Static multi-view display and method using micro-slit scattering elements

Abstract

A static multi-view display and a method of static multi-view display operation includes a micro-slit scattering element configured to reflect and scatter guided light from a light guide as a corresponding plurality of directional light beams encoding view pixels of a static multi-view image. The static multi-view display includes a light guide configured to guide light and a plurality of micro-slit scattering elements, each of the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements configured to reflect and scatter a different one of the directional light beams having a relative intensity and direction encoding a corresponding view pixel of the static multi-view image. Each micro-slit scattering element includes an inclined reflective sidewall having an inclined angle inclined away from a propagation direction of the guided light providing the reflective scattering.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] not applicable

[0003] STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0004] not applicable Background Art

[0005] Electronic displays are nearly ubiquitous media for conveying information to users of a wide variety of devices and products. The most commonly used electronic displays include cathode ray tubes (CRTs), plasma display panels (PDPs), liquid crystal displays (LCDs), electroluminescent displays (ELs), organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) and active matrix OLED (AMOLED) displays, electrophoretic displays (EPs), and various displays that employ electromechanical or electrofluidic light modulation (e.g., digital micromirror devices, electrowetting displays, etc.). In general, electronic displays can be classified as active displays (i.e., displays that emit light) or passive displays (i.e., displays that modulate light provided by another source). Examples of active displays include CRTs, PDPs, and OLED / AMOLEDs. Examples of passive displays include LCDs and EP displays. Passive displays, while generally exhibiting attractive performance characteristics, including but not limited to inherently low power consumption, may find use somewhat limited in many practical applications due to their lack of light-emitting capability. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The various features of examples and embodiments according to the principles described herein may be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like structural elements.

[0007] Figure 1 A perspective view of a multi-view display is shown in an example of an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein.

[0008] Figure 2 A graphical representation of angular components of light beams having a particular principal angle direction corresponding to a view direction of a multi-view display is shown, according to an example of an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein.

[0009] Figure 3A Shown is a plan view of a static multi-view display in an example of an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein.

[0010] Figure 3B Shown is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a static multi-view display in an example of an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein.

[0011] Figure 3CAn example of an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein is shown. Figure 3B A perspective view of a portion of a static multi-view display is shown in FIG.

[0012] Figure 3D A perspective view of a static multi-view display is shown in an example of an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein.

[0013] Figure 4A Shown is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a static multi-view display in an example of an embodiment according to the principles described herein.

[0014] Figure 4B Shown is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a static multi-view display in an example of another embodiment according to principles described herein.

[0015] Figure 4C Shown is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a static multi-view display in an example of another embodiment according to principles described herein.

[0016] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of a portion of a static multi-view display including micro-slit scattering elements is shown, according to an example of an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein.

[0017] Figure 6 A perspective view of a curved micro-slit scattering element is shown in an example according to an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein.

[0018] Fig. 7A A plan view of a static multi-view display 100 including parasitic reflection mitigation is shown, according to an example of an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein.

[0019] Figure 7B A plan view of a static multi-view display including parasitic reflection mitigation is shown, according to an example of another embodiment consistent with principles described herein.

[0020] Fig. 8A Shown is a plan view of a static multi-view display in an example of an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein.

[0021] Figure 8B In another example according to an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein, Fig. 8A A plan view of a static multi-view display.

[0022] Fig. 9 A block diagram of a static multi-view display is shown in an example according to another embodiment consistent with the principles described herein.

[0023] Fig.10 A flow chart is shown of a method of static multi-view display operation in an example of an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein.

[0024] Certain examples and embodiments have other features that are in addition to or in lieu of the features shown in the above figures. These and other features are described in detail below with reference to the above figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Examples and embodiments according to the principles described herein provide for the display of static or quasi-static three-dimensional (3D) or multi-view images. Specifically, embodiments consistent with the principles described herein provide a static multi-view display that employs a plurality of micro-slit scattering elements configured to emit light comprising a plurality of similar directional beams, the plurality of directional beams encoding view pixels of a multi-view image displayed by the static multi-view display. According to various embodiments, the directional beams emitted from the micro-slit scattering elements of the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements have respective intensities and directions corresponding to view pixels in the view of the static multi-view image being displayed. According to various embodiments, the respective intensities of the directional beams, and in some embodiments the respective directions, are predetermined or "fixed" by the reflective properties of the micro-slit scattering elements. In this way, the displayed multi-view images may be referred to as static multi-view images, or in some embodiments as "quasi-static" multi-view images. Uses of the static multi-view displays described herein include, but are not limited to, mobile phones (e.g., smart phones), watches, tablet computers, mobile computers (e.g., laptop computers), personal computers and computer monitors, automotive display consoles, camera displays, and various other mobile and substantially non-mobile display applications and devices.

[0026] In this document, a "multi-view display" is defined as an electronic display or display system configured to provide different views of a multi-view image in different view directions. A "static multi-view display" is defined as a multi-view display configured to display a predetermined or fixed (i.e., static) multi-view image (albeit as a plurality of different views). A "quasi-static multi-view display" is defined herein as a static multi-view display that can typically switch between different fixed multi-view images or between multiple multi-view image states as a function of time. For example, switching between different fixed multi-view images or multi-view image states can provide a basic form of animation. In addition, as defined herein, a quasi-static multi-view display is a static multi-view display. Therefore, no distinction is made between a purely static multi-view display or image and a quasi-static multi-view display or image, unless such a distinction is necessary for a correct understanding.

[0027] Figure 11 shows a perspective view of a multi-view display 10 according to an example of an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein. Figure 1 As shown, the multi-view display 10 includes a screen 12 to display a multi-view image to be viewed. For example, the screen 12 can be a display screen of a phone (e.g., a mobile phone, a smart phone, etc.), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a computer monitor of a desktop computer, a camera display, or an electronic display of substantially any other device. The multi-view display 10 provides different views 14 of the multi-view image in different view directions 16 relative to the screen 12 (i.e., the multi-view image includes different views 14). The view directions 16 are shown as arrows extending from the screen 12 in various different principal directions; the different views 14 are shown as shaded polygonal boxes at the ends of the arrows (i.e., depicting the view directions 16); and only four views 14 and four view directions 16 are shown, all by way of example and not limitation. Note that although the different views 14 are shown in Figure 1 12, but when the multi-view images are displayed on the multi-view display 10, the view 14 actually appears on or near the screen 12. The view 14 is depicted above the screen 12 only to simplify the explanation and is intended to represent viewing the multi-view display 10 from a respective one of the view directions 16 corresponding to the particular view 14.

[0028] According to the definition herein, a light beam having a view direction or equivalently a direction corresponding to a view direction of a multi-view display generally has an angular component {θ, The angular component θ is referred to herein as the "elevation component" or "elevation angle" of the beam. is called the "azimuth component" or "azimuth" of the beam. By definition, the elevation angle θ is the angle in the vertical plane (e.g., the plane perpendicular to the multi-view display screen), while the azimuth angle is the angle in the horizontal plane (eg, parallel to the multi-view display screen plane).

[0029] Figure 2 FIG. 1 shows a plurality of view directions (eg, corresponding to a multi-view display) in an example according to an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein. Figure 1 The angular components {θ, }. In addition, according to the definition herein, the light beam 20 is emitted or emanates from a specific point. That is, according to the definition, the light beam 20 has a central ray associated with a specific origin within the multi-view display. Figure 2 The beam (or view direction) origin O is also shown.

[0030] As used herein, the term "multi-view" as used in the terms "multi-view image" and "multi-view display" is defined as a plurality of views representing different viewing angles or angular disparity between views including a plurality of views. Additionally, as used herein, the term "multi-view" may explicitly include more than two different views (i.e., a minimum of three views and typically more than three views). As such, a "multi-view display" as used herein may be explicitly distinguished from a stereoscopic display that includes only two different views to represent a scene or image. Note, however, that while a multi-view image and a multi-view display include more than two views, a multi-view image may be viewed (e.g., on a multi-view display) as a stereoscopic image pair by selecting only two of the multi-view views to be viewed at a time (e.g., one view for each eye), according to the definition herein.

[0031] A "multi-view pixel" is defined herein as a set of scatterers (e.g., micro-slit scattering elements) that represent a "view" pixel in each of a similar plurality of different views of a multi-view display. Specifically, a multi-view pixel may have a single pixel or set of pixels that corresponds to or represents a view pixel in each different view of a multi-view image. Thus, according to the definition herein, a "view pixel" is a pixel of a particular view in a multi-view display. In some embodiments, a view pixel may include one or more color sub-pixels. Furthermore, according to the definition herein, a view pixel of a multi-view pixel is a so-called "directional pixel" because each of the view pixels is associated with a predetermined view direction of a corresponding view in the different views. Furthermore, according to various examples and embodiments, different view pixels represented by a multi-view pixel may have identical or at least substantially similar positions or coordinates in each of the different views.

[0032] In this document, a "lightguide" is defined as a structure that guides light within the structure using total internal reflection. Specifically, a lightguide may include a core that is substantially transparent at the operating wavelength of the lightguide. The term "lightguide" generally refers to a dielectric optical waveguide that uses total internal reflection to guide light at the interface between the dielectric material of the lightguide and the material or medium surrounding the lightguide. By definition, the condition for total internal reflection is that the refractive index of the lightguide is greater than the refractive index of the surrounding medium adjacent to the surface of the lightguide material. In some embodiments, in addition to or in lieu of the above-mentioned refractive index difference, the lightguide may include a coating to further promote total internal reflection. The coating may be, for example, a reflective coating. The lightguide may be any of several lightguides, including but not limited to one or both of a plate or slab lightguide and a strip lightguide.

[0033] Furthermore, in this document, the term "plate" when applied to a lightguide as in "plate lightguide" is defined as a layer or sheet of segmented or different planes, which is sometimes referred to as a "flat plate" lightguide. Specifically, a plate lightguide is defined as a lightguide configured to guide light in two substantially orthogonal directions defined by the top surface and the bottom surface (i.e., the opposing surfaces) of the lightguide. Furthermore, according to the definition herein, the top surface and the bottom surface are both separated from each other and may be substantially parallel to each other at least in a differential sense. That is, within any small difference portion of the plate lightguide, the top surface and the bottom surface are substantially parallel or coplanar. In some embodiments, the plate lightguide may be substantially flat (i.e., confined to a plane), and therefore, the plate lightguide is a planar lightguide. In other embodiments, the plate lightguide may be bent in one or two orthogonal dimensions. For example, the plate lightguide may be bent in a single dimension to form a cylindrical plate lightguide. However, any curvature has a sufficiently large radius of curvature to ensure that total internal reflection is maintained within the plate lightguide to guide light.

[0034] Here, a "collimator" is defined as substantially any optical device or apparatus configured to collimate light. According to various embodiments, the amount of collimation provided by the collimator can vary from one embodiment to another by a predetermined degree or amount. In addition, the collimator can be configured to provide collimation in one or both of two orthogonal directions (e.g., a vertical direction and a horizontal direction). That is, according to some embodiments, the collimator can include a shape that provides light collimation in one or both of the two orthogonal directions.

[0035] Here, "collimation factor" is defined as the degree to which light is collimated. Specifically, according to the definition herein, the collimation factor defines the angular spread of light rays within a collimated light beam. For example, the collimation factor σ can specify that a majority of the light rays in the collimated light beam are within a particular angular spread (e.g., + / -σ degrees with respect to the center or principal angle of the collimated light beam). According to some examples, the light rays of the collimated light beam can have a Gaussian distribution in terms of angles, and the angular spread can be an angle determined at half the peak intensity of the collimated light beam.

[0036] As used herein, a "light source" is defined as a source of light (e.g., a light emitter configured to generate and emit light). For example, a light source may include an optical emitter, such as a light emitting diode (LED) that emits light when activated or turned on. Specifically, as used herein, a light source may be substantially any light source or include substantially any optical emitter, including but not limited to one or more of a light emitting diode (LED), a laser, an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a polymer light emitting diode, a plasma-based optical emitter, a fluorescent lamp, an incandescent lamp, and virtually any other light source. The light generated by the light source may have a color (i.e., may include light of a specific wavelength), or may be a range of wavelengths (e.g., white light). In some embodiments, the light source may include a plurality of optical emitters. For example, the light source may include a collection or group of optical emitters, wherein at least one of the optical emitters generates light having a different color or equivalent wavelength than the color or wavelength of light generated by at least one other optical emitter in the collection or group. For example, the different colors may include primary colors (e.g., red, green, blue).

[0037] As used herein, the article "a" is intended to have its ordinary meaning in the patent field, i.e., "one or more". For example, a "micro-slit scattering element" refers to one or more micro-slit scattering elements, and therefore, a "micro-slit scattering element" refers to "(one or more) micro-slit scattering elements" in this article. In addition, any reference to "top", "bottom", "upper", "lower", "up", "lower", "front", "back", "first", "second", "left" or "right" in this article is not intended to be limiting herein. In this article, the term 'about' when applied to a value generally means within the tolerance range of the equipment used to produce the value, or may mean plus or minus 10%, or plus or minus 5%, or plus or minus 1%, unless otherwise expressly stated. In addition, the term "substantially" as used herein means most, or almost all, or all, or an amount in the range of about 51% to about 100%. In addition, the examples in this article are intended to be illustrative only and are presented for discussion purposes rather than as a limitation.

[0038] According to some embodiments of the principles described herein, there is provided a static multi-view display configured to provide static or quasi-static multi-view images. Figure 3A A plan view of a static multi-view display 100 is shown in an example according to an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein. Figure 3B A cross-sectional view of a portion of a static multi-view display 100 is shown in an example of an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein. Figure 3C An example of an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein is shown. Figure 3B A perspective view of a portion of a static multi-view display 100 is shown in FIG. Figure 3D A perspective view of a static multi-view display 100 in an example according to an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein is shown. According to some embodiments, the static multi-view display 100 shown is configured to purely provide static multi-view images, while in other embodiments, the static multi-view display 100 may be configured to provide switchable multiple multi-view images and thus function as (or be) a quasi-static multi-view display 100. For example, the static multi-view display 100 may switch between different fixed multi-view images, or equivalently between multiple multi-view image states, as described below. Furthermore, according to some embodiments, the static multi-view display 100 is configured to provide static or quasi-static multi-view images presenting horizontal parallax only (HPO) views.

[0039] As shown, the static multi-view display 100 is configured to provide a plurality of directional light beams 102, each of the plurality of directional light beams 102 having an intensity and a principal direction. The plurality of directional light beams 102 together represent or encode various view pixels of a set of views of a multi-view image that the static multi-view display 100 is configured to provide or display. In some embodiments, the view pixels may be organized into multi-view pixels to represent various different views of the multi-view image. Figure 3B The directional light beam 102 is shown from a side view, and Figure 3C and 3D A plurality of directional light beams 102 are shown in perspective view. Figure 3C A set of micro-slit scattering elements representing a multi-view pixel is shown, which provides a corresponding set of directional light beams 102, one directional light beam 102 being directed to each view in a different set of views of a static multi-view image. Figure 3C The set of directional light beams 102 shown in may represent directional light beams 102 directed toward different views of a multi-view image.

[0040] Figure 3D 1 shows an example of a plurality of directional light beams 102 that may be provided by a static multi-view display 100. Specifically, the directional light beams 102 in the plurality of directional light beams may have different directions and different intensities, which represent the directions and intensities of view pixels of a multi-view image displayed by the static multi-view display 100. For example, Figure 3DAs shown, according to various embodiments, different directions may correspond to different view directions of the static multi-view display 100 or equivalently correspond to views of the multi-view image. For example, a first set of directional light beams 102' having a first direction may correspond to a first view direction (or a first view) of the static multi-view display 100. Similarly, a second set of directional light beams 102'' and a third set of directional light beams 102''' may have directions corresponding to a second view direction (or a second view) and a third view direction (or a third view) of the static multi-view display 100, respectively, and so on, as shown. Figure 3D Also shown in FIG. 1 are a first view 14′, a second view 14″, and a third view 14′″ of a static multi-view image 18 that may be provided by the static multi-view display 100. The first view 14′, the second view 14″, and the third view 14′″ shown represent different perspective views of an object and are collectively the displayed static multi-view image 18 (e.g., equivalent to having Figure 1 A). In addition, different directional light beams 102 represent view pixels of the static multi-view image 18. For example, the directional light beams 102' in the first set may represent or encode view pixels of the first view 14', the directional light beams 102' in the first set may represent or encode view pixels of the first view 14', the directional light beams 102' in the second set may represent or encode view pixels of the second view 14', and the directional light beams 102''' in the third set may represent or encode view pixels of the third view 14'''.

[0041] like FIG. 3A to FIG. 3D As shown, the static multi-view display 100 includes a light guide 110. The light guide 110 is configured to guide light as guided light 104 in a propagation direction 103. In addition, in various embodiments, the guided light 104 can have a predetermined collimation factor σ, or be guided according to a predetermined collimation factor σ. For example, the light guide 110 can include a dielectric material configured as an optical waveguide. The dielectric material can have a first refractive index that is greater than a second refractive index of a medium surrounding the dielectric optical waveguide. The difference in refractive index can be configured to promote total internal reflection of the guided light 104 according to one or more guided modes of the light guide 110.

[0042] In some embodiments, the light guide 110 may be a plate or slab optical waveguide (i.e., a plate light guide) that includes an extended, substantially planar sheet of optically transparent dielectric material. The substantially planar sheet of dielectric material is configured to guide the guided light 104 using total internal reflection. According to various examples, the optically transparent material of the light guide 110 may include or be composed of any of a variety of dielectric materials, including, but not limited to, one or more of various types of glass (e.g., silica glass, alkali-aluminosilicate glass, borosilicate glass, etc.) and substantially optically transparent plastics or polymers (e.g., poly(methyl methacrylate) or "acrylic glass", polycarbonate, etc.). In some embodiments, the light guide 110 may also include a cladding layer (not shown) on at least a portion of a surface (e.g., one or both of the top and bottom surfaces) of the light guide 110. According to some examples, the cladding layer may be used to further promote total internal reflection. Specifically, the cladding layer may include a material having a refractive index greater than the refractive index of the light guide material.

[0043] In addition, according to some embodiments, the light guide 110 is configured to guide the guided light 104 at a non-zero propagation angle between a first surface 110' (e.g., a "front" or "top" surface or side) and a second surface 110" (e.g., a "back" or "bottom" surface or side) of the light guide 110 based on total internal reflection. Specifically, the guided light 104 propagates as a guided light beam by reflecting or "bouncing" between the first surface 110' and the second surface 110" of the light guide 110 at the non-zero propagation angle. In some embodiments, the guided light 104 may include multiple guided light beams representing different colors of light. Light of different colors may be guided by the light guide 110 at corresponding angles in the non-zero propagation angles specific to the different colors. Note that for simplicity of illustration, in FIG. 3A to FIG. 3D The non-zero propagation angles are not shown in FIG. However, the thick arrow representing the propagation direction 103 depicts the direction in which the guided light 104 travels. Figure 3A The general propagation direction of the light guide length.

[0044] As defined herein, a “non-zero propagation angle” is an angle relative to a surface of the light guide 110 (e.g., the first surface 110′ or the second surface 110″). Further, according to various embodiments, the non-zero propagation angle is both greater than zero and less than a critical angle for total internal reflection within the light guide 110. For example, the non-zero propagation angle of the guided light 104 may be between about ten degrees (10°) and about fifty degrees (50°), or between about twenty degrees (20°) and about forty degrees (40°), or between about twenty-five degrees (25°) and about thirty-five (35°) degrees. For example, the non-zero propagation angle may be about thirty (30°) degrees. In other examples, the non-zero propagation angle may be about 20°, or about 25°, or about 35°. Further, a particular non-zero propagation angle may be selected for a particular implementation (e.g., arbitrarily), as long as the particular non-zero propagation angle is selected to be less than the critical angle for total internal reflection within the light guide 110.

[0045] The guided light 104 in the light guide 110 can be introduced or directed into the light guide 110 at a non-zero propagation angle (e.g., about 30-35 degrees). In some embodiments, structures such as, but not limited to, lenses, mirrors, or similar reflectors (e.g., tilted collimating reflectors), diffraction gratings, and prisms (not shown), and various combinations thereof, can be employed to introduce light into the light guide 110 as guided light 104. In other examples, light can be introduced directly into the input end of the light guide 110 without or substantially without the use of structures (i.e., direct or "butt" coupling can be employed). Once guided into the light guide 110, the guided light 104 is configured to propagate along the light guide 110 in a propagation direction 103 generally away from the input end.

[0046] Additionally, the guided light 104 having a predetermined collimation factor σ may be referred to as a "collimated light beam" or "collimated guided light". As used herein, "collimated light" or "collimated light beam" is generally defined as a light beam in which the rays of the light beam are substantially parallel to one another within the light beam (e.g., a guided light beam), except as permitted by the collimation factor σ. Additionally, light rays that diverge or scatter from a collimated light beam are not considered part of the collimated light beam according to the definitions herein.

[0047] like FIG. 3A to FIG. 3DAs shown, the static multi-view display 100 also includes a plurality of micro-slit scattering elements 120 distributed across the light guide 110. Specifically, the micro-slit scattering elements 120 in the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements 120 are spaced or separated from each other by a limited space and represent separate different elements across the light guide 110. The micro-slit scattering elements 120 in the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements are configured to reflectively scatter the guided light from the light guide 110 as individual directional beams 102 in a plurality of directional beams encoding view pixels of a static multi-view image (e.g., the static multi-view image 18). That is, each micro-slit scattering element 120 in the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements is configured to reflectively scatter or provide a different directional beam 102 in the plurality of directional beams having a relative intensity and direction of a corresponding view pixel encoding the static multi-view image, that is, there is a single directional beam 102 in a single principal direction and having a single intensity corresponding to a specific view pixel in one view of the static multi-view image. In this way, there is a one-to-one correspondence between the micro-slit scattering elements 120 and the view pixels in the view of the multi-view image. According to various embodiments, the micro-slit scattering elements 120 each include an inclined reflective sidewall 122 having an inclination angle inclined away from the propagation direction 103 of the guided light 104. Reflective scattering is configured to occur at or be provided by the inclined reflective sidewall 122 of the micro-slit scattering elements 120.

[0048] According to some embodiments, the inclined reflective sidewall 122 of each of the micro-slit scattering elements 120 has a predetermined reflectivity characteristic that is configured to determine the relative intensity of the directional light beam 102 provided by the micro-slit scattering element 120. In turn, the relative intensity of the directional light beam 102 encodes the intensity or brightness of the view pixel corresponding to the micro-slit scattering element 120. For example, the predetermined reflectivity characteristic may include the length or depth of the inclined reflective sidewall 122. In another example, the predetermined reflectivity characteristic may include the surface reflectivity of the inclined reflective sidewall 122. In some examples, the predetermined reflective characteristic may include both the depth and the surface reflectivity. In some embodiments, the micro-slit scattering element 120 may have a predetermined rotation angle relative to the propagation angle of the guided light 104. In these embodiments, the predetermined rotation angle is configured to determine the direction of the directional light beam scattered by the micro-slit scattering element 120 that encodes the corresponding view pixel, that is, the direction of the view pixel is encoded.

[0049] In some embodiments, the micro-slit scattering element 120 of the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements may be disposed on or at a surface of the light guide 110. For example, the micro-slit scattering element 120 may be disposed on an emitting surface (eg, first surface 110') of the light guide 110, such as Figure 3BAs shown. In this example, the micro-slit scattering element 120 of the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements extends to the interior of the light guide 110 and extends toward the second surface 110″ of the light guide 110. In another example, the micro-slit scattering element 120 may be disposed on or at a second surface 110″ opposite to the emission or first surface 110′ of the light guide 110. In this example, the micro-slit scattering element 120 of the plurality of micro-slit sub-elements may extend away from the second surface 110″ to the interior of the light guide 110.

[0050] In other embodiments, the micro-slit scattering element 120 may be located within the light guide 110. Specifically, in these embodiments, the micro-slit scattering element 120 may be located between the first surface 110' and the second surface 110" of the light guide 110 and spaced apart from both the first surface 110' and the second surface 110" of the light guide 110. For example, the micro-slit scattering element 120 may be disposed on a surface of the light guide 110 and then covered by a layer of light guide material to effectively bury the micro-slit scattering element 120 within the interior of the light guide 110.

[0051] In yet another embodiment, the micro-slit scattering elements 120 may be disposed in a layer of optical material located on a surface of the light guide 110. In some of these embodiments, the surface of the optical material layer may be an emitting surface, and the micro-slit scattering elements 120 in the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements may extend away from the emitting surface and toward the light guide surface. In some embodiments, the layer of optical material located on the surface of the light guide 110 may be index-matched to the refractive index of the material of the light guide 110 to reduce or substantially minimize light reflection at the interface between the light guide 110 and the layer of material. In other embodiments, the material may have a refractive index that is higher than the refractive index of the light guide material. For example, such a higher refractive index material layer may be used to improve the brightness of the emitted light including the directional light beam 102.

[0052] According to some embodiments, a micro-slit scattering element 120 in a plurality of micro-slit scattering elements may include a plurality of micro-slit sub-elements 124. Specifically, according to various embodiments, a portion of the guided light may be collectively reflected and scattered out by a plurality of micro-slit sub-elements 124 of the micro-slit scattering element 120 using reflection or reflection scattering. According to various embodiments, each micro-slit sub-element 124 in a plurality of micro-slit sub-elements may include an inclined reflective sidewall having an inclination angle that is inclined away from the propagation direction of the guided light, as defined herein. In some embodiments, the inclined reflective sidewall of the micro-slit sub-element 124 may be substantially similar to the inclined reflective sidewall 122 of the micro-slit scattering element 120. That is, the inclined reflective sidewall 122 of the micro-slit scattering element 120 may include one or more inclined reflective sidewalls of the micro-slit sub-element 124. Furthermore, the presence of a plurality of micro-slit sub-elements 124 in one or more micro-slit scattering elements 120 may facilitate granular control of the reflection scattering characteristics of the emitted light, and by extension, facilitate granular control of the directional beam 102 of the emitted light.

[0053] Figure 4A 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of a static multi-view display 100 in an example of an embodiment according to the principles described herein. Figure 4A As shown, the static multi-view display 100 includes a light guide 110 , wherein a micro-slit scattering element 120 is disposed on a first surface 110 ′ of the light guide 110 . Figure 4A The micro-slit scattering element 120 is shown extending into the interior of the light guide 110 and includes a plurality of micro-slit sub-elements 124. As shown, the guided light 104 is reflected by the inclined reflective sidewalls 122 of the micro-slit scattering element 120 including the inclined reflective sidewalls 124-1 of the micro-slit sub-elements 124, and exits the emitting surface (e.g., the first surface 110') of the light guide 110 as emitted light including the directional light beam 102. Specifically, the guided light 104 may be reflected by one or more of the inclined reflective sidewalls 124-1 of the micro-slit sub-elements 124 of the micro-slit scattering element 120, as shown. In addition, as shown in the figure, Figure 4A As shown, the inclined reflective sidewall 122 of the micro-slit scattering element 120, or equivalently the inclined reflective sidewall 124-1 of the micro-slit sub-element 124, has an inclination angle α that is tilted away from the propagation direction 103 of the guided light 104. In some embodiments, the depth d of the micro-slit scattering element 120 including (one or more) micro-slit sub-elements 124 can be approximately equal to the pitch p (or spacing) between adjacent micro-slit sub-elements 124 within the micro-slit scattering element 120.

[0054] Figure 4B 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of a static multi-view display 100 in an example of another embodiment according to the principles described herein. Figure 4B As shown, the static multi-view display 100 includes a light guide 110 and a micro-slit scattering element 120, and the micro-slit scattering element 120 includes a plurality of micro-slit sub-elements 124. Figure 4B In the embodiment, the micro-slit scattering element 120 is located in the light guide 110 between the first surface 110' and the second surface 110". Figure 4A As shown, the guided light 104 is Figure 4B 1 is shown as being reflected by the angled reflective sidewall 122 of the micro-slit scattering element 120 (eg, the angled reflective sidewall 124 - 1 of the first micro-slit sub-element 124 ) and exiting the emitting surface (first surface 110 ′) of the light guide 110 as emitted light comprising the directed light beam 102 .

[0055] Figure 4C A cross-sectional view of a portion of a static multi-view display 100 is shown in an example of another embodiment according to principles described herein. As shown, static multi-view display 100 includes a light guide 110 having a layer of optical material 112 disposed on a first surface 110' of the light guide 110. Figure 4C The micro-slit scattering element 120 is shown to be located in the optical material layer 112. In addition, as shown, the micro-slit scattering element 120 includes a plurality of micro-slit sub-elements 124 having corresponding inclined reflective sidewalls 122, 124-1. Figure 4C In the embodiment, the micro-slit sub-element 124 of the plurality of micro-slit sub-elements and the micro-slit scattering element 120 extend away from the emitting surface including the surface of the optical material layer 112 and toward the first surface 110' of the light guide 110. In addition, the depth of the micro-slit sub-element 124 or equivalently the micro-slit scattering element 120 can be comparable to the thickness or height h of the optical material layer 112, for example, as shown in the figure. Figure 4C , guided light 104 is illustrated as passing from the light guide 110 into the layer of optical material 112 and then subsequently reflected by the angled reflective sidewalls 122 of a first one of the micro-slit sub-elements 124 to provide emitted light comprising the directed light beam 102 .

[0056] Note that although FIG. 4A to FIG. 4C 1 and 2. A micro-slit scattering element 120 is shown comprising a plurality of micro-slit sub-elements 124, but each of these figures may equally illustrate the micro-slit scattering element 120 itself by considering only one of the micro-slit sub-elements 124 shown. Note also that while FIG. 4A to FIG. 4CEach micro-slit sub-element 124 of the micro-slit scattering element 120 shown in has a similar size and shape, but in some embodiments (not shown), the micro-slit sub-elements 124 in a plurality of micro-slit sub-elements, or equivalently, the micro-slit scattering elements 120 in a plurality of micro-slit scattering elements, may be different from each other within the corresponding plurality of elements. For example, the micro-slit sub-element 124 may have one or more of different sizes, different cross-sectional profiles, and even different orientations (e.g., rotation relative to the propagation direction of the guided light) within and across the micro-slit scattering element 120. Similarly, the micro-slit scattering element 120 may have one or more of different sizes, different cross-sectional profiles, and even different orientations (e.g., rotation relative to the propagation direction of the guided light) within and across the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements. Specifically, according to some embodiments, at least two micro-slit sub-elements 124 in a plurality of micro-slit sub-elements, or two micro-slit scattering elements 120 in a plurality of micro-slit scattering elements, may have different reflective scattering profiles from each other.

[0057] According to some embodiments, the inclined reflective sidewall 122 of the micro-slit scattering element 120, or equivalently the inclined reflective sidewall 124-1 of the micro-slit sub-element 124 in the plurality of micro-slit sub-elements, is configured to reflectively scatter out a portion of the guided light 104 according to total internal reflection (i.e., due to the difference between the refractive indices of the materials on either side of the inclined reflective sidewall 122). That is, the guided light 104 having an incident angle less than the critical angle at the inclined reflective sidewall 122 is reflected by the inclined reflective sidewall 122 to become a directional beam 102 of emitted light.

[0058] In some embodiments, the tilt angle α of the tilted reflective sidewalls 122, 124-1 is between zero degrees (0°) and about forty-five degrees (45°) relative to the surface normal of the emitting surface of the light guide 110 (or equivalently the static multi-view display 100). In some embodiments, the tilt angle α of the tilted reflective sidewalls 122, 124-1 is between ten degrees (10°) and about forty degrees (40°). For example, the tilt angle α of the tilted reflective sidewalls 122, 124-1 can be about twenty degrees (20°), or about thirty degrees (30°), or about thirty-five degrees (35°) relative to the surface normal of the emitting surface of the light guide 110.

[0059] According to various embodiments, the tilt angle α is selected in conjunction with a non-zero propagation angle of the guided light 104 to provide a target angle of the directional beam 102 of emitted light. Furthermore, the selected tilt angle α can be configured to preferentially scatter light in a direction away from an emitting surface (e.g., first surface 110') of the light guide 110 and away from a surface (e.g., second surface 110'') of the light guide 110 that is opposite the emitting surface. That is, in some embodiments, the tilted reflective sidewalls 122, 124-1 can provide little or substantially no scattering of the guided light 104 in a direction away from the emitting surface.

[0060] In some embodiments, the inclined reflective sidewalls 122, 124-1 may include a reflective material configured to reflectively scatter out a portion of the guided light 104. For example, the reflective material may be a reflective metal (e.g., aluminum, nickel, gold, silver, chromium, copper, etc.) layer or a reflective metal-polymer (e.g., polymer-aluminum) layer coated on the inclined reflective sidewalls 122, 124-1. In another example, the interior of the micro-slit scattering element 120 or the micro-slit sub-element 124 may be filled or substantially filled with a reflective material. In some embodiments, the reflective material filling the micro-slit scattering element 120 or the micro-slit sub-element 124 may provide reflective scattering of the guided light portion at the inclined reflective sidewalls.

[0061] In some embodiments (e.g., FIG. 4A to FIG. 4C ), the first sidewall of the micro-slit scattering element 120 or the micro-slit sub-element 124 in the plurality of micro-slit sub-elements may have an inclination angle substantially similar to the inclination angle of the second sidewall of the micro-slit scattering element 120 or the micro-slit sub-element 124. That is, the opposing sidewalls may be substantially parallel to each other. In other embodiments, the first sidewall may have an inclination angle different from the inclination angle of the second sidewall, and the first sidewall is the inclined reflective sidewall 122.

[0062] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of a portion of a static multi-view display 100 including a micro-slit scattering element 120 is shown in accordance with an example of an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein. As shown, the micro-slit scattering element 120 is depicted at a first surface 110' of a light guide 110, wherein a first sidewall 122-1 of the micro-slit scattering element 120 represents an inclined reflective sidewall having an inclined angle α. In addition, a second sidewall 122-2 of the micro-slit scattering element 120 has an inclined angle different from the inclined angle α of the first sidewall 122-1, as shown. Specifically, Figure 5 The second sidewall 122 - 2 shown in FIG. 1 has an inclination angle of about zero degree (0°), ie, the inclination angle of the second sidewall 122 - 2 is substantially parallel to the surface normal of the first surface 110 ′ of the light guide 110 , as shown.

[0063] In some embodiments, a micro-slit scattering element of the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements may have a curved shape in a direction orthogonal to the guided light propagation direction 103. Specifically, the curved shape may be in a direction orthogonal to the propagation direction 103 and also in a plane parallel to the surface of the light guide 110. According to some embodiments, the curved shape may be configured to control an emission pattern of scattered light in a plane orthogonal to the guided light propagation direction.

[0064] Figure 6 A perspective view of a curved micro-slit scattering element 120 in an example of an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein is shown. As shown, the curved micro-slit scattering element 120 is located in the light guide 110 and has a curved shape that is convex relative to the propagation direction 103 of the guided light. As shown, the convex curved shape of the micro-slit scattering element 120 can be used to increase the diffusion of the reflected scattered light in the xy direction. In another example (not shown), for example, the curved shape of the micro-slit scattering element 120 can be concave relative to the propagation direction 103 to reduce the diffusion of the reflected scattered light. In addition, in some embodiments, the radius of curvature of the curved shape can be preferentially selected to control the amount of diffusion of the reflected scattered light. The curved shape can be similarly applied to the micro-slit sub-elements (not shown).

[0065] Reference again FIG. 3A to FIG. 3D According to some embodiments, the static multi-view display may further include a light source 130 at an input position on the light guide 110. As shown, the light source 130 may be configured to provide guided light 104 within the light guide 110, the guided light 104 including a plurality of guided light beams having radial directions 118 different from each other (e.g., Figure 3A and 3D ), that is, the guided light 104 has a "fan-shaped" propagation pattern in the light guide 110. In these embodiments, different micro-slit scattering elements 120 in the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements can be aligned with different guided light beams in the plurality of guided light beams having different radial directions 118 in the light guide 110 and configured to scatter the guided light 104 from the different guided light beams. For example, the light source 130 can be located near the edge or side 114 of the light guide 110, as shown.

[0066] Specifically, Figure 3A and Figure 3DAs shown, light emitted by light source 130 can be configured to enter light guide 110 and propagate as a plurality of guided light beams in a radial pattern away from input location 116 and across or along the length of light guide 110. In addition, due to the radial propagation pattern away from input location 116, individual guided light beams in the plurality of guided light beams have different radial directions from each other. For example, light source 130 can be butt-coupled to side 114. For example, butt-coupled light source 130 can facilitate introducing light in a fan-shaped pattern to provide different radial directions for individual guided light beams of guided light 104. According to some embodiments, light source 130 can be or at least approximate a "point" light source at input location 116, such that individual guided light beams of guided light 104 propagate along different radial directions 118 (i.e., as a plurality of guided light beams).

[0067] In some embodiments, the input location 116 of the light source 130 is near or approximately at the center or middle of the side 114 of the light guide 110. Figure 3A and Figure 3D , the light source 130 is shown at an input location 116 that is approximately centered (e.g., in the middle) of a side 114 (i.e., an “input side”) of the light guide 110. Alternatively (not shown), the input location 116 may be away from the middle or center of the side 114 of the light guide 110. For example, the input location 116 may be at a corner of the light guide 110. For example, the light guide 110 may have a rectangular shape (e.g., as shown), and the input location 116 of the light source 130 may be located at a corner of the rectangular-shaped light guide 110 (e.g., at a corner of the input side 114).

[0068] In various embodiments, the light source 130 may include substantially any light source (e.g., a light emitter), including but not limited to one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) or lasers (e.g., laser diodes). In some embodiments, the light source 130 may include an optical emitter configured to generate substantially monochromatic light having a narrow-band spectrum represented by a specific color. Specifically, the color of the monochromatic light may be a primary color of a specific color space or color model (e.g., an RGB color model). In other examples, the light source 130 may be a substantially broadband light source configured to provide substantially broadband or polychromatic light. For example, the light source 130 may provide white light. In some embodiments, the light source 130 may include a plurality of different optical emitters configured to provide light of different colors. The different optical emitters may be configured to provide light having different, color-specific non-zero propagation angles of the directed light corresponding to each of the different colors of light.

[0069] In some embodiments, the guided beam of guided light 104 produced by coupling light from the light source 130 into the light guide 110 may be uncollimated or at least substantially uncollimated. In other embodiments, the guided beam may be collimated in a vertical direction (i.e., the guided light 104 may be collimated in a direction perpendicular to the first surface 110' and the second surface 110'' of the light guide 110). Therefore, in some embodiments, the static multi-view display 100 may include a "vertical" collimator (not shown) between the light source 130 and the light guide 110. Alternatively, the light source 130 may also include a vertical collimator. The vertical collimator is configured to provide a guided beam collimated in a vertical direction within the light guide 110. Specifically, the vertical collimator is configured to receive substantially uncollimated light from one or more optical emitters of the light source 130 and convert the substantially uncollimated light into vertically collimated light. That is, by definition, the vertical collimator is configured to provide collimation in a plane substantially perpendicular to the propagation direction of the guided light 104 (e.g., a "vertical" plane). Specifically, vertical collimation can provide a collimated guided light beam having a relatively narrow angular spread in a plane perpendicular to a surface (e.g., first surface 110' or second surface 110") of the light guide 110. According to various embodiments, the vertical collimator can include any of a variety of collimators, including but not limited to a lens, a reflector or a mirror (e.g., a tilted collimating reflector) or a diffraction grating (e.g., a barrel collimator based on a diffraction grating) configured to collimate, for example, light from the light source 130.

[0070] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the collimator can provide vertically collimated light having a non-zero propagation angle and being collimated according to a predetermined collimation factor, or both. Furthermore, when light emitters of different colors are employed, the collimator can be configured to provide collimated light having different color-specific non-zero propagation angles and having different color-specific collimation factors, or both. In some embodiments, the collimator is further configured to transmit the collimated light to the light guide 110 for propagation as a guided light beam.

[0071] In some embodiments, the use of collimated or uncollimated light can affect the multi-view images that can be provided by the static multi-view display 100. For example, if the guided beam of guided light 104 is collimated within the light guide 110, the emitted directional light beam 102 can have a relatively narrow or restricted angular spread in at least two orthogonal directions. Thus, the static multi-view display 100 can provide a multi-view image with multiple different views in an array having two different directions (e.g., an x-direction and a y-direction). However, if the guided beam of guided light 104 is substantially uncollimated, the multi-view image can provide view parallax, but may not provide a full two-dimensional array of different views. Specifically, if the guided beam is uncollimated (e.g., along the z-axis), the multi-view image can provide different multi-view images that exhibit "parallax 3D" or "full parallax" when rotated about the y-axis (e.g., as Figure 1 A). On the other hand, for example, if the static multi-view display 100 is rotated about the x-axis, the multi-view image and its views may remain substantially unchanged or the same because the directional light beam 102 of the plurality of directional light beams has a wide angular range in the yz plane. Therefore, the provided multi-view image may be a "horizontal parallax only" (HPO) that provides an array of views in only one direction instead of two directions.

[0072] In some embodiments, various sources of parasitic reflections of the guided light 104 within the static multi-view display 100 may be provided to mitigate, and in some examples even substantially eliminate, those sources of parasitic reflections, particularly when those sources of parasitic reflections may result in the emission of light beams in unintended directions and, in turn, may result in the static multi-view display 100 producing unintended images. Examples of various potential sources of parasitic reflections include, but are not limited to, the side walls of the light guide 110 that may produce secondary reflections of the guided light 104. Reflections from the various sources of parasitic reflections within the static multi-view display 100 may be mitigated by any of a number of techniques, including, but not limited to, absorption and controlled redirection of the parasitic reflections.

[0073] Fig. 7A A plan view of a static multi-view display 100 including parasitic reflection mitigation is shown, according to an example of an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein. Figure 7B 1 shows a plan view of a static multi-view display 100 including parasitic reflection mitigation in an example of another embodiment consistent with the principles described herein. Specifically, Fig. 7A and 7BA static multi-view display 100 is shown, which includes a light guide 110, a plurality of micro-slit scattering elements 120, and a light source 130. A plurality of guided beams of guided light 104 are also shown, wherein at least one guided beam 104' of the plurality of guided beams is incident on a side wall 114a, 114b of the light guide 110. Potential parasitic reflections of the guided beam 104' by the side wall 114a are shown by the dashed arrow representing the reflected guided beam 104".

[0074] exist Fig. 7A In the embodiment, the static multi-view display 100 also includes an absorption layer 119 at the side wall 114b of the light guide 110. The absorption layer 119 is configured to absorb incident light from the guided light beam (e.g., the guided light beam 104'). The absorption layer can include substantially any optical absorber, including but not limited to, for example, a black paint applied to the side wall 114b. Fig. 7A As shown, by way of example and not limitation, an absorption layer 119 is applied to sidewall 114b, while sidewall 114a is free of absorption layer 119. Absorption layer 119 intercepts and absorbs incident guided light beam 104', effectively preventing or mitigating the generation of potential parasitic reflections from sidewall 114b. On the other hand, guided light beam 104' incident on sidewall 114a is reflected, resulting in the generation of reflected guided light beam 104", shown by way of example and not limitation.

[0075] Figure 7B Parasitic reflection mitigation using controlled reflection angles is shown. Specifically, Figure 7B The light guide 110 of the static multi-view display 100 shown in includes skewed sidewalls 114a, 114b (i.e., inclined sidewalls). The skewed sidewalls have a skew angle that is configured to intercept an incident guided light beam (e.g., guided light beam 104') and preferentially direct the reflected guided light beam 104' substantially away from the micro-slit scattering element 120. In this way, the reflected guided light beam 104' is not scattered out of the light guide 110 as an unintended directional light beam. As shown, the skew angle of the sidewalls 114a, 114b can be in the xy plane. In other examples (not shown), the skew angle of the sidewalls 114a, 114b can be in another plane (e.g., the xz plane) to direct the reflected guided light beam 104' out of the top or bottom edge of the light guide 110, for example, by way of example and not limitation, the reflected guided light beam 104' in Figure 7B is shown as being directed out of the top edge of the light guide 110. Note that by way of example and not limitation, Figure 7B Side walls 114a, 114b are shown including a deflection along only a portion of the side wall.

[0076] According to some embodiments, the static multi-view display 100 may include a plurality of light sources 130 that are laterally offset from one another. The lateral offset of the light sources 130 in the plurality of light sources may provide differences in the radial directions of the various guided light beams of the guided light 104 at or between the various micro-slit scattering elements 120. According to some embodiments, the differences may in turn facilitate providing animation of the displayed multi-view images. Thus, in some embodiments, the static multi-view display 100 may be a "quasi-static" multi-view display.

[0077] Fig. 8A A plan view of a static multi-view display 100 is shown in an example according to an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein. Figure 8B In another example according to an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein, Fig. 8A A plan view of a static multi-view display 100 is shown. Fig. 8A and 8B The static multi-view display 100 shown in the figure includes a light guide 110 having a plurality of micro-slit scattering elements 120. In addition, the static multi-view display 100 also includes a plurality of light sources 130, which are laterally offset from each other and are configured to individually provide guided beams of guided light 104 having different radial directions 118 from each other, as shown.

[0078] Specifically, Fig. 8A and 8B A first light source 130a is shown at a first input position 116a and a second light source 130b is shown at a second input position 116b on the side 114 (input side) of the light guide 110. The first input position 116a and the second input position 116b are laterally offset or shifted from each other along the side 114 (i.e., in the x-direction) to provide a lateral offset of the respective first and second light sources 130a, 130b. In addition, each of the first and second light sources 130a, 130b in the plurality of light sources 130 provides a different plurality of guided light beams 104a, 104b of the guided light 104 having respective radial directions that are different from each other. For example, the first light source 130a may provide a first plurality of guided light beams 104a having a first set of different radial directions 118a, and the second light source 130b may provide a second plurality of guided light beams 104b having a second set of different radial directions 118b, respectively. Fig. 8A and 8B Furthermore, due to the lateral offset of the first light source 130a and the second light source 130b, the first plurality of directed light beams 104a and the second plurality of directed light beams 104b generally have sets 118a, 118b of different radial directions that are also different from each other.

[0079] Thus, the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements 120 emit directional light beams representing different multi-view images that are displaced from one another in the view space (e.g., angularly displaced in the view space). Thus, by switching between the first light source 130a and the second light source 130b, the static multi-view display 100 can provide an "animation" of the multi-view images, such as a timed animation. Specifically, for example, by sequentially illuminating the first light source 130a and the second light source 130b during different sequential time intervals or periods, the static multi-view display 100 can be configured to move the apparent location of the multi-view images during different time periods. According to some embodiments, such a shift in the apparent location provided by the animation can represent an example of operating the static multi-view display 100 as a quasi-static multi-view display to provide multiple multi-view image states.

[0080] Fig. 9 A block diagram of a static multi-view display 200 in an example according to another embodiment consistent with the principles described herein is shown. According to various embodiments, the static multi-view display 200 is configured to display a static multi-view image with different views in different view directions. Specifically, the directional beams 202 of light emitted by the static multi-view display 200 can be used to display the multi-view image and can correspond to pixels of different views (i.e., view pixels).

[0081] like Fig. 9 As shown, the static multi-view display 200 includes a light guide 210. The light guide 210 is configured to guide light as a plurality of guided light beams 204 in a propagation direction. According to various embodiments, the guided light beams 204 in the plurality of guided light beams have a fan-shaped pattern or are guided in a fan-shaped pattern. Specifically, according to some embodiments, within the fan-shaped pattern, the guided light beams 204 in the plurality of guided light beams have radial directions different from each other and appear to be emitted from a common origin. In various embodiments, the guided light beams may be guided within the light guide according to total internal reflection. For example, the light guide 210 may be a plate light guide configured to guide light from its light input edge as the guided light beam 204. In some embodiments, the light guide 210 of the static multi-view display 200 may be substantially similar to the light guide 110 described above with respect to the static multi-view display 100.

[0082] Fig. 9The static multi-view display 200 shown also includes a plurality of micro-slit scattering elements 220. According to various embodiments, the micro-slit scattering elements 220 in the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements are spaced apart from each other across the light guide 110. The micro-slit scattering elements 220 in the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements are configured to emit directional beams 202 representing view pixels of a static multi-view image. Each micro-slit scattering element 220 in the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements includes an inclined reflective sidewall and is configured to emit or provide a directional beam 202 from a portion of a guided beam 204 in a plurality of guided beams, the directional beam 202 having an intensity and direction corresponding to the relative intensity and view direction of the view pixels of the static multi-view image. Specifically, the directional beam 202 provided by each micro-slit scattering element 220 encodes different view pixels in the view pixels of the static multi-view image. According to various embodiments, the directional beams 202 emitted or provided by reflective scattering from the inclined reflective sidewalls have different principal angle directions from each other. According to various embodiments, the different principal angle directions of the directional beams correspond to different view directions of corresponding view pixels in different view pixels of the static multi-view image. In some embodiments, the micro-slit scattering elements 220 of the static multi-view display 200 can be respectively substantially similar to the micro-slit scattering elements 120 of the above-described static multi-view display 100. For example, the micro-slit scattering elements 220 can include a plurality of micro-slit sub-elements, which in turn are substantially similar to the above-described micro-slit sub-elements 124. According to various embodiments, each micro-slit scattering element 220, and similarly each micro-slit sub-element, includes an inclined reflective sidewall having an inclination angle that is inclined away from the propagation direction of the guided light.

[0083] In some embodiments, the inclined reflective sidewall of each of the micro-slit scattering elements 220 has a predetermined reflectivity characteristic determined by one or both of the depth of the inclined reflective sidewall and the surface reflectivity of the surface of the inclined reflective sidewall, which is configured to determine the relative intensity of the directional light beam corresponding to the micro-slit scattering element. In some embodiments, each micro-slit scattering element 220 of the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements may have a predetermined rotation angle relative to the radial direction of the guided light beam 204 corresponding to the micro-slit scattering element 220. According to some embodiments, the predetermined rotation angle may be configured to determine the direction of the directional light beam 202.

[0084] In some embodiments, the micro-slit scattering elements 220 of the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements are one of disposed on an emitting surface of a light guide (or equivalently, a static multi-view display 200) and disposed below the emitting surface. In these embodiments, the micro-slit scattering elements 220 extend away from the emitting surface to the interior of the light guide. In some embodiments, the micro-slit scattering elements 220 of the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements are disposed in a light guide material layer located on a surface of the light guide. In these embodiments, the surface of the light guide material layer may be the emitting surface of the static multi-view display 200, and the micro-slit scattering elements 220 may extend away from the emitting surface and toward the surface of the light guide 210.

[0085] like Fig. 9 As shown, the static multi-view display 200 also includes a light source 230. The light source 230 is configured to provide a plurality of guided light beams 204 having different radial directions from each other within the light guide 210. In some embodiments, the light source 230 can be substantially similar to the light source 130 of the static multi-view display 100 described above. For example, the light source 230 can be butt-coupled to an edge of the light guide 210 and can approximate a point light source.

[0086] In some embodiments, the directed light may be collimated according to a predetermined collimation factor (e.g., in a vertical direction). In some embodiments, the emission pattern of the emitted light comprising the directional beam 202 is a function of the predetermined collimation factor of the directed light. For example, the predetermined collimation factor may be substantially similar to the predetermined collimation factor σ described above with respect to the static multi-view display 100.

[0087] According to some embodiments of the principles described herein, there is provided a method of static multi-view display operation. Fig.10 1 is a flow chart showing a method 300 of static multi-view display operation in an example of an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein. Fig.10 As shown, a method 300 for operating a static multi-view display includes guiding 310 light as guided light in a propagation direction along the length of a light guide. In some embodiments, the light can be guided 310 at a non-zero propagation angle. In addition, the guided light can be collimated. Specifically, the guided light can be collimated according to a predetermined collimation factor. In some embodiments, guiding 310 light can provide guided light having a fan-shaped pattern, wherein the guided light beams have radial directions different from each other. According to some embodiments, the light guide can be substantially similar to the light guide 110 described above with respect to the static multi-view display 100. Specifically, according to various embodiments, light can be guided within the light guide according to total internal reflection. Similarly, the predetermined collimation factor and the non-zero propagation angle can be substantially similar to the predetermined collimation factor σ and the non-zero propagation angle described above with respect to the light guide 110 of the static multi-view display 100.

[0088] like Fig.10 As shown, the method 300 for operating a static multi-view display also includes using a plurality of micro-slit elements to reflect 320 a portion of the guided light out of the light guide as a corresponding plurality of directional light beams. According to various embodiments, the directional light beams encode view pixels of the static multi-view image. In addition, each of the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements provides a different directional light beam in the directional light beams, which has a relative intensity and direction of a corresponding view pixel of the static multi-view image. Specifically, according to various embodiments, there is a one-to-one correspondence between the micro-slit scattering element, the scattered directional light beam provided by the micro-slit scattering element, and each of the view pixels of the static multi-view image encoded by the directional light beam.

[0089] In some embodiments, the micro-slit scattering elements of the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements are substantially similar to the micro-slit scattering elements 120 described above with respect to the static multi-view display 100. Specifically, the micro-slit scattering elements each include an inclined reflective sidewall having an inclination angle tilted away from the propagation direction of the guided light.

[0090] In some embodiments, the inclined reflective sidewalls reflectively scatter light according to total internal reflection to reflect a portion of the guided light out of the light guide to provide a directional light beam. In other embodiments, the micro-slit scattering elements of the micro-slit scattering element array also include a reflective material adjacent to and coating the inclined reflective sidewalls of the plurality of micro-slit sub-elements.

[0091] In some embodiments, the angle of inclination of the inclined reflective sidewalls can be between about zero degrees (0°) and about forty-five degrees (45°) relative to a surface normal to an emitting surface of the light guide. In some embodiments, the angle of inclination can be selected in conjunction with a non-zero propagation angle of the guided light to preferentially scatter light at the emitting surface of the light guide and away from a surface of the light guide opposite the emitting surface.

[0092] In some embodiments (not shown), the method 300 of static multi-view display operation further includes providing light to be guided by a light guide using a light source, the light source providing guided light within the light guide, the guided light including a plurality of guided light beams having different radial directions from each other. In these embodiments, different ones of the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements are aligned with different ones of the plurality of guided light beams having different radial directions within the light guide and reflect the guided light from the different ones of the guided light beams. In some embodiments, the light source can be substantially similar to the light source 130 of the static multi-view display 100 described above.

[0093] Thus, examples and embodiments of static multi-view displays and methods of static multi-view display operation have been described that employ micro-slit elements with tilted reflective sidewalls to provide emitted light that includes directional beams having directions and intensities corresponding to different view pixels of a multi-view image. It should be understood that the above examples are only some of the many specific examples that represent the principles described herein. Clearly, many other arrangements can be easily devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A static multi-view display, include: a light guide configured to guide light as guided light; as well as a plurality of micro-slit scattering elements distributed on the light guide and configured to reflectively scatter the guided light from the light guide as a corresponding plurality of directional light beams, the plurality of directional light beams encoding view pixels of a static multi-view image, each of the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements configured to reflectively scatter a different one of the directional light beams having relative intensities and directions encoding corresponding view pixels of the static multi-view image, Each of the micro-slit scattering elements includes an inclined reflective side wall, and the inclined reflective side wall has an inclination angle inclined away from the propagation direction of the guided light.

2. A static multi-view display according to claim 1, wherein the inclined reflective sidewall of each of the micro-slit scattering elements has a predetermined reflectivity characteristic, and the predetermined reflectivity characteristic is configured to determine the relative intensity of the directional light beam encoding the corresponding view pixel.

3. The static multi-view display of claim 2, wherein the predetermined reflectivity characteristic of the sloped reflective sidewall comprises a depth of the sloped reflective sidewall.

4. The static multi-view display of claim 2, wherein the predetermined reflectivity characteristic of the sloped reflective sidewall comprises a surface reflectivity of the sloped reflective sidewall.

5. The static multi-view display according to claim 1, in, The micro-slit scattering element has a predetermined rotation angle relative to a propagation angle of the guided light, the predetermined rotation angle being configured to determine a direction of the directional light beam scattered by the micro-slit scattering element encoding the corresponding view pixel.

6. The static multi-view display of claim 1, wherein a micro-slit scattering element of the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements comprises a plurality of micro-slit sub-elements, each micro-slit sub-element having the inclined reflective sidewall.

7. The static multi-view display according to claim 1, wherein the micro-slit scattering elements of the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements are arranged on the emitting surface of the light guide, and the micro-slit scattering elements extend away from the emitting surface to the interior of the light guide.

8. A static multi-view display according to claim 1, wherein the micro-slit scattering elements among the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements are arranged in a light-conducting material layer located on the surface of the light guide, the surface of the light-conducting material layer is an emitting surface, and the micro-slit scattering elements extend away from the emitting surface and toward the light guide surface.

9. A static multi-view display according to claim 8, wherein the layer of light guide material located on the surface of the light guide has a refractive index greater than the refractive index of the material of the light guide.

10. The static multi-view display of claim 1, wherein the sloped reflective sidewalls of the micro-slit scattering elements of the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements comprise a reflective material configured to reflectively scatter out the guided light.

11. A static multi-view display according to claim 1, wherein the tilt angle of the inclined reflective side wall is between zero degrees and approximately forty-five degrees relative to the surface normal of the emitting surface of the light guide, and the tilt angle is configured to preferentially scatter light in the direction of the emitting surface of the light guide and away from the surface of the light guide opposite to the emitting surface.

12. A static multi-view display according to claim 1, wherein the micro-slit scattering elements among the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements have a curved shape in a direction orthogonal to the propagation direction of the guided light and parallel to the plane of the surface of the light guide, and the curved shape is configured to control the emission pattern of the scattered light in the plane orthogonal to the propagation direction of the guided light.

13. The static multi-view display of claim 1, wherein the directed light is collimated according to a predetermined collimation factor, the emission pattern of the directional light beam being a function of the predetermined collimation factor of the directed light.

14. The static multi-view display according to claim 1 further includes a light source at an input position on the light guide, the light source being configured to provide guided light within the light guide, the guided light comprising a plurality of guided light beams having different radial directions from each other, wherein different micro-slit scattering elements among the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements are aligned with different guided light beams among the plurality of guided light beams having different radial directions within the light guide, and are configured to scatter guided light from the different guided light beams.

15. A static multi-view display, include: a light guide configured to guide light in a fan-shaped pattern as a plurality of guided light beams, the guided light beams of the plurality of guided light beams having radial directions different from each other within the light guide; as well as A plurality of micro-slit scattering elements are configured to emit directional light beams representing view pixels of a static multi-view image, each of the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements comprising an inclined reflective sidewall and configured to provide a directional light beam from a portion of a plurality of guided light beams, the intensity and direction of the directional light beam corresponding to the relative intensity and view direction of the view pixels of the static multi-view image corresponding to the micro-slit scattering element.

16. A static multi-view display according to claim 15, wherein the inclined reflective side wall of each of the micro-slit scattering elements has a predetermined reflectivity characteristic, the predetermined reflectivity characteristic is determined by one or both of the depth of the inclined reflective side wall and the surface reflectivity of the surface of the inclined reflective side wall, the predetermined reflectivity characteristic is configured to determine the relative intensity of the directional light beam corresponding to the micro-slit scattering element, and wherein each of the multiple micro-slit scattering elements has a predetermined rotation angle relative to the radial direction of the guided light beam corresponding to the micro-slit scattering element, and the predetermined rotation angle is configured to determine the direction of the directional light beam.

17. A static multi-view display according to claim 15, wherein the micro-slit scattering elements among the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements are one of those arranged on the emitting surface of the light guide and below the emitting surface, and the micro-slit scattering elements extend away from the emitting surface to the interior of the light guide.

18. A static multi-view display according to claim 15, wherein the micro-slit scattering elements among the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements are arranged in a light-conducting material layer located on the surface of the light guide, the surface of the light-conducting material layer is the emitting surface of the static multi-view display, and the micro-slit scattering elements extend away from the emitting surface and toward the surface of the light guide.

19. The static multi-view display of claim 15, further comprising a light source configured to provide a plurality of guided light beams having mutually different radial directions within the light guide.

20. A method for operating a static multi-view display, the method include: guiding the light as guided light in a propagation direction along the length of the light guide; as well as reflecting the guided light out of the light guide as a corresponding plurality of directional light beams using a plurality of micro-slit scattering elements, the directional light beams encoding view pixels of a static multi-view image, and each of the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements providing a different one of the directional light beams having a relative intensity and direction for a corresponding view pixel of the static multi-view image, Each of the micro-slit scattering elements includes an inclined reflective side wall, and the inclined reflective side wall has an inclination angle inclined away from the propagation direction of the guided light.

21. A method of static multi-view display operation according to claim 20, wherein the inclined reflective sidewall reflectively scatters light according to total internal reflection to reflect a portion directed out of the light guide and provide the directional light beam.

22. The method of static multi-view display operation according to claim 20, in, The inclination angle of the inclined reflective side wall is between zero and forty-five degrees relative to the surface normal of the emitting surface of the light guide, and the inclination angle is selected in combination with the non-zero propagation angle of the guided light to preferentially scatter light in the direction of the emitting surface of the light guide and away from the surface of the light guide opposite to the emitting surface.

23. The method of static multi-view display operation according to claim 20, wherein the method further comprises: include: providing light to be guided by the light guide using a light source, the light source providing the guided light within the light guide, the guided light comprising a plurality of guided light beams having different radial directions from each other, Different micro-slit scattering elements among the plurality of micro-slit scattering elements are aligned with different guided light beams among the plurality of guided light beams having different radial directions in the light guide, and reflect guided light from the different guided light beams.

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