Array directed light-field display for autostereoscopic viewing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9007444-B2
Application number	US-201113191528-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 27, 2011
Priority date	Oct 7, 2010
Publication date	Apr 14, 2015
Grant date	Apr 14, 2015

Abstract

Autostereoscopic display. The display includes an array of elements from which light emanates, the elements being rotatable about two orthogonal axes by microcontrollers. An eye tracker is provided for determining the location in three dimensions of at least one eye viewing the array. The microcontrollers, using information from the eye tracker, rotate the elements to mimic a concave surface to deliver light to the eye. It is preferred that the elements are mirrors and the display further includes a projector for projecting an image on the array for reflection to the eye. The elements themselves may include structure for generating light rather than reflecting light.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. Autostereoscopic display comprising:
an array of elements, the elements being mirrors, from which light emanates, the array forming a curved surface with element edges tilted inward, the elements being indendently rotatable about two orthogonal axes by microcontrollers; and
an eye tracker for determining the location in three dimensions of at least one eye viewing the array;
wherein the microcontrollers, using information from the eye tracker, rotate the independently rotatable elements so that the array mimics a concave surface to deliver light to the eye.

2. The display of claim 1 wherein the elements are mirrors and further including a projector for projecting an image on the array for reflection to the eye.

3. The display of claim 1 wherein the elements include a laser light or light-emitting diode to generate light and a lens for directing light to the eye.

4. The display of claim 1 wherein the eye tracker includes two eye-locating cameras.

5. The display of claim 1 wherein the elements are anchored to a support structure with flexures.

6. The display of claim 5 wherein the elements are rotated by electrostatic actuators.

7. The display of claim 1 wherein separate images are delivered to eyes of different viewers.

8. The display of claim 1 wherein separate images are delivered sequentially to each eye of a single viewer.

9. The display of claim 1 wherein the elements in the array are in the size range of 0.2 mm to 10 mm.

Assignees

• Panas Robert Matthew
• Hopkins Jonathan B
• Massachusetts Inst Technology

Inventors

• Panas Robert Matthew
• Hopkins Jonathan B

Classifications

• H04N13/383

  for tracking with gaze detection, i.e. detecting the lines of sight of the viewer's eyes · CPC title

• H04N13/366

  using viewer tracking · CPC title

• H04N13/368

  for two or more viewers · CPC title

• H04N13/305

  using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses · CPC title

• H04N13/365

  using digital micromirror devices [DMD] · CPC title