Multi-aperture projection display and single image generator for the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9826204-B2
Application number	US-201514937798-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 10, 2015
Priority date	May 10, 2013
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

Generating images to be projected at different projection distances with a multi-aperture projection display, statically or without any conversion, neither mechanically nor at the imager, is enabled by designing the single images of the multi-aperture projection display in a suitable manner, namely by combining provisional single images for the projection channels of the multi-aperture projection display, which are intended for each of the at least two images to be projected, projection channel by projection channel, to the actual or final single images.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Single image generator for a multi-aperture projection display with a plurality of projection channels, comprising
an input that is implemented to receive image data representing at least two images to be projected at different projection distances;
a single image calculator that is implemented to calculate a provisional single image for each of the at least two images to be projected per projection channel of the multi-aperture projection display; and
a combiner that is implemented to combine, for each projection channel, the provisional single images of the respective projection channel calculated for the at least two images to be projected to a final single image for the respective projection channel,
wherein the combiner is implemented to combine, for each projection channel, the provisional single images of the respective projection channel calculated for the at least two images to be projected to the final single image for the respective projection channel such that
the final single image of the respective projection channel is—at locations where at least one of the provisional single images, calculated for the at least two images to be projected for the respective projection channel, is non-zero, and at least another one of the provisional single images, calculated for the at least two images to be projected for the respective projection channel, is zero, darkened more with respect to a positive superposition of the provisional single images calculated for all of the at least two images to be projected for the respective projection channel than at locations where all of the provisional single images calculated for the at least two images to be projected for the respective projection channel are non-zero.

2. Single image generator according to claim 1 , wherein the combiner is implemented to perform the combination by using a logic operation between the provisional single images of the respective projection channel calculated for the at least two images to be projected.

3. Single image generator according to claim 2 , wherein the combiner is implemented such that the logic operation comprises a logic AND-linkage or a logic OR-linkage of the provisional single images of the respective projection channel.

4. Single image generator according to claim 1 , wherein the single image calculator is implemented such that the provisional single images are binary.

5. Single image generator according to claim 1 , wherein the image data represent the at least two images to be projected in a binary manner or the single image calculator is implemented to perform the calculation such that for each of the at least two images to be projected the provisional single images are binary, but are superposed at the respective projection distance to the respective image to be projected in a three- or higher-valued manner.

6. Single image generator according to claim 1 , wherein the input is implemented to receive the image data in a format, according to which in the image data an image is comprised at different projection distances from which the at least two images to be projected result by centric extension in dependence on the respective projection distance, such that the final single images result in a projection of the binary image with an increased depth of focus.

7. Multi-aperture projection display comprising a single image generator according to claim 1 .

8. Multi-aperture projection display comprising a plurality of laterally adjacent projection channels comprising one single image generator each for generating a respective single image and optics for mapping the respective single image which lies in an object plane of the optics into a projection direction of the multi-aperture projection display, wherein the single images of the projection channels are implemented such that the mappings of the single images of the projection channels are superposed at at least two different projection distances to one respective projected image each, wherein, for each projection channel, the single image generated by the respective single image generator differs from a positive superposition of back-projections of the projected images at the different projection distances via the optics of the respective projection channel into the object plane of the optics of the respective projection channels so that
at locations where the back projection of at least one of the projected images at the different projection distances into the object plane of the optics of the respective projection channels is zero, and the back projection of at least another one of the projected images at the different projection distances into the object plane of the optics of the respective projection channels is non-zero,
the single image generated by the respective single image generator is darkened relative to the positive superposition more than
at locations where the back projection of all of the projected images at the different projection distances into the object plane of the optics of the respective projection channels is non-zero.

9. Multi-aperture projection display according to claim 8 , wherein a maximum of a differential amount between the at least two different projection distances is greater than

2
⁢

⁢

DL
2

⁢
β

D
2

-

L
2

⁢

β
2

,

wherein D is an expansion across which all optics of the projection channel extend, L is an average value of the different projection distances and β=0.005.

10. Multi-aperture projection display according to claim 8 , wherein the single image generator is implemented such that, for each of the plurality of projection channels, the single image is binary.

11. Multi-aperture projection display according to claim 10 , wherein the single image generator is implemented such that the projected images are binary at the different projection distances, and for each of the plurality of projection channels, the single image represents a logic AND- or OR-operation of back projections of the projected images at the different projection distances via the optics of the respective projection channels onto the object plane of the optics of the respective projection channel.

12. Multi-aperture projection display according to claim 8 , wherein the single image generator is implemented such that the projected images can be converted into one another at the different projection distances by centric projection onto an intersection between an optical axis of the multi-aperture projection display and a plane where the entrance pupils of the optics of the multi-aperture projection display are arranged.

13. Multi-aperture projection display according to claim 8 , wherein for each projection channel the respective single image generator comprises a series connection of backlighting and shadow mask or a front lighting and a reflective mask.

14. Multi-aperture project

Assignees

• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forschung E V

Inventors

• Sieler Marcel
• Schreiber Peter
• Riedel Alf

Classifications

• G02B27/0101

  characterised by optical features (G02B27/0172 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B27/0172

  characterised by optical features · CPC title

• G02B2027/0127

  comprising devices increasing the depth of field · CPC title

• H04N9/3147 Primary

  Multi-projection systems (video walls G06F3/1446) · CPC title

• G03B21/001

  Slide projectors · CPC title