Abstract: Piezoelectric members are arranged in a rectangular array of 32 columns and 32 rows and a polyimide film is sandwiched at front and back sides thereof by spacers having through-holes formed only around cross-points of optical waveguides therebetween. An end of a piezoelectric member in the shape of a plate is fixed to the polyimide film with the spacer interposing therebetween. As an opening/closing operation mechanism for a cut section for change-over between propagation directions of light, there is used piezoelectric member constituted of a piezoelectric element capable of pressing a region around a cross-point point of optical waveguides from one side to the other side. With such a construction adopted, there can be obtained an optical switch capable of not only reducing an optical loss, but also preventing a change-over abnormality and burning from occurring and in addition, capable of further downsizing.

Abstract: An optical transmission module has a laser diode, a photodiode, a binary-type DOE lens for 1.3 &mgr;m and a DOE lens for 1.55 &mgr;m in a package. An optical fiber is arranged so that its end surface faces the optical transmission module. The laser diode radiates light of wavelength 1.3 &mgr;m. The photodiode receives light of wavelength 1.55 &mgr;m. Both DOE lenses have diffraction action of mutually different diffraction orders for light of the two wavelengths. The optical axis passing from the laser diode to the optical fiber and the optical axis passing from the photodiode to the optical fiber are separated. The optical transmission module is compact and has a small number of components.

Abstract: A visual image system is constructed as including: a three-dimensional visual image reproducer for transmitting a three-dimensional video signal; a parallax quantity detecting section for detecting a parallax quantity in the three-dimensional video signal from the three-dimensional visual image reproducer; a fatigue measure estimating section for estimating the degree of fatigue based on the detected parallax quantity and outputting an image switching signal correspondingly to a fatigue measure estimating quantity; a 3D/2D image switching section for providing an output by switching between three-dimensional and two-dimensional images based on the image switching signal; and an image display section for displaying a three-dimensional image or a two-dimensional image. The visual image system thereby fulfills the capability of suitably controlling the degree of three-dimensionality of stereoscopic images by inferring from the inputted video signal the degree of effects likely to be produced on the observer.

Abstract: An optical switch includes a polymer sheet having an optical waveguide extending linearly therein, keep plates holding the polymer sheet therebetween, and driving means. The polymer sheet has a notch provided to traverse the optical waveguides, and the keep plates each have an opening at a position corresponding to the notch. The opening has an elongated shape along the extending direction of the notch at least on a surface of the keep plate in contact with the polymer sheet. The driving means is for selecting a course of light by switching open and closed states of the notch by pushing and not pushing the polymer sheet via the opening.

Abstract: A visual image system is constructed as including: a three-dimensional visual image reproducer for transmitting a three-dimensional video signal; a parallax quantity detecting section for detecting a parallax quantity in the three-dimensional video signal from the three-dimensional visual image reproducer; a fatigue measure estimating section for estimating the degree of fatigue based on the detected parallax quantity and outputting an image switching signal correspondingly to a fatigue measure estimating quantity; a 3D/2D image switching section for providing an output by switching between three-dimensional and two-dimensional images based on the image switching signal; and an image display section for displaying a three-dimensional image or a two-dimensional image. The visual image system thereby fulfills the capability of suitably controlling the degree of three-dimensionality of stereoscopic images by inferring from the inputted video signal the degree of effects likely to be produced on the observer.

Abstract: An optical signal switching unit causing no instantaneous cutoff in switching without providing a latency time is obtained. The optical signal switching unit has a plurality of input waveguides and a plurality of output waveguides for switching the course of each optical signal on intersections between the waveguides and outputting the optical signal to the output waveguides. This optical signal switching unit comprises a plurality of optical switches and a switch state control part controlling the states of the plurality of optical switches thereby controlling formation of the output optical signal, while the optical switches take binary states including a first route state providing the optical signal with a course and a second course state providing the optical signal with another course as well as an intermediate state partially including both of the binary states.

Abstract: An optical switch allowing easy alignment of a cut portion with a pressurizing member pressurizing a waveguide accommodating sheet, an optical waveguide device, are obtained. The optical switch includes a cut portion formed by cutting in the waveguide accommodating sheet from one surface thereof, a contact member at least on that side of the waveguide accommodating sheet which is opposite to the cutting side, having a fixed portion fixed in the vicinity of the cut portion and a pressurizing portion positioned to be continuous with the fixed portion and two-dimensionally overlap the cut portion, and a piezoelectric actuator positioned such that the pressurizing portion is sandwiched between the actuator and the waveguide accommodating sheet, thereby moving to press the pressurizing portion against the waveguide accommodating sheet and to disengage the pressurizing portion from the waveguide accommodating sheet.

Abstract: The present invention is a translucent screen comprising a plurality of spherical lenses arranged in an orthohexagonal lattice structure or a tetragonal lattice structure on a two-dimensional plane, a supporting member disposed at the incident side of the spherical lenses, a diffusion plate which is disposed at the emission side of the spherical lenses where the surface at the side facing the spherical lenses is the diffusion surface, and a shield which connects the spherical lenses, defines the entrance aperture at the incident side and functions as a black matrix at the emission side, wherein the luminous flux entering diagonally is converted to the luminous flux which center is a direction approximately vertical to the main surface of the translucent screen, and are emitted.

Abstract: Piezoelectric members are arranged in a rectangular array of 32 columns and 32 rows and a polyimide film is sandwiched at front and back sides thereof by spacers having through-holes formed only around cross-points of optical waveguides therebetween. An end of a piezoelectric member in the shape of a plate is fixed to the polyimide film with the spacer interposing therebetween. As an opening/closing operation mechanism for a cut section for change-over between propagation directions of light, there is used piezoelectric member constituted of a piezoelectric element capable of pressing a region around a cross-point point of optical waveguides from one side to the other side. With such a construction adopted, there can be obtained an optical switch capable of not only reducing an optical loss, but also preventing a change-over abnormality and burning from occurring and in addition, capable of further downsizing.

Abstract: A signal representing an eyeball accommodation detected by an eyeball accommodation detector 18 provided for the left eye 10L is supplied to a shift amount calculator 34. The shift amount calculator 34 calculates necessary shift amounts of a right eye and left eye image corresponding to the eyeball accommodation, and supplies signals representing the necessary shift amounts to image shifters 32R and 32L. According to these signals, the image shifters 32R and 32L horizontally shift a right eye and a left eye image signal from an image generator 31 on a right eye and as left eye LCDs 11R and 11L, respectively, to obtain an adequate binocular parallax.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image display device including an LCD, a polarization switching liquid crystal cell, a birefringent plate, and an eyepiece. The LCD displays an image using a plurality of arrayed pixel locations. The polarization switching liquid crystal cell has a plurality of electrodes incorporated therein and switches the direction of polarization in which light emitted from the LCD is polarized. The birefringent plate varies the optical path of light emitted from the polarization switching liquid crystal cell depending on the direction of polarization. The eyepiece magnifies light representing an image displayed on the LCD. The LCD and polarization switching liquid crystal cell are positioned so that the distance L1 from the eyeballs to the virtual image plane of the LCD and the distance L2 from the eyeballs to the virtual image plane of the polarization switching liquid crystal cell will have the relationship of 1/L2−1/L1≧0.4 D or L2≦200 mm.

Abstract: Input means (31,32,33) receives signals representing stereo image. Image change detection means (36) detects changes with time in stereo image represented by the signals received from the input means. High attention center presumable area determination means (37) determines a peculiar local area of a displayed image area to be an observer's high attention center presumable area according to a result of detection by the image change detection means. Depth detection means (38,39) obtains information representing the depth of the image in the particular local area specified by the high attention center presumable area determination means. Depth control means (40) controls a quantity concerning the depth of stereo image represented by the signals received form the input means according to the depth information received form the depth detection means.

Abstract: In an image display apparatus including a delta-array display device and pixel position transition means for repeatedly shifting the respective pixel positions of the display device to each of positions at four points, the pixel shifted positions at the four points are: a first pixel position serving as standard; a second pixel position shifted with respect to the first, standard pixel position horizontally approximately by ½ of horizontal pixel pitch; a third pixel position shifted horizontally approximately by ¾ or ¼ of horizontal pixel pitch and vertically approximately by ½ of vertical pixel pitch; and a fourth pixel position shifted horizontally approximately by ¼ or ¾ of horizontal pixel pitch and vertically approximately by ½ of vertical pixel pitch.

Abstract: A stereo image display apparatus is disclosed, in which the influence of display area edge portions on the viewing of stereo image is taken into considerations to enable display of stereo images without spoiling the viewer's sense just like the viewer is actually on the site of the image scene. The display of a left eye and a right eye image is controlled to have a binocular parallax substantially fixed in effect. (Specifically, image shifters 32L and 32R shift the left eye and right eye images according to a parallax signal.) Edge portions of a left eye and a right eye image display area are shaded off in effect and made obscure by a left eye and a right eye eyepiece optical system 12L and 12R.

Abstract: An image and voice communication system of the present invention has an image display element and a voice output element which are suitable for image and voice communication, and further includes a character image setting element capable of imaginatively setting a character image to be displayed on the image display element; a change command receive element for receiving from a communication mate a command signal for changing the character image; a character change element for changing the character image according to the command signal; and an element for causing the display element to display a character image changed by the character change element by supplying the changed character image to the display element.

Abstract: Oscillating means 4 wobbles or oscillates an optical axis of a light beam emitted from display face of a display device 1 having a display face with a plurality of pixels in a regular array in predetermined directions. Image display control means 2 controls the display of different images on the display device in synchronism to the oscillation of the light beam optical axis caused by the oscillating means 4. Then, light beam splitting means 5 splits the light beam from the display face into a plurality of split light beams in directions crossing the directions of the oscillation of the light beam optical axis caused by the oscillating means 4.

Abstract: A stereo image display apparatus is disclosed, in which the influence of display area edge portions on the viewing of stereo image is taken into considerations to enable display of stereo images without spoiling the viewer's sense just like the viewer is actually on the site of the image scene. The display of a left eye and a right eye image is controlled to have a binocular parallax substantially fixed in effect. (Specifically, image shifters 32L and 32R shift the left eye and right eye images according to a parallax signal.) Edge portions of a left eye and a right eye image display area are shaded off in effect and made obscure by a left eye and a right eye eyepiece optical system 12L and 12R.

Abstract: The present invention is a translucent screen comprising a plurality of spherical lenses arranged in an orthohexagonal lattice structure or a tetragonal lattice structure on a two-dimensional plane, a supporting member disposed at the incident side of the spherical lenses, a diffusion plate which is disposed at the emission side of the spherical lenses where the surface at the side facing the spherical lenses is the diffusion surface, and a shield which connects the spherical lenses, defines the entrance aperture at the incident side and functions as a black matrix at the emission side, wherein the luminous flux entering diagonally is converted to the luminous flux which center is a direction approximately vertical to the main surface of the translucent screen, and are emitted.

Abstract: Provided herein is an image display apparatus for displaying high resolution images by shifting pixels based on wobbling operation by placing a TN cell consisting of a polarization changing liquid crystal plate and a birefringence plate on the front side of an LCD to be driven by video signals, the image display apparatus being provided with a correction circuit to which video signal of the preceding filed stored to a field memory, video signal of the current field and a field discriminant signal are inputted, the LCD being driven by correction video signals generated at the correction circuit so as to display a high resolution image mitigating degradation in image quality due to response delays of the LCD and TN cell.

Abstract: An image display apparatus including a liquid crystal display panel (LCD) constituting an image display plane composed of a plurality of pixels arranged with a pixel pitch, a LCD driver circuit which receives an input image signal S1 and displays an image on a substantially whole image display plane of the LCD as well as a part of the image on a selected region C of the image display plane by selectively shifting image display positions of the image with respect to inherent positions on said image display plane in a given direction by an integer multiple or an inverse of an integer multiple of the pixel pitch of the LCD, and a pixel shift driver circuit which effectively and selectively shifts, in synchronism with the operation of said LCD driver circuit, said image display plane in a direction opposite to said given direction in which said image display position shifting is carried out.