Projector screen having an improved horizontal view angle

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a projector screen used as an image-displaying medium, and more particularly to a projector screen having an improved horizontal view angle.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] The direct-view type screen of a conventional image-displaying means, for example, a television, uses a cathode-ray tube (CRT). For larger screens, however, the use of a cathode-ray tube is not practical because it is difficult to make a large CRT. Even if technical problems associated with making large CRTs could be overcome, the weight of a CRT also increases accordingly, so that it is difficult to transport and assemble a large CRT into a finished device. Therefore, an image projection system such as a projection television or video projector has been developed.

[0006] FIGS. 1 and 2 show two examples of a conventional image projection system. Such a system generates an image by using a specially manufactured small CRT 1 or image-displaying means 2 such as a liquid crystal display element or a polymer dispersed liquid crystal. Then, the generated image is amplified by using an optical lens, e.g., projection lens 3, for projection onto a large screen.

[0007] Conventionally, there are two types of image projection systems, i.e., a frontal-projection type projector (front type) and a rear-projection type projector (rear type). Typical rear-projection type projectors, such as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, have advantages in that they can be manufactured with a slimmer body than the frontal-projection type projector, and can provide a displayed image of better brightness.

[0008] The rear type projector is used for various kinds of apparatus such as a flight simulator, a traffic signal light, a video monitor, a microfilm reader, and a general rear-projection type display using a film medium for generating an image which can be observed by a user. These apparatus include a projector which generates an image on a screen by projecting light, from an image source situated behind the screen, along a projection axis to the front of the screen. A viewer is situated in front of the screen, and when there are many such viewers, the horizontal viewing angle must be large to allow all of the viewers to see a bright image. Also, it is desirable to have a large horizontal viewing angle so that a viewer can be situated at positions other than directly in front of the screen.

[0009] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the cross-sectional structure of a screen for a conventional projector. To display an image of nearly uniform luminance over a wide viewing angle by deflecting the rays emitted from an image source, the screen is equipped with Fresnel lens 11 for generating parallel light by receiving the light magnified by a projection lens. In front of Fresnel lens 11, there are plural lenticular lenses 12 extending in parallel with one another (hereafter collectively called a lenticular lens system). The lenticular lens system serves as a light-spreading means for forming an image by spreading the parallel light passed through Fresnel lens 11. In front of the lenticular lens system, namely, at the viewer's side, is screen protection panel 13 of an acrylic material. Also, between the rear side of screen protection panel 13 and the front side of the lenticular lens system, projecting part 12aof a predetermined height is formed for absorbing part of light spread from a convex surface of the individual lenticular lenses 12. Projecting part 12ais formed by black stripes 12bpainted with an opaque ink or the like formed between adjacent lenticular lenses 12 forming the lens system on the tip of projecting part 12a. This allows the contrast of the image formed in front of lenticular lens 12 to be improved.

[0010] However, in a conventional screen for a projector, projecting part 12ahaving black stripe 12bextends outward from the surface of the lenticular lens system so that a light-scattering angle of the individual lenticular lenses 12 of the lenticular lens system is limited. See FIG. 4. This limited light-scattering angle restricts the horizontal angle for viewing an image on the screen.

[0011] To solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a projector screen having an improved horizontal viewing angle.

[0012] Accordingly, to achieve the above object, there is provided a projector screen comprising: a Fresnel lens for collimating incident light from a projection lens equipped in a light projection apparatus; plural lenticular lenses connected and extending in parallel with respect to one another for forming and spreading an image from the collimated light by the Fresnel lens; and a screen protection panel for protecting a screen installed adjacent to the lenticular lens, wherein the screen protection panel is equipped with light-absorbing means for absorbing light spread by the lenticular lens.

[0013] In the aforesaid screen for a projector according to the present invention, it is preferable that the light-absorbing means is a black stripe on the tip of a projecting part formed on the side of the screen protection panel facing each lens-connecting part of the lenticular lens, and the convex surface of each lenticular lens extends further toward the viewer than the black stripe formed on the projecting part which serves as the light absorbing means.

[0014] The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view illustrating a conventional projection television of a rear-projection type adopting a small CRT;

[0016] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view illustrating a conventional projection television of a rear-projection type adopting an image-displaying means;

[0017] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the structure of a conventional projector screen;

[0018] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional plan view illustrating the projector screen shown in FIG. 3; taken along line IV—IV

[0019] FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the structure of the projector screen according to the present invention by extracting a part of the apparatus; and

[0020] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI—VI in FIG. 5.

[0021] FIG. 6 schematically shows the cross-sectional structure of a projector screen according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. To display an image of nearly uniform luminance throughout a wide viewing angle by deflecting the rays emitted from an image source, the screen for a projector of the preferred embodiment is equipped with a Fresnel lens 21 for generating parallel light by receiving the light magnified by a projection lens in a projector. In front of Fresnel lens 21 is a lenticular lens system 22 having a plurality of constituent lenses serving as a light-spreading means for forming an image by spreading the parallel light emanated from the Fresnel lens 21. In front of the lenticular lens system 22, namely, on the viewer's side, is a screen protection panel 23 made of an acrylic material. On the side of screen protection panel 23 which faces each section where the constituent lenses are connected in the lenticular lens, a projecting part 23aof a predetermined height is formed. On the tip of projecting part 23a, a black stripe 23bis formed by black ink or the like. The black stripe serves as a means for absorbing part of the light spread from lenticular lens 22 to increase contrast of the viewed image.

[0022] In a projector screen having the aforesaid structure according to the present invention, the height of black stripe 23bis lower than that of a convex surface of lenticular lenses of lens system 22, so that the black stripe absorbs part of light spread by lenticular lens 22. In other words, the convex surfaces of the lenticular lenses extend in the viewer's direction beyond the black stripes 23. Because of this, the spreading angle of light emitted from the lenticular lens is not unduly limited. Therefore, the contrast of an image is improved, and a horizontal viewing angle is improved by the widened range of the light-spreading angle of the lenticular lenses of lens system 22.