Polarized mask stereoscopic display including tiling masks with complementary transparent regions

• US 5,050,961 A
• Filed: 07/12/1990
• Issued: 09/24/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Venolia, Daniel S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Henry, Jon W.
• Application Number:
  US07/551,689
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 350/132, 350/320, 358/91
• US Class Current: 359/465
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/25 using polarisation techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/337 using polarisation multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 359/90 Methods

Abstract

A full-spectrum stereoscopic display system with a tiled display image of alternating tiles from first and second full-spectrum images of a stereo pair of images is covered by an identically tiled polarized mask, with alternating tiles of said polarized mask being cross polarized. When viewed through cross polarized viewing glasses, separate views will appear for the left and right eyes of the viewer.

Claims

1. A full-spectrum stereoscopic display system, without requiring color separation between left-eye and right-eye views, for presenting a first and second full-spectrum image of a stereo pair of images to the left and right eyes of a viewer so that the viewer can perceive a three-dimensional image, comprising:

a display image comprising a pattern of alternating first and second regions, said first regions displaying the full-spectrum image from corresponding regions of said first full-spectrum image of said stereo pair, and said second regions displaying the full-spectrum image from corresponding regions of said second full-spectrum image of said stereo pair, said first and second regions selected through transparent regions of a tiling mask and its inverse respectively;

a polarized mask patterned with the same said pattern of alternating first and second regions, said first regions containing a first polarizer of a first orientation, and said second regions containing a second polarizer of a second orientation, said polarized mask positioned between said display image and said viewer and positioned so that said pattern of said polarization mask appears overlayed and aligned to said pattern of said display image; and

polarized viewing glasses, with first and second polarized filter lenses in front of said left and right eyes of said viewer, said first polarized filter lens being in said first orientation and said second polarized filter lens being in said second orientation;

wherein, said first full-spectrum image from said first regions of said display image travels through said first regions of said polarized mask and through said first polarized filter lens of said viewing glasses to reach said left eye, while said second full-spectrum image from said second regions of said display image travels through said second regions of said polarized mask and through said second polarized filter lens of said viewing glasses to reach said right eye.

2. A stereoscopic display system as in claim 1 wherein said first and second orientations are in cross polarization.

3. A stereoscopic display system as in claim 1 wherein said mask is closely overlayed to said display image.

4. A stereoscopic display system as in claim 1 wherein said first and second regions comprise alternating first and second lines of pixels.

5. A method of full-spectrum steroscopic display, without requiring color separation between left-eye and right-eye views, wherein the steps comprise:

tiling a display image by selecting first and second full-spectrum images for alternate tiles from corresponding image areas of first and second full-spectrum images of a stereo pair of images, said first full-spectrum image selected through transparent regions of a first tiling mask, and said second full-spectrum image selected through transparent regions of a second tiling mask inverse to said transparent regions of said first tiling mask;

covering said display image with a polarized mask with identically tiled polarizers alternating between first and second polarizations; and

viewing said display image through polarized glasses with polarizing lens filters of said first and second polarizations, and through said polarized mask.