Using Polarized Light Patents (Class 359/465)
  • Publication number: 20040120039
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a three-dimensional image display device having an image display portion for displaying image information according to a parallax separately in a first segment and a second segment, a separate wave plate filter opposed to the first and second segments of the image display portion for converting a polarization direction of polarized light of the image information from the first segment into a direction different from a polarization direction of polarized light of the image information from the second segment, and a polarization plate having a first portion and a second portion to which the polarized lights separated by the separate wave plate filter are respectively input. The three-dimensional image display device further has a polarization plate holder for holding the positional relation between the polarization plate and the separate wave plate filter. Accordingly, a clear three-dimensional image can be always observed relatively easily, accurately, and quickly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Sato, Hidehiko Sekizawa
  • Patent number: 6734923
    Abstract: A stereoscopic liquid crystal display device and method using a liquid crystal polymer film. Light transmitted through first and second micro-polarizing regions have different phases from each other, and light with different polarization properties is emitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soon-Bum Kwon, Jin-Hee Jung, Hyung-Gi Hong
  • Patent number: 6683716
    Abstract: A method for creating stereoscopic images wherein an image altering filter is interposed at the aperture stop of a relay lens system. The relay lens system forms an adapter between the ocular hole of an instrument and the oculars of an instrument. When a pair of such adapters are used in a binocular instrument, and when the adapters are correctly oriented, a 3D image is made available for viewing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: SL3D, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryan Costales
  • Patent number: 6624935
    Abstract: An imaging system for producing a stereoscopic image of an object is provided. The imaging system includes a camera for receiving an image of the object, a single-axis optical system disposed between the object and the camera, and an image blocking element disposed between the object and the camera. The image blocking element is activatable to alternately produce a left image and a right image, and is adjustable in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical system such that the image blocking element is capable of being centered on the aperture (i.e., the entrance pupil, exit pupil, or aperture stop) of the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Karl Store Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Weissman, David Chatenever, Thomas J. Anhalt, Daniel Mattsson-Boze
  • Patent number: 6593959
    Abstract: A stereoscopic image display apparatus for displaying a three dimensional image on a screen of a display panel comprises a three dimensional video signal processor for converting an analog three dimensional video signal to a digital three dimensional video signal, and a micropolarizer attached to the display panel. The micropolarizer is composed of a plurality of first polarizing regions having a first polarizing direction and a plurality of second polarizing regions having a second polarizing direction perpendicular to the first polarizing direction. The first and second polarizing regions are alternately arranged with each other in the form of a matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Sik Kim, Jun-Ho Sung
  • Publication number: 20030123147
    Abstract: A film for forming a 3D display body capable of obtaining a 3D image having higher display quality and a higher cubic feeling, by developing a 3D image containing right-eye image display portions a and left-eye display portions b in mixtures, wherein a laminate phase difference film 3 is formed by laminating, on a transparent support member 1, a plurality of phase differences films 3′ such as a polycarbonate film or stretched PVA film having birefringence in such a fashion that the optical axes thereof cross one another; predetermined portions of the laminate phase difference film 3 are removed; an appropriate synthetic resin 6 is packed into the removed portions and are set to the right-eye image display portions a; and portions of the laminate phase difference film 3 other than the right-eye image display portions a are set to the left-eye image display portions b.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Sadeg M. Faris, Yashiro Minami, Yingqiu Jiang, Kazuo Maeda, Yuen-Ming Chang, Yuzuru Ohkawara, David C. Swift, Adam W. Divelbiss
  • Patent number: 6510002
    Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for generating a three-dimensional display from a conventional television screen or computer monitor, and in particular to an adapter that may be placed in front of a television screen or computer monitor to enable three-dimensional images to be perceived by a viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: City University of Hong Kong
    Inventor: Peter Wai Ming Tsang
  • Patent number: 6456432
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method of viewing pairs of perspective images of 3-D objects (i.e. stereoscopic image pairs) displayed from a CRT display surface in a time-multiplexed or field-sequential manner, and more particularly to a universal method of generating control signals for synchronously changing the optical state of liquid crystal (LC) shutter panels through which the time-multiplexed perspective. images can be sequentially viewed in a substantially flicker-free manner by the left and right eyes of a human viewer, independent of whether the images are displayed on NTSC, PAL, VGA or SVGA styled CRT display devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Reveo, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerard M. Lazzaro, David C. Swift, Gregory J. Hamlin, Sadeg M. Faris
  • Patent number: 6449090
    Abstract: A three dimensional display is provided which can. operate in an autostereoscopic mode, requiring no viewing aid, and a stereoscopic mode, requiring a viewing aid such as polarized spectacles. In the autostereosocopic mode, light from illuminators is imaged by lenses through LCD display panels at regions where the left and right eyes of an observer are located. Thus, a two dimensional image displayed on one panel is visible to the right eye of the observer whereas a two dimensional image displayed by the other panel to visible to the left eye of the observer. In the stereoscopic mode, light from the illuminators through the LCD panels is visible throughout an extended region by both eyes of the observer. However, the light from the panels is polarized in mutually perpendicular directions and the spectacles comprise polarizers for the left and right eyes which substantially pass only light corresponding to the left and right images, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Basil Arthur Omar, Graham John Woodgate, David Ezra
  • Publication number: 20020118453
    Abstract: An arrangement for generating a stereoscopic image of an object for viewing by an observer includes an imaging optic for imaging the object and defining an imaging beam path as well as an entry pupil and an exit pupil. Illuminating optics illuminate the object by providing an imaging beam coming from the object and passing through the imaging optic and along the imaging beam path. The imaging beam is sectioned in the imaging beam path into two component beams at one of the following locations: in the exit pupil, near the exit pupil or at a position along the imaging beam path which is optically conjugated to the exit pupil, thereby forming stereoscopic sectioned images. The stereoscopic section images are allocated in a clocked manner to the left and the right eyes of the observer. The invention is also directed to a method of generating a stereoscopic image of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Geier, Hans Tandler, Gudrun Nordt
  • Patent number: 6437915
    Abstract: A parallax barrier includes a polarization modifying layer having aperture regions, for supplying light of a second polarization when receiving light of a first polarization, separated by barrier regions, for supplying light of a third polarization different from the second polarization when receiving light of the first polarization, and a polarizer selectively operable in a first mode and a second mode. At least one of the aperture regions and the barrier regions alters the polarization of light passing therethrough. The polarizer passes light of the second polarization and blocks light of the third polarization in the first mode and passes light of the third polarization in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Richard Robert Moseley, Graham John Woodgate, Adrian Marc Simon Jacobs, Jonathan Harrold, David Ezra
  • Publication number: 20020089744
    Abstract: A stereoscopic imaging system and method involves transmission of the left and right eye portions of the stereoscopic image as separate images, the separate images being interlaced following display and polarization. The images may conveniently be interlaced or combined using a microprism sheet, the left and right eye portions of the interlaced image being distinguishable by polarized lenses in order to obtain a stereoscopic effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Myers
  • Publication number: 20020085280
    Abstract: A polarization stereoscopic display device and a method of its manufacture. A liquid crystal display panel displays an information in accordance with signal data comprised of left-eye and right-eye image information, a polarizer polarizes modulated light through polarizer. A patterned retarder layer separates light by polarization into a left-eye picture and a right-eye picture in accordance with its pattern. A light waveguide disposed between the polarizer and the retarder layer reduces polarization changes between the polarizer and the retarder layer. Beneficially, the polarizer, waveguide, and retarder layer are formed into an integral unit. The retarder layer includes a chiral material, and a waveguide layer for the substrate is beneficially comprised of a solvent-proof polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventor: Jin Hee Jung
  • Publication number: 20020071179
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a 3D image display body which is used to display 3D images in which right-eye image display parts a and left-eye image display parts b are mixed, this method a phase-difference film is disposed on a transparent support with an adhesive agent interposed. Resist members that are made transparent and need not be removed are then disposed in specified positions on the aforementioned phase-difference film. The phase-difference function of the portions of the phase-difference film on which the aforementioned resist members are not present is eliminated by an appropriate means. A display member is superimposed or bonded on the side of the resist members 4 following drying.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventors: Kazuo Maeda, Yoshihiro Yoshihara
  • Patent number: 6404464
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved method and apparatus for forming color images on radiation absorptive surfaces, having improved brightness and color characteristics. The apparatus can be realized in various forms, including Xeroxgraphic and ink-jet printing equipment. In the illustrative embodiments, color images composed from polarization-encoded perspective images are produced for use in stereoscopic viewing full-color 3-D objects represented therein using a pair of electrically-passive circularly-polarizing eyeglasses. Super-white and additive-primary coloring media is used to form the polarization-encoded composite images so that full depth of color (e.g. thousands of color values) is imparted to the 3-D objects graphically represented therein. The coloring media utilized embodies both broadband and spectrally-tuned CLC-based microflakes having symmetrical reflection characteristics which provide for improved brightness and color uniformity characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Reveo, Inc.
    Inventors: Sadeg M. Faris, Le Li
  • Publication number: 20020063958
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a 3D image display body which is used to display 3D images in which right-eye image display parts a and left-eye image display parts b are mixed, said method includes a phase-difference film is disposed on a transparent support with an adhesive agent interposed. Transparent resist members are then disposed in specified positions on the aforementioned phase-difference film. The resulting assembly is then immersed in hot water and dried. A protective member is then disposed on the side of the resist members, and the aforementioned protective member and a display member 5 are then superimposed or bonded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: Kazuo Maeda, Yoshihiro Yoshihara
  • Patent number: 6396873
    Abstract: Stereoscopic device including a lenticular lens layer and light sensor array, the lenticular lens layer includes a plurality of lenticular elements, the sight sensor array includes a plurality of light sensors, wherein selected ones of the light sensors detect light at a predetermined range of wavelengths and wherein at least selected others of the light sensors detect light at at least another predetermined range of wavelengths and wherein each of the lenticular elements is located in front of a selected group of the light sensors, thereby directing light from different directions to different light sensors within the selected group of the light sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Envision Advanced Medical Systems
    Inventors: Michael D. Goldstein, Avi Yaron, Shay Ghilai
  • Publication number: 20020054431
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to various stereoscopic optical apparatuses. In one configuration, the apparatus uses a common optical encoder to interface with a number of different objectives. In one configuration, the apparatus uses an encoder that can be either removed from the optical path or reconfigured to produce a two-dimensional rather than a three-dimensional representation of an object. In one configuration, an optical encoder is provided that can provide filtration based on wavelength alone or based on both polarization and wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Inventor: Bryan Costales
  • Publication number: 20020044350
    Abstract: A stereo picture recognition device has a time-sharing picture display shutter disposed between a display surface of a display device and a viewer. The time-sharing picture display shutter has a function of shutting off only an area covered by a viewing angle which corresponds to a display area of the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Inventors: Seiji Sato, Akira Kawamura
  • Patent number: 6368760
    Abstract: The phase sheet includes a first region and a second region which have respectively different slow axis directions or fast axis directions. A polymer constituting the sheet contains a photoisomeric molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Nishiguchi
  • Publication number: 20020039230
    Abstract: A 3D image display system comprising an image display, an image polarizing processor, an image filter, an image synchronizer, and a pair of electronic liquid crystal polarizing spectacles is capable of presenting a 3D image in combination with the conventional low-frequency Field-Sequential Displaying technique. To begin with, by utilizing an optical polarizing process, the possible region where the flickering phenomenon may occur is confined on the screen of the display such that the region may become a small portion of the visual space. Next, an image filter is used to reduce to the intensity of the localized flickering region. Therefore, the flickering phenomenon can be effectively reduced even at a low scanning frequency of 60 Hz.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2000
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Applicant: ARTIFICIAL PARALLAX ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventor: Ming-Yen Lin
  • Publication number: 20020030888
    Abstract: Systems for three-dimensional viewing and projection aimed at full-color flat-screen binocular stereoscopic viewing without the use of eyeglasses for the viewer. According to the invention, light emanating from a display or projected thereat presenting a left image and a right image is directed only to the appropriate left or right eyes of at least one viewer using various combinations of light polarizing layers and layers of light rotating means or color filters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: Paul Kleinberger, Ilan D. Kleinberger
  • Patent number: 6348994
    Abstract: An arrangement for generating a stereoscopic image of an object for viewing by an observer includes an imaging optic for imaging the object and defining an imaging beam path as well as an entry pupil and an exit pupil. Illuminating optics illuminate the object by providing an imaging beam coming from the object and passing through the imaging optic and along the imaging beam path. The imaging beam is sectioned in the imaging beam path into two component beams at one of the following locations: in the exit pupil, near the exit pupil or at a position along the imaging beam path which is optically conjugated to the exit pupil, thereby forming stereoscopic sectioned images. The stereoscopic section images are allocated in a clocked manner to the left and the right eyes of the observer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Geier, Hans Tandler, Gudrun Nordt
  • Publication number: 20020008908
    Abstract: A stereoscopic display apparatus 20 is employed in combination with an image transmission section 10. A case 1 includes a half-mirror 3, a visual field lens 4 and polarizers 22L, 22R therein, and an observation port 23 with a hood is defined in the case 1. A band 25 to be worn on a viewer's head is disposed in the exterior of the case 1. Both of the polarizers 22L and 22R are so designed as to display the stereoscopic images for the right and left eyes on the basis of data transmitted from the image transmission section 10, respectively, and the image lights are guided to the viewer's eyes through the half-mirror 3 and the visual field lens 4. The stereoscopic display apparatus 20 is of the head mount type that guides the images for the right and left eyes projected onto one display screen which is formed of the half-mirror 3 to the right and left eyes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventor: Masao Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6337721
    Abstract: A stereoscopic display, by which a viewer can view a stereoscopic image by striping light and giving the striped light to an LCD panel 1 consisting of a display screen containing a group of left eye pixels and a group of right eye pixels, comprises a first light source 4 arranged apart from the LCD panel 1 by a first distance, a second light source 5 arranged apart from the LCD panel 1 by a second distance, a lenticular screen 6 arranged in front of the first and second light sources 4 and 5, a first diffusing plate 7 for diffusing and transmitting light and forming a striped light image from the first light source, a second diffusing plate 8 for diffusing and transmitting light and forming a striped light image from the second light source, wherein a distance of an optimum viewing position from which a viewer can view a stereoscopic image can be changed by switching between a state where the first light source 4 is on and the first diffusing plate has a diffusing effect and a state where the second light sou
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Goro Hamagishi, Masutaka Inoue
  • Publication number: 20020001128
    Abstract: A parallax barrier includes a polarisation modifying layer having aperture regions, for supplying light of a second polarisation when receiving light of a first polarisation, separated by barrier regions, for supplying light of a third polarisation different from the second polarisation when receiving light of the first polarisation, and a polariser selectively operable in a first mode and a second mode. At least one of the aperture regions and the barrier regions alters the polarisation of light passing therethrough. The polariser passes light of the second polarisation and blocks light of the third polarisation in the first mode and passes light of the third polarisation in the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventors: Richard Robert Moseley, Graham John Woodgate, Adrian Marc Simon Jacobs, Jonathan Harrold, David Ezra
  • Publication number: 20010038491
    Abstract: Stereoscopic eyewear (10) enables a viewer to see a three dimensional image from a two dimensional image which is projected or displayed on a screen. The eyewear may be coordinated with the two dimensional image either with a signal transmitted through a cable (40) or with an infrared (IR) transmitter (200, 201) and receiver. The IR transmitter may include two sources of IR light to increase the likelihood of reception by the transmitter. The IR transmitter may have a curved bottom (202) covered with Velcro™ material (203) for attachment to another piece of Velcro™. The curved bottom in combination with the Velcro™ enables control of the orientation of the IR transmitter. When the eyewear is connected via a cable, guide bars (61, 62) or a cable loop (42, 43, 44) can be included to provide strain relieve. The shutter or lens of the eyewear may be made from a liquid crystal cell (11L, 11R).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventor: John D. Fergason
  • Patent number: 6301044
    Abstract: A system for producing a visual effect at a surface of apparel worn by a performer including: a latent image projector which projects light comprising polarizer-encoded latent visual information, such as a color and/or an image, enabling the visual effect, the light being projected along a light path onto the apparel and reflected therefrom toward a viewer along the light path; an analyzer positioned so as to impinge upon the light path and be intercepted by the projected light no sooner in the travel of the light along the light path than substantially at the surface of the apparel; and a polarization maintaining reflective material positioned substantially at the surface of the apparel, whereby the polarizer-encoded latent visual information is resolved by the analyzer no earlier than substantially at the surface of apparel worn by the performer, so that the visual effect is perceived by the viewer at the surface of the apparel but not on other surfaces which do not comprise polarization maintaining reflect
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Huber, Amy Van Gilder, Eric C. Haseltine, Alfredo Ayala
  • Publication number: 20010013971
    Abstract: Systems for three-dimensional viewing and projection aimed at full-color flat-screen binocular stereoscopic viewing without the use of eyeglasses for the viewer. According to the invention, light emanating from a display or projected thereat presenting a left image and a right image is directed only to the appropriate left or right eyes of at least one viewer using various combinations of light polarizing layers and layers of light rotating means or color filters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Inventors: Paul Kleinberger, Ilan D. Kleinberger
  • Patent number: 6275335
    Abstract: A method and teaching for creating stereographic images with the use of a single lens is presented. A leading linear polarizing filter, a passive half-wave retarder, an electric switched quarter-wave retarder, and a trailing linear polarizing filter are then used in various combination to create: a 3D microscope, a 3D video adapter for microscopes, a general purpose 3D video lens, a 3D video adapter, and a 3D light-valve. A neutral density filter replaces those components to then create a 3D ocular and a 3D ocular adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: SL3D, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryan Costales
  • Patent number: 6252707
    Abstract: Systems for three-dimensional viewing and projection aimed at full-color flat-screen binocular stereoscopic viewing without the use of eyeglasses for the viewer. Light emanating from a display or projected thereat presenting a left image and a right image is directed only to the appropriate left or right eye of at least one viewer using various combinations of light polarizing layers and layers of light rotating means or color filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: 3ality, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Kleinberger, Ilan Kleinberger
  • Patent number: 6239908
    Abstract: Temporally interlaced first and second sequential pluralities of image frames are displayed and alternately directed along respected first and second optical paths to distinct viewing locations, for example the left and right eyes of a viewer, wherein the image frames of one of the sequential pluralities represent mirror images of the object being imaged. In one aspect, both sets of sequential pluralities of image frames are simultaneously distributed to both optical paths and first and second shutters are controlled in synchronism with the image display so as to display the respective sequential pluralities of image frames only at the corresponding viewing locations. In another aspect, respective first and second sequential pluralities of image frames are switched between the first and second optical paths by synchronously switching the polarization state of the image display and by a polarizing beam splitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Inventor: Shawn L. Kelly
  • Patent number: 6229648
    Abstract: A projector including a non-polarized light source, at least one polarizing beam-splitter receiving light from the non-polarized light source, the polarizing beam splitter including first and second prisms separated by a liquid crystal material, a selectably actuable polarization rotating light valve having impinging thereon light from the polarizing beam splitter and operating in a reflective mode, and a mirror having impinging thereon light from the polarizing beam splitter and reflecting the light via the polarizing beam splitter to the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Unic View Ltd.
    Inventor: Shlomo Barak
  • Patent number: 6222672
    Abstract: An imaging system according to the invention includes: a matrix of light modulating elements including first and second elements for respectively transmitting first and second image components; a polarizing element having a first polarization axis for linearly polarizing light from the first and second elements; a first optical retardation element incorporating at least one first retarder having first and second regions respectively having a first optic axis at a first orientation and a second option axis at a second orientation to the first polarization axis; and a detecting element having first and second detecting parts, each detecting part including respective second optical retardation element incorporating at least one second retarder and an analyzing element having a second polarization axis intended to be disposed at a defined orientation relative to the first polarization axis, at least one second retarder of the first detecting part having an optic axis which is intended to be disposed substantially
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michael John Towler, Harry Garth Walton, Elizabeth Jane Acosta
  • Patent number: 6212007
    Abstract: A high resolution 3D color display, particularly suited to natural three-dimensional representation in computer tomography, is diclosed. In a digital autostereoscopic display, over eighty related or desired perspective views of an object may be represented in 3D, written onto a digital display by lasers in a few minutes, and subsequently deleted. The displays are digitally stored in minute fields of a thin LC layer of a scatter screen and converted into high resolution color pictures by reverse irradiation view color and brightness masks. The individual perspectives may be viewed selectively by a lenticular screen plate. The same displays may also be stored in the same code on a film which, when used in place of the scatter screen, shows the display to a user. The display can therefore be used in modified form to produce display photos when graphic computers are used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Inventor: Siegbert Hentschke
  • Patent number: 6204899
    Abstract: The invention teaches methods whereby the lighting efficiency of many lighted displays, including liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) are increased by an order of magnitude through the use of chiral nematic liquid crystal materials incorporated into the light pipes of the displays. The light pipe technology also enables a practical embodiment of the stereoscopic display of Venolia. These methods are also applied to the fabrication of lighted signs for advertising and status indicators in hostile environments. The technology of the light pipes is also applied to the creation of a novel art medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Inventor: Dennis R. Hall
  • Patent number: 6195205
    Abstract: A multi-mode stereoscopic imaging system is described. It is the first stereo system which is convertible back and forth from the auto stereo viewing mode without glasses to the binocular stereo viewing mode with glasses. It is based on micro-polarizer arrays and spatial multiplexing of images. The system consists of a stereo image component and an auto parallax barrier component. Both components use the properties of &mgr;Pols. Switching from one mode to the other is accomplished manually, and electronically with the aid of a liquid crystal light valve. The system combines the benefits of auto-stereo imaging and the binocular stereo imaging of prior art techniques without their limitations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Reveo, Inc.
    Inventor: Sadeg Faris
  • Patent number: 6154315
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for providing stereo-image pairs, typically for use in endoscopy. A birefringent optical component creates two virtual pupils to provide spaced view points of an object field through a single real pupil, the light from each of the two view points having a respectively different polarization. The birefringent component may be in the form of a calcite slab or comprise liquid crystal material. By suitable orientation of two such components with respect to each other, the path lengths for the two polarizations of light may be made equivalent and rotation of the planes of polarization of this light through 90 degrees by means disposed between the birefringent components can improve the performance of the system. The rotation device may comprise a half-wave plate or a layer of liquid crystal material. By tilting the slab of calcite, the observer may be provided with a change in view point and, thereby, some motion parallax.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Inventor: Graham S. B. Street
  • Patent number: 6115177
    Abstract: An image viewing system to permit viewing of three-dimensional images, wherein users wear a pair of eyeglasses to view displayed images. The pair of eyeglasses include lenses having LCD polarizing filters and a LCD controlling unit configured to adjust the polarization of the lenses based upon the orientation of the glasses. A sensing unit, located on the glasses, monitors the orientation of the glasses and when the orientation is skewed from a default orientation, the sensing unit notifies the controlling unit of the new orientation. Upon receipt of the new orientation, the controlling unit then initiates a change in the polarization of the LCD filters. Adjustment of the polarization allows users of 3-D viewing glasses to freely adjust head position relative to the displayed images without compromising the integrity of the viewed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Gateway, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen P. Vossler
  • Patent number: 6069737
    Abstract: An optical arrangement, in particular for use as a transmitting and/or receiving optical system in optoelectronic sensors, comprises at least one diffractive optical element integrated into transparent material, with the unit formed by the transparent material and the diffractive optical element having at least two different functions such as, for example, image forming functions, polarization, beam division, beam forming, beam shaping and/or the provision of a subaperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventors: Gunter Fetzer, Gerhard Alt
  • Patent number: 6046849
    Abstract: A parallax barrier includes a polarisation modifying layer having aperture regions, for supplying light of a second polarisation when receiving light of a first polarisation, separated by barrier regions, for supplying light of a third polarisation different from the second polarisation when receiving light of the first polarisation, and a polariser selectively operable in a first mode and a second mode. At least one of the aperture regions and the barrier regions alters the polarisation of light passing therethrough. The polariser passes light of the second polarisation and blocks light of the third polarisation in the first mode and passes light of the third polarisation in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Richard Robert Moseley, Graham John Woodgate, Adrian Marc Simon Jacobs, Jonathan Harrold, David Ezra
  • Patent number: 6038071
    Abstract: An arrangement which can produce a stereoscopic image simply and cheaply. An optical unit views an object and a stereoscopic image is provided onto a recording device or a display device by differentially polarizing the beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Deutshce Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Chikazawa
  • Patent number: 6011580
    Abstract: A stereoscopic image display apparatus including a liquid crystal display of light transmission type for displaying right-eye and left-eye target images, a pair of CRTs for displaying illuminating graphic patterns for illuminating the display from the back surface, and a Fresnel lens 11 arranged before the CRTs to show the viewer given displayed portions on the display screens of these CRTs in an enlarged scale. A first graphic pattern polarized in the X direction is displayed at a first position, which corresponds to the right eye of the viewer, on the display screen of the first CRT. A second graphic pattern polarized in the Y direction perpendicular to the X direction is displayed at a second position, which corresponds to the left eye of the viewer, on the second CRT. The display screen of the liquid crystal display is illuminated from the behind by the light from the first and second graphic patterns displayed on the CRTs, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiko Hattori, Shigeru Omori, Kunimasa Katayama, Sadayuki Sakuma
  • Patent number: 6002518
    Abstract: A system for producing and displaying spatially-multiplexed images of three-dimensional imagery for use in stereoscopic viewing thereof substantially free of visual-channel cross-talk and stereoscopic asymmetric distortion. The system includes a display device for displaying micropolarized spatially-multiplexed images using a phase-retarding micropolarization structure. The micropolarization structure has phase-retarding characteristics which introduce phase-retardation error to light associated with the micropolarized spatially-multiplexed image at a particular wavelengths in the visible band, and create visual-channel cross-talk. The system also includes a viewing device for viewing the micropolarized spatially-multiplexed images using a phase-retarding polarizer having phase-retarding characteristics which substantially eliminate the phase-retardation error introduced by micropolarization structure during image display, and thus the visual-channel cross-talk and stereoscopic asymmetric distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Reveo, Inc.
    Inventor: Sadeg M. Faris
  • Patent number: 5991074
    Abstract: This invention relates to a stereoscopic image display apparatus comprises a display for combining and displaying, in an alternate array in a predetermined direction, plural stripe images divided from each of two parallax image for the left and right eyes; a polarizing member in which stripe-shaped polarizing parts with mutually different polarizing axes are alternately arranged respectively corresponding to the divided stripe images, wherein the divided stripe images are emitted by the polarizing member with different polarization characteristics for the left and right eyes, and the left and right eyes of an observer observing said display unit are respectively given the corresponding parts of the divided plural stripe images by the difference of the polarization characteristics whereby the observer can recognize a stereoscopic image; and an optical member provided with stripe-shaped apertures arranged in a predetermined direction, respectively corresponding to the divided stripe images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Nose, Hideki Morishima
  • Patent number: 5982538
    Abstract: A stereoscopic image projector has a light valve controlled by two image signals. The light valve produces a polarized raster image in which some rasters are modulated by the first image signal and other rasters by the second image signal. A polarization switch changes the polarization of rasters modulated by the second image signal, thereby creating a stereoscopic image, which is projected through a projection lens onto a screen, and viewed through polarizing eyeglasses. A color stereoscopic image is obtained by using three light valves and three polarization switches, one for each of the three primary colors, and combining their images for projection through a single projection lens. The projection lens is preferably a telecentric zoom lens consisting of three lens groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinsuke Shikama, Daisuke Umeno
  • Patent number: 5973831
    Abstract: Systems for three-dimensional viewing aimed at full-color flat-screen binocular stereoscopic viewing without the use of eyeglasses for the viewer. According to the invention, light emanating from a display presenting a left image and a right image is directed only to the appropriate left or right eyes of a viewer using various combinations of light polarizing layers and layers of light rotating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Inventors: Paul Kleinberger, Ilan D. Kleinberger
  • Patent number: 5969850
    Abstract: A spatial light modulator has a modulating region which is capable of operating in two modes in the first clear mode, the region is continuously and substantially uniformly transmissive. In a second or barrier mode, the region can be switched to form parallax barrier comprising slits which are separated by continuous opaque regions. Such A modulator may be used in association with an image liquid crystal display to provide an autostereoscopic 3D display having a 3D mode which may track movement of an observer and a 2D mode in which full resolution of the LCD is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jonathan Harrold, Graham John Woodgate
  • Patent number: 5963371
    Abstract: Displaying data private to a first user and data private to a second, collocated user on a single computer display is achieved by providing two pairs of stereoscopic glasses, one for each user, and modifying the glasses by swapping one of the lens from the first pair with one of the lens of the second pair so that the modified first pair of glasses allows viewing of the display in a first state and the modified second pair of glasses allows viewing of the display in a second state. The data private to the first user is displayed when the display is in the first state and the data private to the second user is displayed when the display is in the second state. The display is alternately switched between the first and second states many times per second, thereby providing private displays for each user. In one embodiment, the stereoscopic glasses are polarized glasses and the display includes a polarizing filter. In another embodiment, the stereoscopic glasses are shutter glasses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Bradford H Needham, David H Koizumi
  • Patent number: 5946139
    Abstract: A color display including a non-polarized light source, at least one polarizing beam-splitter receiving light from the non-polarized light source, at least one selectably actuable polarization rotating light valve having thereon impinging light from the polarizing beam splitter and operating in a reflective mode, the light valve having a plurality of separately controlled light valve regions which correspond to different colors, a display screen including a plurality of differently colored light impingement regions and imaging optics for directing light reflected from the at least one light valve via the at least one beam-splitter to the display screen such that light from individual ones of the plurality of separately controlled light valve regions which correspond to a given color impinges on correspondingly colored light impingement regions of the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Unic View Ltd.
    Inventor: Shlomo Barak