Autostereoscopic lenticular screen

• US 7,099,080 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2001
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RealD Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Stereographics Corporation (RealD Incorporated)
• Inventors: McKee, William, Lipton, Lenny, Halnon, Jeffrey James
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANG, AUDREY Y
• Application Number:
  US09/943,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20020036825A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,825 Days
• Field of Search: 359/462, 359/463, 359/464, 359/619, 359/629, 359/666, 359/358, 348/59, 348/51, 348/55, 348/56, 353/7, 345/5, 345/6
• US Class Current: 359/463
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/27 involving lenticular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/305 using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2213/001 Constructional or mechanical details

Abstract

An autostereoscopic lenticular screen has a lenticular screen held in juxtaposition with a display surface. The lenticular screen has lenticules disposed on one side thereof and a smooth surface on the other side thereof. In one aspect of the invention, a closed chamber is formed over the lenticules. In order to deactivate the refractive properties of the lenticular screen, and thereby view the display in a planar mode, an optically clear fluid, such as a fluoropolymer, is introduced into at least a portion of the closed chamber. In order to activate the refractive properties of the lenticular screen, and thereby view the display in a stereoscopic mode, the optically clear fluid is removed from the closed chamber. In a particularly preferred arrangement, the lenticular screen is oriented such that the lenticules face inwardly toward the display screen, and the smooth surface of the lenticular screen is coated with an antireflective material.

Claims

1. In an autostereoscopic display system whereby a lenticular screen is aligned in juxtaposition with a display screen, wherein the lenticular screen has lenticules on one side thereof facing the display screen, wherein the improvement comprises a closed chamber affixed between the lenticular screen and the display screen and a fluid reservoir in communication with the closed chamber and storing an optically clear fluid that is introduced and removed from the closed chamber.

2. The autostereoscopic display system of claim 1, further comprising a fluid pump and a control valve coupled to the fluid reservoir and adapted to introduce and remove the fluid from the closed chamber.

3. The autostereoscopic display system of claim 1, wherein the fluid reservoir is a syringe having a handle for transferring fluid to and from the syringe.

4. An autostereoscopic lenticular screen apparatus, comprising:

a display screen having a display surface,

a lenticular screen having lenticules disposed on one side thereof and a smooth surface on the other side thereof, said lenticular screen being held in juxtaposition to the display surface,

a closed chamber formed between the lenticular screen and the display surface,

a fluid reservoir coupled to the closed chamber, and

a transfer valve coupled to the fluid reservoir for introducing and removing an optically clear fluid from the chamber.

5. The autostereoscopie lenticular screen apparatus of claim 4, wherein the lenticular screen is oriented with the lenticules facing outwardly away from the display screen.

6. The autostereoscopic lenticular screen apparatus of claim 4, wherein the lenticular screen is oriented with the lenticules facing inwardly toward the display screen.

7. The autostereoscopic lenticular screen apparatus of claim 6, wherein the smooth surface of the lenticular screen is coated with an antireflective material.

8. The autostereoscopic lenticular screen apparatus of claim 4, wherein the fluid is a fluoropolymer.

9. The autostereoscopic lenticular screen apparatus of claim 4, wherein the fluid has an index of refraction that is similar to that of the lenticules.

10. The autostereoscopie lenticular screen apparatus of claim 9, wherein the fluid has an index of refraction that is identical to that of the lenticules.

11. The autostereoscopic lenticular screen apparatus of claim 4, wherein the lenticular screen is a substrate having lenticules disposed on one side thereof.

12. The autostereoscopic lenticular screen apparatus of claim 11, wherein the substrate is glass.

13. The autostereoscopic lenticular screen apparatus of claim 4, wherein the fluid reservoir is a syringe and the transfer valve is a pump handle on the syringe.

14. A method for switching an autostereoscopic display system between a planar viewing mode and a stereoscopic viewing mode, wherein a lenticular screen having lenticules disposed on one side thereof is aligned in juxtaposition with a display screen, comprising:

forming a closed chamber between the lenticular screen and the display screen,

introducing an optically clear fluid into a portion of the closed chamber to thereby deactivate the lenticular screen, and

removing the optically clear fluid from the closed chamber to thereby activate the lenticular screen.

15. The method for switching an autostereoscopic system as in claim 14, wherein the lenticular screen is oriented with the lenticules facing outwardly away from the display screen.

16. The method for switching an autostereoscopic system as in claim 14, wherein the lenticular screen is oriented with the lenticules facing inwardly toward the display screen.

17. The method for switching an autostereoscopic system as in claim 16, wherein the lenticular screen has a smooth surface opposite the one side which is coated with an antireflective material.