Depth and lateral size control of three-dimensional images in projection integral imaging

Abstract

A method disclosed herein relates to displaying three-dimensional images. The method comprising, projecting integral images to a display device, and displaying three-dimensional images with the display device. Further disclosed herein is an apparatus for displaying orthoscopic 3-D images. The apparatus comprising, a projector for projecting integral images, and a micro-convex-mirror array for displaying the projected images.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application 60 / 706,281 filed on Aug. 8, 2005, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Most 3D display techniques developed to date are stereoscopic. A stereoscopic system may be realized that may display large images with high resolution, however stereoscopic techniques may require supplementary glasses to evoke 3-D visual effects. Additionally, stereoscopic techniques may provide observers with horizontal parallax and a small number of viewpoints. Observation of stereoscopic images may also cause visual fatigue due to convergence-accommodation conflict. [0003] Convergence-accommodation conflict may be avoided by a true 3-D image formation in space with full parallax and continuous viewing points. Holography is one way to form 3-D images in space, but recording full-color holograms for an outdoor scene may be difficult. For example,...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] Further disclosed herein is a method that relates to recording and displaying 3-D images. The method comprising, generating elemental images with a micro-lenslet array, increasing disparity of elemental images with an optical path-length-equalizing (OPLE) lens, recording the elemental images on an imaging sensor of a recording device. The method further comprising, projecting 3-D images through an optical relay to a display device, and displaying the 3-D images within the depth-of-focus of the display device.

Problems solved by technology

Observation of stereoscopic images may also cause visual fatigue due to convergence-accommodation conflict.

Holography is one way to form 3-D images in space, but recording full-color holograms for an outdoor scene may be difficult.

For example, when computer-generated holograms are prepared, a large amount of computation time and capacity may be required to obtain proper gratings.

Because coherent light is often used in holography, speckle may also occur.

However, the viewing angle, depth-of-focus, and resolution of 3-D images may be limited.

In addition, 3-D images produced in direct camera pickup II are pseudoscopic (depth-reversed) images, and thus may make II systems more complex and thus more impractical.

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