Floating image display
Examples are disclosed that relate to optical systems. One example provides a display device comprising an image source including a plurality of encoded regions from which encoded image light is output, and a Fourier transform array. The Fourier transform array may be positioned to receive the encoded image light and output decoded image light that forms a floating image viewable from a plurality of different vantage points, wherein from a first vantage point decoded image light forming a portion of the floating image originates from a first encoded region, and wherein from a second vantage point decoded image light forming the portion originates from a second encoded region, different than the first encoded region.
1. A display device, comprising:
an image source including a plurality of encoded regions from which encoded image light is output; and
a Fourier transform array positioned to receive the encoded image light and output decoded image light that forms a floating image viewable from a plurality of different vantage points, wherein from a first vantage point decoded image light forming a portion of the floating image originates from a first encoded region, and wherein from a second vantage point decoded image light forming the portion originates from a second encoded region, different than the first encoded region.
2. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the image source includes a display image.
3. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the image source includes a static image.
4. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the image source includes a stitched display image formed by optically combining output from two or more displays.
5. The display device of claim 4 , wherein the output from the two or more displays is optically combined via a lens array.
6. The display device of claim 4 , wherein the output from the two or more displays is optically combined via array-based imaging.
7. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the Fourier transform array includes a lens array pair.
8. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the Fourier transform array includes a graded-index microlens array structure.
9. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the floating image is a three-dimensional image.
10. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the floating image is a two-dimensional image.
11. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the floating image has an apparent z-distance that is positive relative to the image source.
12. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the floating image has an apparent z-distance that is negative relative to the image source.
13. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the floating image has an apparent z-distance that is coplanar with the image source.
14. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the floating image is related to the first encoded region by a geometric transformation.
15. The display device of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator operatively coupled to the Fourier transform array and configured to adjust a position of the Fourier transform array relative to the image source to thereby adjust an apparent z-distance of the floating image.
16. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the image source is configured to vary the encoded image light to thereby adjust an apparent z-distance of the floating image.
17. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the floating image has an apparent z-distance that is determined at least in part by a pitch of the plurality of encoded regions relative to a pitch of the Fourier transform array.
18. A display device, comprising:
an image source including two or more displays that cooperatively form a stitched display image including a plurality of encoded regions of encoded image light; and
a Fourier transform array positioned to receive the encoded image light and output decoded image light that forms a floating image viewable from a plurality of different vantage points, wherein from a first vantage point decoded image light forming a portion of the floating image originates from a first encoded region, and wherein from a second vantage point decoded image light forming the portion originates from a second encoded region, different than the first encoded region.
19. The display device of claim 18 , wherein the floating image is a two-dimensional image, and wherein the two-dimensional image has an apparent z-distance that is positive relative to the image source.
20. A display device, comprising:
an image source including a first region from which first image light is output, and a second region from which second image light is output; and
a Fourier transform lens array positioned to receive the first image light and the second image light, the Fourier transform lens array configured to output a floating image viewable from a plurality of different vantage points, wherein from a first vantage point a portion of the floating image is formed by the first image light output from the first region, and wherein from a second vantage point different than the first vantage point the portion of the floating image is formed by the second image light output from the second region.