Display technology that forms an image with light sources that rotate about an axis has the advantage of being viewable from a wider range angle than a conventional display. Although an arrangement of multiple conventional displays placed together at angles is also viewable from a wide range of angles, the displayed images are less immersive, because the displayed images are interrupted by the frames of the displays themselves. Existing rotating display technology, however, has many disadvantages. Commonly, the light sources are positioned about the perimeter of a spinning frame. This arrangement restricts the size and shape of each pixel, as well as the distribution of the angular momentum in the rotating system. Such displays also present a two-dimensional image, and also do not present a panoramic image. Thus, a need exists for various displays that address such needs with some combination of a panoramic display, a display that is lighter, and a three-dimensional display.
One embodiment of a moving display includes a frame surrounding an image viewing area; and optical assemblies mounted on the frame to move around the image viewing area.
The frame forms a circular or non-circular path around the image viewing area. The optical assembly moves around the image viewing area along this path.
Another embodiment of a display includes a frame, an autostereoscopic element directing incident optical energy, such that a multi-dimensional image from the depth perception screen appears three-dimensional, and optical assemblies. The three-dimensional information is generated by modulation of the optical sources. Multiple images are radiated by each of the optical sources as multiple pixels in rapid succession. The autostereoscopic element such as a lenticular screen or parallax screen helps to direct the proper image to the corresponding eye.
Yet another embodiment of a display includes a frame and optical assemblies mounted on the frame to make a periodic motion about an axis.
Each optical assembly has optical sources that radiate optical energy to be viewed from the image viewing area. One embodiment uses LEDs as the optical sources. Each optical assembly also has circuitry coupled to the optical sources to modulate the optical energy radiated by the optical sources with data of a multi-dimensional image to be viewed, such as in the image viewing area or on the depth perception screen. In various embodiments, the circuitry modulates the optical sources such that the multi-dimensional image appears two-dimensional, layered, or three-dimensional. The multi-dimensional image is defined by the optical energy radiated by the optical sources as the optical assemblies move (e.g., around the image viewing area or relative to the depth perception screen). Depending on the implementation, such as the speed at which the optical assemblies move, there may be one optical assembly or multiple optical assemblies.
In some embodiments, each optical assembly includes optical conduits. Each optical conduit has an inner end optically coupled to at least one of the optical sources to receive optical energy, a body conveying the optical energy received by the inner end, and an outer end radiating the optical energy conveyed by the body to be viewed from the image viewing area or depth perception screen. One embodiment uses optical fibers as the optical conduits. In an embodiment where the optical sources are arranged in groups that radiate differently distributed optical energy (e.g., red/green/blue, red/green/blue/white), the optical energy leaving the outer end of the optical conduits is a mixture of the differently distributed optical energy radiated from the group of optical sources.
In some embodiments, the multi-dimensional image appears to have a depth dimension. Optical energy is radiated by some of the optical sources to be perceived from the image viewing area at a first distance, and is radiated by other optical sources to be perceived from the image viewing area at a second distance. For example, the optical energy may be conveyed by optical conduits of varying length, or radiated by optical sources at different distances from the viewing area. The number of perceived layers is limited only by the number of varying distances at which the optical energy is perceived, such as the number of varying lengths of optical conduits, or by varying distances from the viewing area at which the optical sources are mounted.
In some embodiments, the multi-dimensional image is formed with the aid of a screen, such as a lenticular screen or a parallax screen to direct the proper part of a three-dimensional image to the corresponding eye. The final image as perceived by a viewer has parallax depth information. In some embodiments, the optical assembly circuitry modulates the optical energy radiated by the optical sources with multiple multi-dimensional images, such that each part of the depth perception screen shows a different one of the multiple multi-dimensional image.
Various embodiments include energy shaping elements that control spreading of the optical energy radiated from the optical assemblies or optical conduits in a direction toward the viewer or toward the depth perception screen.
Further embodiments cover corresponding methods and apparatuses including means for modulating optical energy and means for moving the optical sources or optical conduits as described herein.
The control board in this embodiment is a PCB, on which are mounted LEDs that produce the lighting necessary for imagery. The LED PCB has multiple clusters of RGB (red green blue), WRGB (white red green blue), or any combination of LED types, depending on the desired effect of the display. Each cluster of LEDs provides the light for a single optical conduit or a single pixel at any given instance. The cluster is physically arranged for efficient coupling to the optical conduit. Another embodiment separates control circuitry and the LEDs into different boards.
In some embodiments, each cluster has each LED located as close to one another as possible. Each cluster is attached to a coupling device designed to funnel the light from the LEDs of the cluster to the tip of the inlet end of the corresponding optical conduit.
The optical conduit delivers the light from the RGB cluster, from one end of the optical conduit, through the body of the optical conduit, and out the other end of the optical conduit, to a fixed point and form a single pixel. In various embodiments, the optical conduit is substantially straight, or is physically conformed to reach an end point in a predetermined alignment scheme. The conduit is made of optically transparent material Various embodiments include fiber optics, glass rods, materials encased in cladding, and plastics with light propagation properties. The optical conduit premixes the light prior to visualization by the human eye. This may reduce flicker and produce a sharper, crisper image particularly at lower scanning rates.
The optical conduit delivers and mixes the light emitted from the LED hoard to a position in the image. The size, or cross-section, of the optical conduit is determined by the resolution or the pixel size of the image to be produced. In some embodiments, the optical conduit is shaped (or physically manipulated) to deliver the light from the corresponding LED cluster to a location where each optical conduit is prearranged into a sequence. The optical conduits are held in a straight line with other light conduits by rigid support, such as an alignment bar. For example, 50 of the 0.020 inch optical conduits, each coupled to a cluster, delivers an image with a resolution of 50 lines per inch. Various embodiments have a particular cross-section of optical conduit depending on the resolution, and have a particular total number of optical conduits depending on the total number of lines. Optical conduits can be packed more closely than the optical sources. This is because the conduits don't have constraints of electrical connection and heat dissipation, and they can be tapered down to the desired size. So, by using conduits a higher resolution image can be formed compared to an image whose pixels are formed directly by optical sources.
A rotational stage rotates the LED boards along with the coupled optical conduits at a controlled speed. One embodiment drives the rotational shaft (12) using a rotational staging device with a stepper, servo, or direct drive motors depending on the required rpm. Another embodiment is a magnetically driven rotational device using a method similar to changing flux through a coil of wire and causing a potential difference two points. A variation of this is called a linear motor. Such a method is advantageous when space within the display is limited, for example in an installation of the display on a column, e.g., an existing building column.
The whole rotating assembly rotates rapidly enough for 20 to 40 lines of conduits (in optical conduit assemblies) to pass in front of the observer per second, so that the observer sees a continuous image. This will produce an image at 20 to 40 frames per second. An encoding device or other appropriate sensing device monitors rotation and position.
The number of conduit arrays determines the speed of rotation to obtain the number of frames per second required. For example, one array represents a speed of about 2400 rpm, and with four arrays the required rotational speed drops to 600 rpm.
The embodiment shown in
Imagery circuitry produces signals for the imagery, which in turn modulate the light sources. The imagery circuitry converts standard video signals for display. In an alternative embodiment, conversion of the video signal into a format more native to the display is done outside of the display itself. The imagery circuitry is located on each of the control boards (14). The signal source of the imagery signals that modulate the imagery circuitry may be located within the display itself, or generated remotely and received by the display. For example, the signal source may be portable magnetic or optical media read by the display, or an electrical, optical, or wireless signal received by the display. Within the display itself, the source image signals are transmitted to the LED boards wirelessly or by electrical or optical cable.
Electricity to power the light sources and the pc boards may pass through a “slip ring” or may be generated by magnetic induction. Another approach is to send the required power by a laser beam that is converted to electricity by a photodetector located in the moving assembly.
In one embodiment, live motion picture information is sent to the moving image-forming parts by wireless transmission, although a “slip-ring” type of signal transmission is also possible. Another embodiment sends the image information by a modulated optical signal via “free space optical transmission”.
The dimensions of the image may follow the standard 9:16 aspect ratio used by HDTV, or the 4:3 aspect ratio followed by older televisions, or any other format more suitable to curved display systems. In an embodiment using standard image dimensions are used, it is envisioned that the image may be repeated on the circumference of a cylindrical display. Alternatively, the display size is determined by the location of the display, such as the size of a column around which the display is mounted. This vertical dimension corresponds to the length of the optical conduit assembly and the number of elements used. The diameter, and therefore essentially the circumference, is determined substantially by the distance of the LED board from the axis of rotation and the length of the optical conduit coupled to the LED board. Compared to conventional displays, the moving display is relatively light in an embodiment with components of low weights, in particular the circuit boards and optical conduits. In some embodiments, the heaviest component of the display is the rotational stage portion. However, since the load capacity requirement for the rotational device is lowered due to the relatively light weight of the optical conduits, a large and robust rotational stage may be unnecessary.
One embodiment of the display is placed on a column structure, such as a building column, in particular with such an embodiment having a magnetically driven rotational conduit assembly.
Potential applications of the immersive panoramic display include interactive games such as massively multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPG) and gambling games, and simulations for battlefield practice, law-enforcement and other training purposes.
Various panoramic display system embodiments form an image with a single layer, or multiple layers at different depths. Multiple layers are formed by varying the dimensions of different optical assemblies or by using multiple guiding rails.
In the configuration of
In one embodiment with an optical fiber having a numerical aperture of 0.4, the autostereopic distance D is 15 cm. A numerical aperture of 0.1 boosts the distance D to 60 cm. In some embodiments in public areas, the autostereoscopic image is not viewed any closer than 30 cm from the optical fiber ends radiating the image. This is related to the blank distance S between two separate camera views, as follows:
S=2x.NA+e.
For x=30 cm, NA=0.1, and e=6 cm, the blank space S=12 cm, while a numerical aperture of 0.4 would require a blank space of 30 cm.
In order to reduce the effective NA at the output of the fiber, various embodiments employ the following optical field shaping elements:
In general, optical field shaping elements are useful for generating image viewing tradeoffs in non-stereoscopic images as well. For example, viewing angle of the image can be optimized this way. In some embodiments, the outer end of the optical conduit is roughened to help with more efficient light extraction and more favorably distributing the output light.
In an embodiment with multiple images of a scene shown on a moving display rotating cylinder with proper parallax, an observer moving around the display sees what the observer would see a if the observer were to walk around the real physical scene. The blank spaces in the display look like bars around the object. In various embodiments, such displays that vary the particular image as a function of the observer's image is formed with cylindrical or noncylindrical moving displays.
Some embodiments include a depth perception screen, such as a lenticular screen.
The lenticular screen presents more than two images to the observer at any given location.
While the present invention is disclosed by reference to the preferred embodiments and examples detailed above, it is to be understood that these examples are intended in an illustrative rather than in a limiting sense. It is contemplated that modifications and combinations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, which modifications and combinations will be within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/US06/07979 | 3/6/2006 | WO | 11/27/2006 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60658980 | Mar 2005 | US | |
60658979 | Mar 2005 | US | |
60658978 | Mar 2005 | US |