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 substantially vertical 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 configured to generate the light at different locations along the thin end of the optical wedge effective to scan, in a substantially lateral direction, the collimated light emitted by the optical wedge to direct different frames of the visual information to each eye of the viewer;
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 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 substantially vertical 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 configured to generate the light at different locations along the thin end of the optical wedge effective to scan, in a substantially lateral direction, the collimated light emitted by the optical wedge to direct different frames of the visual information to each eye of the viewer; 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 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 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 substantially lateral direction; a first light guide and a second light guide, the first and the second light guides configured to receive the scanned light emitted from the first or the second light source respectively; a lens structure configured to receive the scanned light from the first or the second light guide and emit the scanned light based on the patterns of scanned light generated by the first or the second light source; a diffusion panel configured to receive the scanned light from the lens structure and diffuse the scanned light in a substantially vertical direction to provide scanned 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 scanned diffuse light with frames of the stereoscopic imagery; a controller configured to; manipulate, based on a distance at which a viewer is located with respect to the lens structure, the liquid crystal lens; 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, based on the viewing distance and from multiple light sources of the stereoscopic display, one of the multiple light sources to emit light into a receiving surface of the lens structure, each of the multiple light sources 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