DISPLAY SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING DAYLIGHT-VISIBLE HOLOGRAPHIC OR FLOATING 3D IMAGERY

Number: 20200310143
Published: 2020-10-01
Filed: 2019-04-01
Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors: JOSEPH; DANIEL M., KLOUDA; JESSICA ANNE, MATZ; DONALD LEO, ELLIS; JACOB A.
CPC: G02B30/56; G02B30/26
Verdict: Medium Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Daylight-visible holographic/floating 3D display hardware (Joseph, show optics).

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, tulle, or chiffon.

Background

BACKGROUND1. Field of the Description

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

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.

While most commercial displays rely on the use of special glasses (or

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, and wherein the screen element transmits 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. 8. A system for displaying three dimensional (3D) floating images to viewers, comprising: a stereoscopic display operable to display a 3D image by outputting light; and a screen element positioned between the stereoscopic display and a viewing space, wherein the screen element reflects light from the viewing space and transmits at least a portion of the light output by the stereoscopic display, whereby the 3D display image is perceivable by the viewer in the viewing space at a distance apart from the screen element, and wherein the screen element comprises a layer of mesh or woven netting material. 14. A system for displaying three dimensional (3D) floating images to viewers, comprising: a 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 image is not displayed; and a screen element positioned between the display and the viewing space, wherein the screen element reflects light from the viewing space when the display operates in the second state, wherein the screen element is at least transmissive to the light output by the display when the display operates in the first state, whereby the 3D image is perceivable by the viewer in the viewing space, and wherein the screen element comprises a sheet of mesh or netting material.