Joshua M. Cobb

Autostereoscopic desktop display: an evolution of technology

A new technology for creating a large stereoscopic image has been developed and has evolved over several years. The optical apparatus for creating a large, distortion-free image has changed from a bulky, immersive viewing system to a display that can sit on a desktop and creates a comfortable stereo image that can be viewed for long periods of time without eyestrain. The central idea of creating the images with a monocentric optical system has remained constant; however, the application of monocentricity has changed over several designs. A monocentric design is one where multiple spherical optical surfaces share the same center of curvature. The advantage of this type of system is that it allows the image quality to be corrected over a very wide field of view with a large pupil. The first system was presented at the Stereoscopic Displays and Applications Conference in 2003. This system was based upon custom digital projectors creating images on two curved diffusers, which were then imaged by a ball lens. The final collimation of the images was done with a 36-inch radius mirror. This system was designed as proof of a concept for the technology, and it was not practical to market it as a product solution. This led to a desktop solution that utilized twin LCD displays with monocentric imaging engines that had separate collimating mirrors. There were various improvements to this configuration that ultimately resulted in a high-resolution, bright, low-distortion stereo image. After a brief review of the previous technology, the various embodiments of the desktop display will be discussed.

High-resolution autostereoscopic immersive imaging display using a monocentric optical system

An autostereoscopic display system was designed and constructed. The design, which uses pupil imaging with a curved mirror, is described. It employs a monocentric configuration to enable a wide field of view and large pupils while keeping the lens diameters small to fit them within the interoccular separation. For each eye, image formation was accomplished using 1920 x 1200 liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) spatial light modulators in a 3-panel configuration. The design employs custom curved diffusers, which were developed to optimize throughput, contrast, and pupil illumination uniformity.

12.1: Digital Cinema Projection with R-LCOS Displays

A digital cinema projector developed by Eastman Kodak Company, utilizing three JVC QXGA liquid crystal displays (LCDs), and providing 12,000 lumens, 2,000:1 contrast, and 3 Mpixel resolution, is described. This system, which has a novel optical configuration, wire grid polarizers and polarization compensators, provides high contrast at low F#, a large color gamut, and minimal stress birefringence at high power.

Optical design of a monocentric autostereoscopic immersive display

An optical design of an autostereoscopic immersive video display is described. The apparatus uses pupil imaging with a curved mirror to achieve autostereoscopic performance. It employs a monocentric design to enable a wide field of view and large pupils while keeping the lens diameters small to fit them within the interocular separation.

An LCOS-based digital-cinema projector

— A digital cinema projector that utilizes three JVC QXGALCDs, and provides 12,000 lumens, 2000:1 contrast, and 3-Mpixel resolution was developed. This system, which was described in a prior paper (see Ref. 10), has a novel optical configuration based on the use of intermediate imaging optics and wire-grid polarizers and is described in greater detail in this paper. The polarization optics, including the polarization compensators, contribute to a system that provides high contrast at a low f/#, with a wide color gamut and minimal color shading at high power.