Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080225236 | Polarization conversion systems for stereoscopic projection - A polarization conversion system (PCS) is located in the output light path of a projector. The PCS may include a polarizing beam splitter, a polarization rotating element, a reflecting element, and a polarization switch. Typically, a projector outputs randomly-polarized light. This light is input to the PCS, in which the PCS separates p-polarized light and s-polarized light at the polarizing beam splitter. P-polarized light is directed toward the polarization switch on a first path. The s-polarized light is passed on a second path through the polarization rotating element (e.g., a half-wave plate), thereby transforming it to p-polarized light. A reflecting element directs the transformed polarized light (now p-polarized) along the second path toward the polarization switch. The first and second light paths are ultimately directed toward a projection screen to collectively form a brighter screen image in cinematic applications utilizing polarized light for three-dimensional viewing. | 09-18-2008 |
20090027772 | Head-Mounted Single Panel Stereoscopic Display - Disclosed is a head-mounted single panel display system that uses one or more liquid crystal switches and a polarizing beam splitter to redirect images from a single microdisplay panel to the viewer's eyes. The light emanating from the display panel is first directed, using a polarizing beam splitter, into two near-identical optical imaging systems, each forming an image in the left and right eyes. For stereoscopic (3D) operation, the light is modulated such that an image is seen in only one eye at a time. By providing time sequential stereoscopic imagery at a frame rate greater than 50Hz in each eye, flicker free, full resolution 3D can be visualized. | 01-29-2009 |
20090128780 | Polarization conversion system and method for stereoscopic projection - A polarization conversion system separates light from an unpolarized image source into a first state of polarization (SOP) and an orthogonal second SOP, and directs the polarized light on first and second light paths. The SOP of light on only one of the light paths is transformed to an orthogonal state such that both light paths have the same SOP. A polarization modulator temporally modulates the light on the first and second light paths to first and second output states of polarization. First and second projection lenses direct light on the first and second light paths toward a projection screen to form substantially overlapping polarization encoded images. The polarization modulator may be located before or after the projection lenses. The polarization-encoded images may be viewed using eyewear with appropriate polarization filters. | 05-21-2009 |
20090160757 | Intra-pixel illumination system - Methods and systems are disclosed to provide intra-pixel illumination to a modulating display panel, where regions of a pixel are provided incident light with controlled intensity and color at different periods of the panel's addressing cycle. This can lead to increased resolution beyond that intrinsic to the panel's physical make up, providing an enhanced resolution 2D panel, as well as a high resolution panel suitable for autostereoscopic purposes when used with a further lens array. For example, when the left hand side of all pixels are illuminated in one frame creating an image, and the right hand side of the pixels are illuminated within a second frame creating a further image, then the combined image, assuming temporal averaging, is twice the native resolution. Despite the temporal trade off, the eye's tolerance to local variation of color and intensity makes this feasible with realistic addressing periods. | 06-25-2009 |
20090262419 | Soft aperture correction for lenticular screens - An apparatus including an autostereoscopic image selection device having a plurality of lenticules is provided. The autostereoscopic image selection device has an opaque material applied thereto in gaps between the plurality of lenticules. The opaque material is applied to the autostereoscopic image selection device in a soft aperturing manner, the soft aperturing manner comprising applying the opaque material such that the opaque material is tapered from the gaps over the plurality of lenticules. The opaque material can be applied in accordance with a windowing function. | 10-22-2009 |
20100002073 | Blur enhancement of stereoscopic images - A method and apparatus for selectively blurring parts of an image set according to differences in disparity between successive images. As a result, the one-dimensional ‘ringing’ edge artifacts, intrinsic to autostereoscopic displays, are hidden, thereby improving the perceived image quality of a multi-view autostereoscopic image. The method may involve detecting regions of disparity between adjacent views, and then blurring those regions by weighted local pixel averaging. The relationship between the blur radius and the disparity is preferentially non-linear to maintain sharpness of low disparity regions. | 01-07-2010 |
20100039502 | Stereoscopic depth mapping - Provided is a method and apparatus for linear depth mapping. Linear depth mapping includes using algorithms to correct the distorted depth mapping of stereoscopic capture and display systems. | 02-18-2010 |
20100039698 | Autostereoscopic display system with efficient pixel layout - The present disclosure is directed to autostereoscopic display systems operable to provide increased number of views and related methods. One embodiment of the display systems comprises a light-modulating display panel comprising a first set of colored subpixels and a second set of colored subpixels, and the number of subpixels in the first set of colored subpixels is greater than the number of subpixels in the second set of colored subpixels. The display system further comprises a lenticular sheet disposed in light paths of the colored subpixels of the display panel. | 02-18-2010 |
20100091093 | Optimal depth mapping - A method and apparatus for providing optimal correction to depth mapping between captured and displayed stereoscopic content. The solution is derived in a continuous form that can be implemented through CGI scaling techniques compatible with image rendering techniques. Similar correction can be implemented with variable depth-dependent camera separation and disparity re-mapping. The latter is applicable to correcting existing stereoscopic content. | 04-15-2010 |
20100097545 | Lenticular display systems with offset color filter array - Disclosed are various lenticular display systems that include either a color filter array (CFA) or a colored lens array that is spaced from the pixels of an underlying display panel. In an embodiment, the CFA of a lenticular display may be operable to provides a locally ‘static color’ reproduction of images as a function of viewing angle. It may also enable the resolution of the CFA to be relatively coarse. Both separating the CFA from the panel and reducing the resolution significantly may reduce the system cost and allow higher resolution to be realized. | 04-22-2010 |
20100103249 | Stereoscopic image format with depth information - A multi-view distribution format is described for stereoscopic and autostereoscopic 3D displays. In general, it comprises multi-tile image compression with the inclusion of one or more depth maps. More specifically, it provides embodiments that utilize stereoscopic images with one or more depth maps typically in the form of a compressed grey scale image and, in some instances, incorporates depth information from a second view encoded differentially. | 04-29-2010 |
20100103516 | Head-tracking enhanced stereo glasses - Stereoscopic display systems including a position-tracking system that determine the position of the stereoscopic eyewear worn by a viewer. An exemplary embodiment of the eyewear includes retro-reflective reflectors that are illuminated by an infrared illuminator proximate to or optically co-axial with a capturing camera. Suppression reflections from other reflective features in the vicinity may be achieved by control of the polarization of the infrared light. | 04-29-2010 |
20100141856 | Stereoscopic projection systems for employing spatial multiplexing at an intermediate image plane - Proposed are various embodiments of projection systems that generally provide stereoscopic images. The projection systems act to split a spatially separated image in a stereoscopic image frame and superimpose the left- and right-eye images on a projection screen with orthogonal polarization states. The embodiments are generally well suited to liquid crystal polarization based projection systems and may use advanced polarization control. | 06-10-2010 |
20100208044 | Stereoscopic systems for anaglyph images - Encoding left and right eye stereoscopic image pairs into a color coded ‘anaglyph’ image allows for 3-D viewing through colored eyewear. The color mapping may be tailored locally to specific eyewear and display hardware and generates anaglyph output from distributed full-color left and right eye stereoscopic data. In an exemplary embodiment, determination of eyewear may involve viewer interaction through visual inspection of displayed calibration images or by other means. Left and right eye data may be mapped onto high quality anaglyph images. The overall approach attempts to provide a consistent, good quality stereoscopic experience for different displays and eyewear. | 08-19-2010 |
20100238549 | Illumination systems - Described are illumination systems whereby light spectra from multiple LEDs of various colors can be combined and polarized with minimal components, while substantially reducing the losses for the combining and polarizing. The described systems and methods use polarizing beam splitters (PBSs) with retarder stack filters to combine color and split polarization for mixed light beams in one step, and to ultimately align the polarizations of the several colored light beams. | 09-23-2010 |
20100260268 | Encoding, decoding, and distributing enhanced resolution stereoscopic video - This disclosure generally relates to stereoscopic images and stereoscopic video signals, and more specifically relates to encoding, distributing, and decoding stereoscopic images and stereoscopic video signals for use in television and high definition television systems, teleconferencing, picture phones, computer video transmission, digital cinema, as well as in other applications that include storage and/or transmission, over any suitable medium, of still or moving stereoscopic images, or combinations of moving and still stereoscopic images, in a form that is compatible with existing infrastructure, without requiring additional system functionality, while providing a means to allow higher resolution images to be distributed while maintaining compatibility with the existing infrastructure. The techniques hereof can be employed, for example, for distributing stereo 3D movies via optical disk, satellite, broadcast, cable, or internet, using current infrastructure, to consumers. | 10-14-2010 |
20110032345 | Stereoscopic flat panel display with a continuously lit backlight - This disclosure describes stereoscopic flat panel display systems based on the polarization encoding of sequentially displayed left and right eye images. The systems comprise line-by-line addressed liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, illuminating back light units and polarization control panels (PCPs). Right and left eye images are written sequentially onto the LCD whose polarization is controlled by a substantially synchronously driven PCP. The backlight may be continuously illuminated, or modulated temporally, spatially or both, as can the PCP. | 02-10-2011 |
20110032439 | Stereoscopic flat panel display with updated blanking intervals - This disclosure describes stereoscopic flat panel display systems based on the polarization encoding of sequentially displayed left and right eye images. The systems comprise line-by-line addressed liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, illuminating back light units and polarization control panels (PCPs). Right and left eye images are written sequentially onto the LCD whose polarization is controlled by a substantially synchronously driven PCP. The backlight may be continuously illuminated, or modulated temporally, spatially or both, as can the PCP. | 02-10-2011 |
20110032440 | Stereoscopic flat panel display with scrolling backlight and synchronized liquid crystal display update - This disclosure describes stereoscopic flat panel display systems based on the polarization encoding of sequentially displayed left and right eye images. The systems comprise line-by-line addressed liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, illuminating back light units and polarization control panels (PCPs). Right and left eye images are written sequentially onto the LCD whose polarization is controlled by a substantially synchronously driven PCP. The backlight may be continuously illuminated, or modulated temporally, spatially or both, as can the PCP. | 02-10-2011 |
20110032441 | Segmented polarization control panel - This disclosure describes stereoscopic flat panel display systems based on the polarization encoding of sequentially displayed left and right eye images. The systems comprise line-by-line addressed liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, illuminating back light units and polarization control panels (PCPs). Right and left eye images are written sequentially onto the LCD whose polarization is controlled by a substantially synchronously driven PCP. The backlight may be continuously illuminated, or modulated temporally, spatially or both, as can the PCP. | 02-10-2011 |
20110074770 | Point reposition depth mapping - A method and apparatus for providing optimal correction to depth mapping between captured and displayed stereoscopic content. The solution is derived in a continuous form that can be implemented through CGI scaling techniques compatible with image rendering techniques. Similar correction can be implemented with variable depth-dependent camera separation and disparity re-mapping. The latter is applicable to correcting existing stereoscopic content. | 03-31-2011 |
20110164194 | Crosstalk suppression in time sequential liquid crystal stereoscopic display systems - This disclosure primarily concerns 3D stereoscopic displays that provide alternately polarized left and right eye images encoded with a modulating LC polarization control panel (PCP) attached to the front of the display. Viewers then wear polarization analyzing eyewear to correctly see the different images. More specifically, the disclosure introduces global LC electrical reset during the addressing of liquid crystal time-sequential stereoscopic displays in order to reduce left/right eye contamination. LC materials in general do not respond fast enough with conventional addressing schemes to provide independent left and right eye images at the desired flicker-free, rate of sixty frames per second per eye. This disclosure and its embodiments may overcome this limitation, and also may address motion blur limitations, by driving pixels to a common LC state as part of the addressing cycle. | 07-07-2011 |
20110176114 | Wide field-of-view stereoscopic projection system - Disclosed embodiments relate to a stereoscopic projection system and methods. An exemplary disclosed projection system includes an optical component disposed between the lenses of a lens arrangement. An exemplary lens arrangement includes a first power group, a second power group, and an aperture stop. In an embodiment, the optical component is disposed between the first power group and the aperture stop. In an exemplary embodiment, the optical component is proximate to the aperture stop. By disposing the optical component closer to or proximate to the aperture stop in the lens arrangement, various benefits may be realized, including improved contrast uniformity. | 07-21-2011 |
20110205496 | Polarization conversion systems for stereoscopic projection - A polarization conversion system (PCS) is located in the output light path of a projector. The PCS may include a polarizing beam splitter, a polarization rotating element, a reflecting element, and a polarization switch. Typically, a projector outputs randomly-polarized light. This light is input to the PCS, in which the PCS separates p-polarized light and s-polarized light at the polarizing beam splitter. P-polarized light is directed toward the polarization switch on a first path. The s-polarized light is passed on a second path through the polarization rotating element (e.g., a half-wave plate), thereby transforming it to p-polarized light. A reflecting element directs the transformed polarized light (now p-polarized) along the second path toward the polarization switch. The first and second light paths are ultimately directed toward a projection screen to collectively form a brighter screen image in cinematic applications utilizing polarized light for three-dimensional viewing. | 08-25-2011 |
20110210964 | Stereoscopic flat panel display with synchronized backlight, polarization control panel, and liquid crystal display - An enhanced liquid crystal display design is provided having relatively fast response time particularly useful in high speed or highly intense applications, such as stereoscopic or autostereoscopic image display. The liquid crystal display device is configured to display stereoscopic images, and comprises an LCD panel and control electronics configured to drive the LCD panel to a desired 10 stereoscopic display state. The control electronics are configured to employ transient phase switching and overdrive the LCD panel to a desired state to enable relatively rapid display of stereoscopic images. | 09-01-2011 |
20110211135 | Bendable liquid crystal polarization switch for direct view stereoscopic display - A system for stereoscopic display and a bendable polarization switch for use with a system for stereoscopic display provide alternately polarized left and right eye images. Viewers then wear polarization analyzing eyewear to correctly see the different images. More specifically, a bendable polarization switch may be laminated to the front of a system for stereoscopic display. The bendable polarization switch may be used with a modulator configuration that is compatible with various performance requirements in a manner that is a low-cost manufacturing friendly solution. Further, the bendable polarization switch is a robust polarization switch technology that is reliable in an environment where mechanical stresses are inevitably applied during product lifetime | 09-01-2011 |
20110298998 | Stereoscopic liquid crystal display systems - Stereoscopic display system assemblies may be configured to have optimal performance with passive, circular analyzing, cinema eyewear. They may comprise non-twisted electrically controlled birefringent liquid crystal modulators oriented at ±45° to the polarizer orientation of the eyewear. Exemplary embodiments may include single half-wave modulators with a crossing (i.e. negating) quarter wave films. The natural polarization state of the LCD may be rotated and cleaned-up when necessary to cross with the horizontal eyewear polarizer orientation. In an embodiment, the LC modulator substrate is positioned outermost for anti-reflection coating tolerance, durability and touch sensitivity. | 12-08-2011 |
20110298999 | Stereoscopic liquid crystal display systems - Stereoscopic display system assemblies may be configured to have optimal performance with passive, circular analyzing, cinema eyewear. They may comprise non-twisted electrically controlled birefringent liquid crystal modulators oriented at ±45° to the polarizer orientation of the eyewear. Exemplary embodiments may include single half-wave modulators with a crossing (i.e. negating) quarter wave films. The natural polarization state of the LCD may be rotated and clean-up when necessary to cross with the horizontal eyewear polarizer orientation. In an embodiment, the LC modulator substrate is positioned outermost for anti-reflection coating tolerance, durability and touch sensitivity. | 12-08-2011 |
20120013813 | Field-of-view compensated polarization switch for short-throw 3D projection - Generally, this disclosure concerns the angle sensitivity of polarization switch elements and the resulting impact of the ray direction on performance. More specifically, apparatus and techniques for compensating the angular sensitivity of liquid crystal (LC) polarization switches are described that enhance the performance of polarization switches. For example, a polarization switch is disclosed that transforms linearly polarized light of an initial polarization orientation that includes a first and second liquid crystal cell with a compensator located between the LC cells. The compensator layer is operable to enhance the field of view through the polarization switch. Such compensation techniques are particularly useful for short-throw projection environments. | 01-19-2012 |
20120075566 | Stereoscopic eyewear - Described are stereoscopic eyewear, methods and systems for manufacturing the same. The stereoscopic eyewear includes right- and left-eye filters for analyzing stereoscopically-encoded polarized light. The filters are made using a roll-type polarizer having an absorption axis. A polymer alignment layer is deposited on a portion of the roll-type polarizer. A liquid crystal polymer (LCP) layer is deposited on the polymer alignment layer. The polymer alignment layer and LCP layer provides at least one retarder having an optic axis at a predetermined angle to the absorption axis of the roll-type polarizer. Described embodiments include a polymer alignment layer that may include at least one of a linearly photopolymerizable polymer (LPP), a brushed or rolled polyimide. | 03-29-2012 |
20120099040 | Split segmented liquid crystal modulator - Disclosed is a segmented liquid crystal modulator panel apparatus and method for driving the same that overcomes electrical cross-talk associated with capacitive coupling to a common electrode. Each modulator segment may be divided into subsegments and driven substantially synchronously and out-of-phase. The field-polarity insensitive LC materials yield a substantially identical optical response for each subsegment, while allowing current on the common electrode to flow between the subsegments, thereby reducing power consumption and decreasing response times. | 04-26-2012 |
20120127573 | Directional flat illuminators - Disclosed is an optical valve or light valve for providing large area collimated illumination from localized light sources, and system and method thereof for 2D, 3D, and/or autosteroscopic displays. An optical valve may include a stepped structure, in which the steps include separated extraction features which may be optically hidden to light propagating in a first direction. Light propagating in a second direction may be refracted, diffracted, or reflected by the features to provide illumination beams exiting from the top surface of the optical valve. Such controlled illumination may provide for efficient, multi-user autostereoscopic displays as well as improved 2D display functionality. | 05-24-2012 |
20120236240 | Liquid crystal devices having reduced electrode-gap visibility - Liquid crystal devices may include electrode segments that are spaced apart and have a gap therebetween. A bridge layer may be disposed in the gap and configured to have a resistance that is operable provide a substantially equipotential region proximate to the gap portion while still allowing the electrode segments to be substantially isolated electrically. The disclosed liquid crystal devices may have reduced visual artifacts and may be configured to be a liquid crystal display, a polarization control panel, or a switch having liquid crystal cells. | 09-20-2012 |
20120243204 | Efficient polarized directional backlight - By introducing a stack of alternating high and low index dichroic material layers on the exit surface of a waveguide for a wedge type directional backlight, natural reflectivity differences between polarized components can be increased, effectively reflecting the vast proportion of S-polarized light rays, while at the same time transmitting the P-polarized light rays, of light impacting the exit surface of the waveguide at an angle sufficient to exit the waveguide. This recovers polarization in wedge type backlight systems, increasing illumination exiting the waveguide. Also, on the back reflecting surface of the waveguide, a birefringent material can be added to efficiently transform S-polarized reflected light from the dichroic stack, into returning P-polarized light. Because returning rays that are now P-polarized by the birefringent material have already achieved the critical angle for exiting the waveguide, the rays transformed to P-polarization can now also exit the waveguide, increasing waveguide illumination. | 09-27-2012 |
20120256905 | Segmented polarization modulators for stereoscopic projection - A segmented polarizing device may be a polarizing modulator which may include strips of switching polarizer material. The switching polarizer material may be used to switch individual segments of the polarizing modulator at a time. In such devices, the polarizing modulator may be one or more liquid crystal cells (LC cell). As the LC modulation panel of a display refreshes an image from top to bottom, changing from left eye content to right eye content, the polarization of a corresponding part of a scrolling polarizing screen may change along with the display. | 10-11-2012 |
20120293747 | MULTI-FUNCTIONAL ACTIVE MATRIX LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAYS - A direct view display provides a light modulating panel and a backlight including first and second sets of spectral emitters. The first set of spectral emitters generate a first light bundle and the second set of spectral emitters generate a second light bundle. Several modes of operation may be provided including (1) an advanced 2D mode, (2) an enhanced color gamut mode employing simultaneous illumination of the first and second set of spectral emitters, (3) a privacy screen mode, (4) a channel multiplexed mode, and (5) a stereoscopic image mode. The latter three modes utilize the first and second set of spectral emitters to alternately illuminate a portion of the light modulating panel. Images and representations generated by the direct view display operating in the latter three modes are viewed using appropriate eyewear having filters with passband characteristics to transmit the respective light bundle. | 11-22-2012 |
20120293753 | Drive scheme for stereoscopic display polarization modulator and apparatus for same - An improved drive scheme for a segmented polarizing modulator (or Polarization Control Panel) for use in an electronic stereoscopic display. The segmented polarization modulator segments are arranged contiguously in a direction of the sequential scan. The liquid crystal material used in each segment is driven in a manner to reduce the visibility of segment boundaries, by applying a positive or negative transition voltage (+T or −T volts) for a short period of time prior to applying +H and −H drive voltages. Optionally, the transition voltage may also be applied in transitioning from +H and −H drive voltages. | 11-22-2012 |
20120299913 | Directional flat illuminators - Disclosed is an optical valve or light valve for providing large area collimated illumination from localized light sources, and system and method thereof for 2D, 3D, and/or autosteroscopic displays. An optical valve may include a stepped structure, in which the steps include separated extraction features which may be optically hidden to light propagating in a first direction. Light propagating in a second direction may be refracted, diffracted, or reflected by the features to provide illumination beams exiting from the top surface of the optical valve. Such controlled illumination may provide for efficient, multi-user autostereoscopic displays as well as improved 2D display functionality. | 11-29-2012 |
20120314145 | Segmented directional backlight and related methods of backlight illumination - Backlit display systems, such as those employed with LED backlit displays, including those configured for autostereoscopic operation, may employ synchronization between the backlight and the presentation of sequential left and right eye images at a frame rate exceeding approximately 100 Hz. To successfully directionally illuminate isolated frames, the disclosed principles provide for segmenting the directional illumination and introducing a phase shifted, synchronized, pulsed drive scheme for the illumination segments. Accordingly, the principles disclosed herein are directed to segmented directional illumination systems and related techniques for segmented directional backlight illumination. | 12-13-2012 |
20130002996 | Boundary artifact suppression in segmented liquid crystal modulators - Disclosed herein are apparatuses and related methods for avoiding liquid crystal molecule twisting through local boundary orientation relevant to the alignment direction of liquid crystal structures. In one embodiment, a segmented polarization control panel may comprise a plurality of segment electrodes corresponding to a plurality of display segments of the sequentially scanning display. The plurality of segment electrodes comprise liquid crystals therein, and are arranged contiguously in a direction of the sequential scan. Electrode boundaries are created between adjacent segment electrodes, where each may be cascaded substantially parallel and perpendicular to a liquid crystal alignment direction of liquid crystals located within the segments. Preventing twisting by the disclosed techniques is particularly attractive in active retarder display systems employing fast striped pi-cell modulators. | 01-03-2013 |
20130050437 | Stereoscopic depth mapping - Provided is a method and apparatus for linear depth mapping. Linear depth mapping includes using algorithms to correct the distorted depth mapping of stereoscopic capture and display systems. | 02-28-2013 |
20130088655 | Stereoscopic display system with active switchable retarder - Disclosed herein are displays and related methods for providing stereoscopic imagery, wherein an air gap may be provided between components of the display to allow a reduction in the amount of bonding material used to bond a stereoscopic display panel with a polarization control panel (PCP) element comprising an active switchable retarder. In some embodiments, the PCP element is at least the size of the display panel such that the entirety of the display panel is covered by the PCP element, and thus there would be neither tight tolerance horizontal nor vertical alignment requirements between the PCP element and the display panel. Structural support of the components of the display may be provided by bonding around the edges of the rigid or semi-rigid stereoscopic display panel and PCP element. For example, the air gap may be created with uniform spacers between the stereoscopic display panel and the PCP element. | 04-11-2013 |
20130089744 | Chemically-welded optical devices - Chemically-welded optical devices and associated methods for chemically welding optical devices are disclosed herein. Such optical devices may be used in display systems, and may include subcomponents comprising one or more optical films employed for polarization manipulation, as well as a substrate for protecting the optical film(s). An optical film may be chemically welded directly to the substrate using a solvent, and any additional optical films may be chemically welded to a prior optical film previously welded to the substrate. The chemical welding process of the present disclosure may include applying the solvent on the optical film in order to partially dissolve the surface of the optical film prior to adhesion to the substrate. Macromolecules on the dissolved surface of the optical film may be in a loosened state and may be realigned when the solvent evaporates. | 04-11-2013 |
20130148042 | In-plane switched active retarder for stereoscopic display systems - Polarization modulation with in-plane switching of liquid crystals (LCs) may be used in active retarder stereoscopic display systems where viewers wear passive eyewear to see isolated left and right eye images. Embodiments of the present disclosure may include nematic LC or fast switching ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC), depending on the desired performance. | 06-13-2013 |
20130169935 | Polarization conversion systems for stereoscopic projection - A polarization conversion system (PCS) is located in the output light path of a projector. The PCS may include a polarizing beam splitter, a polarization rotating element, a reflecting element, and a polarization switch. Typically, a projector outputs randomly-polarized light. This light is input to the PCS, in which the PCS separates p-polarized light and s-polarized light at the polarizing beam splitter. P-polarized light is directed toward the polarization switch on a first path. The s-polarized light is passed on a second path through the polarization rotating element (e.g., a half-wave plate), thereby transforming it to p-polarized light. A reflecting element directs the transformed polarized light (now p-polarized) along the second path toward the polarization switch. The first and second light paths are ultimately directed toward a projection screen to collectively form a brighter screen image in cinematic applications utilizing polarized light for three-dimensional viewing. | 07-04-2013 |
20130222709 | Stereoscopic projection system employing spatial multiplexing at an intermediate image plane - Projection systems and methods for providing stereoscopic images viewed through passive polarizing eyewear. The systems relate to projectors that create left and right eye images simultaneously and often as side-by-side images on the image modulator. The systems act to superimpose the spatially separated images on a projection screen with alternate polarization states. The embodiments are best suited to liquid crystal polarization based projection systems and use advanced polarization control. | 08-29-2013 |
20130235284 | Stereoscopic projection systems and methods for employing spatial multiplexing at an intermediate image plane - Proposed are various embodiments of projection systems that generally provide stereoscopic images. The projection systems act to split a spatially separated image in a stereoscopic image frame and superimpose the left- and right-eye images on a projection screen with orthogonal polarization states. The embodiments are generally well suited to liquid crystal polarization based projection systems and may use advanced polarization control. | 09-12-2013 |
20130265528 | Lenticular display systems with offset color filter array - Disclosed are various lenticular display systems that include either a color filter array (CFA) or a colored lens array that is spaced from the pixels of an underlying display panel. In an embodiment, the CFA of a lenticular display may be operable to provides a locally ‘static color’ reproduction of images as a function of viewing angle. It may also enable the resolution of the CFA to be relatively coarse. Both separating the CFA from the panel and reducing the resolution significantly may reduce the system cost and allow higher resolution to be realized. | 10-10-2013 |
20130286015 | Optimal depth mapping - A method for providing optimal correction to depth mapping between captured and displayed stereoscopic content. The solution is derived in a continuous form that can be implemented through CGI scaling techniques compatible with image rendering techniques. Similar correction can be implemented with variable depth-dependent camera separation and disparity re-mapping. The latter is applicable to correcting existing stereoscopic content. | 10-31-2013 |
20130294684 | Stereoscopic image format with depth information - A multi-view distribution format is described for stereoscopic and autostereoscopic 3D displays. In general, it comprises multi-tile image compression with the inclusion of one or more depth maps. More specifically, it provides embodiments that utilize stereoscopic images with one or more depth maps typically in the form of a compressed grey scale image and, in some instances, incorporates depth information from a second view encoded differentially. | 11-07-2013 |
20130307831 | Wide angle imaging directional backlights - An imaging directional backlight apparatus including a waveguide, a light source array, for providing large area directed illumination from localized light sources. The waveguide may include a stepped structure, in which the steps may further include extraction features optically hidden to guided light, propagating in a first forward direction. Returning light propagating in a second backward direction may be refracted, diffracted, or reflected by the features to provide discrete illumination beams exiting from the top surface of the waveguide. Viewing windows are formed through imaging individual light sources and hence defines the relative positions of system elements and ray paths. The uncorrected system creates non-illuminated void portions when viewed off-axis preventing uniform wide angle 2D illumination modes. The system may be corrected to remove this non uniformity at wide angles through the introduction of additional sources away from the system's object plane, additional imaging surfaces, and/or by altering ray paths. | 11-21-2013 |
20130307946 | Crosstalk suppression in a directional backlight - Disclosed is a light guiding valve apparatus including a light valve, a two dimensional light emitting element array and an input side arranged to reduce light reflection for providing large area directional illumination from localized light emitting elements with low cross talk. A waveguide includes a stepped structure, in which the steps may include extraction features hidden to guided light propagating in a first forward direction. Returning light propagating in a second backward direction may be refracted or reflected by the features to provide discrete illumination beams exiting from the top surface of the waveguide. Stray light falling onto a light input side of the waveguide is at least partially absorbed. | 11-21-2013 |
20130308185 | Polarization recovery in a directional display device - Disclosed is an imaging directional backlight polarization recovery apparatus including an imaging directional backlight with at least a polarization sensitive reflection component with optional polarization transformation and redirection elements. Viewing windows may be formed through imaging individual light sources and hence defines the relative positions of system elements and ray paths. The base imaging directional backlight systems provide substantially unpolarized light primarily for the illumination of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) resulting in at least 50% loss in light output when using a conventional sheet polarizer as input to the display. The invention herein introduces a polarization sensitive reflecting element to separate desired and undesired polarization states for the purposes of transformation and redirection of the reflected light for usable illumination. Polarization transformation and redirection can be provided by additional components such as retarder films and specular mirror surfaces. | 11-21-2013 |
20130308339 | Directional backlight - Disclosed is a light guiding valve apparatus including at least one transparent stepped waveguide optical valve for providing large area collimated illumination from localized light sources, and at least one further illumination source. A stepped waveguide may be a stepped structure, where the steps include extraction features hidden to guided light, propagating in a first forward direction. Returning light propagating in a second backward direction may be refracted, diffracted, or reflected by the features to provide discrete illumination beams exiting from the top surface of the waveguide. Such controlled illumination may provide for efficient, multi-user autostereoscopic displays as well as improved 2D display functionality. Light from a separate illumination source may pass through the transparent stepped waveguide optical valve to provide at least one further additional illumination function. | 11-21-2013 |
20130321406 | Control system for a directional light source - Disclosed is an autostereoscopic display apparatus comprising a light guiding valve apparatus including an imaging directional backlight, an illuminator array and an observer tracking system arranged to achieve control of an array of illuminators which may provide a directional display to an observer over a wide lateral and longitudinal viewing range with low flicker. | 12-05-2013 |
20130321599 | Directional display apparatus - Disclosed is a light guiding valve apparatus including an imaging directional backlight, an illuminator array and an observer tracking system arranged to achieve control of an array of illuminators which may provide a directional display to an observer over a wide lateral and longitudinal viewing range, wherein the number of optical windows presented to the observer as viewing windows is controlled dependent on the lateral and longitudinal position or speed of an observer. | 12-05-2013 |
20130321913 | Directional Backlight - Disclosed is an optical inline light guiding apparatus which may include a substantially parallel planar light expansion section and a light extraction section comprising a stepped structure, in which the steps may be extraction features and guiding features. Such controlled illumination may provide for efficient, multi-user autostereoscopic displays with wide viewing freedom, high efficiency and low cross talk and other directional display uses. | 12-05-2013 |
20130328866 | Spatially multiplexed imaging directional backlight displays - Disclosed is an imaging directional backlight that cooperates with a spatial light modulator to direct light into a first viewing window for one set of image pixels and into a second viewing window for a second set of image pixels. The waveguide may comprise a stepped structure, where the steps further comprise extraction features hidden to guided light, propagating in a first forward direction. Returning light propagating in a second backward direction may be refracted, diffracted, or reflected by the features to provide discrete illumination beams exiting from the top surface of the waveguide. Viewing windows are formed through imaging individual light sources and hence defines the relative positions of system elements and ray paths. Such an apparatus may be used to achieve an autostereoscopic display with a flat structure, not requiring fast response speed spatial light modulators. | 12-12-2013 |
20130335821 | Source conditioning for imaging directional backlights - Disclosed is an imaging directional backlight apparatus for providing large area uniform directed illumination from localized light sources. Within an exemplary optical valve system, a waveguide comprises a stepped structure, where the steps comprise extraction features hidden to guided light, propagating in a first forward direction. Returning light propagating in a second backward direction may be refracted, diffracted, or reflected by the features to provide discrete illumination beams exiting from the top surface of the waveguide. Such controlled illumination may provide for efficient, multi-user autostereoscopic displays as well as improved 2D display functionality. Illumination uniformity is provided by the positioning, packaging, and optically modifying of individual input sources. The latter employs non-imaging and refractive optics. | 12-19-2013 |
20140022619 | Observer tracking autostereoscopic display - A spatially multiplexed autostereoscopic display is arranged to provide landscape and portrait operation. Multiple optical windows may be provided by spatial and temporal multiplexing techniques. A fast response lens array pair is aligned with a fast response spatial light modulator, and synchronized to provide first and second sets of images with first and second respective directionalities to provide first and second sets of respective optical windows. The first and second sets of optical windows may each comprise two or more optical windows in each viewing lobe. The optical windows may be arranged with an inclination to the vertical of 25 degrees to 65 degrees. An observer tracking system may be arranged to direct left and right eye image data to the left and right eyes of an observer, respectively, for landscape and portrait orientations of the display. | 01-23-2014 |
20140036361 | Directionally illuminated waveguide arrangement - Disclosed is a light guiding valve apparatus comprising an optical valve, a two dimensional light source array and a focusing optic for providing large area collimated illumination from localized light sources. A stepped waveguide may be a stepped structure, in which the steps may be extraction features optically hidden to guided light, propagating in a first forward direction. Returning light propagating in a second backward direction may be refracted, diffracted, or reflected by the features to provide discrete illumination beams exiting from the top surface of the waveguide. A two dimensional array of viewing windows may be produced. Such controlled illumination may provide for efficient, multi-user autostereoscopic displays with wide viewing freedom and low cross talk and near-eye displays that are substantially transparent. | 02-06-2014 |
20140041205 | Method of manufacturing directional backlight apparatus and directional structured optical film - Disclosed is a manufacturing method for a stepped imaging directional backlight apparatus which may include a structured optical film and a tapered body. The structured optical film may include multiple optical functions and may be assembled by folding onto the tapered body, reducing cost and complexity of manufacture. | 02-13-2014 |
20140092472 | Stepped waveguide autostereoscopic display apparatus with a reflective directional element - An autostereoscopic display apparatus may include a stepped waveguide, optical elements, and one or more reflective imaging and/or directional elements. These elements may be arranged to return light from the stepped waveguide into an array of viewing windows. Such elements can be used to achieve observer tracking autostereoscopic display for landscape and portrait modes of operation. System thickness and cost may be reduced and system brightness can be increased or low operating power modes may be achieved. | 04-03-2014 |
20140133020 | Temporally multiplexed display with landscape and portrait operation modes - An autostereoscopic display comprising a temporally multiplexed display arranged to provide viewing windows in a range around | 05-15-2014 |
20140177032 | Superlens component for directional display - Disclosed is an imaging directional backlight apparatus comprising a waveguide, a light source array, and a further optical element for providing large area directed illumination from localized light sources. The imaging directional backlight may comprise a stepped waveguide that may include a stepped structure, in which the steps may further include extraction features optically hidden to guided light, propagating in a first forward direction. Returning light propagating in a second backward direction may be refracted, diffracted, or reflected by the features to provide discrete illumination beams exiting from the top surface of the waveguide. Viewing windows are formed through imaging individual light sources. The further optical element may comprise a superlens comprising first and second aligned lens arrays that may be arranged to modify the output viewing windows to achieve enhanced window imaging from the directional backlight. | 06-26-2014 |
20140232836 | Temporally multiplexed display with landscape and portrait operation modes - An autostereoscopic display comprising a temporally multiplexed display arranged to provide viewing windows in a range around 45 degrees to achieve landscape and portrait viewing in cooperation with an observer tracking system. The temporally multiplexed display may comprise a stepped waveguide imaging directional backlight. | 08-21-2014 |
20140232948 | Field-of-view compensated polarization switch for short-throw 3D projection - Generally, this disclosure concerns the angle sensitivity of polarization switch elements and the resulting impact of the ray direction on performance. More specifically, apparatus and techniques for compensating the angular sensitivity of liquid crystal (LC) polarization switches are described that enhance the performance of polarization switches. For example, a polarization switch is disclosed that transforms linearly polarized light of an initial polarization orientation that includes a first and second liquid crystal cell with a compensator located between the LC cells. The compensator layer is operable to enhance the field of view through the polarization switch. Such compensation techniques are particularly useful for short-throw projection environments. | 08-21-2014 |
20140240828 | Directional Backlight - A directional display may include a waveguide. The waveguide may include light extraction features arranged to direct light from an array of light sources by total internal reflection to an array of viewing windows and a reflector arranged to direct light from the waveguide by transmission through extraction features of the waveguide to the same array of viewing windows. The brightness of the directional display can be increased. An efficient and bright autostereoscopic display system can be achieved. | 08-28-2014 |
20140253879 | Polarization conversion system and method for projecting polarization encoded imagery - A polarization conversion system separates light from an unpolarized image source into a first state of polarization (SOP) and an orthogonal second SOP, and directs the polarized light on first and second light paths. The SOP of light on only one of the light paths is transformed to an orthogonal state such that both light paths have the same SOP. A polarization modulator temporally modulates the light on the first and second light paths to first and second output states of polarization. First and second projection lenses direct light on the first and second light paths toward a projection screen to form substantially overlapping polarization encoded images. The polarization modulator may be located before or after the projection lenses. The polarization-encoded images may be viewed using eyewear with appropriate polarization filters. | 09-11-2014 |
20140333738 | Energy efficient directional flat illuminators - Disclosed is an optical valve or light valve for providing large area collimated illumination from localized light sources, and system and method thereof for 2D, 3D, and/or autostereoscopic displays. An optical valve may include a stepped structure, in which the steps include separated extraction features which may be optically hidden to light propagating in a first direction. Light propagating in a second direction may be refracted, diffracted, or reflected by the features to provide illumination beams exiting from the top surface of the optical valve. Such controlled illumination may provide for efficient, multi-user autostereoscopic displays as well as improved 2D display functionality. | 11-13-2014 |
20140368602 | Controlling light sources of a directional backlight - Teleconferencing is performed between two telecommunication devices having a display device and a stereoscopic pair of cameras positioned outside opposed sides of the display device at the same level partway along those sides. The separation between the centers of the cameras is in a range having a lower limit of 60 mm and an upper limit of 110 mm to improve the perceived roundness in a displayed stereoscopic image of a head. In captured stereo images that are video images, a head is segmented and the segmented backgrounds are replaced by replacement images that have a lower degree of perceived stereoscopic depth to compensate for non-linear depth perception in the displayed stereo images. Images are shifted vertically to position an eye-line of a detected face at the level of the stereoscopic pair of cameras of the telecommunication device where the images are displayed, improving the naturalness of the displayed image. | 12-18-2014 |
20150035953 | Electronic display numerical aberration correction - Disclosed is a method for stereoscopic numerical aberration compensation. One embodiment of this may be implemented as a software module which may be invoked after the display content has been copied, as in the case of prepared content such as a movie, or rendered, as in the case of dynamically-generated content, such as a game or design visualization application. This scheme windows the image in the frame buffer in-place, as a final processing step prior to transmission to the display. A less-tightly-integrated embodiment modifies the data during transmission, with minimal additional buffering. | 02-05-2015 |