Near-eye parallax barrier displays
In embodiments of the invention, an apparatus may include a display comprising a plurality of pixels and a computer system coupled with the display and operable to instruct the display to display images. The apparatus may further include an SLM array located adjacent to the display and comprising a plurality of SLMs, wherein the SLM array is operable to produce a light field by altering light emitted by the display to simulate an object that is in focus to an observer while the display and the SLM array are located within a near-eye range of the observer.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a display comprising a plurality of pixels;
a computer system coupled with said display and operable to instruct said display to display images; and
a SLM array located adjacent to said display and comprising a plurality of SLMs, wherein said SLM array is operable to produce a light field by altering light emitted by said display to simulate an object that is in focus to an observer while said display and said SLM array are located within a near-eye range of said observer, wherein said SLM array modulates said light emitted by said display without changing direction of said light emitted by said display.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each SLM of said plurality of SLMs is operable to modulate light produced by said display by partially attenuating said light emitted by said display.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said display is semi-transparent, and further wherein each SLM of said plurality of SLMs is operable to modulate light passing through said display.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said SLM array is operable to project anisotropic light by altering isotropic light produced by said display.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said light field is operable to simulate a 3D object located beyond said near-eye range of said observer.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said computer system is operable to determine an image for display that counteracts aberrations of said observer's eye.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a feedback system operable to make measurements of aberrations of said observer's eye; and
wherein said computer system is further operable to determine an image for display that counteracts aberrations based on said measurements.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor operable to provide information related to a surrounding environment; and
wherein said computer system is further operable to determine an image for display that counteracts aberrations based on said information.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an eye-track adjustment system operable to track a gaze of an eye, wherein said eye-track adjustment system is operable to communicate information related to a gaze of an eye to said computer system for determination of an image for display by said computer system based on said information.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said display comprises a plurality of sub-displays disposed side by side to one another.
11. An apparatus comprising:
a display operable to produce an image; and
a first SLM array located adjacent to said display, wherein said first SLM array together with said display is operable to produce a light field simulating a 3D object that is recognizable to an observer while said display and said first SLM array are located within a near-eye range of said observer, wherein said SLM array modulates light emitted by said display by partially attenuating said light emitted by said display and without changing direction of said light emitted by said display.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising at least one additional SLM array located adjacent to said first SLM array.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said first SLM array is operable to display different versions, of an image produced by said display, in different directions.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said image is out of focus if viewed without said first SLM array and said image is in focus if viewed through said first SLM array.
15. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said display is semi-transparent.
16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said first SLM array and said display are operable to alter light from a surrounding environment and light from said display to provide an augmented reality experience.
17. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said first SLM array and said display are operable to provide a virtual reality experience.
18. A method comprising:
determining a pre-filtered image to be displayed, wherein said pre-filtered image corresponds to a target image;
displaying said pre-filtered image on a display; and
producing a near-eye light field after said pre-filtered image travels through a SLM array adjacent to said display, wherein said near-eye light field is operable to simulate a light field corresponding to said target image, wherein said SLM array modulates light emitted by said display by partially attenuating said light emitted by said display without changing direction of said light emitted by said display.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein said target image simulated by said near-eye light field is in focus to an observer's eye when said display and said SLM array are in a near-eye range of said observer's eye.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein said SLM array is operable to project anisotropic light by altering isotropic light produced by said display.
21. The method of claim 18 , wherein said determining is based on aberrations of said observer's eye, a gaze of said observer's eye, and a distance between said observer's eye and said SLM array.
22. The method of claim 18 , wherein said SLM array is operable to display different versions of said target image in different directions.
23. The method of claim 18 , wherein said SLM array comprises a plurality of SLM array layers.