Hogel Autostereoscopic Display Using Refractive Optics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current autostereoscopic displays face challenges in providing high resolution and compact dimensions with both horizontal and vertical perspective variation, as they often require large physical volumes and compromise on image quality due to the use of multiple projectors and Gaussian diffusion, which leads to non-uniform illumination and double imaging.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic autostereoscopic visual display system using a transparent rear projection screen illuminated by an array of projectors, where each hogel is illuminated by a local group of projectors, allowing for controlled brightness, color, and direction of light beams, eliminating dark zones and overlap through refractive optics, and enabling a closely spaced array of hogels that change with the observer's eye position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple projectors are used to provide horizontal and vertical perspective variation, then autostereoscopic display capability is improved, but physical volume and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the projector array into multiple groups, where each group is responsible for illuminating a specific region of the screen. This segmentation allows the system to achieve comprehensive coverage with smaller, more compact projector units rather than requiring a single large projector, thus reducing overall physical volume while maintaining autostereoscopic display capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent arranges projectors in a three-dimensional array configuration rather than a simple planar arrangement. By utilizing spatial distribution in multiple dimensions, the system achieves comprehensive light coverage for holographic display with more compact overall dimensions, resolving the contradiction between display capability and physical volume
2Area of stationary object
If Gaussian diffusion is used to expand light beams, then illumination coverage is improved, but non-uniform illumination and double imaging occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a refractive optical element as an intermediary between the projector and the screen. This intermediary component controls and shapes the light beams through refraction, achieving uniform illumination coverage without the non-uniformity and double imaging problems associated with Gaussian diffusion
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters of light beam propagation by using refractive optics instead of diffusive optics. This parameter change from diffusion-based expansion to refraction-based control enables precise control over illumination uniformity and beam direction, eliminating the harmful effects of Gaussian diffusion
3Illumination intensity
If projector array density is increased to reduce dark zones, then illumination uniformity is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of simply increasing projector density with an optical solution using refractive elements. These optical elements efficiently distribute and shape light beams to eliminate dark zones without requiring a proportional increase in the number of projectors, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining illumination uniformity
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
The system achieves high resolution and compact dimensions by using picoprojectors in an array to form a hogel array with controlled light beam direction and color, providing continuous viewing with minimal crosstalk and double imaging, suitable for autostereoscopic displays and other visual effects.
Implementation Method 1
The transparent projection screen is a type described in WO 2014/070641 by this inventor, and has the property of uniformly spreading the projector light beams passing through using optical refraction
Implementation Method 2
Each element in the cylindrical lens array has a concave surface forming a negative focus cylindrical lens that refracts light to expand the angular width of the light beams
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is an improvement in dynamic autostereoscopic visual displays emitting a field of light beams into an observer viewing space from a hogel array formed at a transparent projection screen surface having refractive beam expanding functions. The transparent screen is illuminated from the rear by an X-Y array of projectors focused on the screen, where each hogel location is illuminated by a local group of multiple projectors within the larger array. The brightness, color and direction of the light beams emitted by each hogel are controlled by one image point in each member of the local projector group that illuminates that hogel. The invention enables autostereoscopic display systems with compact dimensions and high overall resolution and brightness by combining the output of an array of small projectors with lower resolution and brightness on a single projection screen.