Abstract: An apparatus including an autostereoscopic image selection device and an overcoat opaque material applied to the autostereoscopic image selection device. The autostereoscopic image selection device and overcoat opaque material operate together to provide a self-locating aperture in association with the autostereoscopic selection device. The associated method entails applying an opaque overcoat material to an image selection device comprising a plurality of lenticules and removing selected portions of the opaque overcoat material from the image selection device. The applying and removing operate together with the image selection device to reduce a numerical aperture for at least one lenticule.

Abstract: A device and method for converting one stereoscopic format into another. A software-enabled matrix is used to set forth predefined relationships between one type of format as an input image and another type of format as an output image. The matrix can then be used as a look-up table that defines a correspondence between input pixels and output pixels for the desired format conversion.

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: An apparatus for collecting selection devices or eyewear is provided. The apparatus comprises a collection bin component and at least one receptacle panel component or receptacle lid component positioned adjacent to said collection bin component. The at least one receptacle panel covers at least a portion of the collection bin component. The apparatus further includes receptacle panel openings formed in at least one receptacle panel component. Openings are arranged in proportions configured to receive the selection devices and enable the collection bin component to collect said selection devices. Signage may be provided in association with the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus including a selection device and a multiple mode display device is disclosed. The multiple mode display device has a lens sheet including a plurality of individual lenticules forming a lenticular surface, an electro-optical modulator positioned adjacent the lens sheet, and a display device comprising a display surface. Alternatively, a multiple mode display arrangement is disclosed, having a lens sheet including a plurality of individual lenticules forming a lenticular surface and a display device comprising a display surface. The display device is positioned behind the lens sheet, thereby enabling viewing images transmitted in at least a planar mode and a stereoscopic mode.

Abstract: A method and system for use in conjunction with a push-pull liquid crystal modulator system for creating circularly polarized light of alternating handedness is provided. The method and system comprise a pair of surface mode liquid crystal cells and a driver electrically coupled to the cells. The driver is configured to move an electrical charge using a quenching pulse comprising a relatively brief voltage spike at a beginning of a waveform period. Multiple additional improvements are provided, including reducing the thickness of the LC gap (the distance between cell electrode plates), creating a charge connection or wiring connection to the cell electrodes, employing anti-reflection coating technology, thinner ITO and ITO index matched to the LC material, bonding all possible air to material surfaces, using superior glass, employing more efficient polarizers, and reducing projector blanking time.

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: 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: 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: 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 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: 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: An apparatus and method for producing a screen is provided. The method includes propelling a quantity of paint comprising metallic flakes, such as aluminum flakes, toward the screen. The method also includes applying at least one magnetic field in a vicinity of the screen, wherein applying the at least one magnetic field causes at least one metallic flake in the quantity of paint to be oriented relative to the screen in a substantially preferred orientation, thereby producing a screen exhibiting beneficial projection qualities, such as brightness. The magnetic field(s) applied may be unsymmetric in the time domain of, for example, an AC component of the magnetic field.

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 and system for use in conjunction with a push-pull liquid crystal modulator system for creating circularly polarized light of alternating handedness is provided. The method and system comprise a pair of surface mode liquid crystal cells and a driver electrically coupled to the cells. The driver is configured to move an electrical charge using a quenching pulse comprising a relatively brief voltage spike at a beginning of a waveform period. Multiple additional improvements are provided, including reducing the thickness of the LC gap (the distance between cell electrode plates), creating a charge connection or wiring connection to the cell electrodes, employing anti-reflection coating technology, thinner ITO and ITO index matched to the LC material, bonding all possible air to material surfaces, using superior glass, employing more efficient polarizers, and reducing projector blanking time.

Abstract: A method for demultiplexing frames of compressed image data is provided. The image data includes a series of left compressed images and a series of right compressed images, the right compressed images and left compressed images compressed using a compression function. The method includes receiving the frames of compressed image data via a medium configured to transmit images in single frame format, and performing an expansion function on frames of compressed image data, the expansion function configured to select pixels from the series of left compressed images and series of right compressed images to produce replacement pixels to form a substantially decompressed set of stereo image pairs. Additionally, a system for receiving stereo pairs, multiplexing the stereo pairs for transmission across a medium including single frame formatting, and demultiplexing received data into altered stereo pairs is provided.

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: 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.