Slanted Lenticular Array for Uniform 3D Pixel Resolution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Auto stereoscopic display devices with lenticular lenses suffer from brightness non-uniformities due to dark zones and significant reduction in horizontal resolution compared to vertical resolution, which are not adequately addressed by existing technologies.

Innovation Solution

The design involves slanting lenticular lenses at a specific angle θ, where s = ±αp / (c² - 1), with α being the aspect ratio of 3D pixels and p the lens pitch across the pixel row direction, to create square or near-square 3D pixels, optimizing the lens pitch and slant angle to maintain aspect ratio and reduce spatial resolution uniformly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If lenticular lenses are used in auto stereoscopic display devices, then multiple views can be projected in different directions, but dark zones appear causing brightness non-uniformities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-view capabilityVSAvoidbrightness uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by slanting the lenticular lenses at a specific angle relative to the pixel rows. This asymmetric orientation redistributes the light paths to eliminate dark zones while maintaining multiple view capability. The slant angle is specifically designed to balance the optical paths from different pixel columns, ensuring uniform brightness across all views.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Adaptability or versatility

If lenticular lenses are used to create multiple views, then auto stereoscopic imaging is enabled, but horizontal resolution is significantly reduced compared to vertical resolution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestereoscopic imaging capabilityVSAvoidhorizontal resolution
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the lenticular lenses, specifically the slant angle and pitch, to optimize the distribution of light from pixel columns. By adjusting these parameters, the patent achieves more uniform sampling across horizontal pixel columns, thereby improving horizontal resolution while maintaining the multi-view stereoscopic imaging capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Illumination intensity

If lenticular lenses are slanted at an acute angle, then brightness uniformity improves, but the lens pitch and slant angle must be precisely optimized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrightness uniformityVSAvoidlens pitch and slant angle precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent provides specific mathematical relationships for determining the optimal slant angle and pitch based on the display pixel configuration. By establishing these parameter relationships, the patent guides manufacturers to achieve brightness uniformity without requiring excessive trial and error, thus reducing the practical manufacturing precision burden while maintaining theoretical optimality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This approach results in improved brightness uniformity and balanced horizontal and vertical resolutions, enabling high-resolution auto stereoscopic displays like Super Hi-Vision with optimized 3D pixel layouts.

Implementation Method 1

Outputs from the display pixels are projected through these lenticular lenses, which function to modify the directions of the outputs

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

elongate lenses configurable to focus outputs of groups of the display pixels into the plurality of views projected towards a user in different directions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFocusing: Focusing

Data Source

PatentEP3121640B1Autostereoscopic display device
Publication Date: 2020.11.04 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV
  • EP3121640B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3121640B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3121640B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6(3D)

AI summary

Autostereoscopic display device (1) comprising rows and columns of colour sub-pixels and a lenticular array (9) in registration with the display, the lenses of which being slanted with respect to the general column pixel direction in order to enable square, or near-square, 3D pixels.