Monocentric autostereoscopic optical apparatus using resonant fiber-optic image generation

• US 20030169405A1
• Filed: 03/08/2002
• Published: 09/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Agostinelli, John A., Cobb, Joshua M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,702,442 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 353/7
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/26 of the autostereoscopic type
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/324 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388

Abstract

A substantially monocentric arrangement of optical components provides stereoscopic display of a virtual image, electronically scanned by resonant actuation of a resonant fiber scanner (137) using a flexible optical waveguide and projected, as a real intermediate image, near the focal surface (22) of a curved mirror (24) by means of a ball lens assembly (30). To form each left and right intermediate image component, separate left and right image generation systems (70) each comprise a resonant fiber scanner (137) that itself comprises a resonant cantilever portion (139) of optical fiber (138) that directs a modulated beam onto a curved surface (40) for projection by a ball lens assembly (30). A monocentric arrangement of optical components images the left and right scanning ball lens pupil at the corresponding left and right viewing pupil (14) of the observer (12) and essentially provides a single center of curvature for projection components. Use of such a monocentric arrangement with a curved intermediate image source and ball lens assemblies (30) provides an exceptionally wide field of view with large viewing pupils (14).

Claims

1. A substantially monocentric autostereoscopic optical apparatus for displaying a stereoscopic virtual image comprising a left image to be viewed by an observer at a left viewing pupil and a right image to be viewed by the observer at a right viewing pupil, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a left image generation system and a right image generation system, wherein each left and right image generation system forms a first intermediate curved image comprising an array of image pixels, wherein each image generation system comprises;

(a1) a light source for emitting modulated light as a series of image pixels arranged according to a scan pattern;

(a2) an optical waveguide having an input end coupled to said light source and a flexible output end wherein said output end emits said modulated light;

(a3) an actuator for deflecting said flexible output end of said optical waveguide according to said scan pattern;

(a4) a curved surface for forming said first intermediate curved image thereon by receiving said modulated light emitted from said output end of said optical waveguide as deflected by said actuator according to said scan pattern;

(a5) an optical relay element for relaying, onto said curved surface, said modulated light emitted from said flexible output end of said optical waveguide according to said scan pattern, forming said first intermediate curved image thereby;

(b) a left ball lens assembly for projecting said first intermediate curved image from said left image generation system to form a second intermediate curved image from said left image generation system, said left ball lens assembly having a left ball lens pupil;

(c) a right ball lens assembly for projecting said first intermediate curved image from said right image generation system to form a second intermediate curved image from said right image generation system, said right ball lens assembly having a right ball lens pupil;

(d) a curved mirror disposed to form a real image of said left ball lens pupil at said left viewing pupil and to form a real image of said right ball lens pupil at said right viewing pupil; and

wherein said curved mirror forms said stereoscopic virtual image from said second intermediate curved image from said left image generation system and from said second intermediate curved image from said right image generation system.

2. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said light source is a laser.

3. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said light source provides white light.

4. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said scan pattern is rectilinear.

5. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said scan pattern is spiral.

6. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said scan pattern is radial.

7. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said scan pattern comprises concentric circles.

8. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said optical waveguide comprises an optical fiber.

9. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said actuator is piezoelectric.

10. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said actuator is electromagnetic.

11. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said actuator is electrodynamic.

12. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said actuator comprises a motor.

13. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said curved surface comprises a coating.

14. The auto stereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said curved surface is ground to provide diffusive characteristics.

15. The auto stereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said curved surface is etched to provide diffusive characteristics.

16. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said optical relay element comprises a fiber optic faceplate.

17. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein, for said left image generation system, said ball lens assembly and said curved surface share, optically, the same c enter of curvature.

18. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein, for said right image generation system, said ball lens assembly and said curved surface share, optically, the same center of curvature.

19. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said left ball lens assembly further comprises at least one meniscus lens.

20. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said right ball lens assembly further comprises at least one meniscus lens.

21. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said left ball lens assembly comprises a refractive liquid.

22. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said right ball lens assembly comprises a refractive liquid.

23. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said left ball lens assembly comprises a plastic lens element.

24. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said right ball lens assembly comprises a plastic lens element.

25. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said curved mirror comprises a plurality of mirror segments.

26. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said curved mirror comprises a replicated mirror.

27. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said curved mirror is essentially spherical.

28. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said curved mirror comprises a stretched membrane.

29. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said curved mirror comprises a Fresnel mirror.

30. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said curved mirror is toroidal.

31. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said curved mirror is aspheric.

32. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a beamsplitter disposed to fold the optical path from said left ball lens assembly in order to form said second intermediate curved image from said left image generation system near a front focal surface of said curved mirror and to fold the optical path from said right ball lens assembly in order to form said second intermediate curved image from said right image generation system near said front focal surface of said curved mirror in order to form said stereoscopic virtual image thereby.

33. A substantially monocentric autostereoscopic optical apparatus for displaying a stereoscopic virtual image comprising a left image to be viewed by an observer at a left viewing pupil and a right image to be viewed by the observer at a right viewing pupil, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a left image generation system and a right image generation system, wherein each left and right image generation system forms a first intermediate curved image comprising an array of image pixels, wherein each image generation system comprises;

(a1) a light source for emitting modulated light as a series of image pixels arranged according to a scan pattern;

(a2) an optical waveguide having an input end coupled to said light source and a flexible output end wherein said output end emits said modulated light;

(a3) an actuator for deflecting said flexible output end of said optical waveguide according to said scan pattern;

(a4) a curved surface for forming said first intermediate curved image thereon by receiving said modulated light emitted from said output end of said optical waveguide as deflected by said actuator according to said scan pattern;

(a5) an optical relay element for relaying, onto said curved surface, said modulated light emitted from said flexible output end of said optical waveguide according to said scan pattern, forming said first intermediate curved image thereby;

(b) a left ball lens assembly for projecting said first intermediate curved image from said left image generation system, said left ball lens assembly having a left ball lens pupil;

(c) a right ball lens assembly for projecting said first intermediate curved image from said right image generation system, said right ball lens assembly having a right ball lens pupil;

(d) a curved mirror and a beamsplitter, said beamsplitter disposed to fold the optical path from said left ball lens assembly to form, near a front focal surface of said curved mirror, a second intermediate curved image from said left image generation system, and to fold the optical path from said right ball lens assembly to form, near said front focal surface of said curved mirror, a second intermediate curved image from said right image generation system; and

wherein said curved mirror, through said beamsplitter, forms a real image of said left ball lens pupil at said left viewing pupil and forming a real image of said right ball lens pupil at said right viewing pupil, said curved mirror forming said stereoscopic virtual image of said second intermediate curved image from said left image generation system and said second intermediate curved image from said right image generation system.

34. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein said light source is a laser.

35. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein said light source provides white light.

36. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein said scan pattern is rectilinear.

37. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein said scan pattern is spiral.

38. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein said scan pattern is radial.

39. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein said scan pattern comprises concentric circles.

40. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein said optical waveguide comprises an optical fiber.

41. The auto stereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein said actuator is piezoelectric.

42. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein said actuator is electromagnetic.

43. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein said actuator is electrodynamic.

44. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein said actuator comprises a motor.

45. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein said curved surface comprises a coating.

46. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein said curved surface is ground to provide diffusive characteristics.

47. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein said curved surface is etched to provide diffusive characteristics.

48. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein said optical relay element comprises a fiber optic faceplate.

49. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein, for said left image generation system, said ball lens assembly and said curved surface share, optically, the same center of curvature.

50. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein, for said right image generation system, said ball lens assembly and said curved surface share, optically, the same center of curvature.

51. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein said left ball lens assembly further comprises at least one meniscus lens.

52. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein said right ball lens assembly further comprises at least one meniscus lens.

53. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein said left ball lens assembly comprises a refractive liquid.

54. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein said right ball lens assembly comprises a refractive liquid.

55. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein said left ball lens assembly comprises a plastic lens element.

56. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein said right ball lens assembly comprises a plastic lens element.

57. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein said curved mirror comprises a plurality of mirror segments.

58. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein said curved mirror comprises a replicated mirror.

59. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein said curved mirror is essentially spherical.

60. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein said curved mirror comprises a stretched membrane.

61. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 33 wherein said curved mirror is aspheric.

62. A substantially monocentric autostereoscopic optical apparatus for displaying a stereoscopic virtual image comprising a left image to be viewed by an observer at a left viewing pupil and a right image to be viewed by the observer at a right viewing pupil, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a left image generation system and, similarly constructed, a right image generation system, wherein each left and right image generation system forms a first intermediate curved image comprising an array of image pixels, with each image generation system comprising;

(a1) a light source for emitting modulated light as a series of image pixels arranged according to a scan pattern;

(a2) an optical waveguide having an input end coupled to said light source and a flexible output end for deflection, said output end emitting said modulated light;

(a3) an actuator for deflecting said flexible output end of said optical waveguide according to said scan pattern;

(a4) a curved surface for forming said first intermediate curved image thereon by receiving said modulated light emitted from said output end of said optical waveguide as deflected by said actuator according to said scan pattern;

(a5) an optical relay element for relaying, onto said curved surface, said modulated light emitted from said flexible output end of said optical waveguide according to said scan pattern, forming said first intermediate curved image thereby;

(b) a left ball lens assembly for projecting said first intermediate curved image from said left image generation system to form a second intermediate curved image from said left image generation system, said left ball lens assembly having a left ball lens pupil;

(c) a right ball lens assembly for projecting said first intermediate curved image from said right image generation system to form a second intermediate curved image from said right image generation system, said right ball lens assembly having a right ball lens pupil; and

(d) reflective means for forming a real image of said left ball lens pupil at said left viewing pupil and forming a real image of said right ball lens pupil at said right viewing pupil, said reflective means thereby forming said stereoscopic virtual image of said second intermediate curved image from said left image generation system and said second intermediate curved image from said right image generation system.

63. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 62 wherein said light source is a laser.

64. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 62 wherein said light source provides white light.

65. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 62 wherein said scan pattern is rectilinear.

66. The auto stereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 62 wherein said scan pattern is spiral.

67. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 62 wherein said scan pattern is radial.

68. The auto stereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 62 wherein said scan pattern comprises concentric circles.

69. The auto stereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 62 wherein said optical waveguide comprises an optical fiber.

70. The auto stereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 62 wherein said actuator is piezoelectric.

71. The auto stereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 62 wherein said actuator is electromagnetic.

72. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 62 wherein said actuator is electrodynamic.

73. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 62 wherein said actuator comprises a motor.

74. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 62 wherein said curved surface comprises a coating.

75. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 62 wherein said curved surface is ground to provide diffusive characteristics.

76. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 62 wherein said curved surface is etched to provide diffusive characteristics.

77. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 62 wherein said optical relay element comprises a fiber optic faceplate.

78. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 62 wherein, for said left image generation system, said ball lens assembly and said curved surface share, optically, the same center of curvature.

79. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 62 wherein, for said right image generation system, said ball lens assembly and said curved surface share, optically, the same center of curvature.

80. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 62 wherein said left ball lens assembly further comprises at least one meniscus lens.

81. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 62 wherein said right ball lens assembly further comprises at least one meniscus lens.

82. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 62 wherein said left ball lens assembly comprises a refractive liquid.

83. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 62 wherein said right ball lens assembly comprises a refractive liquid.

84. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 62 wherein said left ball lens assembly comprises a plastic lens element.

85. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 62 wherein said right ball lens assembly comprises a plastic lens element.

86. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 62 wherein said reflective means comprises a plurality of mirror segments.

87. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 62 wherein said reflective means comprises a replicated mirror.

88. The auto stereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 62 wherein said reflective means comprises a stretched membrane.

89. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 62 wherein said reflective means comprises a Fresnel mirror.

90. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 70 further comprising a beamsplitter disposed to fold the optical path from said left ball lens assembly in order to form said second intermediate curved image from said left image generation system near a front focal surface of said reflective means and to fold the optical path from said right ball lens assembly in order to form said second intermediate curved image from said right image generation system near said front focal surface of said reflective means in order to form said stereoscopic virtual image thereby.

91. A substantially monocentric autostereoscopic optical apparatus for displaying a multicolor stereoscopic virtual image comprising a left image to be viewed by an observer at a left viewing pupil and a right image to be viewed by the observer at a right viewing pupil, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a left image generation system and, similarly constructed, a right image generation system, wherein each left and right image generation system forms a first intermediate curved multicolor image comprising an array of image pixels, with each image generation system comprising;

(a1) a first light source for emitting modulated light having a first color as a first series of image pixels arranged according to a scan pattern;

(a2) a second light source for emitting modulated light having a second color as a second series of image pixels arranged according to said scan pattern;

(a3) a third light source for emitting modulated light having a third color as a third series of image pixels arranged according to said scan pattern;

(a4) an optical waveguide coupled to said first light source and coupled to said second light source and coupled to said third light source, said optical waveguide having a flexible output end for deflection, said output end emitting a modulated multicolor light comprising said modulated light having said first, said second, and said third colors;

(a5) an actuator for deflecting said flexible output end of said optical waveguide according to said scan pattern;

(a6) a curved surface for forming said first intermediate curved image thereon by receiving said modulated multicolor light emitted from said output end of said optical waveguide as deflected by said actuator according to said scan pattern;

(a7) an optical relay element for relaying, onto said curved surface, said modulated multicolor light emitted from said flexible output end of said optical waveguide according to said scan pattern, forming said first intermediate curved multicolor image thereby;

(b) a left ball lens assembly for projecting said first intermediate curved multicolor image from said left image generation system to form a second intermediate curved multicolor image from said left image generation system, said left ball lens assembly having a left ball lens pupil;

(c) a right ball lens assembly for projecting said first intermediate curved multicolor image from said right image generation system to form a second intermediate curved multicolor image from said right image generation system, said right ball lens assembly having a right ball lens pupil;

(d) a curved mirror disposed to form a real image of said left ball lens pupil at said left viewing pupil and to form a real image of said right ball lens pupil at said right viewing pupil; and

wherein said curved mirror forms said multicolor stereoscopic virtual image from said second intermediate curved multicolor image from said left image generation system and from said second intermediate curved multicolor image from said right image generation system.

92. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said first light source is a laser.

93. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said first light source is red.

94. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said second light source is blue.

95. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said third light source is green.

96. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said scan pattern is rectilinear.

97. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said scan pattern is spiral.

98. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said scan pattern is radial.

99. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said scan pattern comprises concentric circles.

100. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said optical waveguide comprises an optical fiber.

101. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said actuator is piezoelectric.

102. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said actuator is electromagnetic.

103. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said actuator is electrodynamic.

104. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said actuator comprises a motor.

105. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said curved surface comprises a coating.

106. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said curved surface is ground to provide diffusive characteristics.

107. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said curved surface is etched to provide diffusive characteristics.

108. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said optical relay element comprises a fiber optic faceplate.

109. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein, for said left image generation system, said ball lens assembly and said curved surface share, optically, essentially the same center of curvature.

110. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein, for said right image generation system, said ball lens assembly and said curved surface share, optically, essentially the same center of curvature.

111. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said left ball lens assembly further comprises at least one meniscus lens.

112. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said right ball lens assembly further comprises at least one meniscus lens.

113. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said left ball lens assembly comprises a refractive liquid.

114. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said right ball lens assembly comprises a refractive liquid.

115. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said left ball lens assembly comprises a plastic lens element.

116. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said right ball lens assembly comprises a plastic lens element.

117. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said curved mirror comprises a plurality of mirror segments.

118. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said curved mirror comprises a replicated mirror.

119. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said curved mirror is essentially spherical.

120. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said curved mirror comprises a stretched membrane.

121. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said curved mirror comprises a Fresnel mirror.

122. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said curved mirror is toroidal.

123. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 91 wherein said curved mirror is aspheric.

124. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 100 further comprising a beamsplitter disposed to fold the optical path from said left ball lens assembly in order to form said second intermediate curved image from said left image generation system near a front focal surface of said curved mirror and to fold the optical path from said right ball lens assembly in order to form said second intermediate curved image from said right image generation system near said front focal surface of said curved mirror in order to form said multicolor stereoscopic virtual image thereby.

125. A substantially monocentric autostereoscopic optical apparatus for displaying a stereoscopic real image comprising a left image to be viewed by an observer at a left viewing pupil and a right image to be viewed by the observer at a right viewing pupil, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a left image generation system and, similarly constructed, a right image generation system, wherein each left and right image generation system forms a first intermediate curved image comprising an array of image pixels, with each image generation system comprising;

(a1) a light source for emitting modulated light as a series of image pixels arranged according to a scan pattern;

(a2) an optical waveguide having an input end coupled to said light source and a flexible output end for deflection, said output end emitting said modulated light;

(a3) an actuator for deflecting said flexible output end of said optical waveguide according to said scan pattern;

(a4) a curved surface for forming said first intermediate curved image thereon by receiving said modulated light emitted from said output end of said optical waveguide as deflected by said actuator according to said scan pattern;

(a5) an optical relay element for relaying, onto said curved surface, said modulated light emitted from said flexible output end of said optical waveguide according to said scan pattern, forming said first intermediate curved image thereby;

(b) a left ball lens assembly for projecting said first intermediate curved image from said left image generation system, said left ball lens assembly having a left ball lens pupil;

(c) a right ball lens assembly for projecting said first intermediate curved image from said right image generation system, said right ball lens assembly having a right ball lens pupil;

(d) a retroreflective surface disposed to form, in cooperation with a beamsplitter, a real image of said left ball lens pupil at said left viewing pupil and to form a real image of said right ball lens pupil at said right viewing pupil; and

said retroreflective surface forming said stereoscopic real image from said first intermediate curved image from said left image generation system and from said first intermediate curved image from said right image generation system.

126. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 125 wherein said light source is a laser.

127. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 125 wherein said light source provides white light.

128. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 125 wherein said scan pattern is rectilinear.

129. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 125 wherein said scan pattern is spiral.

130. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 125 wherein said scan pattern is radial.

131. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 125 wherein said scan pattern comprises concentric circles.

132. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 125 wherein said optical waveguide comprises an optical fiber.

133. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 125 wherein said actuator is piezoelectric.

134. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 125 wherein said actuator is electromagnetic.

135. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 125 wherein said actuator is electrodynamic.

136. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 125 wherein said actuator comprises a motor.

137. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 125 wherein said curved surface comprises a coating.

138. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 125 wherein said curved surface is ground to provide diffusive characteristics.

139. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 125 wherein said curved surface is etched to provide diffusive characteristics.

140. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 125 wherein said optical relay element comprises a fiber optic faceplate.

141. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 125 wherein, for said left image generation system, said ball lens assembly and said curved surface share, optically, substantially the same center of curvature.

142. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 125 wherein, for said right image generation system, said ball lens assembly and said curved surface share, optically, substantially the same center of curvature.

143. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 125 wherein said left ball lens assembly further comprises at least one meniscus lens.

144. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 125 wherein said right ball lens assembly further comprises at least one meniscus lens.

145. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 125 wherein said left ball lens assembly comprises a refractive liquid.

146. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 125 wherein said right ball lens assembly comprises a refractive liquid.

147. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 125 wherein said left ball lens assembly comprises a plastic lens element.

148. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 125 wherein said right ball lens assembly comprises a plastic lens element.

149. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 125 wherein said retroreflective surface is essentially spherical.

150. The autostereoscopic optical apparatus of claim 125 wherein said retroreflective surface is essentially cylindrical.

151. A method for display of a stereoscopic virtual image to an observer, the virtual image comprising a left image to be viewed by the observer at a left viewing pupil and a right image to be viewed by the observer at a right viewing pupil, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a second left intermediate curved image near the focal surface of a curved mirror with the steps of;

(a1) emitting a left modulated light as a series of image pixels arranged according to a left scan pattern;

(a2) directing said left modulated light through a left optical waveguide having a left output end for emitting said left modulated light, said left output end flexible for deflection;

(a3) actuating said left output end according to said left scan pattern and relaying said left modulated light emitted from said left output end toward a left curved surface in order to form a first left intermediate curved image on said left curved surface, the center of curvature of said left curved surface substantially coincident with the center of curvature of a left ball lens, said left ball lens having a left ball lens pupil;

(a4) projecting said first left intermediate curved image by said left ball lens to form said second left intermediate curved image near the focal surface of said curved mirror;

(b) forming a second right intermediate curved image near the focal surface of said curved mirror with the steps of;

(b1) emitting a right modulated light as a series of image pixels arranged according to a right scan pattern;

(b2) directing said right modulated light through a right optical waveguide having a right output end for emitting said right modulated light, said right output end flexible for deflection;

(b3) actuating said right output end according to said right scan pattern and relaying said right modulated light emitted from said right output end toward a right curved surface in order to form a first right intermediate curved image on said right curved surface, the center of curvature of said right curved surface substantially coincident with the center of curvature of a right ball lens, said right ball lens having a right ball lens pupil;

(b4) projecting said first right intermediate curved image by said right ball lens to form said second right intermediate curved image near the focal surface of said curved mirror;

(c) forming a left virtual image from said second left intermediate curved image said left virtual image viewable from said left viewing pupil, said left viewing pupil formed by said curved mirror as an image of said left ball lens pupil; and

(d) forming a right virtual image from said second right intermediate curved image, said right virtual image viewable from said right viewing pupil, said right viewing pupil formed by said curved mirror as an image of said right ball lens pupil.

152. The method of claim 151 wherein the step of projecting said first left intermediate curved image employs a beamsplitter cooperating with said curved mirror to image said left ball lens pupil as said left viewing pupil.

153. The method of claim 151 wherein the step of projecting said first right intermediate curved image employs a beamsplitter cooperating with said curved mirror to image said right ball lens pupil as said right viewing pupil.

154. The method of claim 151 further comprising the step of adjusting the displacement distance between said left ball lens and said right ball lens in order to adapt to an interocular distance of said observer.

155. The method of claim 151 wherein the step of actuating said left output end comprises the step of actuating a piezoelectric element coupled with said left output end.

156. The method of claim 151 wherein the step of actuating said right output end comprises the step of actuating a piezoelectric element coupled with said right output end.

157. The method of claim 151 wherein said left scan pattern is rectilinear.

158. The method of claim 151 wherein said left scan pattern is spiral.

159. The method of claim 151 wherein said left scan pattern is radial.

160. The method of claim 151 wherein said left scan pattern comprises concentric circles.

161. The method of claim 151 wherein said right scan pattern is rectilinear.

162. The method of claim 151 wherein said right scan pattern is spiral.

163. The method of claim 151 wherein said right scan pattern is radial.

164. The method of claim 151 wherein said right scan pattern comprises concentric circles.

165. The method of claim 151 wherein the step of forming a second left intermediate curved image further comprises the step of controlling said left scan pattern by adjusting an actuator signal.

166. The method of claim 151 further comprising the step of adjusting the sequence of emitting left modulated light to change a dimension of said first left intermediate curved image.

167. A method for display of a stereoscopic real image to an observer, the real image comprising a left image to be viewed by the observer at a left viewing pupil and a right image to be viewed by the observer at a right viewing pupil, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) projecting a left image onto a retroreflective surface with the steps of;

(a1) emitting a left modulated light as a series of image pixels arranged according to a left scan pattern;

(a2) directing said left modulated light through a left optical waveguide having a left output end for emitting said left modulated light, said left output end flexible for deflection;

(a3) deflecting said left output end according to said left scan pattern and projecting said left modulated light emitted from said left output end toward said retroreflective surface;

(b) projecting a right image onto said retroreflective surface with the steps of;

(b1) emitting a right modulated light as a series of image pixels arranged according to a right scan pattern;

(b2) directing said right modulated light through a right optical waveguide having a right output end for emitting said right modulated light, said right output end flexible for deflection; and

(b3) deflecting said right output end according to said right scan pattern and projecting said right modulated light emitted from said right output end toward said retroreflective surface.

168. The method of claim 167 wherein the step of projecting said left modulated light toward said retroreflective surface comprises the step of projecting said left modulated light through a left ball lens.

169. The method of claim 167 wherein the step of projecting said right modulated light toward said retroreflective surface comprises the step of projecting said right modulated light through a right ball lens.

170. The method of claim 167 wherein the step of projecting said left modulated light further comprises the step of forming a left intermediate image onto a left diffusive surface for projection.

171. The method of claim 167 wherein the step of projecting said right modulated light further comprises the step of forming a right intermediate image onto a right diffusive surface for projection.