Optical: systems and elements – Stereoscopic – Having record with lenticular surface
Patent
1994-07-12
1997-05-13
Dzierzynski, Paul M.
Optical: systems and elements
Stereoscopic
Having record with lenticular surface
359619, 359620, 40768, 40775, G02B 2722, G02B 2710, A47G 106, B44C 502
Patent
active
056297963
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This application is a National Stage under 35 USC .sctn.371 of a PCT/GB93/00054 filed on Jan. 12, 1993.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image frames and has particular, although not exclusive, relevance to frames surrounding pictures for display in order to increase the depth effect in those pictures.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Frames for images have long been known. Examples in the art are most frequently encountered when employed for decorative purposes such as wooden frames forming loops around paintings or photographs or the like. Although the purpose of such frames is primarily a decorative effect, they also serve to provide the viewer with an enhanced contrast between the picture and the surrounding scenery, such as a wall. Such contrast provides the visual effect of the picture seeming to stand alone and be somewhat divorced from the surrounding scenery.
An example of an image frame which attempts to suppress the real plane of the image surrounded thereby by suppressing the stereoscopic cues in the area surrounding the picture is given in U.S. Pat. No. 4,651,219. In this document there is disclosed an image frame having a concave cross-sectional configuration, the optical surfaces of which are blackened thereby to minimise light reflection therefrom. In this way the image which is bordered by the frame appears to hang in space because the frame itself is substantially invisible to an observer.
Even when allowance is made for the enhanced contrast gained by the employment of such frames, it is still apparent to the viewer that both the picture and the frame are substantially coplanar, and that the picture is flat or two dimensional. Furthermore, in the case of a painting mounted within a frame and placed on a wall, then the picture, frame and the wall are all generally coplanar.
Being substantially coplanar precludes any significant parallax effect to be observed by the viewer.
It is thus an object of the present invention to at least alleviate the lack of parallax effects observed when viewing a framed image. If parallax effects can be observed, then the viewed image may be perceived by the viewer to possess at least a degree of three-dimensional or depth quality. The properties associated with such an effect rely partially on the suppression of binocular depth cues, which will be appreciated by those skilled in the art and so detailed reference thereto will not herein be made.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an image frame characterised by comprising at least one microlens array member arranged to form a substantially closed structure for surrounding an image to be framed.
A microlens array can possess the property of having an apparent optical plane which is not coplanar with the real plane of the array. Thus, by flaming an image with such a microlens array, the frame and the image apparently lie in different planes and hence a parallax effect may be observed as between the image and the frame without the frame obscuring the image so that the arrangement may be viewed from a range of angles.
Advantageously the microlens array member comprises two microlens arrays of differing pitch, one overlying the other. Alternatively the microlens array member may be arranged to overlie an integral photographic image.
Preferably, the image to be framed lies in an optical plane and the microlens array is coplanar therewith. In this way, the image and frame can be arranged to form a physically flat structure, and yet be optically multi-planar.
Additionally or alternatively, the image frame may comprise a plurality of microlens array members arranged in juxtaposition such that the apparent planes of respective adjacent members lie on opposite sides of the real planes thereof.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of providing a two-dimensional image with an apparent perception of depth characterised by surrounding the image to be framed with
REFERENCES:
patent: 3357773 (1967-12-01), Rowland
patent: 3582961 (1971-06-01), Shindo
patent: 5052783 (1991-10-01), Hamada
Central Research Laboratories Limited
Chang Audrey
Dzierzynski Paul M.
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