Apparatus and system for reproducing 3-dimensional images

• US 7,944,465 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2006
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zecotek Medical Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zecotek Display Systems Pte. Ltd. (Zecotek Photonics Inc.)
• Inventors: Goulanian, Emine, Zerrouk, Abdelmounaime Faouzi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TORRENTE, RICHARD T
• Application Number:
  US11/364,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20070165013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,905 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 348/51
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/322 using varifocal lenses or mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/324 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/346 using prisms or semi-transparent mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

This invention enables the construction of equipment for reproduction of static and moving (live) 3-dimensional stereo representations (3-dimensional display), and is capable of recording and transmitting stereo representations of 3-dimensional objects (scenes). The equipment of the present invention provides to the user comfortable conditions for viewing a volumetric representation without eye strain. The viewing of such 3-dimensional images does not require the use of any supplementary means such as glasses, does not drastically limit the position of the viewer with respect to the display, and allows simultaneous viewing of the 3-dimensional display by many viewers from a sufficiently wide field of view.

Claims

1. An apparatus for producing a 3-dimensional representation of an object or scene, comprising:

a display component for 2-dimensional representations, wherein the display component is connected to a module of buffered memory;

a first 2-dimensional matrix of converging micro-lenses, wherein each micro-lens is optically joined to a corresponding region of a display surface of the display component for 2-dimensional representations;

second and third 2-dimensional matrices of micro-lenses, wherein the micro-lenses of the second and third 2-dimensional matrices are coaxially aligned and rigidly connected to each other, and optically joined to the micro-lenses of the first matrix, and wherein the second matrix is positioned in the primary focal plane of the third matrix, and wherein the primary focal plane of the third matrix is matched with the back focal plane of the first matrix, and wherein the first, second and third matrices in combination form a matrix of scanning elements for sequential projection of the 2-dimensional representations in the plane of their aspect angles so as to produce the 3-dimensional representation of the object or scene;

a displacement mechanism for moving the position of the first matrix or the combined second and third matrices relative to each other in the plane in which they are positioned;

a positional sensor for the moving matrix (matrices), wherein the positional sensor is connected to a controller for synchronizing each 2-dimensional representation with the corresponding position of the matrix (matrices) of micro-lenses and wherein the output of the controller is connected to a synchronization input of the module of buffered memory; and

wherein the display component contains at least one spatial light modulator (SLM) and has at least two controlled light sources of different colors for illumination of the spatial light modulator through an optical component for mixing their light, and a control component for switching the light sources depending on the color of the representation of the aspect angles, and wherein each output of the control component is connected to the control input of the corresponding light source, and the synchronization input is connected to the controller output.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the display component for 2-dimensional representation consists of an LED matrix.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first, second and third matrices of micro-lenses each consists of a lenticular matrix of cylindrical, vertically aligned lenses, and wherein the displacement mechanism provides for back-and-forth horizontal movement of the combined second and third matrices of micro-lenses.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first matrix contains the same spacing of micro-lenses as the second and third matrices of micro-lenses.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first, second and third matrices consist of identical micro-lenses.