Backlight for viewing three-dimensional images from a display from variable viewing angles
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A display system, comprising:
- a slab waveguide comprising a first conductor;
a second conductor separated from the first conductor by a gap;
a light source configured to inject light, in a direction of injection, into an edge of the slab waveguide;
a switchable grating comprising a plurality of individually addressable portions, wherein each portion is controlled individually to switch a state of the portion between a first state in which light is guided by the portion along the slab waveguide in the direction of injection and a second state in which light is diffracted by the portion out of the face of the slab waveguide in a direction substantially different from the direction of injection; and
for each portion in the switchable grating, a reservoir aligned opposite the slab waveguide and extending through an opening in the first conductor, wherein a fluid has a state such that, in a first state, the fluid is retained outside of the gap and in the reservoir and, in a second state, the fluid is drawn into the gap, wherein the state of the fluid of each portion in the switchable grating controls the state of the portion; and
a controller configured to spatially modulate the switchable grating so as to individually control, for each portion of the switchable grating, where light exits the waveguide by controlling a voltage source to apply a voltage to the first conductor and the second conductor at each portion to switch the state of the portion of the switchable grating.
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Abstract
A display system produces three-dimensional images. The display system includes a waveguide, and a light source that injects light into the waveguide. A switchable grating allows individual positions in the grating in a two-dimensional array to be turned on and off. A controller configured to spatially modulate the switchable grating so as to control where light exits the waveguide. An eye tracking module tracks eye position of a viewer. The controller uses the eye position to control switching of the grating.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A display system, comprising:
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a slab waveguide comprising a first conductor; a second conductor separated from the first conductor by a gap; a light source configured to inject light, in a direction of injection, into an edge of the slab waveguide; a switchable grating comprising a plurality of individually addressable portions, wherein each portion is controlled individually to switch a state of the portion between a first state in which light is guided by the portion along the slab waveguide in the direction of injection and a second state in which light is diffracted by the portion out of the face of the slab waveguide in a direction substantially different from the direction of injection; and for each portion in the switchable grating, a reservoir aligned opposite the slab waveguide and extending through an opening in the first conductor, wherein a fluid has a state such that, in a first state, the fluid is retained outside of the gap and in the reservoir and, in a second state, the fluid is drawn into the gap, wherein the state of the fluid of each portion in the switchable grating controls the state of the portion; and a controller configured to spatially modulate the switchable grating so as to individually control, for each portion of the switchable grating, where light exits the waveguide by controlling a voltage source to apply a voltage to the first conductor and the second conductor at each portion to switch the state of the portion of the switchable grating. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A display system, comprising:
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a waveguide; a light source configured to inject light, in a direction of injection, into the waveguide; a switchable grating comprising a plurality of individually addressable positions; a controller configured to spatially modulate the switchable grating so as to individually control a state of each position such that, in a first state, light is diffracted at the position to exit the waveguide in a direction substantially different from the direction of injection, and, in a second state, light is guided at the position along the waveguide in the direction of injection; and wherein each position of the plurality of positions in the switchable grating comprises; a reservoir including a fluid having a state; a first conductor and a second conductor; a gap between the first conductor and the second conductor and contiguous with a face of the waveguide; and wherein the fluid is in the gap when a first voltage is applied to the first conductor and the second conductor, and wherein the fluid is in the reservoir when a second voltage, different from the first voltage, is applied to the first conductor and the second conductor, wherein the state of the fluid at the position controls the state of the position. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A display system configured to produce three-dimensional images using image data including data for left and right channels, the display system comprising:
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a waveguide, a light source configured to inject light based on the image data into the waveguide in a direction of injection, a switchable grating comprising a plurality of independently controlled positions, and a controller configured to independently spatially modulate each position of the switchable grating for each of the left and right channels by applying a voltage to conductors to move a fluid at the position between a gap adjacent the waveguide and a reservoir, wherein a state of the fluid in the gap at the position includes a first state in which light is guided along the waveguide in the direction of injection and a second state in which light exits the waveguide in a substantially different direction than the direction of injection. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A display system, comprising:
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a waveguide; a light source configured to inject light into the waveguide in a direction of injection; a switchable grating comprising a plurality of independently controlled positions; and a controller configured to independently spatially modulate each position of the switchable grating so as to control where light exits the waveguide at each position, wherein spatially modulating a position of the switchable grating comprises applying a voltage to conductors to move fluid between a gap adjacent the waveguide and a reservoir, wherein a state of the fluid in the gap at the position includes a first state in which light is guided along the waveguide in the direction of injection and a second state in which light exits the waveguide in a substantially different direction than the direction of injection. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A display system configured to produce three-dimensional images, comprising:
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a slab waveguide having an edge and a face; a light source configured to inject light into the edge of the slab waveguide at a direction of injection; a switchable grating comprising a plurality of individually addressable portions, and a controller configured to spatially modulate each portion individually in the switchable grating so as to control where light exits the slab waveguide by controlling a voltage source to apply a voltage to each portion individually; wherein the slab waveguide includes a first conductor and a second conductor, wherein the second conductor is separated from the first conductor by a gap; wherein, for each portion, a reservoir is aligned opposite the slab waveguide and extends through an opening in the first conductor and light is guided along the waveguide at the portion in the direction of injection when a fluid is retained outside of the gap in the reservoir and light exits the waveguide at the portion in a substantially different direction than the direction of injection when the fluid is drawn into the gap; and the fluid is retained outside of the gap in the reservoir in response to a first voltage applied to the first conductor and the second conductor, and the fluid is drawn into the gap in response to a second voltage applied to the first conductor and the second conductor.
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Specification