Electro-optical display system for visually displaying polarized spatially multiplexed images of 3-D objects for use in stereoscopically viewing the same with high image quality and resolution

• US 5,537,144 A
• Filed: 09/23/1993
• Issued: 07/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Reveo, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Reveo, Inc.
• Inventors: Faris, Sadeg M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US08/126,077
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 348/42, 348/51, 348/52, 348/53, 348/54, 348/55, 348/56, 348/57, 348/58, 348/59, 348/60
• US Class Current: 348/58
• 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 30/22 of the stereoscopic type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/25 using polarisation techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1334 based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1335 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. polarisers or reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133538 with spatial distribution of the polarisation direction
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133627 Projection-direct viewing
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/132 Overhead projectors, i.e. capable of projecting hand-writing or drawing during action epidiascopic projectors G03B21/08
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/30 adapted to collapse or fold, e.g. for portability
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/133 Equalising the characteristics of different image components, e.g. their average brightness or colour balance
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/15 for colour aspects of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/156 Mixing image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/161 Encoding, multiplexing or demultiplexing different image signal components for multi-view video sequence encoding H04N19/597
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/167 Synchronising or controlling image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/218 : using spatial multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 : using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 : using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/246 : Calibration of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/257 : Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/279 : the virtual viewpoint locations being selected by the viewers or determined by tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/289 : Switching between monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/296 : Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/30 : Image reproducers optical systems for producing stereoscopic or other three-dimensional effects G02B30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/324 : Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/327 : Calibration thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/334 : using spectral multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/337 : using polarisation multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 : using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 : with head-mounted left-right displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/361 : Reproducing mixed stereoscopic images; Reproducing mixed monoscopic and stereoscopic images, e.g. a stereoscopic image overlay window on a monoscopic image background
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 : using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/368 : for two or more viewers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/373 : for tracking forward-backward translational head movements, i.e. longitudinal movements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/376 : for tracking left-right translational head movements, i.e. lateral movements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/38 : for tracking vertical translational head movements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/383 : for tracking with gaze detection, i.e. detecting the lines of sight of the viewer's eyes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 : Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/597 : specially adapted for multi-view video sequence encoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7441 : the modulator being an array of liquid crystal cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7491 : of head mounted projectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3141 : Constructional details thereof details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14

Abstract

An electro-optical display system for visually displaying a polarized spatially multiplexed image (SMI) of a 3-D object for use in stereoscopic viewing thereof with high image quality and resolution. In the illustrative embodiment, electro-optical display system comprises a liquid crystal display device and a micropolarization panel of electrically-passive construction. The liquid crystal display device has a display surface for visually displaying a composite pixel pattern representative of a spatially multiplexed image composed of first and second spatially modulated perspective images of the object, consisting of first and second pixel patterns. The micropolarization panel includes an optically transparent laminate portion and an optically transparent substrate portion which is in direct physical contact with the laminate portion. First and second optically transparent patterns are permanently formed in the optically transparent laminate portion. The first optically transparent pattern spatially corresponds to and is spatially aligned with the first pixel pattern displayed on the display surface so as to impart a first polarization state P₁ to light emanating from the first pixel pattern and passing through the first optically transparent pattern. The second optically transparent pattern spatially corresponds to and is spatially aligned with the second pixel pattern displayed on the display surface so as to impart a second polarization state P₂ to light emanating from the second pixel pattern and passing through the second optically transparent pattern.

Claims

1. An electro-optical display system for visually presenting a polarized spatially multiplexed image of a 3-D object for use in stereoscopic viewing thereof with high image quality and resolution, said electro-optical display system comprising:

a liquid crystal display device having an image formation surface for forming a composite pixel pattern representative of a spatially multiplexed image composed of first and second spatially modulated perspective images of said object, said first spatially modulated perspective image consisting of a first pixel pattern representative of a first perspective image of said object spatially modulated according to a first spatial modulation pattern, said second spatially modulated perspective image consisting of a second pixel pattern representative of a second perspective image of said object spatially modulated according to a second spatial modulation pattern, said second spatial modulation pattern being the logical compliment pattern of said first spatial modulation pattern;

a micropolarization panel of electrically-passive construction affixed to said image formation surface, said micropolarization panel including

an optically transparent laminate portion directly mounted to said image formation surface and having a thickness dimension on the order of about 10 to about 20 microns,

an optically transparent substrate portion in direct physical contact with said optically transparent laminate portion, for providing support to said optically transparent laminate portion, and

first and second optically transparent patterns permanently formed in said optically transparent laminate portion;

said first optically transparent pattern spatially corresponding to and being spatially aligned with said first pixel pattern formed on said image formation surface so as to impart a first polarization state P₁ to light emanating from said first pixel pattern and passing through said first optically transparent pattern;

said second optically transparent pattern spatially corresponding to and being spatially aligned with said second pixel pattern formed on said image formation surface so as to impart a second polarization state P₂ to light emanating from said second pixel pattern and passing through said second optically transparent pattern, said second polarization state P₂ being different than said first polarization state P₁ ;

said first and second optically transparent patterns physically interfacing each other at surfaces disposed above and substantially perpendicular to said image formation surface; and

said first and second optically transparent patterns each having a spatial period on the order of about 25 to about 5000 microns;

wherein the polarized light emanating from said first and second optically transparent patterns forms a polarized spatially multiplexed image for use in stereoscopic viewing said 3-D object with high image quality and resolution.

2. The electro-optical display system of claim 1, wherein said micropolarization panel has a thickness dimension of about 300 microns or less.

3. The electro-optical display system of claim 1, wherein said first optically transparent pattern comprises a first retardation pattern which imparts said first polarization state P₁ to light emanating from said first pixel pattern and passing through said first retardation pattern, and wherein said second optically transparent pattern comprises a second retardation pattern which imparts said second polarization state P₂ to light emanating from said second pixel pattern and passing through said second retardation pattern.

4. The electro-optical display system of claim 3, wherein said first retardation pattern comprises a first quarter wave retardation pattern which imparts a clockwise circular polarization state to light emanating from said first pixel pattern and passing through said first retardation pattern, and wherein said second retardation pattern comprises a second quarter wave retardation pattern which imparts a counter-clockwise circular polarization state to light emanating from said second pixel pattern and passing through said second retardation pattern.

5. The electro-optical display system of claim 1, wherein said optically transparent laminate portion further comprises a polarization layer, and said first optically transparent pattern comprises a first retardation pattern, wherein said first retardation pattern imparts said first polarization state P₁ to light emanating from said first pixel pattern and passing through said first retardation pattern, and

wherein said second optically transparent pattern imparts said second polarization state P₂ to light emanating from said second pixel pattern and passing through said second optically transparent pattern.

6. The electro-optical display system of claim 5, wherein said first retardation pattern imparts half-wave retardation to light emanating from said first pixel pattern and passing through said first retardation pattern, and said second optically transparent pattern imparts zero retardation to light emanating from said second pixel pattern and passing through said second optically transparent pattern.

7. The electro-optical display system of claim 5, wherein said polarization layer is characterized by a linear polarization state.

8. The electro-optical display system of claim 7, wherein said first polarization state P₁ is a first linear polarization state, and wherein said second polarization state P₂ is a second linear polarization state, which is different from said first linear polarization state P₁.

9. The electro-optical display system of claim 5, wherein said polarization layer is characterized by a circular polarization state.

10. The electro-optical display system of claim 9, wherein said first polarization state P₁ is a clockwise circular polarization state, and wherein said second polarization state P₂ is a counter-clockwise circular polarization state.

11. The electro-optical display system of claim 5, wherein said first retardation pattern comprises a first quarter wave retardation pattern which imparts a clockwise circular polarization state to light emanating from said first pixel pattern and passing through said first retardation pattern.

12. The electro-optical display system of claim 1, in combination with

an optical viewing device of electrically-passive construction, having

a head supportable frame with which first and second optically transparent elements are supported,

said first optically transparent element being positionable adjacent to the left eye of a viewer, and

said second optically transparent element being positionable adjacent to the right eye of the viewer,

wherein said first optically transparent element is characterized by said first polarization state P₁ so as to permit the left eye of the viewer to view said first pixel pattern formed on said image formation surface, while substantially preventing the left eye of the viewer from viewing said second pixel pattern formed on said image formation surface,

wherein said second optically transparent element is characterized by said second polarization state P₂ so as to permit the right eye of the viewer to view said second pixel pattern formed on said image formation surface while substantially preventing the right eye of the viewer from viewing said first pixel pattern formed on said image formation surface, and

whereby the viewer is capable of stereoscopically viewing said 3-D object with high image quality and resolution.

13. The electro-optical display system of claim 1, wherein said image formation surface of said liquid crystal display device functions as a display surface suitable for direct stereoscopic viewing of said 3-D object with high image quality and resolution.

14. The electro-optical display system of claim 1, wherein said liquid crystal display device further comprises

a projection lens for projecting said polarized spatially multiplexed image onto a remote display surface, for stereoscopic viewing of said 3-D object with high image quality and resolution.

15. An electro-optical display system for visually presenting a polarized spatially multiplexed image of a 3-D object for use in stereoscopic viewing thereof with high image quality and resolution, said electro-optical display system comprising:

a liquid crystal display device having a display surface for visually presenting a composite pixel pattern representative of a spatially multiplexed image composed of first and second spatially modulated perspective images of said object, said first spatially modulated perspective image consisting of a first pixel pattern representative of a first perspective image of said object spatially modulated according to a first spatial modulation pattern, said second spatially modulated perspective image consisting of a second pixel pattern representative of a second perspective image of said object spatially modulated according to a second spatial modulation pattern, said second spatial modulation pattern being the logical compliment pattern of said first spatial modulation pattern;

a micropolarization panel of electrically-passive construction, said micropolarization panel including

an optically transparent laminate portion directly mounted to said display surface and having a thickness dimension of about 20 microns or less,

an optically transparent substrate portion in direct physical contact with said laminate portion, and

first and second optically transparent patterns permanently formed in said optically transparent laminate portion;

said first optically transparent pattern spatially corresponding to and being spatially aligned with said first pixel pattern displayed on said display surface so as to impart a first polarization state P₁ to light emanating from said first pixel pattern and passing through said first optically transparent pattern;

said second optically transparent pattern spatially corresponding to and being spatially aligned with said second pixel pattern displayed on said display surface so as to impart a second polarization state P₂ to light emanating from said second pixel pattern and passing through said second optically transparent pattern, said second polarization state P₂ being different than said first polarization state P₁ ;

said first and second optically transparent patterns physically interfacing each other at surfaces disposed above and substantially perpendicular to said display surface; and

said first and second optically transparent patterns each having a spatial period of about 5000 microns or less;

wherein the polarized light emanating from said first and second optically transparent patterns forms a polarized spatially multiplexed image for use in stereoscopic viewing said 3-D object with high image quality and resolution.