Aerial image display device and aerial image display method

Abstract

This aerial image display device comprises: a mirror that is disposed on a floor surface; a display that displays a display image serving as a source of an aerial image; a retroreflective material that reflects incident light in an incident direction; and a beam splitter that reflects light of the display image displayed on the display toward the retroreflective material, and transmits the light of the display image reflected by the retroreflective material. All of the display, the retroreflective material, and the beam splitter are erected on the mirror. The aerial image display device further comprises a stray light removal mechanism that removes stray light generated by being directly incident on the mirror from the display and reflected.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerial image display device and an aerial image display method.

Background Art

[0002] An aerial image is a real image displayed in real space and can be viewed by a viewer without wearing a device. Therefore, aerial images are utilized in various applications including AR (Augmented Reality).

[0003] As a method for displaying an aerial image, for example, a method called AIRR (Aerial Imaging by Retro-Reflection) using a retroreflective material and a beam splitter has been proposed.

Prior Art Documents

Non-Patent Documents

[0004]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The main object of the present invention is to provide an aerial image display device that expands the viewing range of an aerial image by AIRR and removes stray light.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is an aerial image display device. The aerial image display device includes a mirror placed on the floor, a display that shows a display image which will be the basis of the aerial image, a retroreflective material that reflects incident light in the direction of incidence, and a beam splitter that reflects the light of the display image shown on the display toward the retroreflective material and transmits the light of the display image reflected by the retroreflective material. The display, the retroreflective material, and the beam splitter are all erected on the mirror. The aerial image display device further includes a stray light removal mechanism that removes stray light generated by light directly incident on the mirror from the display and reflected.

[0007] Another aspect of the present invention is an aerial image display method. The aerial image display method includes placing a mirror on the floor, erecting a display that shows a display image which will be the basis of the aerial image on the mirror, erecting a retroreflective material on the mirror that reflects incident light in the direction of incidence, reflecting the light of the display image shown on the display toward the retroreflective material, erecting a beam splitter on the mirror that transmits the light of the display image reflected by the retroreflective material, and providing a stray light removal mechanism that removes stray light generated by light directly incident on the mirror from the display and reflected. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, an aerial image display device is provided that expands the field of view of an aerial image obtained by AIRR and removes stray light. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows the basic configuration of an aerial image display device using AIRR. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the optical properties of retroreflective materials. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows an example of a large display mounted vertically on the floor. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows how the lower part of the aerial image is not visible to the viewer. [Figure 5]Figure 5 shows how the apparent size of the reflective surface of a retroreflective material is enlarged by placing a mirror on the floor surface. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a plan view from above of the aerial image display device using AIRR according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the aerial image display device shown in Figure 6, viewed from an oblique angle. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a side view showing the configuration of the beam splitter of the aerial image display device shown in Figure 6. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a plan view of the imaging optical path of the aerial image in the aerial image display device shown in Figure 6, viewed from above. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram showing the imaging optical path of the aerial image in the aerial image display device of Figure 6, unfolded on a plane. [Figure 11] Figure 11 shows the linearly polarized light emitted by a display, which is an example of an aerial image display device as shown in Figure 6. [Figure 12] Figure 12 shows the absorption axis of the absorption polarizing film of the beam splitter corresponding to the linear polarization in Figure 11. [Figure 13] Figure 13 is a plan view of the stray light path in the aerial image display device shown in Figure 6, viewed from above. [Figure 14] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram showing the optical path of stray light unfolded on a plane in the aerial image display device shown in Figure 6. [Figure 15] Figure 15 shows circularly polarized light emitted by a display as another example of the aerial image display device shown in Figure 6. [Figure 16] Figure 16 shows the absorption axis of the absorption polarizing film of the beam splitter corresponding to the circular polarization in Figure 15. [Figure 17] Figure 17 shows the vertical linear polarization emitted by a display, which is yet another example of the aerial image display device shown in Figure 6. [Figure 18] Figure 18 schematically shows an aerial image display device corresponding to the vertical linear polarization in Figure 17, along the plane formed by unfolding the optical path of stray light. [Figure 19]FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the absorption axis of the absorption polarizing film of the beam splitter corresponding to the vertically linearly polarized light in FIG. 17. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a plan view of the aerial image display device using AIRR according to the second embodiment as viewed from above. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a plan view of the aerial image display device using AIRR according to the third embodiment as viewed from above. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a side view showing the configuration of the beam splitter of the aerial image display device in FIG. 21.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Prior to the description of the embodiments according to the present invention, the basic configuration of the aerial image display device using AIRR will be described. Hereinafter, for the sake of convenience, the aerial image display device using AIRR will be simply referred to as the aerial image display device.

[0011] First, the basic configuration of the aerial image display device will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the basic configuration of the aerial image display device 10. The aerial image display device 10 includes a display 20, a beam splitter 30, and a retroreflective material 40.

[0012] The display 20 is a device that displays a display image that serves as the basis for the aerial image based on the input video signal. Further, the display 20 emits light of the display image.

[0013] The retroreflective material 40 reflects incident light in the direction of incidence. The optical properties of the retroreflective material 40 will now be explained with reference to Figure 2. As shown in Figure 2, assume that incident light Li is incident on the reflective surface Pr at an angle of incidence θ. The angle of incidence is the angle between the incident light Li and the normal vector N drawn on the reflective surface Pr. The incident light Li that enters the reflective surface Pr is reflected by the reflective surface Pr and becomes reflected light. If the reflective surface Pr is a mirror surface, the reflected light Lr reflected by the reflective surface Pr travels in the opposite direction from the incident light Li at a reflection angle θ equal to the angle of incidence θ. The reflection angle is the angle between the reflected light and the normal vector N drawn on the reflective surface Pr. In contrast, if the reflective surface Pr is the surface of the retroreflective material 40, the reflected light Lrr reflected by the reflective surface Pr travels in the same direction as the incident light Li at a reflection angle θ equal to the angle of incidence θ.

[0014] Returning to Figure 1, let's explain the beam splitter 30. The beam splitter 30 reflects the light of the display image shown on the display 20 toward the retroreflective material 40 and transmits the light of the display image reflected by the retroreflective material 40.

[0015] Divergent light emitted from the pixels Pd of the display 20 is reflected by the beam splitter 30 toward the retroreflective material 40 and incident on the retroreflective material 40. As mentioned above, the retroreflective material 40 reflects incident light in the direction of incidence. Therefore, the divergent light incident on the retroreflective material 40 is reflected by the retroreflective material 40 and becomes focused light. The focused light reflected by the retroreflective material 40 passes through the beam splitter 30 and converges to a point Pa in space. As a result, the light of the display image shown on the display 20 converges on a plane containing point Pa to become an aerial image Ia. The aerial image Ia is displayed in a position symmetrical to the display 20 with respect to the beam splitter 30. To the viewer V who is looking at it, the aerial image Ia appears to be floating in the air.

[0016] By erecting the display 20, beam splitter 30, and retroreflective material 40 that constitute the aerial image display device 10 vertically on a horizontal floor surface, an aerial image upright on the floor surface can be displayed.

[0017] Figure 3 shows an example of a large display 20 erected vertically on a horizontal floor surface F. The display 20 is not limited to this example, but could be a large LED display, for instance. Here, the display 20 is assumed to be a large, vertically oriented display large enough to display a life-size image Id of a person.

[0018] The field of view of the aerial image Ia is the range connecting the viewer's viewpoint to the reflective surface of the retroreflective material 40. Therefore, the field of view of the aerial image Ia is limited. For example, the light that displays the lower part of the aerial image Ia is blocked by the bottom surface of the optical system in the optical path, so the lower part of the aerial image Ia cannot be perceived by the viewer. Figure 4 shows how the lower part of the aerial image Ia cannot be perceived by the viewer. The same is true for the upper part of the aerial image Ia. That is, the light that displays the upper part of the aerial image Ia is blocked by the top surface of the optical system in the optical path, so the upper part of the aerial image Ia cannot be seen by the viewer.

[0019] As a solution, for example, one method is to install mirrors above and below the aerial image display device 10 to seemingly enlarge the size of the reflective surface of the retroreflective material 40 vertically. Figure 5 shows how the size of the reflective surface of the retroreflective material 40 is seemingly enlarged by placing a mirror 50 on the floor surface F using this method. The mirror 50 is preferably a total reflection mirror.

[0020] In Figure 5, the retroreflective material 40 is reflected in the mirror 50, forming a mirror image 40A of the retroreflective material 40. As a result, the apparent size of the retroreflective material 40 is enlarged by the amount of its mirror image 40A. This expands the field of view of the aerial image Ia, allowing viewers to perceive the lower part of the aerial image Ia as well.

[0021] Consequently, the display 20 is also reflected in the mirror 50, forming a mirror image 20A of the display 20. The mirror image 20A of the display 20 also displays the lower mirror image Ir of the display image Id shown on the display 20. The light that displays this mirror image Ir becomes stray light after being reflected by the mirror 50. Stray light is a factor that degrades the quality of the aerial image Ia.

[0022] The following describes embodiments aimed at eliminating stray light generated due to the apparent enlargement of the size of the retroreflective material 40. For convenience, an example in which the mirror 50 is placed below the aerial image display device 10 will be described here. However, the present invention is not limited to the configuration in which the mirror 50 is placed below the aerial image display device 10, but also includes the configuration in which the mirror 50 is placed above the aerial image display device 10.

[0023] <First Embodiment> The overall configuration of the aerial image display device 10 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Figure 6 is a plan view of the aerial image display device 10 according to the first embodiment, viewed from above. Figure 7 is a perspective view of the aerial image display device 10 of Figure 6, viewed from an oblique angle.

[0024] The aerial image display device 10 includes a mirror 50 in addition to the display 20, beam splitter 30, and retroreflective material 40 described in the basic configuration. The mirror 50 has a flat reflective surface and is positioned horizontally on the floor surface F (see Figure 5) with the reflective surface facing upwards. The mirror 50 is preferably a total reflection mirror. The display 20, beam splitter 30, and retroreflective material 40 are all erected vertically on the mirror 50. The basic configuration of the display 20, beam splitter 30, and retroreflective material 40 is as described above. As shown in Figure 7, the display image Id shown on the display 20 is imaged through the beam splitter 30 and retroreflective material 40 to display the aerial image Ia.

[0025] In the aerial image display device 10 according to this embodiment, as shown in Figure 6, the display 20 and retroreflective material 40 are arranged so that, when viewed from above, the display 20 and retroreflective material 40 are perpendicular to each other, and the beam splitter 30 forms a 45-degree angle with respect to both the display 20 and the retroreflective material 40. However, the arrangement of the display 20, beam splitter 30 and retroreflective material 40 is not limited to this. The same applies to the aerial image display device 10 according to the second and third embodiments described later.

[0026] In this embodiment, the display 20 emits polarized light as the light of the displayed image. Here, the light of the displayed image is the light that displays an aerial image. That is, in this specification, the terms "light of the displayed image" and "light that displays an aerial image" may be used, but both are synonymous.

[0027] Next, the beam splitter 30 in this embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 8. The beam splitter 30 is composed of a transparent plate 31, a reflective film 32, and an absorbing polarizing film 33. The transparent plate 31 is an optically transparent parallel plate having a pair of parallel planes. The transparent plate 31 is made of, for example, an acrylic plate or a glass plate. The reflective film 32 is attached to one plane of the transparent plate 31, and the absorbing polarizing film 33 is attached to the other plane of the transparent plate 31.

[0028] The reflective film 32 reflects a portion of the incident light and transmits the remaining light. For example, the reflective film 32 reflects half of the incident light and transmits the other half.

[0029] The absorbing polarizing film 33 absorbs polarization that has a phase difference of 1 / 2 wavelength from the polarization emitted by the display 20.

[0030] As shown in Figure 6, the beam splitter 30 is positioned such that the reflective film 32 faces the display 20 and the retroreflective material 40. In other words, in the completed aerial image display device 10, the beam splitter 30 has a reflective film 32 bonded to the surface of the transparent plate 31 on the side where the display 20 and the retroreflective material 40 are located, and an absorbing polarizing film 33 bonded to the surface of the transparent plate 31 on the opposite side of the reflective film 32.

[0031] Next, the imaging optical path of the aerial image, which is displayed below the retroreflective material 40 as seen from the viewer of the aerial image, will be explained with reference to Figures 9 and 10. Figure 9 is a plan view of the imaging optical path of the aerial image in the aerial image display device 10 of Figure 6, as seen from above. Figure 10 is a schematic diagram showing the imaging optical path of the aerial image in the aerial image display device 10 of Figure 6, unfolded on a plane. In the following explanation, the light used to display the aerial image will be referred to as imaging light for convenience.

[0032] The imaging light L1 emitted from the display 20 is reflected by the reflective film 32 of the beam splitter 30 to become imaging light L2. The imaging light L2 is reflected by the mirror 50 to become imaging light L3 and incident on the retroreflective material 40. The black circles drawn in Figure 9 represent the points of incidence, i.e., reflection, of the imaging light on the reflective surface of the mirror 50. The imaging light L3 is reflected by the retroreflective material 40 to become imaging light L4. The imaging light L4 is reflected by the mirror 50 to become imaging light L5 and incident on the beam splitter 30. The imaging light L5 passes through the beam splitter 30 to become imaging light L6 and then forms an image. As a result, as shown in Figure 9, an aerial image Ia is displayed at a position symmetrical to the display 20 with respect to the beam splitter 30.

[0033] Next, a stray light removal mechanism incorporated into the aerial image display device 10 according to this embodiment will be described. The stray light removal mechanism differs depending on the polarization emitted by the display 20. Therefore, the stray light removal mechanism will be described below for each difference in polarization emitted by the display 20. The difference in polarization is the difference in the trajectory traced by the tip of the vibration of the electric field vector when viewed from behind in the direction of light propagation. Hereinafter, for convenience, the trajectory traced by the tip of the vibration of the electric field vector will be referred to as the polarization direction.

[0034] First, we will describe the stray light removal mechanism for the case where the display 20 emits linearly polarized light that is not parallel to the horizontal and vertical planes. In this case, the stray light removal mechanism consists of an absorbing polarizing film 33 bonded to the transparent plate 31 of the beam splitter 30. The principle of stray light removal will be explained below with reference to the drawings.

[0035] Here, we will describe a typical example in which the display 20 emits linearly polarized light p1 at a leftward angle of 45 degrees relative to the reflective surface of the mirror 50, i.e., the horizontal plane, as shown in Figure 11. The stray light removal mechanism for this example consists of an absorbing polarizing film 33 having an absorption axis p2 at a rightward angle of 45 degrees relative to the horizontal plane, as shown in Figure 12.

[0036] Next, the principle of absorbing stray light will be explained with reference to Figures 13 and 14. Figure 13 is a plan view of the stray light path as seen from above in the aerial image display device 10 of Figure 6. Figure 14 is a schematic diagram showing the stray light path unfolded on a plane in the aerial image display device 10 of Figure 6. For convenience, in the following explanation, the light of the display image that becomes stray light after being reflected by the mirror 50 will be referred to as stray light from the beginning.

[0037] Stray light Ls1 emitted from the display 20 is incident on the mirror 50 before reaching the beam splitter 30. Stray light Ls1 is reflected by the mirror 50 and becomes stray light Ls2. The black circles drawn in Figure 13 represent the points of incidence, i.e., reflection, of the stray light on the reflective surface of the mirror 50. When stray light Ls1 becomes stray light Ls2 due to reflection, the polarization direction of stray light Ls1 is reversed with respect to the horizontal plane. That is, stray light Ls1, which has a polarization direction of 45 degrees to the left, becomes stray light Ls2 with a polarization direction of 45 degrees to the right due to reflection. The polarization direction of stray light Ls2 coincides with the absorption axis p2 of the absorption polarizing film 33 shown in Figure 12.

[0038] A portion of the stray light Ls2 incident on the beam splitter 30 passes through the reflective film 32 and transparent plate 31 of the beam splitter 30, but is absorbed by the absorbing polarizing film 33. This eliminates the stray light.

[0039] Here, we have described an example where the polarization direction of linearly polarized light that is not parallel to the horizontal and vertical planes is 45 degrees. However, if the polarization direction of linearly polarized light that is not parallel to the horizontal and vertical planes is other than 45 degrees, stray light can be similarly eliminated by aligning the direction of the absorption axis of the absorption polarizing film 33 with the polarization direction of the stray light Ls2 after reflection by the mirror 50.

[0040] Next, we will describe an example in which the display 20 emits clockwise circularly polarized light p3, as shown in Figure 15. The stray light removal mechanism for this example consists of an absorbing polarizing film 33 having a counterclockwise circular absorption axis p4, as shown in Figure 16. Such an absorbing polarizing film 33 is constructed, for example, by combining a linearly polarizing film and a quarter-wavelength film.

[0041] The principle of absorbing stray light is the same as in the case of linear polarization described above. That is, the right-handed circularly polarized stray light Ls1 p3 shown in Figure 15 is reflected by the mirror 50 and becomes left-handed circularly polarized stray light Ls2. The polarization direction of the stray light Ls2 coincides with the circular absorption axis p4 of the absorbing polarizing film 33 shown in Figure 16. Therefore, the stray light Ls2 is absorbed and removed by the absorbing polarizing film 33.

[0042] Here, we have described an example in which the display 20 emits clockwise circularly polarized light. However, if the display 20 emits counterclockwise circularly polarized light, the absorbing polarizing film 33 should have a clockwise circular absorption axis.

[0043] Furthermore, if the display 20 emits elliptically polarized light, the absorbing polarizing film 33 may have a circular absorption axis that coincides with the polarization direction of the elliptically polarized stray light Ls2 after reflection by the mirror 50.

[0044] Next, we will describe the stray light removal mechanism for the case where the display 20 emits linearly polarized light parallel to the horizontal or vertical plane. For convenience, linearly polarized light parallel to the horizontal plane will be referred to as horizontal linearly polarized light, and linearly polarized light parallel to the vertical plane will be referred to as vertical linearly polarized light. The polarization direction of both horizontal and vertical linearly polarized light does not change even when reflected by the mirror 50.

[0045] Here, we will describe a typical example in which the display 20 emits vertically linearly polarized light p5, as shown in Figure 17. The configuration of the aerial image display device 10 corresponding to the vertically linearly polarized light p5 is shown in Figure 18. Figure 18 is a schematic diagram showing the aerial image display device 10 corresponding to the vertically linearly polarized light p5 along a plane in which the optical path of stray light is unfolded.

[0046] The aerial image display device 10 corresponding to vertical linear polarization p5 includes a display 20, a beam splitter 30, a retroreflective material 40, and a mirror 50, in addition to a quarter-wave plate 60 placed on the mirror 50. The quarter-wave plate 60 may be attached to the mirror 50 or placed with a gap between them.

[0047] The stray light removal mechanism in this aerial image display device 10 consists of a quarter-wave plate 60 placed on a mirror 50 and an absorbing polarizing film 33 having a horizontal absorption axis p6, as shown in Figure 19. The principle of stray light removal will be explained below with reference to Figure 18.

[0048] The stray light Ls1 of vertical linear polarization p5 emitted from the display 20 passes through the quarter-wave plate 60 and then enters the mirror 50. The stray light Ls1 of vertical linear polarization p5 becomes circularly polarized upon passing through the quarter-wave plate 60. The circularly polarized stray light Ls1 is reflected by the mirror 50 and becomes circularly polarized stray light Ls2. The circularly polarized stray light Ls2 passes through the quarter-wave plate 60 and then enters the beam splitter 30. The circularly polarized stray light Ls2 becomes horizontal linearly polarized upon passing through the quarter-wave plate 60. The polarization direction of the stray light Ls2 coincides with the absorption axis p6 of the absorption polarizing film 33 shown in Figure 19. Therefore, the stray light Ls2 that enters the beam splitter 30 is absorbed and removed by the absorption polarizing film 33.

[0049] If the display 20 emits horizontally linearly polarized light, then an absorbing polarizing film 33 having a vertical absorption axis can be applied to the beam splitter 30.

[0050] <Second Embodiment> The aerial image display device 10 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 20. Figure 20 is a plan view of the aerial image display device 10 according to the second embodiment, viewed from above.

[0051] The aerial image display device 10 according to this embodiment, like the aerial image display device 10 according to the first embodiment, has a display 20, a beam splitter 30, a retroreflective material 40, and a mirror 50. The configuration of the beam splitter 30, the retroreflective material 40, and the mirror 50 is the same as in the first embodiment. However, unlike the first embodiment, the display 20 emits unpolarized light.

[0052] The aerial image display device 10 according to this embodiment includes a display 20, a beam splitter 30, a retroreflective material 40, and a mirror 50, as well as an absorbing polarizing film 23 positioned in front of the light emission direction of the display 20. The absorbing polarizing film 23 may be attached to the display 20 or positioned with a gap between them.

[0053] The absorbing polarizing film 23 converts unpolarized light emitted from the display 20 into polarized light. For the polarization generated after passing through the absorbing polarizing film 23, an absorbing polarizing film 33 having an appropriate absorption axis is applied to the beam splitter 30, as described in the first embodiment. The relationship between the polarization direction of the polarized light and the absorption axis of the absorbing polarizing film 33 suitable for removing stray light is as described in the first embodiment.

[0054] <Third Embodiment> The aerial image display device 10 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 21 and 22. Figure 21 is a plan view of the aerial image display device 10 according to the third embodiment, viewed from above. Figure 22 is a side view showing the configuration of the beam splitter of the aerial image display device 10 in Figure 21.

[0055] The aerial image display device 10 according to this embodiment, like the aerial image display device 10 according to the first embodiment, has a display 20, a beam splitter 30, a retroreflective material 40, and a mirror 50. The configuration of the display 20, the retroreflective material 40, and the mirror 50 may be the same as in the first embodiment. However, unlike the first embodiment, the beam splitter 30 is composed of a transparent plate 31 and a reflective film 32, as shown in Figure 21. The transparent plate 31 is an optically transparent parallel plate having a pair of parallel planes. The reflective film 32 is attached to one plane of the transparent plate 31. The configuration of the transparent plate 31 and the reflective film 32 may be the same as in the first embodiment. The beam splitter 30 is arranged such that the reflective film 32 faces the display 20 and the retroreflective material 40, as shown in Figure 21.

[0056] The aerial image display device 10 according to this embodiment includes a display 20, a beam splitter 30, a retroreflective material 40, and a mirror 50, as well as a field of view limiting film 25 positioned in front of the light emission direction of the display 20. The field of view limiting film 25 may be attached to the display 20 or positioned with a gap between them.

[0057] The imaging optical path of the aerial image, which is displayed below the retroreflective material 40 as seen from the viewer of the aerial image, is the same as in the first embodiment.

[0058] The field-of-view limiting film 25 is emitted from the display 20 and incident on the mirror 50 before reaching the beam splitter 30, absorbing or diffusing stray light. This eliminates stray light. For this reason, in this embodiment, the reflective film 32 of the beam splitter 30 may use an optical element that changes reflection and transmission according to the polarization direction, such as a reflective polarizer or a wire grid.

[0059] <effect> In any of the embodiments described above, an aerial image display device is provided that expands the field of view of the aerial image obtained by AIRR and eliminates stray light.

[0060] <Aerial image display method> The aerial image display device 10 has been described above, but the embodiment also discloses an aerial image display method. In this aerial image display method, a mirror 50 is placed on the floor surface F, a display 20 that displays the display image which will be the basis of the aerial image is erected on the mirror 50, a retroreflective material 40 that reflects incident light in the direction of incidence is erected on the mirror 50, the light of the display image displayed on the display 20 is reflected toward the retroreflective material 40, a beam splitter 30 that transmits the light of the display image reflected by the retroreflective material 40 is erected on the mirror 50, and a stray light removal mechanism is provided to remove stray light that is generated when light from the display 20 is directly incident on the mirror 50 and reflected. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 10...Aerial image display device 20…Display 20A…Mirror image 23… Absorbing polarizing film 25… Vision-limiting film 30... Beam Splitter 31...Transparent plate 32…Reflective film 33… Absorbing polarizing film 40… Retroreflective material 50...Mirror 60...wave plate L1…Image-forming light L2…Image-forming light L3…Image-forming light L4…Image-forming light L5…Image-forming light L6…Image-forming light Ls1…Stray light Ls2…Stray light p1…Linear polarization p2... Absorption axis p3...Circular polarization p4...Circular absorption axis p5…Vertical linear polarization p6... Absorption axis

Claims

1. A mirror placed on the floor, A display that is erected on the aforementioned mirror and displays the image that will be the basis of the aerial image, A retroreflective material erected on the aforementioned mirror, which reflects incident light in the direction of incidence, A beam splitter erected on the mirror reflects the light of the display image shown on the display toward the retroreflective material and transmits the light of the display image reflected by the retroreflective material, The system includes a stray light removal mechanism that removes stray light generated by light directly entering the mirror from the display and being reflected by it. Aerial image display device.

2. The display emits polarized light as the light of the displayed image, The beam splitter comprises a transparent plate, a reflective film laminated to the surface of the transparent plate on the side where the display and the retroreflective material are located, and an absorbing polarizing film laminated to the surface of the transparent plate opposite to the reflective film. The absorbing polarizing film absorbs the polarized light emitted by the display after it has been reflected by the mirror. The stray light removal mechanism includes the absorbing polarizing film, The aerial image display device according to claim 1.

3. The display emits linearly polarized light with a polarization direction of 45 degrees relative to the mirror surface as the light of the displayed image. The aforementioned absorbing polarizing film absorbs linearly polarized light that is orthogonal to the linearly polarized light emitted by the display. The aerial image display device according to claim 2.

4. The display emits circularly polarized light as the light of the displayed image, The aforementioned absorbing polarizing film absorbs circularly polarized light that rotates in the opposite direction to the rotation direction of the circularly polarized light emitted by the display. The aerial image display device according to claim 2.

5. The display emits linearly polarized light parallel or perpendicular to the mirror surface as light for the displayed image. The stray light removal mechanism further comprises a quarter-wave plate placed on the mirror. The aerial image display device according to claim 2.

6. The display emits unpolarized light as the light of the displayed image. The stray light removal mechanism has an absorbing polarizing film placed in front of the display. The aerial image display device according to claim 1.

7. The stray light removal mechanism includes a field-of-view limiting film positioned on the optical path of the light of the display image that is directly incident from the display to the mirror. The aerial image display device according to claim 1.

8. Place a mirror on the floor, A display that shows the image that will be the basis of the aerial image is erected on the mirror, A retroreflective material that reflects incident light in the direction of incidence is erected on the mirror, A beam splitter is erected on the mirror to reflect the light of the display image shown on the display toward the retroreflective material, and to transmit the light of the display image reflected by the retroreflective material. A stray light removal mechanism is provided to remove stray light that is directly incident on the mirror from the display and reflected by it. Aerial image display method.

Images