Shiro Suyama

Apparent 3-D image perceived from luminance-modulated two 2-D images displayed at different depths

An apparent 3-D image can be perceived from only two 2-D images displayed at different depths, when an observer views them from the direction in which they are overlapped. The two 2-D images are created from an original 2-D image by dividing its luminance according to independently obtained depth information. Subjective test results show that (1) an apparent 3-D image is perceived and (2) the perceived depth continuously varies according to the change in luminance ratio between the two 2-D images.

Luminance addition of a stack of multidomain liquid-crystal displays and capability for depth-fused three-dimensional display application.

A stack of liquid-crystal displays is expected to reduce visual fatigue caused by a flat-panel three-dimensional (3D) display. We previously developed a compact depth-fused 3D (DFD) display by using a stack of two twisted-nematic (liquid-crystal) LC panels, but its viewing-angle characteristics and color reproducibility were not so good. Therefore recent wide-view LC panels should be used. We report calculated and measured luminance addition characteristics, which are essential for evaluating 3D display characteristics, of a stack of two multidomain LC panels. We found that LC panels with super in-plane switching, patterned vertical alignment, multiple vertical alignment, and continuous pinwheel alignment modes are suitable for DFD display application.

54.1: A Novel Direct-Vision 3-D Display Using Luminance-Modulated Two 2-D Images Displayed at Different Depths

We have found a novel three-dimensional (3-D) display mechanism using only two 2-D images displayed at different depths. It is based on a new perceptual phenomenon induced by the human binocular visual system and enables an observer using no extra equipment to perceive an apparent 3-D image of continous depth when the luminance is divided between the 2-D images according to the 3-D image depth. We have also develop a prototype direct-vision 3-D display using this mechanism. It can easily produce moving 3-D color images by using color conventional 2-D displays.

A method for reproducing apparent continuous depth in a stereoscopic display using “Depth‐Fused 3D” technology

— A new method that can present fine depth increments in a stereoscopic display is proposed. In typical stereoscopic displays, depth can be presented by binocular disparity, but binocular disparity of less than one pixel cannot be displayed because, in general, electronic displays have discrete pixels. We combined binocular disparity and modulation of the edge luminance in DFD (depth-fused 3D) displays. In an experiment, the perceived depth could be continuously changed by modulating the edge luminance only. Therefore, continuous depth can be produced by combining binocular disparity and modulation of edge luminance distribution.

53.3: A New Method for Protruding Apparent 3-D Images in the DFD (Depth-Fused 3-D) Display

We have found a new method in which two overlapped images displayed at different depths can be perceived as an image protruding outside the region of the two images. This enables a deeper 3-D imaging area in the DFD display, when the two images have opposite signs of luminance difference between an object in the images and the surroundings.

52.3: Direct‐viewing Display Using Alignment‐controlled PDLC and Holographic PDLC

A novel direct-viewing display using illumination from guided light is proposed. By analyzing usual normally scattering PDLC, we found that use of high-speed alignment-controlled PDLC combined with a field-sequential color technique is promising for full-color moving-picture displays. Moreover, introducing a holographic structure improves the contrast and viewing angle characteristics.

58.2: A Compact Depth-Fused 3-D LCD

We have developed a compact 3-D display using the depth-fused 3-D phenomenon in which two overlapped images with many edges displayed at different depths can be perceived as a 3-D image through visual illusion. To make the display compact, we utilize the apparent luminance summation of polarization rotation-angle changes at two transparent LCDs instead of direct luminance summation.

Compression of depth-fused 3-D images using depth map data

A depth-fused three dimensional (DFD) display composed of two two-dimensional (2-D) images displayed at different depths enables an observer to perceive a three dimensional image without the assistance of extra equipment. The original data for the display are a 2-D image and a depth map of objects. The two 2-D images are formed by dividing the luminance of a 2-D image of objects between the two 2-D images according to the depth data of the objects. This paper presents the effect of compressing the depth map on a DFD image. The results of subjective evaluations of still pictures using JPEG revealed that compression noises appearing on the decoded image appeared as position errors in depth on the DFD image; however, less data are possible for the depth map data than for a conventional 2-D image. This means that compressing the depth map is advantageous when transmitting a DFD image.

Effect of the compression of the depth map image on depth-fused 3D image quality

A depth-fused 3-D (DFD) display, which is composed of two 2-D images displayed at different depths, is a new 3-D display proposed recently and enables an observer using no extra equipment to perceive an apparent 3-D image. The original data for it are a 2-D image of objects and a depth map image of objects. The two 2-D images are formed by dividing the luminance of an original 2-D image between the two 2-D images according to a depth data of objects at each pixel. This paper presents the effect of the compression of the depth map image on a DFD image. We studied on still pictures using JPEG as an algorithm for compression. After decoding the depth map image, 3-D images were displayed forming the two 2-D images. The main result obtained from subjective evaluations is that the effect of the compression noises appearing on its decoded image appears as errors of position in depth on DFD image, however, a higher compression rate is possible for depth map image than for conventional 2-D image. This result shows that is is advantageous to transmit or store the original data before forming the two 2-D images.