Light field image engine method and apparatus for generating projected 3D light fields

A light field display method comprising:

• directing light from a light source to a spatial light modulator, configured to modulate the light into an image;
• using spatial multiplexing, by the spatial light modulator, to independently generate sub-pixels for each pixel of the image;
• using an imaging lens, mapping the image generated by the spatial light modulator onto directable micromirrors, the mapping adjusts a pixel size of the spatial light modulator to a pixel size of the directable micromirrors according to a magnification ratio, the directable micromirrors are of a digital micromirror device;
• and
• using temporal multiplexing, by the directable micromirrors, to reflect the image toward a projection lens, wherein each micromirror successively reflects sub-pixels of a corresponding pixel toward the projection lens in different angular directions to generate different viewing directions of the corresponding pixel.

A light field display device comprising:

• a light engine generating light;
• a projection lens;
• a spatial light modulator along an optical path from the light engine to the projection lens, wherein the spatial light modulator is configured to modulate the light into an image using spatial multiplexing to independently generate sub-pixels for each pixel of the image;
• a digital micromirror device along the optical path between the spatial light modulator and the projection lens, wherein the digital micromirror device has a plurality of individually-directable micromirrors, the digital micromirror device is configured to perform temporal multiplexing, wherein each micromirror successively reflects sub-pixels of a corresponding pixel toward the projection lens in different angular directions, generating different viewing directions of the corresponding pixel.

A light field display method comprising:

• directing light from a light source to a spatial light modulator, configured to modulate the light into an image;
• using spatial multiplexing, by the spatial light modulator, to independently generate sub-pixels for each pixel of the image;
• and
• using temporal multiplexing, by directable micromirrors of a digital micromirror device, to reflect the image toward a projection lens, wherein each micromirror successively reflects sub-pixels of a corresponding pixel toward the projection lens in different angular directions, generating different viewing directions of the corresponding pixel.