US6445365B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image display apparatus and image photographing apparatus therefor
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1997-09-16
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Granted: 2002-09-03
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Expires: 2017-09-16
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to an image display apparatus having first image generating means for displaying first image information by a plurality of pixels emitting light, second image generating means for displaying second image information by a plurality of pixels emitting light, the second image information being part of the first image information, visual axis detecting means for detecting an observer's visual axis direction, optical means for combining a first image from the first image generating means and a second image from the second image generating means, moving the second image relative to the first image in conformity with an output signal from the visual axis detecting means and turning it to the observer's pupil, the marginal portion of the second image being made substantially coincident with the boundary between the pixels of the first image when the images are combined, and image display changing means for changing the first image information and the second image information on the basis of the output signal of the visual axis detecting means.
Inventors
- 👤 Naosato Taniguchi
- 👤 Susumu Matsumura
- 👤 Yoko Yoshinaga
- 👤 Shin Kobayashi
- 👤 Toshiyuki Sudo
- 👤 Hideki Morishima
- 👤 Tadashi Kaneko
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 07:39
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B9/00; G09B9/02; G09B9/08; G09B9/30; G09B9/307; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/01; G02B27/017; G02B27/0101; G02B2027/0132; G02B2027/0138; G02B2027/014; G02B27/0179; G02B2027/0187; G02B2027/0192; G02B2027/0198
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
An image display apparatus comprising: a first flat display panel for displaying first image information with a plurality of pixels; a second flat display panel for displaying second image information with a plurality of pixels; visual axis detecting means for detecting an observer's visual axis direction; optical means for combining a first image from said first flat display panel and a second image from said second flat display panel, wherein said second image has a size that is an integer multiple of a pixel pitch of said first image when said first and second images are combined; and driving means for moving said second image with the pixel pitch of said first image based on an observer's visual axis direction signal of said visual axis detecting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
An image display apparatus comprising: a first flat display panel for displaying first image information with a plurality of pixels; a second flat display panel for displaying second image information with a plurality of pixels; visual axis detecting means for detecting an observer's visual axis direction; optical means for combining a first image from said first flat display panel and a second image from said second flat display panel, wherein said second image has a size that is an integer multiple of a pixel pitch of said first image when said first and second images are combined; and driving means for moving said second image with the pixel pitch of said first image based on an observer's visual axis direction signal of said visual axis detecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the area of said images superposed one upon the other is not displayed by said first flat display panel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pixel density in the central portion of said second image is higher than the pixel density of said first image and the pixel density in the marginal portion of said second image is substantially the same as the pixel density of said first image when said images are combined.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the luminance in the central portion of said second image is higher than the luminance of said first image and the luminance in the marginal portion of said second image is substantially the same as the luminance of said first image when said images are combined.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said first and second images are combined on an intermediate imaging plane through respective relay lenses, are enlarged as virtual images and are turned to the observer's pupil.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said relay lenses have different imaging magnifications.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said image display apparatus is provided correspondingly to each of the observer's left and right eyes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said second flat display panel corresponding to the left and right eyes display parallax image information corresponding to the respective eyes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said first flat display panel is used in common.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
181 words
An image display apparatus comprising: a first flat display panel for displaying first image information with a plurality of pixels; a second flat display panel for displaying second image information with a plurality of pixels; visual axis detecting means for detecting an observer's visual axis direction; head portion position detecting means for detecting the position of the observer's head position; optical means for combining a first image from said first flat display panel and a second image from said second flat display panel, wherein said second image has a size that is an integer multiple of a pixel pitch of said first image when said first and second images are combined; driving means for moving said second image with the pixel pitch of said first image based on an observer's visual axis direction output signal of said visual axis detecting means; and image information changing means for changing said first image information and said second image information on the basis of the output signal of said visual axis detecting means and an output signal of said head portion position detecting means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
181 words
An image display apparatus comprising: a first flat display panel for displaying first image information with a plurality of pixels; a second flat display panel for displaying second image information with a plurality of pixels; visual axis detecting means for detecting an observer's visual axis direction; head portion position detecting means for detecting the position of the observer's head position; optical means for combining a first image from said first flat display panel and a second image from said second flat display panel, wherein said second image has a size that is an integer multiple of a pixel pitch of said first image when said first and second images are combined; driving means for moving said second image with the pixel pitch of said first image based on an observer's visual axis direction output signal of said visual axis detecting means; and image information changing means for changing said first image information and said second image information on the basis of the output signal of said visual axis detecting means and an output signal of said head portion position detecting means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising an image memory having recorded therein the image all around a predetermined position, and wherein a part of said image memory is inputted as said first image information to said first flat display panel in conformity with the output signal of said head portion position detecting means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the area of said images superposed one upon the other is not displayed by said first flat display panel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said first and second images are combined on an intermediate imaging plane through respective relay lenses, are enlarged as virtual images and are turned to the observer's pupil.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein said relay lenses have different imaging magnifications.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said image display apparatus is provided correspondingly to each of the observer's left and right eyes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein said second flat display panel corresponding to the left and right eyes display parallax image information corresponding tot he respective eyes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein said first flat display panel is used in common.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
133 words
An image display method comprising: first displaying step of displaying first image information by a first flat display panel having a plurality of pixels; second displaying step of displaying second image information by a second flat display panel having a plurality of pixels; visual axis detecting step of detecting an observer's visual axis direction; combining step of combining a first image from said first displaying step and a second image from said second displaying step, wherein said second image has a size that is an integer multiple of a pixel pitch of said first image when said first and second images are combined; and driving step of moving said second image with the pixel pitch of said first image based on an observer's visual axis direction signal of said visual axis detecting step.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
133 words
An image display method comprising: first displaying step of displaying first image information by a first flat display panel having a plurality of pixels; second displaying step of displaying second image information by a second flat display panel having a plurality of pixels; visual axis detecting step of detecting an observer's visual axis direction; combining step of combining a first image from said first displaying step and a second image from said second displaying step, wherein said second image has a size that is an integer multiple of a pixel pitch of said first image when said first and second images are combined; and driving step of moving said second image with the pixel pitch of said first image based on an observer's visual axis direction signal of said visual axis detecting step.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 18 , wherein the area of said image superposed one upon the other is not displayed in said first displaying step.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method according to claim 18 , wherein the pixel density in the central portion of said second image is higher than the pixel density of said first image and the pixel density in the marginal portion of said second image is substantially the same as the pixel density of said first image when said images are combined.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 18 , wherein the luminance in the central portion of said second image is higher than the luminance of said first image and the luminance in the marginal portion of said second image is substantially the same as the luminance of said first image when said images are combined.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 18 , wherein said first and second images are combined on an intermediate imaging plane through respective relay senses, are enlarged as virtual images and are turned to the observer's pupil.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 22 , wherein said relay lenses have different imaging magnifications.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 18 , wherein said steps are provided correspondingly to each of the observer's left and right eyes.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 24 , wherein said second displaying step corresponding to the left and right eyes display parallax image information corresponding to the respective eyes.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 24 , wherein said displaying step is used in common.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
186 words
An image display method comprising: first displaying step of displaying first image information by a first flat display panel having a plurality of pixels; second displaying step of displaying second image information by a second flat display panel having a plurality of pixels; visual axis detecting step of detecting an observer's visual axis direction; head portion position detecting step of detecting a position of an observer's head; combining step of combining a first image from said first displaying step and a second image from said second displaying step, wherein a pixel pitch of said first image is an integer multiple of a pixel pitch of said second image when said first and second images are combined; driving step of moving said second image with the pixel pitch of said first image based on an observer's visual axis direction output signal of said visual axis detecting step: and image information changing step of changing said first image information and said second image information on the basis of the output signal of said visual axis detecting step and an output signal of said head portion position detecting step.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
186 words
An image display method comprising: first displaying step of displaying first image information by a first flat display panel having a plurality of pixels; second displaying step of displaying second image information by a second flat display panel having a plurality of pixels; visual axis detecting step of detecting an observer's visual axis direction; head portion position detecting step of detecting a position of an observer's head; combining step of combining a first image from said first displaying step and a second image from said second displaying step, wherein a pixel pitch of said first image is an integer multiple of a pixel pitch of said second image when said first and second images are combined; driving step of moving said second image with the pixel pitch of said first image based on an observer's visual axis direction output signal of said visual axis detecting step: and image information changing step of changing said first image information and said second image information on the basis of the output signal of said visual axis detecting step and an output signal of said head portion position detecting step.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method according to claim 27 , further comprising the image memory step of recording image information all around a predetermined position, and wherein part of the image information recorded by said image memory step is inputted as said first image information to first image generating means in conformity with the output signal of said head portion position detecting step.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 27 , wherein the area of said images superposed one upon the other is not displayed by said first displaying step.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 27 , wherein said first and second images are combined on an intermediate imaging plane through respective relay lenses, are enlarged as virtual images and are turned to the observer's pupil.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 30 , wherein said relay lenses have different imaging magnifications.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 27 , wherein each of said steps is provided correspondingly to each of the observer's left and right eyes.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 32 , wherein said second displaying step corresponding to the left and right eyes display parallax image information corresponding to the respective eyes.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 32 wherein said first displaying step is used in common.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
226 words
An image display apparatus comprising: a first flat display panel for displaying first image information with a plurality of pixels; a second flat display panel for displaying second image information with a plurality of pixels, said second image information being part of said first image information; visual axis detecting means for detecting an observer's visual axis direction; optional means for combining a first image from said first flat display panel and a second image from said second flat display panel by superposing the second image on the first image, moving said second image relative to said first image in conformity with an output signal from said visual axis detecting means and turning it to the observer's pupil, and image display changing means for changing said first image information and said second image information on the basis of the output signal of said visual axis detecting means, wherein the pixel densities of said first image and said second image are adapted to each other at the boundary between the displayed images to make the marginal portion of said second image coincident with the boundary between the pixels of said first image when said images are combined, and wherein the adaptation of the pixel densities is maintained when the second image being superposed on the first image is moved in accordance with the detected observer's visual axis direction.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
226 words
An image display apparatus comprising: a first flat display panel for displaying first image information with a plurality of pixels; a second flat display panel for displaying second image information with a plurality of pixels, said second image information being part of said first image information; visual axis detecting means for detecting an observer's visual axis direction; optional means for combining a first image from said first flat display panel and a second image from said second flat display panel by superposing the second image on the first image, moving said second image relative to said first image in conformity with an output signal from said visual axis detecting means and turning it to the observer's pupil, and image display changing means for changing said first image information and said second image information on the basis of the output signal of said visual axis detecting means, wherein the pixel densities of said first image and said second image are adapted to each other at the boundary between the displayed images to make the marginal portion of said second image coincident with the boundary between the pixels of said first image when said images are combined, and wherein the adaptation of the pixel densities is maintained when the second image being superposed on the first image is moved in accordance with the detected observer's visual axis direction.
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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) | 2005-09-02 | 2006-03-04 | 2006-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-09-02 | 2010-03-04 | 2010-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-09-02 | 2014-03-04 | 2014-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |