A 3D information display system for desktop display applications

Abstract

The present invention provides a 3D information display system for desktop display applications, comprising a light source, an image display, and a light field modulator. The light source is used to provide illumination for the display system; the image display is used to load multi-view image information; and the light field modulator is composed of multiple groups of pixels, each group of pixels being used to construct a viewing angle. Multiple groups of pixels form a circular viewing angle to meet desktop display requirements. Each subpixel in the light field modulator is divided into several sub-pixels, each of which is filled with a patterned micro-nanostructure. The sub-pixels composed of multiple sub-pixels can expand the light field, constructing a continuously distributed viewing angle information over a 360-degree circular viewing angle, achieving a desktop 3D visual display effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of 3D display technology, and in particular to a 3D information display system for desktop display applications. Background Art

[0002] Visual information is the primary source of information for people's understanding of the world. Currently, two-dimensional displays offer high-definition, wide color gamut, and high saturation, fully meeting or even exceeding the human eye's image quality requirements. However, the lack of depth information in current displays significantly restricts our ability to observe and understand the complex physical world. Therefore, three-dimensional displays have become a higher-quality display pursuit.

[0003] 3D display, capable of providing a three-dimensional visual impact, is considered one of the ultimate goals of information display technology. Desktop 3D display technology, capable of displaying three-dimensional information in all directions and enabling real-time multi-user experiences, has broader application prospects and can be widely used in military, product display, gaming, medical, and other fields. However, to date, no 3D display product has been widely marketed, and desktop 3D display technology is even rarer. This is due to the limited spatial-bandwidth product of current display panels, which results in the number of viewpoints being inversely proportional to image resolution. With this limited number of viewpoints, meeting desktop display requirements requires secondary light field modulation using directional diffusion screens or holographic screens, which significantly increases the thickness and complexity of the display device, making it difficult to achieve the circular, continuous viewing angle required for high-definition image display. Therefore, the limited number of viewpoints and the discontinuity of viewing angles are key factors hindering the market promotion and application of desktop 3D display technology. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To this end, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a 3D information display system for desktop display applications, which can use a limited number of viewpoints to form a circular 360° viewing angle with a continuous field of view distribution. It can not only obtain high-definition, jump-free high-quality image display effects, but also does not require secondary modulation of a diffusion screen, greatly simplifying the complexity and thickness of the display system, giving it a wider market application range.

[0005] A desktop 3D information display system includes a light source, an image display, and a light field modulator. The light source provides illumination for the display system; the image display loads multi-view image information; and the light field modulator projects the loaded multi-view image information in a spatially separated manner, constructing a continuously distributed field of view across a 360-degree circular viewing angle, thereby achieving a desktop 3D visual display effect.

[0006] Furthermore, the multi-view image information loaded on the image display is generated by sampling, encoding and synthesizing multiple images of different viewpoints. The multiple images of different viewpoints can be captured by a camera from different viewpoints of a real object or by virtual software.

[0007] Furthermore, the light field modulator is composed of multiple groups of pixels, each of which is composed of individual sub-pixels. The total number of sub-pixels matches the number of pixels in the image display. One group of pixels in the light field modulator is used to create a single viewing angle, while multiple groups of pixels create a circular viewing angle, meeting desktop display requirements.

[0008] Furthermore, in order to improve the clarity of the displayed image, a continuous annular viewing angle is constructed under the condition of a limited number of viewpoints. Each sub-pixel in the light field modulator is divided into several sub-pixels, each sub-pixel is filled with a patterned micro-nano structure, and the sub-pixels composed of multiple sub-pixels can form an expansion effect on the light field. In addition, the shape and size of the light field formed by the sub-pixels are determined by the number of sub-pixels in the sub-pixel and the parameters (period and orientation) of the patterned micro-nano structure. Therefore, in order to meet the high-precision spatial projection of the viewing angle and the continuity of the field of view, the parameters of the patterned micro-nano structure in each sub-pixel can be specifically designed, which can be calculated based on parameters such as the incident light vector, the outgoing light vector, and the sub-pixel position coordinates.

[0009] Furthermore, the present invention proposes to use a light field modulator to modulate and project the viewing angle light field information, and to achieve the effect of expanding the viewing angle by filling a sub-pixel with multiple graphic micro-nano structures. Combined with an image display, it can form a circular 360° viewing angle distribution under the condition of a limited number of viewpoints, thereby realizing a high-definition desktop 3D display effect.

[0010] The advantages of the present invention are:

[0011] First, each subpixel in the light field modulator is filled with multiple patterned micro-nanostructures. This not only projects the viewing angle image spatially, forming a circular viewing angle distribution, but also expands each viewing angle to form a circular viewing angle with a continuous field of view. Compared with the traditional light field modulation method of combining microlenses with diffusers, this greatly reduces the complexity of the structure and the thickness of the device.

[0012] Second, the present invention adopts a graphic micro-nanostructure based on diffraction optics as a way to control light. On the one hand, compared with geometric optics (such as microlens array light control), it has the "double high" advantages of high precision and high degree of freedom; on the other hand, through the combination of multiple graphic sub-pixels, not only the position of the perspective light field can be controlled, but also the shape of the perspective light field can be controlled. It can achieve high-definition desktop display effects under limited viewpoints, and can be widely used in fields such as medical care, military, advertising, gaming and entertainment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0014] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of a micro-nano patterned pixel in XYZ coordinates;

[0015] Figure 2 1 is a schematic diagram showing the modulation principle of the spatial viewing angle by the light field modulator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 3 This is a working principle diagram of a desktop 3D display according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 4 This is a working principle diagram of another desktop 3D display under an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more clear, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0019] As mentioned in the background, the limited number of viewpoints and discontinuous viewing angles are key factors hindering the market adoption of desktop 3D display technology. Using multiple graphical pixels to fill a single viewing angle pixel effectively addresses these two core issues, creating a high-definition, continuous field-of-view annular viewing angle distribution. This approach is gaining favor with those skilled in the art and is poised to become one of the technologies most likely to be widely adopted in desktop 3D display systems in the future.

[0020] Please see first Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a micro-nano patterned pixel 101 in XYZ coordinates. According to the diffraction optics theory, the vector G of the micro-nano patterned pixel 101 and the incident light vector K i , outgoing light vector K d The following relationship is satisfied between the three:

[0021] K d =K i -G (1)

[0022]

[0023]

[0024] Where: λ is the wavelength of the incident light; n1 and n2 are the substrate refractive indices corresponding to the incident and diffracted light, respectively; and P is the period of the micro-nano patterned pixel. In other words, once the incident and diffracted light vectors are specified, the vector parameters of the desired micro-nano patterned pixel can be calculated using the above three formulas.

[0025] According to the above principle, a group of micro-nano patterned pixel structures set on demand are produced on the light-emitting surface of the light field modulator, which can spatially modulate the incident viewing angle image information and reproduce the 3D display effect of the annular viewing angle distribution above it.

[0026] The technical solution of the present invention is as follows: an image display displays multi-view image information, and the sub-pixels in each view image information are regulated by multiple graphic pixel structures in a light field modulator, separated and reconstructed in space, forming a circular 360° view. The parameters of the micro-nano graphic structure contained in the light field modulator satisfy the above-mentioned equations (1)-(3). Since the present invention uses multiple graphic micro-nano pixel structures to regulate an image sub-pixel, it can not only achieve precise regulation of the field of view direction to form a circular view distribution, but also can perform shape expansion modulation on a single view. It can achieve the construction of a desktop 3D light field with no visual jump and continuous field distribution under limited viewpoint conditions, which can effectively solve the two contradictory problems of limited viewpoint number and discontinuous view in desktop 3D display, and achieve a high-definition desktop 3D display effect.

[0027] The specific implementation methods of the technical solution of the present invention will be described in detail below.

[0028] Please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the spatial viewing angle modulation principle of a light field modulator according to an embodiment of the present invention. A single pixel in the light field modulator 202 is composed of multiple patterned micro-nano pixels (e.g., sub-pixel 203 is composed of patterned micro-nano pixels 203(a)-203(d)). Incident light 201 passing through each pixel in the light field modulator 202 can form a viewing angle above its spatial position (e.g., pixel 203 forms viewing angle 204 in an annular field of view). The spatial position and shape of the viewing angle are formed by the diffraction combination of each patterned micro-nano pixel (e.g., the diffraction viewing angles 204(a)-204(d) formed by patterned micro-nano pixels 203(a)-203(d) are combined to form viewing angle 204). This achieves the effect of expanding and shaping the viewing angle. The parameters (period and orientation) of each patterned micro-nano pixel in the light field modulator 202 are different and need to be accurately calculated using equations (1)-(3) based on the position coordinates of the patterned micro-nano pixel, combined with the incident light vector and the diffracted light vector.

[0029] Please refer to Figure 3 , Figure 3 This is a diagram illustrating the operating principle of a desktop 3D display system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The desktop 3D display system includes an incident light source 301, an image display 302, and a light field modulator 303. The perspective image pixels 302(a)-302(d) loaded on the image display 302 are aligned with pixels 303(a)-303(d) in the light field modulator 303, respectively, projecting different perspective images into perspectives 304(a)-304(d) within an annular field of view 305. A single pixel in the light field modulator 303 is composed of multiple patterned micro-nano pixels, for example, four patterned micro-nano pixels, and can be precisely controlled to different perspective positions. For example, 303(a) is controlled to form perspective 304(a), 303(b) is controlled to form perspective 304(b), 303(c) is controlled to form perspective 304(c), and 303(d) is controlled to form perspective 304(d). The perspective is further expanded to form a continuous field of view distribution. The integrated design of the viewing angle image in the image display 302 and the graphic micro-nano pixel structure in the light field modulator 303 can form a circular 360° desktop 3D display effect with a continuous field of view distribution, and the human eye can see the displayed stereoscopic image 306.

[0030] Please refer to Figure 4 , Figure 4 This is a diagram illustrating the working principle of another desktop 3D display according to an embodiment of the present invention. The desktop 3D display system includes a projector 401 and a light field modulator 403. The perspective image pixels 402(a)-402(d) in the image 402 projected by the projector 401 are aligned with the pixels 403(a)-403(d) in the light field modulator 403, respectively, and the different perspective images are projected into the perspectives 404(a)-404(d) in the annular field of view 405. A single pixel in the light field modulator 403 is composed of multiple patterned micro-nano pixels, for example, four patterned micro-nano pixels, and can be precisely controlled to different perspective positions. For example, 403(a) is controlled to form the perspective 404(a), 403(b) is controlled to form the perspective 404(b), 403(c) is controlled to form the perspective 404(c), and 403(d) is controlled to form the perspective 404(d). The perspective is further expanded to form a continuous field of view distribution. The integrated design of the viewing angle image projected by the projector and the graphic micro-nano pixel structure in the light field modulator 403 can form a circular 360° desktop 3D display effect with a continuous field of view distribution, and the human eye can see the displayed three-dimensional image 406.

[0031] The patterned micro-nano pixels on the light-emitting surface of the light field modulator described above can be fabricated using photolithography and nanoimprinting. It should be noted that, in the present invention, photolithography can be used to etch patterned micro-nano pixels with various parameters on the surface of the light field modulator. Alternatively, a mask suitable for imprinting can be first fabricated using the same photolithography method, and then the patterned micro-nano pixel structure can be imprinted in large quantities on the light field modulator using nanoimprinting.

[0032] Throughout this specification, reference to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "examples," "specific examples," or "some examples" means that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in conjunction with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0033] While embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, and that the scope of the invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A 3D information display system for desktop display applications, characterized in that: The system comprises a light source, an image display and a light field modulator; the light source is used to provide illumination for the display system; the image display is used to load multi-view image information; the light field modulator is used to spatially separate and project the loaded multi-view image information, constructing a continuously distributed viewing angle information in a 360° annular viewing angle, thereby achieving a desktop 3D visual display effect; The multi-view image information loaded on the image display is formed by sampling, encoding and synthesizing multiple images from different viewpoints; the multiple images from different viewpoints are formed by photographing a real object from different viewpoints by a camera, or by photographing a virtual object using software; The light field modulator is composed of multiple groups of pixels, each group of pixels is composed of various sub-pixels, and the total number of sub-pixels is consistent with the number of pixels in the image display; a group of pixels in the light field modulator is used to construct an observation angle, and multiple groups of pixels construct a circular angle; each sub-pixel in the light field modulator is divided into several sub-pixels, each sub-pixel is filled with a graphic micro-nano structure, and the sub-pixels composed of multiple sub-pixels are used to form an expansion effect on the light field, and the shape and size of the light field formed by the sub-pixels are determined by the number of sub-pixels in the sub-pixel and the graphic micro-nano structure parameters; the graphic micro-nano structure parameters in each sub-pixel are specifically designed, wherein the micro-nano graphic pixel vector G is consistent with the incident light vector K i , outgoing light vector K d The following relationship is satisfied between the three: K d =K i -G Where λ is the wavelength of the incident light, n1 and n2 are the substrate refractive indices corresponding to the incident light and diffracted light, respectively; and P is the period of the grating vector.

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