Variable-depth stereoscopic display
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An optical system comprising:
- a spatial light modulator configured to modulate diffuse light with frames of visual information to provide stereoscopic imagery to a viewer;
a liquid crystal lens configured to focus the diffuse light to enable viewing of the stereoscopic imagery over different respective ranges of distance;
a diffusion panel configured to provide the diffuse light by diffusing collimated light in a first direction and direct the diffuse light through the spatial light modulator;
an optical wedge having a viewing surface configured to emit the collimated light into the diffusion panel and a thin end configured to receive light for collimation;
two or more light source arrays individually selectable to inject the light for collimation into the thin end of the optical wedge, each of the two or more light source arrays being disposed at a different distance from the thin end of the optical wedge than others of the two or more light source arrays and configured to generate the light at different locations along the thin end of the optical wedge effective to scan, in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction, the collimated light emitted by the optical wedge to direct different frames of the visual information to each eye of the viewer; and
a controller configured to;
determine a viewing distance at which the viewer is disposed relative the optical system; and
manipulate, based on the viewing distance and the different respective ranges of distance over which the liquid crystal lens enables viewing of the stereoscopic imagery, the liquid crystal lens by applying an excitation voltage to the liquid crystal lens such that the stereoscopic imagery is visible to the viewer disposed at the determined viewing distance.
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Abstract
This document describes various techniques for implementing a variable-depth stereoscopic display. A first distance at which a viewer is disposed relative to a stereoscopic display is received. Once received, a second distance by which to change a front focal distance of a lens structure of the stereoscopic display is determined based on the first distance. The front focal distance of the lens structure is then caused to change by the second distance effective to display a stereoscopic image at the first distance.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An optical system comprising:
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a spatial light modulator configured to modulate diffuse light with frames of visual information to provide stereoscopic imagery to a viewer; a liquid crystal lens configured to focus the diffuse light to enable viewing of the stereoscopic imagery over different respective ranges of distance; a diffusion panel configured to provide the diffuse light by diffusing collimated light in a first direction and direct the diffuse light through the spatial light modulator; an optical wedge having a viewing surface configured to emit the collimated light into the diffusion panel and a thin end configured to receive light for collimation; two or more light source arrays individually selectable to inject the light for collimation into the thin end of the optical wedge, each of the two or more light source arrays being disposed at a different distance from the thin end of the optical wedge than others of the two or more light source arrays and configured to generate the light at different locations along the thin end of the optical wedge effective to scan, in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction, the collimated light emitted by the optical wedge to direct different frames of the visual information to each eye of the viewer; and a controller configured to; determine a viewing distance at which the viewer is disposed relative the optical system; and manipulate, based on the viewing distance and the different respective ranges of distance over which the liquid crystal lens enables viewing of the stereoscopic imagery, the liquid crystal lens by applying an excitation voltage to the liquid crystal lens such that the stereoscopic imagery is visible to the viewer disposed at the determined viewing distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system comprising:
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a first light source and a second light source, the first and second light sources being disposed at different distances from a lens structure and individually selectable to scan light for displaying stereoscopic imagery, each of the first and the second light sources including an array of light generating elements configured to provide the scanned light by emitting light at different locations along the array such that the light is scanned in a first direction; a first light guide configured to receive the scanned light emitted from the first light source and emit light to the lens structure and a second light guide, configured to receive the scanned light emitted from the second light source and emit light to the lens structure; the lens structure configured to receive the light from the first and second light guides and emit collimated light to a diffusion panel, based on the patterns of scanned light generated by the first or the second light source; the diffusion panel configured to receive the scanned collimated light from the lens structure and diffuse the scanned collimated light in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction to provide diffuse light; a liquid crystal lens configured to focus the diffuse light to enable viewing of the stereoscopic imagery over different respective ranges of distance; a spatial light modulator configured to modulate the focused diffuse light with frames of the stereoscopic imagery; and a controller configured to; manipulate the liquid crystal lens by applying an excitation voltage to the liquid crystal lens, based on a distance at which a viewer is located with respect to the lens structure; and synchronize the scanning of the light and the modulation of the scanned diffuse light such that different frames of the stereoscopic imagery are directed to each eye of the viewer at the viewing distance. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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determining a viewing distance at which a viewer is disposed relative to a lens structure of a stereoscopic display; selecting a light source from multiple light sources of the stereoscopic display, based on the viewing distance and on a back focal length of the light source, to emit light into a receiving surface of the lens structure, each of the multiple light sources being disposed at a different distance from the lens structure than others of the multiple light sources and including a respective array of light emitting elements and being associated with a respective light guide; injecting, via a subset of light emitting elements of the selected light source, the light into a location along the receiving surface the lens structure effective to direct the light emitted from a viewing surface of the lens structure toward the viewer'"'"'s eye; injecting, via another subset of light emitting elements of the selected light source, other light into another location along the receiving surface of the lens structure effective to direct the other light emitted from the viewing surface of the lens structure toward viewer′
other eye, the location and other location being proximate opposite ends of the lens structure'"'"'s receiving surface;modulating the light directed towards the viewer'"'"'s eye and the other light directed toward the viewer'"'"'s other eye with different frames of visual information; and focusing, via a liquid crystal lens, the light and the other light such that the stereoscopic imagery is visible to the viewer disposed at the viewing distance. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification