Patent ID: 8154587

Claim:
A three-dimensional image display apparatus comprising: a display device configured to display a two-dimensional image, the display device having a display surface on which a large number of pixels are arranged in a matrix at a horizontal pixel pitch and a vertical pixel pitch, the two-dimensional image including a plurality of element images displayed on the display surface, each of the element images comprising a set of parallax component images; an exit pupil array having a plurality of exit pupils provided in association with the respective element images, the exit pupil array being located opposite the display surface and having a vertical pupil pitch, a horizontal pupil pitch, an integral multiple of the vertical pupil pitch or an integral multiple of the horizontal pupil pitch, the vertical pupil pitch or the integral multiple of the vertical pupil pitch being set substantially equal to a integral multiple of the vertical pixel pitch, the horizontal pupil pitch or the integral multiple of the horizontal pupil pitch being set substantially equal to a integral multiple of the horizontal pixel pitch, the element images being projected on a viewing area defined in front of the display surface via the exit pupils, parallax component images in each of the element images being oriented in different directions via the corresponding exit pupil, principal beams from the parallax component images via the respective exit pupils being emitted substantially parallel to one another; and a generating section configured to generate a display image signal, which allows the display device to display the element images, the element image containing substantially the same parallax image components which are displayed in two adjacent pixel areas of the pixels, the display image generating section projecting the same parallax image component in different directions via the exit pupil.