Stereoscopic Imaging Brightness Gain via Temporal Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current stereoscopic imaging systems suffer from low brightness intensity and flickering issues, limiting their ability to provide high-quality 3D visuals.

Innovation Solution

The system enhances brightness by altering the driving scheme and incorporating hardware modifications, such as using a filter with different light characteristics for each eye and synchronizing light sources to reduce flicker, allowing for simultaneous image projection to both eyes without increasing pixel brightness or light source intensity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If conventional stereoscopic displaying technique is used with alternating image display for left and right eyes, then stereoscopic images can be generated, but the brightness intensity is relatively low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrightness intensityVSAvoidimage display efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The display time is segmented into different phases: a first phase for displaying left eye images, a second phase for displaying right eye images, and a third phase for displaying combined images to both eyes simultaneously. This temporal segmentation allows the system to maximize brightness by utilizing the combined image phase without sacrificing stereoscopic viewing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the left eye image and right eye image into a combined image that can be displayed simultaneously to both eyes during the third time phase. This combining of image data and display phases enables higher brightness intensity while maintaining the stereoscopic effect through proper image processing and presentation timing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If conventional stereoscopic displaying technique is used, then images can be displayed to each eye alternately, but flickering occurs in the images

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage stabilityVSAvoidvisual comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous display by utilizing all three time phases (left eye only, right eye only, and combined) to maintain uninterrupted image presentation. This continuous action eliminates the perception of flickering that would occur with simple alternating display, while the third phase provides additional visual information to enhance stability and reduce visual fatigue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 a brightness gain of up to 100% compared to conventional methods, significantly reducing flicker and enabling high-brightness stereoscopic imaging without requiring more intense light sources or pixels, thus improving the overall 3D visual experience.

Implementation Method 1

using a filter with different light characteristics for each eye

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical filtering: Filter (optical)

Data Source

PatentEP1993294B1System for stereoscopic imaging
Publication Date: 2019.07.31 BARCO NV
  • EP1993294B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1993294B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP1993294B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

A stereoscopic imaging system is described for generating a stereoscopic image of a scene. The stereoscopic imaging system is adapted for generating at least one sub-image for a first eye and at least one sub-image for a second eye whereby the at least one sub-image for the first eye and at least one sub-image for the second eye adapted for combining into the stereoscopic image. The image data for producing at least one of the subimages for the first eye and/or for the second eye is generated based on a combination of the basic image data for the first eye and the basic image data for the second eye. The basic image data for the first eye thereby is the image information received by the first eye when the scene is seen by the first eye only and the basic image data for the second eye thereby is the image information received by the second eye when the scene is seen by the second eye only. The present invention also relates to a corresponding method, an image data processor, a controller, an obscuration means and parts of the imaging hardware.