Stacked wave guide system providing depth and animation

Number: 10310274
Published: 2019-06-04
Filed: 2018-05-29
Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors: Reichow; Mark A.
CPC: G02B27/026; G02B6/0068; G02F1/011; G02B27/0101; G02B6/0076; G02F1/0105
Verdict: Medium Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Stacked wave guide system providing depth and animation (AR optics).

Abstract

A display system adapted to display images with animation and depth without requiring a viewer to wear special 3D eyewear. The system includes a controller and a programmable light source operating in response to control signals from the controller to output light. The system further includes an edge-lit layer with an edge optically coupled to the programmable light source, and the output light is trapped in the layer with total internal reflection (TIR), The layer is divided into first and second segments, and an optical barrier is inserted between the segments. First and second display areas, such as etched graphics, are provided on surfaces of the two segments, and the display areas are configured to enable the light trapped via TIR to escape. Independent lighting of the segments can be used to provide animation. Depth is provided by stacking one-to-many additional similar layers on the first layer.

Background

BACKGROUND1. Field of the Description(1) The present description relates, in general, to displays adapted to provide a three-dimensional (3D) animated image or an image with volume and motion or changes over time. More particularly, the description relates to systems and methods for using static edge lighting or wave guide techniques to provide imagery with both depth and animation.2. Relevant Background(2) Today, there is a growing demand for displays with exciting and eye-catching visual effects. For example, there is a growing trend toward using 3D projection techniques in theatres and amusement parks and in home entertainment systems including video games and computer-based displays. In many conventional 3D projection techniques, the right eye and the left eye images are delivered separately to display the same scene or images from separate perspectives so that a viewer sees a three dimensional composite, e.g., certain characters or objects appear nearer than the screen and other appear farther away than the screen. Often, the illusion of depth in a photograph, movie, or other two-dimensional image is created by presenting a slightly different image to each eye or the creation of parallax. In most animated 3D projection systems, depth perception in the brain is achieved by providing two different images to the viewer's eyes representing two perspectives of the same object with a minor deviation similar to the perspectives that both eyes naturally receive in binocular visi

Claims

1. A display system adapted to display images with animation and depth, comprising: a controller; a programmable light source operating in response to control signals from the controller to output light; and a layer with an edge optically coupled to the programmable light source, whereby the output light is trapped in the layer with total internal reflection (TIR), wherein the layer is divided into first and second baffled segments, wherein an optical barrier is inserted between the first and second baffled segments, and wherein a first display area is provided on a side of the first baffled segment and a second display area is provided on a side of the second baffled segment, the first and second display areas being configured to enable the output light trapped via TIR to be emitted from the layer. | 9. A display system adapted to display images with animation and depth, comprising: a light source; a first layer optically coupled to the light source to receive and trap via TIR first output light from the light source; and a second layer stacked upon the first layer and optically coupled to the light source to receive and trap via TIR second output light from the light source, wherein the first and second layers each comprises at least first and second segments optically separated and configured to independently receive portions of the first and second output light, and wherein each of the segments includes etched graphics upon a surface of a body of the segment, whereby light is output from the segments via the etched graphics to display an image with depth to a viewer in a viewing space. | 13. A display system adapted to display images with animation and depth, comprising: a programmable light source operating in response to control signals to output light; a first layer with an edge optically coupled to the programmable light source, whereby a first portion of the output light is trapped in the layer with total internal reflection (TIR), wherein the first layer is divided into first and second baffled segments, wherein a first optical barrier is inserted between the first and second baffled segments, and wherein a first display area is provided on the first baffled segment and a second display area is provided on the second baffled segment, the first and second display areas being configured to enable the first portion of the output light trapped via TIR to be emitted from the first layer; and a second layer with an edge optically coupled to the programmable light source, whereby a second portion of the output light is trapped in the layer with TIR, wherein the second layer is divided into third and fourth baffled segments, wherein a second optical barrier is inserted between the third and fourth baffled segments, and wherein a third display area is provided on the third baffled segment and a fourth display area is provided on the fourth baffled segment, the third and fourth display areas being configured to enable the second portion of the output light trapped via TIR to be emitted from the second layer toward the first layer.