Direct projection multiplexed light field display
A multiplexed light field projector device and a multiplexed light field display to output a light field image is described. The projector has a projector base with a projection optical system configured to output light rays to form a projected image, a collimating optical system configured for collimation of the projected image light rays to form a second projected image, which is directed to a display optical system to produce a light field image. Light field projector devices or alternative projector devices may be used individually or in combination with one or more other projectors which can be arranged to form a multiplexed direct projection light field display. The arrangement of projector devices may have an individual or shared display optical system.
1. A light field display comprising:
a projector array comprising a plurality of projectors, each projector configured to receive image data and convert the image data into projected light, the projected light from each projector in the projector array forming a projected image comprising a plurality of pixels; and
a plurality of lens systems configured to receive the projected light generated by the projector array to form a multiplexed light field image, each of the plurality of lens systems comprising:
a collimating optical system positioned a throw-distance from the projector array to receive the projected light from the projector array;
a display optical system positioned to receive a diffused, collimated beam from the collimating optical system; and
a multiplexing device connected to the display optical system to shift the display optical system to provide a multiplexed light field output.
2. The light field display of claim 1 , wherein the collimating optical system comprises a collimating lens array and a diffuser.
3. The light field display of claim 2 , wherein the diffuser is positioned between the collimating lens array and the display optical system.
4. The light field display of claim 2 , wherein the diffuser applies a point spread function to each individual pixel in the projected image, directing the pixel to a specific angle.
5. The light field display of claim 4 , wherein the point spread function is approximated as a Gaussian function.
6. The light field display of claim 2 , wherein the diffuser is an angular diffuser or engineered diffusing lenslet array.
7. The light field display of claim 1 , wherein the collimating optical system comprises a collimating array of lenslets.
8. The light field display of claim 7 , wherein each projector in the projector array is positioned such that the distance between the projector and the collimating optical system creates a projected image equal in size to a single lenslet in the collimating array of lenslets.
9. The light field display of claim 1 , wherein the collimating optical system is comprised of separate components.
10. The light field display of claim 1 , wherein each projector is a pico projector.
11. The light field display of claim 1 , wherein the display optical system comprises at least one of a single lens, a lens array, a pinhole array, a metasurface, and a metalens.
12. The light field display of claim 1 , wherein the multiplexing device is an actuator.
13. The light field display of claim 1 , wherein the multiplexed light field output comprises two or more individual light field images.
14. The light field display of claim 1 , wherein the multiplexing device shifts the display optical system along at least one of a first axis and a second axis.
15. The light field display of claim 1 , wherein the light field display is housed in an enclosure.
16. The light field display of claim 1 , wherein the collimating optical system and the display optical system fit within a lens enclosure.