Wide view 3D television system

• US 9,076,359 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2011
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zecotek Medical Display System Pte., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Zecotek Despay Systems Pte., Ltd.
• Inventors: Zerrouk, Abdelmounaime Faouzi, Goulanian, Emine
• Primary Examiner(s): TORRENTE, RICHARD T
• Application Number:
  US13/108,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20110234770A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,513 Days
• Field of Search: 348/51
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 relates to a multiview 3-dimensional display for sequentially projecting high number of 2-dimensional images of aspect angles of objects (scenes) into the wide field of view (apparatus) for producing their 3-dimensional images. The 3D image is perceived with great depth, provides comfortable conditions for its viewing without eye strain. The viewing of such 3D image also does not require using any supplementary means such as glasses or tracking devices, does not limit the position of the viewer in the field of view. This allows viewing the 3D image by many viewers simultaneously. The 3D display of the present invention can be used in computer and TV systems for transforming 2-dimensional images of aspect angles of virtual and real, static and moving 3D objects into corresponding signals and transmitting said signals for reproducing 2-dimensional by 3D display.

Claims

1. A television system for producing a 3-dimensional representation of an object or scene, comprising:

a 3-dimensional module (3D module) for selecting 2-dimensional representations of aspect angles of the 3-dimensional object or scene, transforming selected 2-dimensional representations into corresponding signals and transmitting said signals through a communications channel;

a 3-dimensional display (3D display) for reproducing 2-dimensional representations of aspect angles of the 3-dimensional object or scene from said signals, wherein the 3D display is connected to the communications channel; and

wherein the 3D display contains

a module of buffered memory connected to the communications channel;

a display component for 2-dimensional representations, wherein the display component is connected to the 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 matrices are coaxially aligned and 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;

wherein a combination of the first, second and third matrices 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 first 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 first positional sensor for the moving matrix (matrices);

a 3D display controller for synchronizing each 2-dimensional representation with the corresponding position of the moving matrix (matrices) wherein the input of the 3D display controller is connected to the first positional sensor, and wherein the output of the 3D display controller is connected to the synchronization input of the module of buffered memory; and

wherein the 3D module contains

a receiving 2-dimensional matrix of converging micro-lenses;

a conversion lens for projection of 2-dimensional representations of the object or scene onto the receiving matrix of micro-lenses;

fourth and fifth 2-dimensional matrices of micro-lenses;

a multi-element spatial filter matrix; and

at least one multi-element photo-detecting matrix for readout selected 2-dimensional representations;

wherein a combination of the receiving, fourth and fifth matrices of micro-lenses and the multi-element spatial filter matrix form a matrix of selecting elements for sequential selecting 2-dimensional representations;

wherein the fourth matrix micro-lenses is rigidly connected to the receiving matrix and located in the back focal plane of the receiving matrix, and wherein micro-lenses of the fourth matrix are coaxially aligned with micro-lenses of the receiving matrix and optically joined to respective elements of the spatial filter matrix;

wherein the spatial filter matrix is adjoining the fourth matrix, rigidly connected to the fifth matrix and located in the primary focal plane of the fifth matrix, and wherein micro-lenses of the fifth matrix are coaxially aligned with respective elements of the spatial filter matrix and optically joined to corresponding regions of the photosensitive surface of the photo-detecting matrix;

a second displacement mechanism for moving the position of the combined receiving and fourth matrices or the combined the spatial filter matrix and the fifth matrix relative to each other in their respective planes in which they are positioned;

a second positional sensor for the moving combined matrices;

a 3D module controller for synchronizing readout of each 2-dimensional representation by said photo-detecting matrix with the corresponding position of the moving combined matrices wherein the input of the 3D module controller is connected to the second positional sensor, and wherein the output of the 3D module controller is connected to the synchronization input of said photo-detecting matrix.

2. The television system according to claim 1 wherein the display component for 2-dimensional representations contains a spatial light modulator (SLM) and 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 3D display controller output.

3. The television system according to claim 1 wherein the display component for 2-dimensional representations contains at least two spatial light modulators (SLMs) and at least two light sources of different colors each for illumination of the corresponding SLM, and wherein said SLM is optically joined to the first matrix through an optical mixing component, and wherein the input of each SLM is connected to the corresponding output of the module of buffered memory.

4. The television system according to claim 1 wherein the display component for 2-dimensional representation consists of a LED matrix.

5. The television system according to claim 1 wherein the display component for 2-dimensional representation consists of a laser matrix.

6. The television system according to claim 1 wherein the first matrix is implemented with the same spacing of micro-lenses as the second and third matrices of micro-lenses.

7. The television system according to claim 1 wherein the first, second and third matrices are composed of identical micro-lenses.

8. The television system according to claim 1 wherein the first, second and third matrices of micro-lenses are each implemented as a lenticular matrix of cylindrical, vertically aligned lenses, and wherein the first displacement mechanism is implemented as a mechanism for back-and-forth horizontal movement.

9. The television system according to claim 8 wherein the amplitude of movement does not exceed the corresponding spacing of micro-lenses.

10. The television system according to claim 1 wherein the first matrix of micro-lenses is optically joined to the display surface of the display component through a first telescopic optical system.

11. The television system according to claim 1 wherein each micro-lens of the first matrix is optically joined to the corresponding region of the display surface of the display component through the corresponding fiber of a first fiber-optic matrix.

12. The television system according to claim 1 wherein the 3D module contains at least two multi-element photo-detecting matrices,

wherein each photo-detecting matrix transforms 2-dimensional representations of the corresponding color, and wherein micro-lenses of the fifth matrix are optically joined to the photosensitive surface of said photo-detecting matrix through an optical splitter and a corresponding color filter.

13. The television system according to claim 1 wherein micro-lenses of the fifth matrix are optically joined to the photosensitive surface of the photo-detecting matrix through a second telescopic optical system.

14. The television system according to claim 1 wherein each micro-lens of the fifth matrix is optically joined to the corresponding region of the photosensitive surface of the photo-detecting matrix through the corresponding fiber of a second fiber-optic matrix.

15. The television system according to claim 1 wherein the multi-element matrix spatial filter is implemented as an opaque screen with openings, and wherein each opening is located in the axis of the corresponding micro-lens of the fifth matrix.