JP2006146036A - Multi-primary color image display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multi-primary color display device capable of broadening a color reproduction area and raising resolution of a display image. <P>SOLUTION: The multi-primary color display device has: an illumination part 3 which has one kind of light source 2 to emit parallel illumination light; a dichroic mirror 5 which disperses the illumination light projected from the illumination part 3 into three primary colors of RGB, respectively; liquid crystal panels (display devices) 8, 10, 11 having a plurality of pixels to be mentioned later which modulate the illumination light dispersed into RGB and made incident by input images, respectively; color filters (color separation parts) 12, 13, 15 which sort out and transmit predetermined wavelength components of the incident illumination light; a pixel shifting part 17 capable of optically switching optical axis directions of each of an optical axis of light emitted from one pixel and an optical axis of light emitted from the other pixel different from one pixel and a control part which drives and controls the liquid crystal panels 8, 10, 11 and the pixel shifting part 17, etc. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a multi-primary color image display apparatus.

  In general, a color display such as a television receiver uses three primary colors of RGB and reproduces various colors by a color mixing method called additive color mixing. In recent years, in order to perform more color expression due to the necessity of improving the resolution accompanying the improvement in performance of the display, the display has been made multi-primary.

In order to realize such multi-primary colors, there are known two projectors that use three primary colors to project the display images so as to overlap each other and express the six primary colors by making the three primary colors of each projector different from each other. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
In addition, the light emitting device includes a plurality of types of light sources having different emission colors, and the display period is divided into two divided periods of a first period and a second period, and the first period and the second period are divided. In order to realize multi-primary colors by controlling the light emission color of the light source and / or the state of the sub-pixels to be different from each other during this period (for example, see Patent Document 2).

However, in the technique described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, since two projectors are provided, the apparatus becomes large, and if the two projectors are misaligned, the resolution is lowered, so that adjustment is difficult.
Further, in the technique described in Patent Document 2, the number of display devices is one. However, since a plurality of light sources are provided inside, the apparatus configuration is similarly large.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-253263 (FIG. 1) JP 2004-138827 A (FIG. 2)

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a multi-primary color display device capable of widening a color reproduction range and improving the resolution of a display image.

The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems.
A multi-primary color display device according to the present invention includes an illumination unit that has one type of light source and emits illumination light, a display device that has a plurality of pixels that modulate incident light according to an input image, and predetermined incident light. Each of a color separation unit that selects and transmits the wavelength component, an optical axis of light emitted from one pixel, and an optical axis of light emitted from another pixel different from the one pixel A pixel shift unit that can optically switch the optical axis direction and a control unit that controls the pixel shift unit are provided.

  In this multi-primary color display device, the illumination light from the illumination unit is incident on the color separation unit, whereby the illumination light can be converted into multiple primary colors. Moreover, the optical information irradiated to the same position can be changed with time by switching the optical axis direction at the pixel shifting unit.

  Further, the multi-primary color display device according to the present invention is the multi-primary color display device, wherein the display device is provided with the color separation unit, and the one pixel and the other pixel are adjacent to each other, The pixel shifting unit switches the optical axis direction by one pixel.

  In this multi-primary color display device, color information of one pixel and other pixels can be made different and simultaneously displayed, and color information irradiated to the same position can be alternately displayed according to time. Further, since the shift is for one pixel, color overlap between adjacent pixels can be suppressed, and alignment can be performed accurately.

  Further, the multi-primary color display device according to the present invention is the multi-primary color display device, comprising a pixel return unit that optically returns the optical axis switched by the pixel shifting unit to the original direction, and the color separation unit Is arranged between the pixel shifting unit and the pixel returning unit.

  According to this multi-primary color display device, even when the color information of each pixel of the display device is the same, the color information irradiated to the same position can be displayed alternately according to time.

Further, the multi-primary color display device according to the present invention is the multi-primary color display device, wherein the one pixel and the other pixel are adjacent to each other, and the pixel shifting unit and the pixel returning unit include The optical axis directions are switched by one pixel each other.
In this multi-primary color display device, color information can be switched for each pixel, color overlap between adjacent pixels can be suppressed, and alignment can be performed accurately.

  According to the present invention, the color reproduction range can be widened and the resolution of the display image can be improved.

A first embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the multi-primary color display device 1 according to this embodiment includes an illumination unit 3 that has one light source 2 and emits illumination light, and illumination light projected from the illumination unit 3. A dichroic mirror 5 that splits each of the three primary colors of RGB, a reflection mirror 6 that changes the direction of the split illumination light, and a plurality of pixels 7 that will be described later that modulate the illumination light that is split into RGB and that is incident on the input image. Liquid crystal panels (display devices) 8, 10, 11, color filters (color separation units) 12, 13, 15 for selecting and transmitting predetermined wavelength components of incident illumination light, and liquid crystal panels 8, 10 , 11 again, the combining prism 16 for combining again the light projected from one pixel 7A, as shown in FIG. 3, the optical axis C1 of the light emitted from one pixel 7A, and adjacent to one pixel 7A, which is different from this. Another pixel 7B A pixel shifter 17 capable of optically switching the respective optical axis directions of the emitted light with respect to the optical axis C2, a control unit 18 for driving and controlling the liquid crystal panels 8, 10, 11 and the pixel shifter 17, etc. A projection optical system 20 that projects light that has passed through the pixel shifting unit 17 onto a projection surface such as a screen (not shown) is provided.

  The color filters 12, 13 and 15 divide each spectral characteristic of RGB as shown in FIG. 4 into six primary colors spectral transmission spectral characteristics by dividing one primary color into two as shown in FIG. 5, for example. Thus, the liquid crystal panels 8, 10, 11 are arranged.

  Here, for light transmitted through the color filters 12, 13 and 15, for example, light having a peak wavelength near 440 nm is B1 light, light having a peak wavelength near 460 nm is B2 light, and peak wavelength is near 550 nm. The light having G1 light, light having a peak wavelength near 580 nm is G2 light, light having a peak wavelength near 610 nm is R1 light, and light having a peak wavelength near 640 nm is R2 light.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the pixel shifting unit 17 includes a liquid crystal cell 21 that polarizes incident light, and a birefringent plate 22 that provides a phase difference depending on the direction of the vibration surface of the incident light. This phase difference is the size of one pixel.
As shown in FIG. 3, when the voltage applied to the liquid crystal cell is OFF, the polarization direction of the light from the direction of the optical axis C1 is changed by 90 degrees, and the refraction at the birefringent plate 22 is reduced. When the applied voltage of the liquid crystal cell is ON, the polarization direction of the light from the direction of the optical axis C1 is left in the original state, and is refracted by the birefringent plate 22, and the liquid crystal cell The direction of the optical axis C1 and the direction of the optical axis C2 can be switched by the difference in the polarization direction of incident light depending on ON / OFF of the applied voltage.

Next, the display method, operation, and effect of the multi-primary color display device 1 according to the present invention will be described.
Illumination light emitted from the light source 2 is split into three primary colors of RGB by the dichroic mirror 5 and is incident on the liquid crystal panels 8, 10, and 11, respectively. In addition, since the effect | action after spectroscopy is the same also with RGB, it demonstrates below in the case of red.

In the liquid crystal panel 8, the red color is further split into R1 light and R2 light by the color filter 12. At this time, the adjacent one pixel 7A and the other pixel 7B are filtered so as to be different from the R1 light and the R2 light.
When the R1 light and R2 light are transmitted through the combining prism 16 and the applied voltage of the liquid crystal cell 21 is OFF, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 6A, the birefringent plate 22 is not refracted. Thus, the R1 light from one pixel 7A travels on the optical axis C1 as it is, and the R2 light from the other pixel 7B travels on the optical axis C2. On the other hand, when the applied voltage of the liquid crystal cell 21 is ON, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 6A, the birefringent plate 22 refracts with a phase difference of one pixel. The R1 light travels while being refracted in the direction of the optical axis C2, and the R2 light from the other pixels 7B is further refracted in the direction of the adjacent optical axis C1.

Then, by switching ON / OFF of the voltage applied to the liquid crystal cell 21 at predetermined time intervals, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), R1 and R2 are simultaneously displayed at a certain time, and at the same time, In this case, R1 and R2 are alternately displayed.
In the liquid crystal panel 10, the blue color is further split into B1 light and B2 light by the color filter 13, and in the liquid crystal panel 11, the green color is further split into G1 light and G2 light by the color filter 15 to obtain the B1 light. And the B2 light, the G1 light, and the G2 light are displayed like the R1 light and the R2 light described above.
Thus, an image is displayed on a projection surface (not shown) via the projection optical system 20.

  According to the multi-primary color display device 1, the illumination light from the illumination unit 3 is split into RGB and further incident on the color filters 12, 13, and 15, so that the illumination light can be made into six primary colors. Further, by switching the optical axis direction at the pixel shifting unit 17, the color information of one pixel 7A and the other pixel 7B can be made different and displayed simultaneously, and the color information irradiated to the same position Can be alternately displayed in a predetermined time by ON / OFF operation of the applied voltage of the liquid crystal cell 21.

Furthermore, since the phase difference at this time is for one pixel, color overlap between adjacent pixels can be suppressed, and alignment can be performed accurately.
Therefore, since there are two colors of color information in the screen at any moment of time, the color reproduction range is widened, and color breakup is suppressed compared to the case where the six primary colors are realized in frame sequential order. The resolution can be improved.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the component similar to 1st Embodiment mentioned above, and description is abbreviate | omitted.
The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the pixel shifting unit 31 of the multi-primary color display device 30 according to the present embodiment has a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) mirror 32 as shown in FIG. This is the point.

The MEMS mirror 32 includes a large number of variable mirrors 35 that switch the reflection direction of incident light to a predetermined direction by being vibrated at a predetermined speed by the variable mirror control unit 33. In the case of this variable mirror 35, the phase difference in the switching direction is set to the size of one pixel between one pixel 7A and another pixel 7B adjacent thereto. Since the multi-primary color display device 30 includes the MEMS mirror 32, the reflection mirror 6 is further disposed between the multi-primary color display device 30 and the projection optical system 20.
According to the multi-primary color display device 30, the same operations and effects as those of the first embodiment can be achieved.

Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the component similar to other embodiment mentioned above, and description is abbreviate | omitted.
The difference between the third embodiment and the first embodiment is that the multi-primary color display device 40 according to this embodiment returns the optical axis switched by the pixel shifting unit 17 optically to the original direction. This is that a part 41 is provided, and a comb filter (color separation part) 42 is arranged between the pixel shifting part 17 and the pixel returning part 41.

  The pixel return unit 41 includes a return birefringent plate 43. The return birefringent plate 43 is arranged in a direction opposite to the direction of refraction of the birefringent plate 22 included in the pixel shifting unit 17, that is, the pixel shifting unit 17 and the pixel returning unit 41 have one optical axis direction relative to each other. The light shifted from the optical axis C1 to the optical axis C2 is moved again in the direction of the optical axis C1 so as to be switched.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the multi-primary color display device 40 includes a light source 2, a field sequential color filter 45 that selects RGB primary colors of illumination light, and a motor 46 that rotationally drives the field sequential color filter 45. For example, a DLP (Digital Light Processing: registration) having a large number of movable ultra-fine micromirrors (not shown) instead of the illuminating unit 47 and the dichroic mirror 5 and the liquid crystal panels 8, 10, 11 in the first embodiment. Trademark) (display device) 48, each of which is controlled by a control unit 49. A polarizing plate 50 is further arranged on the incident side of the liquid crystal cell 21 of the pixel shifting unit 17.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the comb filter 42 is alternately arranged for each pixel, and the first comb filter 51 and the second comb filter 51 have different spectral transmission characteristics so that RGB is further divided into two parts. 52. Note that the color transmitted through the comb filter 42 is an integrated color with the surface sequential color filter 45, and similarly to the first embodiment, R1 light, R2 light, B1 light, B2 light, G1 light, and G2 are used. It is assumed to be light.

Next, the display method, operation, and effect of the multi-primary color display device 40 according to the present invention will be described.
First, the motor 46 rotates the surface sequential color filter 45 to split the illumination light emitted from the light source 2 into RGB. In addition, since the effect | action after spectroscopy is the same also with RGB, it demonstrates below in the case of red.

  The illumination light is modulated and reflected by the DLP 48 and enters the pixel return unit 41 via the polarizing plate 50. At this time, when the applied voltage of the liquid crystal cell 21 is OFF, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 12A, the light from one pixel 7A travels on the optical axis C1 as it is, and the first comb filter 51 is transmitted as R1 light, and further proceeds on the return birefringent plate 43 while remaining on the optical axis C1. The light from the other pixels 7B travels on the optical axis C2 as it is, passes through the second comb filter 52 and becomes R2 light, and further travels on the return birefringent plate 43 while remaining on the optical axis C2. .

  On the other hand, when the applied voltage of the liquid crystal cell 21 is ON, the light from the one pixel 7A is refracted in the direction of the optical axis C2 as shown by the broken line in FIG. The light is transmitted to be R2 light, and is refracted again in the direction of the optical axis C1 in the return birefringent plate 43 and travels. The light from the other pixels 7B is further refracted in the direction of the adjacent optical axis C1 and transmitted through the first comb filter 51 to be R1 light. The return birefringent plate 43 again in the direction of the optical axis C2. Refraction proceeds.

Then, by switching ON / OFF of the voltage applied to the liquid crystal cell 21 at predetermined time intervals, as shown in FIG. 12B, the R1 light and the R2 light are simultaneously displayed for a certain time, and at the same time, In series, R1 and R2 are displayed alternately.
Even when blue or green light is incident on the DLP 48 by the rotation of the surface sequential color filter 45, the light is split into B1 light, B2 light, G1 light, and G2 light by the same action, and the B1 light and B2 light are split. Light, G1 light, and G2 light are displayed in the same manner as the above-described R1 light and R2 light.
Thus, an image is displayed on a projection surface (not shown) via the projection optical system 20.

  According to the multi-primary color display device 40, the same operations and effects as those of the first embodiment can be achieved. In particular, even an existing one based on the frame sequential method can achieve multi-primary colors without a complicated configuration, and can improve resolution.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, in the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the pixel shifting unit 17 and the pixel returning unit 41 may be replaced with MEMS mirrors 55 and 56 having the same functions, respectively, as a multi-primary color display device 60. Absent.
Also in this case, the same operations and effects as those of the third embodiment can be achieved.

Further, the light source is not limited to one that emits illumination light having a spectrum as shown in FIG. 3, and may have a spectrum characteristic of another shape.
Furthermore, the display device is not limited to the liquid crystal panels 8, 10, 11 and the DLP 48, but may be another method.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a multi-primary color display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a multi-primary color display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the effect | action of the pixel shift part of the multi-primary color display apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows the RGB spectrum of the illumination light from the light source of this invention. It is a graph which shows the RGB spectrum after the spectrum in the multi-primary color display apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of a pixel shifting unit of the multi-primary color display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of color display that is time-divided. It is explanatory drawing which shows the effect | action of the pixel shift part of the multi-primary color display apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the whole structure of the multi-primary color display apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the whole structure of the multi-primary color display apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the multi-primary color display apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows the RGB spectrum after the spectrum in the multi-primary color display apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the effect | action of the (a) pixel shift part of the multi-primary color display apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, (b) It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of the color display divided by time. It is the schematic which shows the whole structure of the multi-primary color display apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 30, 40 Multi-primary color device 2 Light source 3, 47 Illumination unit 7 Pixel 7A One pixel 7B Other pixels 8, 10, 11 Liquid crystal panel (display device)
12, 13, 15 Color filter (color separation part)
17, 31 Pixel shift unit 18 Control unit 41 Pixel return unit 42 Comb filter (color separation unit)
48 DLP (Display Device)

Claims (4)

An illumination unit that has one type of light source and emits illumination light; and
A display device having a plurality of pixels that modulate incident light with an input image;
A color separation unit that selects and transmits a predetermined wavelength component of incident light; and
A pixel shift unit capable of optically switching the optical axis directions of an optical axis of light emitted from one pixel and an optical axis of light emitted from another pixel different from the one pixel; ,
A multi-primary color display device comprising: a control unit that controls the pixel shifting unit. The display device is provided with the color separation unit,
The one pixel and the other pixel are adjacent pixels,
The multi-primary color display device according to claim 1, wherein the pixel shifting unit switches the optical axis direction by one pixel. A pixel returning unit that optically returns the optical axis switched by the pixel shifting unit to the original direction;
The multi-primary color display device according to claim 1, wherein the color separation unit is disposed between the pixel shifting unit and the pixel return unit. The one pixel and the other pixel are adjacent pixels,
The multi-primary color display device according to claim 3, wherein the pixel shifting unit and the pixel returning unit switch the optical axis direction by one pixel.

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