Laser display apparatus

Abstract: A display apparatus having a screen (18), a light beam source (1R, 1G, 1B) for generating light beams, an optical modulator (2R, 2G, 2B) for modulating the light beams in accordance with image signals to be displayed, a scanning apparatus (11, 12) for generating scanning beams of the modulated light beams, a projection apparatus (15, 16) for projecting the scanning beams on the screen (18), a reference beam source (22) for generating a reference beam to be supplied to the scanning apparatus (11, 12), means (24) for deriving a scanning reference beam, means (25, 26, 27) for generating timing signals based on the derived scanning reference beams, and a circuit (46, 49, 34R, 34G, 34B) for controlling timings of the image signals to be supplied to the optical modulator (2R, 2G, 2B).

Description: The present invention relates to a display apparatus for displaying an image on a screen. Fig. 1 shows an example of a known raster-scan system display apparatus of projection type utilizing laser beams to display an image on a projection screen. Referring to Fig. 1, there are shown laser light sources 1R, 1G and 1B which generate red, green and blue laser beams, respectively. The red, green and blue laser beams emitted from these laser light sources 1R, 1G and 1B are respectively supplied to optical modulators 2R, 2G and 2B, whereas red, green and blue three primary color signals R, G and B are respectively supplied to the optical modulators 2R, 2G and 2B for modulating laser beams, wherein the red, green and blue laser beams are modulated in intensity (luminous intensity) by the color signals R, G and B, respectively. The laser beams, modulated in intensity by the optical modulators 2R, 2G and 2B, are respectively supplied through lenses 3R, 3G and 3B to dichroic mirrors 4R, 4G and 4B, in which they are mixed to provide a single display laser beam Lw. This laser beam Lw is supplied to a polygon mirror 11 for horizontal deflection. The above-mentioned lenses 3R, 3G and 3B are used to adjust beam spots of the laser beams, whereas the dichroic mirrors 4R, 4G and 4B are used to reflect laser beams of corresponding colors and to pass laser beams of different colors therethrough. The polygon mirror 11 is formed as, for example, a regular icosipentahedron cylinder and the surface thereof is finished by a mirror-grinding process. A motor 12 is adapted to rotate the polygon mirror 11 at a revolution frequency of 1/25 of the horizontal frequency of each of the signals R, G and B in synchronism with a horizontal synchronizing pulse so that the laser beam Lw is horizontally deflected 25 times per revolution of the polygon mirror 11. The laser beam Lw is collimated by a first relay lens (i.e. cylindrical lens) 13, and the collimated beam is supplied to a second cylindrical lens 14 having the same focal length as that of the first cylindrical lens 13, in which a reflection point of the polygon mirror 11 is focused at the focus position of the second cylindrical lens 14. A galvano mirror 15 is located at the above-mentioned focus position to vertically deflect the laser beam. A galvano motor 16 is adapted to vibrate the galvano mirror 15 at a vertical frequency of each of the signals R, G and B in synchronism with a vertical synchronizing pulse. Therefore, the laser beam Lw is vertically deflected by the galvano mirror 15 in the direction at a right angle to the direction in which the polygon mirror 11 horizontally deflects the laser beam Lw. The laser beam Lw, horizontally and verically deflected, is projected through a projection lens 17 on the rear surface of a flat screen 18. The projection lens 17 is employed to increase the resolution of the laser beam Lw by decreasing a beam spot of the laser beam Lw on the screen 18. The screen 18 is of such a type that an image projected on the rear surface thereof can be seen from its front side. Thus, a color image of signals R, G and B is displayed on the screen 18, when it is seen from its front surface. While the above-mentioned polygon mirror 11 is rotated at an equal angular velocity, the screen 18 is formed as, for example, flat, whereby the laser beam Lw does not horizontally scan the screen 18 at an equal velocity. As a result, a rotation angle ϑ of the polygon mirror 11 and the horizontal scanning position of the laser beam Lw are caused to satisfy a relationship expressed by tan ϑ, whereby a linearity in the horizontal direction of the image displayed on the screen 18 is deteriorated more at the left and right end portions of the screen 18. In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, it is proposed to correct a linearity in the horizontal direction of the image displayed on the screen 18 by controlling a rotary phase of the horizontal deflection polygon mirror 11 during the horizontal scanning period, similarly to a television receiver in which a linearity in the horizontal direction of image is corrected by correcting a waveform of a horizontally deflection signal. The polygon mirror 11 needs a considerably high precision. Therefore, the ploygon mirror 11 is made of a material such as an aluminum and the like and is finished by a mirror-grinding process. Accordingly, the polygon mirror 11 has a large mass and the rotation frequency thereof is 1/25 of the horizontal frequency of the signals R, G and B, i.e. the rotation speed thereof is as high as about 630 r.p.s. Thus, even if the polygon mirror 11 should be rotated in synchronism with the horizontal synchronizing pulse of the signals R, G and B, the rotary phase of the polygon mirror 11 could not be controlled during one horizontal scanning period in practice. It is therefore impossible to correct the linearity of the image displayed on the screen 18 by controlling the rotary phase of the polygon mirror 11 during the horizontal scanning period. It is to be noted that when the scanning screen is as small as that of a laser-type printer, a linearity in the horizontal direction of the image can be corrected by a correcting lens. However, when the screen is large as in a laser display apparatus, it is impossible to correct the linearity in the horizontal direction of the image on the screen by the use of a correcting lens. A laser scanner apparatus using a laser reference beam that is directed to and scans a grating plate which is used for producing a data clock for the apparatus is known from US-A-4 761 660. The grating plate has a line grating formed by a plurality of lines that are equally spaced along the scan of the grating plate by the laser reference beam. The plurality of lines, if extended, intersect at a single point. It is the object of the present invention to provide a display apparatus in which a linearity of image can be corrected even when a screen is as wide as that of a high definition television signals. The object is solved by the features of claim 1. Further developments are given in claims 2 to 5. A detailed description of preferred embodiments is given hereafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to identify the same or similar parts in the several views. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an overall or general arrangenment of a prior art raster-scan system display apparatus of a projection-type, and to which the present invention can be advantageously applied; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a main portion of a display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a circuit arrangement of the display apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 4A is a perspective view of the main portion of the present invention, and to which reference will be made in explaining a reference pattern plate used in the present invention; Fig. 4B is a planar view of the reference pattern plate of Fig. 4A; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the display apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. The present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Referring initially to a perspective view of Fig. 2, let us explain an example of a main portion of an optical system of the display apparatus according to the present invention. In Fig. 2, like parts corresponding to those of Fig. 1 are marked with the same references and therefore need not be described in detail. Fig. 2 illustrates the main portion of the optical system of the present invention seen from the direction in which the laser beam Lw is introduced into or derived from the polygon mirror 11. Referring to Fig. 2, a dichroic mirror 21 is located on the optical path of the laser beam Lw traveling between the dichroic mirror 4R (not shown) and the polygon mirror 11. The dichroic mirror 11 reflects infra-red laser beams and permits the laser beam Lw to travel therethrough. An infra-red laser light source 22 is provided to generate a reference infra-red laser beam Li. This infra-red laser beam Li is supplied through a collimator lens 23 to the dichroic mirror 21, in which it is mixed with the display laser beam Lw from the dichroic mirror 4R. Therefore, the laser beams derived from the polygon mirror 11 include the laser beam Li, and this laser beam Li is horizontally deflected similarly to the laser beam Lw. A dichroic mirror 24 is located on the optical path of the laser beams (including the beam Li) traveling between the cylindrical lenses 13 and 14. This dichroic mirror 24 is adapted to reflect the infra-red laser beam and to permit the laser beam Lw to pass therethrough similarly to the dichroic mirror 21. The dichroic mirror 24 is adapted to separate the original display laser beam Lw and the reference laser beam Li, whereby the laser beam Lw is directly supplied to the cylindrical lens 14 as described above, whereas the reference laser beam Li is supplied to a reference pattern plate 25. The reference pattern plate 25 will be described hereinbelow with reference to Figs. 4A and 4B. As shown in Figs. 4A and 4B, the reference pattern plate 25 is comprised of a rectangular transparent glass substrate 25A and a light-shielding film 25B formed on the transparent glass substrate 25A. The light-shielding film 25B has formed on the surface thereof light transmission patterns Pp, Ps, Pc and Pe in a predetermined shape. For example, the light-shielding film 25B is formed by a vacuum film growing-process of a metal layer such as a Cr, Ti or Ni layer so that it may have a thickness to become impervious to the reference laser beam Li. This light-shielding film 25B is treated by a photo-etching process to form the patterns Pp, Ps, Pc and Pe therethrough. The patterns Pp, Ps, Pc and Pe have a plurality of straight-line light transmission portions 25C aligned in the length direction of the substrate 25A. The width of each of the patterns Pp to Pe (length in the aligned direction thereof) is selected to be equal to or a little smaller than the horizontal scanning width of the laser beam Li separated by the dichroic mirror 24. The pattern Pc is employed to obtain a clock signal upon the horizontal scanning, and in the pattern Pc, as shown in Fig. 4B, the light transmission portions 25C are formed by the equal interval over a range corresponding at least to the effective horizontal scanning range of the screen 18 and also in response to a curvature of the screen 18 in the horizontal direction. The number of the light transmission portions 25C in the pattern Pc is so selected that its integral multiple is equal to the number of pixels (i.e. picture elements) in one horizontal line, for example, 910 pixels. The start pattern Ps is employed to detect the starting time point of the effective horizontal scanning by the beam Li, thereby designating a starting time point at which the beam Lw modulated by the signals R, G and B is started its scanning. The start pattern Ps is formed such that the light transmission portions 25C are located distant from the horizontal scanning starting side of the clock pattern Pc by one light transmission portion 25C and with an equl pitch, keeping a regularity in which the light transmission portions 25C of the clock pattern Pc are aligned. The pattern Pp is the pre-amble pattern for phase-locking of the PLL (phase locked loop) which will be described later. The pre-amble pattern Pp is so formed that the light transmission portions 25c are located distant from the start pattern Ps by one light transmission portion 25C in the horizontal scanning start side of the start pattern Ps, and with an equal pitch, keeping a regularity in which the light transmission portions 25C of the clock pattern Pc are arranged. The end pattern Pe is employed to specify the modulation ending time point of the beam Lw by the signals R, G and B by detecting the ending time point of the effective horizontal scanning by the beam Li. The end pattern Pe is so formed that the light transmission portions 25c are located distant from the horizontal scanning ending side of the clock pattern Pc by one light transmission portion 25C, and with an equal pitch and in the same regularity in which the light transmission portions 25c of the clock pattern Pc are arranged. Referring back to Fig. 2, this reference pattern plate 25 is located at the focus position of the cylindrical lens 13 for the laser beam Li and that the horizontal scanning direction of the laser beam Li is in the same direction as the direction in which the patterns Pp to Pe are alinged. Thus, the patterns Pp to Pe are horizontally scanned by the laser beam Li so that the reference pattern plate 25 generates the laser beam Li whose intensity is changed in response to the horizontal scanning thereof. This beam Li passed through the reference pattern plate 25 is supplied through a converging lens 26 to a photo-sensor 27, and the photo-sensor 27 derives a pulse signal Sp which goes to high or low level in response to the change of intensity of the laser beam Li due to the reference plate 25, i.e. an alternate signal Sp whose frequency and phase are corresponding to the change of the intensity of the laser beam Li. In that event, the frequency and phase (leading edge and trailing edge) of the signal Sp are corresponding to the horizontal scanning positions at which the laser beam Li horizontally scans the reference pattern plate 25. Further, the horizontal scanning position at which the laser beam Li horizontally scans the reference pattern plate 25 corresponds to the horizontal scanning position at which the laser beam Lw horizontally scans the screen 18. Accordingly, the frequency and phase (leading edge and trailing edge) of the signal Sp correspond to the horizontal scanning positions when the laser beam Lw horizontally scans the screen 18. Therefore, when the timebases of the signals R, G and B supplied to the optical modulators 2R, 2G and 2B are controlled by the alternate signal Sp at every horizontal period, it becomes possible to correct the linearity in the horizontal direction of the image to be displayed on the screen 18. Fig. 3 shows an example of a correcting circuit which corrects the linearity in the horizontal direction of the image to be displayed on the screen 18 by the above-mentioned method. In Fig. 3, it will be seen that a color composite video signal Sc applied to a terminal 31 is supplied to a timing signal forming circuit 39, from which there are derived various timing signals necessary for the succeeding signal processings on the basis of a vertical synchronizing pulse, a horizontal synchronizing pulse and a burst signal. The video signal Sc is also supplied to a color demodulating circuit 32, and a color subcarrier signal from the forming circuit 39 is supplied to the color demodulating circuit 32, in which the video signal Sc is demodulated to provide the color signals R, G and B. These color signals R, G and B are respectively supplied to analog-to-digital (A/D) converters 33R, 33G and 33B, and a clock pulse Pg having a frequency of, for example, four times the color subcarrier frequency fc is supplied from the forming circuit 39 to the A/D converters 33R, 33G and 33B, in which the color signals R, G and B are converted to digital signals. These digital signals R, G and B are respectively supplied to line memories 34R, 34B and 34G, and the clock pulse Pg from the forming circuit 39 is supplied to the line memories 34R, 34B and 34G as a write clock pulse. Thus, the signals R, G and B are sequentially written in the line memories 34R, 34G and 34B by 910 pixels each at every horizontal period. Assuming that fh is a horizontal frequency, then the following equality will be established: 4fc = 910 fh Further, the signal Sp from the photo-sensor 27 is supplied through a waveform shaping circuit 41 to a phase comparing circuit 42 as a first comparing input. This phase comparing circuit 42 and succeeding circuits 43, 44 and 45 constitute a phase locked loop (PLL) 46 for frequency multiplication. A compared output from the phase comparing circuit 42 is supplied through the low-pass filter 43 to the voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) 44 as a control signal. An oscillation signal Po from the VCO 44 is supplied to the frequency divider 45, in which it is frequency-divided to have a frequency equal to that of the signal Sp. The output thus frequency-divided is supplied to the phase comparing circuit 42 as a second comparing input. Therefore, the oscillation frequency and phase of the VCO 44 are changed following the frequency and phase of the signal Sp. The average oscillation frequency of the VCO 44 is selected to be 4fc which is equal to the frequency of the pulse Pg. The oscillation signal Po is supplied to the line memories 34R, 34G and 34B as a read clock. In that event, the signal Sp from the waveform shaping circuit 41 is supplied to a start pattern detecting circuit 49 which derives, when the beam Li horizontally scans the start pattern Ps, a scan start signal. This scan start signal is supplied to the line memories 34R, 34G and 34B as a read start signal. Accordingly, when the laser beam Li starts scanning the pattern Pc in the horizontal direction, the reading of the signals R, G and B from the line memories 34R, 34G and 34B is started at this time point. Then, the signals R, G and B are sequentially read from the line memories 34R, 34G and 34B in synchronism with the signal Po. In other words, the signal R, G and B are read out in syndchronism with the horizontal scanning of the pattern Pc by the laser beam Lw. Consequently, the signals R, G and B are read from the line memories 34R, 34G and 34B in synchronism with the horizontal scanning operation of the laser beam Lw on the screen 18. The detecting circuit 49 derives, when the laser beam Li horizontally scans the end pattern Pe, a scan end signal. This scan end signal is supplied to the line memories 34R, 34G and 34B as a read end signal Se, wherein when supplied with the read end signal Se, the reading from the line memories 34R, 34G and 34B in that horizontal period is ended. Then, the signals R, G and B read from the line memories 34R, 34G and 34B are respectively supplied to digital-to-analog (D/A) converters 35R, 35G and 35B, and the signal Po is supplied to the D/A converters 35R, 35G and 35B as a clock pulse. Thus, the signals R, G and B are re-converted to the original analog signals R, G and B. These analog signals R, G and B are respectively supplied through driving circuits 36R, 36G and 36B to the modulators 2R, 2G and 2B as modulated inputs, thereby displaying on the screen 18 a color image of the composite color video signal Sc. The color image is displayed on the screen 18 by the laser beam Lw as described above. According to the present invention, the reference laser beam Li is mixed to the display laser beam Lw, and the horizontal scanning position of the display laser beam Lw is detected by the reference laser beam Li and the reference pattern plate 25. Also, the timebases of the signals R, G and B are controlled in response to the detected horizontal scanning position. Therefore, the image displayed on the screen 18 can be prevented from being distorted and the display having excellent linearity can be effected. According to the present invention, in particular, since the reference pattern plate 25 is provided with the pre-amble pattern Pp, the frequency-multiplication PLL 46 is pre-excited by this pre-amble pattern Pp, and thus the signal Sp can be stably formed relative to the succeeding start pattern Ps and clock pattern Pc. Further, since the start pattern signal Sp is provided just before the clock pattern Pc as a reference for reading the signals R, G and B from the line memories 34R, 34G and 34B, the starting position of the horizontal scannig for the image to be displayed on the screen 18 can be prevented from being affected by the accuracy in the manufacturing-process and the irregular rotation of the polygon mirror 11. Further, a jitter component, even if it is included in the color video signal Sc is absorbed by the line memories 34R, 34G and 34B, so that the jitter component can be prevented from being displayed on the screen 18. Furthermore, only by forming the patterns Pp and Ps on the reference pattern plate 25, it is possible to improve the generation and stability of the signal Sp or pulse Po. In addition, when a projection-type television receiver is formed from the laser light sources 1R, 1G and 1B to the screen 18 as one body, a wide angle lens has to be provided between the galvano mirror 15 and the screen 18 in order to reduce the depth of the television receiver. Also in this case, only by arranging the light transmission portion 25C of the clock pattern Pc of the reference pattern plate 25 to have a pitch corresponding to that wide angle lens, it is possible to correct the linearity of the image on the screen 18. Further, when the screen 18 is not flat and has a certain curvature, only by arranging the light transmission portion 25C of the clock pattern Pc of the reference pattern plate 25 to have a pitch corresponding to the curvature of the screen 18, it is possible to correct the linearity of the image displayed on the screen 18. Furthermore, regardless of the wide screen of a high definition television receiver (HDTV), it is possible to correct the linearity of the image with ease. Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention in which the linearity of the vertical deflection can be corrected. In Fig. 5, like parts corresponding to those of Fig. 2 are marked with the same references and therefore need not be described in detail. Referring to Fig. 5, there is provided an infra-red laser light source 52. This infra-red laser light source 52 derives a reference infra-red laser beam Lj. This laser beam Lj is collimated by a collimator lens 53 and is then introduced into the galvano mirror 15 at an incident angle different from that of the laser beam Lw from the cylindrical lens 14. The reflected laser beam Lj is supplied through a reference pattern plate 55 and a converging lens 56 to a photo sensor 57. In this case, the reference pattern plate 55 is formed similarly to the reference pattern plate 25, and the laser beam Lj is just vertically deflected by the galvano mirror 15 and is then fed to the reference pattern plate 55. Therefore, if, for example, the driving motor 16 of the galvano mirror 15 is controlled by the output from the photo- sensor 57, it is possible to correct the linearity in the vertical direction of the image displayed on the screen 18, if frame memories are used in the signal processing circuit instead of line memories 34R, 34G and 34B in Fig. 3. Having described preferred embodiments of the invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to those precise embodiments and that many changes and modifications could be effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims: A display apparatus comprising: a screen (18); a light beam source (1R, 1G, 1B) for generating light beams; modulation means (2R, 2G, 2B) for modulating said light beams in accordance with image signals (R, G, B) to be displayed; scanning means (11, 12) for generating scanning beams of said modulated light beams; projection means (13-17) for projecting said scanning beams on said screen; a reference beam source (22) for generating a reference beam to be supplied to said scanning means; means (24) for deriving a scanning reference beam (Li) from said scanning means; means (25, 26, 27) for generating timing signals based on said derived scanning reference beams; and means (46, 49, 34R, 34G, 34B) for controlling timings of said image signals to be supplied to said modulation means (2R, 2G, 2B). characterized in that said timing signal generating means (25, 26, 27) includes a reference pattern plate (25), whereby each particular pattern of the pattern plate is separated and discriminated by detectable marks, and said derived scanning reference beam is projected on said reference pattern plate (25), whereby a start pulse is directly derived from the reference beam. A display apparatus as cited in claim 1, wherein said reference pattern plate (25) includes a start pattern (Ps) and a clock pattern (Pc) following said start pattern (Ps). A display apparatus as cited in claim 1 or 2, wherein said timing signal generating means further includes detector means (27) for detecting reference scanning beams projected on said reference pattern plate (25). A display apparatus as cited in claim 1 or 2, wherein said timing signal generating means (25, 26, 27, 46, 49) includes detector means (27) for detecting reference scanning beams projected on said reference pattern plate (25) and generates the start pulse and a following clock pulse. A display apparatus as cited in claim 4, further comprising image memory means (34R, 34G, 34B) for storing said image signals, and said start pulse and said clock pulse are supplied to said image memory means (34R, 34G, 34B).

Inventors: NAKANE YASUAKI, NAKAYAMA HIROSHI, SAKAMOTO SUSUMU, NAKANE, YASUAKI, NAKAYAMA, HIROSHI, SAKAMOTO, SUSUMU
Applicants: SONY CORP, SONY CORPORATION
Application year: 1989
Main classification: H04N3
IPC codes: H04N3, H04N9