US20110157696A1 - Display with adaptable parallax barrier - Google Patents

Abstract

A display system is provided that enables three-dimensional images to be displayed. The display system includes a parallax barrier. The parallax barrier is positioned proximate a light source. The parallax barrier includes a plurality of barrier elements arranged in a barrier element array. Each barrier element is configured to be selectively opaque (blocking) or transparent (non-blocking). In a first mode, each barrier element of the barrier element array is selected to be non-blocking to enable a two-dimensional image to be generated. In a second mode, each barrier element in a plurality of parallel strips of barrier elements of the barrier element array is selected to be non-blocking to form a plurality of parallel non-blocking slits to enable a three-dimensional image to be generated. The number, width, and orientation of non-blocking slits are selectable to modify display characteristics, such as a position at which the three-dimensional image is delivered.

Description

• This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/291,818, filed on Dec. 31, 2009, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety; and
• This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/303,119, filed on Feb. 10, 2010, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 1. Field of the Invention
• The present invention relates to three-dimensional image displays.
• 2. Background Art
• Images may be generated for display in various forms. For instance, television (TV) is a widely used telecommunication medium for transmitting and displaying images in monochromatic (“black and white”) or color form. Conventionally, images are provided in analog form and are displayed by display devices in two-dimensions. More recently, images are being provided in digital form for display in two-dimensions on display devices having improved resolution (e.g., “high definition” or “HD”). Even more recently, images capable of being displayed in three-dimensions are being generated.
• Conventional displays may use a variety of techniques to achieve three-dimensional image viewing functionality. For example, various types of glasses have been developed that may be worn by users to view three-dimensional images displayed by a conventional display. Examples of such glasses include glasses that utilize color filters or polarized filters. In each case, the lenses of the glasses pass two-dimensional images of differing perspective to the user's left and right eyes. The images are combined in the visual center of the brain of the user to be perceived as a three-dimensional image. In another example, synchronized left eye, right eye LCD (liquid crystal display) shutter glasses may be used with conventional two-dimensional displays to create a three-dimensional viewing illusion. In still another example, LCD display glasses are being used to display three-dimensional images to a user. The lenses of the LCD display glasses include corresponding displays that provide images of differing perspective to the user's eyes, to be perceived by the user as three-dimensional.
• Problems exist with such techniques for viewing three-dimensional images. For instance, persons that use such displays and systems to view three-dimensional images may suffer from headaches, eyestrain, and/or nausea after long exposure. Furthermore, some content, such as two-dimensional text, may be more difficult to read and interpret when displayed three-dimensionally. To address these problems, some manufacturers have created display devices that may be toggled between three-dimensional viewing and two-dimensional viewing. A display device of this type may be switched to a three-dimensional mode for viewing of three-dimensional images, and may be switched to a two-dimensional mode for viewing of two-dimensional images (and/or to provide a respite from the viewing of three-dimensional images).
• A parallax barrier is another example of a device that enables images to be displayed in three-dimensions. A parallax barrier includes of a layer of material with a series of precision slits. The parallax barrier is placed proximal to a display so that a user's eyes each see a different set of pixels to create a sense of depth through parallax. A disadvantage of parallax barriers is that the viewer must be positioned in a well-defined location in order to experience the three-dimensional effect. If the viewer moves his/her eyes away from this “sweet spot,” image flipping and/or exacerbation of the eyestrain, headaches and nausea that may be associated with prolonged three-dimensional image viewing may result. Conventional three-dimensional displays that utilize parallax barriers are also constrained in that the displays must be entirely in a two-dimensional image mode or a three-dimensional image mode at any time.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for displays having adaptable parallax barriers substantially as shown in and/or described herein in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES
• The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention.
• FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a display system, according to an example embodiment.
• FIGS. 2A and 2B show block diagrams of examples of the display system ofFIG. 1, according to embodiments.
• FIG. 3 shows a view of a surface of a parallax barrier, according to an example embodiment.
• FIGS. 4 and 5 show views of a barrier element of a barrier element array that is selected to be transparent and to be opaque, respectively, according to example embodiments.
• FIG. 6 shows a flowchart for generating three-dimensional images, according to an example embodiment.
• FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of an example of a display system, according to an embodiment.
• FIGS. 8A and 8B shows view of example parallax barriers with non-blocking slits, according to embodiments.
• FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of a barrier array controller, according to an example embodiment.
• FIG. 10 shows an example display system configured to generate three-dimensional images, according to an example embodiment.
• FIG. 11 shows the display system ofFIG. 7 providing a three-dimensional image to a user, according to an example embodiment.
• FIG. 12 shows a process for forming a two-dimensional image, according to an example embodiment.
• FIG. 13 shows a process for modifying a parallax barrier to modify display characteristics, according to example embodiments.
• FIG. 14 shows a view of the parallax barrier ofFIG. 3 with increased spacing between non-blocking slits, according to an example embodiment.
• FIG. 15 shows a display system with increased spacing between non-blocking slits, according to an example embodiment.
• FIG. 16 shows a view of the parallax barrier ofFIG. 3 with alternative width non-blocking slits, according to an example embodiment.
• FIG. 17 shows a process for configuring a parallax barrier to display differently oriented three-dimensional images, according to example embodiments.
• FIGS. 18 and 19 show views of the parallax barrier ofFIG. 3 with alternatively oriented non-blocking slits, according to an example embodiment.
• FIG. 20 shows a block diagram of a display environment, according to an example embodiment.
• FIG. 21 shows a block diagram of a remote device, according to an example embodiment.
• FIG. 22 shows a block diagram of a display device, according to an example embodiment.
• FIG. 23 shows a block diagram of an example display controller, according to an embodiment.
• The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONI. Introduction
• The present specification discloses one or more embodiments that incorporate the features of the invention. The disclosed embodiment(s) merely exemplify the invention. The scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment(s). The invention is defined by the claims appended hereto.
• References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.
• Furthermore, it should be understood that spatial descriptions (e.g., “above,” “below,” “up,” “left,” “right,” “down,” “top,” “bottom,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” etc.) used herein are for purposes of illustration only, and that practical implementations of the structures described herein can be spatially arranged in any orientation or manner.
II. Example Embodiments
• Embodiments of the present invention relate to display devices that include a parallax barrier that may be dynamically modified, thereby changing the manner in which images are delivered to the eyes of one or more viewers. The parallax barrier may be configured to enable the adaptive display of multiple types of images to users. For instance, embodiments enable the adaptive accommodation of a changing viewer sweet spot, and switching between two-dimensional (2D) and stereoscopic three-dimensional (3D) images. Example features of the parallax barrier that may be dynamically modified include one or more of a number of slits in the parallax barrier, the dimensions of each slit, the spacing between the slits, and the orientation of the slits.
• The following subsections describe numerous example embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of exemplary embodiments described herein.
• A. Example Display System and Method Embodiments
• In embodiments, a display device may include an adaptive parallax barrier to enable various display capabilities. For instance,FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of adisplay system100, according to an example embodiment. As shown inFIG. 1,system100 includes adisplay device112.Display device112 is capable of displaying 2D and 3D images as described above. As shown inFIG. 1,display device112 includes aimage generator102 and aparallax barrier104. Furthermore, as shown inFIG. 1,image generator102 includes apixel array114 and may optionally includebacklighting116.Image generator102 andparallax barrier104 operate to generate 2D and/or 3D images that are viewable by users/viewers in aviewing space106. Althoughparallax barrier104 is shown positioned betweenimage generator102 andviewing space106 inFIG. 1, as further described below,parallax barrier104 may alternatively be positioned between portions of image generator102 (e.g., betweenpixel array114 and backlighting116).
• When present, backlighting116 emits light that is filtered byparallax barrier104, and the filtered light is received bypixel array114, which imposes image information on the filtered light by performing further filtering. When backlighting116 is not present,pixel array114 may be configured to emit light which includes the image information, and the light is filtered byparallax barrier104.Parallax barrier104 operates as an image filter or “light manipulator” to filter received light with a plurality of barrier elements (also referred to as “blocking regions”) that are selectively substantially opaque or transparent to generate three-dimensional images from the image information provided bypixel array114. The image information may include one or more still images, motion (e.g., video) images, etc. As shown inFIG. 1,image generator102 andparallax barrier104 generate filteredlight110. Filtered light110 may include a two-dimensional image or a three-dimensional image (e.g., formed by a pair of two-dimensional images in filtered light110), for instance. Filtered light110 is received inviewing space106 proximate to displaydevice112. One or more users may be present inviewing space106 to view the images included in filteredlight110.
• Display device112 may be implemented in various ways. For instance,display device112 may be a television display (e.g., an LCD (liquid crystal display) television, a plasma television, etc.), a computer monitor, or any other type of display device.Image generator102 may be any suitable type or combination of light and image generating devices, including an LCD screen, a plasma screen, an LED (light emitting device) screen (e.g., an OLED (organic LED) screen), etc.Parallax barrier104 may be any suitable light filtering device, including an LCD filter, a mechanical filter (e.g., that incorporates individually controllable shutters), etc., and may be configured in any manner, including as a thin-film device (e.g., formed of a stack of thin film layers), etc. Backlighting116 may be any suitable light emitting device, including a panel of LEDs or other light emitting elements.
• FIG. 2A shows a block diagram of adisplay system200, which is an example ofsystem100 shown inFIG. 1, according to an embodiment. As shown inFIG. 2A,system200 includes adisplay device controller202 and a display device250 (which includesimage generator102 and parallax barrier104).Display device250 is an example ofdisplay device112 inFIG. 1. As shown inFIG. 2A,image generator102 includes a pixel array208 (which is an example ofpixel array114 ofFIG. 1), andparallax barrier104 includes abarrier element array210. Furthermore, as shown inFIG. 2A,display controller202 includes apixel array controller204 and abarrier array controller206. These features ofsystem200 are described as follows.
• Pixel array208 includes a two-dimensional array of pixels (e.g., arranged in a grid or other distribution).Pixel array208 is a self-illuminating or light-generating pixel array such that the pixels ofpixel array208 each emit light included in light252 emitted fromimage generator102. Each pixel may be a separately addressable light source (e.g., a pixel of a plasma display, an LCD display, an LED display such as an OLED display, or of other type of display). Each pixel ofpixel array208 may be individually controllable to vary color and intensity. In an embodiment, each pixel ofpixel array208 may include a plurality of sub-pixels that correspond to separate color channels, such as a trio of red, green, and blue sub-pixels included in each pixel.
• Parallax barrier104 is positioned proximate to a surface ofpixel array208.Barrier element array210 is a layer ofparallax barrier104 that includes a plurality of barrier elements or blocking regions arranged in an array. Each barrier element of the array is configured to be selectively opaque or transparent. For instance,FIG. 3 shows aparallax barrier300, according to an example embodiment.Parallax barrier300 is an example ofparallax barrier104 ofFIG. 2A. As shown inFIG. 3,parallax barrier300 includes abarrier element array302.Barrier element array302 includes a plurality ofbarrier elements304 arranged in a two-dimensional array (e.g., arranged in a grid), although in other embodiments, may includebarrier elements304 arranged in other ways.Barrier elements304 may each be a pixel of an LCD, a moveable mechanical element (e.g., a hinged flap that passes light in a first position and blocks light in a second position), a magnetically actuated element, or other suitable barrier element. Eachbarrier element304 is shown inFIG. 3 as rectangular (e.g., square) in shape, but in other embodiments may have other shapes.
• For example, in one embodiment, eachbarrier element304 may have a “band” shape that extends a vertical length ofbarrier element array302, such thatbarrier element array302 includes a single horizontal row ofbarrier elements304. Eachbarrier element304 may include one or more of such bands, and different portions ofbarrier element array302 may includebarrier elements304 that include different numbers of such bands. One advantage of such a configuration is thatbarrier elements304 extending a vertical length ofbarrier element array302 do not need to have spacing between them because there is no need for drive signal routing in such space. For instance, in a two-dimensional LCD array configuration, such as TFT (thin film transistor) display, a transistor-plus-capacitor circuit is typically placed onsite at the corner of a single pixel in the array, and control signals for such transistors are routed between the LCD pixels (row-column control, for example). In a pixel configuration for a parallax barrier, local transistor control may not be necessary becausebarrier elements304 may not need to be changing as rapidly as display pixels (e.g., pixels of pixel array208). For a single row of vertical bands ofbarrier elements304, control signals may be routed to the top and/or bottom ofbarrier elements304. Because in such a configuration control signal routing between rows is not needed, the vertical bands can be arranged side-by-side with little-to-no space in between. Thus, if the vertical bands are thin and oriented edge-to-edge, one band or multiple adjacent bands (e.g., five bands) in a row may comprise abarrier element304 in a blocking state, followed by one band or multiple adjacent bands (e.g., two bands) that comprise abarrier element304 in a non-blocking state (a slit), and so on. In the example of five bands in a blocking state and two bands in a non-blocking state, the five bands may combine to offer a single black barrier element of approximately 2.5 times the width of a single transparent slit with no spaces therein.
• Barrier element array302 may include any number ofbarrier elements304. For example, inFIG. 3,barrier element array302 includes twenty-eightbarrier elements304 along an x-axis and includes twentybarrier elements304 along a y-axis, for a total number of five hundred and sixtybarrier elements304. However, these dimensions ofbarrier element array302 and the total number ofbarrier elements304 forbarrier element array302 shown inFIG. 3 are provided for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to be limiting.Barrier element array302 may include any number ofbarrier elements304, and may have any array dimensions, including ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, or even larger numbers ofbarrier elements304 along each of the x- and y-axes.Barrier element array302 ofFIG. 3 is merely illustrative of larger barrier arrays that may be typically present in embodiments ofparallax barrier104. In embodiments, the width of one barrier element in a barrier element array may be a multiple or divisor of a corresponding display pixel width (e.g., a width of a pixel of pixel array114). Similarly, a number of columns/rows in a barrier element array may be a multiple or divisor of a corresponding number of columns/rows of pixels in a corresponding pixel array.
• Eachbarrier element304 ofbarrier element array302 is selectable to be substantially opaque or transparent. For instance,FIG. 4 shows abarrier element304xthat is selected to be substantially transparent, andFIG. 5 showsbarrier element304xwhen selected to be substantially opaque, according to example embodiments. Whenbarrier element304xis selected to be transparent, light252 frompixel array208 may pass throughbarrier element304x(e.g., to viewing space106). Whenbarrier element304xis selected to be opaque, light252 frompixel array208 is blocked from passing throughbarrier element304x.By selecting some ofbarrier elements304 ofbarrier element array302 to be transparent, and some ofbarrier elements304 ofbarrier element array302 to be opaque, light252 received atbarrier element array302 is filtered to generate filteredlight110. It is noted that in some embodiments, barrier elements may capable of being completely transparent or opaque, and in other embodiments, barrier elements may not be capable of being fully transparent or opaque. For instance, such barrier elements may be capable of being 95% transparent when considered to be “transparent” and may be capable of being 5% transparent when considered to be “opaque.” “Transparent” and “opaque” as used herein are intended to encompass barrier elements being substantially transparent (e.g., greater than 75% transparent, including completely transparent) and substantially opaque (e.g., less than 25% transparent, including completely opaque), respectively.
• Display controller202 is configured to generate control signals to enabledisplay device250 to display two-dimensional and three-dimensional images tousers218 inviewing space106. For example,pixel array controller204 is configured to generate acontrol signal214 that is received bypixel array208.Control signal214 may include one or more control signals used to cause pixels ofpixel array208 to emit light252 of particular desired colors and/or intensity.Barrier array controller206 is configured to generate acontrol signal216 that is received bybarrier element array210.Control signal216 may include one or more control signals used to cause each ofbarrier elements304 ofbarrier element array302 to be transparent or opaque. In this manner,barrier element array210 filters light252 to generate filtered light110 that includes one or more two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional images that may be viewed byusers218 inviewing space106.
• For example,control signal214 may control sets of pixels ofpixel array208 to each emit light representative of a respective image, to provide a plurality of images.Control signal216 may controlbarrier elements304 ofbarrier element array210 to filter the light received frompixel array208 according to the provided images such that one or more of the images are received byusers218 in two-dimensional form. For instance, in a first mode,control signal216 may select thebarrier elements304 ofbarrier element array302 to be transparent, to transmit a two-dimensional image or view tousers218. Furthermore, in a second mode,control signal216 may control sections ofbarrier element array210 to include opaque andtransparent barrier elements304 to filter the light received frompixel array208 so that a pair of images or views provided bypixel array208 is received byusers218 as a corresponding three-dimensional image or view. For example,control signal216 may select parallel strips ofbarrier elements304 ofbarrier element array302 to be transparent to form slits that enable three-dimensional images to be received byusers218.
• In embodiments,control signal216 may be generated bybarrier array controller206 to configure one or more characteristics ofbarrier element array210. For example,control signal216 may be generated to form any number of parallel strips ofbarrier elements304 ofbarrier element array302 to be transparent, to modify the number and/or spacing of parallel strips ofbarrier elements304 ofbarrier element array302 that are transparent, to select and/or modify a width and/or a length (in barrier elements304) of one or more strips ofbarrier elements304 ofbarrier element array302 that are transparent or opaque, to select and/or modify an orientation of one or more strips ofbarrier elements304 ofbarrier element array302 that are transparent, etc.
• FIG. 2B shows a block diagram of adisplay system220, which is another example ofsystem100 shown inFIG. 1, according to an embodiment. As shown inFIG. 2B,system220 includesdisplay device controller202 and adisplay device260, which includes apixel array222,parallax barrier104, andbacklighting116.Display device260 is an example ofdisplay device112 inFIG. 1. As shown inFIG. 2B,parallax barrier104 includesbarrier element array210 andbacklighting116 includes alight element array236. Furthermore,display controller202 includes apixel array controller228,barrier array controller206, and alight source controller230. Although separated byparallax barrier104 inFIG. 2B,pixel array222 andbacklighting116 form an example ofimage generator102 ofFIG. 1. These features ofsystem220 are described as follows.
• Backlighting116 is a backlight panel that emits light238. Light element array236 (or “backlight array”) ofbacklighting116 includes a two-dimensional array of light sources. Such light sources may be arranged, for example, in a rectangular grid. Each light source inlight element array236 is individually addressable and controllable to select an amount of light emitted thereby. A single light source may comprise one or more light-emitting elements depending upon the implementation. In one embodiment, each light source inlight element array236 comprises a single light-emitting diode (LED) although this example is not intended to be limiting.
• Parallax barrier104 is positioned proximate to a surface of backlighting116 (e.g., a surface of the backlight panel). As described above,barrier element array210 is a layer ofparallax barrier104 that includes a plurality of barrier elements or blocking regions arranged in an array. Each barrier element of the array is configured to be selectively opaque or transparent.FIG. 3, as described above, shows aparallax barrier300, which is an example ofparallax barrier104 ofFIG. 2B.Barrier element array210 filters light238 received from backlighting116 to generate filteredlight240. Filtered light240 is configured to enable a two-dimensional image or a three-dimensional image (e.g., formed by a pair of two-dimensional images in filtered light110) to be formed based on images subsequently imposed on filtered light240 bypixel array222.
• Similarly topixel array208 ofFIG. 2A,pixel array222 ofFIG. 2B includes a two-dimensional array of pixels (e.g., arranged in a grid or other distribution). However,pixel array222 is not self-illuminating, and instead is a light filter that imposes images (e.g., in the form of color, grayscale, etc.) on filtered light240 fromparallax barrier104 to generate filtered light110 to include one or more images. Each pixel ofpixel array222 may be a separately addressable filter (e.g., a pixel of a plasma display, an LCD display, an LED display, or of other type of display). Each pixel ofpixel array208 may be individually controllable to vary the color imposed on the corresponding light passing through, and/or to vary the intensity of the passed light in filteredlight110. In an embodiment, each pixel ofpixel array222 may include a plurality of sub-pixels that correspond to separate color channels, such as a trio of red, green, and blue sub-pixels included in each pixel.
• Display controller202 ofFIG. 2B is configured to generate control signals to enabledisplay device260 to display two-dimensional and three-dimensional images tousers218 inviewing space106. For example,light source controller230 withindisplay controller202 controls the amount of light emitted by each light source inlight element array236 by generating acontrol signal234 that is received bylight element array236.Control signal234 may include one or more control signals used to control the amount of light emitted by each light source inlight element array236 to generate light238. As described above,barrier array controller206 is configured to generate control signal216 received bybarrier element array210.Control signal216 may include one or more control signals used to cause each ofbarrier elements304 ofbarrier element array302 to be transparent or opaque, to filter light238 to generate filteredlight240.Pixel array controller228 is configured to generate acontrol signal232 that is received bypixel array222.Control signal232 may include one or more control signals used to cause pixels ofpixel array208 to impose desired images (e.g., colors, grayscale, etc.) on filtered light240 as it passes throughpixel array208. In this manner,pixel array222 generates filtered light110 that includes one or more two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional images that may be viewed byusers218 inviewing space106.
• For example,control signal234 may control sets of light sources oflight element array236 to emit light238.Control signal216 may controlbarrier elements304 ofbarrier element array210 to filter light238 received fromlight element array236 to enable filtered light240 to enable two- and/or three-dimensionality.Control signal232 may control sets of pixels ofpixel array222 to filter filtered light240 according to respective images, to provide a plurality of images. For instance, in a first mode,control signal216 may select thebarrier elements304 ofbarrier element array302 to be transparent, to transmit a two-dimensional image tousers218. Furthermore, in a second mode,control signal216 may control sections ofbarrier element array210 to include opaque andtransparent barrier elements304 to filter the light received fromlight element array236 so that a pair of images provided bypixel array222 is received byusers218 as a corresponding as three-dimensional image. For example,control signal216 may select parallel strips ofbarrier elements304 ofbarrier element array302 to be transparent to form slits that enable three-dimensional images to be received byusers218.
• Two-dimensional and three-dimensional images may be generated bysystem100 ofFIG. 1 in various ways, in embodiments. For instance,FIG. 6 shows aflowchart600 for generating images that are delivered to users in a viewing space, according to an example embodiment.Flowchart600 may be performed bysystem200 inFIG. 2A orsystem220 ofFIG. 2B, for example.Flowchart600 is described with respect toFIG. 7, which shows a cross-sectional view of adisplay system700.Display system700 is an example embodiment ofsystem200 shown inFIG. 2A, and is shown for purposes of illustration. As shown inFIG. 7,system700 includes apixel array702 and abarrier element array704. In another embodiment,system700 may further include backlighting in a configuration similar todisplay system220 ofFIG. 2B. Further structural and operational embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on thediscussion regarding flowchart600.Flowchart600 is described as follows.
• Flowchart600 begins withstep602. Instep602, light is received at an array of barrier elements. For example, as shown inFIG. 2A, light252 is received atparallax barrier104 frompixel array208 ofimage generator102. Each pixel ofpixel array208 may generate light that is received atparallax barrier104. As described as follows, depending on the particular display mode ofparallax barrier104,parallax barrier104 may filter light252 frompixel array208 to generate a two-dimensional image or a three-dimensional image viewable inviewing space106 byusers218. As described above with respect toFIG. 2B, alternatively, light238 may be received byparallax barrier104 fromlight element array236.
• Instep604, the array of barrier elements is configured into a first parallax barrier configuration that has a first set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the blocking state and a second set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the non-blocking state to provide the viewer located at a first position with a three-dimensional view. In a three-dimensional mode fordisplay system100 ofFIG. 1, a three-dimensional image may be desired to be viewable inviewing space106. In such case, referring toFIG. 2A or2B,barrier array controller206 may generate control signal216 to configurebarrier element array210 to include transparent strips of barrier elements to enable a three-dimensional view to be formed. For example, as shown inFIG. 7,barrier element array704 includes a plurality of barrier elements that are each either transparent (in a non-blocking state) or opaque (in a blocking state). Barrier elements that are blocking are indicated as barrier elements710a-710f,and barrier elements that are non-blocking are indicated as barrier elements712a-712e.Further barrier elements may be included inbarrier element array704 that are not visible inFIG. 7. Each of barrier elements710a-710fand712a-712emay include one or more barrier elements. Barrier elements710 alternate with barrier elements712 in series in the order ofbarrier elements710a,712a,710b,712b,710c,712c,710d,712d,710e,712e,and710f. In this manner, blocking barrier elements710 are alternated with non-blocking barrier elements712 to form a plurality of parallel non-blocking or transparent slits inbarrier element array704.
• For instance,FIG. 8A shows a view ofparallax barrier300 ofFIG. 3 with transparent slits, according to an example embodiment. As shown inFIG. 8A,parallax barrier300 includesbarrier element array302, which includes a plurality ofbarrier elements304 arranged in a two-dimensional array. Furthermore, as shown inFIG. 8A,barrier element array302 includes a plurality of parallel strips ofbarrier elements304 that are selected to be non-blocking to form a plurality of parallel non-blocking strips (or “slits”)802a-802g.As shown inFIG. 8A, parallel non-blocking strips802a-802g(non-blocking slits) are alternated with parallel opaque or blocking strips804a-804gofbarrier elements304 that are selected to be blocking. In the example ofFIG. 8A, non-blocking strips802a-802gand blocking strips804a-804geach have a width (along the x-dimension) of twobarrier elements304, and have lengths that extend along the entire y-dimension (twenty barrier elements304) ofbarrier element array304, although in other embodiments, may have alternative dimensions. Non-blocking strips802a-802gand blocking strips804a-804gform a parallax barrier configuration forparallax barrier300. The spacing (and number) of parallel non-blocking strips802 inbarrier element array704 may be selectable by choosing any number and combination of particular strips ofbarrier elements304 inbarrier element array302 to be non-blocking, to be alternated with blocking strips804, as desired.
• FIG. 8B shows aparallax barrier310 that is another example ofbarrier element array704 with parallel transparent slits, according to an embodiment. Similarly toparallax barrier300 ofFIG. 8A,parallax barrier310 has includes abarrier element array312, which includes a plurality ofbarrier elements314 arranged in a two-dimensional array (28 by 1 array).Barrier elements314 have widths (along the x-dimension) similar to the widths ofbarrier elements304 inFIG. 8A, but have lengths that extend along the entire vertical length (y-dimension) ofbarrier element array314. As shown inFIG. 8B,barrier element array312 includes parallel non-blocking strips802a-802galternated with parallel blocking strips804a-804g.In the example ofFIG. 8B, parallel non-blocking strips802a-802gand parallel blocking strips804a-804geach have a width (along the x-dimension) of twobarrier elements314, and have lengths that extend along the entire y-dimension (one barrier element314) ofbarrier element array312.
• The light received from the array of pixels is filtered according to the particular parallax barrier configuration to form at least one image in a viewing space.Barrier element array210 ofparallax barrier210 is configured to filter light252 received from pixel array208 (FIG. 2A) or light238 received from light element array236 (FIG. 2B) according to whetherbarrier element array210 is transparent or non-blocking (e.g., in a two-dimensional mode) or includes parallel non-blocking strips (e.g., in a three-dimensional mode). Ifbarrier element array210 is transparent (e.g., as shown forbarrier element array302 inFIG. 3),barrier element array210 functions as an “all pass” filter to substantially pass all of light252 as filtered light110 to deliver the two-dimensional image generated bypixel array208 toviewing space106, to be viewable as a two-dimensional image in a similar fashion as a conventional display. Ifbarrier element array210 includes parallel non-blocking strips (e.g., as shown forbarrier element array302 inFIGS. 8A and 8B),barrier element array210 passes a portion of light252 as filtered light110 to deliver a three-dimensional image toviewing space106.
• For example, as shown inFIG. 7,pixel array702 includes a plurality of pixels714a-714dand716a-716d.Pixels714 alternate with pixels716, such that pixels714a-714dand716a-716dare arranged in series in the order ofpixels714a,716a,714b,716b,714c,716c,714d,and716d.Further pixels may be included inpixel array702 that are not visible inFIG. 7, including further pixels along the width dimension of pixel array702 (e.g., in the left-right directions) as well as pixels along a length dimension of pixel array702 (not visible inFIG. 7). Each of pixels714a-714dand716a-716dgenerates light, which emanates fromdisplay surface724 of pixel array702 (e.g., generally upward inFIG. 7) towardsbarrier element array704. Some example indications of light emanating from pixels714a-714dand716a-716dare shown inFIG. 7 (as dotted lines), including light724aand light718aemanating frompixel714a,light724b,light718b, and light724cemanating frompixel714b,etc.
• Furthermore, light emanating frompixel array702 is filtered bybarrier element array704 to form a plurality of images in aviewing space726, including afirst image706aat afirst location708aand asecond image706bat asecond location708b.A portion of the light emanating frompixel array702 is blocked by blocking barrier elements710, while another portion of the light emanating frompixel array702 passes through non-blocking barrier elements712, according to the filtering bybarrier element array704. For instance, light724afrompixel714ais blocked by blockingbarrier element710a,and light724band light724cfrompixel714bare blocked by blocking barrier elements710band710c,respectively. In contrast, light718afrompixel714ais passed bynon-blocking barrier element712aand light718bfrompixel714bis passed by non-blocking barrier element712b.
• By forming parallel non-blocking slits in a barrier element array, light from a pixel array can be filtered to form multiple images or views in a viewing space. For instance,system700 shown inFIG. 7 is configured to form first andsecond images706aand706batlocations708aand708b,respectively, which are positioned at adistance728 from pixel array702 (as shown inFIG. 7, further instances of first andsecond images706aand706bmay be formed inviewing space726 according tosystem700, in a repeating, alternating fashion). As described above,pixel array702 includes a first set of pixels714a-714dand a second set of pixels716a-716d.Pixels714a-714dcorrespond tofirst image706aand pixels716a-716dcorrespond tosecond image706b.Due to the spacing of pixels714a-714dand716a-716dinpixel array702, and the geometry of non-blocking barrier elements712 inbarrier element array704, first andsecond images706aand706bare formed atlocations708aand708b,respectively. As shown inFIG. 7, light718a-718dfrom the first set of pixels714a-714dis focused atlocation708ato formfirst image706aatlocation708a.Light720a-720dfrom the second set of pixels716a-716dis focused atlocation708bto formsecond image706batlocation708b.
• FIG. 7 shows a slit spacing722 (center-to-center) of non-blocking barrier elements712 inbarrier element array704. Spacing722 may be determined to select locations for parallel non-blocking slits to be formed inbarrier element array704 for aparticular image distance728 at which images are desired to be formed (for viewing by users). For example, in an embodiment, if a spacing of pixels714a-714dcorresponding to an image is known, and adistance728 at which the image is desired to be displayed is known, the spacing722 between adjacent parallel non-blocking slits inbarrier element array704 may be selected. As shown inFIG. 9, in an embodiment, barrier array controller206 (ofFIG. 2A or2B) may include aslit spacing calculator902.Slit spacing calculator902 is configured to calculate spacing722 for a particular spacing of pixels and a desired distance for the corresponding image to be formed, according to corresponding parallax barrier configurations.
• For instance,FIG. 10 shows anexample display system1000, according to an example embodiment.Display system1000 is generally similar tosystem700 shown inFIG. 7, and includespixel array702 andbarrier element array704.Pixel array702 includes pixels714a-714dand716a-716d,andbarrier element array704 includes blocking barrier elements710a-710fand non-blocking barrier elements712a-712e.Animage1002 is desired to be formed at animage distance1004 frompixel array702 based on pixels714a-714d.Barrier element array704 is separated frompixel array702 by adistance1012. Adjacent pixels of pixels714a-714d(corresponding to the desired image) are separated by apixel separation distance1006. Spacing722 for adjacent non-blocking barrier elements712a-712e(corresponding to non-blocking slits) is desired to be selected to enableimage1002 to be formed atdistance1004 frompixel array702. For the configuration ofdisplay system1000 inFIG. 10, the following equation (Equation 1) holds:
• 
  distance 1006/distance 1004=spacing 722/(distance 1004−distance 1012)  Equation 1
• As such,spacing722 may be calculated (e.g., by slit spacing calculator902) according to Equation 2 shown below, where slit spacing722 is less than pixel separation distance1006:
• 
  spacing 722=distance 1006×(distance 1004−distance 1012)/distance 1004  Equation 2
• For instance, in one example embodiment,distance1006 may equal 1.0 mm,distance1004 may equal 2.0 meters, anddistance1012 may equal 5.0 mm. In such an example, spacing722 may be calculated according to Equation 2 as follows:
• 
  spacing 722=1.0×(2000−5)/2000=0.9975 mm
• In the above example, the centers of adjacent non-blocking barrier elements712a-712emay be separated by spacing722 of 0.9975 mm to formimage1002 at 2.0 meters frompixel array702. As shown inFIG. 10, light1010a-1010demanated by pixels714a-714d,as filtered bybarrier element array704,forms image1002 atlocation1008. Separating the centers of adjacent non-blocking barrier elements712a-712eby 0.9975 mm (or other determined distance) may be accomplished in various ways, depending on the particular configuration ofbarrier element array704. For instance, in this example, a single barrier element width non-blocking slit may be formed inbarrier element array704 every 0.9975 mm. Alternatively, a non-blocking slit may be formed inbarrier element array704 every 0.9975 mm having a width of more than one barrier element.
• For example, if spacing722 corresponds to the width of two barrier elements, single non-blocking barrier elements712 having a width of 0.9975/2=0.4988 mm may be alternated with single blocking barrier elements710 having the width of 0.4988 mm inbarrier element array704. Alternatively, if spacing722 corresponds to the width of more than two barrier elements, one or more non-blocking barrier elements may be alternated with one or more blocking barrier elements to for non-blocking slits every 0.9975 mm. In one example, single non-blocking barrier elements712 having a width of 0.9975/399=0.0025 mm may be alternated with three hundred and ninety-eight blocking barrier elements710 each having the width of 0.0025 mm inbarrier element array704. In another example, ten non-blocking barrier elements712 each having a width of 0.0025 mm may be alternated with three hundred and eighty-nine blocking barrier elements710 each having the width of 0.0025 mm inbarrier element array704.
• Thus, referring toFIG. 7, first andsecond images706aand706bmay be formed bydisplay system700 at adistance728 frompixel array702 by calculating a value for slit spacing722 as described above. Equation 2 is provided as one example technique for selecting non-blocking slit spacing, for purposes of illustration. Alternatively, other techniques may be used to calculate and/or determine values forslit spacing722. For instance, in an embodiment, a lookup table that includes pre-calculated values for slit spacing722 may be maintained bybarrier array controller206. The lookup table may be used to look up values for slit spacing722 for corresponding values ofimage distance1004 andpixel spacing1006.
• It is noted that in the examples ofFIGS. 7 and 10,pixel array702 andbarrier element array704 are each shown as being substantially planar. In other embodiments,pixel array702 and/orbarrier element array704 may be curved (e.g., concave or convex relative to viewing space726). As such, equations, lookup tables, etc., used to calculate values for slit spacing722 and/or other parameters of a display system may be configured to account for such curvature, in a manner as would be known to persons skilled in the relevant art(s).
• First andsecond images706aand706bare configured to be perceived by a user as a three-dimensional image or view. For example,FIG. 11 showsdisplay system700 ofFIG. 7, where auser1104 receivesfirst image706aat afirst eye location1102aandsecond image706bat a second eye location1102b,according to an example embodiment. First andsecond images706aand706bmay be generated by first set of pixels714a-714dand second set of pixels716a-716das images that are slightly different perspective from each other.Images706aand706bare combined in the visual center of the brain ofuser1104 to be perceived as a three-dimensional image or view.
• In such an embodiment, first andsecond images706aand706bmay be formed bydisplay system700 such that their centers are spaced apart a width of a user's pupils (e.g., an “interocular distance”1106). For example, the spacing of first andsecond images706aand706bmay be approximately 65 mm (or other suitable spacing) to generally be equivalent tointerocular distance1106. As described above, multiple instances of first andsecond images706aand706bmay be formed bydisplay system700 that repeat in a viewing space. Thus, first andsecond images706aand706bshown inFIG. 11 that coincide with the left and right eyes ofuser1104 may be adjacent first andsecond images706aand706bof the repeating instances that are separated byinterocular distance1106. Alternatively, first andsecond images706aand706bshown inFIG. 11 coinciding with the left and right eyes ofuser1104 may be separated by one or more instances of first andsecond images706aand706bof the repeating instances that happen to be separated byinterocular distance1106.
• Referring back toFIG. 6, instep606, the array of barrier elements is configured into a second parallax barrier configuration that includes a third set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the blocking state and a fourth set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the non-blocking state to provide the viewer located at a second position with the three-dimensional view. For example, user1102 ofFIG. 11 may change positions in viewing space106 (FIG. 1), and assuch parallax barrier104 may adapt to a different parallax barrier configuration to cause the three-dimensional view to be moved from the first position of user1102 to the second position of user1102. In such case, referring toFIG. 2A or2B,barrier array controller206 may generate control signal216 to configurebarrier element array210 to include transparent strips of barrier elements configured to enable the three-dimensional view to be formed at the second position. The next subsection describes example embodiments for configuringbarrier element array210 into a second configuration, according tostep606, and into further configurations of blocking and non-blocking states to provide viewers with three-dimensional views.
• Furthermore, althoughFIGS. 7 and 11show display system700 having a configuration similar todisplay system200 ofFIG. 2A, alternatively,display system700 may be configured similarly todisplay system220 ofFIG. 2B to generateimages706aand706binviewing space726. In such an embodiment,barrier element array704 may be positioned between a backlighting panel (that is positioned wherepixel array702 is shown inFIGS. 7 and 10) andpixel array702, andpixel array702 is configured as a light filter (is not light emitting). The backlighting panel emits light that is filtered bybarrier element array704 as described above, and the filtered light is filtered bypixel array702 to impose images on the light filtered bypixel array702, formingimages706aand706bas shown inFIGS. 7 and 10.
• As described, in an embodiment,display system700 may be configured to generate a two-dimensional image for viewing by users in a viewing space. For example, flowchart600 (FIG. 6) may optionally include astep1202 shown inFIG. 12 to enable a two-dimensional view to be delivered to users, according to an embodiment. Instep1202, the array of barrier elements is configured into a third configuration to deliver a two-dimensional view. For example, in the third configuration,barrier array controller206 may generate control signal216 to configure each barrier element ofbarrier element array210 to be in the non-blocking state (transparent). In such case,barrier element array210 may be configured similarly tobarrier element array302 shown inFIG. 3, where allbarrier elements304 are selected to be non-blocking. Ifbarrier element array210 is transparent,barrier element array210 functions as an “all pass” filter to substantially pass all of light252 (FIG. 2A) or light238 (FIG. 2B) as filtered light110 to deliver the two-dimensional image generated bypixel array208 toviewing space106, to be viewable as a two-dimensional image in a similar fashion as a conventional display.
• B. Example Parallax Barrier Configurations
• As described above, various characteristics ofparallax barrier300 ofFIG. 3 may be modified to provide various parallax barrier configurations that deliver three-dimensional views with different characteristics and/or at different locations (e.g., at a changed viewer position). For instance,FIG. 13 shows astep1302 that may be performed instep606 of flowchart600 (FIG. 6) to provide a second or subsequent parallax barrier configuration, according to example embodiments. Instep1302, at least one of a distance between adjacent non-blocking slits of the plurality of parallel non-blocking slits or a width of at least one non-blocking slit of the plurality of parallel non-blocking slits is modified. For example, referring toFIGS. 8A and 8B, a distance between adjacent non-blocking strips802 (e.g., center-to-center slit spacing722 ofFIG. 7 and/or a width of one or more blocking strips804) may be modified and/or a width of one or more non-blocking strips802 may be modified. These and/or further parallax barrier parameters may be configured in any number of ways to create multiple additional parallax barrier configurations that each have a corresponding set of the barrier elements in the blocking state and a corresponding set of barrier elements in the non-blocking state to support a viewer located at any number of corresponding positions.
• For instance,FIG. 14 shows a view ofparallax barrier300 ofFIG. 3, according to an example embodiment. As shown inFIG. 14,parallax barrier300 includesbarrier element array302, which includes a plurality ofbarrier elements304 arranged in a two-dimensional array. Furthermore, as shown inFIG. 14,barrier element array302 includes a plurality of parallel strips ofbarrier elements304 that are selected to be non-blocking to form a plurality of parallel non-blocking strips1402a-1402e.As shown inFIG. 14, parallel non-blocking strips1402a-1402eare alternated with parallel blocking strips1404a-1404fofbarrier elements304 that are selected to be blocking. In the example ofFIG. 14, non-blocking strips1402a-1402eeach have a width (along the x-dimension) of twobarrier elements304, and blocking strips1404a-1404feach have a width of threebarrier elements304. Thus, relative toFIGS. 8A and 8B, where blocking strips804a-804geach have a width of twobarrier elements304, blocking strips1404a-1404ghave been modified to be wider to form another parallax barrier configuration.
• In embodiments, blocking strips may be modified to be wider or narrower by any desired number ofbarrier elements304, including a single barrier element (as inFIG. 14 versusFIG. 8A) or multiple barrier elements, including tens, hundreds, or even further numbers of barrier elements. A width of the blocking strips may be modified for various reasons. For example, the width of the blocking strips may be modified to be wider to reduce a resolution and/or an intensity of the display image(s), to increase a distance at which views are delivered, and/or to modify lateral positions of delivered views. Alternatively, the width of the blocking strips may be modified to be narrower to increase a resolution and/or an intensity of the display image(s), to decrease a distance at which views are delivered, and/or to modify lateral positions of delivered views.
• For instance,FIG. 15 shows adisplay system1500, according to an example embodiment.System1500 is generally similar tosystem700 ofFIG. 7, with differences described as follows. As shown inFIG. 15,system1500 includes apixel array1502 and abarrier element array1504.System1500 may also includedisplay controller202 ofFIG. 2, which is not shown inFIG. 15 for ease of illustration.Pixel array1502 includes a first set of pixels1514a-1514dand a second set of pixels1516a-1516d.First set of pixels1514a-1514dand second set of pixels1516a-1516dare configured to generate corresponding images or views that can be combined to be perceived as a single three-dimensional image or view. Pixels of the two sets of pixels are alternated inpixel array1502 in the order ofpixel1514a,pixel1516a,pixel1514b,pixel1516b,etc. Further pixels may be included in each set of pixels inpixel array1502 that are not visible inFIG. 15, including hundreds, thousands, or millions of pixels in each set of pixels.
• As shown inFIG. 15,barrier element array1504 includes barrier elements that are each either transparent or opaque. As shown inFIG. 15, barrier elements that are blocking are indicated as barrier elements1510a-1510f,and barrier elements that are non-blocking are indicated as barrier elements1512a-1512e.Blocking barrier elements1510 are alternated with non-blocking barrier elements1512 to form a plurality of parallel non-blocking slits inbarrier element array1504, similarly tobarrier element array304 shown inFIG. 8A. Light emanating frompixel array1502 is filtered bybarrier element array1504 to form first andsecond images1506aand1506batlocations1508aand1508b, respectively, in a manner as described above. As shown inFIG. 15, barrier elements1512a-1512eare each wider relative to barrier elements710a-710fofFIG. 7, while a spacing of pixels1514a-1514dis similar to the spacing of pixels714a-714dinFIG. 7. As such, adistance1524 at which first andsecond images1506aand1506bare formed frompixel array1502 is greater thandistance728 at which first andsecond images706aand706bare formed frompixel array702 inFIG. 7. In this manner, if user1104 (FIG. 11) has moved from a first position inviewing space106 atdistance728 to a second position inviewing space106 atdistance1524, the three-dimensional view may still be delivered touser1104 by reconfiguringparallax barrier704 from a first configuration to a second configuration. Configurations ofparallax barrier704 may enable views to be delivered touser1104 at lesser and greater distances thandistance728.
• For example, Equation 2 shown above may be rewritten as Equation 3 shown below to solve fordistance1004 inFIG. 10 as factor of spacing722:
• 
  distance 1004=(distance 1006×distance 1012)/(distance 1006−spacing 722)  Equation 3
• As indicated by Equation 3, if spacing722 is less than the value ofdistance1006, and is increased towards the value ofdistance1006,distance1004 increases. If spacing722 is less than the value ofdistance1006, and is decreased further from the value ofdistance1006,distance1004 decreases.
• As indicated in step1302 (FIG. 13), a width of one or more non-blocking slits in a barrier element array may be modified. For example,FIG. 16 shows a view ofparallax barrier300 ofFIG. 3 with a different width of non-blocking slits, according to an example embodiment. As shown inFIG. 16,parallax barrier300 includesbarrier element array302, which includes a plurality ofbarrier elements304 arranged in a two-dimensional array.Barrier element array302 includes a plurality of parallel strips ofbarrier elements304 that are selected to be non-blocking to form a plurality of parallelnon-blocking strips1602. As shown inFIG. 16, parallelnon-blocking strips1602 are alternated withparallel blocking strips1604 ofbarrier elements304. In the example ofFIG. 16,non-blocking strips1602 each have a width (along the x-dimension) of onebarrier element304, and blockingstrips1604 each have a width of onebarrier element304.
• Thus, in embodiments, a width of non-blocking slits in a barrier element may be modified. The width of the non-blocking slits may be modified to have any width of one ormore barrier elements304. The widths of non-blocking slits may be widened or narrowed for various reasons, including decreasing or increasing display resolution, decreasing or increasing clarity of images generated by one or more portions of the barrier element array, etc.
• C. Example Image Orientation Embodiments
• As described above, in embodiments, parallel non-blocking slits may be implemented in a barrier element array to generate three-dimensional images. In such an embodiment, the slits are oriented such that an axis that crosses through both eyes of a user (e.g.,user1104 inFIG. 11) is perpendicular to an axis along the length of the non-blocking slits. As such, a user sitting or standing in a viewing space sits or stands such that their body is generally aligned parallel to the non-blocking slits. Thus, in an embodiment, an orientation of the non-blocking slits of a barrier element array may be selected to be aligned with the body of a user. Furthermore, the orientation of non-blocking slits of a barrier element array may be selected on a section-by-section of the barrier element array basis. Each section of the barrier element array may include non-blocking slits that are aligned with a corresponding user to provide a three-dimensional image to that user.
• For instance,FIG. 17 shows astep1702 that may be performed duringflowchart600, according to example embodiments. Instep1702, each non-blocking slit of the plurality of parallel non-blocking slits is oriented at a selected angle relative to an axis of the barrier element array. For instance,FIGS. 18 and 19 show views ofparallax barrier300 ofFIG. 3 with non-blocking slits having alternative orientations, according to an example embodiment. As shown inFIG. 18,parallax barrier300 includesbarrier element array302, which includes a plurality ofbarrier elements304 arranged in a two-dimensional array.Barrier element array302 includes a plurality of parallel strips ofbarrier elements304 that are selected to be non-blocking to form a plurality of parallel non-blocking strips1802 (each having a width of one barrier elements304). As shown inFIG. 18, parallelnon-blocking strips1802 are alternated withparallel blocking strips1804 of barrier elements304 (each having a width of two barrier elements304). Parallelnon-blocking strips1802 are oriented in a first direction along a horizontal axis ofbarrier element array302.
• InFIGS. 8A and 8B, parallel non-blocking strips802 are oriented vertically, and thus may be configured to generate a three-dimensional image in a viewing space (as described above) to be viewable by a user whose body is oriented vertically (e.g., sitting upright or standing up). InFIG. 18, parallelnon-blocking strips1802 are oriented perpendicularly to parallel non-blocking strips802 ofFIGS. 8A and 8B. As such, parallelnon-blocking strips1802 may be configured to generate a three-dimensional image in a viewing space (as described above) to be viewable by a user whose body is oriented horizontally (e.g., laying down). In this manner, users who are oriented differently relative to each other can still each be provided with a corresponding three-dimensional image that accommodates their position.
• As such, horizontally and vertically oriented three-dimensional images may be enabled bybarrier element array304 by corresponding parallax barrier configurations. Furthermore,barrier element array304 may enable three-dimensional images of any orientation to be provided, including any angle between horizontal and vertical, by providing parallel non-blocking strips inbarrier element array302 of the desired angle (and by providing corresponding pixels in the pixel array arranged according to the desired angle). For example,FIG. 19 showsparallax barrier300, withbarrier element array302 including a plurality of parallel non-blocking strips1902 (each having a width of one barrier element304). As shown inFIG. 18, parallelnon-blocking strips1902 are alternated withparallel blocking strips1904 of barrier elements304 (each having a width of five barrier elements304). Parallelnon-blocking strips1902 are oriented at an acute angle1906 (an angle between zero and 90 degrees) relative to thehorizontal axis1908 ofbarrier element array302. In embodiments,angle1906 may have any value, to enable a user oriented at substantially the same angle to be provided with a corresponding three-dimensional image that accommodates their position, according to a corresponding parallax barrier configuration.
• D. Example Viewer Position Determining and Image Tuning Embodiments
• As described above, parallax barriers may be reconfigured to change the locations of delivered views based on changing viewer positions. As such, a position of a viewer may be determined/tracked so that a parallax barrier may be reconfigured to deliver views consistent with the changing position of the viewer. In embodiments, a position of a viewer may be determined/tracked by determining a position of the viewer directly, or by determining a position of a device associated with the viewer (e.g., a device worn by the viewer, held by the viewer, sitting in the viewer's lap, in the viewer's pocket, sitting next the viewer, etc.).
• For instance,FIG. 20 shows a block diagram of adisplay environment2000, according to an example embodiment. As shown inFIG. 20,display environment2000 includes adisplay device2002, aremote device2004, and aviewer2006.Display device2002 is an example ofdisplay system112 ofFIG. 1, and may be configured similarly to display device250 (FIG. 2A) or display device260 (FIG. 2B) in embodiments.Viewer2006 is delivered a three-dimensional view2008 by display device2002 (display device2002 may optionally also deliver a two-dimensional view to viewer2006).Remote device2004 is a device thatviewer2006 may use to interact withdisplay device2002. For example,remote device2004 may be a remote control, a headset, game controller, a smart phone, or other device.Display device2002 and/orremote device2004 may operate to provideposition information2010 regardinguser2006 to displaydevice2002.Display device2002 may useposition information2010 to reconfigure a parallax barrier ofdisplay device2002 to enableview2008 to be delivered toviewer2006 at various positions forviewer2006. For example,display device2002 and/orremote device2004 may use positioning techniques to track the position ofviewer2006.
• Remote device2004 may be configured in various ways to enable the position ofviewer2006 to be tracked. For instance,FIG. 21 shows a block diagram ofremote device2004, according to an example embodiment. As shown inFIG. 21,remote device2004 may include atransmitter2102, apositioning module2104, aposition calculator2106, auser interface module2108, one or more camera(s)2110, and animage processing system2112.Remote device2004 may include one or more of these elements shown inFIG. 21, depending on the particular embodiment. These elements ofremote device2004 are described as follows.
• Positioning module2104 may be included inremote device2004 to determine a position ofremote device2004 according to a positioning technique, such triangulation or trilateration. For instance,positioning module2104 may include one or more receivers that receive satellite broadcast signals (e.g., a global positioning system (GPS) module that receives signals from GPS satellites).Position calculator2106 may calculate the position ofremote device2004 by precisely timing the received signals according to GPS techniques. In another embodiment,positioning module2104 may include one or more receivers that receive signals transmitted bydisplay device2002 that are used byposition calculator2106 to calculate the position ofremote device2004. In other embodiments,positioning module2104 andposition calculator2106 may implement other types of positioning techniques.
• User interface module2108 may be present to enableviewer2006 to interact withremote device2004. For example,user interface module2108 may include any number and combination of user interface elements, such as a keyboard, a thumb wheel, a pointing device, a roller ball, a stick pointer, a joystick, a thumb pad, a display, a touch sensitive display, any number of virtual interface elements, a voice recognition system, a haptic interface, and/or other user interface elements described elsewhere herein or otherwise known.User interface module2108 may be configured to enableviewer2006 to manually enter position information forviewer2006 intoremote device2004, including manually entering coordinates ofviewer2006 inviewing space106, entering an indication of a predetermined location in viewingspace106 into remote device2004 (e.g., a “location A”, a “seat D,” etc.), or providing position information in any other manner.
• Camera(s)2110 may be present inremote device2004 to enable optical position detection ofviewer2006. For example, camera(s)2110 may be pointed byviewer2006 atdisplay device2002, which may display a symbol or code, and one or more images of the displayed symbol or code may be captured by camera(s)2110.Image processing system2112 may receive the captured image(s), and determine a position ofremote device2004 relative to displaydevice2002 based on the captured image(s). For example, in an embodiment, camera(s)2110 may include a pair of cameras, andimage processing system2112 may perform dual image processing to determine the position ofremote device2004 relative to displaydevice2002.
• Transmitter2102 is configured to transmitposition information2010 to displaydevice2002 fromremote device2004.Position information2010 may include a determined position for remote device2004 (e.g., calculated byposition calculator2106 or image processing system2112), and/or may include captured data (e.g., received signal data received bypositioning module2104, images captured by camera(s)2110, etc.) so thatdisplay device2002 may determine the position ofremote device2004 based on the captured data.
• Display device2002 may have any form, such as any one or more of a display or monitor, a game console, a set top box, a stereo receiver, a computer, any other display device mentioned elsewhere herein or otherwise known, or any combination of such devices.Display device2002 may be configured in various ways to enable the position ofviewer2006 to be tracked. For instance,FIG. 22 shows a block diagram ofdisplay device2002, according to an example embodiment. As shown inFIG. 21,display device2002 may include aposition determiner module2214 configured to determine a position of one or more viewers.Position determiner module2214 may include areceiver2202, one or more transmitter(s)2204, aposition calculator2206, amicrophone array2208, one or more camera(s)2210, and animage processing system2112.Position determiner module2214 may include one or more of these elements, depending on the particular embodiment. As shown inFIG. 22,position determiner module2214 generatesposition information2216 based on one or more ofreceiver2202, transmitter(s)2204,position calculator2206,microphone array2208, camera(s)2210, andimage processing system2112.Position information2216 may be received bydisplay controller2002, and used bydisplay controller2002 to adapt display device2002 (e.g., adapting one or more ofparallax barrier104,pixel array114, and/or backlighting116 ofFIG. 1 according to corresponding control signals) to deliver views toviewer2006 asviewer2006 may reposition within a viewing space. These elements ofdisplay device2002 are described as follows.
• When present,microphone array2208 includes one or more microphones that may be positioned in various microphone locations in and/or arounddisplay device2002 to capture sounds (e.g., voice) fromviewer2006.Microphone array2208 produces signals representative of the received sounds, which may be received byposition calculator2206.Position calculator2206 may be configured to use the received signals to determine the location ofviewer2006. For example,position calculator2206 may use voice recognition techniques to determine that the sounds are received fromviewer2006, and may perform audio localization techniques to determine a position ofviewer2006 based on the sounds.
• Camera(s)2210 may be present indisplay device2002 to enable optical position detection ofviewer2006. For example, camera(s)2210 may be pointed fromdisplay device2002 toviewing space106 to capture images ofviewer2006 and/orremote device2004.Viewer2006 and/orremote device2004 may optionally display a symbol or code, and the displayed symbol or code may be captured in the images.Image processing system2212 may receive the captured image(s), and determine a position ofviewer2006 and/orremote device2004 relative to displaydevice2002 based on the captured image(s) (e.g., using facial recognition, image processing of the symbol or code, etc.). For example, in an embodiment, camera(s)2210 may include a pair of cameras, andimage processing system2212 may perform dual image processing to determine the position ofviewer2006 and/orremote device2004 relative to displaydevice2002.
• When present, transmitter(s) may be configured to transmit signals that may be received bypositioning module2104 to determine a position ofremote device2004, as described above with respect toFIG. 21.
• Receiver2202 may be configured to receiveposition information2010 fromremote device2004. As described above,position information2010 may include a determined position forremote device2004 and/or may include captured data (e.g., received signal data, images, etc.).Display device2002 may determine the position ofremote device2004 based on the captured data. For example,position calculator2106 may determine a position ofremote device2004 based on the signal data received bypositioning module2104 atremote device2004. Alternatively,image processing system2112 may determine a position ofremote device2004 based on the images captured by camera(s)2210 atremote device2004.
III. Example Display Controller Implementations
• Display controller202,pixel array controller204,barrier array controller206,pixel array controller228,light source controller230, slitspacing calculator902,positioning module2104,position calculator2106,image processing system2112,position determiner module2214,position calculator2206, andimage processing system2212 may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. For example,display controller202,pixel array controller204,barrier array controller206,pixel array controller228,light source controller230, slitspacing calculator902,positioning module2104,position calculator2106,image processing system2112,position determiner module2214,position calculator2206, and/orimage processing system2212 may be implemented as computer program code configured to be executed in one or more processors. Alternatively,display controller202,pixel array controller204,barrier array controller206,pixel array controller228,light source controller230, slitspacing calculator902,positioning module2104,position calculator2106,image processing system2112,position determiner module2214,position calculator2206, and/orimage processing system2212 may be implemented as hardware logic/electrical circuitry.
• For instance,FIG. 23 shows a block diagram of an example implementation ofdisplay controller202, according to an embodiment. In embodiments,display controller202 may include one or more of the elements shown inFIG. 23. As shown in the example ofFIG. 23,display controller202 may include one or more processors (also called central processing units, or CPUs), such as aprocessor2304.Processor2304 is connected to acommunication infrastructure2302, such as a communication bus. In some embodiments,processor2304 can simultaneously operate multiple computing threads.
• Display controller202 also includes a primary ormain memory2306, such as random access memory (RAM).Main memory2306 has stored therein control logic2328A (computer software), and data.
• Display controller202 also includes one or moresecondary storage devices2310.Secondary storage devices2310 include, for example, ahard disk drive2312 and/or a removable storage device or drive2314, as well as other types of storage devices, such as memory cards and memory sticks. For instance,display controller202 may include an industry standard interface, such a universal serial bus (USB) interface for interfacing with devices such as a memory stick.Removable storage drive2314 represents a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, a compact disk drive, an optical storage device, tape backup, etc.
• Removable storage drive2314 interacts with aremovable storage unit2316.Removable storage unit2316 includes a computer useable orreadable storage medium2324 having stored thereincomputer software2328B (control logic) and/or data.Removable storage unit2316 represents a floppy disk, magnetic tape, compact disk, DVD, optical storage disk, or any other computer data storage device.Removable storage drive2314 reads from and/or writes toremovable storage unit2316 in a well known manner.
• Display controller202 further includes a communication ornetwork interface2318.Communication interface2318 enables thedisplay controller202 to communicate with remote devices. For example,communication interface2318 allowsdisplay controller202 to communicate over communication networks or mediums2342 (representing a form of a computer useable or readable medium), such as LANs, WANs, the Internet, etc.Network interface2318 may interface with remote sites or networks via wired or wireless connections.
• Control logic2328C may be transmitted to and fromdisplay controller202 via the communication medium2342.
• Any apparatus or manufacture comprising a computer useable or readable medium having control logic (software) stored therein is referred to herein as a computer program product or program storage device. This includes, but is not limited to,display controller202,main memory2306,secondary storage devices2310, andremovable storage unit2316. Such computer program products, having control logic stored therein that, when executed by one or more data processing devices, cause such data processing devices to operate as described herein, represent embodiments of the invention.
• Devices in which embodiments may be implemented may include storage, such as storage drives, memory devices, and further types of computer-readable media. Examples of such computer-readable storage media include a hard disk, a removable magnetic disk, a removable optical disk, flash memory cards, digital video disks, random access memories (RAMs), read only memories (ROM), and the like. As used herein, the terms “computer program medium” and “computer-readable medium” are used to generally refer to the hard disk associated with a hard disk drive, a removable magnetic disk, a removable optical disk (e.g., CDROMs, DVDs, etc.), zip disks, tapes, magnetic storage devices, MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems) storage, nanotechnology-based storage devices, as well as other media such as flash memory cards, digital video discs, RAM devices, ROM devices, and the like. Such computer-readable storage media may store program modules that include computer program logic fordisplay controller202,pixel array controller204,barrier array controller206,pixel array controller228,light source controller230, slitspacing calculator902,positioning module2104,position calculator2106,image processing system2112,position determiner module2214,position calculator2206,image processing system2212,flowchart600,step1202,step1302, step1702 (including any one or more steps of flowchart600), and/or further embodiments of the present invention described herein. Embodiments of the invention are directed to computer program products comprising such logic (e.g., in the form of program code or software) stored on any computer useable medium. Such program code, when executed in one or more processors, causes a device to operate as described herein.
• The invention can work with software, hardware, and/or operating system implementations other than those described herein. Any software, hardware, and operating system implementations suitable for performing the functions described herein can be used.
• As described herein,display controller202 may be implemented in association with a variety of types of display devices. Such display devices may be implemented in or in association with a variety of types of media devices, such as a stand-alone display (e.g., a television display such as flat panel display, etc.), a computer, a game console, a set top box, a digital video recorder (DVR), etc. Media content that is delivered in two-dimensional or three-dimensional form according to embodiments described herein may be stored locally or received from remote locations. For instance, such media content may be locally stored for playback (replay TV, DVR), may be stored in removable memory (e.g. DVDs, memory sticks, etc.), may be received on wireless and/or wired pathways through a network such as a home network, through Internet download streaming, through a cable network, a satellite network, and/or a fiber network, etc. For instance,FIG. 23 shows afirst media content2330A that is stored inhard disk drive2312, asecond media content2330B that is stored instorage medium2324 ofremovable storage unit2316, and athird media content2330C that may be remotely stored and received overcommunication medium2322 bycommunication interface2318. Media content2330 may be stored and/or received in these manners and/or in other ways.
IV. Conclusion
• While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims (26)

1. A display system that delivers a left eye view and a right eye view to a viewer, the viewer being located at either a first position or a second position relative to the display system, the viewer being enabled to perceive the left eye view and the right eye view as a single three-dimensional view, the display system comprising:

a pixel array;

an array of barrier elements positioned proximate to the pixel array, the array of barrier elements having a first parallax barrier configuration and a second parallax barrier configuration;

each of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements having a blocking state and a non-blocking state;

the first parallax barrier configuration including a first set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the blocking state and a second set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the non-blocking state;

the second parallax barrier configuration including a third set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the blocking state and a fourth set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the non-blocking state;

the third set differing from the first set by including at least one of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements found in the second set; and

the first parallax barrier configuration supporting the viewer located at the first position, and the second parallax barrier configuration supporting the viewer located at the second position.

2. The display system ofclaim 1, wherein the array of barrier elements has a third configuration, the third configuration having all of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the non-blocking state to enable the display system to deliver a two-dimensional view to a viewing space that includes the first position and the second position.

3. The display system ofclaim 1, wherein the array of barrier elements has a plurality of additional parallax barrier configurations that each include a corresponding set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the blocking state and a corresponding set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the non-blocking state, each additional parallax barrier configuration supporting the viewer located at a corresponding position.

4. The display system ofclaim 1, wherein the barrier elements of the first set are arranged in a first plurality of parallel blocking strips and the barrier elements of the second set are arranged in a first plurality of parallel non-blocking strips interleaved with the first plurality of blocking parallel strips;

wherein the barrier elements of the third set are arranged in a second plurality of parallel blocking strips and the barrier elements of the fourth set are arranged in a second plurality of parallel non-blocking strips interleaved with the second plurality of parallel blocking strips;

wherein adjacent non-blocking strips of the first plurality of parallel non-blocking strips are spaced by a first amount to deliver the right eye view and the left eye view at a first distance from the display system; and

wherein adjacent non-blocking strips of the second plurality of parallel non-blocking strips are spaced by a second amount to deliver the right eye view and the left eye view at a second distance from the image generator that is different from the first distance.

5. The display system ofclaim 4, wherein a number of barrier elements forming a width of each non-blocking strip of the first plurality of parallel non-blocking strips is greater than one.

6. The display system ofclaim 4, wherein a number of barrier elements forming a width of each blocking strip of the first plurality of parallel blocking strips is greater than one.

7. The display system ofclaim 4, wherein each non-blocking strip of the first plurality of parallel non-blocking strips is oriented at an acute angle to an axis of the array of barrier elements.

8. The display system ofclaim 1, further comprising:

a display controller that includes

a barrier array controller coupled to the array of barrier elements, and

a pixel array controller coupled to the pixel array.

9. The display system ofclaim 1, wherein the barrier array controller is configured to generate a control signal that is configured to select the first parallax barrier configuration or the second parallax barrier configuration for the array of barrier elements.

10. The display system ofclaim 1, wherein the array of barrier elements is positioned between the pixel array and a viewing space that includes the first position and the second position; and

wherein the pixel array emits light that is filtered by the array of barrier elements in the first parallax barrier configuration to deliver the three-dimensional view to the viewer located at the first position, and is filtered by the array of barrier elements in the second parallax barrier to deliver the three-dimensional view to the viewer located at the second position.

11. The display system ofclaim 1, further comprising:

a backlighting panel;

wherein the array of barrier elements is positioned between the backlighting panel and the pixel array, and the pixel array is positioned between the array of barrier elements and a viewing space that includes the first position and the second position; and

wherein the backlighting panel emits light that is filtered by the array of barrier elements in the first parallax barrier configuration, and the light filtered by the array of barrier elements in the first parallax barrier configuration is filtered by the pixel array to support the viewer located at the first position with the three-dimensional view; and

wherein the backlighting panel emits light that is filtered by the array of barrier elements in the second parallax barrier configuration, and the light filtered by the array of barrier elements in the second parallax barrier configuration is filtered by the pixel array to support the viewer located at the second position with the three-dimensional view.

12. A display system comprising:

an array of barrier elements that each have a blocking state and a non-blocking state;

a barrier array controller coupled to the array of barrier elements;

the barrier array controller being configured to place a first set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in a blocking state while placing a second set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in a non-blocking state to create a first parallax barrier configuration; and

the barrier array controller being configured to create a second parallax barrier configuration at least by moving a portion of the barrier elements in the first set to the second set.

13. The display system ofclaim 12, the display system being configured to deliver a left eye view and a right eye view to a viewer, the viewer being located at either a first position or a second position relative to the display system, the viewer being enabled to perceive the left eye view and the right eye view as a single three-dimensional view;

the first parallax barrier configuration supporting the viewer located at the first position, and the second parallax barrier configuration supporting the viewer located at the second position.

14. The display system ofclaim 12, wherein the barrier array controller is configured to create a third configuration by placing all of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the non-blocking state to enable the display system to deliver a two-dimensional view to a viewing space.

15. The display system ofclaim 14, wherein the barrier array controller is configured to create a plurality of additional parallax barrier configurations that each include a corresponding set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the blocking state and a corresponding set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the non-blocking state, each additional parallax barrier configuration supporting the viewer located at a corresponding position.

16. The display system ofclaim 13, further comprising:

a position determiner module coupled to the barrier array controller, the position determiner module being configured to determine a position of the viewer in a viewing space that includes the first position and the second position.

17. The display system ofclaim 13, further comprising:

a remote device associated with the viewer that is configured to determine a position of the viewer in a viewing space that includes the first position and the second position, the remote device being configured to transmit the determined position to a receiver that is communicatively coupled to the barrier array controller.

18. A method for delivering a left eye view and a right eye view to a viewer, the viewer being enabled to perceive the left eye view and the right eye view as a single three-dimensional view, the method comprising:

receiving light at an array of barrier elements, each of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements having a blocking state and a non-blocking state;

configuring the array of barrier elements into a first parallax barrier configuration that has a first set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the blocking state and a second set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the non-blocking state to provide the viewer located at a first position with the three-dimensional view; and

configuring the array of barrier elements into a second parallax barrier configuration that includes a third set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the blocking state and a fourth set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the non-blocking state to provide the viewer located at a second position with the three-dimensional view, the third set differing from the first set by including at least one of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements found in the second set.

19. The method ofclaim 18, further comprising:

configuring the array of barrier elements into a third configuration to deliver a two-dimensional view to a viewing space that includes the first position and the second position, the third configuration having all of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the non-blocking state.

20. The method ofclaim 18, further comprising:

configuring the array of barrier elements into one of a plurality of additional parallax barrier configurations that each have a corresponding set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the blocking state and a corresponding set of the barrier elements of the array of barrier elements in the non-blocking state, each additional parallax barrier configuration supporting the viewer located at a corresponding position.

21. The method ofclaim 18, wherein said configuring the array of barrier elements into a first parallax barrier configuration comprises:

arranging the barrier elements of the first set in a first plurality of parallel blocking strips and the barrier elements of the second set in a first plurality of parallel non-blocking strips interleaved with the first plurality of parallel blocking strips, adjacent non-blocking strips of the first plurality of parallel non-blocking strips being spaced by a first amount to deliver the right eye view and the left eye view at a first distance from the display system; and

wherein said configuring the array of barrier elements into a first parallax barrier configuration comprises:

arranging the barrier elements of the third set in a second plurality of parallel blocking strips and the barrier elements of the fourth set in a second plurality of parallel non-blocking strips interleaved with the second plurality of parallel blocking strips, adjacent non-blocking strips of the second plurality of parallel non-blocking strips being spaced by a second amount to deliver the right eye view and the left eye view at a second distance from the image generator that is different from the first distance.

22. The method ofclaim 21, wherein said configuring the array of barrier elements into a first parallax barrier configuration comprises:

configuring a width of each non-blocking strip of the first plurality of parallel non-blocking strips to have a width greater than one.

23. The method ofclaim 21, wherein said configuring the array of barrier elements into a first parallax barrier configuration comprises:

configuring a width of each blocking strip of the first plurality of parallel blocking strips to have a width greater than one.

24. The method ofclaim 19, wherein said configuring the array of barrier elements into a first parallax barrier configuration comprises:

configuring each non-blocking strip of the first plurality of parallel non-blocking strips to be oriented at an acute angle to an axis of the array of barrier elements.

25. The method ofclaim 18, wherein said receiving light at an array of barrier elements comprises:

receiving light from a pixel array at the array of barrier elements, the array of barrier elements being positioned between the pixel array and a viewing space that includes the first position and the second position; and

the method further comprising:

filtering the received light by the array of barrier elements in the first parallax barrier configuration to deliver the three-dimensional view to the viewer located at the first position; and

filtering the received light by the array of barrier elements in the second parallax barrier configuration to deliver the three-dimensional view to the viewer located at the second position.

26. The method ofclaim 18, wherein said receiving light at an array of barrier elements comprises:

receiving light from a backlighting panel at the array of barrier elements; and

the method further comprising:

filtering the received light by the array of barrier elements in the first parallax barrier configuration and by a pixel array to deliver the three-dimensional view to the viewer located at the first position; and

filtering the received light by the array of barrier elements in the second parallax barrier configuration and by the pixel array to deliver the three-dimensional view to the viewer located at the second position.

Images