Autostereoscopic cylindrical display

• US 10,827,166 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2019
• Issued: 11/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Mall, Howard Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Sultan
• Application Number:
  US16/450,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20200137378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/27 involving lenticular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/29 characterised by the geometry of the lenticular array, e.g. slanted arrays, irregular arrays or arrays of varying shape or size
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/30 involving parallax barriers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/32 characterised by the geometry of the parallax barriers, e.g. staggered barriers, slanted parallax arrays or parallax arrays of varying shape or size
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/10 Projectors with built-in or built-on screen
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/625 Lenticular translucent screens
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/24 using apertured or refractive resolving means on screens or between screen and eye
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/00 Panoramic or wide-screen photography; Photographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveying; Photographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/305 using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/31 using parallax barriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/327 Calibration thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/351 for displaying simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3141 Constructional details thereof details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3179 Video signal processing therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3185 Geometric adjustment, e.g. keystone or convergence optical or mechanical adjustment of convergence H04N9/317; using scanning means H04N3/22; optical or mechanical adjustments of projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14

Abstract

An image projection system may include a translucent or transparent projection screen and multiple lenticules disposed on or within the projection screen. The image projection system may also include a projector to project multiple images onto the projection screen. The images may include multiple views of a scene, and the projector may simultaneously project the images to generate a three-dimensional display of the scene.

Claims

1. An image projection system, comprising:

a projection screen, wherein the projection screen is translucent or transparent;

a plurality of lenticules disposed on or in the projection screen; and

a projector configured to project a plurality of images onto the projection screen, wherein the plurality of images comprise a plurality of views of a scene, wherein the projector is configured to simultaneously project the plurality of images to generate a three-dimensional display of the scene, wherein the plurality of images comprises a first plurality of images corresponding to a first frame and a second plurality of images corresponding to a second frame, and wherein the projector is configured to project the second plurality of images after projecting the first plurality of images to simulate movement within the scene.

2. The image projection system of claim 1, comprising a conical reflector configured to reflect the plurality of images from the projector onto the projection screen.

3. The image projection system of claim 2, wherein the conical reflector is located within an enclosed space formed by the projection screen.

4. The image projection system of claim 2, wherein the projector is configured to project the plurality of images from a position outside of an enclosed space formed by the projection screen.

5. The image projection system of claim 1, wherein the projection screen forms at least a partial cylinder.

6. The image projection system of claim 5, wherein the projection screen forms a full cylinder, and the three-dimensional display is viewable from 360 degrees around the projection screen.

7. The image projection system of claim 1, wherein the projection screen is configured to be viewed from outside an enclosed space formed by the projection screen.

8. The image projection system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lenticules are configured to shutter at least one image of the plurality of images when viewed from an individual viewing position.

9. The image projection system of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional display is autostereoscopic.

10. A system comprising:

a curved projection screen, wherein the curved projection screen is formed from a material having a light transmittance of at least 55%;

a projector configured to project a plurality of renderings of a scene, wherein each rendering of the plurality of renderings corresponds to a viewing angle of the scene; and

a conical reflector configured to receive the projected plurality of renderings from the projector and reflect the plurality of renderings to the curved projection screen.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the curved projection screen comprises a lenticular film configured to shutter the plurality of renderings.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the conical reflector is configured to reflect the plurality of renderings about a circumference of the curved projection screen.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the curved projection screen forms a partial cylinder.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the curved projection screen is configured to at least partially surround a viewer.

15. The system of claim 10, comprising a controller configured to calibrate the plurality of renderings, wherein calibrating the plurality of renderings comprises compensating for a size of the curved projection screen or the conical reflector, compensating for a number of lenticules on or within the curved projection screen, compensating for a distance to a predetermined viewing location, or a combination thereof.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the conical reflector is truncated.

17. A method of displaying three-dimensional content comprising:

determining one or more implementation factors corresponding to a three-dimensional display or an environment of the three-dimensional display;

calibrating a plurality of images corresponding to different views of a scene based at least in part on the one or more implementation factors;

outputting, via a light source, the calibrated plurality of images;

reflecting the calibrated plurality of images via a conical reflector; and

displaying the calibrated plurality of images on a curved projection screen, wherein the calibrated plurality of images are viewable through a plurality of lenticules disposed about the curved projection screen.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more implementation factors comprise an amount of the plurality of images, an amount of lenticules, a size of the curved projection screen, a distance between the curved projection screen and a viewing location, a geometry of the curved projection screen, a geometry of the conical reflector, a position of a projector relative to the curved projection screen or the conical reflector, or a combination thereof.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein outputting, via the light source, the calibrated plurality of images comprises projecting the calibrated plurality of images towards the conical reflector, wherein the calibrated plurality of images are stored in a memory prior to being projected.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the determining is performed via a processor of a controller.