Abstract: This disclosure provides a technique for controlling the slew rate and number of transition segments used to move the LC drive voltage level from one voltage to another. In one embodiment, a method of controlling a polarization modulator in a polarization-based stereoscopic display device may comprise providing digital signals to each of a plurality of drive circuits to generate a drive voltage from each drive circuit, where the drive voltages drive the polarization modulator. Such an exemplary method may also include determining a time sequential list of transition specifications configured to provide discrete transitions in one or more of the drive voltages. Then, in such methods, the digital signals provided to each of the one or more drive circuits receiving a transition may be adjusted, in accordance with the time sequential list, thereby altering their drive voltages based on the transition specifications.

Abstract: Described are illumination systems whereby light spectra from multiple LEDs of various colors can be combined and polarized with minimal components, while substantially reducing the losses for the combining and polarizing. The described systems and methods use polarizing beam splitters (PBSs) with retarder stack filters to combine color and split polarization for mixed light beams in one step, and to ultimately align the polarizations of the several colored light beams.

Abstract: A system and method for projecting stereoscopic images using a multiple projector arrangement is provided. The design comprises transmitting a first field train from the first projector, the first field train comprising first projector left and right images and concurrently transmitting a second field train from the second projector, the second field train comprising second projector left and right images. The first projector left image is transmitted by the first projector at substantially a same time as the second projector right image is transmitted by the second projector. Alternately, the design comprises transmitting a first field train from the first projector, the first field train comprising first projector left images alternating with first projector right images, and concurrently transmitting a second field train from the second projector, the second field train comprising second projector left images alternating with second projector right images. A quasi-interlacing technique is also provided.

Abstract: Encoding left and right eye stereoscopic image pairs into a color coded ‘anaglyph’ image allows for 3-D viewing through colored eyewear. The color mapping may be tailored locally to specific eyewear and display hardware and generates anaglyph output from distributed full-color left and right eye stereoscopic data. In an exemplary embodiment, determination of eyewear may involve viewer interaction through visual inspection of displayed calibration images or by other means. Left and right eye data may be mapped onto high quality anaglyph images. The overall approach attempts to provide a consistent, good quality stereoscopic experience for different displays and eyewear.

Abstract: Polarization preserving front projection screens and diffusers provide optimum polarization preservation for stereoscopic 3D viewing, as well as improved light control for enhanced brightness, uniformity, and contrast for both 2D and 3D systems. Generally, the disclosed screens direct light from a projector toward viewers within a diffusion locus, while maintaining optimum gain characteristics. More specifically, light incident on a region of the front projection screen from a predetermined projection direction is reflected by an engineered surface to a predetermined diffusion locus after undergoing substantially single reflections. The engineered surface, comprised of generating kernels, is used to optimally diffuse illumination light into a range of viewing angles, within the diffusion locus, with suitable gain profile, while optimally preserving polarization for 3D applications.

Abstract: Proposed are various embodiments of projection systems that generally provide stereoscopic images. The projection systems act to split a spatially separated image in a stereoscopic image frame and superimpose the left- and right-eye images on a projection screen with orthogonal polarization states. The embodiments are generally well suited to liquid crystal polarization based projection systems and may use advanced polarization control.

Abstract: Stereoscopic display systems including a position-tracking system that determine the position of the stereoscopic eyewear worn by a viewer. An exemplary embodiment of the eyewear includes retro-reflective reflectors that are illuminated by an infrared illuminator proximate to or optically co-axial with a capturing camera. Suppression reflections from other reflective features in the vicinity may be achieved by control of the polarization of the infrared light.

Abstract: A multi-view distribution format is described for stereoscopic and autostereoscopic 3D displays. In general, it comprises multi-tile image compression with the inclusion of one or more depth maps. More specifically, it provides embodiments that utilize stereoscopic images with one or more depth maps typically in the form of a compressed grey scale image and, in some instances, incorporates depth information from a second view encoded differentially.

Abstract: Disclosed are various lenticular display systems that include either a color filter array (CFA) or a colored lens array that is spaced from the pixels of an underlying display panel. In an embodiment, the CFA of a lenticular display may be operable to provides a locally ‘static color’ reproduction of images as a function of viewing angle. It may also enable the resolution of the CFA to be relatively coarse. Both separating the CFA from the panel and reducing the resolution significantly may reduce the system cost and allow higher resolution to be realized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing optimal correction to depth mapping between captured and displayed stereoscopic content. The solution is derived in a continuous form that can be implemented through CGI scaling techniques compatible with image rendering techniques. Similar correction can be implemented with variable depth-dependent camera separation and disparity re-mapping. The latter is applicable to correcting existing stereoscopic content.

Abstract: Disclosed are digitally-switchable bandpass filters combining non-tunable retarder stacks with switchable liquid crystal cells. The disclosed filter embodiments function like a filter wheel with no moving parts that may provide faster switching, better image registration, compact size, and lower electrical power consumption. These benefits are attractive in portable handheld devices, such as bio-hazard sensors or glucose monitors.

Abstract: Described are illumination systems whereby light spectra from multiple LEDs of various colors can be combined and polarized with minimal components, while substantially reducing the losses for the combining and polarizing. The described systems and methods use polarizing beam splitters (PBSs) with retarder stack filters to combine color and split polarization for mixed light beams in one step, and to ultimately align the polarizations of the several colored light beams.

Abstract: Three general designs for reducing parallax in a moving picture are disclosed. One design comprises stretching graphics content near the left and right frame edges of stereo pair elements in order to modify parallax settings. A second design comprises identifying a plurality of substantially corresponding points in a left eye view and right eye view and bringing the plurality of substantially corresponding points closer together using a morph technique. The third design entails fading a portion of a right eye view with a portion of a left eye view near or proximate an edge of the image.

Abstract: An autostereoscopic display system wherein an interdigitated stereogram is generated and displayed on an electronic display. The display includes a lenticular screen over the surface of the display which allows the user to observe the stereogram on the display and obtain a true stereoscopic effect. In accord with the invention, the resolution of master images is minimized and then the pixels from the master images are mapped to form the interdigitated stereogram. The optimum minimization of the resolution is obtained when the ratio of horizontal resolution to vertical resolution for the master images approximates the screen aspect ratio of the display. In this way, less computation is involved in remapping the pixels to form an interdigitated stereogram.

Abstract: A system and method for projecting stereoscopic images using a multiple projector arrangement is provided. The design comprises transmitting a first field train from the first projector, the first field train comprising first projector left and right images and concurrently transmitting a second field train from the second projector, the second field train comprising second projector left and right images. The first projector left image is transmitted by the first projector at substantially a same time as the second projector right image is transmitted by the second projector. Alternately, the design comprises transmitting a first field train from the first projector, the first field train comprising first projector left images alternating with first projector right images, and concurrently transmitting a second field train from the second projector, the second field train comprising second projector left images alternating with second projector right images. A quasi-interlacing technique is also provided.

Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for linear depth mapping. Linear depth mapping includes using algorithms to correct the distorted depth mapping of stereoscopic capture and display systems.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reduction of ghost images in stereoscopic images. This disclosure provides a ghost compensation apparatus and methods that detect affected regions where ghosting may occur in a stereoscopic image, yet where conventional ghost compensation techniques are ineffective because there is insufficient luminance overhead to conduct a conventional ghost compensation process. Luminance values are modified in such regions prior to applying a ghost compensation process.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to autostereoscopic display systems operable to provide increased number of views and related methods. One embodiment of the display systems comprises a light-modulating display panel comprising a first set of colored subpixels and a second set of colored subpixels, and the number of subpixels in the first set of colored subpixels is greater than the number of subpixels in the second set of colored subpixels. The display system further comprises a lenticular sheet disposed in light paths of the colored subpixels of the display panel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding or tagging a video frame provides a way to indicate, to a receiver, for example, whether the video content is 3-D content or 2-D content. A method and apparatus for decoding an encoded or tagged video frame provides a way, for a receiver, for example, to determine whether the video content is 3-D content or 2-D content. 3-D video data may be encoded by replacing lines of at least one video frame with a specific color or pattern. When a decoder detects the presence of the colored or patterned lines in an image frame, it may interpret them as an indicator that 3-D video data is present.

Abstract: A method of interdigitation for display of an autostereoscopic source image to a screen comprising a plurality of pixels having sub-pixels and sub-pixel components and apparatus for interdigitation is provided. The method comprises generating a texture memory coordinate at each pixel location on the screen of the source image, calculating screen pixel location based on the texture memory coordinate of each pixel, computing view numbers based on screen pixel location, wherein view numbers comprise one value for each sub-pixel component, mapping proportional pixel locations in tiles from multiple tile perspective views of the autostereoscopic image to a resultant image using the view numbers, and extracting one subpixel component from each proportional pixel location to represent color for the pixel in the resultant image.