Patent Publication Number: US-2005122394-A1

Title: Image display apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      This invention relates to an image-display apparatus, and more particularly to an image-display apparatus for displaying an object or image in three dimensions (3D is called after).  
      2. Related Art  
      In recent years, the use of stereoscopic image systems in indoor decorations, display equipment for product sales displays in a store, or the like for displaying 2-dimensional images in 3D in order to provide a visual sensation or appealing effect, has been increasing.  
      As a prior stereoscopic image system having simple construction and capable of being made compact, is a stereoscopic image system using a so-called microlens array, and as a typical example of this prior technology is the stereoscopic image system disclosed in reference patent document 1 below. (Reference Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid Open Application Number 2003-156712)  
      Also, in the prior stereoscopic image system described above, the position of the target display image (for example, a moving image or moving object displayed by a liquid-crystal display) to be displayed stereoscopically and the position of the microlens array were in a relatively fixed relationship.  
      However, when the position of the target display image and the position of the microlens array are relatively fixed, the position of the 3D image to be displayed by way of the microlens array also becomes fixed, and there is no depth in the display itself even in the case of a 3D display of a corner, so as a result there was a problem in that interest of the persons viewing the display is reduced.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Taking the above inconveniences into consideration, the object of this invention is to provide an image-display apparatus that is capable of more effectively providing a 3D display to the person viewing the display, and thus provide more interesting and fun 3D images.  
      The above object of the present invention can be achieved by an image-display apparatus of the present invention. The image-display apparatus is provided with: one or a plurality of target display images that are to be displayed in three dimensions; a plurality of image-transmission device that are located away from said target display image in a space between the position of said target display image and the position of the view point for viewing said three dimensions display, and that forms a three dimensions image of that target display image in the space on the opposite side from said target display image; and a movement device that moves at least each of said image-transmission device or said target displays images such that the distance between a said image-transmission device and said target display image changes relatively, and moves each said image-transmission device independently from each other.  
      According to the present invention, with the operation of the image-display apparatus, an image-display panel on which the 3D image of the moving image to be displayed is formed is moved relative to a display unit to change the distance between that image-transmission panel and display unit, so visually it appears that the 3D image of the moving image moves such that the distance as seen from the view point changes, so the interest of a viewer in the 3D image of that moving image increases.  
      The above object of the present invention can be achieved by an image-display apparatus of the present invention. The image-display apparatus is provided with: a target display image that is to be displayed in three dimensions; an image-transmission device that is located away from the target display images and that forms a three dimensions image of the target display image in the space on the opposite side from the target display image; and a movement device that moves or removes the image-transmission device into or from the space between the position of the target display image and position of the viewpoint for viewing the three dimensions display.  
      According to the present invention, with the operation of the image-display apparatuses, an image-transmission panel that forms the moving image of the target display can be inserted in or removed from the space between a position on a display unit and the position of a view point for viewing the 3D image, so as the image-transmission panel moves, it appears that the 3D image of the moving image changes places with the moving image itself, making the 3D image of the moving image more interesting for the viewer.  
      In one aspect of the present invention can be achieved by the image-display apparatus of the present invention. The image-display apparatus of the present invention is, wherein two of the image-transmission device are arranged next to each other; and the movement device rotates each of the image-transmission device around an axis of rotation having a preset angle with respect to a straight line that connect the target display image and the view point.  
      According to the present invention, in addition to the visual effects obtained by the movement of the 3D image as in the case of an image-display apparatus, the shape of the 3D image itself changes according to a drive state of the motors, and thus the visual effect is further improved.  
      In another aspect of the present invention can be achieved by the image-display apparatus of the present invention. The image-display apparatus of the present invention is, wherein the image-transmission device is provided with a microlens array having a plurality of convex lenses on both sides that are arranged next to each other in a matrix shape.  
      According to the present invention, an image-transmission panel is a microlens array that is provided with a plurality of convex lenses on both surfaces that are arranged next to each other in a matrix shape, so the image-transmission panel has simple and lightweight construction, and is capable of displaying an interesting 3D image of a moving image.  
      In further aspect of the present invention can be achieved by the image-display apparatus of the present invention. The image-display apparatus of the present invention is, wherein the target display image is a moving image that is displayed on a flat display device.  
      According to the present invention, a moving image is displayed on a flat display unit, so it is possible to even more easily make the moving image appear in 3D.  
      The above object of the present invention can be achieved by an image-display apparatus of the present invention. The image-display is provided with: a target display image that is to be displayed in three dimensions; an image-transmission device that is located away from the target display image in between the position of the target display image and the position of the view point for viewing the three dimensions display, and that forms a three dimensions image of the target display image in the space on the opposite side from the target display object; and a movement device that moves the target display image and image-transmission device together.  
      According to the present invention, there is a plurality of image-transmission panels, and each image-transmission panel moves independently, so it is possible to display different 3D images in any direction making the display even more interesting. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a simplified cross-sectional drawing of the image-display apparatus of an embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectional drawing of the microlens array of an embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective drawing of the image-display apparatus of a first embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional drawing that explains the movement mechanism of the image-transmission panel of a first embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart explaining how to view the 3D image on the image-display apparatus of a first embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 6A  is a perspective drawing of a first example of the image-display apparatus of a first embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 6B  is a perspective drawing of a second example of the image-display apparatus of a first embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 6C  is a perspective drawing of a third example of the image-display apparatus of a first embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 7A  is a perspective drawing of a first example of the image-display apparatus of a second embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 7B  is a perspective drawing of a second example of the image-display apparatus of a second embodiment of the invention; and  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective drawing of the image-display apparatus of a third embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION  
      Next, the preferred embodiments of the invention will be explained based on the drawings. The embodiments described below are embodiments in which the invention is applied to a moving image display apparatus such as that located in the center portion of a pachinko machine.  
     (I) Theory of the Invention  
      Before explaining the embodiments in detail, the theory of the invention will be explained using  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional drawing of the image-display apparatus of the embodiments of this invention, and  FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectional drawing of the microlens array of the embodiments of the invention.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , the image-display apparatus  100  of the embodiments comprises: a display unit  10 , an image-transmission panel  20  that is supported by a support member  15  and functions as an image-transmission means, a transparent panel  40  that is located near the imaging surface  30  image-transmission panel  20 , and an video-signal-supply unit  60  that supplies a video signal to the display unit  10 .  
      Here, the image-transmission panel  20  forms the image displayed on the display unit  10  in the space located on the opposite side from the display unit  10  (middle right side in  FIG. 1 ) and forms the imaging surface  30  described above.  
      Also, the transparent panel  40  is plate shaped and made from a transparent material such as acrylic or glass, more specifically aquarium glass, window glass, front glass on a pachinko machine, or the like can be converted to be used as the transparent panel  40 . Moreover, it is also possible to use a semi transparent color such as light blue as the transparent panel  40 .  
      Next, the display unit  10  comprises a color liquid-crystal panel  10   a  having a flat image display screen on which images including moving images are displayed, a backlight-projection unit  10   b  and color liquid-crystal drive circuit  10   c . Here, a cathode-ray tube, a plasma display, organic electro-luminescence display, or the like can be used as the display unit  10 . Also, the color liquid-crystal drive circuit  10   c  is connected to the video-signal-supply unit  60  that supplies the video signal displayed on the liquid-crystal panel  10   a.    
      Furthermore, the image-transmission panel  20  comprises a pair of microlens arrays  22 , and each microlens array  22  comprises a lens frame area  23  that surrounds the effective range of that lens.  
      Here, a support member  15  supports the lens frame area  23 , and the image-transmission panel  20  is separated from and located such that it is parallel with the image-display surface of the color liquid-crystal panel  10   a.    
      Furthermore, the microlens array  22  is an erecting-prism and uniform-magnification optical system for viewing 2D images, including moving images, that are displayed on the image-display surface of the color liquid-crystal panel  10   a , and has a lens effective surface area that covers the image-display surface.  
      Moreover, the lens frame area  23  is a dark color such as black, and is such that it keeps the viewer&#39;s awareness of the existence of the microlens array to a minimum.  
      Here, the microlens array  22  comprises a plurality of minute convex lenses  25  on both sides that are arranged next to each other in a matrix shape. Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 2 , each microlens array  22  is attached and arranged such that the optical axes  26  of the convex lenses  25  are coaxial with each other. Here, the convex lens  25  formed on the right side surface of the microlens array  22  on the right side of  FIG. 2  is such that the radius of curvature is larger than that of the convex lens  25  on the other surface, and the distance L 2  (focal length) between the imaging surface  30  and the lens surface of the microlens array  22  on the right side in  FIG. 2  is longer than the distance L 1  (focal length) between the imaging surface (surface of the color liquid-crystal panel  10   a ) and the lens surface of the microlens array on the left side in  FIG. 2 .  
      By adequately separating the imaging surface  30  from the image-transmission panel  20 , it is possible to make the image appear more 3-dimensional, and it is possible to make the depth of the image-display apparatus  100  more compact.  
      Also, in this invention, in the image-display apparatus  100  described above, the image-transmission panel  20  is constructed such that it can move in the directions shown by both arrows in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  (or in other words, in the direction perpendicular to the display surface of the color liquid-crystal panel  10   a ). As a result of moving this image-transmission panel  20 , the imaging surface  30  moves in the left-right direction in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  together with the movement of the image-transmission panel  20 . By doing this, the 3D image that is formed on the imaging screen  30  also appears to move in the left-right direction in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , making viewing of that 3D image more interesting.  
     (II) First Embodiment  
      Next,  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 5  will be used to explain a first embodiment of the invention based on the theory described above.  FIG. 3  is a perspective drawing of the image-display apparatus of a first embodiment of the invention,  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional drawing that explains the movement mechanism of the image-transmission panel  20 , and  FIG. 5  is a flowchart explaining how to view the 3D image on the image-display apparatus.  
      As shown in  FIG. 3 , the image-display apparatus  100 A of this first embodiment comprises: a display unit  10  having the same construction as that shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 ; image-transmission panels  20 A and  20 B having the same construction as the image-transmission panel  20  shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , and where the surface area of each respectively makes up half of the color liquid-crystal panel  10   a  of the display unit  10 ; a transparent panel  40 ; a support frame  41  that supports the display unit  10  and transparent panel  40 , and that is made of hollow angular metal rod; and motors  42  and  43  that are supported by the support frame  41  and function as a movement means for moving the image-transmission panels  20 A and  20 B independently from each other by way of the movement mechanism shown in  FIG. 4  in the direction perpendicular to the color liquid-crystal panel  10   a  as shown by the arrows in  FIG. 3 .  
      Here, the image-transmission panels  20 A and  20 B are kept parallel with the color liquid-crystal panel  10   a,  and are independently moved in the direction shown by the arrows in  FIG. 3 . In this way, the images GA and GB (in  FIG. 3 , an example of images on a rotating roulette are shown) that are displayed in positions in the color liquid-crystal panel  10   a  corresponding to the image-transmission panels  20 A and  20 B are independent from each other, and are displayed such that the positions near the transparent panel  40  appear to move in the directions shown by the dashed lines.  
      Next,  FIG. 4  will be used to explain in detail the movement mechanism of the image-transmission panels  20 A and  20 B. The construction of the movement mechanism of the image-transmission panel  20 B is exactly the same as the construction of the movement mechanism of the image-transmission panel  20 A, so  FIG. 4  will be used to explain the movement mechanism of the image-transmission panel  20 A.  
      As shown by the perspective drawing in  FIG. 4 , the image-transmission panel  20 A is attached to an arm  50  that can move along the lengthwise direction of a member  41 A that is part of the support frame  41 . Here, the image-transmission panel  20 A and the arm  50  are connected by a slit hole (not shown in the figure) that is located on the inner side of the member  41 A.  
      Also, a rack  50 A is formed on the arm  50 , and with a gear  51  that is attached to a motor  42  engaged with the rack  50 A, the motor  42  rotates that gear  51  and moves the image-transmission panel  20 A in a straight line as shown in  FIG. 3 . At that time, a control unit (not shown in the figure) that includes a microcomputer (also not shown in the figure) electrically controls the rpm, direction of rotation and rotation time of the motor  42  ( 43 ) according to a control program that is prepared beforehand.  
      Next, the example shown in  FIG. 5  will be used to explain the relationship between the image displayed on the display unit  10 , the detailed movement of the image-transmission panel  20 A or  20 B (hereafter, referred to as the suitable image-transmission panel  20 A), and the state of the 3D images that is changed by that movement.  
      As the display of the position of the image-transmission panel  20 A in  FIG. 5 , the position of the image-transmission panel  20 A when the imaging surface  30  shown in  FIG. 1  is located at the position of the transparent panel  40  is taken to be the reference position, positions on the display unit  10  side from that position of the image-transmission panel  20 A are taken to be rear surface positions, and positions on the transparent panel  40  side from that position of the image-transmission panel  20 A are taken to be the front surface positions. Also, as the display of the position of the 3D image in  FIG. 5 , by positioning the imaging surface  30  shown in  FIG. 1  on the display unit  10  side from the position of the transparent panel  40 , the position when the 3D image appears to be positioned further on the display unit  10  side than the transparent panel  40  is taken to be positioned on the behind side, and by positioning the imaging surface  30  shown in  FIG. 1  on the side from the transparent panel  40  that is opposite from the display unit  10 , the position when the 3D image appears be on the side from the transparent panel  40  that is opposite from the display unit  10  (appears to be jumping out) is taken to be positioned on the front side.  
      As shown in  FIG. 5 , when first a small moving image is displayed on the display unit  10 , and the position of the image-transmission panel  20 A is taken to be the rear surface (step S 1 ), the 3D image is positioned on the side behind the transparent panel  40 , however, when the image-transmission panel  20  is moved from this state to the side of the transparent panel  40  and the moving image becomes larger (step S 2 ), the 3D image is displayed such that it appears to approach the front side.  
      Next, when the image-transmission panel  20 A is moved to the reference position by this movement (step S 3 ), the 3D image appears to be located at exactly the position of the transparent panel  40 . Also, in this state, when an image is added to the moving image in the display unit that looks like broken glass, the 3D image looks as though the transparent panel  40  is broken.  
      Next, when the image-transmission panel  20 A is moved to the front surface position while the size of the moving image on the display unit  10  becomes even larger (step S 4 ), the 3D image is displayed such that it appears to go past the transparent panel  40 .  
      Also, when the image-transmission panel  20 A is moved to the furthest position on the side of the transparent panel  40  and the moving image is the maximum size (step S 5 ), the 3D image appears to be positioned further on the front side than the transparent panel  40 .  
      Next, when the image-transmission panel  20 A is moved toward the rear surface position and the size of the moving image becomes smaller (step S 6 ), the 3D image appears to move in the direction behind the front side of the transparent panel  40 .  
      Next, when the image-transmission panel  20 A is returned by that movement to the reference position (step S 7 ), the 3D image appears to return to the exact position of the transparent panel  40 . Also, in this state, when an image is added again to the moving image in the display unit  10  that appears to be broken glass, the 3D images appears to break through to the inside of the transparent panel  40 .  
      Next, when the image-transmission panel  20 A is moved to the rear surface position and the moving image on the display unit  10  becomes even smaller (step S 8 ), the 3D image is displayed such the it goes further toward the back past the transparent panel  40 .  
      Also, when the image-transmission panel  20 A is located at the furthest location on the display unit  10  side and the size of the moving image is a minimum (step S 9 ), the 3D image appears to be located at the furthest position behind the transparent panel  40 .  
      As was explained above, with the operation of the image-display apparatus  100 A of this first embodiment, the image-display panel  20  on which the 3D image of the moving image to be displayed is formed is moved relative to the display unit  10  to change the distance between that image-transmission panel  20 A and display unit  10 , so visually it appears that the 3D image of the moving image moves such that the distance as seen from the view point changes, so the interest of the viewer in the 3D image of that moving image increases.  
      Also, there is a plurality of image-transmission panels  20 A, and each image-transmission panel  20 A or  20 B moves independently, so it is possible to display different 3D images in any direction making the display even more interesting.  
      Furthermore, image-transmission panel  20 A is a microlens array  22  that comprises a plurality of convex lenses on both surfaces that are arranged next to each other in a matrix shape, so the image-transmission panel  20 A has simple and lightweight construction, and is capable of displaying an interesting 3D image of a moving image.  
      Moreover, the moving image is displayed on a flat display unit  10 , so it is possible to even more easily make the moving image appear in 3D.  
     (III) Second Embodiment  
      Next,  FIG. 6A  to  FIG. 6C  will be used to explain a second embodiment of this invention.  FIG. 6A  to  FIG. 6C  are perspective drawings of image-display apparatuses of a second embodiment of the invention, and in  FIGS. 6A  to  6 C, in order to make the explanation more clear, the drawing of the transparent panel  40  is omitted, and for members that are the same as those of the image-display apparatus  100 A of the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the same reference numbers are used and detailed explanations are omitted.  
      In the first embodiment described above, the case of moving the image-transmission panel  20 A in both directions perpendicular to the display unit  10  was explained, however, in the second embodiment described below, the image-transmission panel  20 A is moved in other directions beside this.  
      In other words, as a first example of the image-display apparatus  100 B, the support frame  41  shown in  FIG. 5  is divided into a support frame  41 C that includes just the image-transmission panel  20 A and a support-frame  41 B that includes just the image-transmission panel  20 B, and the support frame  41 C is fastened to a support bar  51  on which a rack  51 A is formed, and the support frame  41 B is fastened to a support bar  52  on which a rack  52 A is formed.  
      Also, by rotating a gear  47 A that is engaged with the rack  51 A by a motor  47 , the entire support frame  41 C moves in the left-right direction in  FIG. 6 , and moves the image-transmission panel  20 A between a position on the front surface of the left half of the display unit  10  and a position other than the front surface of the display unit  10 . On the other hand, by rotating a gear  48 A that is engaged with the rack  52 A by a motor  48 , the entire support frame  41 B moves in the left-right direction in  FIG. 6 , and moves the image-transmission panel  20 B between a position on the front surface of the right half of the display unit  10  and a position other than the front surface of the display unit  10 . Here, the rotation by the motors  47  and  48  is controlled such that the support frames  41 B and  41 C are moved independent of each other.  
      By doing this, in addition to the visual effects obtained by the movement of the 3D image as in the image-display apparatus  100 A of the first embodiment, it is possible to select to view the moving image directly on the display unit  10  in addition to viewing the moving image in 3D, so the visual effect is further improved.  
      Also, as a second example of the image-display apparatus  100 C, the support frame shown in  FIG. 5  is divided into a support frame  41 C and a support frame  41 B as in the image-display apparatus  100 B described above, and furthermore, together with rotating the image-transmission panel  20 A in a plane perpendicular to it by a motor  48 , the image-transmission panel  20 B is rotated in a plane perpendicular to it by a motor  49 .  
      By driving the motor  48  in this way, the image-transmission panel  20 A is rotated back and forth between a position on the left half of the front surface of the display unit  10  and a position other than on the display unit  10 . Also, by driving the motor  49  in the same way, the image-transmission panel  20 B is rotated back and forth between a position on the right half of the front surface of the display unit  10  and a position other than on the display unit  10 .  
      In this way, in addition to the visual effect obtained by moving the 3D image as in the case of the image-display apparatus  100 A of the first embodiment, it is possible to select to directly view the moving image on the display unit  10 , so the visual effect is further improved.  
      In this second example, the case shown in  FIG. 6B  of rotating the image-transmission panel  20 A or  20 B in a plane that is perpendicular to the image-transmission panel  20 A or  20 B was explained, however, instead of this, it is also possible to rotate the image-transmission panel  20 A or  20 B around a horizontal axis in  FIG. 6B , or it is also possible to rotate around an axis having all angles with respect to the display unit  10 .  
      Furthermore, as a third example of the image-display apparatus  100 D, in addition to the construction of the image-display apparatus  100 A described above, movement mechanisms (see  FIG. 2 ) similar to those of the image-display apparatus of the first embodiment are located on the edges of the support frame  41  corresponding to each corner of the image-transmission panels  20 A and  20 B, and these movement mechanisms are driven by eight motors  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 ,  46  located at each respective position corresponding to the corners.  
      Here, by driving each of the motors  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 ,  46  independent from each other, it is possible to move the image-transmission panels  20 A and  20 B not only in a plane parallel with the display surface of the color liquid-crystal panel  10   a , but also in various other planes.  
      In this way, in addition to the visual effects obtained by the movement of the 3D image as in the case of the image-display apparatus  100 A of the first embodiment, the shape of the 3D image itself changes according to the drive state of the motors  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 ,  46 , and thus the visual effect is further improved.  
      As explained above, with the operation of the image-display apparatuses  100 B to  100 D of this second embodiment, in addition to the effects of the image-display apparatus  100 A of the first embodiment, the image-transmission panel  20 A that forms the moving image of the target display can be inserted in or removed from the space between a position on the display unit  10  and the position of a view point for viewing the 3D image, so as the image-transmission panel  20 A moves, it appears that the 3D image of the moving image changes places with the moving image itself, making the 3D image of the moving image more interesting for the viewer.  
      With the operation of the image-display apparatus  100 C of the second embodiment, two image-transmission panels  20 A are arranged together, and each image-transmission means is rotated around an axis of rotation that is perpendicular with the straight line that connects the display unit  10  and the view point, so with this simple construction, as the image-transmission panel  20 A moves, it is possible to make it appear that the 3D image of the moving image changes places with the moving image itself.  
     (IV) Changed Embodiment  
      Next,  FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B  will be used to explain changes to the embodiments of the invention.  FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B  are perspective drawings of the changed image-display apparatuses. In  FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B , in order to make the explanation more clear, the drawing of the transparent panel  40  is omitted, and the same reference number are given to component parts that are the same as those of the image-display apparatus  100 A of the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  and a detailed explanation of those parts is omitted.  
      In addition to the first and second embodiments described above, the present invention can be changed in various ways.  
      That is, as shown in  FIG. 7A , in a first change to the invention, an image-transmission panel  21  shaped like a magnifying glass is placed in front of the display unit  10 , and using a combination of a motor  62  that rotates a gear  62 A that is engaged with a rack  55 A formed on the support member  55  that supports the image-transmission panel  21 , a motor  61  that rotates a gear  61 A that is engaged with a rack  54 A formed on the support member  54  that supports the support member  55 , and a motor  60  that rotates a gear  60 A that is engaged with a rack  53 A formed on the support member  53  that supports the support member  54 , it is possible to move the image-transmission panel  21  in all direction in front of the display unit  10 .  
      Also, as shown in  FIG. 7B , in a second change to the invention, a plate-shaped image-transmission panel  28  is placed in front of the display unit  19 , and by attaching a motor  63  to the display unit  10  that rotates a gear  63 A that is engaged with a rack  28 A that is formed on one side of the image-transmission panel  28 , and also having a motor  71  that rotates a gear  71 A that is engaged with a rack  70 A that is formed on the support member  70  that supports the display unit  10  to which the motor  63  is attached, not only is it possible to show only the part in the up-down direction of the moving image displayed on the display unit  10  in 3D, but it is also possible to change the position of that 3D image.  
      In the each of the embodiments and changes to the invention described above, the case of showing a moving image displayed on the display unit  10  as 3D image was explained, however, the invention is not limited to this, and can also be constructed such that by placing a simple moving object at the position of the display unit  10  and moving the image-transmission panel  20 , it is possible to change the position of that 3D image.  
     (V) Third Embodiment  
      Next,  FIG. 8  will be used to explain a third embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 8  is a perspective drawing of the image-display apparatus of a third embodiment of the invention.  
      As shown in  FIG. 8 , the image-display apparatus  100 E of this third embodiment of the invention comprises: a display unit  10  that has the same construction as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , an image-transmission panel  20 C having the same construction as the image-transmission panel  20  shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , and a transparent panel  40 .  
      Here, the display unit  10  and image-transmission panel  20 C are supported by a support frame  41 D that is made of hollow angular metal rod or the like. As in the movement mechanism of the second embodiment, this support frame  41 D is moved in the horizontal direction by a motor  80 , gear  80 A and rack  55 A.  
      In this way, the display unit  10  supported by the support frame  41 D and the image-transmission panel  20 C move together as one member in the horizontal direction (left-right direction). Similarly, a movement mechanism is located in the vertical direction as well, and the display unit  10  and image-transmission panel  20 C move together as one in the vertical direction (up-down direction). Moreover, it is also possible to have a plurality of display units  10  and image-transmission panels  20 C, and to respectively support them with a plurality of support frames  41 D, and move each support frame  41 D independently or linked together.  
      In each of the embodiments or changes to the invention described above, in the image-display apparatus having one image-transmission panel, with that image-transmission panel installed in a fixed position, it is possible to move one or a plurality of display images relative to that image-transmission panel.  
      Furthermore, in an image-display apparatus having a plurality of image-transmission panels and plurality of display images, it is also possible to move either the image-transmission panels or display images or both such that the distance between the image-transmission panels and display images is relatively changed, and such that they are moved independent of each other.  
      It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiment of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention. Thus, it is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that methods and structures within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby.  
      The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-409542 filed on Dec. 8, 2003 including the specification, claims, drawings and summary are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.