IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,726,605
Granted Patent B2
US 12,726,605 · App. 18/969,386 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Display for three-dimensional image

Inventor: Adrian Kaehler (Los Angeles, CA)
Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
H04N13/393G02B30/27G02B30/54G02B30/56G09G3/005H04N13/307H04N13/32H04N13/324H04N13/398H04N2213/001
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,726,605
App. No.
18/969,386
Granted
Sep 1, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

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.

Claims (24)

1 . A display apparatus for displaying a 3-D representation of an object, comprising:

a display panel comprising a plurality of display regions having different curvatures, wherein the plurality of display regions comprises a first display region and a second display region, wherein the first display region is flat and circular, wherein the second display region encircles the first display region and has a convex curvature;

a plurality of light field sub-displays on the display panel, each of the plurality of light field sub-displays having a position on the display panel;

a non-transitory memory configured to store a light field image of the object to be displayed by the display apparatus; and

a processor operably coupled to the non-transitory memory and the light field sub-displays, the processor programmed with executable instructions to:

access information for the light field image, and

illuminate the plurality of light field sub-displays based at least in part on the information for the light field image and the positions of the one or more light field sub-displays on the display panel.

2 . The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of light field sub-displays is 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.

3 . The display apparatus of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of light field sub-displays further comprises:

a micro-lens array comprising a plurality of micro-lenses spaced apart from the array of light emitters.

4 . The display apparatus of claim 3 , 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.

5 . The display apparatus of claim 4 , wherein each micro-lens of the micro-lens array is configured to receive light from pixels of a corresponding pixel subset, wherein each pixel subset comprises a plurality of pixel subset pixels, wherein light from different pixel subset pixels of a pixel subset exit an associated microlens at different angles compared to the light from other pixel subset pixels of the pixel subset.

6 . The display apparatus of claim 3 , wherein each of the light emitters is configured to output light isotropically toward the micro-lens array.

7 . The display apparatus of claim 6 , wherein each of the microlens is configured to anisotropically output light received from an underlying light emitter.

8 . The display apparatus of claim 3 , wherein each of the light emitters comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

9 . The display apparatus of claim 8 , wherein each of the light emitters comprises an organic light emitting diode (OLED).

10 . The display apparatus of claim 3 , wherein a shape of different micro-lens of the micro-lens array varies.

11 . The display apparatus of claim 3 , wherein each of the micro-lens has a focal length, wherein each of the micro-lens is spaced from an underlying light emitter subset by the focal length of the each of the micro-lens array.

12 . The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light field image comprises a plurality of rendered frames, wherein different rendered frames are 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.

13 . The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein to illuminate the plurality of light field sub-displays the processor is programmed to scale an intensity of a light field sub-display based on a position of the light field sub-display on the display panel relative to a position of another light field sub-display on the display panel.

14 . The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein to illuminate the plurality of light field sub-displays the processor is programmed to scale a duration of illumination of a light field sub-display based on a position of the light field sub-display on the display panel relative to a position of another light field sub-display on the display panel.

15 . The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light field sub-displays are arranged in a spiral arrangement extending radially from a central point on the display panel.

16 . The display 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.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2025
From: MAGIC LEAP, INC.; MENTOR ACQUISITION ONE, LLC; MOLECULAR IMPRINTS, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073438/0463 →
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AND INVENTIONS AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 8, 2025
From: KAEHLER, ADRIAN
To: MAGIC LEAP, INC.
Reel/Frame 071848/0454 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation 17508798 · Oct 22, 2021
Continuation 16694606 · Nov 25, 2019
Division 15410455 · Jan 19, 2017
Provisional Application 62343767 · May 31, 2016
Provisional Application 62343722 · May 31, 2016
Provisional Application 62288680 · Jan 29, 2016
Related Publication 20250097403A1 · Mar 20, 2025
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