Three-dimensional image display system

Abstract

A three-dimensional image display system, including: a multi-parallax image reproduction apparatus configured to reproduce two-dimensional images, which include a plurality of parallax images within one frame, at a first frame rate; and a three-dimensional display apparatus configured to carry out multi-parallax stereoscopic moving picture display at a second frame rate based on a plurality of parallax images reproduced by the multi-parallax image reproduction apparatus where one frame of stereoscopic moving pictures is formed from a multi-parallax image formed from a predetermined number of parallax images; the multi-parallax image reproduction apparatus reproducing an image wherein control information is included in any of the parallax images for every one frame or every plurality of frames, the three-dimensional image display apparatus carrying out control in accordance with the control information included in the parallax images to carry out the multi-parallax stereoscopic moving picture display.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION DATA[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 025,960, filed Feb. 5, 2008, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference to the extent permitted by law. This application claims the benefit of priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-026760 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Feb. 6, 2007, the entirely of which is incorporated herein by reference to the extent permitted by law.BACKGROUND[0002]This invention relates to a three-dimensional image display system for carrying out multi-parallax stereoscopic display based on a plurality of parallax images.[0003]In the past, as a technique for generating a stereoscopic image, a two-eye type stereoscopic image technique wherein images different from each other called parallax images are shown to both eyes of an observer so that the observer can feel a stereoscopic effect and a multi-eye type stereoscopic image technique wherein a plurality of sets of parallax image...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]According to the light beam reproduction technique described above, since images are generated from light beams of an intensity with which they act effectively upon focal adjustment and binocular convergence angle adjustment as visual sensation functions, which have been almost impossible with two-eye and multi-eye type stereoscopic images, a stereoscopic image which provides very little fatigue to an observer can be provided. In addition, since light beams are continuously emitted in a plurality of directions from the same element on a virtual physical solid, the variation of the image upon movement of the viewpoint position can be provided continuously.

[0015]Therefore, it is desirable to provide a three-dimensional image display system wherein synchronous control when multi-parallax stereoscopic moving picture display is carried out can be carried out readily.

[0017]In the three-dimensional image display system, an image wherein control information is included in any of the parallax images is reproduced for every one frame or every plurality of frames. The three-dimensional image display apparatus carries out control in accordance with the control information included in the parallax images to carry out the multi-parallax stereoscopic moving picture display. Since the control information is included in the parallax images themselves, synchronous control where multi-parallax stereoscopic moving picture display is carried out can be carried out readily.

[0022]In summary, with the three-dimensional image display system, since control information is included in a parallax image itself and control is carried out in accordance with the control information included in the parallax image to carry out multi-parallax stereoscopic moving picture display. Therefore, synchronous control when multi-parallax stereoscopic moving picture display is carried out can be carried out readily.

Problems solved by technology

However, the image generated by the light beam reproduction technique at present lacks in provision of a sense of reality when compared with a physical solid in the real world.

Generally, it is considered that the limit to visual observation of a human being is approximately one minute in angular resolution, and a stereoscopic image by the light beam reproduction method at present is produced from an amount of light beams insufficient to the visual sensation.

However, tremendous enhancement of the display density of display devices at present is difficult from the problem of the light utilization efficiency or the diffraction limit.

In any case, in order to generate a high density light beam group, a plurality of devices are demanded, and increase in size of the entire apparatus may not be avoided.

However, if it is tried to reproduce high-definition moving pictures, then the art in the past has the following problem.

In particular, since the data amount of moving pictures is greater than that of still pictures, a large amount of data has to be transferred.

Besides, the large amount of data has to be transferred at a high speed.

According to the art in the past, since several seconds are demanded to transfer parallax images for generating a high definition stereoscopic still picture to individual reproduction apparatus, reproduction of moving pictures is difficult.

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