Abstract: Left eye and right eye images of an autostereoscopic display are displayed on LCD spatial light modulators which are illuminated by movable light sources via converging lenses or mirrors. A tracking system tracks the position of an observer and a control system controls the positions of the light sources so that the images of the light sources formed by the lenses or mirrors track the observer. The observer thus sees the 3D image while having an enlarged degree of freedom of movement.

Abstract: Observer tracking is provided in an autostereoscopic 3D display, for instance of the type including an LCD panel 2 behind a parallax barrier. An infrared sensor such as a position sensitive detector is provided on the LCD panel. The parallax barrier extends over the detector so as to form an image of the observer or of a reflective target worn by the observer on the detector. The parallax barrier is moved so as to keep the image at a constant position on the detector. The viewing zone thus track the observer.

Abstract: A stereoscopic 3D display comprises a light source and condenser optics which direct light through a spatial light modulator and a polarisation modulator. Each of the modulators is pixellated with the pixels of one modulator being optically aligned with respective pixels of the other modulator. Each pixel of the spatial light modulator is controlled so as to provide a light amplitude which is equal to the square root of the sum of the squares of the corresponding pixels of the stereoscopic images. Each pixel of the polarisation modulator is controlled so as to supply output light with a polarisation angle give by the arc-tangent of the quotient of the pixel amplitudes of the stereoscopic images. Polarising glasses with suitably aligned polariser lenses allow an observer to perceive the 3D effect, for instance on a polarisation preserving screen on which the encoded stereoscopic image is projected by projection optics.

Abstract: An autostereoscopic display includes a display device and an optical system which provide laterally overlapping viewing windows wherein one viewing window may receive black view data while an adjacent viewing window receives eye view data. Such a display may be used to perform observer tracking.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator has a modulating region which is capable of operating in two modes in the first clear mode, the region is continuously and substantially uniformly transmissive. In a second or barrier mode, the region can be switched to form parallax barrier comprising slits which are separated by continuous opaque regions. Such A modulator may be used in association with an image liquid crystal display to provide an autostereoscopic 3D display having a 3D mode which may track movement of an observer and a 2D mode in which full resolution of the LCD is used.

Abstract: An observer tracking display is provided in which the image data displayed by at least three display devices along respective different directions is divided depending on the position of an observer. Each eye of the observer can see only some regions of the display devices. The positions and sizes of those regions are calculated for the position of the observer and the display devices are then controlled such that the observer's left eye only receives left view data and the observer's right eye only receives right eye view data.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator comprises a plurality of picture elements arranged as rows and columns. The columns are arranged as adjacent groups, for instance for association with an element of a parallax device to provide an autostereoscopic 3D display. Adjacent picture elements disclosed in each row and in adjacent columns of each group overlap horizontally so that there are overlapping regions and non-overlapping regions. The vertical extent of each picture element is substantially constant throughout the non-overlapping region and is substantially equal to the sum of the heights of the adjacent picture elements throughout the overlapping regions.

Abstract: An autostereoscopic display of the invention includes: an illumination source for producing light of a first polarization and light of a second polarization different from the first polarization; a spatial light modulator for modulating the light of the first polarization and the light of the second polarization from the illumination source; and an optical system for directing the light of the first polarization to a first viewing region and the light of the second polarization to a second viewing region, wherein the spatial light modulator includes: a first polarization adjusting member for transmitting the light of the first polarization and substantially preventing transmission of the light of the second polarization; a second polarization adjusting member for transmitting the light of the second polarization and substantially preventing transmission of the light of the first polarization; and first and second groups of picture elements optically aligned with the first and second polarization adjusting mem

Abstract: A 3D printer comprises a scanning laser system. A donor sheet is located in the focal plane of the optical system and carries a thermally transferable colourant such as a dye or pigment. A lenticular screen has a colourant receiving layer which receives colourant from the donor sheet to form 3D pixels, each comprising interlaced 2D pixels, aligned with lenticules of the screen. A detector array responds to laser light which has been transmitted through the lenticular screen, and a print register control system uses the detector output correctly to position the scanning laser beam to compensate for irregularities in the lenticular screen.

Abstract: In order to provide an active matrix liquid crystal spatial light modulator suitable for use in autostereoscopic displays, the conventional delta arrangement of liquid crystal pixels is formed. However, instead of forming the conventional black mask, a new type of black mask is provided. This black mask defines groups of two or more columns of pixel openings such that the columns of each group are substantially contiguous.

Abstract: An observer tracking display is provided in which the image data displayed by at least three image displays along respective different directions is updated depending on the lateral position of an observer. The image displayed in a viewing region not visible to the observer is updated with an appropriate image in anticipation of the observer moving to a position where that viewing region is visible.

Abstract: A calibration method is provided for an observer tracking display, for instance of the autostereoscopic 3D type, which forms steerable viewing zones and which comprises a tracking system for tracking an observer and a controller for controlling the viewing zones in response to the tracking system. The viewing zones are steered to direct light in a plurality of directions in turn. The observer then moves to the optimum position for viewing the display. The tracking system determines the optimum position for each viewing zone direction and the positions and directions are stored in association with each other so as to form a mapping in the controller for controlling the viewing zones in response to the tracking system during normal use of the display.

Abstract: A 3D projection display comprises an autostereoscopic image producing unit which directs light beams corresponding to respective 2D views in different directions towards a projection lens. The projection lens co-operates with the image producing unit to image the light beams at respective different regions in the aperture of the projection lens. A light-transmissive screen co-operates with the image producing unit and the projection lens to image the views at the screen. The screen may comprise a Fresnel lens, or where a magnified image of increased angular spread is required, a double lenticular screen angular amplifier.