Autostereoscopic Display Using Mirror Array for Multi-View Depth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current autostereoscopic multi-view display systems require numerous projectors, are costly, complex to set up, and have limited angular resolution due to physical projector size constraints, making them inefficient for providing natural depth perception to multiple viewers without special eyewear or eye tracking.
Innovation Solution
A reflector-based autostereoscopic multi-view display system using a mirror array arranged according to an ellipsoidal model, where each mirror reflects light rays from a single high-resolution projector onto a holographic diffuser screen, creating multiple image slices that provide a 4D light field, allowing multiple viewers to perceive depth cues through binocular and motion parallax.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple projectors are used to provide autostereoscopic multi-view display, then depth perception quality is improved, but system cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a single projector to create multiple virtual projectors through the mirror array system. Each mirror in the array creates a virtual image of the projector, effectively copying the projector's function multiple times without requiring multiple physical projectors. This resolves the contradiction by achieving multi-view depth perception quality equivalent to multiple projectors while maintaining single-projector system simplicity and cost-effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The mirror array serves as an intermediary between the single projector and the display screen. It redirects light rays from the single projector to create multiple viewable angles and perspectives on the screen, enabling autostereoscopic multi-view display without requiring multiple projectors. This intermediary mechanism resolves the contradiction by decoupling the number of physical projectors from the number of viewable perspectives.
2Measurement precision
If multiple projectors are used to achieve high angular resolution, then angular resolution is improved, but the physical size and cost of the system increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from increasing angular resolution by adding more projectors (horizontal dimension scaling) to using a mirror array that redirects light at different angles (angular dimension exploitation). The mirror array creates multiple virtual projectors distributed across different angular positions without increasing the physical footprint of the projector array, thus achieving high angular resolution without proportional increases in system size.
Solution Approach 2:
The mirror array creates virtual copies of the single projector at different angular positions. These virtual projectors appear to be located at different positions in space, providing high angular resolution for different viewing zones. This copying mechanism achieves the angular resolution benefits of multiple projectors while maintaining a compact single-projector physical configuration.
3Device complexity
If a single projector is used with mirror array, then system cost and complexity are reduced, but achieving high angular resolution becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the projection function across multiple mirrors in the array. Each mirror segment handles a specific angular zone or view direction, collectively providing high angular resolution across the entire display. This segmentation allows a single projector to achieve multi-view angular resolution by distributing the projection task across multiple reflective surfaces rather than requiring multiple projectors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system exploits the angular dimension by using mirrors oriented at different angles to redirect light to different viewing zones. This angular segmentation creates high angular resolution without requiring multiple projectors, as each mirror handles a specific angular sector. The single projector's light is distributed across multiple angular directions through the mirror array, achieving high angular resolution with reduced system complexity.
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 angular resolution and efficient depth perception for multiple viewers with reduced hardware complexity and cost, using a single projector and mirror array, enabling wider viewable angles and enhanced 3D experiences.
Implementation Method 1
a reflector arranged to reflect light rays projecting from a projector onto a display for providing a multi-view image on the display
Implementation Method 2
projecting an image to be displayed on the screen through the mirror array reflector. The screen may be a fog screen or display, and in one embodiment, the display comprises a screen with an anisotropic diffuser
Data Source
AI summary
An autostereoscopic multi-view display system includes a projector; a display; and a reflector arranged to reflect light rays projecting from the projector onto the display for providing a multi-view image on the display.