Method and apparatus for displaying a three dimensional visual image

• US 4,927,238 A
• Filed: 09/30/1988
• Issued: 05/22/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nicholas C. Terzis
• Original Assignee: Nicholas C. Terzis
• Inventors: Green, James A., Terzis, Nicholas C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sugarman, Scott J.
• Application Number:
  US07/253,315
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 350/130, 350/133, 350/144, 352/86, 353/7, 353/10
• US Class Current: 359/466
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/27 involving lenticular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/30 involving parallax barriers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/12 using special optical effects

Abstract

A photographic display for depicting a three dimensional visual image including a supporting frame for displaying a photographic image including a height, width and a predetermined thickness. A viewing screen is provided and disposed to extend substantially along the height and width of said supporting frame and being positioned on a first side thereof. The viewing screen includes a plurality of substantially parallel lines having a predetermined width and being separated by clear spaces. A photographic image is provided and disposed to extend substantially along the height and width of said supporting frame and being positioned on a second side thereof, spaced from said first side by said predetermined thickness of the supporting frame. The photogrpahic image includes a plurality of substantially parallel image segments having a predetermined width corresponding to the width of the lines positioned on the viewing screen and the lines positioned on the photographic images are in alignment and registration with the lines positioned on the viewing screen. The predetermined thickness spacing the photographic image from the viewing screen reveals a three dimensional visual image of the photographic image when viewing the photographic image through the viewing screen. Ambient air is positioned in the space between the viewing screen and the photographic image.

Claims

1. A photographic transparency display for depicting a three dimensional visual image comprising:

supporting frame means for displaying a photographic image which defines a height, a width, a first side and a second side;

a viewing screen extending substantially along said height and width of said first side of said supporting frame means with said viewing screen generated by exposing photographic film to light which has passed through a lenticular screen thereby generating a plurality of substantially parallel lines which are of a predetermined width and separated by clear spaces;

a transparency having a photographic image disposed thereon and extending substantially along said height and width of said second side of said supporting frame means and spaced from said first side by a predetermined distance with said photographic image including a plurality of substantially parallel image segments generated by exposing said transparency to light which has passed through said lenticular screen, said image segments having a predetermined width corresponding to the width of said lines on said viewing screen and being in fixed alignment and registration with said lines on said viewing screen;

wherein a three dimensional visual image of said photographic image results when viewing said photographic image through said viewing screen.

2. A photographic transparency display according to claim 1, wherein said supporting frame means includes an outer frame, a plurality of spacers and a plurality of spring members for securing said viewing screen and said photographic image on said transparency to the outer frame.

3. A photographic transparency display according to claim 2, wherein said viewing screen and said photographic image on said transparency are flexible and are held in a substantially parallel arrangement by said plurality of spacers and spring members.

4. A photographic transparency display according to claim 2, wherein said outer frame includes a plurality of pegs projecting therefrom for retaining said plurality of spring members under tension for maintaining said viewing screen and said photographic image on said transparency retained relative to each other by said plurality of spacers in a substantially parallel arrangement.

5. A photographic display according to claim 1, wherein said supporting frame means includes a rigid support frame with two slots disposed therein for retaining said viewing screen and said photographic image on said transparency in a substantially parallel arrangement.

6. A photographic transparency display according to claim 5, wherein said viewing screen and said photographic image on said transparency are semi-rigid.

7. A photographic transparency display according to claim 1, wherein said photographic image on said transparency and said viewing screen are enlarged by a predetermined factor, said lenticular screen is constructed to define a predetermined thickness and said predetermined distance is equal to said predetermined factor multiplied by said predetermined thickness.

8. A photographic transparency display according to claim 1, wherein said supporting frame means is a rigid frame.

9. A photographic transparency display according to claim 8, wherein said viewing screen and said photographic image on said transparency are rigid members.

10. A photographic transparency display according to claim 1, wherein said supporting frame means includes a rigid outer frame, at least two spacers positioned between said viewing screen and said photographic image on said transparency and a plurality of spring members for securing said spacers to said rigid outer frame while maintaining said viewing screen and said photographic image on said transparency in a substantially parallel arrangement.

11. A photographic transparency display according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined distance is an open space.

12. A photographic transparency display according to claim 11, wherein said open space is clear of any substance except ambient air.

13. A photographic transparency display according to claim 1, wherein a translucent diffuser is positioned adjacent said transparency and said transparency is interposed between said diffuser and said supporting frame means.

14. A method of displaying a three dimensional visual image comprising the steps of:

generating a viewing screen by exposing photographic film to light which has passed through a lenticular screen thereby generating a series of substantially parallel lines which are of a predetermined width and separated by clear spaces;

generating a photographic image on a transparency with said image comprising a series of substantially parallel image segments generated by exposing said transparency to light which has passed through said lenticular screen;

spacing said viewing screen from said photographic image on said transparency by a predetermined distance;

aligning said substantially parallel lines on said viewing screen with said substantially parallel image segments on said transparency; and

maintaining said viewing screen in a fixed, substantially parallel orientation with respect to said photographic image on said transparency to display said three dimensional visual image.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said lenticular screen has a predetermined thickness.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said viewing screen and said photographic image on said transparency are enlarged by a predetermined factor and said predetermined distance between said viewing screen and said photographic image on said transparency is equal to said predetermined factor multiplied by said predetermined thickness of said lenticular screen.

17. A method of displaying a three dimensional visual image comprising the steps of:

generating a first screen with a series of substantially parallel lines by exposing photographic film to light which has passed through a lenticular screen thereby generating a first series of substantially parallel lines which are of a predetermined width and separated by clear spaces;

generating a photographic image on a first transparency by exposing said transparency to light which has passed through said lenticular screen with said photographic image comprising a first series of substantially parallel image segments of a predetermined size;

enlarging said first screen by a predetermined factor to generate a viewing screen which includes a second series of substantially parallel lines which are of a width equal to said predetermined width multiplied by a predetermined factor and separated by clear spaces;

enlarging said first transparency by said predetermined factor to generate a second transparency with a photographic image comprising a second series of substantially parallel image segments which are of a size equal to said predetermined size multiplied by said predetermined factor;

spacing said viewing screen from said second transparency by a predetermined distance;

aligning said second series of substantially parallel lines on said view screen with said second series of substantially parallel image segments on said second transparency; and

maintaining said viewing screen in a fixed, substantially parallel orientation with respect to said second transparency to display said three dimensional visual image.