Tracked automultiscopic 3D tabletop display.
An apparatus for displaying three dimensional (3D) images to a viewer without the need for 3D glasses. The apparatus includes a display element with a lenticular display surface that is supported to be horizontal and face upward into a viewing space. The apparatus includes a location tracking element tracking a location of a viewer in the viewing space relative to the lenticular display surface. The apparatus includes a display controller generating reprojected content for operating the display element to display 3D images via the lenticular display surface. The reprojected content is generated by determining for each pixel of the display element the content or images passing through tracked and/or determined eye locations and then remapping content delivered to each of the pixels of the display element to achieve a predefined pattern of content in viewpoints of fixed camera positions for the display element.
BACKGROUND1. Field of the Description(1) The present invention relates, in general, to devices and methods for providing a three-dimensional (3D) display in a glasses-free manner, and, more particularly, to a display system adapted for using a horizontally-oriented display (e.g., “a 3D tabletop display”) to display high quality 3D images (left and right eye images) to one or more viewers' eyes that can be viewed without the need for the viewer to use special glasses, headgear, or filters (e.g., glasses-free 3D or autostereoscopy).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 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, it is generally agreed by those in the 3D entertainment industry that displays able to provide a 3D viewing experience without glasses or headgear offer si
1. An apparatus for displaying three dimensional (3D) images to a viewer, comprising: a display element with a lenticular display surface, wherein the lenticular display surface faces into a viewing space; a location tracking element tracking a location of a viewer in the viewing space relative to the lenticular display surface; and a display controller generating reprojected content for use in operating the display element to display 3D images to the viewer via the lenticular display surface, wherein the reprojected content is generated from a digital 3D scene and is based on a set of eye locations determined based on the location of the viewer in the viewing space, and wherein the reprojected content is generated by determining for each pixel of the display element content passing through the eye locations by projecting content between viewpoints of a nominal view zone and the pixels of the display element through each of the eye locations and, based on the determined content passing through the eye locations, remapping content delivered to each of the pixels of the display element to achieve a predefined pattern of content in the viewpoints of the nominal view zone of the display element.
9. An autostereoscopic display, comprising: a display element projecting autostereoscopic images from a display surface; a tracking mechanism tracking locations of a viewer relative to the display surface; and a controller generating reprojected content for use in operating the display element to display the autostereoscopic images to the viewer via the display surface, wherein the reprojected content is generated based on the tracked locations of the viewer, wherein the reprojected content is generated by determining for each pixel of the display element content passing through eye locations determined for the each of the tracked locations of the viewer and wherein the reprojected content is generated by simulating projection, via a reprojection module run by the controller, of content between viewpoints of the fixed camera locations and the pixels of the display element through each of the eye locations by projecting content between viewpoints of a nominal view zone and the pixels of the display element through each of the eye locations and, based on the determined content passing through the eye locations, remapping previously generated content of a 3D object or scene prior to delivery to each of the pixels of the display element to achieve a predefined pattern of content in the viewpoints of the nominal view zone of the display element for a predefined set of fixed camera locations for the display element.
13. A method for providing a 3D experience without 3D glasses, comprising: tracking a location of a viewer relative to a lenticular display surface of a display element; determining a set of eye locations for the viewer based on the tracked location, wherein the set of eye locations includes at least four adjacent eye locations determined based on the tracked location of the viewer; rendering a virtual 3D scene; reprojecting viewpoints of the display element based on each of the eye locations by projecting content between viewpoints of a nominal view zone and the pixels of the display element through each of the eye locations and, based on the determined content passing through the eye locations; generating display content by interdigitating the rendered virtual 3D scene based on the reprojected viewpoints; remapping content delivered to each of the pixels of the display element to achieve a predefined pattern of content in the viewpoints of the nominal view zone of the display element; and operating the display element using the display content to provide a 3D object in a space spaced apart from the lenticular display surface.