Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Attributes
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-18
2004-09-14
Luu, Matthew (Department: 2672)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Attributes
C348S042000, C348S051000, C359S376000, C359S462000, C345S008000, C345S009000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06791570
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an autostereoscopic method and a device for the three-dimensional representation of information according to a barrier-, lenticular-, prismatic masking-, or similar method using flat-panel displays (liquid crystal-, plasma-, electroluminescent- or other displays) for use in the computer and video technology, games and advertising, medical engineering, virtual reality applications, and other fields.
For the three-dimensional representation of information some autostereoscopic methods are already known, namely, among others, the barrier, lenticular, and prismatic masking methods (see, for example, S. Pastoor: 3D-Display-Technologie [3D display technology], Euroforum-Konferenz Display 1996, 17th and 18th Apr. 1996 in Nürtingen/Germany; D. Ezra et al.: Blick in die dritte Dimension [Looking into the third dimension]. In: Fernseh- und Kinotechnik, vol. 50, no. 3/1996, pp. 79-82; DE 296 12 054 U1; R. Börner: Autostereoscopic 3D-imaging by front and rear projection and on flat panel displays. In: Displays, vol. 14, no. 1, 1993, pp. 39-46; Autostereoscopic 3-D Image Display Device. In: IBM TDB, Vol. 37, no. 8, August 1994, pp. 463-465).
Using these methods, two images of a stereoscopic pair are simultaneously generated, one for the right eye and another for the left eye, and represented in a number of horizontally adjacent vertical columns, one image in columns for the right eye (in the following, right columns) and the other in columns for the left eye (in the following, left columns). The right columns and left columns alternately follow each other. Each two successive columns, one right and one left, form a pair of columns. From the two plain, fringe-like images of the pair the observer gains, due to his/her vision, a three-dimensional image impression.
The display by which the images of the pair are generated contains a number of pixels that are arranged as a matrix and vertically below each other compose the columns for the images. On usual direct-sight color displays each pixel technically consists of three colored subpixels for the three primaries red (R), green (G) and blue (B). On other displays the number of the colored subpixels is increased, for example, there is a second B-colored subpixel provided for each pixel. In a generalized mode, each pixel consists of n colored subpixels. By superpositioning the color contents of each n colored subpixels of the pixels image points develop on the display the raster of which corresponds to the matrix of the pixels. By each pixel column an image column is formed on the display from one of the two images of the pair. Each column has one image point per line. The colored subpixels are usually arranged in the pixels horizontally side by side, and repeat periodically on the lines, e.g. RGB, RGB, . . . or BRGB, BRGB, . . . . Sequence and number n of the colored subpixels per period are determined by the design of the individual display. A color filter is assigned to each colored subpixel. Each colored subpixel is addressed corresponding with the appropriate value of intensity. The intensity values are given for each image by programming means.
The information in the right and left columns are assigned to the right and the left eye, respectively, using optical means, e.g. imaged in them. In the lenticular system each pair of columns is assigned a cylindrical lens. In the barrier method the columns are covered by line-shaped barriers such that the left eye can only see the left columns and the right eye can only see the right columns while the other columns are shaded in each case. In the prismatic masking method, prisms are arranged in front of the columns in a separation and a field lens mask, or in a combined separation/field lens mask respectively. The bundles of rays emerging from the right and left columns are horizontally separated using the prisms of the separation mask and spread by direction by about 6° corresponding with the spacing of the eyes whereby the right and left ray bundles each run parallel. The prisms of the field lens mask focus the right ray bundles onto the right eye and the left ray bundles onto the left eye. With both masks arranged behind each other, or with the combined separation/field lens mask respectively, two cones of light develop emerging from the display in the apeces of which the eyes of the observer are.
From this, observer positions ensue in that the right eye sees only the right columns and the left eye sees only the left columns. These observer positions repeat periodically when the observer moves laterally in front of the display. In these ideal observer positions the columns are assigned to the observer's eyes correct and in full width. For a small lateral displacement the match of columns and optical means reduces relative to the observer position. The right eye receives, for example, just 80% of the information of the right picture but 20% of the left. Cross-talk interference arises between the two image channels as soon as the observer moves. The stereo contrast reduces. The proportions of wrong information rise when the observer continues to move laterally until a total reverse of the information takes place, that is, information for the right eye is assigned to the left and vice versa. The observer sees a pseudoscopic picture. When the lateral movement is continued, the laterally correct information contents grow up reaching 100% correct assignment again.
Already known is to monitor the lateral position of the observer relative to the screen. For example, the position of the head and thus of the eyes relative to the screen can be determined using a commercial infrared camera (e.g., DynaSight of Origin Instruments Corp., Grand Prairie, Tex., USA).
In the lenticular system the lens mask, and in the barrier method the barrier grating are mechanically followed. In other solutions the light of the light sources is laterally followed, or the screen is turned on a vertical axis. Generally, the pictures of the stereoscopic pair or the optical means to see the pictures, respectively, are followed to the lateral movement of the observer.
Also already known is the electronic switching of the picture information in those positions where the observer gains a pseudoscopic image.
The mechanical tracking devices require additional drive mechanisms, with an additional effort in manufacture, maintenance and space. Furthermore, they are relatively slow compared to electronic switching times. Problems increase with growing travel distance.
The electronic switching of the picture information can be carried out by programmes, that is, without any additional effort in hardware. The observer, however, must still remain in the ideal seating positions; only the number of them doubles. In the positions between the ideal ones, there is still cross-talk interference with resulting badly reduced image quality.
This is particularly significant with today's color displays. Between the ideal positions the observer sees, for example, instead of the red contents corresponding to the right image, the red contents corresponding to the left image and these form combined with the still correct green and blue color contents significantly disturbed stereo images. In this example, the stereo images for the green and blue color contents are correct. But as fas as the red color content is concerned, an inverse stereo image is obtained with the appropriate pseudoscopic effect.
The lenticular system amplifies this effect in a specific way. In order to cope with this, the display was turned by 90°. By this, the colored subpixels of each pixel are arranged below each other so that the original color values are proportionally maintained when the observer moves. This turn, however, requires a new design of the display.
It is the objective of the invention, when using a flat panel display whose pixels have n colored subpixels each arranged horizontally side by side and periodically following each other in a line, to track the images of a stereoscopic pair rela
Heidrich Holger
Schwerdtner Armin
Becker R W
Chung Daniel
Luu Matthew
R W Becker & Associates
SeeReal Technologies GmbH
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