Retro-reflective Screen Angular Profiles for Large Display Brightness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current display systems face limitations in achieving large screen sizes due to cost and power consumption issues with flat-panel displays, and in providing glasses-free 3D immersive viewing experiences, as well as constrained viewing angles with projector-based systems.
Innovation Solution
A display system comprising a projector and a retro-reflective screen with optimized retro-reflective screen elements that customize the angular distribution of light to enhance image brightness and reduce optical cross-talk, allowing for multiple viewers to see individual streams and enabling glasses-free 3D viewing by engineering specific return angles and intensity profiles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the screen size is increased above 80 inches for flat-panel displays, then the display area is improved, but the cost and power consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a retro-reflective screen as an intermediary between the projector and the viewer. The screen reflects light back to the source direction, enabling large display areas without requiring large, power-consuming flat-panel displays. The retro-reflective screen acts as a mediator that allows the projected light to be efficiently directed to viewers while maintaining large screen dimensions.
2Area of stationary object
If the screen size is increased above 80 inches for projector-based displays, then the display area is improved, but the image brightness decreases and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retro-reflective screen serves as an intermediary that efficiently redirects projected light back toward the source direction, concentrating the light energy where viewers are located. This mediation process maintains image brightness across large display areas by ensuring that light is not scattered but rather reflected back along its incident path, maximizing luminance efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the optical parameters of the screen by using retro-reflective material with specific angular reflection characteristics. The screen elements are designed to reflect light at angles that return it toward the projector direction, changing the light distribution pattern to concentrate brightness in the viewing zone while maintaining large screen area.
3Area of stationary object
If the retro-reflective screen is used to increase display area, then the display area is improved, but the observation angle becomes constrained and image uniformity decreases at large incident angles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designing the retro-reflective screen with spatially varying properties. Different regions of the screen have optimized retro-reflective characteristics tailored to their specific incident angle ranges. This allows the screen to maintain good image uniformity and brightness for viewers within specific angular zones while accommodating large display areas, with each local region optimized for its viewing conditions.
4Area of stationary object
If standard retro-reflective screens are used, then the display area can be large, but optical cross-talk between multiple viewers increases and prevents individualized content delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by assigning different retro-reflective optical profiles to different regions of the screen. Each screen element or zone is configured with specific reflection characteristics that direct light preferentially toward designated viewing zones. This spatial differentiation of optical properties enables multiple viewers to see individualized content simultaneously on the same large screen without optical cross-talk, as each region's reflected light is directed to its intended audience.
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 improved image brightness and reduced cross-talk, enabling large-area displays and immersive 3D experiences without the need for glasses or constrained viewing angles, with intensity increased by up to 500 times and cross-talk minimized, allowing multiple users to view customized content simultaneously.
Implementation Method 1
A display system comprising a projector and a retro-reflective screen... the retro-reflective screen with optimized retro-reflective screen elements that customize the angular distribution of light
Implementation Method 2
A display system comprising a projector and a retro-reflective screen... the retro-reflective screen with optimized retro-reflective screen elements that customize the angular distribution of light
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a display system that may comprise a retro-reflective screen having retro-reflective screen elements that reflect incident light and comprising at least one projector that (i) generates light characterizing an image or video and (ii) projects the light on the retro-reflective screen, wherein the projected light has a nominal profile. Additionally, the retro-reflective screen may reflect the light characterizing the image or video to a viewer in a manner such that an intensity profile of the light is offset away from the projector and has a uniform brightness profile within a field of view of the viewer with respect to the retro-reflective screen. The projected light may have an intensity drop-off that has at least a 200% or 2×, or at least a 500% or 5× intensity reduction per 0.5 degrees outside of the nominal region.