Abstract: A parallax viewing system is disclosed that permits a viewer to change viewpoints and look around objects by providing the viewer with multiple viewpoints. The parallax viewing system can include a plurality of viewpoints in each viewing direction of a two dimensional display. A viewpoint/parallax generator causes a liquid crystal array to vary its viewing angle over time across a plurality of viewpoints 1 through N, while applying the appropriate image data for the respective viewpoint. The liquid crystal array or other suitable display technology is fabricated with a narrow viewing angle. The liquid crystal material should be selected to handle a wide bias voltage (contrast) variation. Thus, by varying the applied bias voltage, the viewing angle of the display system may be tuned from left to right, for example, by varying the bias voltage. In an illustrative three dimensional implementation, the input image signal is encoded with a left eye (LE) and right eye (RE) image for each viewpoint.

Abstract: A signal processing system processes an input signal in real time. The system includes a light valve array for selectively attenuating light incident thereupon in response to electronic control signals, a light source for providing illumination, a light-sensitive array for producing electronic output signals representing a processed version of the input signal in response to light incident thereupon, and control circuitry for generating and applying electronic control signals to the light valve array in response to the input signal. The electronic control signals are generated from the input signal and are adapted for implementing an arbitrarily-selected signal processing operation. The light valve array is situated between the light source and the light-sensitive array, such that the light source is selectively attenuated by the light valve array, and such that the selectively attenuated light is incident upon the light-sensitive array.