3D image display with binocular disparity and motion parallax
First Claim
1. A device with an array of display elements that displays images that appear to be three-dimensional, comprising:
- a first display element that comprises one or more first light-emitting members and two or more rotating concentric first light guides whose rotation guides the directions of the light rays from the one or more first light-emitting members, wherein the first light guides are coaxial, rotating around a first axis; and
a second display element that comprises one or more second light-emitting members and two or more rotating concentric second light guides whose rotation guides the directions of the light rays from the one or more second light-emitting members, wherein the second light guides are coaxial, rotating around a second axis, and wherein the second axis is different than the first axis;
wherein an outer first light guide has a shape that is fully or partially concave, thereby defining an interior space, and wherein an inner first light guide is located fully or partially within the interior space;
wherein at least one of the first light guides has a shape that is fully or partially concave, thereby defining an interior space, and wherein one or more first light-emitting members are located fully or partially within the interior space; and
wherein an outer second light guide has a shape that is fully or partially concave, thereby defining an interior space, and wherein an inner second light guide is located fully or partially within the interior space;
wherein at least one of the second light guides has a shape that is fully or partially concave, thereby defining an interior space, and wherein one or more second light-emitting members are located fully or partially within the interior space.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention is a device for displaying images that appear to be three-dimensional, with binocular disparity and motion parallax, for multiple viewers in different viewing locations. This device includes an array of display elements wherein at least one of these display elements includes: one or more light-emitting members; and two or more rotating concentric light guides whose rotation guides the directions of the light rays from the one or more light-emitting members. This invention has several advantages over methods for displaying three-dimensional images in the prior art. It offers a wide range of motion parallax in different directions for multiple viewers, does not require glasses or head tracking, creates images with full potential for opacity and occlusion, and does not require coherent light.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A device with an array of display elements that displays images that appear to be three-dimensional, comprising:
- a first display element that comprises one or more first light-emitting members and two or more rotating concentric first light guides whose rotation guides the directions of the light rays from the one or more first light-emitting members, wherein the first light guides are coaxial, rotating around a first axis; and
a second display element that comprises one or more second light-emitting members and two or more rotating concentric second light guides whose rotation guides the directions of the light rays from the one or more second light-emitting members, wherein the second light guides are coaxial, rotating around a second axis, and wherein the second axis is different than the first axis;
wherein an outer first light guide has a shape that is fully or partially concave, thereby defining an interior space, and wherein an inner first light guide is located fully or partially within the interior space;
wherein at least one of the first light guides has a shape that is fully or partially concave, thereby defining an interior space, and wherein one or more first light-emitting members are located fully or partially within the interior space; and
wherein an outer second light guide has a shape that is fully or partially concave, thereby defining an interior space, and wherein an inner second light guide is located fully or partially within the interior space;
wherein at least one of the second light guides has a shape that is fully or partially concave, thereby defining an interior space, and wherein one or more second light-emitting members are located fully or partially within the interior space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- a first display element that comprises one or more first light-emitting members and two or more rotating concentric first light guides whose rotation guides the directions of the light rays from the one or more first light-emitting members, wherein the first light guides are coaxial, rotating around a first axis; and
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20. A device with an array of display elements that displays images that appear to be three-dimensional, comprising:
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a first display element that comprises one or more first light-emitting members and two or more rotating concentric first light guides whose rotation guides the directions of the light rays from the one or more first light-emitting members; wherein the first light guides are coaxial, rotating around a first axis; wherein a first light-emitting member is selected from the group consisting of a light source within the first display element and an exit point for light channeled from a light source external to the first display element; wherein changes in the directions of the light rays exiting the first display element and changes in the contents of those light rays are coordinated to show different contents from different viewing perspectives and thereby display images that appear to be three-dimensional; wherein an outer first light guide has a shape that is fully or partially concave, thereby defining an interior space, and wherein an inner first light guide is located fully or partially within that interior space; wherein at least one of the first light guides has a shape that is fully or partially concave, thereby defining an interior space, and wherein one or more first light-emitting members are located fully or partially within that interior space; wherein a first light guide guides light by one or more means selected from the group consisting of;
holes or transparent portions that allow light to pass through, barriers that block the passage of light, lenses or other optics that refract or channel light, and mirrors or other surfaces that reflect light; andwherein the two or more first light guides rotate in similar, or different, directions selected from one or more selections in the group consisting of;
clockwise rotation, counter-clockwise rotation, and oscillating rotation; anda second display element that comprises one or more second light-emitting members and two or more rotating concentric second light guides whose rotation guides the directions of the light rays from the one or more second light-emitting members; wherein the second light guides are coaxial, rotating around a second axis, and wherein the second axis is different than the first axis; wherein a second light-emitting member is selected from the group consisting of a light source within the second display element and an exit point for light channeled from a light source external to the second display element; wherein changes in the directions of the light rays exiting the second display element and changes in the contents of those light rays are coordinated to show different contents from different viewing perspectives and thereby display images that appear to be three-dimensional; wherein an outer second light guide has a shape that is fully or partially concave, thereby defining an interior space, and wherein an inner second light guide is located fully or partially within that interior space; wherein at least one of the second light guides has a shape that is fully or partially concave, thereby defining an interior space, and wherein one or more second light-emitting members are located fully or partially within that interior space; wherein a second light guide guides light by one or more means selected from the group consisting of;
holes or transparent portions that allow light to pass through, barriers that block the passage of light, lenses or other optics that refract or channel light, and mirrors or other surfaces that reflect light; andwherein the two or more second light guides rotate in similar, or different, directions selected from one or more selections in the group consisting of;
clockwise rotation, counter-clockwise rotation, and oscillating rotation. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A device with an array of display elements that displays images that appear to be three-dimensional, comprising:
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a first display element that comprises one or more first light-emitting members and two or more rotating concentric first light guides whose rotation guides the directions of the light rays from the one or more first light-emitting members; wherein the first light guides are coaxial, rotating around a first axis; wherein a first light-emitting member is selected from the group consisting of a light source within the first display element and an exit point for light channeled from a light source external to the display element; wherein the array of display elements is arrayed on a surface with a shape selected from one or more selections in the group consisting of;
a flat surface; and
a curved surface;wherein changes in the directions of the light rays exiting the first display element and changes in the contents of those light rays are coordinated to show different contents from different viewing perspectives and thereby display images that appear to be three-dimensional; wherein an outer first light guide has a shape that is fully or partially concave, thereby defining an interior space, and wherein an inner first light guide is located fully or partially within that interior space; wherein at least one of the first light guides has a shape that is fully or partially concave, thereby defining an interior space, and wherein one or more first light-emitting members are located fully or partially within that interior space; wherein a first light guide guides light by one or more means selected from the group consisting of;
holes or transparent portions that allow light to pass through, barriers that block the passage of light, lenses or other optics that refract or channel light, and mirrors or other surfaces that reflect light;wherein the two or more first light guides rotate in similar, or different, directions selected from one or more selections in the group consisting of;
clockwise rotation, counter-clockwise rotation, and oscillating rotation;wherein the first light guides have shapes selected from one or more selections in the group consisting of;
sphere, hemisphere, or other portion of a sphere;
geodesic sphere, dome, or other three-dimensional structure comprised of polygonal elements;
disk or ellipse with concave or convex sides;
multi-faceted lens, converging ascending three-dimensional spiral;
multi-faceted lens; and
parabolic solid; andwherein the first light guides of a first display element change the latitude and longitude of the angles by which light rays exit that display element, wherein latitude may be defined as the angle of a light ray relative to the plane of the array of display elements, and wherein longitude may be defined as the rotational angle, or polar coordinate, of a light ray relative to the rotational axis of a light guide; and a second display element that comprises one or more second light-emitting members and two or more rotating concentric second light guides whose rotation guides the directions of the light rays from the one or more second light-emitting members; wherein the second light guides are coaxial, rotating around a second axis, and wherein the second axis is different than the first axis; wherein a second light-emitting member is selected from the group consisting of a light source within the second display element and an exit point for light channeled from a light source external to the display element; wherein the array of display elements is arrayed on a surface with a shape selected from one or more selections in the group consisting of;
a flat surface; and
a curved surface;wherein changes in the directions of the light rays exiting the second display element and changes in the contents of those light rays are coordinated to show different contents from different viewing perspectives and thereby display images that appear to be three-dimensional; wherein an outer second light guide has a shape that is fully or partially concave, thereby defining an interior space, and wherein an inner second light guide is located fully or partially within that interior space; wherein at least one of the second light guides has a shape that is fully or partially concave, thereby defining an interior space, and wherein one or more second light-emitting members are located fully or partially within that interior space; wherein a second light guide guides light by one or more means selected from the group consisting of;
holes or transparent portions that allow light to pass through, barriers that block the passage of light, lenses or other optics that refract or channel light, and mirrors or other surfaces that reflect light;wherein the two or more second light guides rotate in similar, or different, directions selected from one or more selections in the group consisting of;
clockwise rotation, counter-clockwise rotation, and oscillating rotation;wherein the second light guides have shapes selected from one or more selections in the group consisting of;
sphere, hemisphere, or other portion of a sphere;
geodesic sphere, dome, or other three-dimensional structure comprised of polygonal elements;
disk or ellipse with concave or convex sides;
multi-faceted lens, converging ascending three-dimensional spiral multi-faceted lens; and
parabolic solid; andwherein the second light guides of a second display element change the latitude and longitude of the angles by which light rays exit that display element, wherein latitude may be defined as the angle of a light ray relative to the plane of the array of display elements, and wherein longitude may be defined as the rotational angle, or polar coordinate, of a light ray relative to the rotational axis of a light guide. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method for displaying images that appear to be three-dimensional comprising:
- changing the directions of first light rays exiting a first display element through the use of two or more rotating concentric first light guides within the first display element;
wherein the first light guides are coaxial, rotating around a first axis;
changing the directions of second light rays exiting a second display element through the use of two or more rotating concentric second light guides within the second display element;
wherein the second light guides are coaxial, rotating around a second axis;
wherein the second axis is different than the first axis; and
coordinating changes in the directions of the first light rays with changes in the content of the first light rays so that different content is viewed from the first display element from different viewing perspectives in order to create images that appear to be three-dimensional; and
coordinating changes in the directions of the second light rays with changes in the content of the second light rays so that different content is viewed from the second display element from different viewing perspectives in order to create images that appear to be three-dimensional;
wherein an outer first light guide has a shape that is fully or partially concave, thereby defining an interior space, and wherein an inner first light guide is located fully or partially within the interior space;
wherein at least one of the first light guides has a shape that is fully or partially concave, thereby defining an interior space, and wherein one or more first light-emitting members are located fully or partially within the interior space; and
wherein an outer second light guide has a shape that is fully or partially concave, thereby defining an interior space, and wherein an inner second light guide is located fully or partially within the interior space;
wherein at least one of the second light guides has a shape that is fully or partially concave, thereby defining an interior space, and wherein one or more second light-emitting members are located fully or partially within the interior space.
- changing the directions of first light rays exiting a first display element through the use of two or more rotating concentric first light guides within the first display element;
Specification