Image display system and method

An image display system for projecting a plurality of images on a screen with one image superimposed on another comprising:

• a first liquid crystal projector for alternately projecting mutually differing first and second images having a first state of polarization in successive time frames in accordance with a time-division display scheme;
• a second liquid crystal projector for projecting a white image having a second state of polarization which differs from said first state of polarization;
• a first viewing device assigned to a first viewer incorporating a first liquid crystal shutter which opens and closes in synchronism with time-division display operation of said first liquid crystal projector to selectively allow said first image to pass through and a first optical filter which allows the image having said first state of polarization to pass through;
• and
• a second viewing device assigned to a second viewer incorporating a second liquid crystal shutter which opens and closes in synchronism-with the time-division display operation of said first liquid crystal projector to selectively allow said second image to pass through and a second optical filter which allows the image having said first state of polarization to pass through;
• wherein said first and second images are entirely overlapped with said white image on said screen,
• whereby said first viewer wearing said first viewing device can selectively see said first image and said second viewer wearing said second viewing device can selectively see said second image, while viewers not wearing such a viewing device can only see said white image.

The system of claim 16 further comprising:

• a first polarizing plate provided in front of said first liquid crystal projector;
• a first quarter-wave plate provided in front of said first polarizing plate;
• a second polarizing plate provided in front of said second liquid crystal projector;
• a second quarter-wave plate provided in front of said second polarizing plate;
• and
• a controller connected between said first liquid crystal projector and said first and second liquid crystal shutters to cause said first and second liquid crystal shutters to alternately open and close in synchronism with the time-division display operation of said first liquid crystal projector.

An image display system for projecting a plurality of images on a screen with one image superimposed on another comprising:

• a first liquid crystal projector for alternately projecting images for right and left eyes in successive time frames in accordance with a time-division display scheme, said images having a first state of polarization;
• a second liquid crystal projector for projecting a white image having a second state of polarization which differs from said first state of polarization;
• and
• a viewing device assigned to a viewer incorporating a first liquid crystal shutter which, provided at the right-eye side of said viewing device, opens and closes in synchronism with time-division display operation of said first liquid crystal projector to selectively allow said image for the right eye to pass through, a second liquid crystal shutter which, provided at the left-eye side of said viewing device, opens and closes in synchronism with the time-division display operation of said first liquid crystal projector to selectively allow said image for the left eye to pass through, a first optical filter which, provided at the right-eye side of said viewing device, allows the image having said first state of polarization to pass through, and a second optical filter which, provided at the left-eye side of said viewing device, allows the image having said first state of polarization to pass through,
• whereby said viewer wearing said viewing device can selectively see a three-dimensional image, while viewers not wearing such a viewing device can only see said white image.

An image display system comprising:

• a liquid crystal panel including a plurality of active matrix regions and common peripheral circuits for controlling horizontal and/or vertical scanning operation in said active matrix regions, said active matrix regions and said peripheral circuits being formed on a single substrate;
• a polarizer for giving a first state of polarization to at least one of images generated by said active matrix regions;
• a polarizer for giving a second state of polarization to an image other than the image(s) to which said first state of polarization is given;
• and
• a projector for projecting the images generated in said active matrix regions of said liquid crystal panel on a screen with one image superimposed on another;
• wherein at least one of the images generated by said active matrix regions is entirely white, and
• wherein at least one of the images are sequentially generated to fit in successive time frames in accordance with a time-division display scheme.

An image display system comprising:

• a liquid crystal panel including a plurality of active matrix regions and common peripheral circuits for controlling horizontal and/or vertical scanning operation in said active matrix regions, said active matrix regions and said peripheral circuits being formed on a single substrate;
• a polarizer for giving a first state of polarization to at least one of images generated by said active matrix regions;
• a polarizer for giving a second state of polarization to an image other than the image(s) to which said first state of polarization is given;
• and
• a projector for projecting the images generated in said active matrix regions of said liquid crystal panel on a screen with one image superimposed on another,
• wherein at least one of the images generated by said active matrix regions forms a white pattern just to cover such part of the other image(s) that should be hidden from view, and
• wherein at least one of the images are sequentially generated to fit in successive time frames in accordance with a time-division display scheme.