KR20050104360A - Autostereoscopic (3-d) display - Google Patents

Abstract

A lenslet array (70) having lenslets where the lenslets are variously shaped, and/or rotated and/or tilted, reducing gap images in an image formed by pixels (1, 2)/subpixels (20, 30, 40), where the pixel/subpixels have gaps between each other forming the gap images.

Description

Autostereoscopic (3-D) Display

This application is titled Joseph Larry Pezzaniti, entitled "Autostereoscopic (3-D) Display Using Lenses To Minimize Gap Images." US Patent Application No. 60 / 443,184, Representative Document No. 2119-0158P, filed Jan. 29, 2003, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

The present invention relates to an autostereoscopic 3D display apparatus and method.

The three-dimensional display of the image is made by a stereoscopic display. Stereoscopic displays provide viewers with multidimensional image cues by combining two different two dimensional views of the same object or scene. Each view is viewed by either of the viewer's eyes and the two views are sequentially integrated by the human visual system to form a three-dimensional image that is perceived by the viewer. Autostereoscopic displays are a form of stereoscopic display that does not require any head mounted equipment (eg red green glasses).

The autostereoscopic display of the related art is a display picture that does not, of course, represent the viewer's actual left and right eyes viewing zones such that interlaced left and right eye images are directed at a fixed angle. Lenses that are aligned with the elements can be used. Since the lens is aligned with the pixels, interference pattern noise or moire patterns cause spatial mismatches between the pixel edge and the cylindrical lens edge when looking off the axis. The alignment also allows the image to be projected out of the viewer's proper left and right eye viewing zones.

A related technique that solves some of these problems with color pixels causes the display to rotate 90 degrees. A color display is typically composed of pixels, each having a plurality of color elements (eg red, green, blue) arranged side by side along the alternate horizontal line of the display when directed to the intended use position. Displays of the related art have vertically aligned red, blue, and green pixels. The method of the related art allows the display (display rotated 90 degrees) to arrange the color pixels vertically. This method requires modifications to the driving conventions of the display and limits the ability to transform the display of the related art for providing stereoscopic images. In addition, the color pixels and subpixels have a gap so that there is a gap in the image. Thus, when the viewer moves his head, the gap is shown as a black line.

The invention is more fully understood from the description and the accompanying drawings.

1A illustrates a basic design for a 3D display according to at least one exemplary embodiment;

1 illustrates interlacing an image in left and right views according to at least one exemplary embodiment using a microlens;

2 illustrates eight cross views, four right eye views, and four left eye views in accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment;

3 illustrates an example arrangement of three color pixels (in gray scale) according to an arrangement according to at least one example embodiment;

4 illustrates a method of reducing the impact of the gap image shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment;

5A illustrates a lenslet according to at least one exemplary embodiment;

5B shows the cross section A-A of FIG. 5A;

6 illustrates a lenslet according to at least one exemplary embodiment;

7 illustrates a lenslet according to at least one exemplary embodiment;

8 illustrates an arrangement of pixels forming an eight view 3D autostereoscopic display according to at least one exemplary embodiment; And

9 illustrates another arrangement of pixels forming an eight view 3D autostereoscopic display according to at least one exemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and method for autostereoscopic displays that can use the pixel arrays of the related art.

Further areas of applicability of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided below. While the detailed description and specific embodiments illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention, they are intended by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

The following description of exemplary embodiments is, of course, illustrative and not intended to limit the invention, its application or use.

1A shows an autostereoscopic display 10 according to at least one exemplary embodiment. One row of pixels is shown as pixel 1 and pixel 2. Each pixel consists of subpixels 20, 30 and 40. For example, the subpixel 20 may be a red subpixel, the subpixel 30 may be a green subpixel, and the subpixel 40 may be a blue subpixel. Different combinations and numbers of pixels may constitute one pixel, and the issue here is not to limit the number of subpixels in a pixel to three or to limit the colors to red, green, and blue. The combination of subpixels of either pixel 1 or pixel 2 is done to form a right eye view 90 and a left eye view 80. The subpixel corresponding to the right eye view is represented by "R" and the subpixel corresponding to the left eye view is represented by "L". In the exemplary embodiment shown, the right eye view 90 receives light from the red subpixel 20 and the blue subpixel 40 of pixel 1 and from the green subpixel 30 of pixel 2. Similarly, left eye view 80 receives light from green subpixel 30 of pixel 1 and from red subpixel 20 and blue subpixel 40 of pixel 2. The left eye view 80 and the right eye view 90 are formed by light from the subpixels interlaced by the cylindrical lenslets of the lenslet array 70. In the exemplary embodiment shown, LCD cover glass 50 covers pixel 1 and pixel 2 and is separated from lenslet array 70 by plastic layer 60. In other embodiments, various types of materials may be used and the plastic layer need not be used. For example, the lenslets can be of various sizes and can be made from a variety of materials, such as glass, silicon and other similar materials.

Light from the subpixels is aimed by the lenslet. Light is generated by the subpixels or through the illumination of the subpixels. The light strikes the pupil of the eye at the left eye view 80 position and the right eye view 90 position, producing a left and right stereoscopic image. Viewing systems such as imaging devices (eg, cameras, optical detectors, computer interfaces, etc.) or biological entities (eg, humans, humans, animals, etc.) may be used in the left eye view 80. And may be positioned to intercept an image in the right eye view 90.

Lenslet array 70 may be arranged in a linear or curved form as shown and may vary depending on the use. The lenslets may be cylindrical lenses or may take various forms depending on the intended viewing position and arrangement of the lenslet array 70. The color subpixels may be distributed in the same direction with respect to the separation of the left and right views.

Pixel 1 and pixel 2 are grouped together with other pixels to form a pixel array. The pixel array can form a 2D image. The lenslet array 70 positioned between the pixel array and the left and right eye views 80 and 90 may generate a 2D image. The lenslet array may also enable the formation of a 3D array. Thus, at least one embodiment shown in FIG. 1A may represent both 2D and 3D images. Thus, a 3D display, according to at least one exemplary embodiment, can be implemented with a flat screen color display and an array of lenslets.

FIG. 1 shows two simple views from the display 110 having light emitted from the right eye view pixel 140 and the left eye view pixel 150 on the pixel array 130, namely the left eye view and the right eye view. will be. Light passing through the lenslet array 120 forms a left eye view and a right eye view. The left eye view and the right eye view are separated from each other by a virtual dividing line. The viewing system is positioned such that the left eye detector is located to the left of the virtual line and the right eye detector of the viewing system is located to the right of the virtual line, the left eye detector sees the left eye view and the right eye detector sees the right eye view. The device may repeatedly generate a multiview such as the multiview shown in FIG. 2. The view may be spaced apart so that the viewing system passes through the multiview when the viewing system moves left and right. 2 shows eight interlaced views L1-L4 and R1-R4. For example, if the viewing system is the head, either the left eye or the right eye sees the multiview when the head moves. For example, when the left eye 210 can see the view L1, while the right eye 220 can see the view R1, moving the head causes the view L2 and the right eye 220 to be seen by the left eye 210. It is changed to the view R2 shown by. The gap shown in FIG. 1 is represented by black lines when the viewing system moves left or right.

The distance between the views can vary depending on the design (eg, 1-200 mm, etc.). The distance between the views can be a function of the angular separation between the left eye view and the right eye view, where the distance "d" of the viewing system is the distance from the display. Each spacing θ may be an angular magnification function of the lenslets at the pixel pitches of the lenslet array 120 and the display 110.

Pixel array 130 can have a variety of pixel and subpixel arrangements. 3 illustrates a pixel array in pixel array 300 according to at least one exemplary embodiment. One pixel consists of three subpixels 310, 320 and 330. Although three subpixels are shown, any number of pixels can be used, including one pixel. The subpixels may vary according to color. For example, the subpixel 310 may transmit red light, the subpixel 320 may transmit green light, and the subpixel 330 may transmit blue light. Pixel array 130 represents two rows and four columns of pixels. The subpixels transmit or generate light, but there is a gap between the subpixels shown in FIG. The gap in the vertical or horizontal dimension can change and become a gap image. For example, the gap spacing may be 30% of the horizontal dimension of the subpixel, and the vertical gap spacing may be 10% of the vertical dimension of the subpixel. Although 30% and 10% are referred to as the gap spacing of the horizontal dimension and the vertical dimension, respectively, the pixel and subpixel arrangements can have various gap sizes and proportions in various exemplary embodiments.

By changing the shape of the lenslet, the gap effect can be reduced during viewing. In at least one exemplary embodiment, the shape of the lenslet is designed and manufactured to reduce the effects of the subpixel and pixel gap spacing, thereby reducing the gap effect upon viewing. For example, using a gray scale etching technique, the shape of the lenslets can be made to fade the black lines. Black lines can be blurred enough that the black line image can be significantly reduced without image overlap. If image superposition is required, such an arrangement can also be performed in an exemplary embodiment.

4 illustrates a display 400 in accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment. The right view pixel 420 and the left view pixel 430 emit light shown by the right eye view 470 and the left eye view 460, respectively. Lenslet array 410 includes a lenslet having a radius of curvature that is manufactured to blur the gap image. The gap image is blurred so that the light from the pixels overlaps slightly when the viewing system moves left and right along the viewing plane. The degree of overlap can vary (eg 0-100% overlap). In at least one exemplary embodiment, the overlap does not exceed 30%.

In another exemplary embodiment, the gap image can be blurred by effectively rotating or tilting the lenslets in the lenslet array. Rotation refers to the rotation of the lenslets at an angle of rotation in terms of the array of lenslets. Incline refers to rotating the lenslet out of this plane at an oblique angle. The rotation angle and the inclination angle may be different according to an exemplary embodiment. For example, in at least one exemplary embodiment, the angle of rotation is between 5 and 55 degrees. The rotation and tilt angles may vary depending on the arrangement of pixels and subpixels and on the gap spacing associated with the arrangement. Rotate a pixel image associated with a rotation angle of zero or more degrees. Rotation of the pixel image causes the pixel image to partially overlap, blurring the gap image. The angle of inclination obliques the associated pixel image of the viewing plane, overlapping the pixel image to reduce the gap image.

A lenslet array 500 according to at least one exemplary embodiment is shown in FIG. 5A, where the first axis 520 is parallel to the line corresponding to the center of curvature of the face of the lenslet 530, and the second axis 520 is parallel to the line of curvature. Axis 510 bisects the projection of the lenslet. The first vector and the second vector corresponding to the first axis 520 and the second axis 510 respectively intersect at an intersection angle. The crossing angle may have a projection corresponding to the rotation angle and another projection corresponding to the inclination angle. FIG. 5B illustrates the lenslet 530 corresponding to the A-A cross section of FIG. 5A. The cross section shows a lenslet with a radius of curvature that can be varied to blur the gap image. The lenslets can be rotated about the face of the lenslet array 500 with the selected radius of curvature 540 such that the rotation rotates the pixel image to overlap and the radius of curvature blurs the pixel image so that the gap image is blurred. Let it go. Both methods can be used in cooperation to blur the gap image, but either can be used separately or at different angles according to other methods. Also, the warp method may be used separately or in combination with the other two methods.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that lenslets can be manufactured in many ways, including, for example, that the lenslets may be gray scale etched, molded, pressed, wet etched, DRIE etched, reflowed, milled ( It will be appreciated that it may be manufactured by milling and polishing or any other type of lens manufacturing technique. The lenslet size may vary depending on the size to cover at least one pixel or pixel portions (eg, 1 nm-100 mm, or larger or smaller depending on the pixel size). The lenslets may be directed against associated pixels having various first and second axes that are not aligned. For example, if the lenslets of FIG. 5A are aligned based on the associated pixels, the second axis may be aligned, but the first axis is not aligned with the underlying related pixels.

6 illustrates a lenslet array 600 in accordance with at least one example embodiment. The lenslet array 600 includes lenslets, that is, a first lenslet having a first axis 620 of the first lenslet and a second axis 610 of the first lenslet, and a first lenslet of the second lenslet. And a second lenslet having an axis 640 and a second axis 630 of the second lenslet. An exemplary embodiment may have a first axis 620 of the first lenslet that is not parallel to the first axis 640 of the second lenslet and is not parallel to the second axis 630 of the second lenslet. May have a second axis 610 of the first lenslet. The axes 620 and 640 are also parallel but may be offset by some distance. Likewise, axes 610 and 630 may be parallel but offset by a predetermined interval 650. In various exemplary embodiments axes 610 and 630 may be parallel and coincident. Lenslet array 600 (FIG. 6) shows lenslet row offsets offset by row offset intervals. The row offset distance may change according to each separation of the left and right views. For example, if the pixel pitch is 90 microns, the row offset spacing can be 45 microns to obtain a uniform spacing between left and right views interlaced in the vertical direction.

7 illustrates a lenslet array 700 according to at least one exemplary embodiment. The lenslet array 700 includes lenslets, that is, a first lenslet having a first axis 720 of the first lenslet and a second axis 710 of the first lenslet, and a first of the second lenslets. And a second lenslet having a first axis 740 and a second axis 730 of the second lenslet. An exemplary embodiment may have a first axis 720 of the first lenslet that is not parallel to the first axis 740 of the second lenslet and is not parallel to the second axis 730 of the second lenslet. May have a second axis 710 of the first lenslet. Axis 720 and 740 may also be parallel but offset by an interval. Likewise, axes 710 and 730 may be parallel but offset by an interval 750. In various exemplary embodiments, axes 710 and 730 may be parallel and coincident. Lenslet array 700 (FIG. 7) illustrates repeating lenslet row offsets. The row offset may be associated with the row offset interval associated with the interval 750 in at least one exemplary embodiment. The lenslets may each be associated with the underlying pixel, which may itself be offset compared to other vertical and horizontal pixels.

Multiple lenslet arrangements can be configured to correspond to various pixel and subpixel arrangements. 8 illustrates an arrangement of lenslets according to at least one exemplary embodiment with combined pixels. Display 800 shows a pixel array with pixels PR1, PR2, PR3, PR4, PL1, PL2, PL3, and PL4 with subpixels 830, 840, and 850. Subpixels 830, 840, and 850 may be of various colors (eg, red, green, blue, white, etc.). The lenslet 820 covers the combined pixels. For example, the third lenslet 820 from above covers pixels PR3, PR1, PL3, and PL1. Groups of pixels can form various views. For example, pixel PR1 corresponds to right eye view R1 and pixel PL1 corresponds to left eye view L1. 8 shows the configuration (R1, R2, R3, R4, L1, L2, L3 and L4) of the left and right views. The various pixels correspond to their respective views. The two lenslets cover pixels PR1, PR2, PR3, PR4, PL1, PL2, PL3, and PL4 corresponding to the eight views shown (PR1, PR2, PR3, PR4, PL1, PL2, PL3, and PL4). have. The image has eight different views and consists of many pixels and additional pixels covered by additional lenslets combined to form an overall 2D image. Subpixels 830, 840, and 850 are arranged vertically, but may also be arranged horizontally, and one pixel may be of a different shape than a rectangle or square. For example, FIG. 9 shows pixel PR1,... Formed by selecting diagonal pixels. , PR4 and LP1,... Horizontally aligned subpixels 920, 930 and 940 with LP4. Pixels PR1,... , PR4 and LP1,... , LP4 is the view R1,… , R4 and L1,... And L4 respectively.

In FIG. 8 the horizontal view is perpendicular to the subpixel arrangement. In one embodiment, changes in rotation, tilt, and radius of curvature can cause color dispersion. 9 illustrates a lenslet arrangement for minimizing the effects of chromatic dispersion by combining diagonal subpixels with pixels in accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment.

The foregoing detailed description has addressed a number of exemplary embodiments. These examples should not be construed as limiting the scope. Many alternatives and uses are contemplated and are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. For example, the term lenslet may refer to various arrangements of lens structures (eg, cylindrical lenses, microlenses, asymmetric lenses, symmetric lenses, etc.). Similarly, various types of displays include projection screen devices (e.g., projection TVs), electroluminescent (EL) displays, field emission displays (FED), vacuum fluorescent (VF) displays, liquid crystal (LC) displays, organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). ) Displays, high temperature poly-silicon (HTPS) and low temperature poly-silicon (LPTS) displays, LED displays, and Rodney L, filed with the US Patent Office on January 27, 2000. Clarke L.Clark, Daniel M. Pending applications entitled "An Autostereoscopic Display And Method Of Displaying Multidimensional Images Especially Color Images" by Daniel M. Brown and Peter Erbach Lenslet arrays according to example embodiments, such as other similar systems and methods, described in US Pat. No. 09 / 492,315 and incorporated in its entirety, may be used.

Likewise, various data structures have been filed with Rodney L., filed January 26, 2000 with the US Patent Office. Clark, Daniel M. Described in Brown, John Karpinsky, and Peter Ebach's previous application entitled "Autostereoscopic Display Drive System" (Application No. 09 / 491,430). It may be implemented to drive a display according to at least one example embodiment, such as a data structure, incorporated as is.

The description of the invention is, of course, illustrative, and therefore, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the embodiments of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Included in the details of the present invention.

Claims (20)

Having a lenticular array having a plurality of lenslets, Each lenslet has at least first and second axes, the first axis being parallel to a line corresponding to the center of curvature of the lenslet face, the second axis bisecting the projection of the lenslet, corresponding to each axis. If the vectors intersect at a first angle, the lenslet has a radius of curvature, and the lenticular array is positioned between a viewing system and a pixel array comprising pixels consisting of subpixel elements with gaps. The lenticular array blurs the image of the gap into the image of the pixel by selecting a rotation angle corresponding to the projection of the first angle. The method of claim 1, Wherein the radius of curvature is changed instead of selecting the rotation angle to blur the gap image. The method of claim 1, An angle of inclination is selected in place of the angle of rotation to blur the gap image, wherein the angle of inclination is the rotation of the lenslets in or out of the surface of the lenslet array, the surface of which is the first axis of the lenslet. And at least one of a tangent to the center of the lenslet. The method of claim 3, wherein The surface is concave-shaped display. The method of claim 3, wherein The surface is non-concave type autostereoscopic display. The method of claim 1, An autostereoscopic display comprising at least first and second lenslets, wherein a first axis of the first lenslet and a first axis of the second lenslet are offset by an offset interval. The method of claim 1, A second non-zero first and second lenslets, wherein the first vector corresponding to the first axis of the first lenslet and the second vector corresponding to the first axis of the second lenslet are not zero; Glasses-free display intersecting at an angle. The method of claim 1, An autostereoscopic display comprising at least first and second lenslets, wherein a second axis of the first lenslet and a second axis of the second lenslet are offset by an offset interval. The method of claim 1, A second non-zero first and second lenslets, wherein the first vector corresponding to the second axis of the first lenslet and the second vector corresponding to the second axis of the second lenslet are not zero; Glasses-free display intersecting at an angle. The method of claim 1, An autostereoscopic display in which the first angle is varied. The method of claim 1, Glasses-free display that the radius of curvature is changed. The method of claim 1, The viewing system is at least one of a user, an optical detector and a camera. A pixel array having a plurality of pixels; And Having a lenticular array having at least one lenslet, At least one pixel has a subpixel element having a gap, said pixel arranged in N groups corresponding to each of the N perspective views displayed, each pixel forming a portion of each projection image, Each lenslet has at least first and second axes, the first axis being parallel to a line corresponding to the center of curvature of the lenslet face, the second axis bisecting the projection of the lenslet, When the corresponding vectors intersect at a first angle and the lenslet has a radius of curvature and the lenticular array is positioned between the viewing system and the pixel array, the image of the gap is pixelated by selecting the first angle and radius of curvature. Glasses-free display to dim with an image of. The method of claim 13, Wherein N is two glassesless display. The method of claim 13, Wherein the at least one pixel has three subpixel elements. The method of claim 15, The subpixel element may be at least one of a red subpixel, a green subpixel, and a blue subpixel. The method of claim 11, An autostereoscopic display wherein at least one pixel has a white subpixel. The method of claim 11, An autostereoscopic display wherein the display is used in an electronic display. Disposing a lenticular array in front of the pixel array for transmitting light, the plurality of pixels having a gapped subpixel; Creating N respective perspective views using N groups of pixels in the pixel array; And Passing light from the pixel array through the lenticular array; Each projection view is combined to form a 3D autostereoscopic image, the lenticular array having at least one lenslet each having at least a first axis and a second axis, the first axis being at the center of curvature of the lenslet face. Parallel to a corresponding line, the second axis bisects the projection of the lenslet, the vectors corresponding to each axis intersect at a first angle, the lenslet has a radius of curvature, and the lenticular array comprises the first A method for displaying an autostereoscopic 3D image that selects an angle and a radius of curvature to blur an image of the gap into an image of the view. The method of claim 19, And disposing the lenticular array between the pixel array and a user.