Lenticular Steerable Backlighting for Multi-Viewer 3D Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lenticular-based autostereoscopic displays face a trade-off between viewer positions and 3D image resolution, unable to provide different video streams to multiple viewers concurrently while maintaining high pixel resolution.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a steerable backlight with a lenticular array between the backlight and display pixel matrix, combined with head/eye pose tracking, to selectively direct display light to individual viewer positions, allowing multiple viewers to experience high-resolution 3D imagery simultaneously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a higher lenticular lens resolution is used for a given pixel resolution, then the 3D image resolution perceived by the viewer is improved, but the view number decreases resulting in coverage of fewer viewer positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic control of the backlight system to steer light towards different viewer positions sequentially. The backlight controller adjusts the activation pattern of backlight pixels based on detected viewer positions, enabling the system to dynamically adapt between providing high resolution to individual viewers and covering multiple viewer positions by switching between different viewer targets.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a lower lenticular lens resolution is used for a given pixel resolution, then the view number increases covering more viewer positions, but the 3D image resolution presented to a given viewer is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the backlight pixels into different groups that can be independently controlled. By activating specific subsets of backlight pixels corresponding to particular viewer positions, the system can direct high-resolution images to specific viewers without requiring a low-resolution lenticular lens array. This segmentation enables the backlight to function as a steerable light source that compensates for the limitations of the lenticular lens resolution.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional lenticular-based displays are used, then multiple viewer positions can be supported, but different video streams cannot be provided to different viewers concurrently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a viewer detector that provides feedback about the positions of viewers in front of the display. Based on this feedback, the backlight controller dynamically adjusts which backlight pixels are activated and how the image is steered towards each detected viewer. This closed-loop feedback system enables the display to identify multiple viewers, determine their positions, and provide different video streams to each viewer concurrently by steering light towards their respective positions.
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
Supports multiple viewers with separate video streams at full display panel resolution, maintaining high pixel resolution and eliminating repeat view zones, with frame rates adjusted based on the number of concurrent viewers.
Implementation Method 1
a first lenticular array disposed between the backlight and the first side of the selectively-transmissive display pixel matrix... light emitted from an activated subset of backlight pixels and transmitted through the first lenticular array... is emitted by the display panel as display light in a corresponding separate direction
Implementation Method 2
a second lenticular array disposed facing the second side of the selectively-transmissive display pixel matrix... the lenticular film directing the display light for the pixels of the left-eye image and the display light for the pixels of the right-eye image in slightly different directions
Data Source
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AI summary
An autostereoscopic display system includes a transmissive display panel including a backlight having an array of backlight pixels, a selectively-selectively-transmissive display pixel matrix having a first side facing the backlight and an opposing second side, the selectively-transmissive display pixel matrix comprising an array of display pixels, a first lenticular array disposed between the backlight and the first side of the selectively-transmissive display pixel matrix, and a second lenticular array disposed facing the second side of the selectively-transmissive display pixel matrix. The backlight is configured to separately activate different subsets of the backlight pixels such that light emitted from an activated subset of backlight pixels and transmitted through the first lenticular array, the selectively-transmissive display pixel matrix, and the second lenticular array is emitted by the display panel as display light in a corresponding separate direction relative to the display panel.