- Number
- 11073703
- Published
- 2021-07-27
- Filed
- 2019-04-01
- Assignee
- Disney Enterprises, Inc.
- Inventors
- Joseph; Daniel M., Klouda; Jessica Anne
- CPC
- G02B30/26; G03H1/2205; G02B30/56
- Verdict
- Medium Hardware
- Source
- Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline
The keeper's note
Touchable 360-degree holographic display hardware (Joseph, granted).
Abstract
A system for displaying three dimensional (3D) images. The system includes a 3D display operating in a first state to display a 3D image by outputting light into a viewing space and operating in a second state in which the 3D image is not displayed. The system further includes a screen element positioned between the 3D display and the viewing space. The screen element reflects light from the viewing space to appear opaque to a viewer in the viewing space when the 3D display operates in the second state. The screen element transmits the light output by the 3D display, whereby the 3D display image is perceivable by the viewer in the viewing space. The screen element includes a sheet of mesh or netting material that transmits light output by the 3D display through its pores or openings and may be a planar sheet of scrim or tulle.
Background
BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Description (1) The present description relates, in general, to devices and methods for providing a three-dimensional (3D) display including, in many cases, in a glasses-free manner. More particularly, the description relates to a 3D display system adapted for creating holographic type or floating 3D images (left and right eye images) viewable to one or more viewers' eyes often without the need for the viewer to use special glasses, headgear, or filters (e.g., glasses-free 3D or autostereoscopic) as the viewers are free to move all around the display such that it functions in some embodiments as a 360-degree autostereoscopic display system. 2. Relevant Background (2) Displays that provide the illusion of three dimensions have experienced a rebirth in the past few years. For example, a number of 3D televisions are now available for use in homes and home theaters. These 3D televisions generally operate by displaying a stream of left and right eye images in an alternating or time-multiplexed manner (e.g., left-right-left-right). Switching occurs so quickly that the viewer does not sense a flicker or change in the display. The viewer often wears special headgear or glasses that operate in a synchronized manner with the display to only allow the light associated with the left eye image to reach the viewer's left eye and with the right eye image to reach the viewer's right eye. (3) While most commercial displays rely on the use of special glasses (or are
Claims
1. A system for displaying three dimensional (3D) floating images to viewers, comprising: a 3D display operating in a first state to display a 3D image by outputting light into a viewing space and operating in a second state in which the 3D image is not displayed; and a screen element positioned between the 3D display and the viewing space, wherein the screen element reflects light from the viewing space to appear opaque to a viewer in the viewing space when the 3D display operates in the second state, wherein the screen element is transmissive to at least a portion of the light output by the 3D display when the 3D display operates in the first state, whereby the 3D image is perceivable by the viewer in the viewing space at a distance apart from the screen element, wherein the screen element comprises a sheet of mesh or netting material with pores or openings for transmitting the at least a portion of the light output by the 3D display, wherein the 3D display comprises a quarter sphere reflector with a top edge proximate to the screen element, wherein the 3D display further comprises a two dimensional (2D) display device with a display screen, facing a reflective inner surface of the quarter sphere reflector, providing the light output by the 3D display when operating the first state by displaying a 2D image, and wherein light from the display screen is reflected off the reflective inner surface of the quarter sphere through the screen element into the viewing space. ||
8. A system for displaying three dimensional (3D) floating or hologram images to viewers, comprising: four reflectors each with a quarter sphere-shaped reflective surface defined by a semi-circular front edge and a semi-circular top edge, wherein the four reflectors are arranged at 90-degree offsets from adjacent ones of the four reflectors with back surfaces facing inward toward a center axis and wherein the top edges of the four reflectors are coplanar; and four 2D displays each having a display screen facing one of the quarter sphere-shaped reflective surfaces of the reflectors, wherein the 2D displays are concurrently operable to each display a 2D image of an object captured from a differing viewing angle, whereby four sides of the object are displayed in the 2D images and light from the 2D displays is reflected from the quarter sphere-shaped reflective surfaces to provide a 3D floating or hologram image to a viewer in a viewing space. ||
17. A system for displaying three dimensional (3D) floating images to viewers, comprising: a display assembly operating in a first state to display an image by outputting light into a viewing space and operating in a second state in which the image is not displayed; and a screen element positioned between the display assembly and the viewing space, wherein the screen element reflects light from the viewing space to appear opaque to a viewer in the viewing space when the display assembly operates in the second state, wherein the screen element is transmissive to at least a portion of the light output by the display assembly when the display assembly operates in the first state, whereby the image is perceivable by the viewer in the viewing space, wherein the screen element comprises a sheet of mesh or netting material with pores or openings for transmitting the at least a portion of the light output by the display assembly, wherein the display assembly comprises a quarter sphere reflector with a top edge proximate to the screen element, wherein the display assembly further comprises a two dimensional (2D) display device with a display screen, facing a reflective inner surface of the quarter sphere reflector, providing the light output by the display assembly when operating the first state by displaying a 2D image, and wherein light from the display screen is reflected off the reflective inner surface of the quarter sphere through the screen element into the viewing space.