Apparatus for projection of three-dimensional images
First Claim
1. An apparatus for the presentation of apparent three-dimension images comprising:
- a) illumination means for producing a steroscopic image having two component images;
b) a projector lens for focusing said stereoscopic image;
c) image processing means for separating said stereoscopic image into said two component images of said stereoscopic image and directing said two component images to arrive at a predetermined target area, said image processing means, comprising;
(i) a beam splitting cube for receiving the output of said projector lens;
(ii) a first prism for receiving light passed by said beamsplitting cube and reflecting it in a different direction;
(iii) a second prism for receiving light from said first prism and reflecting it in a first direction; and
(iv) a third prism for receiving light reflected by said beamsplitting cube and reflecting it generally in said first direction; and
d) a viewing screen positioned at said predetermined target area comprising;
(i) a projection-side screening means for selectively blocking portions of said two component images;
(ii) a diffusion member having a diffusion surface for displaying the portions of said two component images passing through said projection-side screening means said projection-side screening means being positioned between said diffusion member and said image processing means; and
(iii) a viewer-side screening means positioned on a side of said diffusion member opposite said projection side screening means for presenting the displayed portions of said two component images to a binocular viewer such that one eye of said binocular viewer will perceive substantially only the displayed portion of one of said two component images and the other eye of said binocular viewer will perceive substantially only the displayed portion of the other of said two component images.
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Abstract
An apparatus for presentation of apparent three-dimensional images without special viewing glasses is disclosed. A projection system projects right and left stereo images from a stereoscopic slide so that the right stereo image and the left stereo image become superimposed relative to one another on a viewing screen. The viewing screen comprises light transmissive slit-raster members and a light diffusion member. The viewing screen is adapted to allow the right and left stereo images to pass between the opaque raster members and be perceived only by the right and left eyes, respectively, of the viewer as the left image formed in a raster-like manner on the diffusion member is blocked by further opaque raster members and prevented from being perceived by the right eye and the right stereo image also formed in a raster-like manner on the diffusion member is blocked by the further opaque raster members and prevented from being perceived by the left eye. Thus, the right eye sees only the right stereo image and the left eye sees only the left stereo image thereby replicating the binocular human vision as the brain interprets the two points of view observed by the right and left eyes as a three-dimensional image.
28 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for the presentation of apparent three-dimension images comprising:
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a) illumination means for producing a steroscopic image having two component images; b) a projector lens for focusing said stereoscopic image; c) image processing means for separating said stereoscopic image into said two component images of said stereoscopic image and directing said two component images to arrive at a predetermined target area, said image processing means, comprising; (i) a beam splitting cube for receiving the output of said projector lens; (ii) a first prism for receiving light passed by said beamsplitting cube and reflecting it in a different direction; (iii) a second prism for receiving light from said first prism and reflecting it in a first direction; and (iv) a third prism for receiving light reflected by said beamsplitting cube and reflecting it generally in said first direction; and d) a viewing screen positioned at said predetermined target area comprising; (i) a projection-side screening means for selectively blocking portions of said two component images; (ii) a diffusion member having a diffusion surface for displaying the portions of said two component images passing through said projection-side screening means said projection-side screening means being positioned between said diffusion member and said image processing means; and (iii) a viewer-side screening means positioned on a side of said diffusion member opposite said projection side screening means for presenting the displayed portions of said two component images to a binocular viewer such that one eye of said binocular viewer will perceive substantially only the displayed portion of one of said two component images and the other eye of said binocular viewer will perceive substantially only the displayed portion of the other of said two component images. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for the presentation of apparent three-dimensioned images comprising:
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a) an image projector; b) image separation means configured, dimensioned and positioned to separate a stereoscopic image from said projector into the two component images of said stereoscopic image, said image separation means, comprising; i) a beam splitting cube; ii) a first prism for receiving light passed by said beamsplitting cube and reflecting it upwardly; iii) a second prism for receiving light from said first prism and reflecting it in a first direction; iv) a third prism for receiving light reflected by said beamsplitting cube and reflecting it generally in said first direction; c) an image director means configured, dimensioned and positioned to cause said two component images to converge at a predetermined convergence site; and d) a viewing screen, positioned at said predetermined convergence site, said viewing screen comprising; i) a diffusion member having a diffusion surface for displaying the converged component images; ii) a projection-side, slit-raster member configured, dimensioned and positioned to cause the two component images to form vertical raster-like images on said diffusion surface; and iii) a viewer-side, slit-raster member configured, dimensioned and positioned such that a binocular viewer may perceive substantially only one of said two component images with one eye and substantially only the other of said two component images with the other eye.
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13. An apparatus for the presentation of apparent three-dimensional images comprising:
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a) illumination means for presenting a stereoscopic image having two component images; b) a projector lens for focusing said stereoscopic image; c) image processing means for separating said stereoscopic image into said two component images of said stereoscopic image and directing said two component images along respective optical paths to arrive at a predetermined target area;
said image processing means comprising;i) a totally internally reflecting prism positioned to reflect one of said two component images; ii) an adjustable mirror to receive the reflected one of said two component images and reflect said one of said two component images towards said predetermined target area; iii) a first achromatic prism to correct the final optical path length and direction for said one of said two component images; iv) a second achromatic prism to correct the final optical path direction for the second of said two component images; and
d) a viewing screen positioned at said predetermined target area comprising;i) a projection-side masking means for selectively blocking portions of said two component images; ii) a diffusion member having a diffusion surface for displaying the portions of said two component images passing through said projection-side masking means; and iii) a viewer-side masking means for presenting the displayed portions of said two component images to a binocular viewer such that one eye of said binocular viewer will perceive substantially only the displayed portion of one of said two component images and the other eye of said binocular viewer will perceive substantially only the displayed portion of the other of said two component images. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification