JP5515907B2 - Image display device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device, and more particularly, to a display device capable of displaying a projected image and transmitting a rear image in a time division manner.

  There is a system in which a small display device such as a liquid crystal display device, for example, is arranged on the back of a front row seat in an automobile so as not to hinder the driver's rear view, and allows a passenger to view a moving image.

  A known line-of-sight image display apparatus includes a projection unit that projects an image and a display screen unit that forms an image of projection light from the projection unit. The image display device controls the light transmission state by an imaging unit set at a position facing an observer who observes the display image while holding the display screen unit, and an electric signal applied to the display screen unit. The control means and the control means alternately switch between the light transmitting state and the light non-transmitting state of the display screen means, start the photographing means in the light transmitting state, and when the display screen means is in the light transmitting state Means for interrupting the image projection of the projection means. When the ambient light intensity on the observer side that varies periodically is detected and the ambient light intensity reaches a predetermined value, an image is input by the photographing means.

  In some known display and imaging devices, a projector is disposed obliquely behind the back surface of the screen so that the video camera can be disposed vertically on the back surface of the screen. lose. At this time, the trapezoidal distortion of the projected image obliquely behind the screen is reversely corrected in advance by the inverted trapezoidal distortion correction circuit so that a correct image is displayed. As a result, the projection and shooting optical axes are matched on the screen surface so that the lines of sight of the interlocutors are matched, and light from the projector light source or the like is prevented from directly entering the front interlocutor by projecting from an oblique direction. . In addition, a mask is provided between the projector and the screen to shield the light during the photographing period and prevent reflection of the light source and the like, thereby obtaining a clean photographed image. As a result, a display space is realized in which the lines of sight of the interlocutors are matched and the user can enjoy the feeling of interacting at the same place.

Japanese Patent No. 3011439 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-096581) JP-A-6-133111

  When a large display device is arranged between the front row seat and the rear row seat of the automobile, the display device narrows the visual field behind the driver.

  The inventors of the present invention can control the driver of an automobile by making the screen opaque in a time-division manner synchronously with a display image in the automobile and making the screen transparent so that outside light is transmitted inward for the remaining time. Recognizing that the projected image can be displayed on the screen while ensuring the rear visibility.

  An object of the present invention is to realize a display device that can display a projected image in the rear and transmit a rear image in front.

According to one aspect (feature) of an embodiment of the present invention, an image display device is an image display device in a room in which a mirror that displays an image behind a driver's seat is disposed in front of the driver's seat. A screen disposed on the screen, projection means for projecting an image onto the screen from behind, a shutter disposed on the front surface of the mirror, and a light transmission state and a light scattering state of the shutter and the screen reversibly. And a controller that projects the image from the projection unit synchronously with the light scattering state of the screen. The light scattering state of at least one of the shutter and the screen is an opaque light scattering state.

  According to one aspect of the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to realize a display device that can display a projected image in the rear and transmit a rear image in front.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a schematic configuration of a display system or a display device according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 shows an example of a schematic configuration of a display system or a display device according to another embodiment. FIG. 3 shows an example of a schematic block diagram of the display system of FIGS. 4A to 4D show examples of waveforms of pulse signals generated by the image / external light switching control device of FIG. 5A to 5D show examples of pulse signals generated by the image / external light switching control device of FIG. 6A to 6D show examples of waveforms of pulse signals generated by the image / external light switching control device of FIG. FIG. 7 shows an example of a flowchart of control for image display executed by the information processing device. FIG. 8 shows a possible arrangement of the screen device when the car is stopped and not in operation. FIGS. 9A and 9B are a front view and a left side view, respectively, of a screen device showing an example of a form of attachment to the ceiling of an automobile. FIG. 9C shows an example of a more specific configuration of the hinge member shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B.

The objects and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not intended to limit the invention.

  Non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, similar components and elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of a schematic configuration of a display system or display device 12 according to an embodiment.

  FIG. 2 is a variation of FIG. 1 and shows an example of a schematic configuration of a display system or display device 14 according to another embodiment.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of a schematic block diagram of the display system 12 or 14 of FIGS.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, a display system or display device 12 particularly suitable for an automobile 2 includes a video projector 210, shutter devices 230 and 330 such as a liquid crystal shutter device, and a liquid crystal reflective screen device, for example. And a screen device 350. The display system 12 may further include a shutter device 370 such as a liquid crystal shutter device. The display system 12 may further include an illuminance sensor 120 for detecting external illuminance. The projector 210 may include, for example, a liquid crystal panel for display and a lens (not shown). The shutter device 230 is disposed in front of the exit of the projector 210. The screen device 350 is arranged in the vicinity of the back surface of the front row seat (driver's seat) 702 in the front and rear direction in the automobile 2 or between the front row seat 702 and the rear row seat 704 and is arranged in the space between the ceiling and the front row seat 702 in the vertical direction. ing. The angle of the screen device 350 may be adjustable with respect to the viewing direction of the passenger as a viewer. The shutter device 330 is disposed in front of the driver's seat and is disposed in front of the room mirror 40 that projects an image from behind the driver's seat. The shutter device 370 is disposed inside the rear window (rear window) 30 of the automobile 2.

  The liquid crystal shutter device and the liquid crystal reflective screen device reversibly take two states depending on the applied voltage: an optical scattering state and a transmission state. The liquid crystal shutter device and the liquid crystal reflective screen device may use, for example, a Japanese plate glass-made um film (light control glass) that takes a transmissive state and a non-transmissive state according to whether a voltage is applied or not. The liquid crystal shutter device may be, for example, a high-speed liquid crystal shutter device.

  The display system 12 further includes an information processing device 200 for selecting a display program or content, and an image / external light switching control device for switching between projection of an inner image and transmission of the outside light or the inside of the scenery. 300 is included. Elements 210, 230, 330, 350, 370, 200 and 300 receive supply power from a power source (not shown). The information processing device 200 may be a personal computer or an audio / video playback system.

  The information processing device 200 includes an input device 110 including operation keys and a display device 112. The information processing device 200 supplies the reproduced image signal to the projector 210 in accordance with the operation OP of the input device 110 by the driver or passenger. The projector 210 generates a display image according to an image signal from the information processing device 200 and projects it on the screen device 350. Further, the information processing device 200 supplies a control signal CTL to the elements 210, 230, 330, 350, 370 and the operation OP in accordance with the operation OP. Furthermore, the information processing device 200 may supply the control signal CTL to the image / external light switching control device 300 according to the magnitude of the illuminance of the illuminance sensor 120 in accordance with the operation OP.

  The image / external light switching control device 300 drives the shutter devices 230 and 330, the screen device 350, and the shutter device 370 according to the on / off control signal and the duty ratio as the control signal CTL from the information processing device 200. The pulse signals PS_A, PS_B, PS_C and PS_D having the duty ratio to be generated are generated. The image / external light switching control device 300 may further generate the pulse signals PS_A, PS_B, PS_C, and PS_D according to the synchronization signal as the control signal CTL from the information processing device 200.

  In response to the pulse signal PS_A, the shutter device 230 transmits the projection image from the projector 210 in a light transmission state in a time division manner and blocks the projection image in a light scattering state. In response to the pulse signal PS_C, the screen device 350 reflects and reflects the projection image that is white-turbid in a light scattering state and passes through the shutter device 230 from the projector 210 in synchronization with the pulse signal PS_A in a time division manner. It is made transparent in the transmission state to transmit light from the outside of the automobile 2 into the room.

  In response to the pulse signal PS_B, the shutter device 330 synchronizes with the pulse signal PS_A in a time-division manner to block the display image of the screen device 350 from entering the room mirror 40 in a light scattering state, thereby transmitting light. Thus, the outside light or the reflection of the scenery by the room mirror 40 transmitted through the rear window 30 and the screen device 350 is transmitted. When used, the shutter device 370 responds to the pulse signal PS_D in a time-division manner synchronously with the pulse signal PS_A, leaks rearward and rearward of the display image of the screen device 350 in a light scattering state. -The scenery light is blocked from the outside through the window 30, and the outside light or scenery is transmitted in the light transmitting state. By blocking the light from the outside by the shutter device 370, it is reduced that the light from the rear outside strikes the screen device 350 and the image becomes difficult to see.

  In FIG. 3, the information processing device 200 includes a control unit 100, an input device 110, a display device 112, a memory 202, and an image reproduction unit 204. The memory 202 includes a program storage area and a data storage area. The control unit 100 may be a processor or a microcomputer. The control function of the control unit 100 may be implemented in the form of an integrated circuit as hardware, or may be implemented in the form of a program stored in the memory 202. In this case, the control unit 100 operates according to a program stored in the memory 202.

  The control unit 100 supplies the image reproduction unit 204 with input information relating to a reproduction program or content identification information input or selected by the user via the input device 110. The control unit 100 may supply the program or content selection information to the image generation unit 204 as the control signal CTL according to the input information. Under the control of the control unit 100, the image generation unit 204 takes out and regenerates an image signal of the program from the program storage medium or storage area according to the input information, and supplies it to the projector 210. Projector 210 generates and displays an image or video represented by the image signal on an internal liquid crystal panel and projects the image or video toward screen device 350. The projector 210 and the shutter device 230 may form an integrated image projection unit.

  The image / external light switching control device 300 includes an oscillator (OSC) 302, 322, 342 and 362, a duty ratio adjuster or pulse width modulator (PWM) 304, 324, 344 and 364, and an amplifier (AMP) 306, 326. 346 and 366.

  The oscillators 302, 322, 342, and 362 are started or stopped according to an on / off control signal as a control signal CTL from the control unit 100 of the information processing apparatus 200, for example, periodic such as 30 Hz, 60 Hz, and 120 Hz. A pulse signal is generated and supplied to duty ratio adjusters 304, 324, 344 and 364. The pulse signal is synchronized with the frame frequency of the display image (for example, 30 Hz, 60 Hz, 90 Hz) and is it an integral fraction of the frame frequency (for example, 1/2, 1/3) or the same as the frame frequency? Or it is preferable that it is the frequency of the multiple. In this case, in accordance with the frame synchronization signal of the image signal from the image reproduction unit 204, the control unit 100 controls a synchronization signal having a frequency equal to or a multiple of an integer of the frame frequency synchronized with the frame synchronization signal, or the frame frequency. The signal CTL may be supplied to the oscillators 302, 322, 342, and 362. The oscillators 302, 322, 342 and 362 generate a pulse signal in synchronization with the synchronization signal.

  Duty ratio adjusters 304, 324, 344 and 364 change the duty ratios of the pulse signals of oscillators 302, 322, 342 and 362 in accordance with a signal representing the duty ratio as control signal CTL from control unit 100 of information processing apparatus 200. A pulse signal having an adjusted duty ratio is generated and supplied to the amplifiers 306, 326, 346, and 366. The amplifiers 306, 326, 346 and 366 amplify the pulse signals from the duty ratio adjusters 304, 324, 344 and 364 to generate driving pulse signals PS_A, PS_B, PS_C and PS_D, and shutter devices 230 and 330, a screen. This is supplied to the device 350 and the shutter device 370. The pulse signals PS_A, PS_B, PS_C, and PS_D are also synchronization signals for the screen device 350 and the shutter devices 230, 330, and 370. The pulse signals PS_C and / or PS_D may be obtained by amplifying the pulse signal from the duty ratio adjuster 324 by the amplifier 326 or the same as the pulse signal PS_B. Further, only the oscillator 302 may be used, that is, the oscillator 302 may be used as the other oscillators 322, 342, and 362 in FIG.

  When the pulse signals from the oscillators 302, 322, 342 and 362 are synchronized with the frame synchronization signal of the image signal, the pulse signals PS_A, PS_B, PS_C and PS_D are synchronized with the frame synchronization signal. As a result, the frame period of the display image is synchronized with the period of the opening / closing operation of the shutter device 230, and the moving image displayed on the screen device 350, which may occur in the case of non-synchronization, is unnatural (artifact). ) Can be prevented or reduced.

  Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the display system or display device 14 includes a DLP (Digital Light Processing) projector 212 instead of the projector 210 and the shutter device 230 of FIG. 1 in addition to the elements 120, 200, 300, 330, and 350. Is included. The display system 14 may further include an illuminance sensor 120 for detecting external illuminance. The DLP projector 212 includes a light source, a dichroic filter, a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) for reflecting and diverting light from the light source toward the screen device 350 in units of pixels, and a plurality of lenses. .

  In this case, the information processing device 200 supplies display information and a control signal CTL to the DLP projector 212. In response to the pulse signal PS_A, the DLP projector 212 generates and projects an image or video, or stops generating the image or video.

  The DLP projector 212 projects an image representing a display image on the screen device 350 in accordance with an image signal from the information processing device 200. The image / external light switching control device 300 generates a pulse signal PS_A for driving the DMD of the DLP projector 212 according to the control signal CTL from the information processing device 200 and supplies the pulse signal PS_A to the DLP projector 212.

  4A to 4D show examples of waveforms of the pulse signals PS_A, PS_B, PS_C, and PS_D generated by the image / external light switching control device 300 of FIG. This may be applied when the magnitude of the illuminance detected by the illuminance sensor 120 is an intermediate magnitude.

  5A to 5C show examples of waveforms of the pulse signals PS_A, PS_B, PS_C, and PS_D generated by the image / external light switching control device 300 of FIG. This may be applied when the magnitude of the illuminance detected by the illuminance sensor 120 is large (the outside is bright).

  6A to 6C show examples of waveforms of the pulse signals PS_A, PS_B, PS_C, and PS_D generated by the image / external light switching control device 300 of FIG. This may be applied when the magnitude of the illuminance detected by the illuminance sensor 120 is small (the outside is dark).

  4A, 5A and 6A, when the pulse signal PS_A is at the high level H, the pulse signal PS_C is at the low level L in FIGS. 4C, 5C and 6C, and in FIG. 4B, 5B and 6B, the pulse signal PS_B is Low level L. In this case, the pulse signal PS_D also becomes the low level L in FIGS. 4D, 5D and 6D in synchronization with (PS_A). 3A, 4A and 5A, when the pulse signal PS_A is at the low level L, the pulse signal PS_B is at the high level H in FIGS. 4C, 5C and 6C, and in FIG. 4B, 5B and 6B, the pulse signal PS_C is High level H. In this case, the pulse signal PS_D is also at the high level H in FIGS. 4D, 5D and 6D in synchronization with (PS_A).

  4A, 5A, and 6A, when the pulse signal PS_A is at the high level H, the shutter device 230 or the DLP projector 212 (DMD) is in an open state or a passing state, and projects an image on the screen device 350. 4C, 5C, and 6C, when the pulse signal PS_C is at a low level L, the screen device 350 projects a projected image in a closed state or an optical scattering state. 4B, 5B, and 6B, when the pulse signal PS_B is at the low level L, the shutter device 330 is in a closed state and blocks the leakage of the image light from the screen device 350 to the room mirror 40. This prevents the driver from seeing the scenery outside the back due to the image display. 4D, 5D, and 6D, when the pulse signal PS_D is at the low level L, the shutter device 370 is in a closed state, and the display image on the screen device 350 is emitted to the outside and the outside light is incident to the inside. Shut off.

  4A, 5A, and 6A, when the pulse signal PS_A is at the low level L, the shutter device 230 or the DLP projector 212 is in a closed state or a cut-off state to cut off the image projection. 4C, 5C, and 6C, when the pulse signal PS_C is at the high level H, the screen device 350 is in an open state or an optically transmissive state and transmits light or scenery from the outside. 4B, 5B, and 6B, when the pulse signal PS_B is at the high level H, the shutter device 330 is in an open state or a transmissive state, and enters the room mirror 40 with the light or the landscape transmitted through the screen device 350 and the room. -The reflection by the mirror 40 is transmitted. 4D, 5D, and 6D, when the pulse signal PS_D is at the high level H, the shutter device 370 is also in an open state or a transmission state and transmits light or scenery from the outside.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D, the duty of the pulse signals PS_A, PS_B, PS_C, and PS_D is determined according to the external light transmission amount setting of the input device 110 or when the magnitude of the illuminance detected by the illuminance sensor 120 is intermediate. Each ratio or pulse width indicates an intermediate state. Thereby, the image display and transmission by the screen device 350 are performed at the same time ratio in a time division manner.

  As shown in FIGS. 5A to 5D, when the illuminance magnitude detected according to the external light transmission amount setting of the input device 110 or detected by the illuminance sensor 120 is large, the duty ratio or the pulse width of the pulse signal PS_A is large, The duty ratio or pulse width of PS_B, PS_C, and PS_D is small. Thereby, the image display and transmission by the screen device 350 are performed at a rate that the display time is longer than the transmission time. Thereby, when the outside scenery is bright, the projected image on the screen device 350 can be displayed brighter.

  As shown in FIGS. 6A to 6D, when the illuminance magnitude detected according to the external light transmission amount setting of the input device 110 or by the illuminance sensor 120 is small, the duty ratio or pulse width of the pulse signal PS_A is small, The duty ratio or pulse width of PS_B, PS_C, and PS_D is large. Thereby, the image display and transmission by the screen device 350 are performed at a rate that the display time is shorter than the transmission time. Thereby, when the outside scenery is dark, the outside scenery which is incident through the screen device 350 and reflected on the room mirror 40 can be brightened.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of a flowchart of control for image display executed by the information processing device 200.

  Referring to FIG. 7, in step 502, the control unit 100 of the information processing device 200 determines whether the image display state is on by referring to the input state of the input information OP or the operation state of the image reproduction unit 204. . If it is determined that the image display state is the on state, the procedure proceeds to step 504. If it is determined that the image display state is not the on state, that is, the off state, the procedure exits the routine of FIG.

  In step 504, the control unit 100 selects a program to be reproduced according to the input information OP from the input device 110 by the user.

  In step 506, the control unit 100 acquires a signal indicating the magnitude of illuminance from the illuminance sensor 120 or an external light transmission amount setting from the input device 110. In step 508, the control unit 100 determines the duty ratio of the pulse signals PS_A, PS_B, PS_C, and PS_D in accordance with the illuminance level or the external light transmission amount setting.

  In step 510, control unit 100 activates projector 210 or DLP projector 212 and image / external light switching control device 300. In step 511, the control unit 100 supplies the control signal CTL representing the duty ratio to the image / external light switching control device 300. The image / external light switching control device 300 supplies pulse signals PS_A, PS_B, PS_C, and PS_D having pulse widths adjusted according to the duty ratio.

  In step 512, the control unit 100 refers to the input state of the input information OP or the operation state of the image reproduction unit 204 to determine whether the image display is in an off state. If it is determined that the image display is in the off state, the procedure proceeds to step 524. Steps 511 (pulse generation) to 512 are repeated until it is determined that the image display is in the OFF state.

  In step 524, control unit 100 stops projector 210 or DLP projector 212 and image / external light switching control device 300 to stop the generation of the projection image and pulse signals PS_A, PS_B, PS_C, and PS_D. Thereafter, the procedure exits the routine of FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the projector 210 or the DLP projector 212 stops and the screen device 350 is not used, the screen device 350 rotates to the position on the ceiling side of the automobile 2 indicated by the broken line. It is preferable that it can be stored.

  FIG. 8 shows a possible arrangement of the screen device 350 when the automobile 2 is stopped and not in operation. In this case, the automobile 2 can be used as a projection room, and the screen device 350 is disposed on the front window (front window) side of the vehicle as shown in the figure, and the front row seat 702 is tilted to bring the screen device 350 into the screen. It can be made easy to see from the rear row sheet 704. In this case, it is preferable that the information processing device 200 completely closes the shutter device 370 in order to prevent light from the outside from hitting the screen device 350 in accordance with the operation OP of the driver or passenger.

  FIGS. 9A and 9B are a front view and a left side view, respectively, of a screen device 350 showing an example of a form of attachment to the ceiling of the automobile 2. A screen device 350 is attached to the bottom surface of the fixing member 602 attached to the ceiling of the automobile 2 using a hinge member 610 at the center of the upper side surface. As an alternative, the screen device 350 may be attached using a plurality of hinge members 610 at a plurality of positions on the bottom surface of the fixing member 602 along the upper side surface thereof. The fixing member 602 may be fixed in a removable form at a plurality of different positions on the ceiling of the automobile 2. The screen device 350 is rotated and moved by a driver or a passenger, and is held and fixed by the hinge member 610 at an arbitrary angular position in the range of 180 degrees in the front-rear direction with respect to the fixing member 602.

  FIG. 9C shows an example of a more specific configuration of the hinge member 610 shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B. The hinge member 610 includes members 614 and 616 having cylindrical recesses at the left and right end portions, an intermediate annular member (ring) 612, and a shaft (shaft) 618. The shaft 618 is passed through the opening of the annular member 612 in a rotatable form, and both ends thereof are inserted and fixed in the recesses of the members 614 and 616, respectively. The top portions of the outer peripheral surfaces of the members 614 and 616 are fixed to the center of the bottom surface of the fixing member 602. The bottom portion of the outer peripheral surface of the annular member 612 is fixed to the upper side surface of the screen device 350.

  All examples and conditional expressions given here are intended to help the reader understand the inventions and concepts that have contributed to the promotion of technology, such examples and It is interpreted without being limited to the conditions. Also, the organization of such examples in the specification is not related to showing the superiority or inferiority of the present invention. While embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, various changes, substitutions and variations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Regarding the embodiment including the above examples, the following additional notes are further disclosed.
(Supplementary note 1) In an image display device in a room in which a mirror that reflects an image behind the driver's seat is arranged in front of the driver's seat,
A screen disposed behind the driver seat;
Projection means for projecting an image from behind the screen;
A shutter disposed in front of the mirror;
A control unit that reversibly and synchronously changes a light transmission state and a light scattering state of the shutter and the screen, and that projects an image from the projection unit synchronously with the light scattering state of the screen;
An image display device comprising:
(Supplementary Note 2) The projection means includes:
A projection device for continuously projecting images;
A second shutter for controlling the projection of the image onto the screen according to a synchronization signal from the control unit, and projecting the image from the projection device onto the screen;
The image display device according to appendix 1, wherein the image display device has the following.
(Additional remark 3) Furthermore, it has the 3rd shutter which reversibly changes a light transmission state and a light scattering state in synchronization with the shutter arranged in the mirror at the rear window of the room, The image display device according to appendix 1 or 2.
(Supplementary note 4) The image according to any one of Supplementary notes 1 to 3, further comprising: a fixing unit that holds the screen and fixes the screen to the indoor ceiling, and sets the fixing angle of the screen to be changeable. Display device.

12, 14 Display system 30 Rear window 40 Room mirror 120 Illuminance sensor 200 Information processing device 100 Control unit 110 Input device 112 Display device 202 Memory 204 Video generation unit 210 Projector 212 DLP projector 230 Shutter device 300 Image / external light switching control Device 330 Shutter device 350 Screen device 370 Shutter device

Claims (3)

And mirror that reflects the driver's seat behind the video met image display apparatus in the chamber that is arranged in front of the driver's seat,
A screen disposed behind the driver seat;
Projection means for projecting an image from behind the screen;
A shutter disposed in front of the mirror;
A control unit that reversibly and synchronously changes a light transmission state and a light scattering state of the shutter and the screen, and that projects an image from the projection unit synchronously with the light scattering state of the screen;
I have a,
The image display device , wherein the light scattering state of at least one of the shutter and the screen is an impermeable light scattering state . The projection means includes
A projection device for continuously projecting images;
A second shutter for controlling the projection of the image onto the screen according to a synchronization signal from the control unit, and projecting the image from the projection device onto the screen;
The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   Furthermore, it has a 3rd shutter which reversibly changes a light transmission state and a light-scattering state in synchronization with the shutter arranged in the mirror at the rear window of the room. 2. The image display device according to 2.

Images