Retroreflector floating-image display system.
A display system is provided that combines the use of a display element with a beamsplitter and at least one retroreflector to provide an image (2D or 3D depending upon the output image from the display element) that appears to be floating in space some distance from the beamsplitter. For example, light that is bounced off/reflected and/or that is transmitted through the beamsplitter may be reflected from the reflective surface of the retroreflector toward the beamsplitter. The beamsplitter directs this light, through reflection or transmission, into a viewing space such that the 2D or 3D image can be viewed by a viewer as it appears to float a distance from the nearest surface of the beamsplitter and, typically, some distance above the ground/floor upon which viewers are walking. The floating image may be relatively bright so that it is viewable in low and brighter light conditions.
BACKGROUND1. Field of the Description
The present description relates, in general, to displays adapted to provide the illusion that a virtual or projected image is a three-dimensional (3D) image or has volume or a two-dimensional (2D) or 3D image is floating in space like a hologram from a futuristic movie. More particularly, the description relates to systems and methods for producing 2D or 3D images that appear to float in space using one or more retroreflectors or sheets of retroreflective material (also called retroreflective elements/devices, retro reflective material/sheets, and retro-reflective material/sheets within the industry).2. Relevant Background
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. However, stereoscopy, stereoscopic imaging, 3D imaging, and 3D or volumetric displays are labels for any technique capable of creating the illusion of depth in an image.
Often, the illusio
1. An apparatus for generating floating images, comprising: a display element displaying an image with first light from a display surface; a retroreflector comprising a reflective surface facing the display surface and including a retroreflective material; and a beamsplitter disposed between the display element and the retroreflector with a first surface facing the display surface to receive the first light, wherein the beamsplitter transmits a portion of the received first light as second light toward the reflective surface of the retroreflector, wherein the reflective surface reflects the second light as third light toward a second surface of the beamsplitter that is opposite the first surface, and wherein the beamsplitter reflects a portion of the third light as fourth light into a display space to provide a displayed image at a distance from the second surface of the beamsplitter.
30. A display system, comprising: a display displaying a 2D or 3D image; a retroreflector with a planar reflective surface facing the display to reflect the 2D or 3D image; and a beamsplitter disposed between the display and the reflective surface of the retroreflector, wherein the beamsplitter is oriented at an angle relative to the reflective surface whereby a first surface of the beamsplitter faces the display and a second surface opposite the first surface faces the reflective surface to reflect light from the reflective surface into a display space, whereby a floating image corresponding to the 2D or 3D image is displayed in the display space.
47. A display apparatus for displaying an image that appears to float in a display space, comprising: a display element outputting light associated with an image; a beamsplitter with a first surface receiving the light from the display element, wherein the beamsplitter reflects a first portion of the light and transmits a second portion of the light via a second surface opposite the first surface; a first retroreflector with a reflective surface facing the display element and the second surface of the beamsplitter receiving and reflecting the second portion of the light from the display element; and a second retroreflector with a reflective surface receiving the first portion of the light reflected from the first surface of the beamsplitter and reflecting the first portion back toward the beamsplitter.
51. A display apparatus for displaying an image that appears to float in a display space, comprising: a display element outputting polarized light associated with an image; a beamsplitter with a first surface receiving the polarized light from the display element, wherein the beamsplitter is polarization sensitive and transmits the polarized light from the display element via a second surface opposite the first surface; a combination of a mirror and a first quarter wave plate facing the display element to receive the polarized light from the display element from the beamsplitter, the mirror reflecting light passing through the first quarter wave plate back through the first quarter wave plate toward the second surface of the beamsplitter; and a combination of a retroreflector and a second quarter wave plate oriented to be facing the second surface of the beamsplitter and a display space, wherein the light passing through the first quarter wave plate from the mirror is reflected by the second surface of the beamsplitter through the second quarter wave plate for retroreflection by the retroreflector to the display space through the beamsplitter to generate a real image.
55. A display apparatus for displaying an image that appears to float in a display space, comprising: a display element outputting polarized light associated with an image, wherein the display element faces the display space; a beamsplitter with a first surface receiving the polarized light from the display element, wherein the beamsplitter is polarization sensitive and reflects the polarized light from the display element via the first surface; a combination of a mirror and a first quarter wave plate receiving the polarized light from the display element from the beamsplitter, the mirror reflecting light passing through the first quarter wave plate back through the first quarter wave plate toward the first surface of the beamsplitter; and a combination of a retroreflector and a second quarter wave plate oriented to be facing the second surface of the beamsplitter and the mirror, wherein the light passing through the first quarter wave plate from the mirror is transmitted through the beamsplitter via the second surface of the beamsplitter and through the second quarter wave plate for retroreflection by the retroreflector to the display space via reflection from the second surface of the beamsplitter to generate a real image.