# US 12,120,469 B2 · Multiplexing light field display

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- Number: US 12,120,469 B2
- Document ID: US12120469B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/508,474
- Filed: 2023-11-14
- Published: 2024-03-14
- Granted: 2024-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2021-04-23
- Assignees: Avalon Holographics Inc.
- Applicants: Avalon Holographics Inc.
- Inventors: Jordan Peckham; Daniel Webber; Wally Haas
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12120469B2

## CPC

- H04N 9/3152: {for shaping the light beam (beam shaping per se G02B27/09)}
- H04N 9/3179: {Video signal processing therefor}
- H04N 9/3111: {for displaying the colours sequentially, e.g. by using sequentially activated light sources (sequential projection in colour photography G03B33/08)}
- H04N 9/3141: {Constructional details thereof (details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14)}
- H04N 9/3147: {Multi-projection systems (video walls G06F3/1446)}
- H04N 9/3155: {for controlling the light source (light source control per se H05B35/00 – H05B47/00; control of an illumination source for displays in general G09G3/3406)}
- H04N 9/3182: {Colour adjustment, e.g. white balance, shading or gamut (white balance per se H04N9/73; control of amplitude of colour signals H04N9/68; colour control circuits for displays in general G09G5/02, G09G3/2003, G09G3/3607)}
- H04N 9/3188: {Scale or resolution adjustment (scaling in general G06T3/40; resolution modifying circuits for displays in general G09G5/391)}
- H04N 13/32: using arrays of controllable light sources; using moving apertures or moving light sources
- H04N 13/354: for displaying sequentially
- H04N 13/363: using image projection screens (volumetric display H04N13/388)
- G02B 26/0833: {the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD (G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B)}
- H04N 9/3102: {using two-dimensional electronic spatial light modulators (micromechanical modulators as such G02B26/0833; liquid crystal modulators as such G02F1/13)}
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

A multiplexed light field projector device and a multiplexed light field display to output a light field image is described. The projector has a projector base with a projection optical system configured to output light rays to form a projected image, a collimating optical system configured for collimation of the projected image light rays to form a second projected image, which is directed to a display optical system to produce a light field image. Light field projector devices or alternative projector devices may be used individually or in combination with one or more other projectors which can be arranged to form a multiplexed direct projection light field display. The arrangement of projector devices may have an individual or shared display optical system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A light field display device comprising:
an illumination optical system comprising a flat panel display for projecting a pixel array;
a collimating optical system to collimate light from the pixel array and create a collimated projected image;
a display optical system to receive the collimated projected image; and
a multiplexing device to shift a ray path of the collimated projected image to provide a multiplexed light field output.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The light field display device of claim 1, wherein the flat panel display is a light emitting diode (LED) panel, a liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma, or an electroluminescent panel.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The light field display device of claim 2, wherein the LED panel comprises organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) or quantum dot light emitting diodes (QLEDs).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The light field display device of claim 1, wherein the multiplexed light field output comprises two individual light field images.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The light field display device of claim 1, wherein the display optical system comprises one or more of a single lens, lens array, pinhole array, metasurface, and a metalens.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The light field display device of claim 1, wherein the multiplexing device is capable of shifting the display optical system along one or more of a first axis, a second axis, and a third axis.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The light field display device of claim 1, wherein the multiplexing device causes deformation of the display optical system.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The light field display device of claim 1, wherein the multiplexing device manipulates the refractive index of a material in the display optical system.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The light field display device of claim 1, wherein the multiplexing device adjusts an aperture of a pinhole array in the display optical system.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The light field display device of claim 1, wherein the multiplexing device comprises a multiplexing layer positioned between the collimating optical system and the display optical system, the multiplexing layer having an adjustable index of refraction.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The light field display device of claim 1, wherein the multiplexing device is connected to the display optical system.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The light field display device of claim 1, further comprising a magnifying optical component to receive and magnify one or more of the pixel array and the collimated projected image.

### Claim 13

A method of creating a multiplexed light field comprising:
generating a pixel array along a ray path;
collimating the pixel array to produce a collimated projected image;
displaying the collimated projected image to produce a light field output at a display optical system; and
shifting the ray path to multiplex the light field output and produce a multiplexed light field image.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising magnifying one or both of the pixel array and the collimated projected image.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein shifting the ray path comprises shifting the display optical system along one or more of a first axis, a second axis or a third axis.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein shifting the ray path comprises deformation of the display optical system.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein shifting the ray path comprises manipulating a refractive index of a material along the ray path.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein shifting the ray path comprises adjusting an aperture of a pinhole array in the display optical system.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the pixel array is generated by a flat panel display.