WO2013039491A1

WO2013039491A1 - Image-viewing systems with an integrated light-steering panel

Info

Publication number: WO2013039491A1
Application number: PCT/US2011/051498
Authority: WO
Inventors: Huei Pei Kuo; Alexandre M. Bratkovski; Robert Walmsley
Original assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Priority date: 2011-09-14
Filing date: 2011-09-14
Publication date: 2013-03-21

Abstract

Rear-illumination image viewing systems for presenting multiple views of a scene or motion picture or provide glasses-free three-dimension views of a scene or motion picture are disclosed. In one aspect, an image viewing system includes a display panel to present at least one image, a light-beam steering panel including a light-steering region, and a light source to emit a collimated beam of light to pass through the display and the steering panel to project the at least one image. The steering panel directs each image into separate horizontally oriented viewing angles that correspond to separate horizontally arranged viewing areas, when time varying voltages are applied to the steering panel to produce time varying horizontally oriented changes in the light-steering region index of refraction.

Description

IMAGE-VIEWING SYSTEMS WITH AN INTEGRATED LIGHT-STEERING

PANEL

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to multiview and three-dimensional display technology.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, the advent of stereo display technologies enabling viewers to view objects in three-dimensions with two-dimensional displays has been gaining interest and acceptance. With typical stereo display technology, viewers are required to wear eye glasses, that control the. visual content, delivered to each eye. However, it. is typically the case that the relative orientat ns of the projections received by the viewer are- correct only for certain viewing locations, such as locations where a viewer's view is orthogonal to the center of a display. By contrast, viewers watchin the same display outside these vievving locations experience a re-projection error that manifests as a vertical misalignment of the visual content received, by the eyes of the viewers. If the images are very different, then in some cases one image at a time may be seen, a phenomenon known, as binocular rivalry . Another type of visual artifact in typical stereo display technologies is that foreground and background objects often appear with the me: .focus.

.However, a typical three-dimensional display often yields distortions in images of three-dimensional structures when compared with the real scenes as a result of displaying three-dimensional images on a single two-dimensional surface. For example, focusing cues such as accommodation and blur in a retinal image specify the depth of the display rather than the depths objects in the images displayed. Moreover, typical three- dimensional displays produce three-dimensional images by uncoupling vergence and accommodation, which often reduces a viewer's ability to effectively combine stereo image pairs and may cause viewer discomfort and fatigue. Thus, mere below threshold ohjectioiiableness may not be sufficient, for permitting the presence of such artifacts.

I Designers and manufacturers of three-dimensional display systems continue to seek systems and methods that reduce the adverse effects associated with typical stereo display technology.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an example rear-illumination image- viewing/display system.

Figure 2 shows a top view, schematic representation of a viewing/display system that creates five separate viewing areas.

Figure 3 shows_, an example array of twenty-five perspective views created b -a rear-il I umination image- viewing/display system.

Figure 4 shows a image-viewing/display system and an example plot of time slots associated with images projected into different viewing areas.

Figure 5 shows an exploded isometric view of a light-beam steering panel and display panel of a .rear-illumination image-viewing/display system.

Figure 6 A shows an example of subsets of electrodes and connection wires of a light-beam steering panel connected to different voltage" sources.

Figure 6B shows an example of voltages applied to subsets of connection wires of a light-beam steering panel to create an electric field with the steering panel. The electric field is sinusoidal varying in this example.

Figures 7 -7B show plots that represent two types of electric fields and corresponding variations in the inde of refraction of a light-beam steering panel.

Figures 8A-8C show examples of a steering panel used to steer beams of light output from a row of pixels.

Figure 9 shows a top view and examples of beams of light output from a steering panel of a rear-illumination image-viewing system.

Figure 10 shows an example of five representative angles at which light can be output from a light source of a rear-illumination image-viewing system. 11 051498

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Rear-illumination image-viewing systems for -presenting multiple views of a scene or motion picture or providing glasses free three-dimensional views of a scene or motion picture are disclosed. In particular, the viewing systems provide multiple different two-dimensional views of a scene or motion picture with each two-dimensional view presented in a different viewing area. The viewing systems can also provide a perceived continuous three-dimensional viewing experience of a scene or motion picture with correct perspective views and without viewers having to wear glasses or goggles to control the image- input to each eye.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an example, rear-illumination image- viewing- system 100. The viewing system 100 includes a- light source 102, a display panel 104, and a light-beam steering panel .106. The system 100 also includes a computing device 108 connected to the. source 102, the display panel 104, and the steering, panel 106. The light source 102, panels 104 and 106, and the computing device I OS can be mounted in a housing (not shown) that includes a frame to enclose the boarder of the steering panel 106, The panels 104 and 106 are positioned parallel to one another. Alternatively, the positions of the panels 104 and 106 can be reversed with the steering panel 106 positioned between the light source 102 and the display panel 1.04. The computing device 108 sends image data to the display panel 104 and controls operation of the steering panel 106 so that images presented on the- display panel 104 can be directed or projected into different viewing areas in front of the system 1.00, Figure 1 shows a viewer 1 10 positioned in front of the viewing system. 100. Depending on how the viewing system 100 is operated, the viewer 1 10 can change his/her position in front of the system 100 in order to see different two-dimensional views of a scene or motion picture or perceive a continuous three-dimensional viewing experience of scene without the aid of glasses to. control the image input to each. eye.

The viewing system 100 can be used to horizontally display multiple different two-dimensional views of a scene or motion picture. Each two-dimensional view can be observed by looking at the system 1 0 from a different horizontal viewing area. Figure 2 shows a top view, schematic, representation of the viewin system 100. In 8

the example of Figure 2, the system 100 is operated to create five separate viewing areas 1-5 in front of the system 100. The display panel 104 presents five different images of a scene, or can present five different scenes, and the light steering panel 106 directs each image lo a different viewing area, enabling the viewer when located in a viewing area to see only one of the images. Suppose for the sake of simplicity that each image presented on the display panel 104 is a different perspecti ve view of a blue ball 202 located in front of a red ball 204. As the viewer moves from one viewing area to an adjacent viewing area the viewer sees a first perspective view followed by a different perspective view. For example, when the viewer is located in viewing area 1. the viewer sees perspective view V 1 of the red ball 204 located to the left of and partially occluded by the blue ball 202. When the viewer changes position to viewing area 2, the viewer sees perspective view V2 with the red ball 204 located to the left of and partially occluded by the blue ball 202, but with more of the red ball 204 occluded by the blue ball 202 than in perspective view VI. The five perspective views Vi-VS enable the viewer to move around h front of the system 100 and separately view five different two-dimensional perspective views of the blue and red balls 202 and 204.

If adjacent two-dimehsiona! perspective views are similar but slightly different perspective views of the same scene and the viewer's head straddles two adjacent viewing areas, the two adjacent perspective views may be perceived by the viewer as forming a stereo image pair, enabling the viewer to perceive a three dimensional perspective view image of a scene. For example. Figure 2 shows the viewer's, head straddling adjacent viewing areas .2 and 3 such that perspective view V2 enters the viewer's left eye and perspective view V3 enters the viewer's right eye. If the perspective views V2 and Y3 are similar but slightly different perspective views of the balls 202 and 204, the views V2 and V3 may be perceived by the viewer as a stereo image pair, enabling the viewer to perceive a three-dimensional perspective view image of the balls 202 and 204. On the other hand, the viewer may experience visual rivalry if the perspective views V2 and V3 are sufficiently different.

The viewing system 100 can also be used to create a perceived continuous three-dimensional viewing experience of a scene or motion picture with correct perspective views and without viewers having to wear glasses or goggles to control, the image input to each eye. In order to create a perceived continuous three-dimensional viewing experience, each viewing area is narrower in the horizontal direction than the average distance between two human eye pupils (i.e., less than about 5 cm t about 6 cm), so that each perspective view image enters one, but not both, of a viewer's eyes. For example, in practice, at a viewing distance of approximately 0.5 meter or less, each perspective view can be presented in viewing areas separated by approximately 1° to approximately 2° in order to create, a perceived three-dimensional viewing experience with continuously varying perspective views. The viewer perceives three-dimensional imagery without excessive cross-talk between the views entering the left and right eyes and without having to wear special viewing glasses or goggles that control the image- input, lo each eye.

Figure 3 shows an example array of twenty- five perspective views denoted by V1-V25 created by the viewing system 100 {not. shown). Each perspective view is presented in a different, viewing area and has a horizontal width w -that is less than the distance D between a viewer's eyes (i.e., w < D). In the example of Figure 3, the viewer 302 is positioned .so that perspective view V4 enters the viewer's left eye LE and perspective view V6 enters the viewer's right eye RE. Even though the perspective views V4 and V6 are separated by perspective view ^'VS, the perspective views V4, Y5. and. V6 are slightly different. As a result,, the perspective views V4 and V6 are- sufficient to form a stereo image pair that enables the- viewer 302 to perceive a correct perspective, three-dimensional -view of the scene or. motion picture presented --on the viewing system 1.00. In Figure 3, the viewer 302 also changes, position so that perspective view VI 2 enters the viewer's left eye LE and perspective view VI 5 enters the viewer's right eye RE. Even though the perspective views VI 2 and VI 5 are separated by two perspective views V13 and V I . the perspective views V12-V15 are slightly different. As a result, the perspective views VI 2 and V I 5 are sufficient to form a stereo image pair that enables the viewer 302 to perceive a correct perspective, three-dimensional view of the image presented oft the viewing system 100. Figure 3 also shows the viewer's left eye LE straddling two different perspective views. Adjacent perspective views V20 and V21. both enter the viewer's left eye LE and perspective, view V23 enters the viewer's right eye RE. Adjacent perspective views V20 and V21 overlap to a great extent. As a result. the viewer's brain averages the two adjacent views to produce a two-dimension perspective view that in combination with the two-dimensional perspective view V23 form a stereo image pair. This operates well if the difference between neighboring views is sufficiently small

The images presented in the horizontally arranged viewing areas may not be projected into the viewing areas at the same time. The viewing system 100 can be operated so that different sets of images are projected into different viewing areas with each set of images projected over a brief period of time called a "time slot." Figure 4 shows the viewing system 100 and an example plot of time slots associated with seis of images projected into different viewing areas, in the example of Figure 4, the viewing system 100 projects a number of different images into separate viewing areas identified as blocks located along a curve 402, Not all. of the images are projected- into the viewing areas at the same time. For example, blocks VAl, VA2, and VA3 represent separate viewing areas into which the viewing system 100 projects three separate images. Each image can be a different two-dimensional perspective view of the same scene or motion picture, as described above with reference to Figures 2. and 3. Plot 404 shows an example representation of time 4-time slots in which separate images are projected into the viewing areas. For example, during time slot TS 1, the viewing system 100 projects images ^'into a first set of viewing areas and does not project images into the other viewing areas. The first subset includes the viewing areas VA1, VA4, and V^'A(4#+I). During time, slot TS2, the viewing system 100 projects separate images into a second, set of viewing areas and does not project images into the other viewing areas. The second subset includes the viewing areas YA2, VA5, and VA(4«+2), where n ranges from 0 to 3. The cycle repeats after four times slots. The duration of each time slot may be on the order of a few mi lliseconds or less to enable a viewer moving his/her head along the curve 402 to observe separate two-dimensional images in each viewing area withou image flicker, as described above with reference to Figure 2, or perceive a continuous three-dimensional viewing experience of a scene or motion picture with correct perspective views and without viewers having to wear glasses or goggles to control the image input to each eye. or a high-performance continuous glasses-free, three- dimensional viewing experience, « ~> 100. Figure 5 shows an exploded isometric view of the light-beam steering panel 106 and the display panel 104. Figure 5 includes a magnified view 501 of the display panel 104 that reveals the display panel is a fiat screen composed of a two- dimensional array of electronically operated pixels 502. Although the pixels 502 are represented as squares, in practice the pixels can be square, rectangular, or circular. The display panel 104 can be a liquid-crystal display, in which ease, each pixel 502 is filled with a liquid crystal to produce color or monochrome- images_* As an example, consider a horizontal only parallax viewing system. Light produced by the light source 102 (not shown) is collimated in the vertical direction and fan out in the horizontal, direction. It passes through each pixel and emerges as a separate column or beam of light that spreads out in the vertical direction. Figure 5 also includes two magnified views 504 and 506 of ^•the steering panel 106. Magnified view 504 shows an enlarged top edge 508 of a portion of the steering panel 106, revealing the layered structure of the steering panel 1 6. The steering panel 1.06 inehides two substantially parallel opposing transparent plates 510 and 512 that are separated fay a light-steering region 514. The plates 5.1 and 512 can be glass or a transparent plastic, such as poly(methyl meihacrylate) or polycarbonate. The light- steering region 51.4 is a thin-film, featureless zone between the plates 510 and 512 and can be composed of an electro-optical material, that occupies the space between the plates 510 and 512. The steering panel 1.06 also includes two sets of internal wires disposed on the inner surfaces of the transparent plates 510 and 512. As shown in magnified view 504, a first set of wires 516 is disposed on the inner surface of the transparent plate 510;. and a second set of wires 518 is disposed on the inner surface of the transparent plate 512. For example, magnified view 506 reveals a portion of wires 516 located on the inner surface of the transparent plate 510. The wires can be composed of a thin conductive metal, such as copper or aluminum, or a transparent conductive material, such a indium tin oxide. The wires span the vertical distance of the steering panel 106, and the first set of wires are substantially parallel to the second set of wires.

Subsets of the first set of wires 516 disposed on the inner surface of the transparent plate 510 are connected to separate voltage sources, and subsets of the second set of wires 51 8 disposed on the inner surface of the transparent plate 512 are also connected to separate voltage sources. Figure 6A shows an example of subsets of wires connected to different voltage sources. The first set of wires 518 includes two subsets of wires denoted by A and B. The subset of A wires are connected to a voltage source V_A, and the subset of B wires are connected io a voltage source i-¾ with the A and B wires alternating in the horizontal direction. The second set of wires 51.6 includes three subsets, of wires denoted, by a, b, and c. The a wires are connected to a voltage source ¥._β, the b wires are connected to a voltage source 1 and the c wires are connected to a voltage source V_c with the pattern of wires repeated in the horizontal direction. The pitches P, and P_s of the wires range .from approximately 5/im to approximately 100/ro, and the widths of the Wires range from approximately 2 an to approximately 50//m.

Appropriate voltages are applied to subsets of the wires to create an electric field in the light-steering region 514 between the transparent plates 51.0 and 51.2. The electric field in turn creates, corresponding variations in the index of refraction within the ^'light-steering region 514 of the steering panel 106. Figure 6B shows an example of voltages applied to the subsets of wires to create art electric field E directed substantially perpendicular 602 to the transparent plates 510 and 512. Variations in the magnitude of the electric, field created in the light-steering region 514 are represented by a sinusoidal curve 60 .

Figures^' 7A-7B show plots that represent examples of two types^' of electric field and the corresponding variations in the index of refraction in the light-steering region 514. Figure 7 A shows an example plot 702 of an electric field represented b a sinusoidal curve 704, When the voltages applied to. the wires, are varied in time, the electric field oscillates about a time/position axis 706 and the wave-like representation of the electric field appears to move in one direction or the other along the axis 706, The electric field represented by the curve 704 centered about the axis 706 reverses direction and creates variations in the index of refraction of the light-steering region 514 represented by a cycloid-like curve 708 shown in plot 710. The variation in the index of refraction characterized- by each arc of the curve 710 corresponds to half of a Ml cycle in the electric field. In other words, the curves 704 and 710 represent how the magnitude of the index of refraction varies with the magnitude of the electric field. Figure 7B shows, an example plot. 712 of an electric field represented by a sinusoidal, curve 71.4. The curve 714 represents an electric field with a varying magnitude but the direction of the electric field is not reversed. The electric field represented by the curve 714 creates variations in the index of refraction of the light-steering region 514 represented by a sinusoidal curve 718 shown in plot 720, The curves 714 and 718 reveal that changes in the magnitude of the electric field produce corresponding changes in the index of refraction of the light- steering region 514.

Returning to Figure 5, voltages can be applied to the wires as described above with reference to Figure 6 to create horizontally directed variations in the index of refraction characterized by the plots 710 and 720 shown in Figure 7. The horizontal variations in the index of refraction are constant in- the vertical direction and extend the vertical distance of the- steering panel 106. in other words, beams of light output from a column of pixels, such as column of pixels 520, pass through the steering panel 106 encountering the · sam index of refraction, while beams output from a row of pixels, such as row o pixels 522, pass through different regions of the steering panel 106 with indices of refraction characterized by one of the. curves 708 and 718 shown in Figure 7. As a result, the beams output from a. column of pixels are bent in the same direction toward a viewing- area. By contrast, the beams output from a row of pixels are each bent toward different viewing areas according to the refractive index of region of the steering panel 106 through which, the beams pass- Figures 8A.-8C show a top horizontal view of a portion 506 of the steering panel 106 and a number of pixels in the display panel 104. Although the light source 102 is not shown, the light, source 102 outputs a beam -of light substantially perpendicular to the planes of the substantially parallel panels 104 and 1-06. As a result, light emerges from each pixel as a beam, directed substantially perpendicular to the steering: panel 106, In the example of Figure 8A, during time slot A, voltages are applied to the wires of the steering panel 106 to produce horizontal variations in the index of refraction represented by cycloid-like curve 802. Each arc of the curve 802 represents horizontal variation in the index of refraction over a region of the light-steering region 514. For example, arc 804 represents how the index of refraction in the light-steering region 514 varies horizontaiiy over pixels 806-808, The regions within the light-steering region 514 characterized by adjacent ares operate s a series of adjacent columnar plano-convex lenses for the light emanating from the row of pixels. Specifically, the beam of light

9 output from each pixel enters the steering panel 106 and is ^'bent according to the inde of refraction in the region of the steering panel 106 through which the beam passes. For example, beams 810-812 output from pixels 806-808, respectively, emerge front the steering panel 106 to intersect at a focal point 814 and are transmitted to three different viewing areas located in front of the viewing system 100. In other words, the region of the light-steering region 514 with a variation in the refractive index characterized by the arc 804 effectively operates like a single plano-convex lens. The beam 81 1 that passes through a region of light-steering region 514 with an index of refraction corresponding to the center of the arc 804 passes approximately straight through the steering panel. Time slot A represents the instance in time where the ends of each arc. are aligned with the boundaries of two adjacent pixels. For example, dotted lines 816 and 818 identify the boundaries of the arc 804 aligned with the boundaries of the pixels 806 and 808, However, when the. inde of refraction of the light-steering region 514 is continuously horizontally shifted, the light emanating from a pixel passes through two adjacent ares in the index of refraction, causing the light emanating from the pixel to split. In the example of Figure SB, during later time slot B, voltages are applied to the wires of the steering panel 106 to shift 820 variations in the index of refraction as represented by cyeioid-Hke: curve 822, As a result, the beams of light, output from the pixels 806 and 807 are bent according to variations in the. index of refrac tion represen ted b arc 824, but a large portion of the beam 826 output from pixel 808 passes through the light-steering region 514 characterized, by arc 824 and a smaller portion of the beam. 82 passes through a smaller portion of the light-steering region characterized by adjacent arc 828. As a result, the light emanatin from the pixel 808 is unevenly split and transmitted to two separate viewing areas. In order to avoid the visual confusion that may result from splitting the light output from pixels, the pixels that correspond to such abrupt changes in the index of refraction may be briefly turned off as indicated, by shaded pixels 808 and 830-833, In the example of Figure 8C, during still later time slot C, voltages applied to the wires of the steering panel 106 shift 834 the index of refraction as represented by cycloid-like curve 836. As a result, the beams of light output from, the pixels 806 and 808 are bent according to variations in the index, of refraction represented by adjacent arcs 838 and 840. respectively. But the beam 842 output from the pixel 807 passes 51498

through ihe light-steering region 514 and is split into two beams 844 and 846 with a first portion of the beam 842 passing through a region characterized by the arc 838 and a second portion of the beam passing through a region characterized by the arc 840. In this case, the pixels thai correspond to such abrupt changes in the Index of refraction would likely be briefly turned off as indicated by shaded pixels 807 and 847-850.

Figure 9 shows a top view of the viewing system 100 and representative beams of light output from the steering panel Ϊ 06. In the example of Figure 9, light is output from the light source 102 as a single beam with a large enough cross-sectional are to pass through the entire, display panel 104. The beam is directed substantiall perpendicular to the display panel 104, as indicated by directional arrows 902, The light passes through th pixels of the display panel 1.06 and is output from each pixel as a beam of light directed substantially perpendicular to the steering panel 1 6.. as described above with reference to Figure 8. in Figure 9, each directional arrow represents ihe direction of beams of light, output from a .column, of pixels, extending in the vertical direction. The direction is determined b the steering panel 106 during one of three different rime slots with the directional arrow Sine patterns corresponding to different time slots. Figure 9 shows how certain columns of pixels that are used to orm images in certain viewing areas during one time slot can be used to form images in other viewing areas during a different time slot. For example, during time slot A, .beams 904-906 represent light emanating from three adjacent columns of pixels in the display panel 104, a described above with reference to Figure 8, The beams 904-906 are directed by the steering panel 106 into three different viewing areas 908-910, respectively. During a different time slot B, the index of refraction across the steering panel 106 is changed in the horizontal direction. As a result, beams of light 912-914 output from the same three columns of pixels are directed into different viewing areas 916-918, respectively. Figure 9 also shows how the steering panel 106 can be used to direct beams output from a first set of columns of pixels int separate viewing areas and direct beams output from a second set of columns of pixels into the same viewing areas, in two different time slots. For example, during time slot A, beams 920-922 output from a first set of three columns of pixels are directed by the steering panel 106 into viewing areas 924-926, respectively. During a different time slot C, beams 928-930 output from a second set of three columns of pixels are directed by steering panel 106 into the same viewing areas 924-926.

The light source 102 is not limited to outpittting light perpendicular to the panels 104 and 106. The light source 102 can also be configured to output beams into the panels 104 and 106 in different directions, thereby creating a larger number of viewing areas in front of the system 100. ^'The direction at which the tight source 102 outputs the light can be coordinated with the time at which certain images are presented on the display panel 104 and the steering directions produced by the steering panel 106. Figure 10 shows an example of five of many different representative angles at which the light source 102 can direct beams of light into the panels 104 and 106 during operation.

in addition, a vertical diffuser panel, such as a transmissive panel thai passes incident light and spreads he: light broadly in the vertical direction (~->40°) and narrowly in the horizontal direction (~<l-2⁰), can be attached to the panel 106. The vertical only diffuser panel allows horizontal-parallax only glass-free three dimensional or multi-view two dimensional displays. Alternatively, the diffuser panel can be inserted between th light source 102 and the display panel 104 to accomplish the same effect.

The foregoing description, for purposes, of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the. disclosure. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that, the specific details are not required in order to practice the systems and methods described herein. The foregoing descriptions of specific examples are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to he exhaustive of or to limit this disclosure to the precise forms described. Obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The examples are shown and described in order to best explain the principles of this disclosure and practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize this disclosure and various examples with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that, the scope of this disclosure be defined by the following claims and their equivalents:

Claims

1. An image-viewing system comprising:

a display panel to present at least one image;

a light-beam steering panel including a light-steering region; and

a light source io emit a coilimated beam of light to pass through the display and the steering panel to project the at least one image, wherein the steering panel is to direct each image into separate horizontally oriented viewing angles that correspond, to separate ^'horizontally arranged viewing areas when time, varying voltages applied to the steering panel, produce time varying horizontally oriented changes in the light-steering region index of refraction.

2. The system of claim 1 , /wherein the display panel is disposed between the steering panel. and the light source.,

3. The. system of claim l_s wherein the steering panel is disposed between the displa pane! and the light source.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the display panel further comprises a flat screen two-dimensional array of electronically operated pixels,

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the display panel is substantially parallel to the steering panel,

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the steering panel further comprises:

a first transparent plate;

a second transparent plate substantially parallel to the first transparent plate and spatially separated from the first transparent plate to form the light-steering region;

a first set of substantially parallel wires vertically disposed on a surface of the first. transparent plate; and a second set. of substantially parallel wires vertically disposed on a surface of the second transparent plate, wherein the surfaces of the first and second transparent plates are opposing interior surfaces of the steering panel.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the light-steering region further comprises one of an electro-optical material in which a time varying electric field is to be formed when the time varying voltages are applied to the steering panel.

8. The system of claim ( further comprises a vertical diffuser to vertically spread the light output from the system.

9. A method for projecting images comprising:

directing a beam of light to pass through a display panel and a light-beam steering panel oriented substantially parallel to the display panel;

presenting at least one image on the display panel; and

applying time varying voltages to the steering panel to create a horizontally- oriented, time-varying index of refraction within the steering panel the time-varying index of refraction to direct each image into separate horizontally oriented viewing areas.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein directing, the beam of light further comprises directing the beam of light substantially perpendicular to the display and steering panels.

1 1. The method of claim 9, wherein directing the beam of light further comprises directing the beam of light at a non-zero angle to the display and steering panels,

12. The method of claim 9, wherein varying the steering panel index of refraction further comprises applying voltages to the steering panel to horizontally vary the index of refraction.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein varying the steering panel inde of refraction further comprises applying voltages to the steering panel to form a time and position varying electric field across the steering panel,

14. The method of claim 9. wherein varying the steering panel index of refraction further comprises applying voltages to two sets of vertically oriented wires disposed on substantially parallel transparent plates of the steering panel to horizontally vary the index of refraction.

1.5. The method of claim 9, wherein varying the steering panel index of refraction further comprises forming horizontal variations in the index of refraction that operate as columnar lenses on the light that passes through the steering panel.