Dynamic Light Steering for Wide-Angle Autostereoscopic Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autostereoscopy techniques provide a stereoscopic effect only within a narrow range of viewing angles, leading to a loss of the stereoscopic effect or degradation of image quality when viewing angles deviate, and large-sized lenticules reduce effective resolution and brightness.
Innovation Solution
A system and method incorporating dynamic light steering based on relative viewer locations, using tracking means to determine eye positions and controlling a light-steering optical device to direct light from specific photo-emitting cells to each eye, ensuring a stereoscopic effect regardless of viewing angle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a lenticular array with small lenticules corresponding to two photo-emitting cells is used, then a stereoscopic effect can be achieved, but the viewing angle range is very narrow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a light-steering optical device that can dynamically adjust its steering angle based on the detected position of the viewer's eyes. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain the stereoscopic effect across a wide range of viewing angles, resolving the contradiction between achieving stereoscopic effect and maintaining narrow viewing angle requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses tracking means to detect the viewer's eye position and provides feedback to the light-steering optical device, which then adjusts the light direction accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that the stereoscopic effect is maintained regardless of the viewer's position, overcoming the narrow viewing angle limitation
2Adaptability or versatility
If large-sized lenticules corresponding to four or more photo-emitting cells are used, then the number of viable viewing angles increases marginally, but the effective resolution and brightness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses small-sized lenticules that correspond to only two photo-emitting cells each, effectively segmenting the display into multiple narrow viewing zones. Combined with the light-steering device, this segmentation allows each lenticule to maintain high resolution while the overall system provides wide viewing angle coverage through dynamic light redirection
Solution Approach 2:
The light-steering optical device acts as an intermediary between the high-resolution small lenticules and the viewer's eyes at various positions. It redirects light from the appropriate photo-emitting cells through the small lenticules to the viewer, enabling both high resolution and wide viewing angles without requiring large lenticules
3Adaptability or versatility
If large-sized lenticules corresponding to four or more photo-emitting cells are used, then the number of viable viewing angles increases marginally, but the overall brightness is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The light-steering optical device dynamically redirects light to concentrate it towards the viewer's eyes regardless of their position. This dynamic light concentration ensures that the brightness is maintained across wide viewing angles, overcoming the brightness compromise associated with using large lenticules
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables high-quality, accurate stereoscopic viewing with enhanced resolution and brightness by dynamically directing light according to viewer positions, allowing realistic depth perception and improved user experience.
Implementation Method 1
a lenticular array arranged on an optical path of the light-emitting surface, the lenticular array comprising a plurality of lenticules
Implementation Method 2
a light-steering optical device arranged on the optical path of the light-emitting surface... controlling the light-steering optical device, based on the relative location of the first eye and of a second eye
Data Source
AI summary
A light field image is displayed via a light field display unit to produce a synthetic light field. A light-steering optical device is controlled, based on a relative location of a first eye and a second eye of user(s) with respect to an imaginary image plane, to direct light emanating from a first set of photo-emitting cells towards the first eye and light emanating from a second set of photo-emitting cells of the light-emitting surface towards the second eye. When controlling the light-steering optical device, a first viewing direction and a second viewing direction are determined for a given first photo-emitting cell and a given second photo-emitting cell, respectively. Light emanating from the given first photo-emitting cell and from the given second photo-emitting cell is directed along the first viewing direction and the second viewing direction, respectively.