Display for three-dimensional image
Apparatuses and methods for displaying a 3-D representation of an object are described. Apparatuses can include a rotatable structure, motor, and multiple light field sub-displays disposed on the rotatable structure. The apparatuses can store a light field image to be displayed, the light field image providing multiple different views of the object at different viewing directions. A processor can drive the motor to rotate the rotatable structure and map the light field image to each of the light field sub-displays based in part on the rotation angle, and illuminate the light field sub-displays based in part on the mapped light field image. The apparatuses can include a display panel configured to be viewed from a fiducial viewing direction, where the display panel is curved out of a plane that is perpendicular to the fiducial viewing direction, and a plurality of light field sub-displays disposed on the display panel.
1. A display apparatus for displaying a 3-D representation of an object, comprising:
a display panel configured to be viewed from a plurality of different fiducial viewing directions, wherein the display panel is curved out of a plane that is perpendicular to at least one of the fiducial viewing directions;
a plurality of light field sub-displays disposed on the display panel, the light field sub-displays each configured to output light to form a plurality of pixels of an image, each light field sub-display comprising:
an array of light emitters comprising a plurality of light emitter subsets;
a micro-lens array comprising a plurality of micro-lenses spaced apart from the array of light emitters, wherein each micro-lens is configured to output light corresponding to a pixel of the image and different micro-lenses are configured to output light corresponding to different pixels of the image,
wherein each micro-lens of the micro-lens array is configured to receive light from pixels of a corresponding pixel subset, wherein light from different pixels of a pixel subset exit an associated microlens at different angles compared to the light from other pixels of the pixel subset;
a non-transitory memory configured to store a light field image to be displayed by the display apparatus, the light field image providing three or more different views of an object that are viewable from three or more different fiducial viewing directions, wherein each of the different views is viewable from a different associated fiducial viewing direction of the three or more different fiducial viewing directions; and
a processor operably coupled to the non-transitory memory and the light field sub-displays, the processor programmed with executable instructions to:
access the light field image,
map the light field image to the plurality of light field sub-displays based at least in part on the position of the light field sub-displays on the display panel, and
illuminate the plurality of light field sub-displays based at least in part on the mapped light field image,
wherein the display panel is convex about at least two axes relative to one or more of the fiducial viewing directions.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the display panel comprises the at least two axes, including a first axis and a second axis that are perpendicular to at least one of the fiducial viewing directions.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first axis is horizontal and the display panel is curved about the first axis.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second axis is vertical and the display panel is curved about the second axis.
5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first and second axes are perpendicular and the display panel is curved about both of the first and second axes.
6. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the radius of curvature about the first axis is different than the radius of curvature about the second axis.
7. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the radius of curvature about the first axis is substantially the same as the radius of curvature about the second axis.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein to illuminate the plurality of light field sub-displays the processor is programmed to scale an intensity or duration of illumination of a light field sub-display based on the position of the light field sub-display on the display panel relative to the position of another light field sub-display.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light field image comprises a plurality of rendered frames, different rendered frames indicative of different views of the object, wherein individual rendered frames comprise a plurality of rendered pixels that, when combined, render the rendered frame, different rendered pixels having different positions within the rendered frame.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a proximity sensor configured to detect a presence or absence of an entity within a predetermined distance of the display apparatus, and wherein the processor is programmed with executable instructions to initiate an action based on the proximity sensor detecting the presence or absence of the entity.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the display panel is shaped as a portion of a sphere that is convex relative to at least one of the fiducial view directions.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the light field sub-displays are switched to present, at different times, different rendered frames of the different views of the object to be viewable from the different fiducial view directions to display the 3-D representation of the object.