IMAGE ENHANCEMENT FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL DISPLAYS

Information

  • Patent Application
  • 20070201133
  • Publication Number
    20070201133
  • Date Filed
    February 27, 2007
    17 years ago
  • Date Published
    August 30, 2007
    16 years ago
Abstract
A three-dimensional (3D) display apparatus includes an image generation subsystem (IGS) for generating at least one two-dimensional (2D) image and providing filtered rays derived from the at least one 2D image to an optical element for modulating the filtered rays and producing a 3D image, wherein the filtered rays comprise limited overlap of pixel information. A method and a computer program product for generating 3D images are provided.
Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:



FIG. 1 is a prior art lenticular display assembly for creating a 3D image;



FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C, collectively referred to herein as FIG. 2, depict aspects of a prior art display apparatus using cylindrical lenses where resolution is sacrificed in a horizontal (x-axis) direction;



FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 3C and FIG. 3D, collectively referred to herein as FIG. 3, depicts aspects of a prior art display apparatus using tilted lenticular lenses;



FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C, collectively referred to herein as FIG. 4, depict aspects of pixel overlap that results from use of a tilted lenticular lens;



FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment of a image generation system according to the teachings herein;



FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B and FIG. 6C, collectively referred to herein as FIG. 6, depict aspects of a 3D image that does not induce pixel overlap while using a parallel lenticular lens;



FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, collectively referred to herein as FIG. 7, depict embodiments of ray filtering;



FIG. 8 depicts an embodiment of ray filtering in conjunction with a parallel lenticular lens;



FIG. 9 depicts an embodiment of ray filtering in conjunction with the tilted lenticular lens; and



FIG. 10 depicts an embodiment of a 3D display.


Claims
  • 1. A three-dimensional (3D) display apparatus, the apparatus comprising: an image generation subsystem (IGS) for generating at least one two-dimensional (2D) image and providing filtered rays derived from the at least one 2D image to an optical element for modulating the filtered rays and producing a 3D image, wherein the filtered rays comprise limited overlap of pixel information.
  • 2. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the image generation subsystem comprises an image source.
  • 3. The apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the image source comprises one of a liquid crystal display (LCD), a cathode ray tube (CRT), a vacuum fluorescent display (VFD), a digital light processing display (DLP), a plasma display panel (PDP), a light-emitting diode (LED), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a surface-conduction electron-emitter display (SED), a field emission display (FED), and a liquid crystal on silicon display (LCOS).
  • 4. The apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the image source comprises an arrangement for providing the filtered rays.
  • 5. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein a pattern of the filtered rays is selected to control horizontal resolution and vertical resolution in the 3D iamge.
  • 6. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the image generation subsystem comprises a mask for providing the filtered rays.
  • 7. The apparatus as in claim 6, wherein the mask is adapted for cooperation with the optical element.
  • 8. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the mask comprises one of a one-dimensional barrier and a two-dimensional barrier.
  • 9. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the optical element comprises a lenticular lens array.
  • 10. The apparatus as in claim 9, wherein an optical axis of the lenticular lens array is one of substantially parallel to an axis of the image generation subsystem and tilted with respect to the image generation subsystem.
  • 11. The apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the lenticular lens array comprises at least one of cylindrical lenses and elliptical lenses.
  • 12. The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising at least one of a diffuser, an upstream plate and a downstream plate.
  • 13. The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a scanner.
  • 14. A method for producing a three dimensional (3D) image, the method comprising: providing a display apparatus comprising an image generation subsystem (IGS) for generating at least one two-dimensional (2D) image and providing filtered rays derived from the at least one 2D image to an optical element for modulating the filtered rays and producing the 3D image, wherein the filtered rays comprise limited overlap of pixel information; andmodulating the filtered rays for producing the 3D image.
  • 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising masking output rays of an image source to produce filtered rays that are substantially separated from each other in the 3D image.
  • 16. The method of claim 14, further comprising generating the filtered rays with an image source adapted for providing filtered rays.
  • 17. The method of claim 14, wherein providing the filtered rays comprises providing the filtered rays in a manner to enhance a resolution of the 3D image.
  • 18. A computer program product stored on machine readable media, the product comprising instructions for producing a three dimensional (3D) image by executing instructions comprising: operating a 3D display apparatus comprising an image generation subsystem (IGS) for generating at least one two-dimensional (2D) image and providing filtered rays derived from the at least one 2D image to an optical element for modulating the filtered rays and producing the 3D image, wherein the filtered rays comprise limited overlap of pixel information; andproducing the 3D image.
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60777043 Feb 2006 US