DISPLAY WITH ADAPTABLE PARALLAX BARRIER
A display system is provided that enables three-dimensional images to be displayed. The display system includes a parallax barrier. The parallax barrier is positioned proximate a light source. The parallax barrier includes a plurality of barrier elements arranged in a barrier element array. Each barrier element is configured to be selectively opaque (blocking) or transparent (non-blocking). In a first mode, each barrier element of the barrier element array is selected to be non-blocking to enable a two-dimensional image to be generated. In a second mode, each barrier element in a plurality of parallel strips of barrier elements of the barrier element array is selected to be non-blocking to form a plurality of parallel non-blocking slits to enable a three-dimensional image to be generated. The number, width, and orientation of non-blocking slits are selectable to modify display characteristics, such as a position at which the three-dimensional image is delivered.
Latest BROADCOM CORPORATION Patents:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/291,818, filed on Dec. 31, 2009, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety; and
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/303,119, filed on Feb. 10, 2010, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to three-dimensional image displays.
2. Background Art
Images may be generated for display in various forms. For instance, television (TV) is a widely used telecommunication medium for transmitting and displaying images in monochromatic (“black and white”) or color form. Conventionally, images are provided in analog form and are displayed by display devices in two-dimensions. More recently, images are being provided in digital form for display in two-dimensions on display devices having improved resolution (e.g., “high definition” or “HD”). Even more recently, images capable of being displayed in three-dimensions are being generated.
Conventional displays may use a variety of techniques to achieve three-dimensional image viewing functionality. For example, various types of glasses have been developed that may be worn by users to view three-dimensional images displayed by a conventional display. Examples of such glasses include glasses that utilize color filters or polarized filters. In each case, the lenses of the glasses pass two-dimensional images of differing perspective to the user's left and right eyes. The images are combined in the visual center of the brain of the user to be perceived as a three-dimensional image. In another example, synchronized left eye, right eye LCD (liquid crystal display) shutter glasses may be used with conventional two-dimensional displays to create a three-dimensional viewing illusion. In still another example, LCD display glasses are being used to display three-dimensional images to a user. The lenses of the LCD display glasses include corresponding displays that provide images of differing perspective to the user's eyes, to be perceived by the user as three-dimensional.
Problems exist with such techniques for viewing three-dimensional images. For instance, persons that use such displays and systems to view three-dimensional images may suffer from headaches, eyestrain, and/or nausea after long exposure. Furthermore, some content, such as two-dimensional text, may be more difficult to read and interpret when displayed three-dimensionally. To address these problems, some manufacturers have created display devices that may be toggled between three-dimensional viewing and two-dimensional viewing. A display device of this type may be switched to a three-dimensional mode for viewing of three-dimensional images, and may be switched to a two-dimensional mode for viewing of two-dimensional images (and/or to provide a respite from the viewing of three-dimensional images).
A parallax barrier is another example of a device that enables images to be displayed in three-dimensions. A parallax barrier includes of a layer of material with a series of precision slits. The parallax barrier is placed proximal to a display so that a user's eyes each see a different set of pixels to create a sense of depth through parallax. A disadvantage of parallax barriers is that the viewer must be positioned in a well-defined location in order to experience the three-dimensional effect. If the viewer moves his/her eyes away from this “sweet spot,” image flipping and/or exacerbation of the eyestrain, headaches and nausea that may be associated with prolonged three-dimensional image viewing may result. Conventional three-dimensional displays that utilize parallax barriers are also constrained in that the displays must be entirely in a two-dimensional image mode or a three-dimensional image mode at any time.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONMethods, systems, and apparatuses are described for displays having adaptable parallax barriers substantially as shown in and/or described herein in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention.
The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION I. IntroductionThe present specification discloses one or more embodiments that incorporate the features of the invention. The disclosed embodiment(s) merely exemplify the invention. The scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment(s). The invention is defined by the claims appended hereto.
References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.
Furthermore, it should be understood that spatial descriptions (e.g., “above,” “below,” “up,” “left,” “right,” “down,” “top,” “bottom,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” etc.) used herein are for purposes of illustration only, and that practical implementations of the structures described herein can be spatially arranged in any orientation or manner.
II. Example EmbodimentsEmbodiments of the present invention relate to display devices that include a parallax barrier that may be dynamically modified, thereby changing the manner in which images are delivered to the eyes of one or more viewers. The parallax barrier may be configured to enable the adaptive display of multiple types of images to users. For instance, embodiments enable the adaptive accommodation of a changing viewer sweet spot, and switching between two-dimensional (2D) and stereoscopic three-dimensional (3D) images. Example features of the parallax barrier that may be dynamically modified include one or more of a number of slits in the parallax barrier, the dimensions of each slit, the spacing between the slits, and the orientation of the slits.
The following subsections describe numerous example embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of exemplary embodiments described herein.
A. Example Display System and Method Embodiments
In embodiments, a display device may include an adaptive parallax barrier to enable various display capabilities. For instance,
When present, backlighting 116 emits light that is filtered by parallax barrier 104, and the filtered light is received by pixel array 114, which imposes image information on the filtered light by performing further filtering. When backlighting 116 is not present, pixel array 114 may be configured to emit light which includes the image information, and the light is filtered by parallax barrier 104. Parallax barrier 104 operates as an image filter or “light manipulator” to filter received light with a plurality of barrier elements (also referred to as “blocking regions”) that are selectively substantially opaque or transparent to generate three-dimensional images from the image information provided by pixel array 114. The image information may include one or more still images, motion (e.g., video) images, etc. As shown in
Display device 112 may be implemented in various ways. For instance, display device 112 may be a television display (e.g., an LCD (liquid crystal display) television, a plasma television, etc.), a computer monitor, or any other type of display device. Image generator 102 may be any suitable type or combination of light and image generating devices, including an LCD screen, a plasma screen, an LED (light emitting device) screen (e.g., an OLED (organic LED) screen), etc. Parallax barrier 104 may be any suitable light filtering device, including an LCD filter, a mechanical filter (e.g., that incorporates individually controllable shutters), etc., and may be configured in any manner, including as a thin-film device (e.g., formed of a stack of thin film layers), etc. Backlighting 116 may be any suitable light emitting device, including a panel of LEDs or other light emitting elements.
Pixel array 208 includes a two-dimensional array of pixels (e.g., arranged in a grid or other distribution). Pixel array 208 is a self-illuminating or light-generating pixel array such that the pixels of pixel array 208 each emit light included in light 252 emitted from image generator 102. Each pixel may be a separately addressable light source (e.g., a pixel of a plasma display, an LCD display, an LED display such as an OLED display, or of other type of display). Each pixel of pixel array 208 may be individually controllable to vary color and intensity. In an embodiment, each pixel of pixel array 208 may include a plurality of sub-pixels that correspond to separate color channels, such as a trio of red, green, and blue sub-pixels included in each pixel.
Parallax barrier 104 is positioned proximate to a surface of pixel array 208. Barrier element array 210 is a layer of parallax barrier 104 that includes a plurality of barrier elements or blocking regions arranged in an array. Each barrier element of the array is configured to be selectively opaque or transparent. For instance,
For example, in one embodiment, each barrier element 304 may have a “band” shape that extends a vertical length of barrier element array 302, such that barrier element array 302 includes a single horizontal row of barrier elements 304. Each barrier element 304 may include one or more of such bands, and different portions of barrier element array 302 may include barrier elements 304 that include different numbers of such bands. One advantage of such a configuration is that barrier elements 304 extending a vertical length of barrier element array 302 do not need to have spacing between them because there is no need for drive signal routing in such space. For instance, in a two-dimensional LCD array configuration, such as TFT (thin film transistor) display, a transistor-plus-capacitor circuit is typically placed onsite at the corner of a single pixel in the array, and control signals for such transistors are routed between the LCD pixels (row-column control, for example). In a pixel configuration for a parallax barrier, local transistor control may not be necessary because barrier elements 304 may not need to be changing as rapidly as display pixels (e.g., pixels of pixel array 208). For a single row of vertical bands of barrier elements 304, control signals may be routed to the top and/or bottom of barrier elements 304. Because in such a configuration control signal routing between rows is not needed, the vertical bands can be arranged side-by-side with little-to-no space in between. Thus, if the vertical bands are thin and oriented edge-to-edge, one band or multiple adjacent bands (e.g., five bands) in a row may comprise a barrier element 304 in a blocking state, followed by one band or multiple adjacent bands (e.g., two bands) that comprise a barrier element 304 in a non-blocking state (a slit), and so on. In the example of five bands in a blocking state and two bands in a non-blocking state, the five bands may combine to offer a single black barrier element of approximately 2.5 times the width of a single transparent slit with no spaces therein.
Barrier element array 302 may include any number of barrier elements 304. For example, in
Each barrier element 304 of barrier element array 302 is selectable to be substantially opaque or transparent. For instance,
Display controller 202 is configured to generate control signals to enable display device 250 to display two-dimensional and three-dimensional images to users 218 in viewing space 106. For example, pixel array controller 204 is configured to generate a control signal 214 that is received by pixel array 208. Control signal 214 may include one or more control signals used to cause pixels of pixel array 208 to emit light 252 of particular desired colors and/or intensity. Barrier array controller 206 is configured to generate a control signal 216 that is received by barrier element array 210. Control signal 216 may include one or more control signals used to cause each of barrier elements 304 of barrier element array 302 to be transparent or opaque. In this manner, barrier element array 210 filters light 252 to generate filtered light 110 that includes one or more two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional images that may be viewed by users 218 in viewing space 106.
For example, control signal 214 may control sets of pixels of pixel array 208 to each emit light representative of a respective image, to provide a plurality of images. Control signal 216 may control barrier elements 304 of barrier element array 210 to filter the light received from pixel array 208 according to the provided images such that one or more of the images are received by users 218 in two-dimensional form. For instance, in a first mode, control signal 216 may select the barrier elements 304 of barrier element array 302 to be transparent, to transmit a two-dimensional image or view to users 218. Furthermore, in a second mode, control signal 216 may control sections of barrier element array 210 to include opaque and transparent barrier elements 304 to filter the light received from pixel array 208 so that a pair of images or views provided by pixel array 208 is received by users 218 as a corresponding three-dimensional image or view. For example, control signal 216 may select parallel strips of barrier elements 304 of barrier element array 302 to be transparent to form slits that enable three-dimensional images to be received by users 218.
In embodiments, control signal 216 may be generated by barrier array controller 206 to configure one or more characteristics of barrier element array 210. For example, control signal 216 may be generated to form any number of parallel strips of barrier elements 304 of barrier element array 302 to be transparent, to modify the number and/or spacing of parallel strips of barrier elements 304 of barrier element array 302 that are transparent, to select and/or modify a width and/or a length (in barrier elements 304) of one or more strips of barrier elements 304 of barrier element array 302 that are transparent or opaque, to select and/or modify an orientation of one or more strips of barrier elements 304 of barrier element array 302 that are transparent, etc.
Backlighting 116 is a backlight panel that emits light 238. Light element array 236 (or “backlight array”) of backlighting 116 includes a two-dimensional array of light sources. Such light sources may be arranged, for example, in a rectangular grid. Each light source in light element array 236 is individually addressable and controllable to select an amount of light emitted thereby. A single light source may comprise one or more light-emitting elements depending upon the implementation. In one embodiment, each light source in light element array 236 comprises a single light-emitting diode (LED) although this example is not intended to be limiting.
Parallax barrier 104 is positioned proximate to a surface of backlighting 116 (e.g., a surface of the backlight panel). As described above, barrier element array 210 is a layer of parallax barrier 104 that includes a plurality of barrier elements or blocking regions arranged in an array. Each barrier element of the array is configured to be selectively opaque or transparent.
Similarly to pixel array 208 of
Display controller 202 of
For example, control signal 234 may control sets of light sources of light element array 236 to emit light 238. Control signal 216 may control barrier elements 304 of barrier element array 210 to filter light 238 received from light element array 236 to enable filtered light 240 to enable two- and/or three-dimensionality. Control signal 232 may control sets of pixels of pixel array 222 to filter filtered light 240 according to respective images, to provide a plurality of images. For instance, in a first mode, control signal 216 may select the barrier elements 304 of barrier element array 302 to be transparent, to transmit a two-dimensional image to users 218. Furthermore, in a second mode, control signal 216 may control sections of barrier element array 210 to include opaque and transparent barrier elements 304 to filter the light received from light element array 236 so that a pair of images provided by pixel array 222 is received by users 218 as a corresponding as three-dimensional image. For example, control signal 216 may select parallel strips of barrier elements 304 of barrier element array 302 to be transparent to form slits that enable three-dimensional images to be received by users 218.
Two-dimensional and three-dimensional images may be generated by system 100 of
Flowchart 600 begins with step 602. In step 602, light is received at an array of barrier elements. For example, as shown in
In step 604, the array of barrier elements is configured into a first parallax barrier configuration that has a first set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the blocking state and a second set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the non-blocking state to provide the viewer located at a first position with a three-dimensional view. In a three-dimensional mode for display system 100 of
For instance,
The light received from the array of pixels is filtered according to the particular parallax barrier configuration to form at least one image in a viewing space. Barrier element array 210 of parallax barrier 210 is configured to filter light 252 received from pixel array 208 (
For example, as shown in
Furthermore, light emanating from pixel array 702 is filtered by barrier element array 704 to form a plurality of images in a viewing space 726, including a first image 706a at a first location 708a and a second image 706b at a second location 708b. A portion of the light emanating from pixel array 702 is blocked by blocking barrier elements 710, while another portion of the light emanating from pixel array 702 passes through non-blocking barrier elements 712, according to the filtering by barrier element array 704. For instance, light 724a from pixel 714a is blocked by blocking barrier element 710a, and light 724b and light 724c from pixel 714b are blocked by blocking barrier elements 710b and 710c, respectively. In contrast, light 718a from pixel 714a is passed by non-blocking barrier element 712a and light 718b from pixel 714b is passed by non-blocking barrier element 712b.
By forming parallel non-blocking slits in a barrier element array, light from a pixel array can be filtered to form multiple images or views in a viewing space. For instance, system 700 shown in
For instance,
distance 1006/distance 1004=spacing 722/(distance 1004−distance 1012) Equation 1
As such, spacing 722 may be calculated (e.g., by slit spacing calculator 902) according to Equation 2 shown below, where slit spacing 722 is less than pixel separation distance 1006:
spacing 722=distance 1006×(distance 1004−distance 1012)/distance 1004 Equation 2
For instance, in one example embodiment, distance 1006 may equal 1.0 mm, distance 1004 may equal 2.0 meters, and distance 1012 may equal 5.0 mm. In such an example, spacing 722 may be calculated according to Equation 2 as follows:
spacing 722=1.0×(2000−5)/2000=0.9975 mm
In the above example, the centers of adjacent non-blocking barrier elements 712a-712e may be separated by spacing 722 of 0.9975 mm to form image 1002 at 2.0 meters from pixel array 702. As shown in
For example, if spacing 722 corresponds to the width of two barrier elements, single non-blocking barrier elements 712 having a width of 0.9975/2=0.4988 mm may be alternated with single blocking barrier elements 710 having the width of 0.4988 mm in barrier element array 704. Alternatively, if spacing 722 corresponds to the width of more than two barrier elements, one or more non-blocking barrier elements may be alternated with one or more blocking barrier elements to for non-blocking slits every 0.9975 mm. In one example, single non-blocking barrier elements 712 having a width of 0.9975/399=0.0025 mm may be alternated with three hundred and ninety-eight blocking barrier elements 710 each having the width of 0.0025 mm in barrier element array 704. In another example, ten non-blocking barrier elements 712 each having a width of 0.0025 mm may be alternated with three hundred and eighty-nine blocking barrier elements 710 each having the width of 0.0025 mm in barrier element array 704.
Thus, referring to
It is noted that in the examples of
First and second images 706a and 706b are configured to be perceived by a user as a three-dimensional image or view. For example,
In such an embodiment, first and second images 706a and 706b may be formed by display system 700 such that their centers are spaced apart a width of a user's pupils (e.g., an “interocular distance” 1106). For example, the spacing of first and second images 706a and 706b may be approximately 65 mm (or other suitable spacing) to generally be equivalent to interocular distance 1106. As described above, multiple instances of first and second images 706a and 706b may be formed by display system 700 that repeat in a viewing space. Thus, first and second images 706a and 706b shown in
Referring back to
Furthermore, although
As described, in an embodiment, display system 700 may be configured to generate a two-dimensional image for viewing by users in a viewing space. For example, flowchart 600 (
B. Example Parallax Barrier Configurations
As described above, various characteristics of parallax barrier 300 of
For instance,
In embodiments, blocking strips may be modified to be wider or narrower by any desired number of barrier elements 304, including a single barrier element (as in
For instance,
As shown in
For example, Equation 2 shown above may be rewritten as Equation 3 shown below to solve for distance 1004 in
distance 1004=(distance 1006×distance 1012)/(distance 1006−spacing 722) Equation 3
As indicated by Equation 3, if spacing 722 is less than the value of distance 1006, and is increased towards the value of distance 1006, distance 1004 increases. If spacing 722 is less than the value of distance 1006, and is decreased further from the value of distance 1006, distance 1004 decreases.
As indicated in step 1302 (
Thus, in embodiments, a width of non-blocking slits in a barrier element may be modified. The width of the non-blocking slits may be modified to have any width of one or more barrier elements 304. The widths of non-blocking slits may be widened or narrowed for various reasons, including decreasing or increasing display resolution, decreasing or increasing clarity of images generated by one or more portions of the barrier element array, etc.
C. Example Image Orientation Embodiments
As described above, in embodiments, parallel non-blocking slits may be implemented in a barrier element array to generate three-dimensional images. In such an embodiment, the slits are oriented such that an axis that crosses through both eyes of a user (e.g., user 1104 in
For instance,
In
As such, horizontally and vertically oriented three-dimensional images may be enabled by barrier element array 304 by corresponding parallax barrier configurations. Furthermore, barrier element array 304 may enable three-dimensional images of any orientation to be provided, including any angle between horizontal and vertical, by providing parallel non-blocking strips in barrier element array 302 of the desired angle (and by providing corresponding pixels in the pixel array arranged according to the desired angle). For example,
D. Example Viewer Position Determining and Image Tuning Embodiments
As described above, parallax barriers may be reconfigured to change the locations of delivered views based on changing viewer positions. As such, a position of a viewer may be determined/tracked so that a parallax barrier may be reconfigured to deliver views consistent with the changing position of the viewer. In embodiments, a position of a viewer may be determined/tracked by determining a position of the viewer directly, or by determining a position of a device associated with the viewer (e.g., a device worn by the viewer, held by the viewer, sitting in the viewer's lap, in the viewer's pocket, sitting next the viewer, etc.).
For instance,
Remote device 2004 may be configured in various ways to enable the position of viewer 2006 to be tracked. For instance,
Positioning module 2104 may be included in remote device 2004 to determine a position of remote device 2004 according to a positioning technique, such triangulation or trilateration. For instance, positioning module 2104 may include one or more receivers that receive satellite broadcast signals (e.g., a global positioning system (GPS) module that receives signals from GPS satellites). Position calculator 2106 may calculate the position of remote device 2004 by precisely timing the received signals according to GPS techniques. In another embodiment, positioning module 2104 may include one or more receivers that receive signals transmitted by display device 2002 that are used by position calculator 2106 to calculate the position of remote device 2004. In other embodiments, positioning module 2104 and position calculator 2106 may implement other types of positioning techniques.
User interface module 2108 may be present to enable viewer 2006 to interact with remote device 2004. For example, user interface module 2108 may include any number and combination of user interface elements, such as a keyboard, a thumb wheel, a pointing device, a roller ball, a stick pointer, a joystick, a thumb pad, a display, a touch sensitive display, any number of virtual interface elements, a voice recognition system, a haptic interface, and/or other user interface elements described elsewhere herein or otherwise known. User interface module 2108 may be configured to enable viewer 2006 to manually enter position information for viewer 2006 into remote device 2004, including manually entering coordinates of viewer 2006 in viewing space 106, entering an indication of a predetermined location in viewing space 106 into remote device 2004 (e.g., a “location A”, a “seat D,” etc.), or providing position information in any other manner.
Camera(s) 2110 may be present in remote device 2004 to enable optical position detection of viewer 2006. For example, camera(s) 2110 may be pointed by viewer 2006 at display device 2002, which may display a symbol or code, and one or more images of the displayed symbol or code may be captured by camera(s) 2110. Image processing system 2112 may receive the captured image(s), and determine a position of remote device 2004 relative to display device 2002 based on the captured image(s). For example, in an embodiment, camera(s) 2110 may include a pair of cameras, and image processing system 2112 may perform dual image processing to determine the position of remote device 2004 relative to display device 2002.
Transmitter 2102 is configured to transmit position information 2010 to display device 2002 from remote device 2004. Position information 2010 may include a determined position for remote device 2004 (e.g., calculated by position calculator 2106 or image processing system 2112), and/or may include captured data (e.g., received signal data received by positioning module 2104, images captured by camera(s) 2110, etc.) so that display device 2002 may determine the position of remote device 2004 based on the captured data.
Display device 2002 may have any form, such as any one or more of a display or monitor, a game console, a set top box, a stereo receiver, a computer, any other display device mentioned elsewhere herein or otherwise known, or any combination of such devices. Display device 2002 may be configured in various ways to enable the position of viewer 2006 to be tracked. For instance,
When present, microphone array 2208 includes one or more microphones that may be positioned in various microphone locations in and/or around display device 2002 to capture sounds (e.g., voice) from viewer 2006. Microphone array 2208 produces signals representative of the received sounds, which may be received by position calculator 2206. Position calculator 2206 may be configured to use the received signals to determine the location of viewer 2006. For example, position calculator 2206 may use voice recognition techniques to determine that the sounds are received from viewer 2006, and may perform audio localization techniques to determine a position of viewer 2006 based on the sounds.
Camera(s) 2210 may be present in display device 2002 to enable optical position detection of viewer 2006. For example, camera(s) 2210 may be pointed from display device 2002 to viewing space 106 to capture images of viewer 2006 and/or remote device 2004. Viewer 2006 and/or remote device 2004 may optionally display a symbol or code, and the displayed symbol or code may be captured in the images. Image processing system 2212 may receive the captured image(s), and determine a position of viewer 2006 and/or remote device 2004 relative to display device 2002 based on the captured image(s) (e.g., using facial recognition, image processing of the symbol or code, etc.). For example, in an embodiment, camera(s) 2210 may include a pair of cameras, and image processing system 2212 may perform dual image processing to determine the position of viewer 2006 and/or remote device 2004 relative to display device 2002.
When present, transmitter(s) may be configured to transmit signals that may be received by positioning module 2104 to determine a position of remote device 2004, as described above with respect to
Receiver 2202 may be configured to receive position information 2010 from remote device 2004. As described above, position information 2010 may include a determined position for remote device 2004 and/or may include captured data (e.g., received signal data, images, etc.). Display device 2002 may determine the position of remote device 2004 based on the captured data. For example, position calculator 2106 may determine a position of remote device 2004 based on the signal data received by positioning module 2104 at remote device 2004. Alternatively, image processing system 2112 may determine a position of remote device 2004 based on the images captured by camera(s) 2210 at remote device 2004.
III. Example Display Controller ImplementationsDisplay controller 202, pixel array controller 204, barrier array controller 206, pixel array controller 228, light source controller 230, slit spacing calculator 902, positioning module 2104, position calculator 2106, image processing system 2112, position determiner module 2214, position calculator 2206, and image processing system 2212 may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. For example, display controller 202, pixel array controller 204, barrier array controller 206, pixel array controller 228, light source controller 230, slit spacing calculator 902, positioning module 2104, position calculator 2106, image processing system 2112, position determiner module 2214, position calculator 2206, and/or image processing system 2212 may be implemented as computer program code configured to be executed in one or more processors. Alternatively, display controller 202, pixel array controller 204, barrier array controller 206, pixel array controller 228, light source controller 230, slit spacing calculator 902, positioning module 2104, position calculator 2106, image processing system 2112, position determiner module 2214, position calculator 2206, and/or image processing system 2212 may be implemented as hardware logic/electrical circuitry.
For instance,
Display controller 202 also includes a primary or main memory 2306, such as random access memory (RAM). Main memory 2306 has stored therein control logic 2328A (computer software), and data.
Display controller 202 also includes one or more secondary storage devices 2310. Secondary storage devices 2310 include, for example, a hard disk drive 2312 and/or a removable storage device or drive 2314, as well as other types of storage devices, such as memory cards and memory sticks. For instance, display controller 202 may include an industry standard interface, such a universal serial bus (USB) interface for interfacing with devices such as a memory stick. Removable storage drive 2314 represents a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, a compact disk drive, an optical storage device, tape backup, etc.
Removable storage drive 2314 interacts with a removable storage unit 2316. Removable storage unit 2316 includes a computer useable or readable storage medium 2324 having stored therein computer software 2328B (control logic) and/or data. Removable storage unit 2316 represents a floppy disk, magnetic tape, compact disk, DVD, optical storage disk, or any other computer data storage device. Removable storage drive 2314 reads from and/or writes to removable storage unit 2316 in a well known manner.
Display controller 202 further includes a communication or network interface 2318. Communication interface 2318 enables the display controller 202 to communicate with remote devices. For example, communication interface 2318 allows display controller 202 to communicate over communication networks or mediums 2342 (representing a form of a computer useable or readable medium), such as LANs, WANs, the Internet, etc. Network interface 2318 may interface with remote sites or networks via wired or wireless connections.
Control logic 2328C may be transmitted to and from display controller 202 via the communication medium 2342.
Any apparatus or manufacture comprising a computer useable or readable medium having control logic (software) stored therein is referred to herein as a computer program product or program storage device. This includes, but is not limited to, display controller 202, main memory 2306, secondary storage devices 2310, and removable storage unit 2316. Such computer program products, having control logic stored therein that, when executed by one or more data processing devices, cause such data processing devices to operate as described herein, represent embodiments of the invention.
Devices in which embodiments may be implemented may include storage, such as storage drives, memory devices, and further types of computer-readable media. Examples of such computer-readable storage media include a hard disk, a removable magnetic disk, a removable optical disk, flash memory cards, digital video disks, random access memories (RAMs), read only memories (ROM), and the like. As used herein, the terms “computer program medium” and “computer-readable medium” are used to generally refer to the hard disk associated with a hard disk drive, a removable magnetic disk, a removable optical disk (e.g., CDROMs, DVDs, etc.), zip disks, tapes, magnetic storage devices, MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems) storage, nanotechnology-based storage devices, as well as other media such as flash memory cards, digital video discs, RAM devices, ROM devices, and the like. Such computer-readable storage media may store program modules that include computer program logic for display controller 202, pixel array controller 204, barrier array controller 206, pixel array controller 228, light source controller 230, slit spacing calculator 902, positioning module 2104, position calculator 2106, image processing system 2112, position determiner module 2214, position calculator 2206, image processing system 2212, flowchart 600, step 1202, step 1302, step 1702 (including any one or more steps of flowchart 600), and/or further embodiments of the present invention described herein. Embodiments of the invention are directed to computer program products comprising such logic (e.g., in the form of program code or software) stored on any computer useable medium. Such program code, when executed in one or more processors, causes a device to operate as described herein.
The invention can work with software, hardware, and/or operating system implementations other than those described herein. Any software, hardware, and operating system implementations suitable for performing the functions described herein can be used.
As described herein, display controller 202 may be implemented in association with a variety of types of display devices. Such display devices may be implemented in or in association with a variety of types of media devices, such as a stand-alone display (e.g., a television display such as flat panel display, etc.), a computer, a game console, a set top box, a digital video recorder (DVR), etc. Media content that is delivered in two-dimensional or three-dimensional form according to embodiments described herein may be stored locally or received from remote locations. For instance, such media content may be locally stored for playback (replay TV, DVR), may be stored in removable memory (e.g. DVDs, memory sticks, etc.), may be received on wireless and/or wired pathways through a network such as a home network, through Internet download streaming, through a cable network, a satellite network, and/or a fiber network, etc. For instance,
While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A display system that delivers a left eye view and a right eye view to a viewer, the viewer being located at either a first position or a second position relative to the display system, the viewer being enabled to perceive the left eye view and the right eye view as a single three-dimensional view, the display system comprising:
- a pixel array;
- an array of barrier elements positioned proximate to the pixel array, the array of barrier elements having a first parallax barrier configuration and a second parallax barrier configuration;
- each of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements having a blocking state and a non-blocking state;
- the first parallax barrier configuration including a first set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the blocking state and a second set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the non-blocking state;
- the second parallax barrier configuration including a third set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the blocking state and a fourth set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the non-blocking state;
- the third set differing from the first set by including at least one of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements found in the second set; and
- the first parallax barrier configuration supporting the viewer located at the first position, and the second parallax barrier configuration supporting the viewer located at the second position.
2. The display system of claim 1, wherein the array of barrier elements has a third configuration, the third configuration having all of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the non-blocking state to enable the display system to deliver a two-dimensional view to a viewing space that includes the first position and the second position.
3. The display system of claim 1, wherein the array of barrier elements has a plurality of additional parallax barrier configurations that each include a corresponding set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the blocking state and a corresponding set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the non-blocking state, each additional parallax barrier configuration supporting the viewer located at a corresponding position.
4. The display system of claim 1, wherein the barrier elements of the first set are arranged in a first plurality of parallel blocking strips and the barrier elements of the second set are arranged in a first plurality of parallel non-blocking strips interleaved with the first plurality of blocking parallel strips;
- wherein the barrier elements of the third set are arranged in a second plurality of parallel blocking strips and the barrier elements of the fourth set are arranged in a second plurality of parallel non-blocking strips interleaved with the second plurality of parallel blocking strips;
- wherein adjacent non-blocking strips of the first plurality of parallel non-blocking strips are spaced by a first amount to deliver the right eye view and the left eye view at a first distance from the display system; and
- wherein adjacent non-blocking strips of the second plurality of parallel non-blocking strips are spaced by a second amount to deliver the right eye view and the left eye view at a second distance from the image generator that is different from the first distance.
5. The display system of claim 4, wherein a number of barrier elements forming a width of each non-blocking strip of the first plurality of parallel non-blocking strips is greater than one.
6. The display system of claim 4, wherein a number of barrier elements forming a width of each blocking strip of the first plurality of parallel blocking strips is greater than one.
7. The display system of claim 4, wherein each non-blocking strip of the first plurality of parallel non-blocking strips is oriented at an acute angle to an axis of the array of barrier elements.
8. The display system of claim 1, further comprising:
- a display controller that includes a barrier array controller coupled to the array of barrier elements, and a pixel array controller coupled to the pixel array.
9. The display system of claim 1, wherein the barrier array controller is configured to generate a control signal that is configured to select the first parallax barrier configuration or the second parallax barrier configuration for the array of barrier elements.
10. The display system of claim 1, wherein the array of barrier elements is positioned between the pixel array and a viewing space that includes the first position and the second position; and
- wherein the pixel array emits light that is filtered by the array of barrier elements in the first parallax barrier configuration to deliver the three-dimensional view to the viewer located at the first position, and is filtered by the array of barrier elements in the second parallax barrier to deliver the three-dimensional view to the viewer located at the second position.
11. The display system of claim 1, further comprising:
- a backlighting panel;
- wherein the array of barrier elements is positioned between the backlighting panel and the pixel array, and the pixel array is positioned between the array of barrier elements and a viewing space that includes the first position and the second position; and
- wherein the backlighting panel emits light that is filtered by the array of barrier elements in the first parallax barrier configuration, and the light filtered by the array of barrier elements in the first parallax barrier configuration is filtered by the pixel array to support the viewer located at the first position with the three-dimensional view; and
- wherein the backlighting panel emits light that is filtered by the array of barrier elements in the second parallax barrier configuration, and the light filtered by the array of barrier elements in the second parallax barrier configuration is filtered by the pixel array to support the viewer located at the second position with the three-dimensional view.
12. A display system comprising:
- an array of barrier elements that each have a blocking state and a non-blocking state;
- a barrier array controller coupled to the array of barrier elements;
- the barrier array controller being configured to place a first set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in a blocking state while placing a second set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in a non-blocking state to create a first parallax barrier configuration; and
- the barrier array controller being configured to create a second parallax barrier configuration at least by moving a portion of the barrier elements in the first set to the second set.
13. The display system of claim 12, the display system being configured to deliver a left eye view and a right eye view to a viewer, the viewer being located at either a first position or a second position relative to the display system, the viewer being enabled to perceive the left eye view and the right eye view as a single three-dimensional view;
- the first parallax barrier configuration supporting the viewer located at the first position, and the second parallax barrier configuration supporting the viewer located at the second position.
14. The display system of claim 12, wherein the barrier array controller is configured to create a third configuration by placing all of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the non-blocking state to enable the display system to deliver a two-dimensional view to a viewing space.
15. The display system of claim 14, wherein the barrier array controller is configured to create a plurality of additional parallax barrier configurations that each include a corresponding set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the blocking state and a corresponding set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the non-blocking state, each additional parallax barrier configuration supporting the viewer located at a corresponding position.
16. The display system of claim 13, further comprising:
- a position determiner module coupled to the barrier array controller, the position determiner module being configured to determine a position of the viewer in a viewing space that includes the first position and the second position.
17. The display system of claim 13, further comprising:
- a remote device associated with the viewer that is configured to determine a position of the viewer in a viewing space that includes the first position and the second position, the remote device being configured to transmit the determined position to a receiver that is communicatively coupled to the barrier array controller.
18. A method for delivering a left eye view and a right eye view to a viewer, the viewer being enabled to perceive the left eye view and the right eye view as a single three-dimensional view, the method comprising:
- receiving light at an array of barrier elements, each of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements having a blocking state and a non-blocking state;
- configuring the array of barrier elements into a first parallax barrier configuration that has a first set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the blocking state and a second set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the non-blocking state to provide the viewer located at a first position with the three-dimensional view; and
- configuring the array of barrier elements into a second parallax barrier configuration that includes a third set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the blocking state and a fourth set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the non-blocking state to provide the viewer located at a second position with the three-dimensional view, the third set differing from the first set by including at least one of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements found in the second set.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:
- configuring the array of barrier elements into a third configuration to deliver a two-dimensional view to a viewing space that includes the first position and the second position, the third configuration having all of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the non-blocking state.
20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:
- configuring the array of barrier elements into one of a plurality of additional parallax barrier configurations that each have a corresponding set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the blocking state and a corresponding set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the non-blocking state, each additional parallax barrier configuration supporting the viewer located at a corresponding position.
21. The method of claim 18, wherein said configuring the array of barrier elements into a first parallax barrier configuration comprises: wherein said configuring the array of barrier elements into a first parallax barrier configuration comprises:
- arranging the barrier elements of the first set in a first plurality of parallel blocking strips and the barrier elements of the second set in a first plurality of parallel non-blocking strips interleaved with the first plurality of parallel blocking strips, adjacent non-blocking strips of the first plurality of parallel non-blocking strips being spaced by a first amount to deliver the right eye view and the left eye view at a first distance from the display system; and
- arranging the barrier elements of the third set in a second plurality of parallel blocking strips and the barrier elements of the fourth set in a second plurality of parallel non-blocking strips interleaved with the second plurality of parallel blocking strips, adjacent non-blocking strips of the second plurality of parallel non-blocking strips being spaced by a second amount to deliver the right eye view and the left eye view at a second distance from the image generator that is different from the first distance.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein said configuring the array of barrier elements into a first parallax barrier configuration comprises:
- configuring a width of each non-blocking strip of the first plurality of parallel non-blocking strips to have a width greater than one.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein said configuring the array of barrier elements into a first parallax barrier configuration comprises:
- configuring a width of each blocking strip of the first plurality of parallel blocking strips to have a width greater than one.
24. The method of claim 19, wherein said configuring the array of barrier elements into a first parallax barrier configuration comprises:
- configuring each non-blocking strip of the first plurality of parallel non-blocking strips to be oriented at an acute angle to an axis of the array of barrier elements.
25. The method of claim 18, wherein said receiving light at an array of barrier elements comprises: the method further comprising:
- receiving light from a pixel array at the array of barrier elements, the array of barrier elements being positioned between the pixel array and a viewing space that includes the first position and the second position; and
- filtering the received light by the array of barrier elements in the first parallax barrier configuration to deliver the three-dimensional view to the viewer located at the first position; and
- filtering the received light by the array of barrier elements in the second parallax barrier configuration to deliver the three-dimensional view to the viewer located at the second position.
26. The method of claim 18, wherein said receiving light at an array of barrier elements comprises: the method further comprising:
- receiving light from a backlighting panel at the array of barrier elements; and
- filtering the received light by the array of barrier elements in the first parallax barrier configuration and by a pixel array to deliver the three-dimensional view to the viewer located at the first position; and
- filtering the received light by the array of barrier elements in the second parallax barrier configuration and by the pixel array to deliver the three-dimensional view to the viewer located at the second position.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 28, 2010
Publication Date: Jun 30, 2011
Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION (Irvine, CA)
Inventors: James D. Bennett (Hroznetin), Jeyhan Karaoguz (Irvine, CA)
Application Number: 12/845,409