TW201600943A - Multiview 3D wrist watch - Google Patents

Abstract

A multiview 3D wrist watch is disclosed. The wrist watch has clock circuitry to determine a time and a plurality of light sources to generate a plurality of input planar lightbeams. A directional backplane having a plurality of directional pixels scatters the plurality of input planar lightbeams into a plurality of directional lightbeams, each directional lightbeam having a direction and angular spread controlled by characteristics of a directional pixel in the plurality of directional pixels. A shutter layer receives the time from the clock circuitry and modulates the plurality of directional lightbeams to generate a 3D time view.

Description

Multi-view 3D watch

The present invention relates to a wristwatch, and more particularly to a multi-view three-dimensional wristwatch.

Watches have been part of human culture and apparel for decades, and they first became popular in the 1920s. The first few models were simple pocket watches that were held in the form of a watch chain during the war. The soldiers found that the use of pocket watches pulled out of the pocket during the battle was impractical and therefore began to rely more on the watch. When the watch became popular, its design improved and evolved over time. The watch was originally designed as a fully mechanical design. The next generation of mechanical design uses electronic mechanisms and quartz oscillators. Electronic watches have been the same since the 1970s. Since then, various models have appeared to increase consumer demand, including calculator watches, waterproof watches, camera watches, GPS watches and so on. The current fashion trends show that after losing some markets to smart phones and other devices, watches are now making a comeback.

A multi-view three-dimensional wristwatch is disclosed. The multi-view three-dimensional wristwatch can display time in three dimensions, so that the time the user views is like floating in the air. The watch features a unique directional backplane that is used to provide a light field in the form of a directional beam. The directional beams are scattered by a plurality of directional pixels in the directional backplane. Each directional beam originates from a different directional pixel and has a given direction and angular dispersion based on one of the characteristics of the directional pixel. This directionality allows the directional beam to be adjusted (ie, turned on, off, or changed in brightness) using a plurality of regulators and generated Different 3D time images.

In various embodiments, the directional pixels are disposed in a directional backplane illuminated by a plurality of input plane beams. The directional pixels receive the input plane beams and scatter a portion thereof into a directional beam. A shutter layer is disposed over the directional pixels to adjust the directional beams as needed. The shutter layer may include a plurality of regulators having dynamic matrix addressing (eg, Liquid Crystal Display ("LCD") cell, MEMS, fluid, magnetic, electrophoretic, etc.), and each The adjuster adjusts a single directional beam from a single directional pixel, or a set of directional beams from a set of directional pixels. The shutter layer is capable of generating a three-dimensional time image by each image provided by each set of directional beams. These three-dimensional images may be single color or multi-colored as desired.

In various embodiments, the directional pixels in the directional backplane have patterned gratings disposed in substantially parallel grooves in or above the directional backplane. The directional backplane can be, for example, a thick plate of transparent material that directs the input planar beams into the directional pixels, such as, for example, tantalum nitride ("SiN"), glass or quartz. , plastic and indium tin oxide (Indium Tin Oxide, "ITO") and so on. The patterned gratings can include grooves that can be directly etched into the directional backsheet, or materials deposited over the directional backsheet (eg, any material that can be deposited and etched or stripped, including any Made of electricity or metal). The grooves can also be inclined.

Described in more detail below, the characteristics of each directional pixel can be a grating length (i.e., a dimension along the direction of the transmission axis of the input plane beam), a grating width (i.e., a transmission axis of the beam across the input planes) The size of the direction), a groove orientation, a spacing and a duty cycle are defined. Each directional pixel can emit a directed beam of light that has a directional beam that has a direction defined by the spacing of the groove and the spacing of the grating, and has an angular dispersion determined by the length and width of the grating. By using a 50% or about 50% duty cycle, the second Fourier coefficients of the patterned gratings can be eliminated, thereby preventing light from scattering from additional unwanted directions. In this way, regardless of the output angle, it is ensured that each of the positioning pixels will only have a certain amount of light beam.

As described in more detail below, the directional backplane can be designed to have directional pixels having a particular grating length, a grating width, a trench orientation, a pitch, and a duty cycle and are selected to produce a A fixed 3D time image. The three-dimensional time image is generated from the directional beams that are emitted by the directional pixels and adjusted via the shutter layer, and a given time image is produced by the directional beam of illumination from a set of directional pixels.

It will be understood that in the following description, numerous specific details are set forth However, it should be understood that the embodiments are not limited to the specific details. In other instances, well-known methods and structures may not be described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments. Furthermore, this embodiment can be used in combination with each other.

100, 105, 200, 300, 330, 400, 440, 600, 700‧‧ ‧ watches

205, 305, 335, 405, 445, 504, 505, 605, 705 ‧ ‧ directional backplane

210, 315, 345, 415, 455, 510, 515, 520‧‧‧ input plane beam

215a~215d, 340, 410a~410d, 430a~430d‧‧‧ Directional pixels

Directional beam of 220a~220d, 320, 350, 420a~420d, 460a~460d‧‧‧

225a‧‧‧ trench

230‧‧‧Light barrier

235‧‧‧Isolation

240‧‧‧Time Image

245‧‧‧clock circuit

325, 355, 425a~425d, 470a~470d, 555‧‧‧ liquid crystal display unit

365, 475, 480‧‧‧3D images

360a‧‧‧directional beam

450a~450d, 525~535, 540~550‧‧‧ directional pixels

610, 615, 620, 710, 715, 720‧‧‧ input plane beam

625~635, 660, 720‧‧‧ directional pixels

640, 655, 725‧‧‧ liquid crystal display unit

800‧‧‧ clock circuit determines the time to display

805‧‧‧Light from a plurality of narrow spectral band sources is input to the directional backplane in the form of an input planar beam

810‧‧‧The clock circuit controls the shutter layer according to the time to be displayed to adjust a set of directional pixels in the direction backplane

815‧‧‧Three-dimensional time image generation from directional beam of directional pixel scattering in a directional backplane

1 is a schematic view of a wristwatch designed according to various embodiments; FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a wristwatch having a directional backplane according to various embodiments; FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams according to FIG. An exemplary top view of the directional backplane; FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate other exemplary top views of the directional backplane according to FIG. 2; and FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the directional backplane of FIG. 2 having a triangular shape; 6 shows an embodiment in which the directional backing plate of FIG. 2 has a hexagonal shape; FIG. 7 shows an embodiment in which the directional backing plate of FIG. 2 has a circular shape; and FIG. 8 shows the transmission according to the present invention. A flow chart for generating a three-dimensional time image from a multi-view three-dimensional wristwatch.

Please refer to FIG. 1, which depicts a schematic diagram of a wristwatch designed in accordance with various embodiments. The wristwatch 100 is a multi-view three-dimensional wristwatch that displays time in a circular-like display by placing a digital surround display. The wristwatch 105 is a multi-view three-dimensional wristwatch that indicates time by numerals in a rectangular-like display. Both types of watches 100 and 105 display time in three-dimensional images, so that the user can see The time seems to float in the air. Depending on the location of the user's eyes, the user will see different time images; that is, the user views the time in a natural and realistic way, just as the brain perceives three-dimensional visual information in the real world.

It will be appreciated that the time images displayed in the wristwatches 100 and 105 can be single color or multi-colored as desired. It can also be understood that the three-dimensional time image can be different shapes, have different effects, and can include other images than time. For example, a three-dimensional time image can have effects such as shadows, outlines, or patterns. The wristwatch display can be rectangular, circular, polygonal, or any other shape that can be designed as a wristwatch. The time image can also include the logo of the watch, the background image and other images to assist in the displayed time. As described below, the three-dimensional time image is produced by a unique directional backplane that can be generated according to the time to be displayed in the three-dimensional time image (eg, 8:13 am, 10:34 pm, etc.) A directional beam of light that is regulated by the shutter layer.

A schematic diagram of a wristwatch having a directional backplane in accordance with various embodiments will now be described with reference to FIG. The wristwatch 200 includes a directional backing plate 205 that receives a set of input planar light beams 210 from a plurality of light sources. The light source can include, for example, one or more narrowband light sources having a spectral bandwidth of about 30 nanometers or less, such as light emitting diodes ("LEDs"), lasers (eg, hybrid lasers), or any other use. A light source that provides illumination in a wristwatch. The input planar beam 210 is transmitted in a plane that is generally coplanar with the directional backplane 205, which is designed to be substantially planar.

The directional backing plate 205 can be constructed of a thick plate of a transparent material (e.g., tantalum nitride, glass or quartz, plastic, ITO, etc.) having a plurality of directional pixels 215a-215d arranged in or above the directional backing plate 205. . The directional pixels 215a-215d scatter a portion of the input planar beam 210 into directional beams 220a-220d. In various embodiments, each of the directional pixels 215a-215d has a plurality of patterned gratings of substantially parallel plurality of trenches, such as trenches 225a of directional pixels 215a. All of the grating grooves can have substantially the same thickness to create a substantially planar design. The trenches may be etched in the directional backplane or by a material deposited over the directional backplane 205 (eg, any material that may be deposited and etched or stripped, Made of any dielectric or metal).

Each of the directional beams 220a-220d has a given direction and an angular dispersion that is determined by the patterned grating forming the corresponding directional pixels 215a-215d. In particular, the direction of each of the directional beams 220a-220d is determined by the seating orientation and spacing of the patterned grating. The angular extent of each directional beam is determined in turn by the grating length and width of the patterned grating. For example, the direction of the directional beam 220a is determined by the seating orientation of the patterned grating 225a and the grating pitch.

It will be appreciated that the substantially planar design of the present invention and the formation of directional beams 220a-220d from the input planar beam 210 require a grating having a significantly smaller pitch than conventional diffraction gratings. For example, conventional diffraction gratings scatter light that substantially spans the grating onto the illumination. Here, when the directional light beams 220a-220d are generated, the grating in each of the directional pixels 215a-215d is substantially in a plane with the input planar light beam 210.

The directional beams 220a-220d are precisely controlled by the grating characteristics in the directional pixels 215a-215d, and their characteristics include the grating length L, the grating width W, the groove orientation, and the grating pitch. In particular, the grating length L of the grating 225a controls the angular dispersion ΔΘ of the directional light beam 220a along the input light transmission axis, and the grating width W controls the angular dispersion ΔΘ of the directional light beam 220a passing through the input light transmission axis, as follows : Where λ is the wavelength of the directional beam 220a. The orientation of the directional beam 220a is controlled by the grating seating direction defined by the grating seat to the angle q and by the grating pitch or period defined by Λ.

The grating length L and the grating width W may vary in size from 0.1 to 200 μm. The trench seating angle q and the grating pitch Λ can be set to satisfy a desired direction of the directional light beam 220a, and have, for example, a groove seating angle q of -40 to 40 degrees in order, and 200-700 nm in order. The grating pitch is Λ.

In various embodiments, a shutter layer 230 (eg, a liquid crystal cell) is positioned over the directional pixels 215a-215d to adjust the oriented pixels 215a-215d The scattered directional beams 220a~220d. The adjustment of the directional beams 220a-220d involves controlling their brightness with the shutter layer 230 (e.g., turning the directional beams 220a-220d on, off, or changing the brightness of the directional beams 220a-220d). For example, a regulator at the shutter layer 230 can be used to turn on the directional beam 220a and the directional beam 220d, and turn off the directional beam 220b and the directional beam 220c.

The ability to provide adjustments for directional beams 220a-220d enables the generation of many different three-dimensional time images, such as time image 240. The regulator is controlled by a clock circuit 245 which determines the time to be displayed on the wristwatch and determines which directional light beams 220a-220d are turned on or off to produce a time corresponding to that to be displayed on the wristwatch 200 (eg, Time image 240 at 3:07 am).

The shutter layer 230 may be disposed over the isolation layer 235, which may be made of a substance between the directional pixels 215a-215d and the regulator shutter layer 230 or simply by the directional pixels 215a-215d and the regulator The space between the shutter layers 230 (i.e., air) is formed. The isolation layer 235 may have a width of, for example, 0-100 micron in order.

It will be appreciated that the directional backplane 205 shown in the figures is for illustrative purposes and therefore has only four directional pixels 215a-215d. According to various embodiments, the directional backplane can be designed to have a plurality of directional pixels (eg, above 100) depending on the purpose of the directional backplane (eg, in a 3D display screen, in a three-dimensional watch, In the mobile device medium). As is also known, the directional pixels can have any shape including, for example, a circle, an ellipse, a polygon, or other geometric shapes.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, a plan view of the directional backplane in FIG. 2 is shown. As shown in FIG. 3A, the wristwatch 300 is illustrated as having a directional backing plate 305 comprised of a plurality of polygonal directional pixels (eg, directional pixels 310) arranged in a transparent plate. Each directional pixel is capable of scattering a portion of the input planar beam 315 into an output directional beam (eg, directional beam 320). Each directional beam is adjusted by a regulator, such as liquid crystal display unit 325 for directional beam 320. The directional light beams that are scattered by all of the directional pixels in the directional bottom plate 305 and that are adjusted by the adjuster (eg, liquid crystal display unit 325), when combined to form the three-dimensional image 360, can exhibit multiple image vision.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 3A, wristwatch 330 is illustrated as having a directional backing plate 335 that is formed by a plurality of circularly oriented pixels (eg, directional pixels 340) arranged on a transparent plate. Each directional pixel is capable of scattering a portion of the input planar beam 345 into an output directional beam (eg, directional beam 350). Each directional beam is adjusted by a regulator, such as liquid crystal display unit 355 for directional beam 350. The directional beams that are scattered by all of the directional pixels in the directional bottom plate 335 and that are adjusted by the regulator (e.g., liquid crystal display unit 355), when combined to form a three-dimensional image 365, can exhibit multiple image vision.

In various embodiments, a single regulator can be used to adjust a set of directional beams from a set of directional pixels. That is, a given regulator can be placed over a set of directional pixels instead of having a single regulator for each directional pixel as shown in Figures 3A and 3B.

Referring now to Figures 4A and 4B, a top plan view of the directional backplane shown in Figure 2 is depicted. In FIG. 4A, wristwatch 400 is illustrated as having a directional backing plate 405 formed by a plurality of polygonal directional pixels (eg, directional pixels 410a) arranged on a transparent plate. Each directional pixel is capable of scattering a portion of the input planar beam 415 into an output directional beam (e.g., directional beam 420a). A set of directional beams (e.g., directional beams 420a-420d scattered by directional pixels 410a-420d) are adjusted by a regulator (e.g., liquid crystal display unit 425a adjusts directional beams 420a-420d). For example, liquid crystal display unit 425a is used to turn on directional pixels 410a-410d, and liquid crystal display unit 425d is used to turn off directional pixels 430a-430d. The directional light beams that are scattered by all of the directional pixels in the directional bottom plate 405 and that are adjusted by the liquid crystal display units 425a to 425d, when combined to form the three-dimensional image 475, can exhibit multiple image vision.

Similarly, in FIG. 4B, wristwatch 440 is illustrated as having a directional backing plate 445 formed by a plurality of circularly oriented pixels (eg, directional pixels 450a) arranged on a transparent plate. Each directional pixel is capable of scattering a portion of the input planar beam 455 into an output directional beam (eg, directional beam 360a). A set of directional beams (e.g., directional beams 460a-460d scattered by directional pixels 450a-450d) are adjusted by a regulator (e.g., liquid crystal display unit 470a adjusts directional beams 460a-460d). For example, liquid crystal display unit 470a is used to turn on directional pixels 450a-450d, and liquid crystal display unit 470d is used to turn off directional pixels 465a-465d. The directional light beams scattered by all of the directional pixels in the directional bottom plate 445 and adjusted by the liquid crystal display units 470a-470d, when combined to form the three-dimensional image 480, can exhibit multiple image vision.

It will be appreciated that the directional backplane can be designed to have different shapes, such as, for example, a triangle (as shown in Figure 5), a hexagon (as shown in Figure 6), or a circle (e.g., number 7). Figure). In FIG. 5, the directional backplane 505 receives input planar beams from three different spatial directions, for example, input planar beams 510, 515, 520. Such a configuration can be used when the input planar beam represents light of a different color, for example, when the input planar beam 510 represents red, the input planar beam 515 represents green, and the input planar beam 520 represents blue. Each input planar beam 510, 515, 520 is disposed on one side of a triangular directional backplane 505 to focus its light onto a set of directional pixels. For example, the input planar beam 510 is scattered into a directional beam by a set of directional pixels 525-535. Subgroups of directional pixels 525-535 can also receive light from input plane beams 515, 515, 520. However, by design, this light does not scatter in the predetermined viewing area of the wristwatch 500.

For example, assuming that the input beam 510 is directed plane pixel subset G _A 525 ~ 535 scattered into a predetermined video region. This predetermined maximum light video area may be defined angle θ _max, the maximum angle θ _max is a measure of light directed from the backplane to the method 504. Input planar light beam 510 may be directed by scattering G _B subset of pixels 540 to 550, but as long as the following equation is satisfied, the light that is not desired is located outside of the predetermined video region: Where λ _A is the wavelength of the input planar beam 510, n _eff ^A is the effective parameter of the horizontal transmission of the input planar beam 510 in the directional backplane 505, and λ _B is the wavelength of the input planar beam 520 (to be oriented 520- 550 scattered), and n _eff ^B are effective parameters for horizontal transmission of the input planar beam 520 in the directional backplane 505. When the effective parameters are approximately the same as the wavelength, Equation 2 is simplified to:

For a directional backplane with a refractive index n greater than 2 and the input planar beam is transmitted close to the glancing angle, it can be seen that the predetermined visual area of the display can extend throughout the space (n _eff 2 and sin θ _max ~1). For directional back sheets having a lower index of refraction, such as glass (e.g., n = 1.46), the predetermined viewing area is limited to approximately θ _max <arcsin(n/2) (glass is ± 45°).

It will be appreciated that each directional beam can be adjusted by a regulator, such as, for example, liquid crystal display unit 555. Because the precise orientation and angular control of the directional beam can be achieved by aligning each of the directional pixels in the directional backplane 505, and the directional beam can be adjusted by a regulator such as a liquid crystal cell, the directional backplane 405 can be designed to produce Many different 3D images.

It can be further understood that the directional backing plate 505 shown in FIG. 5 can be formed into a more compact design, as the end of the triangular plate can be cut to form a hexagonal shape, as shown in FIG. . The directional backplane 605 receives input planar beams from three different spatial directions, for example, input planar beams 610, 615, 620. Individual input planar beams 610, 615, 620 are disposed on respective alternate sides of the hexagonal directional backplane 605 to focus their light onto a subset of directional pixels (e.g., directional pixels 625-635). In various embodiments, the hexagonal directional backsheet 605 has a side length that may range between 10 and 30 millimeters in sequence, and has directional pixels that may range between 10 and 30 millimeters.

It will be appreciated that the wristwatch 600 is illustrated as having multiple configurations of a plurality of adjusters. For example, a single regulator can be used to adjust the directional beam of a set of directional pixels, such as liquid crystal display unit 640 for directional pixels 625-635, or a single regulator can be used to adjust a single The directional pixels, for example, are used to align the liquid crystal display unit 655 of the pixel 660. Those skilled in the art will be able to adapt any directional beam used for directional pixels to align the directional beam scattered by the directional pixels. A clock circuit (not shown) is a regulator for controlling the shutter layer. Familiar with Those skilled in the art can also use any shutter structure to adjust the directional beam.

It will also be appreciated that the directional backplane for a color input planar beam may have any geometry other than a triangle (Fig. 5) or a hexagon (Fig. 6) as long as the light from the three primary colors comes from three different direction. For example, the directional backplane can be polygonal, circular, elliptical, or other shape that can receive light from three different directions. Referring now to Figure 7, a directional backing having a circular shape is depicted. The directional backplane 705 in the wristwatch 700 receives input plane beams 710-720 from three different directions. Each directional pixel has a circular shape, for example, directional pixel 720, and is scattered through a regulator, such as liquid crystal display unit 725, an adjusted directional beam. Each liquid crystal display unit has a rectangular shape, and the circular directional back plate 705 is designed to accommodate a rectangular liquid crystal display unit of circularly oriented pixels (or may also be used to accommodate polygonal directional pixels as needed).

Figure 8 is a flow chart showing the generation of a three-dimensional time image of a multi-view three-dimensional wristwatch according to the present invention. The multi-view three-dimensional wristwatch generates a three-dimensional time image by the above-described directional backplane and the shutter layer controlled by the clock circuit. First, the clock circuit determines the time to display (800). Light from a plurality of narrow spectral band sources is input to the directional backplane (805) in the form of an input planar beam. Next, the clock circuit controls the shutter layer according to the time to be displayed to adjust a set of directional pixels (810) in the directional backplane. Finally, a three-dimensional time image is generated (815) from the directional beam that is conditioned by the directional pixel scattering in the directional backplane.

Advantageously, the multi-view three-dimensional wristwatch is capable of generating a three-dimensional time image such that the user watches the time as if it were floating in the air. The directional beam produced by directional pixels can be adjusted to produce any desired effect in the resulting temporal image.

As will be appreciated, the foregoing description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments are obvious to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but the scope of the invention should be accorded

200‧‧‧ watch

205‧‧‧Directional backplane

210‧‧‧Input plane beam

215a~215d‧‧‧ Directional Pixels

220a~220d‧‧‧ Directional beam

225a‧‧‧ trench

230‧‧‧Light barrier

235‧‧‧Isolation

240‧‧‧Time Image

245‧‧‧clock circuit

Claims (15)

A multi-view three-dimensional wristwatch comprising: a clock circuit for determining time; a plurality of light sources for generating a plurality of input plane beams; and a fixed backplane having a plurality of directional pixels for scattering the input plane beams into a plurality of directional beams each having a direction and an angular dispersion, and wherein the direction and the angular dispersion are controlled by characteristics of a certain pixel in the directional pixels; and a shutter layer for receiving from the clock circuit This time and adjust the directional beams to produce a three dimensional time image. The multi-view three-dimensional wristwatch of claim 1, further comprising an isolation layer positioned above the directional backplane. The multi-view three-dimensional wristwatch of claim 2, wherein the shutter layer is positioned above the isolation layer. The multi-view three-dimensional wristwatch of claim 1, wherein the directional backplane is substantially planar. A multi-view three-dimensional wristwatch as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the directional pixels in the directional pixels comprises a plurality of patterned gratings having a plurality of substantially parallel grooves. The multi-view three-dimensional wristwatch according to claim 5, wherein the characteristics of the certain pixels include a grating length, a grating width, a grating seating direction, a grating spacing, and a duty cycle. The multi-view three-dimensional wristwatch of claim 6, wherein the one of the directional pixels aligns the pitch of the pixel and the orientation of the directional beam that is controlled by the directional pixel. The multi-view three-dimensional wristwatch of claim 6, wherein the length of the one of the directional pixels and the width control the angular dispersion of the directed beam scattered by the directional pixel. The multi-view three-dimensional wristwatch of claim 1, wherein the shutter layer comprises a plurality of adjusters. The multi-view three-dimensional wristwatch of claim 1, wherein the directional backplane comprises a polygonal thick plate made of a transparent material. The multi-view three-dimensional wristwatch of claim 1, wherein the directional backplane comprises a circular thick plate made of a transparent material. The multi-view three-dimensional wristwatch of claim 1, wherein the directional pixels comprise a plurality of polygonal directional pixels. The multi-view three-dimensional wristwatch of claim 1, wherein the directional pixels comprise a plurality of annular directional pixels. A method for generating a three-dimensional time image in a multi-view three-dimensional wristwatch, comprising: determining a time to be displayed in the wristwatch; receiving a plurality of input plane beams from a plurality of light sources in the watch; controlling a shutter layer To adjust a plurality of directional beams generated by a certain backplane in the watch; and to generate the three-dimensional time image from the directional beams that have been adjusted. The method of claim 14, comprising scattering the input plane beams into the directional beams produced by the directional backplane, each directional beam having a direction and an angular dispersion, the direction and the angular dispersion Controlled by the characteristics of a certain number of pixels in a plurality of directional pixels in the directional backplane.