BACKLIGHT FOR VIEWING THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGES FROM A DISPLAY FROM VARIABLE VIEWING ANGLES

• US 20140098010A1
• Filed: 10/05/2012
• Published: 04/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Travis, Adrian
• Granted Patent: US 10,025,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/32
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2207/115 Electrowetting
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/005 based on electrowetting
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/105 with one or more pivoting mirrors or galvano-mirrors G02B26/101 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0093 with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/24 involving temporal multiplexing, e.g. using sequentially activated left and right shutters
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer

Abstract

A display system produces three-dimensional images. The display system includes a waveguide, and a light source that injects light into the waveguide. A switchable grating allows individual positions in the grating in a two-dimensional array to be turned on and off. A controller configured to spatially modulate the switchable grating so as to control where light exits the waveguide. An eye tracking module tracks eye position of a viewer. The controller uses the eye position to control switching of the grating.

Claims

1. A display system that produces three-dimensional images, comprising:

a waveguide;

a light source configured to inject light into the waveguide;

a switchable grating; and

a controller configured to spatially modulate the switchable grating so as to control where light exits the waveguide.

2. The display system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to modulate an angle of injection of the light into the waveguide.

3. The display system of claim 1, further comprising an eye tracking module providing an output indicative of an eye position of a viewer.

4. The display system of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to control the switchable grating according to the eye position of the viewer.

5. The display system of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to modulate an angle of injection of light into the waveguide according to the eye position of the viewer.

6. The display system of claim 1, wherein the switchable grating comprises, for each of a plurality of positions in the switchable grating:

a reservoir including a fluid;

a first conductor and a second conductor; and

a gap between the first and second conductor and contiguous with a face of the waveguide.

wherein the fluid is in the gap or in the reservoir according to voltage applied to the first and second conductors.

7. The display system of claim 6, wherein the grating and the waveguide are located on a first side of the gap.

8. The display system of claim 6, wherein the grating and the waveguide are on opposite sides of the gap.

9. The display system of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to spatially modulate the switchable grating according to a received eye position.

10. The display system of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to control a scanning mirror to modulate an angle of injection of the light into the waveguide.

11. A method for controlling a display system to produce three-dimensional images, the display system including a waveguide and a switchable grating, the method comprising:

receiving image data to be displayed, the image data including data for left and right channels;

controlling the switchable grating according to data to be displayed for each of the left and right channels.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising modulating an angle of injection of light into the waveguide.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving data indicative of an eye position of a viewer.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising controlling the switchable grating according to the eye position of the viewer.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising modulating an angle of injection of light into the waveguide according to the eye position of the viewer.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein controlling the switchable grating comprises applying a voltage to conductors to draw fluid into a gap adjacent the waveguide.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein modulating the angle comprises controlling a scanning mirror that directs the light into the waveguide.

18. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer readable storage medium;

computer program instructions stored on the computer readable storage medium which, when processed by a computer processor, instruct the computer processor to perform a process of controlling a display system to produce three-dimensional images, the display system including a waveguide and a switchable grating, the process comprising;

receiving image data to be displayed, the image data including data for left and right channels;

controlling the switchable grating according to data to be displayed for each of the left and right channels.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the process further comprises receiving data indicative of an eye position of a viewer.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising controlling the switchable grating according to the eye position of the viewer.