Apparatus for the generation of a stereoscopic display

• US 6,476,850 B1
• Filed: 10/09/1998
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kenneth Erbey
• Original Assignee: Kenneth Erbey
• Inventors: Erbey, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley, Chris
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARSONS, CHARLES E
• Application Number:
  US09/169,094
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: 348/6, 348/39, 348/51, 348/54, 348/56, 348/57, 348/58, 348/59, 382/154
• US Class Current: 348/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of image signals
• 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 13/282 for generating image signals corresponding to three or more geometrical viewpoints, e.g. multi-view systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/31 using parallax barriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/349 Multi-view displays for displaying three or more geometrical viewpoints without viewer tracking for viewing without the aid of special glasses using fly-eye lenses H04N13/307
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

An apparatus for the generation of a full-spectrum stereoscopic display. The system uses a flat, masking screen comprised of a plurality of regularly spaced, vertical apertures arranged in front of, parallel, and in a geometric relation to a flat, image display screen. The image has two viewpoints (one right-eye and one left-eye) interlaced by alternate vertical rows of pixels. The system creates a full-spectrum stereoscopic display when the image is viewed with proper geometric alignment by a viewer through the vertical apertures of the masking screen, which effectively separates the alternating left-eye/right-eye viewpoint vertical rows of pixels in such a manner as to allow the right eye to only see the right-eye viewpoint and the left eye to only see the left-eye viewpoint. A holographic display can be achieved by using five cameras, which allow a viewer to “see” and image from different angles.

Claims

1. A system for displaying full-motion, full-spectrum, high resolution, three-dimensional stereoscopic images in front of a viewer comprising:

a) a display screen, having a flat viewing surface, and capable of displaying a series of complimentary interlaced frames, and wherein the display screen has a plurality of pixel display points P;

b) a flat masking screen, having a plurality of narrow, parallel, vertical apertures, said flat masking screen being positioned in front of, and in a spatial relation to, said display screen, said plurality of narrow, parallel, vertical apertures being grouped into a first sub-group and a second sub-group, wherein when said first sub-group of apertures is open, the second sub-group is closed, and further wherein said first and second sub-groups of narrow, parallel, vertical apertures being geometrically aligned with a viewer'"'"'s eyes and the series of complimentary interlaced frames on said display screen;

c) wherein said viewer is positioned in front of the display screen and flat masking screen at a distance V from the flat masking screen, and wherein there exists a viewing area for a viewer'"'"'s eyes, said viewing area being designated by D, and further wherein an overlap area, O is created wherein the display of said images viewpoints is not observable, and further wherein each of said plurality of apertures having an aperture width designated by the letter A, defining a width of the open portion of the first and second aperture sub-groups, and an opaque width designated by the letter W, defining a width of a closed portion of the first and second aperture sub-groups, and further wherein the flat masking screen is positioned in front of the display screen at a distance S, the parameters A, W and S, defined above, being derived from the following relationships;

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said display screen has a frame rate, and wherein the frame rate is at twice a frame rate necessary to present a flickerless image.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said first and second aperture sub-groups are interlaced among each other, such that apertures of the first sub group are adjacent to apertures from the second sub group.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said first and second aperture sub-groups can be collectively opened if a stereoscopic effect is not desired.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the flat masking screen comprises a plurality of liquid crystals.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for capturing said image source and defining said image source in at least two different points of view comprise two video cameras.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for capturing said image source and defining said image source in at least two different points of view comprise images generated by a computer.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for capturing said image source and defining said image source in at least two different points of view comprise five video cameras.

9. A method for stereographic display of two separate viewpoints comprising the steps of:

a) capturing two separate viewpoint images;

b) horizontally dividing the two separate viewpoint images into vertical elements;

c) interlacing said vertical elements to create a first frame and a second frame, such that the first and second frames being complimentary to one another in that, while the first frame displays one-half of each of the two viewpoint images interlaced together, the second frame displays a remaining half of each of the two viewpoint images, whereby said first and second frames being interlaced together into a set of interlaced frames;

d) displaying the set of interlaced frames on a display screen having a flat viewing surface, and capable of displaying a series of complimentary interlaced frames, and wherein the display screen has a plurality of pixel display points P;

e) positioning a flat masking screen, having a plurality of narrow, parallel, vertical apertures, in front of, and in a spatial relation to, said display screen, said plurality of narrow, parallel, vertical apertures being grouped into a first sub-group and a second sub-group, wherein when said first sub-group of apertures is open, the second sub-group is closed, and further wherein said first and second sub-groups of narrow, parallel, vertical apertures being geometrically aligned with a viewer'"'"'s eyes and the set of interlaced frames on said display screen and further wherein a viewer is positioned in front of the display screen and flat masking screen at a distance V from the flat masking screen, and wherein there exists a viewing area for a viewer'"'"'s eyes, said viewing area being designated by D, and further wherein an overlap area, O is created wherein the display of said images viewpoints is not observable, and further wherein each of said plurality of apertures having an aperture width designated by the letter A, defining a width of the open portion of the first and second aperture sub-groups, and an opaque width designated by the letter W, defining a width of a closed portion of the first and second aperture sub-groups, and further wherein the flat masking screen is positioned in front of the display screen at a distance S, the parameters A, W and S, defined above, being derived from the following relationships;

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of capturing two separate viewpoint images utilizes two video cameras.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of capturing two separate viewpoint images utilizes images generated by a computer.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said first and second sub groups of apertures can be opened if the stereoscopic effect is not desired.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the flat masking screen comprises a plurality of liquid crystals.

14. A method for holographic display of five separate viewpoints comprising the steps of:

a) capturing five separate viewpoint images;

b) horizontally dividing the five separate viewpoint images into vertical elements;

c) interlacing said vertical elements to create five successive frames, such that said successive frames being complimentary to one another in that, while the first frame displays one-fifth of each of the five viewpoint images interlaced together, the succeeding frames display the remaining fourth-fifths of each of the five viewpoint images appropriately interlaced together;

d) displaying the interlaced frames on a display screen;

e) positioning a flat masking screen, having a plurality of narrow, parallel, vertical apertures, in front of, and in a spatial relation to, said display screen, said plurality of narrow, parallel, vertical apertures being grouped into a first sub-group and a second sub-group, wherein when said first sub-group of apertures is open, the second sub-group is closed, and further wherein said first and second sub-groups of narrow, parallel, vertical apertures being geometrically aligned with a viewer'"'"'s eyes and the series of complimentary interlaced frames on said display screen and further wherein a viewer is positioned in front of the display screen and flat masking screen at a distance V from the flat masking screen, and wherein there exists a viewing area for a viewer'"'"'s eyes, said viewing area being designated by D, and further wherein an overlap area, O is created wherein the display of said images viewpoints is not observable, and further wherein each of said plurality of apertures having an aperture width designated by the letter A, defining a width of the open portion of the first and second aperture sub-groups, and an opaque width designated by the letter W, defining a width of a closed portion of the first and second aperture sub-groups, and further wherein the flat masking screen is positioned in front of the display screen at a distance S, the parameters A, W and S, defined above, being derived from the following relationships;

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of capturing five separate viewpoint images utilizes five video cameras.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of capturing five separate viewpoint images utilizes images generated by a computer.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the flat masking screen comprises a plurality of liquid crystals.