Neutralizing device for autostereoscopic lens sheet

• US 6,985,296 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2004
• Issued: 01/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RealD Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Stereographics Corporation (RealD Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lipton, Lenny, McKee, William James Jr., Dorworth, Bruce A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinh, Jack
• Application Number:
  US10/826,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20050018304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 359619-623, 359/626, 359/455, 359/458, 359/462, 359/463, 359/599, 345/1.1, 345/1.2, 345/1.3, 345/2.2, 345 4- 9, 349 11- 15, 349/59, 348/42, 348/59, 347/171
• US Class Current: 359/619
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/27 involving lenticular arrays

Abstract

A neutralizing sheet for an autostereoscopic image viewing system. The image viewing system includes a lenticular sheet covering a display screen. The neutralizing sheet including a pliable portion and is movable between a first position and a second position. The pliable portion has a refractive index similar to the lenticular sheet. When pressed into the lenticular sheet to define the first position, the pliable portion deforms to assume the shape of the lenticular sheet. Thus, refraction through the lenticular sheet is neutralized and viewing of planar images is enabled. In the second position, the neutralizing sheet is separated from the lenticular sheet and viewing of stereoscopic images is enabled.

Claims

1. An image viewing system, comprising:

a lenticular sheet, and

a neutralizing sheet having a pliable portion, said neutralizing sheet being movable between a first position, wherein the neutralizing sheet is pressed into intimate juxtaposition with the lenticular sheet such that the pliable portion deforms to assume the shape of the lenticular sheet, and a second position, wherein the neutralizing sheet is separated from the lenticular sheet.

2. An image viewing system as in claim 1, wherein an actuator moves the neutralizing sheet between the first position and the second position.

3. A neutralizing sheet for an autostereoscopic image viewing system, wherein the system includes a lenticular sheet covering a display screen, comprising:

a neutralizing sheet including a pliable portion and movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the pliable portion has a refractive index similar to the lenticular sheet such that when pressed into the lenticular sheet to define the first position, the pliable portion deforms to assume the shape of the lenticular sheet to thereby neutralize the refraction through the lenticular sheet, and wherein the second position is defined to have the neutralizing sheet separated from the lenticular sheet.

4. A neutralizing sheet as in claim 3, wherein the pliable portion is affixed to a rigid substrate.

5. A neutralizing sheet as in claim 4, wherein the pliable portion is a soft transparent elastic material.

6. A neutralizing sheet as in claim 5, wherein the material is silicone rubber.

7. A neutralizing sheet as in claim 4, wherein the pliable portion is a gel contained within a thin flexible transparent membrane.