Stereoscopic Patents (Class 353/7)
  • Patent number: 7736004
    Abstract: A three-dimensional display device includes a plurality of projection portions to project a plurality of images, respectively, a plurality of wedge-shaped light guide plates corresponding to the plurality of projection portions, respectively, to emit the plurality of images, respectively, and a plurality of directional diffuser screen corresponding to the plurality of wedge-shaped light guide plates, respectively, to diffuse or transmit the plurality of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyung-Ki Hong, Byung-Joo Lee, Sung-Min Jung, Jun-Un Park
  • Patent number: 7736005
    Abstract: In a one-dimensional IP (vertical disparity discarding system), it is made possible to obtain a perspective projection image with no distortion or reduced distortion. A stereoscopic display device is provided with a display device including a display plane in which pixels are arranged flatly in a matrix shape; and a parallax barrier including a plurality of apertures or a plurality of lenses and being configured to control directions of rays from the pixels such that a horizontal disparity is included but a vertical disparity is not included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tatsuo Saishu, Yuzo Hirayama
  • Publication number: 20100141856
    Abstract: Proposed are various embodiments of projection systems that generally provide stereoscopic images. The projection systems act to split a spatially separated image in a stereoscopic image frame and superimpose the left- and right-eye images on a projection screen with orthogonal polarization states. The embodiments are generally well suited to liquid crystal polarization based projection systems and may use advanced polarization control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: REAL D
    Inventors: Miller H. Schuck, Michael G. Robinson, Douglas J. McKnight, Gary D. Sharp
  • Patent number: 7726816
    Abstract: In a one-dimensional IP (vertical disparity discarding system), it is made possible to obtain a perspective projection image with no distortion or reduced distortion. A stereoscopic display device is provided with a display device including a display plane in which pixels are arranged flatly in a matrix shape; and a parallax barrier including a plurality of apertures or a plurality of lenses and being configured to control directions of rays from the pixels such that a horizontal disparity is included but a vertical disparity is not included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tatsuo Saishu, Yuzo Hirayama
  • Patent number: 7728974
    Abstract: An enhanced detection system can eliminate use of a sheath fluid by selecting which particles that pass through an sensing region to detect parametric characteristics thereof based upon position of each particle while it is in a sensing region relative to one or more predetermined positions, such as an in-focus position relative to one or more light beams directed into the sensing region, to enhance accuracy and robustness of particle parametric characteristics detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Cytopeia, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerrit van den Engh
  • Patent number: 7722189
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention provides a method. The method comprises projecting multiple scenes simultaneously on a display screen in interlaced-fashion; and directing light for each scene to a distinct viewing zone defined spatially in relation to the display screen. A system comprising a display; and a lenticular mechanism coupled to the display and having a plurality of lens elements to direct light from the display into distinct viewing zones defined spatially in relation to the display is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Inventor: Mark W Miles
  • Publication number: 20100118273
    Abstract: Printed material for stereoscopic viewing is fabricated by creating images for the left eye and the right eye IL1 and IR1 for stereoscopic viewing, performing correction processing to remove perspective of images in the IL1 and IR1 at a base surface, creating images for the left eye and the right eye IL2 and IR2, and performing anaglyph processing or the like, based on the IL2 and IR2. An image IL for the left eye is created by rendering a projection of each point of a graphic object onto a base surface BS in a projection direction linking a viewpoint position for the left eye VPL to each point of the graphic object OB, and an IMAGE IR FOR THE RIGHT EYE is created by rendering a projection of each point of the graphic object onto the base surface BS in a projection direction linking a viewpoint position for the right eye VPL to each point of the graphic object OB. Printed material for stereoscopic viewing is fabricated by anaglyph processing or the like, based on the IL and IR.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: Namco Bandai Games Inc.
    Inventors: Shigeki Tooyama, Atsushi Miyazawa
  • Publication number: 20100103379
    Abstract: A method for generating an image from at least two partial images, each partial image being generated with the aid of a projector. The projectors communicate with each other via a wireless connection for aligning the partial images. A projector and a cell phone having at least one projector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventor: Reinhold Fiess
  • Patent number: 7703924
    Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying three-dimensional (3D) images are described. In particular, the systems can include a display block made from a transparent material with optical elements three-dimensional disposed therein. Each optical element becomes luminous when illuminated by a light ray. The systems can also include a computing device configured to generate two-dimensional (2D) images formatted to create 3D images when projected on the display block, by a video projector coupled to the computing device. The video projector is configured to project the 2D images on the block to create the 3D images by causing a set of the passive optical elements to become luminous. Various other systems and methods are described for displaying 3D images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventor: Shree K. Nayar
  • Patent number: 7705844
    Abstract: A three-dimensional image/two-dimensional image display device includes a plurality of display pixels, and a lenticular lens for three-dimensional display. Each display pixel is consisted of M×N number of sub-pixels to be viewed from N view points. A pitch a of sub-pixels arranged in the longitudinal direction of ridge projection of the lenticular lens and a pitch b of the sub-pixels arranged in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the lenticular lens satisfy the following expression. The M×N number of sub-pixels included in each of said display pixels are formed within a square area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Shin-ichi Uehara, Naoyasu Ikeda, Nobuaki Takanashi
  • Patent number: 7699472
    Abstract: A multi-view autostereoscopic projection system using a single projection lens unit. The projection type autostereoscopic system includes: a source of graphic signals representing at least three perspective views of a 3-D object on at least three parts of a frame, the at least three perspective views being directly or reflectively projected vertically or horizontally in a predetermined order, an image projector connected to the source of graphic signals, an image screen disposed across from the image projector, and first and second parallel plane mirrors installed between a projection lens of the image projector and the image screen to be substantially parallel to a projection axis at the same distance from the projection axis such that the first and second parallel plane mirrors are separated from each other by a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sergey Shestak
  • Patent number: 7692605
    Abstract: This invention describes methods and systems for correcting frame position error on one category of volumetric 3D displays that generates volumetric 3D images by using a rotary mechanism to move a screen to sweep a volume and projecting 2D profile images on the screen. The screen motion is in general rotating or reciprocating and a mechanism of rotational nature is generally applied to drive the motion. The method has three major steps. The first step provides a measure of the frame position error with respect to the theoretical position. The error is a periodical function of the angular position of the moving screen, due to the nature of the mechanisms. The second step constructs a correction function that shifts the position of frame image of each frame with respect to the frame center to compensate the error. The error measurement and the construction of the correction function can be performed statically or dynamically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Inventor: Che-Chih Tsao
  • Patent number: 7686455
    Abstract: Light in primary colors RGB modulated in a first modulation optical system is transmitted through a relay lens (36) and further divided into a P-polarized light and an S-polarized light by a PS separation wire grid (37). The S-polarized light is transmitted through a wavelength spectral filter (39) to select red/green/blue light components R1, G1, B1 of 615, 515, 450 nm in wavelength, which are then modulated by a Y1 device (44). The P-polarized light is transmitted through a wavelength spectral filter (46) to select red/green/blue light components R2, G2, B2 of 650, 550, 475 nm in wavelength, which are then modulated by a Y2 device (51). The 3 -primary color lights modulated by the Y1/Y2 devices (44), (51) are combined with each other at a PS composite wire grid (55) to project a synthetic light on a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignees: Victor Company of Japan, Limited, Nippon Hoso Kyokai
    Inventors: Makoto Yoshimura, Masato Furuya, Masaru Kanazawa, Yuichi Kusakabe
  • Publication number: 20100066976
    Abstract: Shaped glasses have curved surface lenses and spectrally complementary filters disposed on the curved surface lenses configured to compensate for wavelength shifts occurring due to viewing angles and other sources. The spectrally complementary filters include guard bands to prevent crosstalk between spectrally complementary portions of a 3D image viewed through the shaped glasses. In one embodiment, the spectrally complementary filters are disposed on the curved lenses with increasing layer thickness towards edges of the lenses. The projected complementary images may also be pre-shifted to compensate for subsequent wavelength shifts occurring while viewing the images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Richards, Wilson Heaton Allen
  • Patent number: 7677733
    Abstract: A method of designing a backlight light guide for an autostereoscopic 3D display includes specifying a backlight having a light guide thickness and extractor angle and a light transmission surface having a predetermined width value and a predetermined length value. Then, the method includes selecting a plurality of design parameter value pairs, where each parameter value pairs includes a light guide thickness value and a prism angle value, and each design parameter value pair is different from each other. Then the method includes executing an ray tracing optical model on the light guide for each parameter value pair to calculate output data for each parameter value pair, the output data including a single pass light extraction efficiency value, an average minimum light angle value emitted from the second surface, and a maximum flux/minimum flux value emitted from the second surface; and selecting a parameter value pair based on the output data to manufacture the light guide for an autostereoscopic 3D display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Robert L. Brott
  • Patent number: 7677732
    Abstract: The present invention provides a stereoscopic image display apparatus. The stereoscopic image display apparatus includes a first projection element group, a second projection element group, and a reflecting optical system. The first projection element group includes a plurality of first projection elements operable to project first light fluxes in a first direction. The second projection element group includes a plurality of second projection elements operable to project second light fluxes in a second direction which is different from the first direction and in which the second light fluxes are directed to the first light fluxes. The reflecting optical system is operable to reflect the second light fluxes toward the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shuji Moro, Toshitaka Kawashima, Ryota Odake, Tadashi Morimoto
  • Publication number: 20100060857
    Abstract: Shaped glasses have curved surface lenses with spectrally complementary filters disposed thereon. The filters curved surface lenses are configured to compensate for wavelength shifts occurring due to viewing angles and other sources. Complementary images are projected for viewing through projection filters having passbands that pre-shift to compensate for subsequent wavelength shifts. At least one filter may have more than 3 primary passbands. For example, two filters include a first filter having passbands of low blue, high blue, low green, high green, and red, and a second filter having passbands of blue, green, and red. The additional passbands may be utilized to more closely match a color space and white point of a projector in which the filters are used. The shaped glasses and projection filters together may be utilized as a system for projecting and viewing 3D images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Richards, Wilson Allen, Gary Gomes
  • Publication number: 20100020254
    Abstract: A multiple panel system and method for displaying a virtual image viewable from multiple viewing angles is provided. Reflective viewing panels are arranged relative to one another in at least a partially closed enclosure arrangement. A display screen is oriented with respect to the viewing panels such that an image displayed on the display screen creates a virtual image viewable from multiple angles. An image formation mechanism is operable to display an image onto the display screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventor: Zheng Jason Geng
  • Patent number: 7651225
    Abstract: A three dimensional display apparatus includes a three dimensional shape reconstruction apparatus, a reflecting device, a controller and a projecting device. The three dimensional shape reconstruction apparatus reconstructs a target three dimensional shape. The reflecting device reflects projection light from above the three dimensional shape reconstruction apparatus, to side faces of the three dimensional shape reconstruction apparatus. The controller controls the three dimensional shape reconstruction apparatus based on three dimensional shape information. The projecting device projects a surface image of the top face of the target three dimensional shape onto the top face of the three dimensional shape reconstruction apparatus. The projecting device projects surface images of the side faces of the target three dimensional shape onto the side faces of the three dimensional shape reconstruction apparatus through the reflecting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Osamu Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20100014053
    Abstract: An apparatus projecting 3D autostereoscopic images viewers. The apparatus includes a projector array with projectors each receiving an input image such as digital video and projecting an image based on the input image. A beam splitter with first and second surfaces is positioned such that the projected images strike the first surface and a portion (e.g., 50 to 95 percent) is transmitted through the beam splitter toward a screen with a retroreflective surface. The retroreflective surface reflects the splitter-transmitted portion back along the same path but with increased brightness. The light reflected from the retroreflective surface strikes the second surface of the beam splitter and is reflected toward a display viewing zone provided at about the focal points of the reflected projectors. A 3D image is perceivable to a viewer who positions his eyes at or near any of two or more viewing locations proximate to the projection surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: THOMAS E. BRENTNALL, III, RICHARD B. TURNER
  • Patent number: 7648243
    Abstract: A stereoscopic projection system is capable of minimizing a distance between viewing zones without reducing a distance between image projectors. In the stereoscopic projection system, a projector array having a plurality of image projectors are arranged substantially along an arrangement direction perpendicular to a connecting line between a left eye and a right eye of a viewer, and a directional screen has a first characteristic axis aligned at an angle with respect to the arrangement direction of the projector array, and a second characteristic axis perpendicular to the first characteristic axis. Therefore, the directional screen causes a plurality of images projected from the projector array to be relatively widened along the first characteristic axis and relatively narrowed along the second characteristic axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Sergey Shestak, Kyung-hoon Cha
  • Publication number: 20100002193
    Abstract: An autostereoscopic 3-D image is provided in a viewing zone without the need for 3-D glasses by use of one or more projectors that project two or more images having projected exit pupils separated horizontally by no more than an average human interocular spacing onto a 3-D forming screen (which is a lenticular or a raster barrier screen) with a substantially smooth and nominally white back projection surface and a front side with multiple individual vertical elements that project left and right images so that the 3-D forming screen retro-reflects projected light on the screen received from a light source back to the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventor: Stephen P. Hines
  • Publication number: 20090316114
    Abstract: A filter wheel having spirally shaped left and right channel 3D filters. The 3D filters are, for example, spectral separation filters. The filter is mounted, for example, close to an integrating rod output of a projector. The left and right channel filtered light scrolls across a modulation device which is energized with correspondingly scrolling left and right image data. In one embodiment, the integrating rod comprises mirrored surfaces to facilitate recycling of light reflected off the filter wheel. The filter wheel may be placed in a single or dual projector configuration. In one embodiment, the filters are fixed at the end of an integrating rod using “re-cycled” light to illuminate different channels of a projection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventor: Martin Richards
  • Patent number: 7636198
    Abstract: A three dimensional viewing assembly includes a first display, a second display, and a beamsplitter. The first display is for displaying a first image. The second display is for displaying a second image. The beamsplitter is disposed at least partially between the first display and the second display, and is configured to receive, and to optically overlay, the first and second images. The beamsplitter comprises a first surface, a second surface, and a mirror. The first surface at least partially faces the first display, and the second surface at least partially faces the second display. The mirror is disposed between the first surface and the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Brent D. Larson
  • Publication number: 20090290126
    Abstract: This invention provides a stereoscopic image display system that allows a plurality of experiencing persons to visually recognize stereoscopic images by their naked eyes at one time. In correspondence with a distance between eyes of an experiencing person, a plurality of projectors and a plurality of half mirrors are arranged around a periphery of a retroreflective sheet placed horizontally. The respective projectors receive parallax images of an object as a display target which are taken along a circumferential direction of the object. Image light beams (left and right parallax images) emitted from the adjacent two projectors are reflected from the half mirrors and then enter the retroreflective sheet. The two incident image light beams are reflected from the retroreflective sheet in directions of incidence thereof, respectively. The two reflected light beams pass through the half mirrors and then separately enter the right and left eyes of the experiencing person.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventors: Tomohiko Yabui, Hiroshi Ito
  • Patent number: 7623189
    Abstract: A display device includes an image display unit having one surface and the other surface on which first and second images are respectively displayed. A first optical system leads a first image light displayed on the one surface of the image display unit. A second optical system leads a second image light displayed on the other surface of the image display unit. An image combining element combines the first and second image lights lead by the first optical system and the second optical system to form one image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Daiku
  • Patent number: 7614748
    Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying three-dimensional (3D) images are described. In particular, the systems can include a display block made from a transparent material with optical elements three-dimensionally disposed therein. Each optical element becomes luminous when illuminated by a light ray. The systems can also include a computing device configured to generate two-dimensional (2D) images formatted to create 3D images when projected on the display block, by a video projector coupled to the computing device. The video projector is configured to project the 2D images on the block to create the 3D images by causing a set of the passive optical elements to become luminous. Various other systems and methods are described for displaying 3D images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Shree K. Nayar, Vijay Anand Nagarajan
  • Patent number: 7607779
    Abstract: A stereoscopic image display device includes: a first display section emitting right-eye images composed of first-screen right-eye images and second-screen right-eye images; a second display section emitting left-eye images composed of first-screen left-eye images and second-screen left-eye images; a first reflecting section reflecting the first-screen right-eye images and the first-screen left-eye images; a second reflecting section reflecting the second-screen right-eye images and the second-screen left-eye images; a first screen onto which the first-screen right-eye images and the first-screen left-eye images, and on which parallax images are formed; a second screen onto which the second-screen right-eye images and the second-screen left-eye images, and on which parallax images are formed; and a parallax image selection section having a right-eye transmission section and a left-eye transmission section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomio Sonehara
  • Patent number: 7607780
    Abstract: A projection-type 3-D image display includes a light source, a single display element, an image shift member, a projection lens unit, and a screen unit. The display element produces an image using light emitted from the light source. The image shift member time-sequentially shifts the image. The projection lens unit enlarges and projects the time sequentially shifted image. The screen unit includes an image separation unit. The image separation unit separates the time sequentially shifted image into images for a left eye and images for a right eye. The projection-type 3-D image display can realize a 3-D image using a single projector by having the image shift member to sequentially shift the images produced by the display element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-hee Kim, Sung-yong Jung, Kun-ho Cho
  • Patent number: 7604348
    Abstract: Continuous Adjustable 3Deeps Filter Spectacles are provided with lenses with continuously changeable optical densities, so that viewing of 2D movies is optimized for visualization in natural 3D. Method and means are disclosed for the continuous Adjustable 3Deeps Filter Spectacles to perform two independent optimizations to achieve optimized 3Deep visual effects on 2D movies. First they compute the optical density setting of the lenses for optimal viewing of 2D movies as 3D. Then they continuously render the lenses of the spectacles to these optical densities optimized for characteristics of the electro-optical material from which the lenses of the spectacles are fabricated. The invention works for both 3DTV and 3D Cinema theater viewing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Inventors: Kenneth Martin Jacobs, Ronald Steven Karpf
  • Patent number: 7568803
    Abstract: An aerial display system comprising inexpensive optical elements and a highly brightened LCD display or similar video image display types provides floating images in an expensive enclosure. In the aerial display system, either an anti-reflective acrylic plastic layer or a circular polarizer is disposed proximate and parallel to a beam splitter so that the focal point of the floating image is proximate to the plastic layer or polarizer. This image position yields both a wider filed of view and wider perceived field of view. The aerial projection system includes a plastic spherical mirror of low cost, which includes a plastic part of at least the following descriptions: mirror surface supported by wall structures of sufficient sphericity, of a plastic material formulation, having excellent optical grade finish, a reflective metal coating, and a protective overcoat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Provision Interactive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Vrachan, Curtis L. Thornton
  • Publication number: 20090190096
    Abstract: An autostereoscopic display includes a plurality of micro-projection modules, wherein each of the micro-projection modules projects a sectional image of a 3-D image formed by combining a plurality of images in different viewing-angles. The autostereoscopic display further includes a viewing zone modulating screen having a plurality of image regions for respectively receiving the corresponding sectional images to form a plurality of images corresponding to different viewing-angles, wherein two images belonging to different viewing-angles establish a stereo display image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Cheng-Huan Chen, Chao-Hsu Tsai
  • Publication number: 20090190095
    Abstract: A 2D/3D switchable display system having a selector for selecting a two-dimensional (2D) or a three-dimensional (3D) image processing path; a first processor for processing image data through the two-dimensional image processing path; a second processor, independent of the first processor, for processing image data through the three dimensional image processing path; a first set of at least three emitters having corresponding first wavelengths; a second set of at least three emitters having corresponding second wavelengths; and a controller that during a 2D operation activates both first and second sets of emitters to present a single image, while during a 3D operation activates the first set of emitters to present a first image having one half of stereo image information and activates the second set of emitters to present a second image having a second half of stereo image information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Carolyn R. Ellinger, Paul J. Kane
  • Publication number: 20090190097
    Abstract: An image display device of the present invention comprises projectors 20 and 21, a reflecting mirror 4, a screen 5, an image signal processor 1 which performs a distortion correction, and a base 6 for supporting the projectors 20 and 21, the reflecting mirror 4, and the screen 5. The projectors 20, 21, the reflecting mirror 4, and the screen 5 are assembled in one to constitute a single moving unit 7, and the image display device further comprises a lifting device 8 capable of moving the moving unit 7 in a vertical direction with respect to the base 6.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hoshino, Ryo Kawamura, Atsuyuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7562983
    Abstract: A three-dimensional image display device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the device uses a curved transmissive screen and reflectors to minimize the space associated with the device when increasing the size of the three-dimensional image. By placing a physically driven background screen over the projected image and screen, excessively diffused reflection of the Fresnel lenses is eliminated. High-resolution real-time video images are provided as three-dimensional images by realizing three-dimensional images with enhanced perspective as if they are floating in space. According to one embodiment of the invention, a distortion of the three-dimensional image is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignees: Kwangwoon University Research Institute for Industry Cooperation
    Inventors: Eun-Soo Kim, Sun-Joo Jang
  • Publication number: 20090180075
    Abstract: An aerial display system comprising inexpensive optical elements and a high brighted LCD display or similar video image display types provides floating images in an inexpensive enclosure. In the aerial display system, either an anti-reflective acrylic plastic layer or a circular polarizer is disposed proximate and parallel to a beam splitter so that the focal point of the floating image is proximate to the plastic layer or polarizer. This image position yields both a wider field of view and wider perceived field of view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: PROVISION INTERACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Curtis Leigh Thornton, Jeff Vrachan
  • Patent number: 7559653
    Abstract: A stereoscopic imaging apparatus (200) has an illumination source (110) providing polarized illumination beams and at least one uniformizing element (22) for uniformizing first and second illumination beams. A left channel modulation apparatus (220l) modulates the first polarized illumination beam to provide the left eye portion of the stereoscopic image and a right channel modulation apparatus (220r) modulates the second polarized illumination beam to provide the right eye portion. Each channel modulation apparatus has a color separator (78) for separating the polarized illumination beam into at least a first component wavelength illumination and a second component wavelength illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Barry D. Silverstein
  • Publication number: 20090168022
    Abstract: A stereo-image displaying apparatus including an adjustable light source module, a spatial modulator, and an image display panel is provided. The adjustable light source module is adapted for emitting a plurality of first illumination beams and a plurality of second illumination beams that are staggered along a first axis. The spatial modulator and the image display panel are sequentially disposed on the light path of the first and second illumination beams. The first illumination beam passes through the spatial modulator so that the image display panel displays a first view field image in a first frame period. The second illumination beam passes through the spatial modulator so that the image display panel displays a second view field image in a second frame period. Moreover, a method for reducing stereo-image cross-talk is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Kuen Lee, Kuo-Chung Huang, Chao-Hsu Tsai
  • Patent number: 7553023
    Abstract: A lens, an apparatus, and a system, as well as a method and article, may operate to receive a plurality of left-eye rays through a first plurality of separating facets of a lens at an image-acquisition plane, and to receive a plurality of right-eye rays through a second plurality of separating facets of the lens at the image-acquisition plane. Data acquired from the image plane may be used to construct a stereoscopic image, including a moving, panoramic stereoscopic images. Lenses, image-capture devices, and projectors may be implemented that operate using three or more viewpoints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Micoy Corporation
    Inventor: Trent N. Grover
  • Patent number: 7537345
    Abstract: A volumetric liquid crystal display for producing a three-dimensional image is disclosed. The volumetric liquid crystal display includes a volumetric image space having at least two layers of LCD sheeting wherein each layer of LCD sheeting is selectively energized to form image slices. At least one projection system projects at least one array of electromagnetic energy of one or more wavelengths to intersect the energized layer of LCD sheeting illuminating image slices. Successive illumination of image slices on the layers of LCD sheeting provides the appearance of a three-dimensional image. Embodiments and methods of controlling and fabricating a three-dimensional image are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma
    Inventors: Hakki H. Refai, Erik Petrich, James J. Sluss, Jr., Monte P. Tull, Pramode Verma
  • Publication number: 20090115783
    Abstract: A 3D viewing system captures offset images from off-axis camera perspectives inclined to a normal of base plane of a scene that includes one or more objects projecting from the base plane. The offset images, which take a planar form, are displayed from a display surface at an off-axis viewing perspective that is inclined to a normal of the display surface similar to the inclination of the off-axis camera perspective to the normal of the base plane. The offset images undergo a distortion to counteract a keystone distortion associated with the off-axis viewing perspective. The base plane of the scene is oriented parallel to the display surface, and the objects projecting from the base plane appear to project from the display surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: DIMENSION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Jesse B. Eichenlaub
  • Publication number: 20090102915
    Abstract: The invention relates to stereo projection systems for displaying stereopaired images on mirror-spherical or parabolic screens and for collectively watching a stereo effect without using stereo spectacles. Said invention makes it possible to continuously dynamically superimpose the projections of the left and right picture frames of a steropair with the user's left and right eyes, respectively. Such impositions are carried out simultaneously and independently for each viewer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventor: Svyatoslav Ivanovich Arsenich
  • Patent number: 7522257
    Abstract: A system for a 3-D Phenomenoscope to view 3-dimensional special effects in motion pictures, and a method by which ordinary 2-dimensional motion pictures can be viewed as a 3-dimensionsal experience are disclosed. It provides (a) a 3-D Phenomenoscope with right and left lenses, where the degree of darkness of the right and left lenses can be individually controlled; (b) a digital photo sensors that can capture the viewed motion picture as successive images and convert the captured frames to digital images for processing; (c) a computer processor and a computer program to process the successive images and identify lateral motion synchronization events, and (d) a control unit to provide individual control for the light-reduction or darkening of the right or left lens based on the identified synchronization events. These system and method allow any motion picture to be viewed with the visual effect of 3-dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Inventors: Kenneth Jacobs, Ronald Steven Karpf
  • Publication number: 20090091708
    Abstract: The invention provides for a visual presentation device configured to control a single spot in a stereoscopic image environment. The present invention comprises a light source assembly configured to provide a plurality of visible light beams for pointing the visible light beams at an object; a liquid crystal cell assembly including a pair of optical shutters, the liquid crystal cell assembly selectively transmitting fields of a field sequential image in response to a drive signal wherein each of the visible light beams emitted from the light source assembly passes through a respective optical shutter; a receiver mounted adjacent the liquid crystal cell assembly for receiving a synchronization signal; and a drive module coupled to the liquid crystal cell assembly and the receiver for generating the drive signal in response to the synchronization signal and supplying the drive signal to the liquid crystal cell assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC
    Inventor: Robert K. Greene
  • Patent number: 7513623
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a true 3-D display, where each of a viewer's eyes not only sees a different scene, but the scene changes continuously as the viewer moves his/her head or change his/her position from one angular location to another angular location with respect to the display screen. In one embodiment, a system comprises a set of 2-D image projectors and a display screen. The 2-D image projectors are configured to project individual 2-D images substantially in focus on the display screen. The display screen then diffuses (or reflects) each pixel from each of the 2-D images into a small angular slice. This enables the viewer observing the display screen to see a different one of the 2-D images with each eye. Further, the image seen by each eye varies as the viewer moves his or her head with respect to the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Third Dimension IP LLC
    Inventor: Clarence E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 7508485
    Abstract: This invention directs to a video/motion picture displaying apparatus for viewing via 3D spectacles with an internal 3D synchronizing unit including an image capturing means, a synchronizing means to identify synchronization events according to a set of synchronization rules, and a transmitting unit. It further directs to a 2D video/motion picture embedded with synchronizing signals produced with the same synchronization rules. The invention also discloses a 3D synchronizing signal composing/embedding device for embedding synchronizing signals to a 2D video/motion picture including a data capturing means, a converting means, a synchronizing means and a composing means or an embedding means. It also teaches a related 3D control device configured to acquire and utilize the embedded synchronizing signals to control the transmission of light of the 3D spectacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Inventors: Kenneth Martin Jacobs, Ronald Steven Karpf
  • Patent number: 7506984
    Abstract: In a one-dimensional IP (vertical disparity discarding system), it is made possible to obtain a perspective projection image with no distortion or reduced distortion. A stereoscopic display device is provided with a display device including a display plane in which pixels are arranged flatly in a matrix shape; and a parallax barrier including a plurality of apertures or a plurality of lenses and being configured to control directions of rays from the pixels such that a horizontal disparity is included but a vertical disparity is not included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tatsuo Saishu, Yuzo Hirayama
  • Patent number: 7503656
    Abstract: A projection system includes an image projection apparatus window and a transparent holographic screen deflecting light from the image projection apparatus into discrete, mutually spaced directions so that an area which is free from images is formed between identical images. Projected, mutually spaced holographic frames of the image is visualized by the holographic screen that includes a film layer which is partially illuminated multiple times at different pick-up angles to the same object of an image, so that the film layer has hologram images of the same object at mutually different pick-up angles. The transparent screen may include many holographic film layers, in which each film layer is illuminated once at different pick-up angles to the same object, so that each film layer has one hologram image of the object at a different pick-up angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.
    Inventor: Holger Mönch
  • Patent number: 7492513
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for generating a three-dimensional image having all four physiological depth perception cues. One embodiment includes backlighting device for projecting light; a spatial light modulator for modulating light emanated by the backlighting device; a lens array having a plurality of lenses for receiving and redirecting the light; and an optional aperture screen for inhibiting unwanted light and for minimizing reflections from external lighting. Embodiments of the invention may be used to reproduce directional distribution of light from a computer-generated image, a photographically captured three-dimensional scene, or other from other sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Inventors: Sergey Fridman, Vladimir Fridman
  • Patent number: 7490941
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a three-dimensional (3D) hologram display system. The 3D hologram display system includes a projector device for projecting an image upon a display medium to form a 3D hologram. The 3D hologram is formed such that a viewer can view the holographic image from multiple angles up to 360 degrees. Multiple display media are described, namely a spinning diffusive screen, a circular diffuser screen, and an aerogel. The spinning diffusive screen utilizes spatial light modulators to control the image such that the 3D image is displayed on the rotating screen in a time-multiplexing manner. The circular diffuser screen includes multiple, simultaneously-operated projectors to project the image onto the circular diffuser screen from a plurality of locations, thereby forming the 3D image. The aerogel can use the projection device described as applicable to either the spinning diffusive screen or the circular diffuser screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Frederick Mintz, Tien-Hsin Chao, Nevin Bryant, Peter Tsou