WO2009091365A1

WO2009091365A1 - Display system

Info

Publication number: WO2009091365A1
Application number: PCT/US2008/000617
Authority: WO
Inventors: Youngshik Yoon
Original assignee: Thomson Licensing
Priority date: 2008-01-17
Filing date: 2008-01-17
Publication date: 2009-07-23

Abstract

A display system having a display for emitting light and a partial-mirror cone having an outer surface generally facing the display is disclosed. The partial-mirror cone is configured to reflect a portion of the light and a plurality of partial-mirror lenticules are disposed on the outer surface.

Description

DISPLAY SYSTEM

Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to the field of display systems.

Background of the Invention

While 3D display systems are known to provide highly attractive and effective 3D images for viewers, traditional 3D displays systems require increased image production time and increased equipment cost over traditional 2D display systems. Accordingly, display systems have been developed that provide 2D images in a manner that allows viewers to perceive the 2D images in what approximates the perception of 3D images. One such system implements a plurality of partial-mirrors (or one-way mirrors) arranged generally in an upside down pyramid where each partial-mirror is configured to reflect light from a projector and screen, or in the alternative multiple flat panel displays. When a projector and screen are used, the projector and the screen are located outside the pyramid and away from a center of the pyramid. The projector is generally configured to project different 2D images to each of the partial-mirrors so that as a viewer moves around the pyramid, the viewer perceives a change in perspective of the image being viewed as if the image were a 3D image. The overall effect perceived by the viewer includes the perception that the 2D image is floating inside the pyramid. Since the partial-mirrors allow viewing of the perceived 3D image along with the natural background of the environment surrounding the pyramid, the 3D perception of the 2D images is greatly enhanced. However, the planar surfaces of the pyramid and the associated support structure for the partial-mirrors interrupt the 3D perception of the 2D image as the viewer moves around the pyramid. Also, the system can only provide one point of view of a perceived floating image per partial-mirror, further interfering with the 3D perception of the 2D image. Further, the viewer is limited to perceiving the 3D image as floating within the pyramid rather than extending out of the pyramid toward the viewer. Other systems which provide the perception of a 3D image have implemented thick glass

plates that produce optical interference patterns resulting in the 3D image effect. However,

the thick glass plates greatly reduce the perceived brightness of the displayed image.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention relates to a display system having a display for emitting light and a partial-mirror cone having an outer surface generally facing the display. The partial- mirror cone is configured to reflect a portion of the light and a plurality of partial-mirror lenticules are disposed on the outer surface.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is an oblique view of a display system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram the display system of Figure 1 and showing a true light path;

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the display system of Figure 1 and showing a perceived light path;

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the polar coordinate system as related to the light emitting side of a panel display of the display system of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an orthogonal view of another display system according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 is an orthogonal view of another display system according to another alternative embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 7 is an oblique view of a display system according to another alternative embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 8 is a partial schematic view of a display panel of the display system of Figure 7; and Figure 9 is a partial schematic view of the display system of Figure 7 as viewed by two viewers.

Detailed Description of the Invention

A display system according to a first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 1. Display system 100 comprises a panel display 102 (liquid crystal display, plasma panel display, or may be replaced by a projector with a screen) and a partial- mirror cone 104. Display system 100 is configured so that a tip end 106 of the partial-mirror cone 104 faces a light emitting side 108 of the panel display 102 thereby orienting an outer surface 111 of the partial-mirror cone 104 toward the panel display 102. The panel display 102 and partial-mirror cone 104 are generally oriented with respect to each other so that an angle 110 between the outer surface 111 of the partial-mirror cone 104 and the substantially planar light emitting side 108 is constant about the circumference of the partial- mirror cone 104. For example, the angle 1 10 may have a value of 45°. However, angle 110 may be an angle other than 45° or may vary about the circumference of the partial-mirror cone 104. However, in other embodiments the partial-mirror cone 104 may not be aligned so that the angle between the outer surface 111 of the partial-mirror cone 104 and the light emitting side 108 is substantially constant. Further, in alternative embodiments of the present invention, it will be appreciated that a reflective layer of the partial-mirror cone 104 may be similarly aligned so that a central axis 112 of the partial-mirror cone 104 is directionally aligned with a primary direction of a light beam (not shown) emitted from a imaging device such as a projector (not shown) or other light emitting device (not necessarily a panel display) suitable for transmitting an image. The partial-mirror cone 104 is shaped so that a cone angle 114 as measured between the central axis 112 and the outer surface 111 of the partial-mirror cone 104 is substantially 45° about the entire circumference of the partial-mirror cone 104. However, as later explained, the cone angle 114 may be an angle other than 45° or may vary about the circumference of the partial-mirror cone 104. Partial-mirror cone 104 is oriented such that the central axis 1 12 is substantially centered on a center of the light emitting side 108. While tip end 106 is illustrated as being truncated, in alternative embodiments, the tip end 106 may substantially form a point.

Generally, display system 100 utilizes 2D images to create a visual display that is perceived by a viewer to be a free-floating 3D image. As shown in Figure 2, the true light path 200 of a light beam 202 emitted from the panel display 102 comprises a first leg 204 where the light beam 202 travels from the light emitting side 108 of the panel display 102 to the reflective partial-mirror cone 104. The true light path 200 further comprises a second leg 206 where the light beam 202 is reflected from the reflective partial-mirror cone 104 and to a viewer 208. However, as shown in Figure 3, the light beam 202 is perceived by the viewer 208 to travel along a perceived light path 210 from within an internal volume 212 of the partial-mirror cone 104 and directly to the viewer 208.

Referring now to Figure 4, in combination with the above-described panel display 102 and partial-mirror cone 104 and their described orientations with respect to each other, the panel display 102 is configured to project a 2D image 306 using a polar coordinate system 300. Figure 4 depicts the layout of the polar coordinate system 300 as it is used with respect to the light emitting side 108 of the panel display 102. The polar coordinate system 300 comprises a pole 302 and a polar axis 304 from which a radial coordinate r and an angular coordinate θ are determined, respectively. As shown, the panel display 102 may project a plurality of identical 2D images 306 onto the partial-mirror cone 104 at various angular displacements about the pole 302 from the polar axis 304. In this embodiment, the 2D images 306 are shown as being projected onto the partial-mirror cone 104 at eight different locations. This arrangement provides the illusion of a free-floating 3D image visible from various locations about the pole 302. The continuous structure of the partial-mirror cone 104 offers viewing of the free-floating 3D image unobstructed by bulky structural supports as a viewer moves around the partial-mirror cone 104. It will be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, more or fewer than eight separate identical 2D images 306 may be reflected from the partial-mirror cone 104, thereby providing more or fewer optimal viewpoints about the partial-mirror cone 104, respectively. It will further be appreciated that a left-right viewing angle of a viewer may be increased by increasing the cone angle 1 14 or decreased by decreasing the cone angle 114. Of course, where the cone angle 114 is an angle other than 45°, the 2D images 306 emitted by the panel display 102 will appear distorted from their originally captured and intended dimensions. To prevent such distortion in the free-floating 3D images, the 2D images 306 may be appropriately manipulated using the above-described polar coordinate system 300.

Referring now to Figure 5, a display system 400 according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises an upper panel display 402, a lower panel display 404, an upper partial-mirror cone 406, and a lower partial-mirror cone 408. The bases of the upper partial-mirror cone 406 and lower partial-mirror cone 408 are adjacent each other and are generally aligned along a shared central axis 410. Upper panel display 402 and upper partial- mirror cone 406 cooperate in a substantially similar manner as panel display 102 and partial- mirror cone 104 to provide a viewer the perception of a free-floating 3D image. Similarly, lower panel display 404 and lower partial-mirror cone 408 cooperate in a substantially similar manner as panel display 102 and partial-mirror cone 104 to provide a viewer the perception of a free-floating 3D image. However, display system 400 differs from display system 100 in that an entire free-floating 3D image comprising an upper segment and a lower segment. Upper panel display 402 and upper partial-mirror cone 406, together, only provide the upper segment of the free-floating 3D image while lower panel display 404 and lower partial-mirror cone 408, together, only provide the lower segment of the free-floating 3D image. The display system 400 provides a larger display area than the display area provided by display system 100 without decreasing image resolution (where partial-mirror cone 102, upper partial-mirror cone 406, and lower partial-mirror cone 408 are each substantially the same size; however, in alternative embodiments, the upper partial-mirror cone may be a different size from the lower partial-mirror cone). It will be appreciated that the entire display system 400 may be rotated, thereby allowing viewing of the free-floating 3D image from a variety of vantage points with respect to the orientation of the display system 400. For example, display system 400 may be rotated to a horizontal position so that the upper panel display 402 is located leftward from the lower panel display 404, as perceived from the vantage point of a viewer. In this horizontal position, the entire free-floating 3D image would comprise a leftward segment and a rightward segment. The display system 400 may be oriented in any suitable manner with respect to a viewer and is not limited to the vertical orientation shown in Figure 5 or the horizontal orientation described above.

Referring now to Figure 6, a display system 500 according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises an upper panel display 502, a lower panel display 504, a partial-mirror prolate spheroid upper half 506, and a partial-mirror prolate spheroid lower half 508. The partial-mirror prolate spheroid upper half 506 and partial-mirror prolate spheroid lower half 508 are shown as being joined at a mid-plane 510. The display system 500 operates substantially similarly to the display system 400. However, there are significant differences in geometry between the cones and the prolate spheroid. Accordingly, the 2D images to be projected from upper panel display 502 and lower panel display 504 are manipulated using a polar coordinate system substantially similar to polar coordinate system 300 to prevent unwanted distortion that would otherwise result due to the non-linear surface of the partial-mirror prolate spheroid upper half 506 and partial-mirror prolate spheroid lower half 508. It will be appreciated that the entire display system 500 may be rotated, thereby allowing viewing of the free-floating 3D image from a variety of vantage points with respect to the orientation of the display system 500. For example, display system 500 may be rotated to a horizontal position so that the upper panel display 502 is located leftward from the lower panel display 504, as perceived from the vantage point of a viewer. In this horizontal position, the entire free-floating 3D image would comprise a leftward segment and a rightward segment. The display system 500 may be oriented in any suitable manner with respect to a viewer and is not limited to the vertical orientation shown in Figure 6 or the horizontal orientation described above.

Referring now to Figure 7, a display system 700 according to another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Display system 700 is substantially similar to display system 100 but is further configured to display stereoscopic 3D images as described below. Display system 700 comprises a panel display 702 and a partial-mirror cone 704. The panel display and partial-mirror cone 704 are oriented with respect to each other in substantially the same way as the panel display 102 and the partial-mirror cone 104 of display system 100 are oriented with respect to each other. Display system 700 further comprises a plurality of partial-mirror lenticules 706. Partial-mirror lenticules 706 each comprise a lenticule base end 708 and a lenticule tip end 710. Partial-mirror lenticules 706 are consistently radially distributed about the central axis 712 of partial-mirror cone 704 so that an outermost convex surface protrudes away from partial-mirror cone 704 and extends from the tip of partial- mirror cone 704 to the base of partial-mirror cone 704. In alternative embodiments, the outermost surface may be concave or may even be flat when a holographic material is used to form the partial-mirror lenticules 706. As clearly shown, a width of each partial-mirror lenticule 706 is greater near the base of partial-mirror cone 704 while the width of each partial-mirror lenticule 706 is smaller near the tip of partial-mirror cone 704. A reflective coating (not shown) of each partial-mirror lenticule 706 is curved and follows the convex (or in alternative embodiments as described above, concave or flat) surface of the lenticule 706. More specifically, in this embodiment the reflective coating of each partial-mirror lenticule 706 is offset a distance toward the partial-mirror cone 704 from the outermost convex surface of the partial-mirror lenticule 706. Of course, in alternative embodiments where the outermost surface is concave or flat, the reflected coating is offset a distance toward the partial-mirror cone from the concave or flat surface, whichever outermost surface is incorporated into the alternative embodiment.

Referring now to Figure 8, a schematic partial view of panel display 702, in combination with the above-described panel display 702 and partial-mirror cone 704 with partial-mirror lenticules 706 and their described orientations with respect to each other, the panel display 702 is configured to project interlaced images 800 using a polar coordinate system substantially similar to polar coordinate system 300. Panel display 702 provides the interlaced images 800 in substantially the same manner as panel display 102 except that the interlaced images 800 are displayed using alternating adjacent right eye image data strips 802 and left eye image data strips 804. Each right eye image data strip 802 and left eye image data strip 804 generally occupies a small radial sweep extending from the center of the panel display 702 (at the pole of the polar coordinate system) to the outer edges of the panel display 702. The right eye image data strips 802 and left eye image data strips 804 are of equal angular sweep size and are sized so that a pair of one right eye image data strip 802 and left eye image data strip 804 are associated with a single partial-mirror lenticule 706. The right eye image data strips 802 carry right eye image data (discussed infra) while the left eye image data strips 804 carry left eye image data (discussed infra). This arrangement provides the illusion of a free-floating 3D image visible from various locations about the pole while also providing a "popping-out" effect that a viewer perceives as the free-floating 3D image extending out from the partial-mirror cone 704 toward the viewer. The "popping-out" effect enhances the perception of the free-floating 3D image. This effect is made possible by the partial-mirror lenticules 706 directing only light associated with the right eye image data strips 802 to the right eye of a viewer while the same partial-mirror lenticules 706 simultaneously direct only light associated with the left eye image data strips 804 to the left eye of a viewer, thereby providing a stereoscopic view of the interlaced images 800.

Referring now to Figure 9, a schematic partial view of the display system 700 is illustrated. Figure 9 comprises a portion of the partial-mirror cone 704, a plurality of the partial-mirror lenticules 706, a first viewer 900, a second viewer 902, and schematic representations of right eye image data 904, and left eye image data 906. To achieve optimal viewing of the "popping-out " effects the first viewer 900 must maintain a predetermined viewing distance 908. Also, use of partial-mirror lenticules 706 causes a substantially narrow usable viewing angle 910 as compared to substantially wider typical human viewing angle 912. Even with the viewing distance 908 requirement and reduced usable viewing angle 910, a viewer will appreciate the significant difference in perception of the interlaced images 800 that pop-out or extend toward the viewer from the partial-mirror cone 704 as compared to a mere image that floats within a partial-mirror cone. Figure 9 shows that the second viewer 902 can also perceive the interlaced images 800 that pop-out or extend toward the second viewer from the partial-mirror cone 704 even when viewing the interlaced images 800 from a side position where the second viewer's focus is not toward the center of the partial-mirror cone 704. The allowance of the second viewer 902 to perceive the interlaced images 800 shows that display system 700 is well suited for multi-viewing where multiple viewers can perceive the interlaced images 800 from various locations. Figure 9 further illustrates that each partial-mirror lenticule 706 is associated half with right eye image data 904 and half with the left eye image data 906. Of course, the partial-mirror lenticules 706 direct only right eye image data 904 to a viewer's right eye while also directing only left eye image data 906 to a viewer's left eye, thereby providing a stereoscopic view of the interlaced images 800. While this embodiment comprises a partial-mirror cone substantially shaped as a right angle cone, alternative embodiments of the present invention may instead comprise partial-mirror cones with greater or lesser angles between the outer surface of the partial-mirror cone and the panel display 702. Specifically, the usable viewing angle (such as usable viewing angle 910) may be increased by increasing the angle between the outer surface of the partial-mirror cone and the panel display 702 (making the partial-mirror cone more pointed). Similarly, the usable viewing angle (such as usable viewing angle 910) may be decreased by decreasing the angle between the outer surface of the partial-mirror cone and the panel display 702 (making the partial-mirror cone less pointed).

The foregoing illustrates some of the possibilities for practicing the invention. Many other embodiments are possible within the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that the scope of the invention is given by the appended claims together with their full range of equivalents.

Claims

1. A display system, comprising: a display for emitting light; a partial-mirror cone having an outer surface generally facing the display, the partial- mirror cone being configured to reflect a portion of the light; and a plurality of partial-mirror lenticules disposed on the outer surface.

2. The display system according to claim 1, wherein a right eye image is displayed adjacent to a left eye image such that the right and left eye images are respectively displayed by adjacent data strips.

3. The display system according to claim 2, wherein the right eye image data strip and the left eye image data strip are associated with only one of the plurality of partial-mirror lenticules.

4. The display system according to claim 1 , wherein the display is a display panel.

5. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the display is a projector.

6. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the partial-mirror cone comprises a cone angle of substantially 45°.

7. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the light is perceived as extending from the partial-mirror toward the viewer.

8. The display system according to claim 1 , wherein the display transmits at least one interlaced image.

9. The display system according to claim 1 , wherein the display transmits an interlaced image that is at least partially defined by a polar coordinate system.

10. The display system according to claim 1, wherein display system comprises an optimal viewing distance for optimizing a 3D effect of the display system.

11. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the display system comprises a usable viewing angle substantially less than a typical human viewing angle.

12. The display system of claim 1, at least one of the plurality of partial-mirror lenticules comprising an outermost surface.

13. The display system of claim 12, the at least one of the plurality of partial-mirror lenticules further comprising a reflective coating offset from the outermost surface.

14. The display system of claim 13, wherein the outermost surface of the at least one of the plurality of partial-mirror lenticules is generally convex.

15. The display system of claim 13, wherein the outermost surface of the at least one of the plurality of partial-mirror lenticules is generally concave.

16. The display system of claim 13, wherein the at least one of the plurality of partial-mirror lenticules comprises a holographic material and the outermost surface of the at least one of the plurality of partial-mirror lenticules is generally flat.

17. A lenticule for a display system, comprising: a longitudinal outermost surface that extends between a lenticule base and a lenticule tip; and a partial-mirror coating associated with the outermost surface for partially reflecting light.

18. The lenticule according to claim 17, wherein the partial-mirror coating is offset from the outermost surface.

19. The lenticule according to claim 17, wherein a width of the lenticule is greater near the lenticule base than the width of the lenticule near the lenticule tip.

20. The lenticule according to claim 17, wherein the lenticule is configured to direct right eye image data and left eye image data to different eyes of a viewer.