Multifocal display devices and methods

An image transmission method for transmitting a set of N composite images, for rendering N reconstructed primary images on a multifocal display (MFD) device, based on a set of N primary images, wherein N is greater or equal 2, wherein the N primary images are two-dimensional images of a same three-dimensional video frame and each of the N primary images has a different associated focus distance, wherein the image transmission method comprises:

• partitioning each of the N primary images into image portions;
• generating the N composite images by placing each image portion of each of the N primary images into one of the N composite images such that each composite image, of the N composite images, comprises image portions from two or more of the N primary images;
• and
• transmitting the N composite images to the MFD device for rendering the N reconstructed primary images on the MFD device,
• wherein the N primary images are identical in size and shape,
• wherein, during the partitioning, the N primary images are partitioned into image portions in a same manner, and
• wherein each image portion of each of the primary images is placed at the same position within the composite image as in a primary image of the N primary images.

An image reception device for receiving a set of composite images, for rendering on a multifocal display (MFD) device, from an image transmission device, wherein the image reception device comprises:

• a communication interface configured to receive the set of composite images from the image transmission device, wherein the composite images are based on a set of N primary images, wherein N is greater or equal 2, wherein the N primary images are two-dimensional images of a same three-dimensional video frame and each primary image, of the N primary images, has a different associated focus distance, and wherein each composite image, of the composite images, comprises image portions from two or more of the N primary images;
• and
• a processing circuitry configured to reconstruct the N primary images, for display on the MFD device, from the set of composite images by placing each image portion of each of the composite images into at least one of the N reconstructed primary images,
• wherein the N primary images are identical in size and shape,
• wherein the N primary images are partitioned into the image portions in a same manner, and
• wherein each image portion of each of the primary images is placed at the same position within the composite image as in a primary image of the N primary images.

An image reception method for receiving a set of composite images, for rendering on a multifocal display (MFD) device, from an image transmission device, wherein the image reception method comprises:

• receiving the set of composite images from the image transmission device, wherein the composite images are based on a set of N primary images, wherein N is greater or equal 2, wherein the N primary images are two-dimensional images of a same three-dimensional video frame and wherein each of the N primary images has a different associated focus distance, and wherein each composite image, of the composite images, comprises image portions from two or more of the N primary images;
• and
• reconstructing the N primary images, for display on the MFD device, from the set of composite images by placing each image portion of each of the composite images into at least one of the N reconstructed primary images,
• wherein the N primary images are identical in size and shape,
• wherein the N primary images are partitioned into the image portions in a same manner, and
• wherein each image portion of each of the primary images is placed at the same position within the composite image as in a primary image of the N primary images.