See-through type display apparatus

• US 10,334,236 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2017
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Sung, Geeyoung, Kim, Yuntae, Seo, Wontaek, Seo, Juwon, Lee, Hongseok
• Primary Examiner(s): Matt, Marnie A
• Application Number:
  US15/403,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20180035103A1
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 348 53
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0127 comprising devices increasing the depth of field
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0134 of stereoscopic type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/52 the 3D volume being constructed from a stack or sequence of 2D planes, e.g. depth sampling systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/337 using polarisation multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 with head-mounted left-right displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/395 with depth sampling, i.e. the volume being constructed from a stack or sequence of 2D image planes

Abstract

A see-through type display apparatus includes a spatial light modulator configured to time-sequentially output a multi-layered two-dimensional (2D) image, a depth generator configured to generate a multi-layered depth image having pieces of different depth information from the multi-layered 2D image based on a focal distance that is a distance between the depth generator and a focus point of the multi-layered 2D image; and a light path change member configured to change at least one of a first transmission path of light corresponding to the multi-layered depth image and a second transmission path of external light corresponding to an external image, to thereby transmit the multi-layered depth image and the external image to a same area.

Claims

1. A see-through type display apparatus comprising:

a spatial light modulator configured to time-sequentially output a multi-layered two-dimensional (2D) image;

a depth generator configured to generate a multi-layered depth image having pieces of different depth information from the multi-layered 2D image based on a focal distance that is a distance between the depth generator and a focus point of the multi-layered 2D image; and

a light path change member configured to change at least one of a first transmission path of light corresponding to the multi-layered depth image and a second transmission path of external light corresponding to an external image, to thereby transmit the multi-layered depth image and the external image to a same area.

2. The see-through type display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the depth generator is configured to generate the multi-layered depth image by varying the focal distance over time.

3. The see-through type display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the depth generator is configured to generate the multi-layered depth image by varying the focal distance at a speed that corresponds to a frame speed of the spatial light modulator.

4. The see-through type display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the depth generator comprises:

a polarization member configured to change a polarization state with respect to the multi-layered 2D image; and

a focal point varying member configured to vary the focal distance according to the polarization state.

5. The see-through type display apparatus of claim 4, wherein the polarization member comprises a liquid crystal.

6. The see-through type display apparatus of claim 4, wherein the polarization member is configured to change the polarization state in correspondence to an applied electrical signal.

7. The see-through type display apparatus of claim 6, wherein the polarization member is configured to change the polarization state at a speed that corresponds to a frame speed of the spatial light modulator.

8. The see-through type display apparatus of claim 4, wherein the focal point varying member has an anisotropic property.

9. The see-through type display apparatus of claim 8, wherein the focal point varying member comprises a bi-refractive lens.

10. The see-through type display apparatus of claim 4, wherein the depth generator comprises each of the polarization member and the focal point varying member in a multiple number.

11. The see-through type display apparatus of claim 10, wherein the polarization members and the focal point varying members are alternately arranged one-dimensionally.

12. The see-through type display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the depth generator is configured to form the multi-layered depth image between the depth generator and the light path change member.

13. The see-through type display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light path change member comprises at least one of a beam splitter and a transflective film.

14. The see-through type display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light path change member comprises a first area and a second area having a curved surface contacting the first area.

15. The see-through type display apparatus of claim 14, wherein the curved surface is coated with a reflective material.

16. The see-through type display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spatial light modulator comprises:

a first spatial light modulator configured to output a first multi-layered 2D image that is the multi-layered 2D image; and

a second spatial light modulator configured to output a second multi-layered 2D image.

17. The see-through type display apparatus of claim 16, further comprising another light path change member configured to change at least one of a third transmission path of light corresponding to the first multi-layered 2D image, and a fourth transmission path of light corresponding to the second multi-layered 2D image, to thereby transmit the first and second multi-layered 2D images to the depth generator.

18. The see-through type display apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first spatial light modulator is arranged opposite to a first surface of the other light path change member, and

the second spatial light modulator is arranged opposite to a second surface of the other light path change member, which is perpendicular to the first surface.

19. The see-through type display apparatus of claim 17, wherein the other light path change member differently changes polarization states of the first multi-layered 2D image and the second multi-layered 2D image.

20. The see-through type display apparatus of claim 18, wherein a distance between the first spatial light modulator and the first surface is different from a distance between the second spatial light modulator and the second surface.

21. The see-through type display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the depth generator is further configured to adjust the focal distance such that a distance between consecutive depth images from among the multi-layered depth image becomes shorter as the consecutive depth images become closer to the same area to which the multi-layered depth image and the external image are transmitted.

22. A display apparatus comprising:

a plurality of spatial light modulators arranged along a first transmission path of light, the plurality of spatial light modulators configured to modulate the light and thereby output, in a time-sequential manner, a multi-layered depth image based on a two-dimensional (2D) image to be viewed by a user; and

a light path change member configured to receive the multi-layered depth image and external light corresponding to an external image, and change one of the first transmission path of light and a second transmission path along which the external light is transmitted, to thereby transmit the multi-layered depth image and the external image to the user.

23. The display apparatus of claim 22, wherein the layers of the multi-layered depth image have unique pieces of depth information with respect to the 2D image.

24. The display apparatus of claim 23, wherein a number of the spatial light modulators is equal to a number of the layers.