Device for generating a view of a three-dimensional object

• US 7,820,954 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2005
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Kleen, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Que T
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI PHO, PASCAL M
• Application Number:
  US11/044,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20050162440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,098 Days
• Field of Search: 250/205, 250/208.1, 250/239, 250/214.VT, 250/216, 372/50.12, 372/50.122, 372/50.23, 378/41, 362/553, 362/259, 345/419, 345/6, 345/426, 345/32, 345/41, 359/458, 359462-477, 348 42- 60, 349/5, 349/15, 353/7
• US Class Current: 250/205
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/003 to produce spatial visual effects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/305 using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses

Abstract

A device for reproducing three-dimensional data has a plurality of image points(7) that include a plurality of laser light sources(2), in front of which is arranged a lens(4). Since the laser light sources(2) of an image point(7) radiate in different directions, different images can be projected in different radiation directions(12, 13). Since eyes (10, 11) of an observer perceive different images depending on the viewing direction, a spatial visual impression is produced.

Claims

1. A device for generating a view of a three-dimensional object, comprising:

a plurality of adjacently arranged light source groups, each light source group assigned to an image pixel of the view and comprising a plurality of light sources, each of said light sources assigned to a respective deflected beam direction, the deflected beam directions so dimensioned relative to one another so as to provide different views of the object to two eyes of an observer, or to a plurality of observers simultaneously; and

a control unit that controls the light sources to produce a respective different view of the three-dimensional object as seen in each respective deflected beam direction, wherein

each light source emits a respective emitted beam diverging less than 15 degrees from an emitting direction and partially illuminating an optical lens arranged in front of the respective light source group, the optical lens deflecting the emitted beams into the respective deflected beam directions;

wherein the intensity of each of the light sources is controlled individually by the control unit to generate the respective different views; and

wherein adjacent ones of the emitted beams of a given pixel only illuminate respective adjacent portions of an aperture of the optical lens.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light sources emit laser radiation.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the light sources are surface emitting semiconductor lasers.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an active color filter arranged between the light sources and the optical lens.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the light sources is controlled according to an actual respective deflected beam direction resulting from the optical lens.

6. A method of displaying a view of a three-dimensional medical data record, comprising utilizing a view displaying device, the view displaying device comprising:

a plurality of adjacently arranged light source groups, each light source group assigned to an image pixel of the view and comprising a plurality of light sources, each of said light sources assigned to a respective deflected beam direction, the deflected beam directions so dimensioned relative to one another so as to provide different views of the object to two eyes of an observer, or to a plurality of observers simultaneously; and

a control unit for controlling the respective light sources to produce a respective different view of the three-dimensional object of the medical data record as seen in each respective deflected beam direction, wherein

each light source emits a respective emitted beam diverging less than 15 degrees from an emitting direction and partially illuminating an optical lens arranged in front of the respective light source group, the optical lens deflecting the emitted beams into the respective deflected beam directions;

wherein the intensity of each of the light sources is controlled individually by the control unit to generate the respective different views; and

wherein adjacent ones of the emitted beams of a given pixel only illuminate respective adjacent portions of an aperture of the optical lens.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of the light sources is controlled according to an actual respective deflected beam direction resulting from the optical lens.

8. A device for displaying a three-dimensional view of a spatial object, comprising:

an array of pixels in a display device;

each of the pixels comprising an array of adjacent light emitters;

each of the light emitters emitting a beam of light that diverges less than 15 degrees from a forward radiation direction;

each of the beams individually intensity-controllable;

an optical lens positioned in front of each of the pixels;

each optical lens deflecting each emitted beam of a given pixel to an individually deflected beam direction, projecting a plurality of appearances of each pixel to a respective plurality of viewpoints;

wherein adjacent emitted beams of a given pixel only illuminate a respective adjacent part of the optical lens;

wherein the intensities of the emitted beams are individually controlled so that the appearances of the pixels change with changing viewpoint to display a three-dimensional view of a spatial object when viewed over a range of angles by one or more observers positioned generally in front of the device.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein each emitter comprises a laser device that emits a laser beam.

10. The device as claimed in claim 8 wherein each optical lens comprises a refractive lens.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein each optical lens comprises a single optical lens defining a respective pixel.

12. The device as claimed in claim 8, further comprising an active color filter arranged between the light emitters and the optical lens.

13. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein each beam is controlled according to an actual individually deflected beam direction resulting from the respective part of the optical lens.