Autostereoscopic display and method

Claim 2

An autostereoscopic display, comprising: a projection system configured to form a plurality of real images; and a plurality of optical field elements arranged in a contiguous relationship, each having a focal length and spaced no further than its focal length from a different one of said real images to process that real image into one of a plurality of exit pupils at which the radiant energy density of that real image is maximized; wherein said projection system and said optical field elements are arranged to space each of said exit pupils substantially one interpupillary distance (IPD) from at least one other of said exit pupils.

Claim 3

The autostereoscopic display of claim 1, wherein said optical field elements form a selected geometric shape.

Claim 4

The autostereoscopic display of claim 2, wherein said geometric shape is a three-dimensional hemisphere.

Claim 5

The autostereoscopic display of claim 2, wherein said geometric shape is a two-dimensional plane.

Claim 6

The autostereoscopic display of claim 1, wherein each of said optical field elements has a thickness and is spaced less than twice said thickness from its respective real image.

Claim 7

The autostereoscopic display of claim 1, wherein each of said optical field elements is positioned coincident with its respective real image.

Claim 8

The autostereoscopic display of claim 1, wherein each of said optical field elements is a positive, refractive lens.

Claim 9

The autostereoscopic display of claim 1, wherein each of said optical field elements is a holographic optical element.

Claim 10

The autostereoscopic display of claim 1, wherein each of said optical field elements is a Fresnel lens.

Claim 11

The autostereoscopic display of claim 1, wherein said projection system includes: a plurality of image sources; and a plurality of relay lenses with each of said relay lenses sufficiently spaced from a different one of said image sources to process it into one of said real images.

Claim 12

The autostereoscopic display of claim 10, wherein each of said relay lenses has a focal length and is spaced greater than its focal length from its respective image source.

Claim 13

The autostereoscopic display of claim 10, wherein each of said image sources is a cathode ray tube.

Claim 14

The autostereoscopic display of claim 10, wherein each of said image sources is an active matrix liquid crystal display.

Claim 15

The autostereoscopic display of claim 10, wherein each of said image sources is a flat-panel display.

Claim 16

The autostereoscopic display of claim 1, wherein said projection system includes: a plurality of relay lenses; a time-multiplexed image source configured to display a plurality of successive images; and an optical transmission system configured to transmit each of said successive images to a respective one of said relay lenses.

Claim 17

The autostereoscopic display of claim 1 wherein the field elements form a hemispheric shape.

Claim 18

A display member for forming an autostereoscopic display from a plurality of real images, comprising a plurality of optical field elements wherein: said optical field elements are configured to each process a different one of said real images into one of a plurality of exit pupils at which the radiant energy of that real image is maximized; said optical field elements are positioned to space each of said exit pupils substantially one interpupillary distance (IPD) from at least one other of said exit pupils; and said optical field elements are arranged in a contiguous relationship to form a selected geometric shape.

Claim 19

A display member for forming an autostereoscopic display from a plurality of real images, comprising a plurality of optical field elements wherein: said optical field elements are configured to each process a different one of said real images into one of a plurality of exit pupils at which the radiant energy of that real image is maximized; said optical field elements are positioned to space each of said exit pupils substantially one interpupillary distance (IPD) from at least one other of said exit pupils; and said optical field elements are arranged in a contiguous relationship to form a selected geometric shape.

Claim 20

The display member of claim 17, wherein each of said optical field elements has a focal length and is spaced no further than its focal length from its respective real image.

Claim 21

The display member of claim 17, wherein each of said optical field elements has a thickness and is spaced less than twice said thickness from its respective real image.

Claim 22

The display member of claim 17, wherein each of said optical field elements is positioned coincident with its respective real image.

Claim 23

The display member of claim 17, wherein said geometric shape is a hemisphere.

Claim 24

The display member of claim 17, wherein said geometric shape is a plane.

Claim 25

The display member of claim 17, wherein each of said optical field elements is a positive, refractive lens.

Claim 26

The display member of claim 17, wherein each of said optical field elements is a holographic optical element.

Claim 27

The display member of claim 17, wherein each of said optical field elements is a Fresnel lens.

Claim 30

The method of claim 26, wherein said processing aperture is an optical field element.

Claim 31

The method of claim 27, wherein said optical field element is a positive, refractive lens.

Claim 32

The method of claim 27, wherein said optical field element is a holographic optical element.

Claim 33

The method of claim 27, wherein each of said optical field elements is a Fresnel lens.

Claim 34

An autostereoscopic display, comprising: a projection system configured to form a plurality of real images; and a plurality of optical field elements arranged in a hemispheric shape, each having a focal length and spaced no further that its focal length from a different one of said real images to process that real image into one of a plurality of exit pupils at which the radiant energy density of that real image is maximized; wherein said projection system and said optical field elements are arranged to space each of said exit pupils substantially one interpupillary distance (IPD) from at least one other of said exit pupils.

Claim 35

An autostereoscopic display, comprising: a projection system configured to form a plurality of real images; and a plurality of optical field elements arranged in a hemispheric shape, each having a focal length and spaced no further that its focal length from a different one of said real images to process that real image into one of a plurality of exit pupils at which the radiant energy density of that real image is maximized; wherein said projection system and said optical field elements are arranged to space each of said exit pupils substantially one interpupillary distance (IPD) from at least one other of said exit pupils.

Claim 36

An autostereoscopic display, comprising: a projection system configured to form a plurality of real images; and a plurality of optical field elements arranged to create exit pupils in a hemispheric relationship, each having a focal length and spaced no further than its focal length from a different one of said real images to process that real image into one of a plurality of exit pupils at which the radiant energy density of that real image is maximized; wherein said projection system and said optical field elements are arranged to space each of said exit pupils substantially one interpupillary distance (IPD) from at least one other of said exit pupils.

Claim 37

An autostereoscopic display, comprising: a projection system configured to form a plurality of real images; and a plurality of optical field elements arranged to create exit pupils in a hemispheric relationship, each having a focal length and spaced no further than its focal length from a different one of said real images to process that real image into one of a plurality of exit pupils at which the radiant energy density of that real image is maximized; wherein said projection system and said optical field elements are arranged to space each of said exit pupils substantially one interpupillary distance (IPD) from at least one other of said exit pupils.

Claim 38

An autostereoscopic display, comprising: a projection system configured to form a plurality of real images, wherein said projection system including; a plurality of image sources; and a plurality of relay lenses with each of said relay lenses sufficiently spaced from a different one of said image sources, wherein each of said image sources is a cathode ray tube to process it into one of said real images; and a plurality of optical field elements arranged in a contiguous relationship, each having a focal length and spaced no further than its focal length from a different one of said real images to process that real image into one of a plurality of exit pupils at which the radiant energy density of that real image is maximized; wherein said projection system and said optical field elements are arranged to space each of said exit pupils substantially one interpupillary distance (IPD) from at least one other of said exit pupils.

Claim 39

An autostereoscopic display, comprising: a projection system configured to form a plurality of real images, wherein said projection system including; a plurality of image sources; and a plurality of relay lenses with each of said relay lenses sufficiently spaced from a different one of said image sources, wherein each of said image sources is a cathode ray tube to process it into one of said real images; and a plurality of optical field elements arranged in a contiguous relationship, each having a focal length and spaced no further than its focal length from a different one of said real images to process that real image into one of a plurality of exit pupils at which the radiant energy density of that real image is maximized; wherein said projection system and said optical field elements are arranged to space each of said exit pupils substantially one interpupillary distance (IPD) from at least one other of said exit pupils.

Claim 40

An autostereoscopic display, comprising: a projection system configured to form a plurality of real images, wherein said projection system including; a plurality of image sources; and a plurality of relay lenses with each of said relay lenses sufficiently spaced from a different one of said image sources, wherein each of said image sources is an active matrix liquid crystal display to process it into one of said real images; and a plurality of optical field elements arranged in a contiguous relationship, each having a focal length and spaced no further than its focal length from a different one of said real images to process that real image into one of a plurality of exit pupils at which the radiant energy density of that real image is maximized; wherein said projection system and said optical field elements are arranged to space each of said exit pupils substantially one interpupillary distance (IPD) from at least one other of said exit pupils.

Claim 41

An autostereoscopic display, comprising: a projection system configured to form a plurality of real images, wherein said projection system including; a plurality of image sources; and a plurality of relay lenses with each of said relay lenses sufficiently spaced from a different one of said image sources, wherein each of said image sources is an active matrix liquid crystal display to process it into one of said real images; and a plurality of optical field elements arranged in a contiguous relationship, each having a focal length and spaced no further than its focal length from a different one of said real images to process that real image into one of a plurality of exit pupils at which the radiant energy density of that real image is maximized; wherein said projection system and said optical field elements are arranged to space each of said exit pupils substantially one interpupillary distance (IPD) from at least one other of said exit pupils.

Claim 42

An autostereoscopic display, comprising: a projection system configured to form a plurality of real images, wherein said projection system including; a plurality of image sources; and a plurality of relay lenses with each of said relay lenses sufficiently spaced from a different one of said image sources, wherein each of said image sources is a flat panel display to process it into one of said real images; and a plurality of optical field elements arranged in a contiguous relationship, each having a focal length and spaced no further than its focal length from a different one of said real images to process that real image into one of a plurality of exit pupils at which the radiant energy density of that real image is maximized; wherein said projection system and said optical field elements are arranged to space each of said exit pupils substantially one interpupillary distance (IPD) from at least one other of said exit pupils.

Claim 43

An autostereoscopic display, comprising: a projection system configured to form a plurality of real images, wherein said projection system including; a plurality of image sources; and a plurality of relay lenses with each of said relay lenses sufficiently spaced from a different one of said image sources, wherein each of said image sources is a flat panel display to process it into one of said real images; and a plurality of optical field elements arranged in a contiguous relationship, each having a focal length and spaced no further than its focal length from a different one of said real images to process that real image into one of a plurality of exit pupils at which the radiant energy density of that real image is maximized; wherein said projection system and said optical field elements are arranged to space each of said exit pupils substantially one interpupillary distance (IPD) from at least one other of said exit pupils.

Claim 44

An autostereoscopic display, comprising: a projection system configured to form a plurality of real images, said projection system including: a plurality of relay lenses; a time-multiplexed image source configured to display a plurality of successive images; and an optical transmission system configured to transmit each of said successive images to a respective one of said relay lenses; and a plurality of optical field elements arranged in a contiguous relationship, each having a focal length and spaced no further than its focal length from a different one of said real images to process that real image into one of a plurality of exit pupils at which the radiant energy density of that real image is maximized; wherein said projection system and said optical field elements are arranged to space each of said exit pupils substantially one interpupillary distance (IPD) from at least one other of said exit pupils.

Claim 45

An autostereoscopic display, comprising: a projection system configured to form a plurality of real images, said projection system including: a plurality of relay lenses; a time-multiplexed image source configured to display a plurality of successive images; and an optical transmission system configured to transmit each of said successive images to a respective one of said relay lenses; and a plurality of optical field elements arranged in a contiguous relationship, each having a focal length and spaced no further than its focal length from a different one of said real images to process that real image into one of a plurality of exit pupils at which the radiant energy density of that real image is maximized; wherein said projection system and said optical field elements are arranged to space each of said exit pupils substantially one interpupillary distance (IPD) from at least one other of said exit pupils.

Claim 46

An autostereoscopic display, comprising: a projection system configured to form a plurality of pairs of real images, and a plurality of optical field elements arranged in a contiguous relationship each having a focal length and spaced no further than its focal length from a different one of said real images to process each of said pairs of images into a corresponding pair of exit pupils.

Claim 47

An autostereoscopic display, comprising: a projection system configured to form a plurality of pairs of real images, and a plurality of optical field elements arranged in a contiguous relationship each having a focal length and spaced no further than its focal length from a different one of said real images to process each of said pairs of images into a corresponding pair of exit pupils.