JP3293960B2 - 3D display gaming machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a three-dimensional display game machine, and more particularly, to a three-dimensional display game machine in which a game image to be stereoscopically displayed using a lenticular lens is always kept at an optimum viewing position.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, in game centers and the like, CRTs are used.
(Cathode Ray Tube) and liquid crystal display (LCD: Liquid)
There are various amusement devices for playing games by displaying game images on a display such as a Cristal Display, and perform binary display in black and white, multi-value display in color, and the like.

[0003] As described above, the conventional amusement device displays a game with a two-dimensional image in black and white or color, but in order to further enhance the display effect,
Three-dimensional display images have been considered. Therefore, as a method of stereoscopically viewing an image, for example, using holography, alternately displaying a right-eye image and a left-eye image on a display in a time-division manner, and using a right-eye image using a polarizing plate or the like. A stereoscopic image can be obtained with the naked eye by separating the image from the image for the left eye, and providing image information corresponding to the left and right eyes using a lenticular lens with sharp directivity Etc.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional three-dimensional display game machine, for example, when a moving image is displayed by using holography, the display device becomes expensive, and a deflecting plate is used. In the time-division method, the apparatus configuration is complicated and expensive, and special glasses and the like need to be used. In addition, since the images of the left eye and the right eye are alternately switched at a high speed, flickering of the screen is a concern. Problem.

[0005] In this respect, when stereoscopic viewing is performed using a lenticular lens, there are advantages that a stereoscopic image can be obtained with the naked eye, and that the apparatus configuration is relatively simple and the cost can be reduced. However, stereoscopic vision using this lenticular lens is based on each convex lens of the lenticular lens.
Realization of autostereoscopic vision by giving directivity so that each image of the image display area for the right eye and the image display area for the left eye of the display arranged behind it has directivity so as to enter the right eye and the left eye of the player respectively. ing. For this reason, the convex lens shape of the lenticular lens is such that when the distance between the lenticular lens and the player's eye is (L) and the distance between the right and left eyes is (I),
Since it is determined based on the values of L and I, the distance (I) between the eyes differs depending on the player, or the distance between the lenticular lens and the player's eyes (L If the parentheses differ, there is a problem that proper stereoscopic viewing cannot be performed.

In view of the above, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and a player changes his / her posture or moves his / her head during a three-dimensional game display using a lenticular lens. It is an object of the present invention to provide a three-dimensional display game machine which can always perform appropriate stereoscopic viewing even if the distance between the game machine and the player's eye changes.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lenticular lens (4) comprising a plurality of convex lenses each having a laterally extending convex shape. A three-dimensional display game machine (1) which is disposed behind the lens and includes an image display section (2) in which a right-eye image display area and a left-eye image display area are formed as a pair corresponding to each convex lens area. ), A visual distance measuring means (for example, a distance measuring sensor 12) for measuring a distance between an eye of a player playing the game while looking at the image display section and the lenticular lens, and Image display unit moving means (for example, pinion gears 5, 6, rack gears 7, 8, actuators 9, 10) for integrally moving the lenticular lens and the image display unit in the front-rear direction.
And a visual distance holding control means (for example, a control circuit) for controlling the movement by the image display unit moving means so that the distance between the player's eye and the lenticular lens is kept constant by the visual distance measuring means. 17), the above object is achieved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional display game machine according to the first aspect, the visible distance holding control means comprises:
Optimum viewing distance storage means (for example, RAM) for storing a unique viewing distance when each player has moved to the optimum viewing distance.
The above object is achieved by controlling the movement of the image display section moving means by the viewing distance holding control means so that the viewing distance stored in the optimum viewing distance storage means is always maintained. ing.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the distance between the eye of the player playing the game and the lenticular lens is measured by the viewing distance measuring means while looking at the image display section, and the eye of the player and the lenticular lens are measured. So as to maintain a constant interval between
By controlling the image display unit moving means by the viewing distance holding control means to move the lenticular lens and the image display unit integrally in the front-rear direction of the player, the player moves during the game, Even if the viewing distance from the eyes of the user to the screen of the 3D display machine changes, the image display unit is moved so that a constant viewing distance is always maintained in accordance with the change. You can see.

In the invention according to claim 2, the viewing distance holding control means according to claim 1 includes an optimum viewing distance storage means for storing an optimum viewing distance of a player, so that the optimum viewing distance storage means stores the optimum viewing distance of each player. The viewing distance can be obtained, and the viewing distance holding control means can maintain the viewing distance.
Since the distance between the image display unit and the eyes of the player is kept constant, appropriate stereoscopic viewing can always be performed even if the optimum viewing distance differs for each player.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments.

FIGS. 1 to 8 are views for explaining a three-dimensional display game machine of the present invention. In the present embodiment, for example, a player operates a joystick or an operation lever called a trackball or an operation ball while watching a game image of various kinds of game software displayed on a screen at a game center. Will be described using an amusement device as an example.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of a three-dimensional display game machine according to this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the three-dimensional display game machine 1
An image display unit 2 comprising a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight on the front surface thereof; a display control unit 3 for controlling display of the liquid crystal display panel on the back surface side of the image display unit 2; On the front surface, a two-dimensional image in which a stripe-shaped image display area for the right eye and a left-eye image display area are alternately arranged is displayed, and a plurality of convex lenses having a kamaboko shape in a horizontal direction for stereoscopically viewing the two-dimensional image are displayed. A lenticular lens 4 is provided. Pinion gears 5 and 6 having a predetermined pitch are formed at the upper and lower ends of the image display unit 2, while a plurality of rack gears 7 and 8 are provided on the main body side of the three-dimensional display game machine 1. Are rotatably provided at upper and lower positions in mesh with the pinion gears 5 and 6. The rack gears 7, 8 are driven by actuators 9, 10, which rotate the rack gears 7, 8 in arbitrary directions. These pinion gears 5, 6, rack gears 7, 8, actuator 9,
10 and the like constitute an image display unit moving means. A display moving container 11 is formed in a space for moving the image display unit 2 back and forth.

In the center of the lower part of the image display unit 2, a distance measuring sensor 12 exemplified as a visible distance measuring means is provided. Here, the distance measuring sensor 12 uses an active type photoelectric sensor utilizing the principle of triangular distance measurement.
(Light Emitting Diode)
The object is irradiated on the face of the player 15 as the object to be measured. Then, the light reflected from the face of the player 15 is condensed on the light receiving element by the light receiving lens, and the light receiving spot position on the light receiving element changes according to the distance to the object to be measured. The distance is determined accurately. Here, in order to electrically detect the light receiving spot position,
A light receiving element called a one-dimensional PSD (Posision Sensitive Detector) is used, and distance information can be obtained by detecting a ratio of two output currents obtained by the light receiving element.

A joystick 13 for performing a game operation, a trackball 14, and the like are provided on an operation panel of the three-dimensional display game machine 1, and a game is played by a player 15 operating these.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the three-dimensional display game machine shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the front surface of the image display section 2 of the three-dimensional display game machine 1, there is provided a lenticular lens 4 in which a plurality of convex lenses having a semi-cylindrical shape are arranged in a horizontal direction of the screen. The lenticular lens 4 causes the right-eye image and the left-eye image displayed on the image display unit 2 to be incident on the right and left eyes of the player with directivity, respectively, so that a planar game image is formed. Is stereoscopically viewed.

A distance measuring sensor 12 is provided in the lower center of the image display unit 2 so that the distance between the head (eye position) of the player (not shown) and the image display unit 2 can be reduced. It is always measured. A player who plays a game on the three-dimensional display gaming machine 1 has a joystick 1 provided on an operation panel.
By operating the trackball 3 or the trackball 14 or the like, the player can play a game while viewing the three-dimensional game image displayed from the image display unit 2 via the lenticular lens 4.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing a state where the image display unit of the three-dimensional display game machine shown in FIG. 1 is moved to the back.

As shown in FIG. 3, the distance measuring sensor 12 always measures the distance from the image display unit 2 to the player's eye (not shown) during the game. Then, for example, when the player changes his or her posture during the game or brings his / her head close to the image display unit 2 and the distance becomes less than the appropriate viewing distance, as shown in FIG. It is adjusted so that the viewing distance is kept constant by using the drive mechanism for moving the lens backward.

Conversely, a player who is playing a game is displayed on the image display unit 2.
If the image display unit 2 is moved away from the camera, the image display unit 2 is moved forward by the drive mechanism, and the position of the image display unit 2 is brought forward as shown in FIG. Is done.

As described above, in the case of stereoscopic viewing with the naked eye using the lenticular lens 4, even if the player changes his or her head or moves his or her head during the game, the viewing distance is kept constant. By performing the adjustment, an appropriate three-dimensional image can always be obtained. Next, the above-described viewing distance adjustment operation will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a drive mechanism for adjusting the viewing distance of the image display unit of the three-dimensional display game machine according to this embodiment. In FIG. 4, a drive circuit 16 drives actuators 9 and 10 for moving the image display unit 2, and the control circuit 17 as a viewing distance holding control unit controls the direction and amount of movement of the image display unit 2. You. R
The AM 18 stores various parameters required during the control operation by the control circuit 17. For example, the distance value (L ₁ ) obtained by the distance measurement sensor 12 when a later-described visible distance correction switch (SW) 20 is pressed. Is stored in the RAM 18. Then, the distance value (L ₂ ) between the eye of the player 15 and the image display unit 2 is determined by the distance value (L ₂ ) stored in the RAM 18 in advance.
₁ ), the actuator 9 described above,
10 for driving control. The ROM 19 stores a basic program of the control circuit 17. Since the viewing distance correction switch 20 has an individual difference in the distance between the left and right eyes of the player 15 and the optimum viewing distance differs depending on the player,
When the player himself / herself moves his / her face to a position where a proper stereoscopic view can be made before playing the game, the distance value detected by the distance measurement sensor 12 is used as an RA that functions as an optimum viewing distance storage unit.
It is stored in M18. Then, the control circuit 17
The position of the image display unit is controlled based on the optimum viewing distance unique to the player stored in the AM 18. Thereby, it is possible to always stereoscopically view the game image in an optimal state.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the drive mechanism of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the game is started, the distance measuring sensor 12 for detecting the position of the head of the player 15 is turned on (step S1), and the face is moved to the appropriate visual recognition position of the player. It is moved (step S2). Here, when the viewing distance correction switch 20 is turned on, the distance value (L ₁ ) between the image display unit 2 and the eye position of the player 15 measured at that time is set as the optimum viewing distance of the player 15. R
Stored in AM18. Next, the actual game measurements of the distance measuring sensor 12 to be ranging in the L _2, in the game,
Always control circuit whether the L ₁ and L ₂ described above is equal 1
Compare with 7. Here, if L ₁ > L ₂ (step S6), the actuators 9 and 10 are driven to move the display as the image display unit 2 in a direction away from the player 15 (step S7), and then step S5 is performed. Return to

If L ₁ <L ₂ (step S
6) driving the actuators 9 and 10 to display the image display unit 2
Is moved in a direction to approach the player 15 (step S8), and the process returns to step S5. During the game, the comparison operation and the drive control operation of the actuators 9 and 10 are periodically repeated.

If L ₁ and L ₂ are equal in step S5, the driving of the actuators 9 and 10 is stopped (step S9), and the game proceeds while displaying a game on the display at that position (step S10). ). If the game has not ended in step S10, returns to step S5 again, and comparison between the measured value L ₂ and L ₁ regularly distance measuring sensor 12, an actuator 9 associated therewith,
Ten drive controls are performed. When the game is over (step S10), the above processing operation is also over.

As described above, in the three-dimensional display game machine of the present embodiment, the distance between the image display unit 2 on which the lenticular lens 4 is mounted and the eyes of the player 15 is always maintained at the optimum viewing distance. Since the actuator is driven and controlled, even if the player changes his or her posture during the game and the position of the eye changes, the display position can be moved back and forth according to the change, so that appropriate stereoscopic viewing can be performed.

Next, the principle of stereoscopically viewing a game image on a display of a three-dimensional display game machine in which the above-described visible distance control is performed will be briefly described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway perspective view for explaining the display structure of a three-dimensional display game machine, FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the principle of stereoscopic viewing using a lenticular lens, and FIG. It is an explanatory view of a driving method of an image display unit of a three-dimensional display game machine.

In FIG. 6, a display for displaying a game image includes an image display section 2 composed of a liquid crystal display panel, and a lenticular lens 4 in which a plurality of convex lenses are arranged in a horizontal direction on the front surface thereof. The image display unit 2 corresponding to the position is provided with a right-eye image display area 21 and a left-eye image display area 22. Each image display area has a right-eye image 23 and a left-eye image 24.
Are displayed with a predetermined parallax. And, between the image display area 21 for the right eye and the image display area 22 for the left eye,
Striped partition 25 for partitioning between the two image display areas
Is provided.

Next, FIG. 7 is a view as viewed from above in FIG. 6, and the image display area 21 for the right eye and the image display area 22 for the left eye displayed in stripes on the image display unit 2 are sharp. Each convex lens 4a of the lenticular lens 4 having directivity
In the above, the binocular parallax is generated by the respective images entering the right eye and the left eye of the player, and stereoscopic viewing is possible.

The liquid crystal drive circuit of the image display unit 2 composed of the above liquid crystal display panel is configured as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, a right-eye image display area 21 and a left-eye image display area 22 are provided on the liquid crystal display surface of the image display unit 2 so as to correspond to the respective convex lens positions of the lenticular lens 4. Formed in pairs. Each of the right-eye images displayed in the right-eye image display area 21 provided on the plurality of convex lenses is divided into stripes of the right-eye image for each predetermined area by the driving circuit R27. Of the liquid crystal display panel of the image display unit 2 so that is displayed in each image display area 21 for the right eye. Further, the drive circuit L28 controls the driving of the liquid crystal display panel so as to divide the image for the left eye into stripes for each predetermined region and display the image in each image display region 22 for the left eye. In this way, the drive circuits 27 and 28 perform image display on the right-eye image display area 21 and the left-eye image display area 22 on the liquid crystal display surface of the image display unit 2, respectively, and display the images on the lenticular lens 4. The binocular parallax is formed by refracting the right-eye image to the right eye and the left-eye image to the left eye of each convex lens with each convex lens, thereby stereoscopically viewing the game image.

As described above, the three-dimensional display gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment.
In order to keep a display distance between the image display unit 2 and the lenticular lens 4 disposed in front of the image display unit 2 and the stereoscopic image formed by the lenticular lens 4 constant, the actuators 9, 10 To drive the image display unit 2
Is moved in an arbitrary direction so that a proper stereoscopic view of the game image can be always performed even when the player moves his head or changes his posture during the game.

In the above-described embodiment, the rack gear meshing with the pinion gear is driven to rotate to the predetermined position by the actuators 9 and 10 as a drive mechanism for moving the display back and forth. However, the present invention is not limited to this structure. Instead, the present invention can be implemented using various drive mechanisms such as a belt drive mechanism, a drive mechanism using a solenoid, a hydraulic mechanism, or a drive mechanism using a linear motor.

In this embodiment, an active photoelectric sensor using the principle of triangulation is used as the distance measuring sensor. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various distance measuring sensors may be used. be able to.

[0038]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the distance between the eye of the player playing the game while viewing the image display unit and the lenticular lens is measured by the visible distance measuring means, and the distance between the eye and the player's eye is measured. The image display unit drive unit is driven by the viewing distance holding control unit so that the lenticular lens and the image display unit are integrally moved in the front-rear direction of the player so as to maintain a constant distance between the lenticular lens and the lenticular lens. I tried to make it
Even if the player moves during the game and the distance between the eye position of the player and the screen of the three-dimensional display game machine changes, the image display unit always keeps a constant viewing distance following the change. Can be moved, and proper stereoscopic vision can always be performed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the viewing distance holding control means includes the optimum viewing distance storage means for storing the optimum viewing distance of the player, the optimum viewing distance is set according to each player. The distance between the image display unit and the player's eyes is maintained at a constant interval by the viewing distance holding control means so as to maintain the viewing distance, so that the appropriate distance is always appropriate regardless of the individual difference of the player. Stereovision can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional configuration diagram of a main part of a three-dimensional display game machine according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the three-dimensional display game machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing a state in which an image display unit of the three-dimensional display game machine shown in FIG. 1 is moved to the back.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a drive mechanism for adjusting a viewing distance of an image display unit of the three-dimensional display game machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the drive mechanism of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway perspective view illustrating a display configuration of a three-dimensional display game machine.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the principle of stereoscopic viewing using a lenticular lens.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a driving method of an image display unit of the three-dimensional display game machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 3D display game machine 2 Image display part 3 Display control part 4 Lenticular lens 5, 6 Pinion gear (image display part moving means) 7, 8 Rack gear (image display part moving means) 9, 10 Actuator (image display part moving means) 11 Display moving container 12 Distance measuring sensor (viewing distance measuring means) 17 Control circuit (viewing distance holding control means) 18 RAM (optimal viewing distance storing means)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A lenticular lens formed by connecting a plurality of convex lenses in a lateral direction in a lateral direction, a lenticular lens disposed behind the lenticular lens, and a right-eye image display area and a left-eye image display area corresponding to each convex lens area. An image display area for the eye and a three-dimensional display game machine having an image display unit formed in pairs, wherein the distance between the eye of the player playing the game while looking at the image display unit and the lenticular lens A visual distance measuring means for measuring; an image display section moving means for integrally moving the lenticular lens and the image display section in the front-rear direction with respect to the player; A three-dimensional display game machine, comprising: a viewing distance holding control unit that performs movement control by the image display unit moving unit so that a distance from the cura lens is kept constant. 2. The viewing distance holding control means includes an optimum viewing distance storage means for storing a unique viewing distance when each player has moved to the optimum viewing distance, and is stored in the optimum viewing distance storage means. 2. The three-dimensional display game machine according to claim 1, wherein the image display unit moving means is controlled to be moved by the viewing distance holding control means so that the viewed distance is always held.