Granted Patent B2

US 7,261,417 · App. 10/979,624 · Granted Aug 28, 2007

Assignees: Angstrom, Inc.; Stereo Display, Inc.

Abstract

Claims (52)

1. An optical system comprising a display system, the display system including:

at least one two-dimensional (2-D) display device, configured to display two-dimensional images (elemental images) and;

an array of micromirror array lenses optically coupled to the display device;

wherein each micromirror array lens of the array of micromirror array lenses placed at a different location with respect to the display device, wherein the array of micromirror array lenses is configured to focus the two-dimensional images (elemental images from different locations) to generate three-dimensional image (integral image), wherein the array of micromirror array lenses is configured to have its focal length adjusted to increase viewing angles and depth range of the three-dimensional image.

2. The optical system of claim 1 , wherein:

the display device is a two-dimensional display panel.

3. The optical system of claim 1 , wherein:

the display device is a projector.

4. The optical system of claim 1 , wherein:

the each micromirror array lens of the array of micromirror array lenses is configured to have its focal length adjusted to increase a depth range of the three-dimensional image.

5. The optical system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a beam splitter, optically coupled to the display device and the array of micromirror array lenses, configured to change a direction of light beams emitted by the display device.

6. The optical system of claim 1 , wherein:

the each micromirror array lens of the array of micromirror array lenses is a concave micromirror array lens.

7. The optical system of claim 4 , wherein:

the each micromirror array lens of the array of micromirror array lenses is a concave micromirror array lens.

8. The optical system of claim 5 , wherein:

the each micromirror array lens of the array of micromirror array lenses is a concave micromirror array lens.

9. The optical system of claim 1 , wherein:

the each micromirror array lens of the array of micromirror array lenses is a convex micromirror array lens.

10. The optical system of claim 4 , wherein:

the each micromirror array lens of the array of micromirror array lenses is a convex micromirror array lens.

11. The optical system of claim 5 , wherein:

the each micromirror array lens of the array of micromirror array lenses is a convex micromirror array lens.

12. An optical system comprising an imaging system, the imaging system including:

an array of micromirror array lenses optically coupled to an image sensor, each micromirror array lens of the array of micromirror array lenses placed at a different location with respect to a three-dimensional (3-D) object, configured to Locus images of the three-dimensional object from each different location onto the image sensor; and

the image sensor, optically coupled to the array of micromirror array lenses, configured to sense the images of the three-dimensional object focused by the array of micromirror array lenses and to provide an image data signal.

13. The optical system of claim 12 , wherein:

The each micromirror array lens of the array of micromirror array lenses is configured to have its focal length adjusted to focus images of the three-dimensional object from each different location onto the image sensor.

14. The optical system of claim 12 , further comprising:

a bean splitter, optically coupled to the image sensor and the array of micromirror array lenses, configured to change a direction of light beams emitted by the object.

15. The optical system of claim 12 , wherein:

the each micromirror array lens of the array of micromirror array lenses is a concave micromirror array lens.

16. The optical system of claim 13 , wherein:

the each micromirror array lens of the array of micromirror array lenses is a concave micromirror array lens.

17. The optical system of claim 12 , wherein:

the each micromirror array lens of the array of micromirror array lenses is a convex micromirror array lens.

18. The optical system of claim 13 , wherein:

the each micromirror array lens of the array of micromirror array lenses is a convex micromirror array lens.

19. An optical imaging and display system, comprising:

a first array of micromirror array tenses optically coupled to an image sensor, micromirror array lenses of the first array of micromirror array lenses placed at first different locations with respect to a three-dimensional (3-D) object, configured to focus images of the three-dimensional object from the first different locations onto the image sensor;

the image sensor, optically coupled to the first array of micromirror array lenses, configured to sense the images of the three-dimensional object focused by the first array of micromirror array lenses and to provide an image data signal to a display device;

the display device, communicatively coupled to the image sensor, configured to display at least one two-dimensional (2-D) image in response to the image data signal;

a second array of micromirror array lenses optically coupled to the display device, micromirror array lenses of the second array of micromirror array lenses placed at second different locations with respect to the display device, configured to focus the at least one two-dimensional image front the second different locations to provide a three-dimensional image.

20. The optical imaging and display system of claim 19 , wherein:

the micromirror array lenses of the first array of micromirror array lenses are concave micromirror array lenses.

21. The optical imaging and display system of claim 19 , wherein:

the micromirror array lenses of the second array of micromirror array lenses are concave micromirror array lenses.

22. The optical imaging and display system of claim 19 , wherein:

the micromirror array lenses of the first array of micromirror array lenses are convex micromirror array lenses.

23. The optical imaging and display system of claim 19 , wherein:

the micromirror array lenses of the second array of micromirror array lenses are convex micromirror array lenses.

Assignments (3)

Continuity (11)