MULTI-VIEWER AUTOSTEREOSCOPIC TABLETOP DISPLAY WITH DYNAMIC PARALLAX BARRIER AND DIRECTIONAL BACKLIGHT

Number: 20170257622
Published: 2017-09-07
Filed: 2016-03-02
Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors: SEIFERT; HAGEN FRIEDRICH, SMITHWICK; QUINN Y.
CPC: G02B30/31; H04N13/32; H04N13/383; G02F1/1323; H04N13/315; H04N13/368; G02B30/33; G02B30/27; H04N13/398
Verdict: High Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

A glasses-free 3D tabletop display for multiple viewers using dynamic, direction-aware parallax barriers.

Abstract

An apparatus for displaying three dimensional (3D) images to a viewer without the need for 3Dglasses. The apparatus includes a first display device horizontally oriented and operableto alternately display a first parallax and a second parallax barrier. The first parallaxbarrier corresponds with a first viewer location and the second parallax barrier corresponds with a second viewer location. The apparatus includes a second display device positioned parallel to the first display device and operable to alternately display first 3D content corresponding with the first viewer location and second 3D content corresponding with the second viewer location. The apparatus includes a directional backlight assembly alternately backlighting the second display device with first light directed toward the first viewer location and second light directed toward the second viewer location. The apparatus includes a controller synchronizing time multiplexed operations of the first and second display devices and the directional backlight assembly.

Background

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a functional block diagram of a multi-viewer autostereoscopic tabletop display system of the present description;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are side schematic views of an exemplary autostereoscopic tabletop display operating, respectively, in two operating states (at alternating times to provide a time multiplexed display) to provide perspective-specific 3D content to two viewers in two differing viewing locations;

FIG. 3is a top perspective view showing a tabletop display with a cutaway section to allow viewing of internal components;

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate ray tracings for a hemispherical mirror from a point light source;

FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate, for a hemispherical mirrorand eight light sources, a ray tracing from three different perspectives; and

FIGS.6A-6C illustrate, for a hemispherical mirror and ten light sources, a ray tracing from three different perspectives.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Briefly, a multi-viewer autostereoscopic tabletop display (or, more simply, a 3D tabletop display or tabletop display) is described that allows a viewer or user to view a 3D image or object on, above, below and/or straddling an upper, outer surface of the 3D tabletop display while the user is free to moverelative to the upper, outer surface within a viewing space. The user or viewer may move around the entire periphery and view 3D content without glasses such that the displays of the present description

Claims

1. A tabletop display apparatus for displaying three dimensional (3D) images to viewers, comprising: a first display device horizontally oriented and operable to alternately display a first parallax and a second parallax barrier, wherein the first parallax barrier corresponds with a first viewer location relative to the first display device and the second parallax barrier corresponds with a second viewer location differing from the first viewer location; a second display device positioned parallel to the first display device and operable to alternately display first 3D content corresponding with the first viewer location and second 3D content corresponding with the second viewer location; and a directional backlight assembly operable to alternately backlight the second display device with first light directed toward the firstviewer location and with second light directed toward the second viewer location. 9. An autostereoscopic display, comprising: a display assembly switching between projecting, whenbacklit, first autostereoscopic content to a first viewing location and second autostereoscopic content to a second viewing location; and an omnidirectional backlight assembly operable to alternately backlight the display assembly with first light directed toward the first viewing location and with second light directed toward the second viewing location, wherein the omnidirectional backlight assembly comprises a transparent light support with ahemispherical outer surface supporting a plurality of light sources that are independently addressable and operable to provide the first and second light, and wherein the omnidirectional backlight assembly further comprises a reflector element with a hemispherical, mirrored inner surface facing the hemispherical outer surface of the transparent light support to reflect the first and second light through the transparent light support to backlightthe display assembly. 15. An autostereoscopic tabletop display method, comprising: determining a location of a first viewer's eyes relative to a horizontal plane; determining a location of a second viewer's eyes relative to the horizontal plane; first backlighting a display assembly with light directed toward the location of the first viewer's eyes; during the first backlighting, operating the display assembly to display first autostereoscopic content; after the first backlighting, second backlighting the display assembly with light directed toward the location of the second viewer's eyes; and during the second backlighting, operating the display assembly to display second autostereoscopic content differing from the first autostereoscopic content.