Image generation apparatus, head-mounted display, content processing system, and image display method

A head-mounted display comprising:

• an image generation device that generates a display image to be viewed through an eyepiece disposed in front of a display panel, the image generation device including
• a source image reception control section that receives a source image from a content processing device,
• a distorted image generation section that generates data on pixels in a display image obtained by giving the source image a distortion corresponding to the eyepiece,
• a partially distorted image storage section that stores the data on the pixels in an order of data generation, and
• an image display control section that, whenever data on a predetermined number of pixels smaller than a total number of pixels in the display image is stored in the partially distorted image storage section, outputs the stored data to the display panel;
• and
• the display panel that sequentially displays data outputted from the image generation device,
• wherein, the source image reception control section constantly monitors reception of each row of pixels of the display image and instructs the distorted image generation section to start a process of generating data for each row of pixels after it is determined that each row of pixels is received by the source image reception control section.

A content processing system comprising:

• a head-mounted display that includes an image generation device generating a display image to be viewed through an eyepiece disposed in front of a display panel, the image generation device including
• a source image reception control section that receives a source image,
• a distorted image generation section that generates data on pixels in a display image obtained by giving the source image a distortion corresponding to the eyepiece,
• a partially distorted image storage section that stores the data on the pixels in an order of data generation, and
• an image display control section that, whenever data on a predetermined number of pixels smaller than a total number of pixels in the display image is stored in the partially distorted image storage section, outputs the stored data to the display panel;
• the display panel that sequentially displays data outputted from the image generation device;
• and
• a content processing device that generates the source image and transmits the generated source image to the head-mounted display,
• wherein, the source image reception control section constantly monitors reception of each row of pixels of the display image and instructs the distorted image generation section to start a process of generating data for each row of pixels after it is determined that each row of pixels is received by the source image reception control section.

An image display method used in an image generation device that generates a display image that is to be viewed through an eyepiece disposed in front of a display panel, the image display method comprising:

• receiving a source image from a content processing device;
• generating data on pixels in the display image that is obtained by giving the source image a distortion corresponding to the eyepiece, and sequentially storing the generated data in a memory;
• constantly monitor reception of each row of pixels of the display image;
• begin a process of generating data for each row of pixels after it is determined that each row of pixels is received;
• and
• whenever data on a predetermined number of pixels smaller than a total number of pixels in the display image is stored in the memory, outputting the stored data to the display panel,
• constantly monitor reception of each row of pixels of the display image;
• begin a process of generating data for each row of pixels after it is determined that each row of pixels is received.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a computer program for a computer generating a display image that is to be viewed through an eyepiece disposed in front of a display panel, comprising:

• by a source image reception control section, receiving a source image from a content processing device;
• by a distorted image generation section, generating data on pixels in the display image that is obtained by giving the source image a distortion corresponding to the eyepiece;
• by a partially distorted image storage section, sequentially storing the generated data in a memory;
• and
• by an image display control section, whenever data on a predetermined number of pixels smaller than a total number of pixels in the display image is stored in the memory, outputting the stored data to the display panel,
• wherein, the source image reception control section constantly monitors reception of each row of pixels of the display image and instructs the distorted image generation section to start a process of generating data for each row of pixels after it is determined that each row of pixels is received by the source image reception control section.