Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N19/00—Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals
  • H04N19/50—Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using predictive coding
  • H04N19/597—Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using predictive coding specially adapted for multi-view video sequence encoding
• • H—ELECTRICITY
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• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B30/00—Optical systems or apparatus for producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images
  • G02B30/50—Optical systems or apparatus for producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images the image being built up from image elements distributed over a 3D volume, e.g. voxels
  • G02B30/52—Optical systems or apparatus for producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images the image being built up from image elements distributed over a 3D volume, e.g. voxels the 3D volume being constructed from a stack or sequence of 2D planes, e.g. depth sampling systems
• • H—ELECTRICITY
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  • H04N13/30—Image reproducers
  • H04N13/388—Volumetric displays, i.e. systems where the image is built up from picture elements distributed through a volume
  • H04N13/395—Volumetric displays, i.e. systems where the image is built up from picture elements distributed through a volume with depth sampling, i.e. the volume being constructed from a stack or sequence of 2D image planes
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
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  • H04N13/106—Processing image signals
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• • H—ELECTRICITY
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  • H04N13/189—Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• • H—ELECTRICITY
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  • H04N13/00—Stereoscopic video systems; Multi-view video systems; Details thereof
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  • H04N13/194—Transmission of image signals
• • H—ELECTRICITY
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  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N13/00—Stereoscopic video systems; Multi-view video systems; Details thereof
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• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N13/00—Stereoscopic video systems; Multi-view video systems; Details thereof
  • H04N13/20—Image signal generators
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  • H04N13/243—Image signal generators using stereoscopic image cameras using three or more 2D image sensors
• • H—ELECTRICITY
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  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N13/00—Stereoscopic video systems; Multi-view video systems; Details thereof
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  • H04N13/302—Image reproducers for viewing without the aid of special glasses, i.e. using autostereoscopic displays
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
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  • H04N13/30—Image reproducers
  • H04N13/332—Displays for viewing with the aid of special glasses or head-mounted displays [HMD]
  • H04N13/334—Displays for viewing with the aid of special glasses or head-mounted displays [HMD] using spectral multiplexing
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
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  • H04N13/30—Image reproducers
  • H04N13/332—Displays for viewing with the aid of special glasses or head-mounted displays [HMD]
  • H04N13/337—Displays for viewing with the aid of special glasses or head-mounted displays [HMD] using polarisation multiplexing
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N13/00—Stereoscopic video systems; Multi-view video systems; Details thereof
  • H04N13/30—Image reproducers
  • H04N13/332—Displays for viewing with the aid of special glasses or head-mounted displays [HMD]
  • H04N13/339—Displays for viewing with the aid of special glasses or head-mounted displays [HMD] using spatial multiplexing
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N13/00—Stereoscopic video systems; Multi-view video systems; Details thereof
  • H04N13/30—Image reproducers
  • H04N13/332—Displays for viewing with the aid of special glasses or head-mounted displays [HMD]
  • H04N13/341—Displays for viewing with the aid of special glasses or head-mounted displays [HMD] using temporal multiplexing
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N13/00—Stereoscopic video systems; Multi-view video systems; Details thereof
  • H04N13/30—Image reproducers
  • H04N13/332—Displays for viewing with the aid of special glasses or head-mounted displays [HMD]
  • H04N13/344—Displays for viewing with the aid of special glasses or head-mounted displays [HMD] with head-mounted left-right displays
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N13/00—Stereoscopic video systems; Multi-view video systems; Details thereof
  • H04N13/30—Image reproducers
  • H04N13/363—Image reproducers using image projection screens
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N13/00—Stereoscopic video systems; Multi-view video systems; Details thereof
  • H04N13/30—Image reproducers
  • H04N13/366—Image reproducers using viewer tracking
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N13/00—Stereoscopic video systems; Multi-view video systems; Details thereof
  • H04N2013/0074—Stereoscopic image analysis
  • H04N2013/0081—Depth or disparity estimation from stereoscopic image signals

Definitions

• This invention relates to improvements in displays.
• Liquid crystal displays are popular types of display screens. They are commonly used as display screens for laptop computers, where the size and weight of the screen and associated computer is important. Smaller size liquid crystal displays are also well known in numerous applications other than computer screen displays.
• a liquid crystal display is in simple terms constructed from four layers of material and a large number of liquid crystals. Normally a display is formed firstly by placing a polariser on one surface of an alignment layer. Liquid crystals are placed between the first alignment layer and a second alignment layer used to retain liquid crystals in place. Lastly, a second polariser is placed on the remaining outside surface of the second alignment layer.
• an electric field is applied to selected regions of the liquid crystal held within the alignment layers.
• the liquid crystals used are optically active and will twist the polarised light through a set angle.
• the alignment layers used ensure the liquid crystals are orientated in a parallel fashion, usually in line with the polarizer orientation, imposing light transmitted through the crystals with the same twist or deviation.
• Alignment layers in conventional LC displays are microscopic parallel grooved lines achieved by rubbing the layer with a fine device in a single direction.
• the last polariser is configured so as to only allow light polarised at a particular angle to be transmitted through out the front of the display. This specific polarising angle is the angle at which light is normally twisted to by the liquid crystals.
• Deep video imaging technology is the subject of co-pending New Zealand Patent Application Nos. NZ314566, NZ 328074 and NZ 329130 as well as PCT Application Nos. PCT /NZ 98/ 00098
• a rear screen may be formed from a LC display which includes a backlighting source behind the display.
• a second LC display may be positioned in front of the rear display and will not include conventional backlighting components, as these would interfere with light transmitted from a rear screen.
• the front screen is substantially transparent, allowing light to be transmitted from the rear screen to the eyes of an observer.
• Images created on a front screen will be transparent when not black. An observer will be able to look through the front screen (and hence foreground images) onto the rear screen.
• a display which includes at least two retainer (aligment) layers, and at least one optically active element,
• retainer layers are configured to retain active elements in a random homogeneous configuration in a first instance
• a retainer layer adapted for use in a display as described above, wherein the retainer layer is configured to retain optically active elements in irregular orientations.
• the display may be configured using liquid crystal display technology.
• a retainer layer may be any type of substantially transparent material which, when configured in groups of two or more layers, may include or retain optically active elements in a particular region.
• a retainer layer may be formed from transparent plastic materials with an irregular surface on one side of the layer. Such an irregular surface allows optically active elements to be retained within regions on the retainer layer in a large number of orientations, providing retained active elements with an irregular configuration.
• a retainer layer may be constructed from transparent plastic material with small irregular gouges made on one surface of the layer. These irregular gouges allow active elements retained by the layer to lie in a number of different orientations in an irregular configuration.
• retainer layer as being constructed from a transparent plastic material with irregular surface gouges on one surface of the layer.
• retainer layers such as glass may be used in conjunction with the present invention, and reference to the above should in no way be seen as limiting.
• optically active elements may be liquid crystals normally used in a standard liquid display.
• the properties and characteristics of these crystals are well known and allow them to be readily adapted for use with the present invention.
• optically elements as being liquid crystals.
• other forms of optically active elements may be used and reference to the above should in no way be seen as limiting.
• liquid crystals may be grouped or organised in two different configurations.
• liquid crystals may be retained between two retainer layers with an irregular or randomised configuration.
• the surface of a retainer layer may be configured so as to allow retained crystals to lie in a large number of orientations or angles with respect to one another.
• crystals may be retained between retainer layers in a regular configuration.
• crystals may be retained in substantially the same angles and orientations with respect to one another. This regular configuration of the crystals ensures that each crystal acts optically in substantially the same manner on light passing through the crystals.
• a field is applied to crystals within a display to orient the crystals within the field into substantially the same or orientation.
• the field used is an electric field.
• Electric fields may be readily generated using standard electrical componentry and may control accurately and precisely small areas or regions containing crystals.
• a first region containing at least two liquid crystals may be any number of areas or points on the viewing surface of a display.
• a region may incorporate display surface areas from any of the multiple screens used.
• a first region may be defined as any area on a display to which an electric field is applied.
• an electric field may be selectively applied to particular areas of a display to form a first region.
• the application of an electric field to particular areas will cause crystals to orientate to substantially the same position, and hence to modify incident light with substantially the same effect.
• no regular or uniform treatment will be applied to incident light.
• crystals within a first region exhibit a first optical characteristic. Conversely crystals outside this first region exhibit a second optical characteristic.
• the first optical characteristic exhibited by crystals within the first region is transparency.
• Such crystals may be regularly positioned with respect to one another into substantially the same orientations. This regular configuration allows crystals to transmit incident light in substantially the same manner, with these crystals being transparent to a particular polarisation of light.
• the second optical characteristic exhibited by crystals outside of the first region is to act as diffusing elements.
• the irregular and random orientations of crystals outside of a first region diffuses light transmitted through the display.
• a diffusing element may be defined as any element which diffuses light. Such an element may cause light to spread or scatter in a number of different directions.
• Such diffusing elements will make any image viewed on the first region appear diffuse to an observer at a close distance to the screen, and the same image appear opaque to an observer at a great distance away from the screen. As the distance between an obsever and the screen increases an image in the first regoin will appear more and more opaque instead of diffuse.
• the present invention as described above may be used to construct a simple display.
• Transparent electrodes may be placed on either face of the display to selectively apply an electric field to specific areas forming a first region. This electric field, or the absence of it, will either allow light to be transmitted through a particular region or to be diffused when passing through another region. Images may be formed on such a display by placing an electric field on regions which are to be transparent whilst ensuring no electric field is present on regions which are to form images. Colour filters from standard LC
• the present invention also allows the colour white to be presented on a display. Normally LC displays cannot display a sharp white colour. To display white on the typical LC display the white backlighting background is used, as crystals are orientated to be transparent in this instance.
• the present invention may be employed within a deep video display.
• a display formed with respect to the present invention as being a selective diffusion layer when used in deep video imaging applications.
• the present invention may be employed to selectively diffuse regions on a display, while leaving other regions transparent.
• a deep video imaging display which incorporates two liquid crystal screens may also use three polarising layers only.
• the first polarising layer may be at the rear of the rear screen, the second between the two screens and the last on the front of the front screen.
• two polarising layers per screen are required, as polarised light must be provided to the liquid crystals to ensure the display works effectively.
• polarised light is already provided to the rear of a front screen, eliminating the need for a fourth polariser in the combined display.
• the selective diffusion layer may be positioned between the front and rear screens of a deep video display.
• a deep video display may be configured as described above with three polarising layers.
• a selective diffusion layer may also be positioned between the front screen and the middle polarising layer.
• the SDL may be used to diffuse polarised light supplied from the middle polarising layer, destroying the front screen's capacity to form an image in a particular region. This in effect allows the SDL to "blank out" a front image.
• the selective diffusion layer may be used to diffuse polarised light from a rear screen, making an image on a front screen appear solid.
• the selective diffusion layer will diffuse out the rear image while still providing enough light to illuminate a front image.
• images on a front screen have appeared transparent, where images on a rear screen can be seen through a front image.
• images from a rear screen may be "blanked out" by the selective diffusion layer (SDL), making the front images appear solid.
• the display may be configured with a first polarising layer, a rear LC screen, a second polarising layer, a first selective diffusion layer, a second LC display, a third polarising layer, a second selective diffusion layer, a fourth polarising layer, a third front LC display and lastly a fifth polarising layer.
• a deep video display combines principles employed in the two other deep video application discussed above.
• the second SDL will diffuse light transmitted from the rear and middle screens, making images on the front screen appear solid.
• the first SDL will diffuse light transmitted to the second LC display, allowing an image from the second LC display to
• a selective diffusion layer may also be used in deep video applications to eliminate interference effects. Normally when a standard LC display is viewed through another LC display interference patterns caused by the structure of the two displays will be observed.
• Interference patterns can be eliminated with an SDL between two screens if the SDL provides a low uniform level of diffusion over the entire display surface.
• the diffusion will act to randomise or break up any patterns in light from a rear screen - removing interference effects.
• the present invention provides many advantages over existing prior art liquid crystal displays and deep video imaging displays.
• the present invention may be employed in deep video imaging applications to create a display with foreground images which may appear solid and which can be made to appear to recede on to the same point on a rear screen irrespective of viewing angle.
• Figure 1 shows the displays effect on light within specific regions in one embodiment:
• Figures 2 - 4 illustrate the present invention as employed in deep video imaging applications in further embodiments of the present invention.
• Figure 1 shows how the present invention modifies light transmitted through a display.
• an electric field is applied to a region of a display, whereas in Figure lb no electric field is applied to the same region.
• unpolarised light 1 is directed towards a rear alignment layer 2 through the liquid crystals (not shown) retained within the region, and then out through the front alignment layer 3.
• Figures 2 to 4 illustrate the present invention when used in a number of deep video imaging applications.
• FIG. 2 shows a deep video imaging application which incorporates a selective diffusion layer dl.
• the deep video imaging display includes a rear screen si and a front screen s2 with polarising layers pi, p2 on either side of the rear screen si, and polarising layers p3, p4 on either side of the front screen s2.
• Figure 3 illustrates another application for the present invention in a deep video imaging application.
• the deep video imaging screen includes a rear screen si a front screen s2, polarising layers pi and p2 on either side of the rear screen si, and a last polarising layer p3 on the front of the front screen s2.
• An SDL dl is positioned between polarising layer p2 and the front screen s2.
• the SDL dl may diffuse the polarised light provided by polariser p2. Depolarising the background light for front screen s2 will prevent s2 from forming a coherent image.
• the SLD dl may be used to "blank out" an image on the front screen s2. This phenomenon can be utilised as discussed above to make an image on the front screen disappear at the same point on a rear screen for all observers, independent of viewing angle.
• Figure 4 shows a deep video imaging display that uses the two configurations previously discussed with respect to Figures 2 and 3.
• the selective diffusion layer d2 may be used to diffuse light and images from rear screen si and middle screen s2, making images on the front screen s3 appear solid.
• Selective diffusion layer dl may be used to diffuse polarised light from polarising layer p2, "blanking out” images on middle screen s2.
• This display configuration using the present invention may be used to make images on a front screen s3 appear solid, and images on middle screen s2 disappear onto the rear screen si at the same point for all observers irrespective of viewing angles.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Liquid Crystal (AREA)
• Devices For Indicating Variable Information By Combining Individual Elements (AREA)
• Transforming Electric Information Into Light Information (AREA)
• Testing, Inspecting, Measuring Of Stereoscopic Televisions And Televisions (AREA)

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Applications Claiming Priority (4)

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Cited By (38)

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Citations (8)

• 1999
  • 1999-02-23 AU AU25542/99A patent/AU740574B2/en not_active Expired
  • 1999-02-23 WO PCT/NZ1999/000021 patent/WO1999044095A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1999-02-23 CA CA002329702A patent/CA2329702A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-02-23 EP EP99905385A patent/EP1058862A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1999-02-23 CN CN99803265A patent/CN1302389A/zh active Pending
  • 1999-02-23 IL IL13762799A patent/IL137627A0/xx unknown
  • 1999-02-23 MX MXPA00007981A patent/MXPA00007981A/es unknown
  • 1999-02-23 NZ NZ505801A patent/NZ505801A/xx not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1999-02-23 JP JP2000533787A patent/JP2002528743A/ja active Pending
  • 1999-02-23 KR KR1020007009344A patent/KR20010041251A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (8)

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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