Projection apparatus for stereoscopic pictures

Claim 1

Apparatus for forming stereoscopic pictures of the type including a multiplicity of lineiform image bands, each of said image bands comprising a plurality of condensed images from a corresponding plurality of two-dimensional views of an object field taken from spaced vantage points, and a lenticular screen having a corresponding multiplicity of lenticules aligned with the image bands, said apparatus comprising: a lenticular screen having a plurality of cylindrical lenticules of width w; means including a plurality M of projecting lenses for projecting a corresponding plurality M of two-dimensional views of an object field, a plurality N ≦ M of which were taken from different vantage points relative to the object field, onto said lenticular screen with the projected image of a selected common element of each view in substantial registry with a reference point located substantially at the position of said lenticular screen, the number M of projected two-dimensional views being equal to w/m, where m is the width of an individual condensed image formed at the rear surface of a lenticule; a corresponding plurality M of photographic recordings, each arranged in optical alignment with a corresponding one of said projecting lenses and containing a photographic image of one of said two-dimensional views; and means for supporting said plurality M of projecting lenses and said corresponding plurality M of photographic recordings in a plurality of rows, said rows of projecting lenses and photographic recordings being spaced apart in the direction of the lengthwise extent of the lenticules and being offset relative to one another in the direction of the widthwise extent of the lenticules of said lenticular screen such that the apertures of said M lenses, when viewed in the direction of the lengthwise extent of the lenticules, are arranged substantially in edge-to-edge contiguous relation, whereby said M projected two-dimensional views form M condensed images at the rear surface of each lenticule which are substantially contiguous and non-overlapping.