Apparatus and system for reproducing 3-dimensional images

• US 20070165013A1
• Filed: 02/27/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zecotek Medical Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zecotek Medical Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Goulanian, Emine, Zerrouk, Faouzi
• Granted Patent: US 7,944,465 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/204
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/003 to produce spatial visual effects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/305 using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/322 using varifocal lenses or mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/324 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/346 using prisms or semi-transparent mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

This invention relates to optical-electronic technology and can be used for building 3-dimensional displays for computers, television (TV) receivers and other devices, as well as for building systems for volumetric television. The technical result is an increase in the number of aspect angles with relatively simple construction and the use of presently available components. The equipment generates a 3-dimensional representation and contains a display component for 2-dimensional representation with digital inputs and a first 2-dimensional matrix of converging micro-lenses, in which each micro-lens is optically joined to the corresponding region of the display surface of the component for display of 2-dimensional representations. The equipment is equipped with second and third 2-dimensional matrices of micro-lenses, tightly connected to each other and coaxially placed and optically joined to the micro-lenses of the first matrix, forming in conjunction with the first matrix a matrix of scanning elements for sequential projection of 2-dimensional representations in the plane of their aspect angles, an adjustment mechanism of the matrices of micro-lenses, a positional sensor for adjustment of the micro-lenses and a controller connected to the adjustment mechanism through the digital input of the controller, providing the ability for synchronization of the frames of the representation of each 2-dimensional representation with the corresponding position of the matrix of micro-lenses, while the second matrix is arranged in the foreground focal plane of the third matrix, mixed with the background focal plane of the first matrix, and the first matrix or the combined second and third matrices can be adjusted in the plane in which they are installed, and moreover for the first, second and third matrices, the digital input of the display component is connected to the module of buffered memory, whose synchronization input is connected to the output of the controller. The described equipment can be used with a stereoscopic television system.

Claims

1. Equipment for producing a 3-dimensional representation, containing a display component for 2-dimensional representations with digital inputs, and a first 2-dimensional matrix of converging micro-lenses, in which each micro-lens is optically joined to a corresponding region of the display surface of the component for 2-dimensional representations, distinguished by the fact that it is equipped with tightly connected to each other second and third 2-dimensional matrices of micro-lenses coaxially aligned and optically joined to the micro-lenses of the first matrix, forming in conjunction with the first matrix a matrix of scanning elements for sequential projection of 2-dimensional representations in the plane of their aspect angles, an adjustment mechanism for the matrices of micro-lenses, a positional sensor of the adjusted micro-lenses connected to the adjustment mechanism through a digital input by a controller, providing the ability to synchronize the frame of each 2-dimensional representation with the corresponding position of the matrix of micro-lenses, and moreover the second matrix is positioned in the foreground focal plane of the third matrix, which is blended with the background focal plane of the first matrix, the first matrix or the combined second and third matrix can be mixed in the plane in which they are mounted, and moreover the digital input of the display component is connected to a module of buffered memory whose synchronization input is connected to the output of the controller.

2. Equipment as in 1, distinguished by the fact that the display component for 2-dimensional representations contains at least one spatial light modulator (SLM) and at least one light source for illuminating the corresponding modulator.

3. Equipment as in 2, distinguished by the fact that for projection of color representations of an object, the display component contains at least two controlled light sources of different colors for illumination of a space-time light modulator through an optical component for mixing their light and a control component for switching the light sources depending on the color of the representation of the aspect angles, and moreover each output of the control component is connected to the control input of the corresponding light source, and the synchronization input is connected to the controller output.

4. Equipment as in 2, distinguished by the fact that for projection of color representations of an object, the display component contains at least two light sources of different colors, each for illumination of a corresponding space-time light modulator optically joined to the first matrix of micro-lenses through an optical mixing component, and the digital input of each modulator is connected to the corresponding digital output of the module of buffered memory.

5. Equipment as in 1, distinguished by the fact that the display component for 2-dimensional representation consists of an LED matrix.

6. Equipment as in 1, distinguished by the fact that the display component for 2-dimensional representation consists of a laser matrix.

7. Equipment as in 1, distinguished by the fact that the mechanism for adjustment of the matrices consists of a 2-coordinate mechanism of back-and-forth adjustment.

8. Equipment as in 7, distinguished by the fact that for projection of 2-dimensional representations of all aspect angles of an object, forming a single frame of its 3-dimensional representation, the amplitude of adjustment in each coordinate does not exceed the corresponding spacing of the micro-lenses.

9. Equipment as in 1, distinguished by the fact that for changing the scale of a 2-dimensional representation, the first matrix of micro-lenses is optically joined to the display surface of the display component through a first telescopic optical system.

10. Equipment as in 9, distinguished by the fact that the first telescopic optical system consists of a spatial filter with integrated focus of its elements.

11. Equipment as in 10, distinguished by the fact that the first, second and third matrices of micro-lenses each consist of a lenticular matrix of cylindrical, vertically aligned lenses, and the adjustment mechanism consists of a mechanism of back-and-forth horizontal adjustment of the first matrix of micro-lenses.

12. Equipment as in 1, distinguished by the fact that the first, second and third matrices of micro-lenses each consist of a lenticular matrix of cylindrical, vertically aligned lenses, and the adjustment mechanism consists of a mechanism of back-and-forth horizontal adjustment of the combined second and third matrices of micro-lenses.

13. Equipment as in 1, distinguished by the fact that the first matrix contains the same spacing of micro-lenses as the second and third matrices of micro-lenses.

14. Equipment as in 1, distinguished by the fact that the first, second and third matrices consist of identical micro-lenses.

15. Equipment as in 1, distinguished by the fact that each micro-lens of the first matrix is optically joined to the corresponding region of the display surface of the display component using the corresponding fiber of a first fiber-optic matrix.

16. A television stereoscopic system, including a component for generating a 3-dimensional representation, containing a display component for 2-dimensional representations with digital inputs, a first 2-dimensional matrix of converging micro-lenses, in which each micro-lens is optically joined to the corresponding region of the display surface of the display component for 2-dimensional representations, a module for generating signals of 2-dimensional representations, whose digital outputs are connected to the digital inputs of the component for generation of a stereoscopic representation, and containing a receiving 2-dimensional matrix of converging micro-lenses, analogous in number and position to the first matrix of micro-lenses, a converging lens for projection of a representation of a 3-dimensional object onto the receiving matrix of micro-lenses, and at least one multi-element matrix photo-detecting component for transformation of 2-dimensional representations of the aspect angles of a 3-dimensional object into the corresponding electrical signals, each output of which is the corresponding digital output of the module for generation of signals for 2-dimensional representations, distinguished by the fact that the component for generation of a stereoscopic representation is equipped with tightly connected to each other second and third 2-dimensional matrices of micro-lenses coaxially aligned with and optically joined to the micro-lenses of the first matrix, forming in conjunction with the first matrix a matrix of scanning elements for sequential projection of 2-dimensional representations in the plane of their aspect angles;

a first mechanism for adjustment of the matrices of micro-lenses, with a first positional sensor of the combined micro-lenses and connected to the adjustment mechanism through a digital input by a controller providing the ability to synchronize the frame of each 2-dimensional representation with the corresponding position of the matrix of micro-lenses, and moreover the second matrix is positioned in the foreground focal plane of the third matrix, mixed with the background focal plane of the first matrix, and the first matrix or the combined second and third matrix can be adjusted in the plane of their installation, and moreover the digital input of the display component is connected to the digital input of the component for generation of a stereoscopic representation through a module of buffered memory whose synchronization input is connected to the output of a controller, and the module for generation of signals of 2-dimensional representations is equipped with fourth and fifth 2-dimensional matrices of micro-lenses and a multi-element matrix spatial filter, forming together with the receiving matrix a matrix of elements for tuning 2-dimensional representations of the aspect angles of a 3-dimensional representation of an object, and moreover the fourth matrix is tightly connected to the receiving matrix and located in its background focal plane, and a multi-element matrix spatial filter is tightly connected to the fifth matrix, located in its foreground focal plane and adjoining the fourth matrix, and the fifth matrix together with the spatial filter of the receiving matrix together with the fourth matrix provides the ability to tune them in the corresponding planes of their location for changing their relative position, and each tuning element including the corresponding element of the spatial filter, and also the micro-lenses of the receiving, fourth and fifth matrices, the micro-lens of the fourth matrix coaxially aligned with the micro-lens of the receiving matrix and optically joined to the indicated element of the spatial filter located in the axis of the indicated micro-lens of the fifth matrix, joined to the corresponding region of the photosensitive surface of the photo-detecting component for projection of the appropriate region of a 2-dimensional representation of a given aspect angle; and

a second adjustment mechanism of the indicated matrices, a second positional sensor of the movable indicated matrices, and a controller of the module for generation of synchronization computations by the photo-detection component for 2-dimensional representation with the corresponding location of the combined matrices, while the digital input of the controller is connected to the output of the second positional sensor, and the output to the input of synchronization of the photo-detection component.

17. System as in 16, distinguished by the fact that the component for display of 2-dimensional representation contains at least one space-time light modulator and at least one light source for illumination of the modulator.

18. System as in 17, distinguished by the fact that, for projection of color representations of an object, the display component contains at least two controlled light sources of different color for illumination of the space-time light modulator through an optical component for blending their light and a control component for the light sources, which enables sequential switching of each light source depending on the color of the representation of the aspect angles, each output of which is connected to the control input of the corresponding source of light, and the synchronization input is connected to the output of the controller.

19. System as in 17, distinguished by the fact that, for projection of color representations of an object, the display component contains at least two light sources of different color, each for illumination of the corresponding spatial light modulator, which is optically joined to the first matrix of micro-lenses by an optical component for mixing the illumination, and the digital inputs of each modulator are connected to the corresponding digital outputs of the module of buffered memory.

20. System as in 16, distinguished by the fact that the component for display of 2-dimensional representations consists of an LED matrix.

21. System as in 16, distinguished by the fact that the component for display of 2-dimensional representations consists of a laser matrix.

22. System as in 16, distinguished by the fact that the first mechanism is implemented as a 2-coordinate mechanism of back-and-forth adjustment of the matrices of micro-lenses.

23. System as in 22, distinguished by the fact that for projection of 2-dimensional representations of all aspect angles of an object, forming one frame of its 3-dimensional representation, the amplitude of adjustment in each coordinate does not exceed the corresponding spacing of the micro-lenses.

24. System as in 16, distinguished by the fact that for changing the scale of a 2-dimensional representation, the first matrix of micro-lenses is optically joined to the display surface of the display component through a first telescopic optical system.

25. System as in 24, distinguished by the fact that the first telescopic optical system contains a spatial filter in the combined focus of its elements.

26. System as in 25, distinguished by the fact that the first, second and third matrices of micro-lenses are each implemented as a lenticular matrix of cylindrical, vertically aligned lenses, and the first mechanism is implemented as a mechanism of back-and-forth adjustment of the first matrix of micro-lenses in the horizontal plane.

27. System as in 16, distinguished by the fact that the first, second and third matrices of micro-lense are each implemented as a lenticular matrix of cylindrical, vertically aligned lenses, and the first mechanism is implemented as a mechanism of back-and-forth adjustment of the second and third matrices of micro-lenses combined in the horizontal plane.

28. System as in 16, distinguished by the fact that the first matrix is implemented with the same spacing of micro-lenses as the second and third matrices of micro-lenses.

29. System as in 16, distinguished by the fact that the first, second and third matrices are composed of identical micro-lenses.

30. System as in 16, distinguished by the fact that each micro-lens of the first matrix is optically joined to the corresponding region of the display surface of the display component by the corresponding fiber of a first fiber-optic matrix.

31. System as in 16, distinguished by the fact that the digital outputs of the module for generating signals of 2-dimensional representations are connected to the digital outputs of the 3-dimensional stereoscopic display through a communications channel.

32. System as in 16, distinguished by the fact that the module for generation of signals of 2-dimensional representations contains at least two multi-element matrix photo-detector components, and each photo-detector component transforms 2-dimensional representations of the aspect angles of a 3-dimensional object of the corresponding color, while its photosensitive surface is optically joined to the fifth matrix through an optical splitter and a color filter of the indicated color.

33. System as in 16, distinguished by the fact that the fifth matrix of micro-lenses is optically joined to the photosensitive surface of the photo-detecting component through a second telescopic optical system for changing the scale of a 2-dimensional representation.

34. System as in 16, distinguished by the fact that each micro-lens of the fifth matrix is optically joined to the corresponding region of the photosensitive surface of the photo-detecting component using the corresponding fiber of a second fiber-optic matrix.

35. System as in 16, distinguished by the fact that a multi-element matrix spatial filter is implemented in the form of an opaque screen with openings, each of which is located in the axis of the corresponding micro-lens of the fifth matrix.

36. An optical-electrical apparatus for reproducing a 3-dimensional image of an object or scene, comprising:

a display component for displaying a plurality of 2-dimensional images of the object or scene, the display component having a display surface and at least one input;

a first matrix of converging micro-lenses, wherein each micro-lense is optically coupled to a discrete region of the display surface;

a second matrix of converging micro-lenses optically coupled to the first matrix;

a third matrix of converging micro-lenses coaxially aligned and rigidly connected to the second matrix such that the second matrix is positioned in the primary focal plane of the third matrix, and such that the primary focal plane of the third matrix is matched with the back focal plane of the first matrix, and wherein the first, second, and third matrices in combination define a matrix of scanning elements configured to sequentially project the plurality of 2-dimensional images of the object or scene, and wherein each 2-dimensional image is projected at a specific angle relative to the scanning matrix;

a displacement mechanism for continuously moving the position of the first matrix relative to the second and third matrices;

a positional sensor for sensing the position of the first matrix relative to the second and third matrices;

a controller connected to the positional sensor, wherein the controller is configured to synchronize the position of the first matrix relative to the second and third matrices and with each of the sequentially projected 2-dimensional image of the object or scene; and

a memory component connected to the controller and the display component, wherein the memory is configured to store data associated with the position of the first matrix relative to the second and third matrices and with the sequentially projected 2-dimensional image of the object or scene.