mixed colors and the right
and left images being seen by the opposite eyes as described above
directly indicate a displacement of the position of the divided
wave plate filter unit. By rectifying such a positional
displacement by means of the adjusting knobs 35L, 35R, 90L, and 90R
described above, the divided wave plate filter unit can be readily
adjusted to the correct position.
[0102] FIG. 22 and FIG. 23 show another example of an adjustment
pattern to be displayed on the display apparatus at the time of
adjustment. As shown in FIG. 22, the pattern displayed on the
display apparatus such as an adjustment pattern 103 has a character
of a black circle and a character of a black cross superimposed on
each other, and has a red background 101 of the circle character
and a green background 103 of the cross character displayed
alternately for each line. The red background 101 of the black
circle is an image for a right eye, and the green background 102 of
the black cross is an image for a left eye.
[0103] If the adjustment pattern 103 is viewed without polarizing
glasses, the adjustment pattern 103 displayed as it is can be
viewed. In a case where the divided wave plate filter unit is in
the correct position, when wearing polarizing glasses 115 for
adjustment having a polarizing filter for the right eye provided
for both eyes, both eyes see the red background 104 of the circle
character, as shown in FIG. 23. The red background 104 of the black
circle character indicates that the divided wave plate filter unit
is in the proper position. When the red background 104 of the black
circle character is not seen, it is immediately known that the
divided wave plate filter unit is in a displaced position. By
rectifying such a positional displacement by means of the adjusting
knobs 35L, 35R, 90L, and 90R described above, the divided wave
plate filter unit can be readily adjusted to the correct position.
In particular, this example allows observation by both eyes, and
therefore even a user having difficulty in closing one eye can
readily adjust the position of the divided wave plate filter
unit.
[0104] FIG. 24 is a flowchart of the adjustment. When displaying a
stereoscopic image, the notebook computer 11 of FIG. 3 opens an
application for stereoscopic image display at a step S21. The
adjustment pattern 112 or 103 as shown in FIG. 20 or FIG. 22 is
automatically displayed on the screen by the above operation (step
S22). The user can proceed with position adjusting operation while
looking at the adjustment pattern 112 or 103 through polarizing
glasses (step S23). The position adjusting operation is repeated
until the adjustment is completed (step S24). When the adjustment
is completed, a stereoscopic image is then displayed manually or
automatically (step S25), whereby the adjustment is ended.
[0105] When the flowchart of the adjustment is used, the adjustment
for stereoscopic image display is always made at the time of
starting the application for stereoscopic image display. Thus, even
a user that makes stereoscopic image display for the first time can
be made to start with the adjusting operation.
[0106] FIG. 25 is an example of a stereoscopic image display
apparatus with a backlight mechanism. This example eliminates the
need for polarizing glasses. In this example, stereoscopic display
is made possible by a combination of a source of light in
polarization directions perpendicular to each other via polarizing
filters 129L and 129R as a backlight mechanism unit, a structure of
a liquid crystal panel, and a structure of a divided wave plate
filter unit. The liquid crystal panel has a structure in which
liquid crystal pixel units 122 are disposed between a pair of
transparent supporting substrates 121 and 123. The liquid crystal
pixel units 122 have a structure in which pixel portions each
formed of three colors are arranged in a matrix manner.
[0107] A polarizing plate 124 is disposed on the light source side
of the transparent supporting substrate 123. The divided wave plate
filter unit has divided wave plates 126 each in a band shape formed
on one side of a transparent supporting substrate 125 made of glass
or the like and functioning as a frame, or on the liquid crystal
panel side in this example. The divided wave plates 126 are each
extended such that a longitudinal direction of the divided wave
plates 126 is a horizontal direction. The band shape of each of the
divided wave plates 126 has a width substantially equal to a pixel
pitch of the liquid crystal pixel units 122 mentioned above. A
number of divided wave plates 126 is half a number of pixels in a
vertical direction of the liquid crystal pixel units 122.
[0108] A horizontal holding member 127 similar to the
above-mentioned horizontal holding member 15 is attached to a
bottom portion of the transparent supporting substrate 125 serving
as a frame. Screw holes 128 to which position adjusting means such
as a left adjusting knob and a right adjusting knob and the like as
later described is attached are formed at a part of both end sides
of the horizontal holding member 127.
[0109] By using the position adjusting means such as the left
adjusting knob and the right adjusting knob and the like attached
to the adjusting mechanism, it is possible to reliably adjust the
position of the transparent supporting substrate 125 and thus view
an optimized stereoscopic image. Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 25,
the wave plate filter in this system is situated on a backside of
the display surface, and therefore it is difficult to physically
touch the adjusting mechanism directly at the time of viewing.
Accordingly, a method can be used in which viewing is performed
after adjustment and readjustment is made as required.
Alternatively, the adjusting mechanism may be operated electrically
and a unit for operating the adjusting mechanism may be provided on
the display surface on the observer side.
[0110] A second embodiment of the present invention will next be
described with reference to drawings. It is to be noted that while
also in the second embodiment, a stereoscopic image display
apparatus for displaying image information with parallax will be
described mainly, double-screen display is possible by a similar
configuration, and a display apparatus of a double-screen display
type can be similarly configured.
[0111] FIG. 26 schematically shows a configuration of a
stereoscopic image display apparatus 10 according to the second
embodiment of the present invention. The stereoscopic image display
apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment includes: a
notebook computer 11; a divided wave plate filter 12 as a
plate-shaped filter mounted on the notebook computer 11; and a
supporting frame 27 disposed on an outside of the divided wave
plate filter 12.
[0112] The notebook computer 11 includes a liquid crystal panel
unit 22 of a folding structure having a liquid crystal display unit
28, which serves as an image display unit. An image including
parallax can be displayed from the liquid crystal panel unit 22. As
later described, the liquid crystal panel unit 22 itself may be a
liquid crystal display panel of a normal notebook computer 11. When
an application for displaying a stereoscopic image is not opened,
the liquid crystal panel unit 22 can display moving images and
still images, for example. The liquid crystal panel unit 22 has a
structure in which an image display frame portion 29 is formed
integrally around the periphery of the liquid crystal display unit
28 serving as the image display unit. The image display frame
portion 29 is a peripheral region formed by extending a transparent
substrate in a surface of the liquid crystal panel unit 22, and is
a region in which no pixel units are formed. As later described,
alignment marks, not shown in FIG. 26, are formed on the image
display frame portion 29.
[0113] A keyboard unit 21 including keys corresponding to
alphanumeric characters, hiragana, and katakana, as well as various
control keys is formed on a side of the notebook computer 11 which
side is opposed to the liquid crystal panel unit 22. A palm rest
unit 23 is provided on a side nearer to a user in a manner
continuous with the keyboard unit 21. A pointer pad unit 24 is
formed on substantially a central portion of the palm rest unit 23.
The keyboard unit 21 and the like are connected to the liquid
crystal panel unit 22 via hinge parts 25 and 25, and the liquid
crystal panel unit 22 is rotatable on the hinge parts 25 and 25.
Thus, a viewer of a stereoscopic image can control an angle of the
liquid crystal panel unit 22 with the hinge parts 25 and 25 as a
center of rotation. A program for displaying a position adjusting
pattern can be stored within a hard disk of the notebook computer
11. The program is read into a CPU and then executed, whereby a
position adjusting pattern can be displayed on the liquid crystal
panel unit 22.
[0114] The liquid crystal panel unit 22 is mounted with the divided
wave plate filter 12, and provided on an outside thereof with the
peripheral supporting frame 27 of a synthetic resin, for example,
for holding the image display unit and the divided wave plate
filter 12. The divided wave plate filter 12 is a member that
functions as a plate-shaped filter. The divided wave plate filter
12 has a filter unit 13 formed in substantially a central portion
of the divided wave plate filter 12, and a filter frame portion 14
formed as an outer frame of the filter unit 13. As later described,
the filter unit 13 of the divided wave plate filter 12 is a
polarized light control unit provided with a half-wave plate of a
band shape for every other horizontal line of pixels. The filter
frame portion 14 as the outer frame, in particular, is formed on
the periphery of the divided wave plate filter 12. Alignment marks
of the divided wave plate filter 12 functioning as the plate-shaped
filter which marks correspond to the alignment marks on the image
display frame portion 29 are formed on the filter frame portion
14.
[0115] A structure for high-precision alignment at the time of
mounting will be described in the following with reference to FIGS.
27 to 34. FIG. 27 is an exploded perspective view of the image
display side of a divided wave plate filter 81 as a plate-shaped
filter and a liquid crystal panel unit 82 as a display panel. The
divided wave plate filter 81 corresponds to the divided wave plate
filter 12 in FIG. 3 and the liquid crystal panel unit 82
corresponds to the liquid crystal panel unit 22 in FIG. 3.
[0116] The divided wave plate filter 81 has a structure in which a
transparent supporting substrate made of a plate glass in a
substantially rectangular shape or the like is formed into a wave
plate by microfabrication such as etching or the like. An
even-numbered line on pixel lines transmits an image for a right
eye or a left eye, and an odd-numbered line conversely transmits an
image for the left eye or the right eye. The divided wave plate
filter 81 has a filter frame portion 84 as an outer frame. A
rectangular region surrounded by the filter frame portion 84 is a
filter unit 83 corresponding to a pixel region of the liquid
crystal panel unit 82. In the filter unit 83, an even-numbered line
is a band-shaped region that gives transmitted light a phase
difference of 0, and an odd-numbered line is a band-shaped region
that gives transmitted light a phase difference of .pi. (that is,
90 degrees), for example.
[0117] The filter frame portion 84 has four alignment marks 85 each
formed around a center of a side and four alignment marks 86 each
formed at a corner portion. The alignment marks 85 and 86 are marks
for accurately positioning the divided wave plate filter 81 and the
liquid crystal panel unit 82. The alignment marks 85 have a plane
shape of a star, for example. In the second embodiment, in
particular, the alignment marks 85 are formed by a wave plate that
gives transmitted light a phase difference of .pi. (that is, 90
degrees). The formation of the alignment marks 85 by the wave plate
can be made simultaneously with the formation of the band-shaped
regions of the filter unit 83. Specifically, etching forms a wave
plate on the band-shaped regions of the filter unit 83 by cutting
the transparent supporting substrate of glass material or the like.
Hence, openings of a mask at the time of the photolithography are
formed also in regions corresponding to the alignment marks 85,
whereby the alignment marks 85 can be formed by the same etching.
The alignment marks 86 have a plane shape of a cross, for example.
In the second embodiment, in particular, the alignment marks 86 are
formed by a wave plate that gives transmitted light a phase
difference of 0, that is, the alignment marks 86 are formed so as
to transmit light as it is without changing polarization direction.
It is to be noted that the plane shape of the alignment marks 85
and 86 is not specifically limited as long as the shape is easy to
detect. Also, the position of the alignment marks 85 and 86 is not
limited to the pattern in which a total of eight marks are formed
along the periphery; positioning is possible when two marks or more
are provided.
[0118] The liquid crystal panel unit 82 on which the divided wave
plate filter 81 is to be laid has a liquid crystal display unit 87
formed in substantially a central portion of the liquid crystal
panel unit 82, the liquid crystal display unit 87 having pixels
arranged in a matrix manner and controlled on the basis of a video
signal supplied thereto to display required still images and moving
images. One of transparent supporting substrates formed so as to
sandwich the liquid crystal portion is disposed on a surface side
of the liquid crystal panel unit 82. A backside of the divided wave
plate filter 81 comes into direct or indirect contact with the one
supporting substrate. An image display frame portion 88 continuous
with the same one transparent supporting substrate is formed around
the periphery of the liquid crystal display unit 87 formed by pixel
regions arranged in a matrix manner. The image display frame
portion 88 corresponds to the filter frame portion 84 of the
divided wave plate filter 81. Four alignment marks 89 and four
alignment marks 90 are formed around a center of a side and at a
corner portion in correspondence with the alignment marks 85 and 86
of the filter frame portion 84, respectively.
[0119] In the second embodiment, the alignment marks 89 and 90 are
set in the same plane shapes of a star and a cross as the alignment
marks 85 and 86, respectively, of the filter frame portion 84. In
order to pass light patterns in the plane shapes of the star and
the cross, the alignment marks 89 and 90 are formed by openings in
the shape of the star and the cross in a light shielding film, for
example. Since the alignment marks 89 and 90 are in the same shapes
as the alignment marks 85 and 86, respectively, of the filter frame
portion 84, the position of the marks can be readily detected while
utilizing detecting means common between the alignment marks 85 and
86 of the filter frame portion 84 and the alignment marks 89 and 90
of the image display frame portion 88 and the same shape
recognition program. It is to be noted that the plane shape of the
alignment marks 89 and 90 is not specifically limited as long as
the shape is easy to detect. Also, the position of the alignment
marks 89 and 90 can be set arbitrarily. However, by setting the
alignment marks 89 and 90 at positions corresponding to those of
the alignment marks 85 and 86 of the filter frame portion 84, it is
possible to readily detect the positions by the common detecting
means. While the alignment marks 89 and 90 are generally formed on
a backside of the transparent substrate on the divided wave plate
filter 81 side of the liquid crystal panel unit 82, the alignment
marks 89 and 90 may be formed at other parts that can transmit
light. Also, a mark for alignment of glass plates used when the
pair of glass plates of the liquid crystal panel unit 82 sandwiches
the liquid crystal portion can be used as it is.
[0120] FIG. 28 are other examples of the shape of alignment marks.
FIG. 28A shows a fine cross that allows displacement of an
intersection of a horizontal line and a vertical line to be
detected. FIG. 28B shows a circular pattern, in which a pattern
like a waxing or waning moon appears when there is positional
displacement. In FIGS. 28C to 28E, an outer circle is the shape of
the alignment marks 89 and 90 of the liquid crystal panel unit 82,
and spots shown within the circle are the shape of the alignment
marks 85 and 86 of the filter frame portion 84. FIG. 28C shows an
example with one inner spot; FIG. 28D shows an example with two
inner spots; and FIG. 28E shows an example with three inner spots.
These shapes of the alignment marks are shown only as examples, and
arbitrary shapes can be selected.
[0121] An aligning mechanism at the time of mounting will next be
described with reference to FIG. 29. An apparatus of FIG. 29 lays a
divided wave plate filter 81 as a plate-shaped filter and a liquid
crystal panel unit 82 as a display panel one over the other, and
aligns the divided wave plate filter 81 and the liquid crystal
panel unit 82 with each other. The apparatus is configured such
that the divided wave plate filter 81 is situated under the liquid
crystal panel unit 82. Image pickup units 94 such as solid-state
image pickup devices are formed at lower ends of arms 93 extending
vertically as a pair of image pickup means. Image pickup planes of
the image pickup units 94 are opposed to the liquid crystal panel
unit 82. The arms 93 are movable in a horizontal direction and a
vertical direction. An image signal captured by the image pickup
unit 94 is supplied via the arm 93 to a control unit formed by a
CPU or the like.
[0122] A pair of collimated backlight sources 92 is disposed so as
to correspond to the image pickup units 94 on a side opposite from
the image pickup units 94 of the part where the divided wave plate
filter 81 and the liquid crystal panel unit 82 are laid one over
the other, that is, on a bottom side of the apparatus. The
collimated backlight sources 92 emit a collimated light beam in an
upward direction. The divided wave plate filter 81 is fixed to a
filter supporting unit or a movable stage not shown in the figure
that can move the divided wave plate filter 81. The liquid crystal
panel unit 82 is fixed to a display panel supporting unit not shown
in the figure that supports the liquid crystal panel unit 82. An
upper side polarizing plate 96 for transmitting light polarized at
a required angle is disposed in a space between the image pickup
units 94 and the liquid crystal panel unit 82. The polarizing plate
96 is capable of being inserted and retracted in the space between
the image pickup units 94 and the liquid crystal panel unit 82. The
upper side polarizing plate 96 is used to detect whether light
linearly polarized by the alignment marks 85 and 86 of the divided
wave plate filter 81 is transmitted. The position where the upper
side polarizing plate 96 is inserted or retracted is controlled by
the control unit. The upper side polarizing plate 96 is rotatable
around an axis not shown in the figure, for example. By controlling
the position of the upper side polarizing plate 96 around the axis,
movement in insertion or retraction of the lower side polarizing
plate 96 is controlled. A lower side polarizing plate 95 is
disposed in a space between the collimated backlight source 92 and
the divided wave plate filter 81 in a state of being fixed in the
space. The lower side polarizing plate 95 converts light from the
collimated backlight source 92 into linearly polarized light.
[0123] FIG. 30 is a perspective view of main parts of the aligning
mechanism at the time of mounting. Light from the collimated
backlight source 92 is passed through the lower side polarizing
plate 95 and then enters an alignment mark 85 of the divided wave
plate filter 81. The position of the collimated backlight source 92
corresponds to the position of the image pickup unit 94 disposed on
the upper side in the vertical direction, or a direction of an
optical axis. Light passed through the liquid crystal panel unit 82
therefore reaches the image pickup unit 94. The divided wave plate
filter 81 is in contact with supporting members 96 and 97 that form
part of a filter moving mechanism 102 to be described later. The
supporting members 96 and 97 are moved in an X-direction and a
Y-direction, respectively, by signals from the control unit to
finely adjust the position of the divided wave plate filter 81.
Similarly, the liquid crystal panel unit 82 is in contact with a
supporting member 98 that forms part of a display panel moving
mechanism 101 to be described later. The supporting member 98 is
moved by a signal from the control unit to finely adjust the
position of the liquid crystal panel unit 82. It is to be noted
that the supporting members 96, 97, and 98 for finely adjusting the
position of the divided wave plate filter 81 and the liquid crystal
panel unit 82 are shown as examples, and therefore the number and
the shape of supporting members can be selected arbitrarily as long
as the mechanisms can finely adjust the position of the divided
wave plate filter 81 and the liquid crystal panel unit 82. For
example, a two-axis or three-axis table can be used. In this case,
when light needs to be passed through a part, the part for light to
pass through may be cut off, or a member such as a glass, a
transparent resin material or the like having a function of
transmitting light may be used.
[0124] Such an aligning apparatus can align the divided wave plate
filter 81 and the liquid crystal panel unit 82 with each other by
steps illustrated in FIGS. 31 to 33. FIG. 34 is a flowchart of the
aligning operation. FIG. 34 illustrates proceeding with the
aligning operation by steps S11 to S19.
[0125] As shown in FIG. 31, in order to align the divided wave
plate filter 81 and the liquid crystal panel unit 82 with each
other, first the divided wave plate filter 81 is set to the filter
moving mechanism 102 and the liquid crystal panel unit 82 is set to
the display panel moving mechanism 101 (step S11). At this stage,
the liquid crystal panel unit 82 and the divided wave plate filter
81 are laid one over the other, and the upper side polarizing plate
96 operated for rotation by a control unit 100 is controlled to be
retracted from an optical path between the image pickup unit 94 and
the collimated backlight source 92.
[0126] In this state, light is outputted from the collimated
backlight source 92. The light from the collimated backlight source
92 is converted by the lower side polarizing plate 95 into
uniformly linearly polarized light 103. The linearly polarized
light passes through the divided wave plate filter 81 and the
liquid crystal panel unit 82, and then reaches the image pickup
unit 94. The image pickup unit 94 captures an image of an alignment
mark 89 of the liquid crystal panel unit 82 through the transmitted
light (step S12), and the image is supplied as an image signal to
the control unit 100 (step S13).
[0127] The control unit 100 detects the position of the alignment
mark 89 of the liquid crystal panel unit 82 on the basis of the
signal from the image pickup unit 94. Then, the control unit moves
the lower side polarizing plate 96 by rotating operation so that
the lower side polarizing plate 96 is laid over the alignment mark
89 of the liquid crystal panel unit 82 as shown in FIG. 32, and
picks up an image by the image pickup unit 94 (steps S14 and S15).
As described above, an alignment mark 85 of the divided wave plate
filter is formed by a wave plate. Hence, light 104 passed through a
region of the alignment mark 85 is rotated in polarization
direction by 90 degrees. On the other hand, light passed through a
region without the wave plate of the alignment mark 85 is not
changed in polarization direction. Thus, an image sensed by the
image pickup unit 94 through the polarizing plate 96 shows the
alignment mark 89 of the liquid crystal panel unit 82 and the
alignment mark 85 of the divided wave plate filter 81. When the
mark 89 is opaque, for example, the mark 89 is always black
(opaque). However, the mark 85 is shown in inverted contrast as a
result of rotation of the polarizing plate 96. Thus, the control
unit 100 obtains via the image pickup unit 94 information on the
position of the liquid crystal panel unit 82 detected in advance as
described above by pattern recognition, and simultaneously obtains
information on alignment of the alignment mark 85 of the divided
wave plate filter 81 by similar recognition of a pattern in a
portion where contrast is changed. It is thereby possible to
proceed rapidly with the position detection.
[0128] At this stage, the positions of the liquid crystal panel
unit 82 and the divided wave plate filter 81 are determined from a
result of the detection of the image pickup unit 94 (step S16). On
the basis of information on the positions, the positions of the
liquid crystal panel unit 82 and the divided wave plate filter 81
are compared with each other, and an amount of displacement is
obtained from a result of the comparison (step S17). When the
amount of displacement becomes zero, it means that the aligning
operation is completed, and thus the processing is ended. When the
amount of displacement is not zero, the display panel moving
mechanism 101 or the filter moving mechanism 102 is operated by a
signal from the control unit 100 according to the amount of
displacement to move the liquid crystal panel unit 82 or the
divided wave plate filter 81 to a required position (step S19).
After moving the liquid crystal panel unit 82 or the divided wave
plate filter 81, the processing returns to the step S15 to repeat
the position detection and correction. The amount of displacement
is ultimately reduced to zero to end the processing.
[0129] In the second embodiment, the alignment mark 89 of the
liquid crystal panel unit 82 and the alignment mark 85 of the
divided wave plate filter 81 can be detected substantially
simultaneously, and therefore rapid processing is possible when the
relative positions are to be obtained. In addition, the image
pickup unit 94 can be shared to detect the positions, and a program
for recognizing an alignment mark can be shared by using the same
alignment shape. Taking advantage of the fact that the alignment
mark 85 is of a structure including a wave plate, the alignment
mark 85 of the divided wave plate filter 81 can be readily detected
as a pattern where contrast changes, and hence reliable detection
of the position of the mark is realized because of a difference of
the mark in contrast from the aligning pattern of the liquid
crystal panel unit 82. In order to form the alignment mark 85
including a wave plate on the divided wave plate filter 81, it
suffices only to change a mask pattern at the time of fabrication
of the divided wave plate filter 81 to a form including the
alignment marks 85 and the alignment marks 86. This does not
increase the number of process steps, and is therefore very
useful.
[0130] It is to be noted that in the second embodiment, the
alignment mark of the liquid crystal panel unit 82 is detected
without disposing the upper side polarizing plate 96; however, even
with the upper side polarizing plate 96 disposed, in a state in
which the light from the collimated backlight source 92 is passed
through the alignment mark 85 of the divided wave plate filter 81
as it is without being converted into linearly polarized light by
using the polarizing plate 45, the alignment marks 89 and 90 of the
liquid crystal panel unit 82 may be detected by inserting the light
side polarizing plate 95 and rotating the polarization
direction.
[0131] FIG. 35 shows another example of an aligning apparatus. In
this example, a liquid crystal panel unit 82 is mounted on an XY
stage 110. In this apparatus, a divided wave plate filter 81 is
situated on the liquid crystal panel unit 82, and the divided wave
plate filter 81 can be controlled to be moved by supporting members
111 and 112. Since light is passed through the XY stage 110, the
apparatus uses a structure in which a part for light to pass
through is cut off or a structure of a glass, a transparent resin
material or the like to transmit light. The divided wave plate
filter 81 being situated on the liquid crystal panel unit 82 is a
reverse of the above-mentioned positional relation between the
liquid crystal panel unit 82 and the divided wave plate filter 81;
however, the divided wave plate filter 81 and the liquid crystal
panel unit 82 may be disposed in such a reverse manner.
[0132] Incidentally, while the filter in the second embodiment
forms alignment marks of a structure having a wave plate, the
divided wave plates of the filter unit of the divided wave plate
filter can be directly used for alignment without position
detection being performed by using the alignment marks. In this
case, as in the case of the alignment marks, the divided wave
plates can be detected by applying polarized light thereto and
observing the filter unit via a polarizing plate. Further, the
divided wave plates can be detected by measuring thickness of the
filter or measuring a distance to the filter unit from a side on
which the divided wave plates are disposed.
[0133] In addition, while in the foregoing first and second
embodiments, liquid crystal display panels that display images by
liquid crystal have been described as display panel, the present
invention is applicable to other image display apparatus such for
example as LED arrays, organic EL displays, plasma displays,
cathode-ray tubes, and various other image display apparatus.
[0134] Furthermore, while in the foregoing first and second
embodiments, apparatus that display right and left images
stereoscopically on a single display screen have been described, a
display apparatus of a structure having the same divided wave plate
filter unit can be applied as it is to a display apparatus for
displaying images for two screens or more on a single display
screen, and the foregoing aligning apparatus can readily make
position adjustment.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0135] As described above, the present invention provides an image
separating filter formed by divided wave plates with a position
adjusting mechanism. It is thus possible to reliably optimize the
installing position of the divided wave plate filter unit, check
the position in real time, and make separate displays without
causing cross talk. It is thereby possible to observe a
stereoscopic image always in the best state at the time of viewing,
and enjoy a stereoscopic image without cross talk between the right
and left images.
[0136] The present invention makes it possible to use a
high-definition wave plate filter in an optimum state at all times,
and view a stereoscopic image with a high definition and a high
degree of realism in an optimum state at all times. Also, in
multiple-screen display, it is possible to improve image resolution
and enjoy a multiple-screen image without cross talk between a
first and a second image. In addition, principles of the
stereoscopic image apparatus can be understood through the
operation of setting the position of the filter. The present
invention can therefore be used for entertaining education, and
also provides an advantage of saving trouble of fixing the position
of the image separating filter at the time of shipment and the
like.
[0137] Furthermore, as described above, the stereoscopic image
display apparatus according to the present invention can provide an
apparatus that enables an image with parallax information to be
surely viewed stereoscopically even when a plate-shaped filter such
as the divided wave plate filter is attached. The alignment mark of
the image display unit and the alignment mark of the plate-shaped
filter can be detected substantially simultaneously, and therefore
rapid processing is possible when the relative positions are to be
obtained.
[0138] Furthermore, with the stereoscopic image display apparatus
according to the present invention, a thing used in position
detecting means can be shared, and also a program for recognizing
an alignment mark can be shared by using the same alignment shape.
In addition, in detecting alignment marks, an alignment mark
including a wave plate can be readily grasped as a dark pattern,
and thus reliable detection of mark positions is realized from a
difference in contrast. In order to form an alignment mark
including a wave plate on the plate-shaped filter, in particular,
it suffices only to change a mask pattern at the time of
fabrication of the plate-shaped filter. This does not increase the
number of process steps, and is therefore very useful.
* * * * *