DE102019118985A1 - 3D autostereoscopic display device and method of operating it - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating an autostereoscopic 3D display device, in particular for a motor vehicle or a driving simulator, which has at least one autostereoscopic display surface with a two-dimensional luminous pixel arrangement and an associated directional or deflection arrangement which is used to direct / deflect light beams of different luminous pixels in different directions is formed on the way to the eyes of a viewer, wherein- two different individual images are provided for the two eyes of the viewer, which reproduce two correspondingly different perspectives of a 3D image scene to be displayed, and- the two individual images in such a way on the individual light pixels of the Light pixel arrangement are distributed so that by directing / deflecting light beams of different light pixels in different directions, the individual image intended for the left eye of the viewer is visible to his left eye and the individual image intended for the right eye of the viewer is visible to his right eye, - whereby for objects of the 3D image scene to be displayed infinitely far away, an individual image distance between corresponding image points of the two individual images in the luminous pixel arrangement is equal to a predetermined eye distance of the viewer in particular is about 65 mm.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a method for operating an autostereoscopic 3D display device, in particular for a motor vehicle or a driving simulator, as well as a correspondingly configured autostereoscopic 3D display device or its control unit.

Technical background

Autostereoscopic 3D displays are designed in a manner known per se to create a 3D or depth impression for the viewer through stereoscopic vision, without any aids such as 3D glasses etc. being required directly in front of their eyes. For this purpose, two slightly different individual images for the two eyes of the viewer are shown nested in one another on a display or in a projection, the two individual images correspondingly reflect different perspectives of a 3D image scene to be displayed. By means of a directional or deflection arrangement arranged in the beam path of the light emanating from the display pixels, such as. B. inclined strip masks or microlens grids in the display surface, the light from individual display pixels is deflected or selectively blocked in different directions so that the two different 2D single images only reach the left or right eye of the viewer.

The object of the present invention is to provide an operating method for an autostereoscopic 3D display device that is improved, in particular with regard to the perceptible depth impression of a 3D image scene to be displayed and / or the field of view that can be perceived by the observer a motor vehicle or a driving simulator, as well as an appropriately designed and equipped autostereoscopic 3D display device or its control unit or a motor vehicle or driving simulator equipped / equipped with it.

Disclosure of the invention

This object is achieved by a method for operating an autostereoscopic 3D display device according to claim 1 and by a corresponding control unit, a computer program, an autostereoscopic 3D display device or a motor vehicle or a driving simulator according to the independent claims. Further refinements are given in the dependent claims. All of the additional features and effects mentioned in the claims and the description for the method also apply in relation to the autostereoscopic 3D display device, the control unit, the computer program or the motor vehicle or the driving simulator, and vice versa.

According to a first aspect, a method for operating an autostereoscopic 3D display device, in particular for a motor vehicle or a driving simulator, is provided. The autostereoscopic 3D display device has (in particular in a manner known per se) at least one autostereoscopic display surface with a two-dimensional luminous pixel arrangement and an associated directional or deflection arrangement, which is used to direct / deflect light beams of different luminous pixels in different directions on the way to the eyes of a Viewer is trained on. When operating this device, two different individual images are initially provided for the two eyes of the viewer, which reproduce two correspondingly different perspectives of a 3D image scene to be displayed. This can e.g. B. be implemented by a suitable software tool of a known type, by means of which the 3D image scene is rendered with two cameras from the position of the left and right eye of a virtual viewer of the 3D image scene, the distance between the two cameras about one The eye relief of the real observer.

The two individual images are now distributed to the individual luminous pixels of the luminous pixel arrangement in such a way that by directing / deflecting or selectively blocking light beams from different luminous pixels in different directions by the directional or deflecting arrangement, the individual image intended for the viewer's left eye is visible to his left eye while the individual image intended for the viewer's right eye is visible to his right eye. Said distribution can be implemented, for example, in accordance with a format known as “side by side” for the control of the luminous pixels in order to generate two nested individual images in the display area. The directional or deflection arrangement may e.g. B. as a microlens array arranged parallel to each other in the display surface cylindrical lenses of a suitable size and curvature or as a parallax barrier in the form of an inclined strip mask or in any other suitable manner.

According to the present operating method - in contrast to conventional autostereoscopic 3D displays - an individual image distance between corresponding image points of the two individual images in the luminous pixel arrangement is very or infinitely far away Objects to be displayed in the 3D image scene equal to a predetermined eye relief of the viewer. For the observer, this results in an angle of convergence of approximately zero for objects represented in this way, ie as when looking at an object that is infinitely distant in the real world. The convergence angle is an angle that the viewing axes of the right and left eyes form when looking at an object. Said predetermined eye relief can in particular be between about 55 mm and 75 mm and z. B. as an average human eye relief of about 65 mm or as another suitably selected value, in particular individually adjustable, have been set in advance of the present operating method. Overall, a realistic 3D experience can therefore be achieved for the viewer.

A basic idea of the present method consists in the input image data for the control of the light pixels (e.g. in the above side-by-side) before or during the mentioned step of distributing the two individual images for the left and right eyes in the light pixel arrangement. Format) to be defined or changed by an easily implemented manipulation in such a way that the objects displayed with the autostereoscopic 3D display device of the underlying 3D image scene (e.g. using a software tool known as “unity”) the same angle of convergence of the eyes as when viewing this image scene in the real world. The manipulation can e.g. For example, the two individual images for the two eyes, which in known autostereoscopic 3D displays are usually only a few millimeters apart in the luminous pixel arrangement, are pulled apart to significantly larger individual image distance values, which then correspond to the angle of convergence for the viewer Object in its actual position in real 3D space. In the case of objects at infinity, this is the eye relief of the observer.

In particular, the autostereoscopic display surface can be a commercial 3D monitor, e.g. B. 32-inch, with integrated eye tracking (see below), act, according to the present method, the image data that are fed into the commercial 3D monitor, manipulated in advance so that the angle of convergence of the eyes is set to the value which would correspond to the real convergence angle of the eyes if the individual objects of the 3D image scene or the entire 3D image scene of objects were located in the real world. The two images for the left and right eyes can in particular be pulled apart to values of approximately the distance between the eyes of the observer.

The method presented here and correspondingly designed and configured devices for autostereoscopic 3D display can be used for a large number of different applications, in particular wherever a virtual environment is to be simulated for a viewer. Examples of use are in particular a driving simulator for gaming applications or driver training, for product information in sales, for training purposes, such as B. when training workers for assembly on the assembly line or in the workshop, for gaming machines or other entertainment systems. Other examples include 3D simulation in business, such as B. the visualization of design studies, vehicle concepts, protection of display and operating concepts for z. B. Head-up displays and much more.

A special application in a motor vehicle relates, for example, to functions such as rear-view mirrors, side mirrors, rear-seat entertainment and possible future functions such as "transparent sun visor", "transparent A-pillar" etc.

The autostereoscopic 3D display device of the type set out herein can be used for 3D display not only in the screen area (autostereoscopic display area), but also in projection, for example according to FIG DE 10 2009 054 232 A1 for a field of view display device in a motor vehicle. So revealed DE 10 2009 054 232 A1 a head-up display for stereoscopic information display in a motor vehicle, which has image generating means for generating two different individual images intended for the two eyes of an occupant and a display unit on which luminous points can be generated, the light rays of which are reflected on the windshield of the motor vehicle for the Occupants are visible. Furthermore, deflection means, such as, for example, are in the beam path between the display unit and the windshield. B. a matrix-like arrangement of cylindrical microlenses is provided, which deflect light beams from different luminous points in different radiation directions. In addition, image point allocation means ensure such an allocation of image points of the individual images to luminous points of the display unit that the individual image intended for this is visible to the left eye of the occupant and the individual image intended for it is visible to the occupant's right eye.

In particular, in the method presented here, the individual image distance between corresponding image points of the two individual images in the luminous pixel arrangement for objects to be displayed closer (than the mentioned very or infinitely distant) objects to be displayed with the decreasing distance from the objects to be displayed in the 3D image scene from the viewer. I.e. the said Frame spacing can have a lower value than the predetermined eye relief, which is defined as a function of the actual distance of the object to be displayed from the viewer, and in particular in such a way that a convergence angle of the respective object resulting from the frame spacing of a real distance of this object in the autostereoscopic 3D -Display device to be simulated corresponds to a real 3D image scene. With this method, for example, a tree at a distance of 30 meters can be displayed with a 3D monitor in such a way that the viewer actually sees the tree at a distance of 30 meters. This means that the visual impression when looking at the 3D monitor is exactly like looking out of a window at this point. In this way, for example, when used in a motor vehicle, a very realistic and relaxed view of a simulated world in front of the vehicle can be achieved.

According to one embodiment, in the step of distributing the two individual images provided for both eyes of the viewer via the luminous pixel arrangement, one of the two individual images can be shifted relative to the other individual image by a uniform offset that corresponds to a predetermined number of luminous pixels in a horizontal offset direction (for example the above-mentioned manipulation / modification of image data using conventional software for controlling the luminous pixel arrangement exist, cf. also e.g. 2 ). The uniform offset is selected such that the individual image distance for objects of the 3D image scene that are to be displayed very / infinitely far away corresponds to the predetermined eye distance of the viewer.

In a further development of this embodiment, in the step of providing the two individual images, the individual image to be shifted by the uniform offset can be generated wider by the uniform offset compared to the other individual image in a direction opposite to the offset direction. This allows z. B. a possible edge-side luminous pixel loss can be compensated by the mentioned later shifting of this single image by the predetermined offset in the 3D display area.

In a specific embodiment, the luminous pixel arrangement can be arranged at a predetermined display surface distance from the eyes of the viewer, which (in particular in the specified order, more preferably) at least about 50 cm, at least about 80 cm, at least about 1 m, at least about 1.2 m or at least about 1.5 m. For the described autostereoscopic 3D operating mode, it has been found experimentally and directly demonstrable that at least for distances of approx. 80 cm or more between the luminous pixel arrangement and the viewer, his eyes are in and of themselves capable of accommodating without any problems due to the great depth of focus of the individual eye near to far or infinite, in particular according to the convergence angle caused by the individual image distance, the object structures shown, such as B. Lines, essentially sharp, day and night. In other words, with such screen distances, any conflict between the convergence and accommodation distances is not perceived as disruptive (VAC: vergence-accommodation conflict). The convergence angle is an angle formed by the visual axes of the right and left eyes, and accommodation is the focusing of the eye lens at a distance from the object being viewed. In normal vision (i.e. without a 3D monitor), the angle of convergence and the distance of accommodation correlate according to a closed triangle.

The relevance of the conflict of convergence and distance of accommodation can depend, in particular, on age, eyesight, lighting and other individual factors. With display surface distances of z. B. less than 50-80 cm to the eyes of the viewer, additional measures to overcome the convergence and accommodation distance conflict can be implemented. Approaches to this can in particular include additional (or at the same time serving as the above-mentioned directional or deflection arrangement) specifically designed lens arrays and / or an additional modification of the light pixel control.

A specific design can consist of placing the microlenses or another layer of lenses, e.g. Fresnel lenses, in a "magnifying glass configuration" above the pixels above the luminous pixel arrangement, i.e. H. the distance between the microlenses or the further layer of lenses and the luminous pixels is chosen to be close to the focal length of the lenses (typically just below it), which means that the luminous pixels are enlarged to the viewer and appear at a slightly greater distance and thus with a lower accommodation capacity the eyes are perceived as sharp. In this way, the accommodation performance of the eyes can be brought close to the value that corresponds to the angle of convergence that is set for viewing a 3D object.

This approach is particularly suitable for monitors from a width of the typical eye relief, so z. B. also for rear-view mirrors, side mirrors, rear-seat entertainment monitors of a motor vehicle and in general for handheld devices, where the VAC effect for distant 3D objects is otherwise due to the short viewing distance is clearly perceptible and therefore a correction of the type described is necessary. This allows a realistic window into the world to be displayed, which enables 3D content to be augmented against the real environment.

For this purpose z. B. by means of a simultaneous evaluation of a camera facing the environment (z. B. a forward facing cell phone camera) and a second camera that records the viewer (z. B. a cell phone camera facing the user) the alignment of the real world to the 3D world visible in the display can be produced.

It can also be used to operate large monitors close to the eye, e.g. B. simulators for assembly processes, e.g. B. for the training of needlework closer than approx. 80 cm in front of the eye. This approach also allows for far-sighted people, e.g. B. older people to read a suitably designed handheld display at a short distance without reading glasses relaxed.

The luminous pixel arrangement can also have an eye tracking device assigned to the respective autostereoscopic display surface, which is designed to detect a current observer position, and the two individual images provided for both eyes of the observer can be distributed over the luminous pixel arrangement depending on the detected observer position to track an optimal position for viewing the autostereoscopic 3D display of the current eye position of the viewer in a manner known per se.

• - die mehreren autostereoskopischen Anzeigeflächen derart relativ zueinander angeordnet sind, dass alle n Betrachter in den jeweils zugehörigen Anzeigeflächen dargestellte 3D-Bildszenen gleichzeitig betrachten können,
• - wobei insbesondere zumindest zeitweise eine für alle n Betrachter gleiche 3D-Bildszene durch jede der mehreren Anzeigeflächen dargestellt wird. Die obigen technischen Details der Realisierung der Darstellung einer und derselben 3D-Bildszene können dabei insbesondere abhängig von individuellen Betrachterparametern der obigen Art, wie z. B. dem Augenabstand und/oder der Betrachterposition, unterschiedlich sein.

With a specific design (cf. 5 ) the luminous pixel arrangement is designed for a predetermined number n> 1 of viewers, in that the at least one autostereoscopic display area comprises a plurality of autostereoscopic display areas of the type mentioned, each of which is designed for one of the n viewers, wherein

• the multiple autostereoscopic display surfaces are arranged relative to one another in such a way that all n viewers can simultaneously view 3D image scenes displayed in the respective associated display surfaces,
• - wherein in particular at least temporarily a 3D image scene that is the same for all n viewers is displayed by each of the multiple display surfaces. The above technical details of the implementation of the representation of one and the same 3D image scene can be particularly dependent on individual viewer parameters of the above type, such as, for. B. the interpupillary distance and / or the observer position, be different.

According to a further aspect, a control unit for an autostereoscopic 3D display device, in particular for a motor vehicle or a driving simulator, is provided, the 3D display device having at least one autostereoscopic display surface with a two-dimensional luminous pixel arrangement and an associated directional or deflection arrangement that is used for directing / deflecting is formed of light beams of different light pixels in different directions on the way to the eyes of a viewer, and wherein the control unit is designed to automatically carry out a method of the type set forth herein.

According to a further aspect, a computer program is provided which can be loaded into said control unit and comprises commands which, when the computer program is executed by said control unit or a computer, cause it to execute the method of the type set out herein. According to a further aspect, a machine-readable data carrier is provided on which such a computer program is stored.

• - mindestens eine autostereoskopische Anzeigefläche mit einer zweidimensionalen Leuchtpixelanordnung, die zur Erzeugung von Bildpunkten ausgebildet ist, und einer zugehörigen Richtungs- oder Ablenkanordnung, die zum Richten/Ablenken von Lichtstrahlen unterschiedlicher Leuchtpixel in unterschiedliche Richtungen auf dem Weg zu den Augen eines Betrachters ausgebildet ist;
• - eine Bilderzeugungseinheit, die zum Bereitstellen zweier unterschiedlicher Einzelbilder für die zwei Augen des Betrachters, die zwei entsprechend verschiedene Perspektiven einer darzustellenden 3D-Bildszene wiedergeben, ausgebildet ist; und

• - eine Bildpunktzuordnungseinheit, die dazu eingerichtet ist, die zwei Einzelbilder derart auf die einzelnen Leuchtpixel der Leuchtpixelanordnung zu verteilen, dass durch das Richten/Ablenken von Lichtstrahlen unterschiedlicher Leuchtpixel in unterschiedliche Richtungen das für das linke Auge des Betrachters bestimmte Einzelbild für sein linkes Auge sichtbar ist, während das für das rechte Auge des Betrachters bestimmte Einzelbild für sein rechtes Auge sichtbar ist;
• - derart dass für unendlich weit entfernt darzustellende Objekte der 3D-Bildszene ein Einzelbildabstand zwischen einander entsprechenden Bildpunkten der zwei Einzelbilder in der Leuchtpixelanordnung einem vorbestimmten Augenabstand des Betrachters entspricht.

According to a further aspect, an autostereoscopic 3D display device, in particular for a motor vehicle or a driving simulator, is provided, comprising:

• - At least one autostereoscopic display surface with a two-dimensional luminous pixel arrangement, which is designed to generate image points, and an associated directional or deflection arrangement, which is designed to direct / deflect light beams of different luminous pixels in different directions on the way to the eyes of a viewer;
• an image generation unit which is designed to provide two different individual images for the two eyes of the viewer, which reproduce two correspondingly different perspectives of a 3D image scene to be displayed; and

• A pixel assignment unit which is set up to distribute the two individual images to the individual light pixels of the light pixel arrangement in such a way that the individual image intended for the viewer's left eye is visible to his left eye by directing / deflecting light beams from different light pixels in different directions , while the individual image intended for the viewer's right eye is visible to his right eye;
• - in such a way that for objects of the 3D image scene to be displayed infinitely far away The individual image distance between corresponding image points of the two individual images in the luminous pixel arrangement corresponds to a predetermined eye distance of the observer.

In particular, such an autostereoscopic 3D display device can furthermore comprise a control unit which is designed and set up to control the image generation unit and the image point assignment unit for automatically performing a method of the type set forth herein.

According to a further aspect, a motor vehicle or driving simulator is provided which has such an autostereoscopic 3D display device, the autostereoscopic display area of which is located in, on or along a surface of an instrument panel, an interior mirror, a side mirror, a sun visor and / or an A. -Pillar of the motor vehicle extends. A special application in the motor vehicle can be the current functions of the rear-view mirror, side mirror (which can also be augmented), rear-seat entertainment and possible future functions such as "transparent" and augmentable sun visor display, "transparent" A-pillar and the like . include. In the case of a rear-view mirror / side mirror, a present-day reflective glass surface could be configured to be switchable in order to optionally reveal the view of the rear-view mirror / side-mirror 3D display device.

Figure list

• 1 eine schematische Draufsicht auf eine autostereoskopische 3D-Anzeigevorrichtung gemäß der Erfindung im Vergleich zu einer herkömmlichen autostereoskopischen 3D-Anzeigevorrichtung;
• 2 ein Flussdiagramm eines Betriebsverfahrens für eine autostereoskopische 3D-Anzeigevorrichtung gemäß der Erfindung;
• 3a einen Blick von der Seite auf die Anzeigefläche einer autostereoskopischen 3D-Anzeigevorrichtung gemäß der Erfindung im Betrieb;
• 3b einen Blick von der Betrachterposition aus auf die Anzeigefläche der autostereoskopischen 3D-Anzeigevorrichtung der 3a;
• 4a eine schematische Draufsicht auf eine als Innenspiegel eines Kraftfahrzeugs verwendete autostereoskopische 3D-Anzeigevorrichtung gemäß der Erfindung;
• 4b eine weitere schematische Draufsicht der autostereoskopischen 3D-Anzeigevorrichtung der 4a mit visualisiertem Field-of-View (FoV) des Betrachters; und
• 5 eine schematische Draufsicht auf eine autostereoskopische 3D-Anzeigevorrichtung gemäß der Erfindung, die für mehrere Betrachter ausgelegt ist.

The above aspects of the invention and its embodiments and specific configurations are explained in more detail below with reference to the examples shown in the accompanying drawings. The drawings are purely schematic; in particular, they should not be read as being true to scale. Similar or corresponding elements are provided therein with the same reference symbols. Show it:

• 1 a schematic plan view of an autostereoscopic 3D display device according to the invention in comparison with a conventional autostereoscopic 3D display device;
• 2 a flowchart of an operating method for an autostereoscopic 3D display device according to the invention;
• 3a a view from the side of the display surface of an autostereoscopic 3D display device according to the invention in operation;
• 3b a view from the observer's position of the display surface of the autostereoscopic 3D display device of FIG 3a ;
• 4a a schematic plan view of an autostereoscopic 3D display device according to the invention used as an interior mirror of a motor vehicle;
• 4b a further schematic top view of the autostereoscopic 3D display device of FIG 4a with visualized field-of-view (FoV) of the observer; and
• 5 a schematic plan view of an autostereoscopic 3D display device according to the invention, which is designed for multiple viewers.

Description of embodiments

All of the various embodiments, variants and specific design features of the operating method for an autostereoscopic 3D display device, the control unit, the computer program, the autostereoscopic 3D display device and the motor vehicle or driving simulator according to the above aspects of the invention mentioned above and below in the description and the claims can with the in the 1 to 5 examples shown. They are therefore not all repeated again below. The same applies accordingly to the definitions of terms and effects already given above in relation to individual features that are included in the 1 to 5 are shown.

1 shows in a greatly simplified schematic plan view an autostereoscopic 3D display device 1 according to the invention (right) compared to a conventional autostereoscopic 3D display device 100 (left in FIG 1 , marked as "SdT" = state of the art) in operation. In this example, the autostereoscopic 3D display device 1 is designed in particular for use in a driving simulator.

The autostereoscopic 3D display device 1 comprises an autostereoscopic display surface 2 (those in all 1-5 for recognizing the 3D image scene 20 shown therein is shown tilted somewhat from the top view into the plane of the drawing) with a two-dimensional luminous pixel arrangement (not shown) and an associated directional or deflection arrangement (not shown) for directing / deflecting light beams L. different light pixels in different directions on the way to the eyes AL and AR of a viewer 3 is trained. The autostereoscopic display area 2 (also called 3D monitor) can be used in 1 in particular be a commercial 3D monitor with, for example, 32-inch diagonal dimensions and a microlens array integrated in the monitor surface as a directional or deflection arrangement. The Viewers can z. B. in a display surface distance typical for a driving simulator D. from 0.5 m to 1.5 m between the light pixel arrangement or the display surface 2 and his eyes AL and AR are located. For the simulation of driving situations, the autostereoscopic 3D monitor 2 can in particular be designed in a curved shape similar to a vehicle windscreen, e.g. B. also including a limitation by an A-pillar, vehicle ceiling, etc. This can further enhance the experience as in a real motor vehicle.

• - eine Bilderzeugungseinheit (nicht gezeigt), die zum Bereitstellen zweier unterschiedlicher Einzelbilder 4L und 4R für die zwei Augen AL und AR des Betrachters 3, die zwei entsprechend verschiedene Perspektiven einer darzustellenden 3D-Bildszene 20 wiedergeben, ausgebildet ist; und
• - eine Bildpunktzuordnungseinheit (nicht gezeigt), die dazu eingerichtet ist, die zwei Einzelbilder 4L und 4R derart auf die einzelnen Leuchtpixel der Leuchtpixelanordnung zu verteilen, dass durch das Richten/Ablenken von Lichtstrahlen L unterschiedlicher Leuchtpixel in unterschiedliche Richtungen das für das linke Auge AL des Betrachters 3 bestimmte Einzelbild 4L für sein linkes Auge AL sichtbar ist, während das für das rechte Auge AR des Betrachters 3 bestimmte Einzelbild 4R für sein rechtes Auge AR sichtbar ist.

The autostereoscopic 3D display device 1 further comprises

• - An image generation unit (not shown) which is used to provide two different individual images 4L and 4R for the two eyes AL and AR of the viewer 3 which reproduce two correspondingly different perspectives of a 3D image scene 20 to be displayed is formed; and
• an image point allocation unit (not shown) which is set up to process the two individual images 4L and 4R to distribute to the individual light pixels of the light pixel arrangement that by directing / deflecting light beams L. different light pixels in different directions for the left eye AL of the viewer 3 certain frame 4L for his left eye AL while that is visible to the right eye AR of the viewer 3 certain frame 4R for his right eye AR is visible.

The autostereoscopic 3D display device 1 further comprises one of the autostereoscopic display area 2 assigned eye tracking facility 5 that are used to detect a viewer's position (e.g. the position of his eyes AL and AR ) is designed to distribute the two single images provided for both eyes of the viewer via the luminous pixel arrangement depending on the recorded viewer position by adding an optimal position for viewing the autostereoscopic 3D display in front of the 3D monitor 2 of the current eye position of the viewer 3 is tracked in a known manner.

Finally, the autostereoscopic 3D display device 1 comprises a control unit in this example 6th which is designed and set up to execute the image generation unit and the pixel assignment unit for automatically performing a method according to the invention.

2 FIG. 11 shows a simplified flow diagram of an example of this operating method based on FIG 1 is explained to the differences of the device according to the invention 1 ( 1 , right) from the conventional autostereoscopic 3D display device 100 ( 1 , left).

After starting the procedure (for example, by switching on the device 1 ) are two different individual images in a step S1 4L and 4R for the left eye AL or the right eye AR of the viewer 3 provided, which reproduce two correspondingly different perspectives of a 3D image scene 20 to be displayed. In this example, a software tool known as “unity” is used to create the 3D image scene 20 with two cameras from the position of the left and right eye AL or. AR of a virtual observer of the 3D image scene 20, the distance between the two cameras being a suitably predetermined eye distance d of the real viewer 3 corresponds.

In the next step S2, the two individual images generated in this way are used 4L and 4R Distributed to the individual luminous pixels of the luminous pixel arrangement by being joined together in an interleaved manner as the left and right image of a side-by-side format. B. the right frame 4R a uniform offset value Ox from x-pixels to the right (ie in the horizontal offset direction). The pixels on the left side of this right single image 4R that are not occupied by pixels moving upwards are assigned the color black in this transformation, purely by way of example (see hatched area in 3a-3b) . The offset value Ox is determined for a correct shift (e.g. empirically) that for an object 7th (in 1 using the example of a thick arrow) in the 3D image scene 20, which should be at infinity from the perspective of the virtual viewer, the two individual images 4L and 4R for right and left eye AL and AR at the level of the autostereoscopic display 2 ultimately by exactly the eye relief d of the real viewer 3 be apart. This is how the real viewer sees 3 in the 3D image generated in this way on the autostereoscopic display 2 the object in question 7th at infinity at an angle of convergence of zero (a = 0, ie with parallel alignment of the viewing directions of the left and right eye AL and AR , as in 1 indicated) and closer objects 8th (in 1 using the example of a circle) at a convergence angle greater than zero (α> O), where the convergence angle α the closer the object to the viewer, the larger it becomes 3 lies.

Such a dependence on the angle of convergence α of the distance of the objects to be represented, in the present method ideally corresponds exactly to the real angles of convergence when looking at a real viewer 3 into an underlying or equivalent real 3D scene, e.g. B. when looking out of a window instead of the 3D monitor 2. This is in the left in 1 shown conventional autostereoscopic 3D display device is not fulfilled and the convergence angle dependence on the object distance is often even reversed, because here are the individual images 4L and 4R for the left and the right eye AL / AR of the viewer 3 always only in the mm range in the luminous pixel plane 2 separated so that the resulting convergence angle is also for "distant" objects 7th near the monitor plane 2 (e.g. at 1.5 meters), as in 1 is clearly visible on the left.

• So zeigt 3a einen Blick von der Seite auf die Anzeigefläche 2 einer autostereoskopischen 3D-Anzeigevorrichtung 1, z. B. gemäß 1 rechts, im Betriebsmodus gemäß der Erfindung. Die Einzelbildabstände x1, x2 und x3 zwischen einander entsprechenden Bildpunkten der zwei Einzelbilder 4L und 4R in der Leuchtpixelanordnung betragen in diesem Beispiel

• - für sehr weit entfernte Objekte 7 (wie das am Horizont verschwindende Straßenende in 3a) den vorbestimmten Wert d des Augenabstands, hier x1 = d= 6,5 cm;
• - für ein nahes Objekt 8 (in 3a ein Schild mit Beschriftung „5m“, d. h. in einer Entfernung von 5 m zum Auge des Betrachters) einen deutlich geringeren Wert von etwa x2 = 3,5 cm;
• - für ein dazwischen liegendes Objekt 9 (in 3a ein Schild mit Beschriftung „3D Justage, 23m“, d. h. in einer Entfernung von 23 m zum Auge des Betrachters) einen dazwischen liegenden Wert von etwa x3 = 5 cm.

The dependency of the convergence angle generated in step S2 as described α the distance of the objects to be displayed is again in 3a and 3b illustrates:

• So shows 3a a view from the side of the display area 2 an autostereoscopic 3D display device 1, e.g. B. according to 1 right, in the operating mode according to the invention. The frame spacing x1 , x2 and x3 between corresponding image points of the two individual images 4L and 4R in the luminous pixel arrangement are in this example

• - for very distant objects 7th (like the end of the road disappearing on the horizon in 3a) the predetermined value d the interpupillary distance, here x1 = d = 6.5 cm;
• - for a close object 8th (in 3a a sign with the inscription “5m”, ie at a distance of 5 m from the beholder's eye) a significantly lower value of about x2 = 3.5 cm;
• - for an object in between 9 (in 3a a sign with the inscription "3D Adjustment, 23m", ie at a distance of 23 m from the beholder's eye) an intermediate value of about x3 = 5 cm.

3b shows a corresponding view from a suitable observer position (cf. 1 ) on the display area 2 of the autostereoscopic 3D display device 1 of 3a . It arises from the viewer 3 a 3D image as when looking out of the window, ie a relaxed view of the 3D image scene 20 with convergence angles, as when looking at the objects 7th , 8th and 9 in the real world.

The "vertical black stripe" that occurs during this procedure in the individual image on the right 4R on the left edge of the example selected here, which is caused by the above shifting of the pixels by the offset value Ox is created (see the hatched area in 3a near the double arrow marked with x1), can (in the above step S1) z. B. be compensated by the fact that the rendering area of the corresponding virtual right camera is selected to be wider than that for the left single image 4L , and the "black stripe" is "filled in" with the image area of the extended rendering adjoining it on the left. The black stripe in 3a would hereby be filled with pixels that correctly correspond to the 3D image scene 20 and thus disappear. So the viewer can 3 with both eyes AL and AR a realistic 3D image of the 3D image scene 20 to be displayed with realistic convergence angles α and received without a black stripe.

The method can end after step S2 or else (for example, depending on a suitable condition, such as that by means of the above eye tracking device 5 detectable presence of the viewer 3 , which is checked in an optional step S3) are repeated cyclically from step S1 in order, for example, to always display an updated 3D image scene 20 by means of the autostereoscopic 3D display device 1.

4a shows a schematic plan view of an interior mirror 10 of a motor vehicle (not shown) used autostereoscopic 3D display device 1 according to the invention, which, moreover, in particular according to 1-3b may be designed and set up and according to the method of the type set forth herein, e.g. B. according to 2 , is operated. In particular, a camera is used in this example for rendering / providing the 3D image scene 20 to be displayed 11 provided for recording the environment behind the motor vehicle. In the case of a comparatively small display surface spacing of approximately D = 0.5 m in this example, the measures mentioned further above can be implemented to overcome the conflict of convergence and distance of accommodation. Approaches to this can in particular include additional or specifically designed microlens arrays and / or an additional modification of the light pixel control. In this example is a microlens array 12 provided (in 4a only indicated schematically). The microlens array 12 is specifically designed to overcome the conflict of convergence and distance of accommodation, in that it is arranged along the luminous pixel arrangement above the luminous pixels in such a way that a respective distance between the microlenses of the microlens array 12 and the luminous pixels are close to the focal length of the microlenses, in particular just below it. This makes the light pixels appear to the viewer 3 enlarged and at an enlarged distance and are thus perceptible as sharp with a lower accommodation capacity of the eyes.

4b FIG. 11 shows a further schematic plan view of the autostereoscopic 3D display device 1 of FIG 4a with visualized field-of-view of the observer 3 . With the device and its operating method of the type set out herein, a clear comparison with the prior art can be achieved Expansion of the entire perceptible field-of-view (FoV) due to the significantly larger individual image distances than with conventional 3D displays of this type. In this specific example, the result is for an interior mirror 10 with a width of about 20 cm and the predetermined eye relief of the observer of d = 6.5 cm, a field-of-view of 21 ° for the left and right eye AL or. AR of the viewer 3 which results in a combined perceptible field-of-view of 28 °, ie with a magnification of 33% compared to the individual eye.

5 shows a schematic plan view of an autostereoscopic 3D display device 1 according to the invention, which is designed for several viewers (here, purely by way of example, n = 8), with the rest of the for 1-4b What has been said can also apply here, so that repetition is avoided. This can serve as a replacement setup for large 2D screens that can be viewed by several people from different positions at the same time.

In 5 n seats each with an autostereoscopic display area 2 and an associated eye tracking device 5 operated with the same 3D image content for all n participants in the session in the manner set out herein, e.g. B. fed from a central computer. In particular, because of the closer viewing distance, large field-of-views with a full 3D effect, comparable to a view through a window of the 3D image scene 20 shown, can result in this way.

List of reference symbols

1

3D autostereoscopic display device according to the invention

100

Prior art autostereoscopic 3D display device

2

autostereoscopic display area

3

Viewer

4L

Individual image intended for the left eye of the viewer

4R

Individual image intended for the viewer's right eye

5

Eye tracking facility

6th

Control unit

7th

Object to be represented very or infinitely far away

8th

object to be displayed close to the viewer

9

an intermediate object of the 3D image scene to be displayed

10

Inside mirror

11

Camera for recording the environment behind the motor vehicle

12

Microlens array

20th

3D image scene

L.

Rays of light from the luminous pixels

D.

Distance of display surface from viewer

AL

left eye of the beholder

AR

right eye of the beholder

d

Eye relief of the viewer

α

Convergence angle

Ox

Offset of x-pixels in the horizontal offset direction

x1, x2, x3

Individual image distances of various objects of the 3D image scene to be displayed in the luminous pixel arrangement

FoV

Field of View

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• DE 102009054232 A1 [0012]

Claims (13)

Method for operating an autostereoscopic 3D display device (1), in particular for a motor vehicle or a driving simulator, which has at least one autostereoscopic display surface (2) with a two-dimensional luminous pixel arrangement and an associated directional or deflection arrangement which is used to direct / deflect light beams (L) different light pixels is formed in different directions on the way to the eyes (AL, AR) of a viewer (3), wherein - Two different individual images (4L, 4R) are provided for the two eyes (AL, AR) of the viewer (3), which reproduce two correspondingly different perspectives of a 3D image scene (20) to be displayed (S1), and - The two individual images (4L, 4R) are distributed to the individual luminous pixels of the luminous pixel arrangement in such a way that the individual image intended for the left eye (AL) of the viewer (3) by directing / deflecting light beams (L) from different luminous pixels in different directions (4L) is visible to his left eye (AL), and the individual image (4R) intended for the right eye (AR) of the observer (3) is visible to his right eye (AR), - For objects (7) of the 3D image scene (20) to be shown infinitely far away, a single image distance (x1) between corresponding image points of the two single images (4L, 4R) in the luminous pixel arrangement is equal to a predetermined eye distance (d) of the viewer (3) which is in particular between approximately 55 mm and 75 mm, preferably approximately 65 mm (S2). Procedure according to Claim 1 , wherein the individual image distance (x1, x2, x3) decreases with the decreasing distance from the objects (7, 9, 8) to be displayed of the 3D image scene (20) from the viewer (3), preferably in such a way that one out of the individual image distance (x1, x2, x3) resulting convergence angle (a) of the respective object (7, 8, 9) corresponds to a real distance of this object in the real 3D image scene (20) of the viewer (3) to be reproduced by means of the autostereoscopic 3D display device (1). Procedure according to Claim 1 or 2 , wherein in step (S2) the distribution of the two individual images (4L, 4R) provided for both eyes (AL, AR) of the viewer (3) over the luminous pixel arrangement of one of the two individual images (4R) by a uniform offset (Ox), which corresponds to a predetermined number of luminous pixels (x) in a horizontal offset direction, is shifted with respect to the other individual image (4L) so that the individual image distance (x1) for objects (7) of the 3D image scene (20) to be shown infinitely far away corresponds to the predetermined eye distance (d ) of the viewer (3). Procedure according to Claim 3 , wherein in the step (S1) of providing the two individual images (4L, 4R) the individual image (4R) to be shifted by the uniform offset (Ox) compared to the other individual image (4L) in a direction opposite to the offset direction around the uniform Offset (Ox) is generated wider. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the luminous pixel arrangement is arranged at a predetermined display surface distance (D) from the eyes (AL, AR) of the viewer (3), which is at least about 80 cm, preferably at least about 1 m and particularly preferably at least about 1 .2 m. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the luminous pixel arrangement furthermore has an eye-tracking device (5) assigned to the respective autostereoscopic display surface (2), which is designed to detect a viewer's position, and the distribution (S2) of the two for both eyes ( AL, AR) of the viewer (3) provided individual images (4L, 4R) is carried out via the luminous pixel arrangement depending on the recorded viewer position. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the luminous pixel arrangement is designed for a predetermined number n> 1 of viewers (3), in that the at least one autostereoscopic display surface (2) has several autostereoscopic display surfaces (2) of the type mentioned, each for one of the n Viewers (3) are formed, comprises, wherein - The multiple autostereoscopic display surfaces (2) are arranged relative to one another in such a way that all n viewers (3) can simultaneously view 3D image scenes (20) displayed in the respective associated display surfaces (2), - wherein a 3D image scene (20), which is the same for all n viewers (3), is preferably represented by each of the plurality of display surfaces (2) at least temporarily. Control unit (6) for an autostereoscopic 3D display device (1), in particular for a motor vehicle or a driving simulator, which 3D display device (1) has at least one autostereoscopic display surface (2) with a two-dimensional luminous pixel arrangement and an associated directional or deflection arrangement which is used for Directing / deflecting light beams (L) of different luminous pixels in different directions on the way to the eyes (AL, AR) of a viewer (3), the control unit (6) for automatically performing a method according to one of the preceding claims is trained. Computer program, which in a control unit (6) according to Claim 8 can be loaded and comprises commands which, when the computer program is executed by the control unit (6) or a computer, cause the control unit (6) or a computer to execute the method according to one of the Claims 1 to 7th execute. Machine-readable data carrier on which a computer program is based Claim 9 is stored. Autostereoscopic 3D display device (1), in particular for a motor vehicle or a driving simulator, comprising: - at least one autostereoscopic display surface (2) with a two-dimensional luminous pixel arrangement, which is designed to generate image points, and an associated directional or deflection arrangement, which is used for directing / Deflecting light beams (L) of different light pixels in different directions on the way to the eyes (AL, AR) of a viewer (3) is formed; - An image generation unit which is designed to provide two different individual images (4L, 4R) for the two eyes (AL, AR) of the viewer (3), which reproduce two correspondingly different perspectives of a 3D image scene (20) to be displayed; and - a pixel allocation unit which is set up to distribute the two individual images (4L, 4R) to the individual luminous pixels of the luminous pixel arrangement in such a way that by directing / deflecting light beams (L) of different luminous pixels in different directions the left eye ( AL) of the viewer (3) certain individual image (4L) is visible to his left eye (AL), while the individual image (4R) intended for the right eye (AR) of the viewer (3) is visible to his right eye (AR) ; - in such a way that for objects (7) of the 3D image scene (20) to be shown infinitely far away, an individual image distance (x1) between corresponding image points of the two individual images (4L, 4R) in the luminous pixel arrangement a predetermined eye distance (d) of the viewer (3) corresponds to; and - preferably also a control unit (6) which is designed and set up to control the image generation unit and the pixel assignment unit for automatically performing a method according to one of the Claims 1 to 7th head for. Autostereoscopic 3D display device (1) according to Claim 11 which, in order to overcome a conflict of convergence and distance of accommodation, comprises a microlens array (12) arranged along the luminous pixel arrangement above the luminous pixels or, alternatively, a further lens array that a respective distance between the lenses and the luminous pixels is close to the focal length of the lenses, in particular just under underneath, lies, whereby for the viewer (3) the luminous pixels appear enlarged and at an enlarged distance and are thus perceptible as sharp with a lower accommodation performance of his eyes. Motor vehicle or driving simulator that has an autostereoscopic 3D display device (1) according to Claim 11 or 12 whose autostereoscopic display surface (2) extends in particular in, on or along a surface of an instrument panel, an interior mirror, a side mirror, a sun visor and / or an A-pillar of the motor vehicle.

Images