Near-eye sequential light-field projector with correct monocular depth cues

Augmented reality device destined to be worn by a user, comprising a light-field projector comprising:

• a light source comprising a plurality of illumination point-lights configured for sequentially emitting a plurality of incident light fields, the plurality of sequentially projected pinhole-aperture light-fields forming an intersection wide-aperture light-field;
• a spatial light modulator configured for providing a sequence of source images;
• the spatial light modulator being further configured for modulating each of the incident light-fields in accordance with the source images such as to project sequentially a plurality of pinhole-aperture light-fields, each pinhole-aperture light-fields carrying a light-field component from the source image;
• wherein each sequentially projected pinhole-aperture light-field forms an intersection virtual pinhole through which the component from the source image can be seen, each virtual pinholes having an aperture stop which is determined by the size of the illumination point-light and being spatially shifted in relation with each other, the near-eye projected image being seen through the plurality of virtual pinholes;
• wherein the light-field projector further comprises an optical device configured for guiding said plurality of incident light fields from the light source to the spatial light modulator, and for guiding the pinhole-aperture light-fields between the spatial light modulator and the wide-aperture light-field;
• wherein the optical device comprises a lens and a Fourier filter:
• wherein the light-field projector comprises a see-through box comprising a plurality of elements embedded in the see-through box, each element comprising an illumination point-light, such that the plurality of elements forms the point-light source;
• wherein the Fourier filter comprises an array of mirrors, and each element comprising a mirror;
• wherein the lens is comprised between the see-through box and the spatial light modulator, the light-field projector being configured such that the pinhole-aperture light-field generated by the point-light source of an element passes through the lens before reaching the spatial light modulator;
• and
• wherein the spatial light modulator is further configured to reflect the pinhole-aperture light-field such that it passes again through the lens and is directed to the mirror of another element, the mirror of the other element reflecting the pinhole-aperture light-field towards the eye retina.

Method for operating the augmented reality device, comprising a light source comprising:

• a plurality of illumination point-lights configured for sequentially emitting a plurality of incident light fields, the plurality of sequentially projected pinhole-aperture light-fields forming an intersection wide-aperture light-field;
• a spatial light modulator configured for providing a sequence of source images;
• the spatial light modulator being further configured for modulating each of the incident light-fields in accordance with the source images such as to project sequentially a plurality of pinhole-aperture light-fields, each pinhole-aperture light-fields carrying a light-field component from the source image;
• wherein each sequentially projected pinhole-aperture light-field forms an intersection virtual pinhole through which the component from the source image can be seen, each virtual pinholes having an aperture stop which is determined by the size of the illumination point-light and being spatially shifted in relation with each other, the near-eye projected image being seen through the plurality of virtual pinholes;
• wherein the light-field projector further comprises an optical device configured for guiding said plurality of incident light fields from the light source to the spatial light modulator, and for guiding the pinhole-aperture light-fields between the spatial light modulator and the wide-aperture light-field:
• wherein the optical device comprises a lens and a Fourier filter:
• wherein the light-field projector comprises a see-through box comprising a plurality of elements embedded in the see-through box, each element comprising an illumination point-light, such that the plurality of elements forms the point-light source,
• wherein the Fourier filter comprises an array of mirrors, and each element comprising a mirror;
• wherein the spatial light modulator is comprised at one side of the see-through box:
• wherein the lens is comprised between the see-through box and the spatial light modulator, the light-field projector being configured such that the pinhole-aperture light-field generated by the point-light source of an element passes through the lens before reaching the spatial light modulator;
• and
• wherein the spatial light modulator is further configured to reflect the pinhole-aperture light-field such that it passes again through the lens and is directed to the mirror of another element. the mirror of the other element reflecting the pinhole-aperture light-field towards the eye retina:
• the method comprising:
• displaying a sequence of source images on the spatial light modulator;
• illuminating the displayed source images with the light-field of radial rays;
• wherein a sub-ensemble of the plurality of point-lights is illuminated according to a time sequence function.