Microlens Array for 360-Degree Immersive Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional 3D display devices provide limited viewing angles, causing discomfort such as headaches and nausea, and fail to deliver immersive 3D experiences due to restricted 3D viewing zones and degradation of image quality when viewed from different angles.
Innovation Solution
A display device comprising a display panel with a microlens array, where the distance between the center of each microlens element and the corresponding display unit increases from the center to the edge, allowing adjacent display units to form groups that display the same image, enabling 360-degree viewing and improved image quality by refracting image portions into different viewing zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional 3D display devices use binocular parallax principle with lenses or gratings to separate left and right views, then 3D image display is achieved, but viewing angles are limited and viewing zones are restricted causing headaches and nausea
Solution Approach 1:
The display panel is divided into multiple display units arranged in arrays, with each unit corresponding to a microlens element. This segmentation enables different regions to display different image portions that are refracted to specific viewing zones, creating multiple independent viewing angles simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Different display units display different image portions tailored to specific viewing directions. The microlens array refracts light from corresponding display units to specific angular ranges, ensuring each viewing zone receives optimized image content for that direction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional 3D display devices provide fixed 3D images, then image stability is maintained, but image quality degrades when viewed from off-angles and immersive 3D experience cannot be provided
Solution Approach 1:
The display system dynamically adapts to viewer position by directing different image portions from different display units through microlenses to different viewing zones. As viewers move to different angles, they naturally receive image content optimized for their viewing direction, creating a dynamic 3D experience that follows eye movement.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple copies of image portions are displayed across different display units, with each copy optimized for a specific viewing angle. The microlens array creates angular separation of these copies, allowing viewers at different positions to observe appropriate image copies without interference from other angles.
3Adaptability or versatility
If floating image display devices are used to achieve 360-degree viewing, then viewing angles are improved, but PPI requirements increase and pixel area decreases making fabrication more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple display units are grouped to form display unit groups, where N adjacent display units together display a complete image. This merging approach allows the system to achieve wide viewing angles through the microlens array configuration rather than requiring ultra-fine pixel spacing, thereby reducing fabrication complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the effective PPI parameter by grouping display units, where each group displays a complete image. This parameter transformation allows the physical pixel pitch to be larger while maintaining the perceived resolution through the optical grouping effect, making fabrication more feasible.
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 solution enhances viewing angles, reduces fabrication complexity, and provides a fully immersive 3D experience by allowing viewers to observe floating images from various angles without discomfort, similar to real-world visual perception.
Implementation Method 1
a microlens array including a plurality of microlens elements disposed on top of a light emitting surface of the display panel
Data Source
AI summary
A display device is provided. The display device comprises a display panel including a plurality of display units, and a microlens array including a plurality of microlens elements disposed on top of a light emitting surface of the display panel. The plurality of microlens elements are one-to-one corresponding to the plurality of display units. In at least one direction of the display unit arrangement, a distance between a center of a microlens element and a center of the corresponding display unit gradually increases from a center of the display panel to an edge of the display panel. N number of adjacent display units together display an image and form a display unit group, wherein N is a positive integer larger than 1. Each display unit group displays a same image.