US6344926B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of reproducing three-dimensional images and three-dimensional image-reproducing device
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1998-07-16
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Granted: 2002-02-05
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Expires: 2018-07-16
Abstract
Abstract High-grade three-dimensional images can be observed without a bright image of an exit end of an image projector superposed on the three-dimensional images. In a method of reproducing three-dimensional images by a three-dimensional image-reproducing device provided with an image projector and a directional reflective screen for collecting light from the image projector toward a specific position in a horizontal direction and for diffusing the light in a vertical direction, the directional reflective screen and the image projector are positioned with respect to the observer observing the three-dimensional images such that the observer is outside a region traversed by a portion of light rays which enter the directional reflective screen from the image projector, then are reflected by a surface of the directional reflective screen incapable of contributing to the reproduction of the three-dimensional images, and form a mirror image or a conjugate image of the image projector.
Inventors
- 👤 Akira Arimoto
- 👤 Tetsuya Ooshima
- 👤 Yoshiyuki Kaneko
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:20
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N13/00; H04N13/30; H04N13/302; H04N13/305; G; G02; G02B; G02B30/00; G02B30/20; G02B30/26; G02B30/27; H04N13/363; H04N13/32; H04N13/346
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of reproducing three-dimensional images by a three-dimensional image-reproducing device provided with image projecting means and a directional reflective screen for collecting light from said image projecting means toward a specific position in a horizontal direction and diffusing the light from said image projecting means in a vertical direction, said method characterized in that an observer observing three-dimensional images, said directional reflective screen and said image projecting means are positioned with respect to each other such that the observer is outside a region traversed by a portion of light rays which enter said directional reflective screen from said image projecting means, then are reflected by a surface of said directional reflective screen not contributing to reproduction of the three-dimensional images, and then form a mirror image or a conjugate image of said image projecting means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of reproducing three-dimensional images by a three-dimensional image-reproducing device provided with image projecting means and a directional reflective screen for collecting light from said image projecting means toward a specific position in a horizontal direction and diffusing the light from said image projecting means in a vertical direction, said method characterized in that an observer observing three-dimensional images, said directional reflective screen and said image projecting means are positioned with respect to each other such that the observer is outside a region traversed by a portion of light rays which enter said directional reflective screen from said image projecting means, then are reflected by a surface of said directional reflective screen not contributing to reproduction of the three-dimensional images, and then form a mirror image or a conjugate image of said image projecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method of reproducing three-dimensional images according to claim 1 , wherein a surface of said directional reflective screen facing toward said image projecting means is curved in vertical cross-section with a radius R, and the following equation is satisfied, a=b=R, where a is a distance between said directional reflective screen and said image projecting means, and b is a distance between said directional reflective screen and a position of the conjugate image.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of reproducing three-dimensional images according to one of claims 1 and 2 , wherein said directional reflective screen is an integrated screen having a plurality of compound mirrors for collecting light from said image projecting means toward a specific position in a horizontal direction and a lenticular lens for diffusing the light from said image projecting means in a vertical direction assembled as a unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
131 words
A three-dimensional image-reproducing device provided with image projecting means and a directional reflective screen for collecting light from said image projecting means toward a specific position in a horizontal direction and diffusing the light from said image projecting means in a vertical direction, said three-dimensional image-reproducing device characterized in that said directional reflective screen and said image projecting means are positioned with respect to an observer's position observing three-dimensional images such that said observer's position is outside a region traversed by a portion of light rays which enter said directional reflective screen from said image projecting means, then are reflected by a surface of said directional reflective screen not contributing to reproduction of the three-dimensional images, and then form a mirror image or a conjugate image of said image projecting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
131 words
A three-dimensional image-reproducing device provided with image projecting means and a directional reflective screen for collecting light from said image projecting means toward a specific position in a horizontal direction and diffusing the light from said image projecting means in a vertical direction, said three-dimensional image-reproducing device characterized in that said directional reflective screen and said image projecting means are positioned with respect to an observer's position observing three-dimensional images such that said observer's position is outside a region traversed by a portion of light rays which enter said directional reflective screen from said image projecting means, then are reflected by a surface of said directional reflective screen not contributing to reproduction of the three-dimensional images, and then form a mirror image or a conjugate image of said image projecting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A three-dimensional image-reproducing device according to claim 4 , wherein said observer's position is provided with a seat for the observer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
A three-dimensional image-reproducing device according to claim 4 or 5 , wherein a surface of said directional reflective screen facing toward said image projecting means is curved in vertical cross-section with a radius R, and the following equation is satisfied, a=b=R, where a is a distance between said directional reflective screen and said image projecting means, and b is a distance between said directional reflective screen and a position of the conjugate image.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
A three-dimensional image-reproducing device according to claim 4 or 5 , wherein said directional reflective screen is an integrated screen having a plurality of compound mirrors for collecting light from said image projecting means toward a specific position in a horizontal direction and a lenticular lens for diffusing the light from said image projecting means in a vertical direction assembled as a unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
A three-dimensional image-reproducing device according to claim 6 , wherein said directional reflective screen is an integrated screen having a plurality of compound mirrors for collecting light from said image projecting means toward a specific position in a horizontal direction and a lenticular lens for diffusing the light from said image projecting means in a vertical direction assembled as a unit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
221 words
A directional reflective screen for use in a three-dimensional image-reproducing device, for collecting light from an image projecting means of said device toward a specific position in a horizontal direction and for diffusing the light from the image projecting means in a vertical direction, said directional reflective screen characterized in that said directional reflective screen is provided with an indicator for indicating that an observer for observing three-dimensional images is outside a region traversed by a portion of light rays which enter said directional reflective screen from the image projecting means, then are reflected by a surface of said directional reflective screen not contributing to reproduction of the three-dimensional images, and then form a mirror image or a conjugate image of the image projecting means, said indicator includes a box having a slit and a light-producing element positioned within said box, a position of said light-producing element being adjustable depending upon a length of said slit and a distance between said image projecting means and said directional reflective screen, and said indicator is configured so as to indicate that the observer is outside said region traversed by the portion of light rays which form a mirror image or a conjugate image of the image projecting means when light from said light-producing element is observed through said slit at an observer's position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
221 words
A directional reflective screen for use in a three-dimensional image-reproducing device, for collecting light from an image projecting means of said device toward a specific position in a horizontal direction and for diffusing the light from the image projecting means in a vertical direction, said directional reflective screen characterized in that said directional reflective screen is provided with an indicator for indicating that an observer for observing three-dimensional images is outside a region traversed by a portion of light rays which enter said directional reflective screen from the image projecting means, then are reflected by a surface of said directional reflective screen not contributing to reproduction of the three-dimensional images, and then form a mirror image or a conjugate image of the image projecting means, said indicator includes a box having a slit and a light-producing element positioned within said box, a position of said light-producing element being adjustable depending upon a length of said slit and a distance between said image projecting means and said directional reflective screen, and said indicator is configured so as to indicate that the observer is outside said region traversed by the portion of light rays which form a mirror image or a conjugate image of the image projecting means when light from said light-producing element is observed through said slit at an observer's position.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-02-04 | 2005-08-06 | 2006-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-02-04 | 2009-08-06 | 2010-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-02-04 | 2013-08-06 | 2014-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |