Device for displaying a three dimensional image

• US 7,948,681 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2009
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kenneth E. Conley
• Original Assignee: Kenneth E. Conley
• Inventors: Conley, Kenneth E.
• Primary Examiner(s): HASAN, MOHAMMED A
• Application Number:
  US12/386,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20090213210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 359/619, 359/463, 359/630, 359/618, 359/626, 348/51, 348/59, 348/744, 345 4- 9
• US Class Current: 359/619
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/27 involving lenticular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/207 using a single 2D image sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/305 using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/317 using slanted parallax optics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/361 Reproducing mixed stereoscopic images; Reproducing mixed monoscopic and stereoscopic images, e.g. a stereoscopic image overlay window on a monoscopic image background
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2213/001 Constructional or mechanical details

Abstract

A digital display system is disclosed, wherein the display system generally includes a recording mechanism, such as a digital camera, a processing mechanism for processing and saving at least one image; software for interlacing the image; software for processing slides and movies comprised of multiple images; a digital display device for receiving, storing and displaying the image, and a lenticular screen overlaid upon the digital display device for viewing the interlaced images in three dimensions. A method of manufacturing a lenticular sheet is also disclosed as having as its primary steps the provision of a substantially transparent substrate material; forming a plurality of lenses on a first side of the substrate; and shaping the substrate to correspond to a display area of the display device, wherein the plurality of lenses are angled to correspond to the pixel size and pitch of the display area.

Claims

1. A method of producing and displaying at least one three dimensional image on a digital photograph display device, said method comprising:

providing a digital display device having a display area and a lenticular screen coupled thereto;

providing a plurality of digital images;

interlacing said plurality of digital images to form at least one interlaced image which corresponds to the size and pitch of the lenticular screen and the digital display device;

transmitting the at least one interlaced image to the digital display device;

displaying the at least one interlaced image with the display device through the display area and the lenticular screen;

wherein said lenticular screen comprises a plurality of diagonally positioned lenticules to correspond to the pixel size and pitch of the display area.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one interlaced image further comprises a series of three dimensional digital interlaced images.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying said at least one interlaced image through the display area and the lenticular screen creates a three dimensional image visual effect.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one interlaced image further comprises a three dimensional digital video.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the lenticular screen is produced by a method comprising the steps of:

providing a substrate of transparent material having a first side and a second side and an index of refraction greater than one;

forming a plurality of lenses on the first side of the substrate; and

shaping the substrate to correspond to the display area of the display device,

wherein the plurality of lenses are angled to correspond to the pixel size and pitch of the display area.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of forming the plurality of lenses further comprises the steps of:

creating as cutting tool;

engraving a plate with cutting tool to form an inverse lens pattern in pre-selected areas;

using the engraved plate in an casting process such that the substrate can be cast with the lens pattern.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of forming the plurality of lenses further comprises the steps of:

creating as cutting tool;

engraving a cylinder with cutting tool to form an inverse lens pattern in pre-selected areas;

using the engraved plate in an casting process such that the substrate can be cast with the lens pattern.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of engraving the plate further comprises the steps of:

utilizing a computer to control and direct the direction and depth of the engraved lens pattern.

9. A method of producing and displaying at least one three dimensional image on a digital display device, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a digital display device comprising a housing unit having a display screen for displaying interlaced images, electronic circuitry located in the housing unit and connected to the display screen for receiving digital photograph data and supplying the same to the display screen, and a lenticular sheet removably attached to the display screen operable for allowing the digital photograph data to be viewed in three dimensions, the lenticular sheet comprising a plurality of lenticules and having a configuration which corresponds to the pixel size and pitch of the display screen, said plurality of lenticules being diagonally positioned to the display screen;

providing a plurality of digital images;

interlacing said plurality of digital images to form a at least one interlaced image;

transmitting the at least one interlaced image to the digital display device;

displaying the at least one interlaced image with the display device, through the display area and the lenticular screen.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the at least one interlaced image further comprises a series of three dimensional digital interlaced images.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein displaying said at least one interlaced image through the display area and the lenticular screen creates a three dimensional image visual effect.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the at least one interlaced image further comprises a three dimensional digital video.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the lenticular screen is produced by a method comprising the steps of:

providing a substrate of transparent material having a first side and a second side and an index of refraction greater than one;

forming a plurality of lenses on the first side of the substrate; and

shaping the substrate to correspond to the display area of the display device,

wherein the plurality of lenses are angled to correspond to the pixel size and pitch of the display area.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of forming the plurality of lenses further comprises the steps of:

creating as cutting tool;

engraving a plate with cutting tool to form an inverse lens pattern in pre-selected areas;

using the engraved plate in an casting process such that the substrate can be cast with the lens pattern.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of forming the plurality of lenses further comprises the steps of:

creating as cutting tool;

engraving a cylinder with cutting tool to form an inverse lens pattern in pre-selected areas;

using the engraved plate in an casting process such that the substrate can be cast with the lens pattern.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of engraving the plate further comprises the steps of:

utilizing a computer to control and direct the direction and depth of the engraved lens pattern.