Patent Grant
12315468
The disclosure relates to a display device and a display method.
JP 2019-174742 A discloses a liquid crystal display device in which two liquid crystal panels overlap each other to improve contrast. In the liquid crystal display device of JP 2019-174742 A, in a liquid crystal panel disposed on a rear surface of the two liquid crystal panels, a circular region having a radius corresponding to a width of seven pixels centered on one pixel is defined as a filter size, and the maximum luminance value of the pixels is set to the luminance of the pixels included in the filter size. JP 2019-174742 A describes that as a result, a desired image is visually recognized with little image deviation even in a case where a user sees a display screen from a diagonal direction.
However, in the liquid crystal display device of JP 2019-174742 A, the liquid crystal panel on the rear surface extends the luminance of the surrounding pixels centered on one pixel uniformly, and thus there may occur a case where a radius of a circular region whose luminance is extended in the liquid crystal panel on the rear surface becomes too large, as compared to the liquid crystal panel on the front surface. When the radius of the circular region whose luminance is extended becomes too large in this way, contrast of an image to be visually recognized by a user and in which an image displayed on the liquid crystal panel on the front surface and an image displayed on the liquid crystal panel on the rear surface overlap each other, may be reduced to be visually recognized by the user. One aspect of the disclosure is directed towards suppressing reduction in contrast in a display device including a plurality of liquid crystal panels that overlap each other.
A display device according to an aspect of the disclosure includes a first liquid crystal panel configured to display a first image, a second liquid crystal panel facing a rear surface of the first liquid crystal panel and configured to display a second image synchronized with the first image, and an image enlargement processing unit configured to generate the second image to be displayed on the second liquid crystal panel by enlargement from a predetermined enlargement center position toward at least one end portion of the second liquid crystal panel.
A display method according to an aspect of the disclosure includes displaying a first image on a first liquid crystal panel, displaying a second image synchronized with the first image on a second liquid crystal panel facing a rear surface of the first liquid crystal panel, generating the second image by enlargement from a predetermined enlargement center position in the second liquid crystal panel toward at least one end portion of the second liquid crystal panel.
Hereinafter, liquid crystal display devices according to embodiments of the disclosure will be described with reference to drawings. Note that, in the drawings, the same or equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals and signs, and duplicating descriptions thereof will not be repeated.
The first liquid crystal panel 21, the second liquid crystal panel 22, and the backlight 23 are arranged in this order from a front surface side to a rear surface side in the liquid crystal display device 100 and overlap each other. The first liquid crystal panel 21 and the second liquid crystal panel 22 overlap each other, which are a so-called dual liquid crystal panel. The first liquid crystal panel 21 overlaps a front surface of the second liquid crystal panel 22 to be disposed thereon and is a front panel that displays a first image (described below). The second liquid crystal panel 22 is a back panel provided between the first liquid crystal panel 21 and the backlight 23 to face a rear surface of the first liquid crystal panel 21. The second liquid crystal panel 22 displays a second image (described below) synchronized with the first image. The backlight 23 faces a rear surface of the second liquid crystal panel 22, that is, it is provided on a side opposite to the first liquid crystal panel 21 with respect to the second liquid crystal panel 22.
The backlight 23 has, for example, a plurality of light sources, illuminates the second liquid crystal panel 22 from the rear surface side, and illuminates the first liquid crystal panel 21 from the rear surface side through the second liquid crystal panel 22. The backlight 23 controls luminance of the plurality of light sources in accordance with luminance of the first image displayed on the first liquid crystal panel 21 and the second image displayed on the second liquid crystal panel 22 to be expressed. As the plurality of light sources included in the backlight 23, for example, a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) that emit light such as white light can be used. A quantity of light of each LED is controlled by a drive circuit (not illustrated).
The first liquid crystal panel 21 includes a plurality of pixels PX1 provided in a matrix in a display region DA1 in which the first image is displayed. The second liquid crystal panel 22 includes a plurality of pixels PX2 provided in a matrix in a display region DA2 in which the second image is displayed.
The display region DA1 in the first liquid crystal panel 21 has, for example, a rectangular shape, and is a region surrounded by an end portion E21a at the right end, an end portion E22a at the left end, an end portion E23a on the upper side, and an end portion E24a on the lower side, when viewed toward the display region DA1. The display region DA2 in the second liquid crystal panel 22 has, for example, a rectangular shape, and is a region surrounded by an end portion E21b at the right end, an end portion E22b at the left end, an end portion E23b on the upper side, and an end portion E24b on the lower side, when viewed toward the display region DA2. Note that in a case where the end portion E21a and the end portion E21b are not distinguished from each other, the end portions are each referred to as an end portion E21, in a case where the end portion E22a and the end portion E22b are not distinguished from each other, the end portions are each referred to as an end portion E22, in a case where the end portion E23a and the end portion E23b are not distinguished from each other, the end portions are each referred to as an end portion E23, and in a case where the end portion E24a and the end portion E24b are not distinguished from each other, the end portions are each referred to as an end portion E24. The shape of each of the display region DA1 and the display region DA2 is not limited to a rectangular shape and may be another shape.
In the second liquid crystal panel 22, transmittance of the plurality of pixels PX2 is controlled to control a quantity of light passing through the pixels PX2 from the backlight 23, the light being emitted from the rear surface, that is, control luminance of the pixels PX2. In the first liquid crystal panel 21, transmittance of the plurality of pixels PX1 is controlled to control a quantity of light passing through the pixels PX1, the light being emitted from the backlight 23 on the rear surface and passing through the second liquid crystal panel 22, that is, control luminance of the pixels PX1. This allows the first liquid crystal panel 21 and the second liquid crystal panel 22 to display a desired image having luminance visible by a user in the display region DA1 of the first liquid crystal panel 21. Note that, in a case where the pixels PX1 and the pixels PX2 do not need to be particularly distinguished from each other, the pixels are each simply referred to as a pixel PX.
Further, in the following description, when viewed toward the display region DA1 or the display region DA2, a direction from the end portion E22 on the left side to the end portion E21 on the right side is referred to as an X direction (or a plus X direction), and conversely, a direction from the end portion E21 on the right side to the end portion E22 on the left side is referred to as a −(minus) X direction. The plus-minus X direction is a so-called horizontal direction in the display. When viewed toward the display region DA1 or the display region DA2, a direction from the end portion E23 on the upper side to the end portion E24 on the lower side is referred to as a Y direction (or a plus Y direction), and conversely, a direction from the end portion E24 on the lower side to the end portion E23 on the upper side is referred to as a −(minus) Y direction. The plus-minus Y direction is a so-called vertical direction in the display.
Each of the first liquid crystal panel 21 and the second liquid crystal panel 22 may display a color image, but in the first embodiment, description will be given where the first liquid crystal panel 21 displays a color image and the second liquid crystal panel 22 displays a black-and-white image. For example, in the first liquid crystal panel 21, each pixel PX1 includes three subpixels being a subpixel that emits red light, a subpixel that emits green light, and a subpixel that emits blue light. As a result, the first liquid crystal panel 21 controls luminance of the subpixels. The second liquid crystal panel 22 can adjust brightness per pixel PX2 by taking the three subpixels as one pixel PX2.
Here, a slight gap is structurally generated between the first liquid crystal panel 21 and the second liquid crystal panel 22. Thus, for example, in a case where a pixel size of a front panel and a pixel size of a back panel are the same in a dual liquid crystal panel, when a user sees a displayed image from the front in a diagonal direction, the image is seen as if some pixels of the front panel are deficient with respect to pixels of the back panel, reducing the display quality.
Accordingly, from the perspective of improving the display quality of an image to be displayed, in the liquid crystal display device 100, an image display region of an image to be displayed on the second liquid crystal panel 22 is preferably larger than a corresponding image display region of an image to be displayed on the first liquid crystal panel 21. The image display region is, of the display regions DA1 and DA2, a region in which a pixel is open, that is, a region in which a pixel value of the pixel is greater than 0. In other words, the image display region is a region in which an image is actually displayed, of the display regions DA1 and DA2. Note that the display regions DA1 and DA2 are each a region in which an image can be displayed. As described above, by making the image display region of the second liquid crystal panel 22 larger than the image display region of the first liquid crystal panel 21, it is possible to suppress display of an image in which some pixels of the first liquid crystal panel 21 are deficient. Furthermore, although details will be described below, the liquid crystal display device 100 is also configured to suppress reduction in contrast of an image in which the first image displayed on the first liquid crystal panel 21 and the second image displayed on the second liquid crystal panel 22 overlap each other.
A resolution of the second liquid crystal panel 22 can be the same as or lower than a resolution of the first liquid crystal panel 21. By making the resolution of the second liquid crystal panel 22 lower than the resolution of the first liquid crystal panel 21, an opening ratio per pixel is increased, so that power consumption can be reduced.
The liquid crystal panel processing unit 40 performs various types of signal processing for displaying an image on each of the first liquid crystal panel 21 and the second liquid crystal panel 22 based on an image signal Dat input from the outside. For example, the liquid crystal panel processing unit 40 includes an image processing unit 41, a first timing controller 42a, and a second timing controller 42b. The image processing unit 41 converts various image signals input from the outside into RGB digital signals and black-and-white digital signals. Then, the image processing unit 41 performs image processing on the converted RGB digital signals and outputs, to the first timing controller 42a, first image data DAT1 to be output to the first liquid crystal panel 21, and performs image processing on the converted black-and-white digital signals and outputs, to the second timing controller 42b, second image data DAT2 to be output to the second liquid crystal panel 22.
The first timing controller 42a outputs the first image data DAT1 acquired from the image processing unit 41 to the first liquid crystal panel 21 at an appropriate timing. As a result, the first liquid crystal panel 21 displays, in the display region DA1, the first image corresponding to the first image data DAT1.
The second timing controller 42b outputs the second image data DAT2 acquired from the image processing unit 41 to the second liquid crystal panel 22 at an appropriate timing. As a result, the second liquid crystal panel 22 displays, in the display region DA2, the second image corresponding to the second image data DAT2. In this manner, the second liquid crystal panel 22 displays, in the display region DA2, the second image synchronized with the first image displayed on the first liquid crystal panel 21.
The image processing unit 41 includes an image generation unit 411, a down-sampling unit 412, a second liquid crystal panel extension processing unit 413, a first liquid crystal panel adjustment processing unit 414a, and a second liquid crystal panel adjustment processing unit 414b. The second liquid crystal panel adjustment processing unit 414b includes an image enlargement processing unit 414b1.
For example, the image processing unit 41 includes a computer as a hardware configuration. The computer includes a processor that executes an image processing program to function as the image generation unit 411, the down-sampling unit 412, the second liquid crystal panel extension processing unit 413, the first liquid crystal panel adjustment processing unit 414a, and the second liquid crystal panel adjustment processing unit 414b. As long as the processor can realize the functions by executing the image processing program, any type of processor may be used. As the processor, it is possible to use various types of processors such as a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The processor may include a peripheral circuit device in addition to CPU, GPU, DSP, or the like. The peripheral circuit device may be an integrated circuit (IC), or may include a resistor, a capacitor, and the like. The image processing unit 41 may include a computer-readable storage medium. The storage medium stores an image processing program in a non-transitory manner. The storage medium may be a semiconductor memory such as a static random access memory (SRAM), a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a read only memory (ROM), or a flash memory, a register, a magnetic storage device such as a hard disk device (HDD), or an optical storage device such as an optical disk device. The image processing program may be stored in advance in the storage medium, or may be supplied to the storage medium via a wide-area communication network including the Internet or the like.
When the image generation unit 411 acquires the image signal Dat input from the outside, the image generation unit 411 generates, from the image signal Dat, a first image signal Dat1 to be output to the first liquid crystal panel 21 and a second image signal Dat2 to be output to the second liquid crystal panel 22. For example, the first image signal Dat1 is a color image signal including a grayscale value for each of red, green, and blue. On the other hand, for example, the second image signal Dat2 is a black-and-white image signal including a grayscale value indicating a contrasting density (gray scale) from black to white. The image generation unit 411 outputs the first image signal Dat1 to the first liquid crystal panel adjustment processing unit 414a, and outputs the second image signal Dat2 to the down-sampling unit 412.
The down-sampling unit 412 executes down-sampling for reducing the resolution on the second image signal Dat2 acquired from the image generation unit 411, thereby tailoring the second image signal Dat2 to the resolution of the second liquid crystal panel 22. For example, in a case where one pixel PX2 on the second liquid crystal panel 22 corresponds to four pixels PX1 on the first liquid crystal panel 21, based on a luminance value of a pixel having the highest luminance value among the four pixels PX1 on the first liquid crystal panel 21, the down-sampling unit 412 may obtain information indicating a luminance value of the corresponding one pixel PX2 on the second liquid crystal panel 22. Then, the down-sampling unit 412 outputs the second image signal Dat2 having the down-sampled resolution to the second liquid crystal panel extension processing unit 413.
When the second liquid crystal panel extension processing unit 413 acquires the second image signal Dat2 down-sampled by the down-sampling unit 412, the second liquid crystal panel extension processing unit 413 filters the acquired second image signal Dat2 to generate the second image signal Dat2. For example, the second liquid crystal panel extension processing unit 413 filters a luminance value of a pixel of interest in the second image signal Dat2 down-sampled by the down-sampling unit 412, based on a luminance value of adjacent pixels surrounding the pixel of interest.
The second liquid crystal panel extension processing unit 413 outputs the filtered second image signal Dat2 generated by filtering to each of the first liquid crystal panel adjustment processing unit 414a and the second liquid crystal panel adjustment processing unit 414b.
The first liquid crystal panel adjustment processing unit 414a generates the first image data DAT1, which is image data for displaying the first image on the first liquid crystal panel 21, based on the filtered second image signal Dat2 acquired from the second liquid crystal panel extension processing unit 413 and the first image signal Dat1 acquired from the image generation unit 411. In order for a desired image to be displayed by the liquid crystal display device 100 when an image is displayed on each of the first liquid crystal panel 21 and the second liquid crystal panel 22, the first liquid crystal panel adjustment processing unit 414a adjusts a grayscale value of the first image data DAT1, with reference to the filtered second image signal Dat2 input from the second liquid crystal panel extension processing unit 413, and generates the first image data DAT1 having the adjusted grayscale value. Then, the first liquid crystal panel adjustment processing unit 414a outputs the first image data DAT1 having the adjusted grayscale value to the first timing controller 42a.
The first timing controller 42a outputs the first image data DAT1 acquired from the first liquid crystal panel adjustment processing unit 414a to the first liquid crystal panel 21 at a predetermined timing. As a result, on the first liquid crystal panel 21, a gate driver (not illustrated) and a source driver (not illustrated) are driven to display the first image in the display region DA1 based on the first image data DAT1 acquired from the first timing controller 42a.
When the second liquid crystal panel adjustment processing unit 414b acquires the filtered second image signal Dat2 from the second liquid crystal panel extension processing unit 413, the image enlargement processing unit 414b1 generates the second image obtained by enlarging a pre-enlargement image V22a (to be described below with reference to
The second timing controller 42b outputs the second image data DAT2 acquired from the second liquid crystal panel adjustment processing unit 414b to the second liquid crystal panel 22 at a predetermined timing. As a result, on the second liquid crystal panel 22, a gate driver (not illustrated) and a source driver (not illustrated) are driven to display the second image based on the second image data DAT2 acquired from the second timing controller 42b in the display region DA2 in such a manner so as to synchronize the second image with the first image. This displays an image in which the first image and the second image overlap each other in the display region DA1 of the first liquid crystal panel 21.
Next, before describing a specific example of processing performed by the image enlargement processing unit 414b1, a comparative example will be described with reference to
The first liquid crystal panel 221 displays the first image V221 in a display region. The second liquid crystal panel 222 displays the second image V222 synchronized with the first image V221. For example, the first image V221 has nine display elements Azf11 to Azf13, Azf21 to Azf23, and Azf31 to Azf33 arranged in a matrix.
The display element Azf11 has a center coordinate with a position Pzf(x1, y1), the display element Azf12 has a center coordinate with a position Pzf(x1, y2) in the first image V221, and the display element Azf13 has a center coordinate with a position Pzf(x1, y3), and each of the display elements is an image that a predetermined number of pixels in each of the X direction, the −X direction, the Y direction, and the −Y direction display. The display element Azf21 has a center coordinate with a position Pzf(x2, y1), a display element Azf22 has a center coordinate with a position Pzf(x2, y2), and the display element Azf23 has a center coordinate with a position Pzf(x2, y3), and each of the display elements is an image that a predetermined number of pixels in each of the X direction, the −X direction, the Y direction, and the −Y direction display. The display element Azf31 has a center coordinate with a position Pzf(x3, y1), the display element Azf32 has a center coordinate with a position Pzf(x3, y2), and the display element Azf33 has a center coordinate with a position Pzf(x3, y3), and each of the display elements is an image that a predetermined number of pixels in each of the X direction, the −X direction, the Y direction, and the −Y direction display. Note that the position Pzf(x1, y1) to the position Pzf(x1, y3), the position Pzf(x2, y1) to the position Pzf(x2, y3), and the position Pzf(x3, y1) to the position Pzf(x3, y3) each indicate a coordinate position in the first image V221, and indicate positions that are aligned in order from x1 to x3 in the X direction and aligned in order from y1 to y3 in the Y direction.
The second image V222 synchronized with the first image V221 and displayed in the display region on the second liquid crystal panel 222 is an image obtained by filtering a pre-enlargement image, which is an image before enlargement, to enlarge the pre-enlargement image. The pre-enlargement image includes a plurality of display elements whose number, coordinate positions, and sizes are the same as those of the display elements Azf11 to Azf13, Azf21 to Azf23, and Azf31 to Azf33 included in the first image V221.
A gap is structurally generated between the first liquid crystal panel 221 and the second liquid crystal panel 222, and thus, in order for an image (an image to be visually recognized by a user) obtained by superimposing the first image V221 and the second image V222 to be prevented from becoming an image in which the first image V221 is partially deficient, the second image V222 displayed on the second liquid crystal panel 222 on the back panel side is made larger than the first image V221 displayed on the first liquid crystal panel 221 on the front panel side.
The second image V222 includes nine display elements Azb11 to Azb13, Azb21 to Azb23, and Azb31 to Azb33 arranged in a matrix.
The display element Azb11 is an image obtained by enlarging a pre-enlargement display element having a center coordinate with a position Pzb(x1, y1) and a size the same as that of the display element Azf11, the position Pzb(x1, y1) being the same coordinate position as the position Pzf(x1, y1) that is the center coordinate of the display element Azf11, at a constant enlargement ratio in each of the X direction, the −X direction, the Y direction, and the −Y direction. The display element Azb12 is an image obtained by enlarging a pre-enlargement display element having a center coordinate with a position Pzb(x1, y2) and a size the same as that of the display element Azf12, the position Pxb(x1, y2) being the same coordinate position as the position Pzf(x1, y2) that is the center coordinate of the display element Azf12, at a constant enlargement ratio in each of the X direction, the −X direction, the Y direction, and the −Y direction. The display element Azb13 is an image obtained by enlarging a pre-enlargement display element having a center coordinate with a position Pzb(x1, y3) and a size the same as that of the display element Azf13, the position Pzb(x1, y3) being the same coordinate position as the position Pzf(x1, y3) that is the center coordinate of the display element Azf13, at a constant enlargement ratio in each of the X direction, the −X direction, the Y direction, and the −Y direction.
The display element Azb21 is an image obtained by enlarging a pre-enlargement display element having a center coordinate with a position Pzb(x2, y1) and a size the same as that of the display element Azf21, the position Pzb(x2, y1) being the same coordinate position as the position Pzf(x2, y1) that is the center coordinate of the display element Azf21, at a constant enlargement ratio in each of the X direction, the −X direction, the Y direction, and the −Y direction. The display element Azb22 is an image obtained by enlarging a pre-enlargement display element having a center coordinate with a position Pzb(x2, y2) and a size the same as that of the display element Azf22, the position Pzb(2, y2) being the same coordinate position as the position Pzf(x2, y2) that is the center coordinate of the display element Azf22, at a constant enlargement ratio in each of the X direction, the −X direction, the Y direction, and the −Y direction. The display element Azb23 is an image obtained by enlarging a pre-enlargement display element having a center coordinate with a position Pzb(x2, y3) and a size the same as that of the display element Azf23, the position Pzb(x2, y3) being the same coordinate position as the position Pzf(x2, y3) that is the center coordinate of the display element Azf23, at a constant enlargement ratio in each of the X direction, the −X direction, the Y direction, and the −Y direction.
The display element Azb31 is an image obtained by enlarging a pre-enlargement display element having a center coordinate with a position Pzb(x3, y1) and a size the same as that of the display element Azf31, the position Pzb(x3, y1) being the same coordinate position as the position Pzf(x3, y1) that is the center coordinate of the display element Azf31, at a constant enlargement ratio in each of the X direction, the −X direction, the Y direction, and the −Y direction. The display element Azb32 is an image obtained by enlarging a pre-enlargement display element having a center coordinate with a position Pzb(x3, y2) and a size the same as that of the display element Azf32, the position Pzb(x3, y2) being the same coordinate position as the position Pzf(x3, y2) that is the center coordinate of the display element Azf32, at a constant enlargement ratio in each of the X direction, the −X direction, the Y direction, and the −Y direction. The display element Azb33 is an image obtained by enlarging a pre-enlargement display element having a center coordinate with a position Pzb(x3, y3) and a size the same as that of the display element Azf33, the position Pzb(x3, y3) being the same coordinate position as the position Pzf(x3, y3) that is the center coordinate of the display element Azf33, at a constant enlargement ratio in each of the X direction, the −X direction, the Y direction, and the −Y direction.
Then, the liquid crystal display device 200 applies a constant enlargement ratio to the width Wzf in each of the X direction, the −X direction, the Y direction, and the −Y direction of the pre-enlargement display element Azba22 to obtain the rectangular display element Azb22 having a center coordinate with a position Pzb(x2, y2) and a width Wb in each of the X direction, the −X direction, the Y direction, and the −Y direction. The liquid crystal display device 200 enlarges each of the display elements Azb11 to Azb13, Azb21 to Azb23, and Azb31 to Azb33 before enlargement by a constant enlargement ratio in each of the X direction, the −X direction, the Y direction, and the −Y direction from the center coordinate to obtain each of the display elements Azb11 to Azb13, Azb21 to Azb23, and Azb31 to Azb33 after enlargement, respectively.
As illustrated in
When the user U2 sees the liquid crystal display device 200 from the front as illustrated in
Thus, when seen by the user U2 from the front (see
However, according to the liquid crystal display device 200, the second image V222 is created by generating the display elements Azb11 to Azb13, Azb21 to Azb23, and Azb31 to Azb33 by enlargement with a constant enlargement ratio (i.e., using a constant filter coefficient).
Thus, as compared to an area of each of the display elements Azf11 to Azf13, Azf21 to Azf23, and Azf31 to Azf33 in first image V221, an area of each of the enlarged display elements Azb11 to Azb13, Azb21 to Azb23, and Azb31 to Azb33 in the second image V222 may be too large. As a result, around each of the display elements Azf11 to Azf13, Azf21 to Azf23, and Azf31 to Azf33 in the first image, a portion of each of the display elements Azb11 to Azb13, Azb21 to Azb23, and Azb31 to Azb33, the portion protruding from each of the display elements in the first image because the area is too large, is visible, so that the contrast around each of the display elements Azf11 to Azf13, Azf21 to Azf23, and Azf31 to Azf33 may be worsened.
Next, with reference to
For example, the first image V21 displayed in the display region DA1 of the first liquid crystal panel 21 includes a plurality of (nine as an example) display elements Af11 to Af13, Af21 to Af23, and Af31 to Af33 arranged in a matrix. The display element Af11 has a center coordinate with a position Pf(x1, y1), the display element Af12 has a center coordinate with a position Pf(x1, y2) in the first image V21, the display element Af13 has a center coordinate with a position Pf(x1, y3), and each of the display elements is an image (an image of a part of the first image V21) that a predetermined number of pixels PX1 in each of the X direction, the −X direction, the Y direction, and the −Y direction display. The display element Af21 has a center coordinate with a position Pf(x2, y1), the display element f22 has a center coordinate with a position Pf(x2, y2), the display element Af23 has center coordinate with a position Pf(x2, y3), and each of the display elements is an image (an image of a part of the first image V21) that a predetermined number of pixels in each of the X direction, the −X direction, the Y direction, and the −Y direction display. Note that the position Pf(x2, y2) is a center coordinate of the display element Af22 and is also a center coordinate in the first image V21. The display element Af31 has a center coordinate with a position Pf(x3, y1), the display element Af32 has a center coordinate with a position Pf(x3, y2), the display element Af33 has a center coordinate with a position Pf(x3, y3), and each of the display elements is an image (an image of a part of the first image V21) that a predetermined number of pixels in each of the X direction, the −X direction, the Y direction, and the −Y direction display.
Note that the position Pf(x1, y1) to the position Pf(x1, y3), the position Pf(x2, y1) to the position Pf(x2, y3), and the position Pf(x3, y1) to the position Pf(x3, y3) each indicate a coordinate position in the first image V21, and indicate positions that are aligned in order from x1 to x3 in the X direction and aligned in order from y1 to y3 in the Y direction. That is, the position Pf(x1, y1) to the position Pf(x3, y1) are aligned in this order in the X direction. The position Pf(x1, y2) to the position Pf(x3, y2) are aligned in this order in the X direction. The position Pf(x1, y3) to the position Pf(x3, y3) are aligned in this order in the X direction. The position Pf(x1, y1) to the position Pf(x1, y3) are aligned in this order in the Y direction. The position Pf(x2, y1) to the position Pf(x2, y3) are aligned in this order in the Y direction. The position Pf(x3, y1) to the position Pf(x3, y3) are aligned in this order in the Y direction.
The second image V22 displayed in the display region DA2 of the second liquid crystal panel 22 is generated by enlarging the pre-enlargement image. The second image V22 includes a plurality of (nine as an example) display elements Ab11 to Ab13, Ab21 to Ab23, and Ab31 to Ab33 arranged in a matrix.
When the pre-enlargement image that is an image before enlargement is enlarged to obtain the second image V22, the image enlargement processing unit 414b1 sets a predetermined enlargement center position in the display region DA2 in the second liquid crystal panel 22, and enlarges the pre-enlargement image toward the end portions of the display region DA2 (the end portion E21 on the right side, the end portion E22 on the left side, the end portion E23 on the upper side, and the end portion E24 on the lower side) around the predetermined enlargement center position to obtain the second image V22. For example, the image enlargement processing unit 414b1 enlarges the pre-enlargement image using the following Equation (2) to obtain the second image V22.
“x” and “y” in Equation (2) above are coordinates in the first image V21. “α” is an enlargement ratio. “sizex” and “sizey” are resolutions in the lateral direction (−X direction and the X direction) and in the longitudinal direction (−Y direction and Y direction), respectively.
“(α−1)×sizex/2” and “(α−1)×sizey/2” are for alignment to center an output image with respect to an input image.
As to the enlargement ratio α, for example, in a case where enlargement is performed by 6 pixels in each of the left and the right in the lateral direction (−X direction and the X direction), when the resolution in the lateral direction of the second liquid crystal panel 22, that is, the number of pixels is 3840 pixels, it is possible to obtain the enlargement ratio α as follows.
α=(3840+2×6)/3840=1.003
The pre-enlargement image that the image enlargement processing unit 414b1 enlarges to generate the second image V22 includes a plurality of display elements whose number, coordinate positions, and sizes are the same as those of the display elements Af11 to Af13, Af21 to Af23, and Af31 to Af33 included in the first image V21. Then, the second image V22 includes the display elements Ab11 to Ab13, Ab21 to Ab23, and Ab31 to Ab33 obtained by enlarging the plurality of display elements corresponding to the display elements Af11 to Af13, Af21 to Af23, and Af31 to Af33 included in first image V21.
The enlargement center position when the image enlargement processing unit 414b1 enlarges the pre-enlargement image is assumed to be, as an example, the center coordinate of the pre-enlargement image (in other words, the center coordinate of the second image V22 after enlargement), and further the position Pb(x2, y2), which is the center coordinate of the display element Ab22. Note that the enlargement center position when the image enlargement processing unit 414b1 enlarges the image is not limited to the center coordinate of the pre-enlargement image (i.e., the center coordinate of the second image V22), and can be any coordinate of the pre-enlargement image (i.e., the second image V22).
The image enlargement processing unit 414b1 sets the position Pb(x2, y2) as the enlargement center position, and generates the second image V22 obtained by enlarging the entire pre-enlargement image toward the end portions in the second liquid crystal panel 22 (the end portions E21b to E24b), that is, in the plus-minus X directions (horizontal direction) and in the plus-minus Y directions (vertical direction).
Specifically, the image enlargement processing unit 414b1 sets the position Pb(x2, y2) as the enlargement center position, enlarges the pre-enlargement image from the position Pb(x2, y2) to the end portion E21b on the right side of the display region DA2, as indicated by an arrow EX21 extending in the X direction, enlarges the pre-enlargement image from the position Pb(x2, y2) to the end portion E22b on the left side of the display region DA2, as indicated by an arrow EX22 extending in the −X direction, enlarges the pre-enlargement image from the position Pb(x2, y2) to the end portion E23b on the upper side of the display region DA2, as indicated by an arrow EX23 extending in the −Y direction, and enlarges the pre-enlargement image from the position Pb(x2, y2) to the end portion E24b on the lower side of the display region DA2, as indicated by an arrow EX24 extending in the Y direction.
As illustrated in
On the other hand, in the second image V22 after enlargement, coordinate positions of regions closer to the end portions E21, E22, E23, and E24 than the position Pb(x2, y2), which is the enlargement center position, shift to get close to the end portions E21, E22, E23, and E24 as compared to coordinate positions of the corresponding regions included in the pre-enlargement image V22a.
As illustrated in
The pre-enlargement display element Ab11a is closer to the end portion E22 on the left side and the end portion E23 on the upper side than the position Pf(x2, y2), which is the enlargement center position, and thus, enlargement is performed in a direction in which the entire position of the pre-enlargement display element Ab11a gets close to the end portion E22 on the left side and the end portion E23 on the upper side. In other words, the image enlargement processing unit 414b1 enlarges the widths Wf in the plus-minus X direction (width Wf×2) by the enlargement ratio α in the −X direction as indicated by the arrow EX22 in
As illustrated in
The pre-enlargement display element Ab33a is closer to the end portion E21 on the right side and the end portion E24 on the lower side than the position Pf(x2, y2), which is the enlargement center position, and thus, enlargement is performed in a direction in which the entire position of the pre-enlargement display element Ab33a gets close to the end portion E21 on the right side and the end portion E24 on the lower side. In other words, the image enlargement processing unit 414b1 enlarges the widths Wf in the plus-minus X direction (width Wf×2) by the enlargement ratio α in the X direction as indicated by the arrow EX21 in
Similarly, as illustrated in
In addition, the image enlargement processing unit 414b1 enlarges the pre-enlargement display element at a position closer to the end portion E23 on the upper side (a position corresponding to the display element Af21 in the first image V21) of the pre-enlargement image V22a than the position Pf(x2, y2), which is the enlargement center position, in such a manner as to get close to the end portion E23 on the upper side to generate the display element Ab21 after enlargement. The center coordinate of the display element Ab21 shifts in a direction from the position Pb(x2, y1), which is the center coordinate of the pre-enlargement display element, toward the end portion E23 on the upper side (the −Y direction indicated by the arrow EX23) to be a position Pb(x2, y1−Δy). In addition, the image enlargement processing unit 414b1 enlarges the pre-enlargement display element at a position closer to the end portion E24 on the lower side (a position corresponding to the display element Af23 in the first image V21) of the pre-enlargement image V22a than the position Pf(x2, y2), which is the enlargement center position, in such a manner as to get close to the end portion E24 on the lower side to generate the display element Ab23 after enlargement. The center coordinate of the display element Ab23 shifts in a direction from the position Pb(x2, y3), which is the center coordinate of the pre-enlargement display element, toward the end portion E24 on the lower side (the Y direction indicated by the arrow EX24) to be a position Pb(x2, y3+Δy).
In addition, the image enlargement processing unit 414b1 enlarges the pre-enlargement display element at a position closer to the end portion E21 on the right side and the end portion E23 on the upper side (a position corresponding to the display element Af31 in the first image V21) of the pre-enlargement image V22a than the position Pf(x2, y2), which is the enlargement center position, in such a manner as to get close to the end portion E21 on the right side and the end portion E23 on the upper side to generate the display element Ab31 after enlargement. The center coordinate of the display element Ab31 shifts in a direction from the position Pb(x3, y1), which is the center coordinate of the pre-enlargement display element, toward the end portion E21 on the right side and the end portion E23 on the upper side (the X direction indicated by the arrow EX21 and the −Y direction indicated by the arrow EX23) to be a position Pb(x3+Δx, y1−Δy). In addition, the image enlargement processing unit 414b1 enlarges the pre-enlargement display element at a position closer to the end portion E21 on the right side (a position corresponding to the display element Af32 in the first image V21) of the pre-enlargement image V22a than the position Pf(x2, y2), which is the enlargement center position, in such a manner as to get close to the end portion E21 on the right side to generate the display element Ab32 after enlargement. The center coordinate of the display element Ab32 shifts in a direction from the position Pb(x3, y2), which is the center coordinate of the pre-enlargement display element, toward the end portion E21 on the right side (the X direction indicated by the arrow EX21) to be a position Pb(x3+Δx, y2).
In this manner, the image enlargement processing unit 414b1 can obtain the second image V22 by enlarging the pre-enlargement image V22a by the enlargement ratio α around the position Pb(x2, y2), which is an example of the enlargement center position.
In other words,
When the user U2 sees the image V20 displayed in the display region DA1 from the front as illustrated in
In this manner, the liquid crystal display device 100 enlarges the second image V22 displayed on the second liquid crystal panel 22, which is the back panel, as compared to the first image V21 displayed on the first liquid crystal panel 21, which is the front panel. Thus, as compared to a dual liquid crystal panel in which an image to be displayed on the back panel side is not enlarged, when seen by the user U2 from the front (see
In addition, as illustrated in
Thus, as compared to a case where all pre-enlargement display elements are enlarged around the center coordinate by a constant enlargement ratio in the X direction, the −X direction, the Y direction, and the −Y direction to generate the display elements Azb11 to Azb13, Azb21 to Azb23, and Azb31 to Azb33 after enlargement, like the liquid crystal display device 200 according to the comparative example described with reference to
In other words, it can be said that a display method according to the first embodiment includes a step of displaying the first image V21 on the first liquid crystal panel 21, a step of displaying the second image V22 synchronized with the first image V21 on the second liquid crystal panel 22 facing the rear surface of the first liquid crystal panel 21, and a step of enlarging the second image V22 from the position Pb(x2, y2), which is an example of the predetermined enlargement center position in the second liquid crystal panel 22, toward at least any one of the end portions E21b to E24b of the second liquid crystal panel 22.
Note that with reference to
Furthermore, the image enlargement processing unit 414b1 enlarges the pre-enlargement image V22a in such a manner that positions of the pre-enlargement display elements Ab11a, Ab33a, and the like, which are partial regions closer to at least one end portion of the end portions E21 to E24 than the position Pf(x2, y2), which is an example of the predetermined enlargement center position, of the pre-enlargement image V22a before enlargement of the second image V22, get close to at least one end portion, thereby generating the second image V22.
For example, as described with reference to
Thus, the image enlargement processing unit 414b1 can enlarge the display elements Ab11 to Ab13, Ab21 to Ab23, and Ab31 to Ab33 included in the second image V22 while suppressing excessive enlargement. As a result, it is possible to suppress reduction in contrast of the image V20 in which the first image V21 and the second image V22 overlap each other.
For example, as an example of how the image enlargement processing unit 414b1 brings the position of a display element, which is closer to at least one end portion than the predetermined enlargement center position, close to the at least one end portion, when generating the second image V22 by enlargement, the image enlargement processing unit 414b1 may perform enlargement in such a manner that when the first image V21 and the second image V22 overlap each other, as to a distance between each end portion (the end portion on the right side, the end portion on the left side, the end portion on the upper side, and the end portion on the lower side when seen from the front) defining each of the display elements Af11 to Af13, Af21, Af23, and Af31 to Af33 included in the first image V21 and each end portion (the end portion on the right side, the end portion on the left side, the end portion on the upper side, and the end portion on the lower side when seen from the front) defining each of the display elements Ab11 to Ab13, Ab21, Ab23, and Ab31 to Ab33 after enlargement, a distance (a distance dxa1 and a distance dxb1 illustrated in
In addition, with reference to
For example, as illustrated in
Furthermore, the image enlargement processing unit 414b1 may enlarge the pre-enlargement image V22a before enlarging isotropically from the position Pf(x2, y2), which is an example of the predetermined enlargement center position, in both the horizontal direction (plus-minus X direction) and the vertical direction (plus-minus Y direction) in the display region DA2 of the second liquid crystal panel 22, thereby generating the second image V22. Note that enlarging isotropically means enlarging by the same distance or the same enlargement ratio α in the X direction, the −X direction, the Y direction, and the −Y direction, and for example, Δx=Δy illustrated in
Next, with reference to
Examples of the parameter P1 include a filter coefficient used when the second liquid crystal panel extension processing unit 413 performs filtering. Examples of the parameter P2 include the enlargement ratio α for the image enlargement processing unit 414b1 to enlarge the pre-enlargement image. Note that the parameter which the input device 50 can input may be both the parameter P1 and the parameter P2, or may be only one of these.
When the image processing unit 41 acquires the parameter P1 from the input device 50, the second liquid crystal panel extension processing unit 413 uses a mask coefficient based on the parameter P1 to filter the second image signal Dat2 acquired from the down-sampling unit 412.
When the image processing unit 41 acquires the parameter P2 from the input device 50, the image enlargement processing unit 414b1 uses the enlargement ratio α based on the parameter P2 to extend the pre-enlargement image V22a based on the second image signal Dat2 acquired from the second liquid crystal panel extension processing unit 413.
The input device 50 may be a device capable of inputting various types of information by an operation from a user, and any input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, a button, or the like can be used as the input device 50.
As described above, the liquid crystal display device 100 according to the second embodiment includes the input device 50. The input device 50 is a device capable of inputting at least one of the parameter P1, which is information for the second liquid crystal panel extension processing unit 413 to perform filtering, and the parameter P2, which is information for the image enlargement processing unit 414b1 to enlarge the pre-enlargement image. This allows a user to change the parameter P1 and the parameter P2, so that the user can adjust the relative positions of the first image V21 and the second image V22. This makes it easy to adjust the positions of the first image V21 and the second image V22 in accordance with a gap between the first liquid panel 21 and the second liquid crystal panel 22, so that it is possible to further improve the display quality.
For example, the second liquid crystal panel adjustment processing unit 414b adjusts the display position in the display region DA2 of the second image V22 using the following Equation (3).
In Equation (3) above, output(x, y) represents a display position of the second image V22 in the X direction and the Y direction in the display region DA2. The parameter P3 input by the input device 50 includes posx and posy as information. Then, the second liquid crystal panel adjustment processing unit 414b obtains output(x, y) of Equation (3) above based on posx and posy, which are included as information in the parameter P3 input by the input device 50, to determine the display position of the second image V22 in the X direction and the Y direction in the display region DA2.
In this manner, the liquid crystal display device 100 according to the third embodiment includes the input device 50 capable of inputting the parameter P3, which is information for adjusting a display position in the display region DA2 of the second image V22. This allows a user to change the parameter P3, so that the user can adjust the display position in the display region DA2. That is, the user can adjust the relative positions of the first image V21 and the second image V22, so that the positions of the first image V21 and the second image V22 can be easily adjusted in accordance with a gap between the first liquid panel 21 and the second liquid crystal panel 22, so that the display quality can be further improved.
Note that, in the input device 50 according to the third embodiment, as in the input device 50 according to the second embodiment, at least one of the parameter P1 and the parameter P2 may be input.
The liquid crystal display device 100 according to the fourth embodiment includes a display unit 120 including the first liquid crystal panel 21 and the second liquid crystal panel 22, a strut portion 121 that supports the display unit 120, and a base portion 122 that is a base on which the strut portion 121 is supported. The display unit 120 includes the first liquid crystal panel 21, the second liquid crystal panel 22, and a housing 110 that houses the first liquid crystal panel 21 and the second liquid crystal panel 22. The strut portion 121 includes the angle adjustment mechanism 121a and a column portion 121b. Of the column portion 121b, the bottom is connected to the base portion 122, and the angle adjustment mechanism 121a is provided on the top. The column portion 121b supports the display unit 120 with the angle adjustment mechanism 121a interposed therebetween.
The angle adjustment mechanism 121a rotatably supports the display unit 120 around a rotational axis parallel to the X direction, for example. The angle adjustment mechanism 121a may be manually moved by a user to change an angle of the display unit 120 supported by the angle adjustment mechanism 121a, and for example, the image enlargement processing unit 414b1 may control an angle of the angle adjustment mechanism 121a in accordance with the second image V22.
For example, as illustrated in
For example, in accordance with the angle with which the user sees the image V20 displayed on the display unit 120, the angle adjustment mechanism 121a can adjust the angle of the display unit 120.
For example, in a case where the user sees the display unit 120 from the diagonally lower front, the angle adjustment mechanism 121a adjusts the angle of the display unit 120 by an instruction from the image enlargement processing unit 414b1 or by manual operation of the user in such a manner that the display unit 120 is at the first position PT1, that is, the display region DA1 of the display unit 120 faces forward in the diagonally downward direction, as illustrated in
As described above, the liquid crystal display device 100 according to the fourth embodiment includes the angle adjustment mechanism 121a capable of adjusting the angles of the first liquid crystal panel 21 and the second liquid crystal panel 22. Accordingly, the angle adjustment mechanism 121a can adjust the angles of the first liquid crystal panel 21 and the second liquid crystal panel 22 in accordance with the angle with which the user sees the image V20 displayed in the display region DA1. This can narrow a range of the angle with which the user sees the display region DA1. As a result, it is possible to provide, to the viewer, the image V20 in which reduction in contrast is further suppressed.
Note that the image enlargement processing unit 414b1 may set a predetermined enlargement center position in accordance with the angles of the first liquid crystal panel 21 and the second liquid crystal panel 22 adjusted by the angle adjustment mechanism 121a, and generate the second image V22.
Furthermore, the liquid crystal display device 100 according to the fourth embodiment may also include at least one input device (
In addition, for example, in a case where the liquid crystal display device 100 according to the fourth embodiment includes the input device 50 capable of inputting the parameter P3 (
The viewer acquisition unit 61 acquires information indicating a presence of a user who is viewing the image V20 displayed by the liquid crystal display device 100. The viewer acquisition unit 61 can be, for example, an image capturing device capable of capturing an image of a user as information indicating a presence of the user. The position determination unit 62 determines, based on the image captured by the viewer acquisition unit 61, a viewing position from the liquid crystal display device 100 (e.g., a distance and an angle from the liquid crystal display device 100) from which the user is viewing the image V20. Then, the position determination unit 62 generates a parameter P4 that is information indicating the determined viewing position of the user, and outputs the parameter P4 to the image enlargement processing unit 414b1.
The image enlargement processing unit 414b1 sets a predetermined enlargement center position based on the viewing position of the user indicated by the parameter P4, and enlarges the pre-enlargement image V20a around the predetermined enlargement center position, which has been set, to generate the second image V22.
As illustrated in
In this manner, the image enlargement processing unit 414b1 according to the fifth embodiment sets the predetermined enlargement center position in accordance with the position of the viewer (user) determined by the position determination unit 62. This can further control the degree of enlargement of the second image V22 in accordance with the position of the viewer (user), so that it is possible to suppress further reduction in contrast of the image V20.
Note that in a case where the position determination unit 62 determines that there are two or more viewers (users), the position determination unit 62 does not perform the processing described in the fourth embodiment, that is, it does not generate the parameter P4, but the image enlargement processing unit 414b1 may generate the second image V22 without input of the parameter P4, based on the predetermined enlargement center position.
Furthermore, the liquid crystal display device 100 according to the fifth embodiment may also include the input device 50 (
In this manner, the image enlargement processing unit 414b1 according to the sixth embodiment sets a predetermined enlargement center position based on the position information indicated by the parameter P5 input by the input device 50, and enlarges the pre-enlargement image V20a to generate the second image V22. This can further control the degree of enlargement of the second image V22 in accordance with the position of the viewer (user), so that it is possible to suppress further reduction in contrast of the image V20.
The disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and may be substituted with a configuration that is substantially the same as the configuration described in the embodiments described above, a configuration that achieves the same action and effect, or a configuration capable of achieving the same object.
The present application claims priority from Application No. 63/309,764, the content to which is hereby incorporated by reference into this application.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7937122 | Hamamura | May 2011 | B2 |
| 8451201 | Hirata | May 2013 | B2 |
| 9726948 | Fukuoka | Aug 2017 | B2 |
| 10036911 | Cho | Jul 2018 | B2 |
| 10440207 | Sensu | Oct 2019 | B2 |
| 11216138 | Yamazaki | Jan 2022 | B2 |
| 20200126510 | Shiokawa | Apr 2020 | A1 |
| 20200175934 | Hirotsune | Jun 2020 | A1 |
| 20210035511 | Kimura | Feb 2021 | A1 |
| 20230145390 | Nakamura | May 2023 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2019-174742 | Oct 2019 | JP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20230298535 A1 | Sep 2023 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63309764 | Feb 2022 | US |
