Cylindrical 3-D video display observable from all directions

Abstract

We propose a 3-D video display technique that allows multiple viewers to observe 3-D images from a 360-degree horizontal arc without wearing 3-D glasses. This technique uses a cylindrical parallax barrier and a one-dimensional light source array. We have developed an experimental display using this technique and have demonstrated observation of 3-D images from a 360-degree horizontal arc without the use of 3-D glasses. Since this technique is based on the parallax panoramagram, the parallax number and resolution are limited by the diffraction at the parallax barrier. To overcome these limits, we improved the technique by revolving the parallax barrier. We have incorporated this new technique in our new experimental display. The display is capable of displaying cylindrical 3-D video images within a diameter of 100 mm and a height of 128 mm. Images are described with a resolution of 1254 pixels circularly and 128 pixels vertically and are refreshed at 30 Hz. Each pixel has a viewing angle of 60 degrees that is divided into 70 views, so the angular parallax interval of each pixel is less than 1 degree. In such a case, observers may barely perceive discrete parallax. The pixels are arranged on a cylindrical surface to allow the produced 3-D images to be observed from all directions.