Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively blurring parts of an image set according to differences in disparity between successive images. As a result, the one-dimensional ‘ringing’ edge artifacts, intrinsic to autostereoscopic displays, are hidden, thereby improving the perceived image quality of a multi-view autostereoscopic image. The method may involve detecting regions of disparity between adjacent views, and then blurring those regions by weighted local pixel averaging. The relationship between the blur radius and the disparity is preferentially non-linear to maintain sharpness of low disparity regions.

Abstract: A projection design configured for use with a projector having a projector lens is provided. The device includes at least one pi-cell or pi-cell electro-optical modulator in combination with a wire grid polarizer mounted proximate the pi-cell(s). The design may include a cleanup polarizer between the pi-cell(s) and the wire grid polarizer and optionally a protective window between the wire grid projector and projection lens. The device may be oriented at an angle substantially differing from the axis of the projector lens. The resultant device includes spacing for airflow and can offer improved performance, particularly in heating, over designs previously available.

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: A system and method for interdigitating multiple perspective views in a stereoscopic image viewing system. A lenticular sheet is affixed in intimate juxtaposition with a display area having a defined aspect ratio. The display area includes a plurality of scan lines each having a plurality of pixels, each pixel including subpixels. A map having the same resolution as the display is created to store values corresponding to each subpixel in the display area. Preferably, the map is generated beforehand and stored for later use through a lookup operation. A buffer stores a frame having n views, wherein each of the n views has the same aspect ratio as the display area. A plurality of masks is also created and stored. Each mask corresponds to a unique one of the n views and includes opaque areas and a plurality of transparent windows, each of which corresponds to a selected subpixel location.

Abstract: A system and method for interdigitating multiple perspective views in a stereoscopic image viewing system. A lenticular sheet is affixed in intimate juxtaposition with a display area having a defined aspect ratio. The display area includes a plurality of scan lines each having a plurality of pixels, each pixel including subpixels. A map having the same resolution as the display is created to store values corresponding to each subpixel in the display area. Preferably, the map is generated beforehand and stored for later use through a lookup operation. A buffer stores a frame having n views, wherein each of the n views has the same aspect ratio as the display area. A plurality of masks is also created and stored. Each mask corresponds to a unique one of the n views and includes opaque areas and a plurality of transparent windows, each of which corresponds to a selected subpixel location.

Abstract: An apparatus including an autostereoscopic image selection device having a plurality of lenticules is provided. The autostereoscopic image selection device has an opaque material applied thereto in gaps between the plurality of lenticules. The opaque material is applied to the autostereoscopic image selection device in a soft aperturing manner, the soft aperturing manner comprising applying the opaque material such that the opaque material is tapered from the gaps over the plurality of lenticules. The opaque material can be applied in accordance with a windowing function.

Abstract: A compound curved projection screen having a curvature about at least one region, such as a cylinder cross section curved about an axis or an ellipse about a plurality of axes, is provided. The compound curved screen comprises a plurality of angled planar reflective surfaces oriented to generally provide light energy in a direction of a screen centered axis. Compound curvature exists by the plurality of angled planar reflective surfaces being positioned in a generally curved and stepped manner about a second region different from the first region, such as a second axis orthogonal to the first axis.

Abstract: A method for creating a reduced sized view-map of an autostereoscopic source image is disclosed. The method comprises creating a mathematical model for mapping the autostereoscopic source image into a first view-map, mapping the autostereoscopic source image into the first view-map, wherein the first view-map comprises a source-view image value and a plurality of pixel locations comprising an origin pixel, scanning the first view-map for at least one pixel location whose source-view image value closely matches that of the origin pixel, and generating the reduced sized view-map by replicating matched pixel locations within the first view-map.

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: Methods and systems are disclosed to provide intra-pixel illumination to a modulating display panel, where regions of a pixel are provided incident light with controlled intensity and color at different periods of the panel's addressing cycle. This can lead to increased resolution beyond that intrinsic to the panel's physical make up, providing an enhanced resolution 2D panel, as well as a high resolution panel suitable for autostereoscopic purposes when used with a further lens array. For example, when the left hand side of all pixels are illuminated in one frame creating an image, and the right hand side of the pixels are illuminated within a second frame creating a further image, then the combined image, assuming temporal averaging, is twice the native resolution. Despite the temporal trade off, the eye's tolerance to local variation of color and intensity makes this feasible with realistic addressing periods.

Abstract: Described are various compensators for compensating for in-plate and out-of-plane retardances of LC panels in their dark states.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are light collectors for use in projection applications. The light collectors gather light from surface emitting sources (e.g., LEDs) of differing color (or same color in some embodiments) using input lightpipes. A light collection system splits the light into orthogonal linear polarization states and efficiently propagates the light by using polarizing beamsplitters (PBSs) and a reflecting element to recycle light at a port of the PBS. Further, the light collection system may efficiently homogenize the light using an output lightpipe in a lightpath from the outputs of the PBSs. In addition, the light collection system may present a single, linear polarization at the output through the use of a half-wave switch (LC cell) in some embodiments or ColorSelect filter in other embodiments. The light collection system may be integrated into a single, monolithic glass, plastic or combination glass/plastic assembly.

Abstract: A polarization conversion system separates light from an unpolarized image source into a first state of polarization (SOP) and an orthogonal second SOP, and directs the polarized light on first and second light paths. The SOP of light on only one of the light paths is transformed to an orthogonal state such that both light paths have the same SOP. A polarization modulator temporally modulates the light on the first and second light paths to first and second output states of polarization. First and second projection lenses direct light on the first and second light paths toward a projection screen to form substantially overlapping polarization encoded images. The polarization modulator may be located before or after the projection lenses. The polarization-encoded images may be viewed using eyewear with appropriate polarization filters.

Abstract: An achromatic polarization switch (APS) acts on linear polarized light to provide orthogonal polarized output states over a range of visible wavelengths. In a first switching state, the APS is operable to pass light of a first polarization state therethrough. In a second switching state, the APS is operable to transform light passing therethrough to a substantially orthogonal second polarization state. Used in conjunction with orthogonal analyzing eyewear, left and right eye images are time-sequentially modulated in orthogonal polarization states by the APS to yield a stereoscopic 3D image sensation.

Abstract: A set of eyewear is provided for use with prescription spectacles. The design comprises a plurality of selecting devices formed and configured to be attached to the spectacles to provide stereoscopic viewing of images when worn by a user wearing the spectacles. The eyewear comprises a substrate forming a first selector device and a second selector device, and optical materials provided on the substrate. The optical materials comprise first optical material associated with the first selector device and providing a first orientation along a first axis and second optical material associated with the second selector device and providing a second orientation along a second axis substantially orthogonal to the first axis. The substrate and optical materials are configured to be fixedly mountable to the spectacles.

Abstract: Curved polarization filters and methods of manufacturing such filters are described in the present disclosure. An exemplary method includes laminating a planar polarization layer to a planar retarder layer at a predetermined orientation and bending the laminate to create a curved filter. The strain on the retarder layer results in stress-induced birefringence, and the predetermined orientation of the retarder substantially compensates for the stress-induced birefringence. In some embodiments, the predetermination is based on mathematical models. In some other embodiment, the predetermination is based on experimental data.

Abstract: Described are tilted compensators for compensating for in-plate and out-of-plane retardances of LC panels in their dark states, including a single tilted biaxial retarder or compound retarder comprising more than one biaxial film, which are effective to compensate both for nonideal polarization effects of LC panels and other optical components in optical projection systems. Also described are tilted compensators for deflecting away from a projection system optical path unwanted reflected light.

Abstract: A method and system of providing circularly polarized eyewear is provided. The eyewear comprises substantially rigid material configured to maintain lensing material, such as card stock or plastic. The lensing material comprises polarizing lensing material located proximate the substantially rigid material, and retarder lensing material matched to the polarizing lensing material. The retarder lensing material is positioned adjacent to the polarizing lensing material such that each eye of a user sees an intended image, and an unintended image is blocked thereby when used in conjunction with suitably polarization encoded projected images. The polarizing lensing material and retarder lensing material are fixedly maintained in association with the substantially rigid material and are configured to be provided free of lamination.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high brightness color selective light modulator (CSLM) formed by a polarization modulator positioned between two retarder stacks. The modulator changes the apparent orientation of one retarder stack relative to the other so that, in a first switching state of the modulator the two retarder stacks cooperate in filtering the spectrum of input light, and in a second switching state the two retarder stacks complement each other, yielding a neutral transmission spectrum. Two or more CSLM stages can be used in series, each stage providing independent control of a primary color. One preferred embodiment eliminates internal polarizers between CSLM stages, thereby providing an additive common-path full-color display with only two neutral polarizers. Hybrid filters can be made using the CSLMs of this invention, in combination with other active or passive filters.

Abstract: The disclosed technique employs a process for mating polarizing wafers to clear lenses using a high-yield bonding process. A thermoformed polarizing wafer is bonded to a clear lens of similar curvature via a solvent bonding process. In one embodiment, a system includes a translation stage configured to press a first lens to a second, with a solvent therebetween, such that a portion of the first lens initially contacts a portion of the second lens. An alignment fixture holding the second lens conforms to the curvature of the second lens, and a deformable sheet mounted proximate to the alignment fixture flexes in response to the force so that either of the first or second lenses conforms to a curvature of the other, and so that the pressure of the first lens against the second lens presses the solvent radially outward to the perimeter of the second lens to bond the first lens to the second lens.