Display assembly arranged to create a perception of a three-dimensional scene

A display assembly for eliciting a perception of a three-dimensional (3D) scene in an observer, the display assembly comprising:

• a scene display screen;
• a privacy screen mounted over the scene display screen for reducing viewing angle thereof;
• a first mirror having a reflection side as a first reflection side and a transmission side as a first transmission side, the first reflection side mounted at an angle to the scene display screen for illumination thereby;
• a background display screen facing the first transmission side for illumination thereof;
• a housing arranged about the scene display screen, background display screen and first mirror for reducing ambient light within the housing including an opening for viewing of the reflection side of the first mirror therethrough;
• and
• an image generation assembly coupled to the scene display screen for producing a moving scene image thereon;
• wherein the observer views the background display screen and the scene display screen simultaneously when viewing the reflection side of the first mirror and wherein the privacy screen prevents viewing by the observer of a secondary scene image, and
• wherein the moving scene image rotates at a frequency of between three to six times per second.

A method for creating a perception of a 3D object in an observer, the method comprising:

• displaying to the observer a reflection of a 2D moving scene image corresponding to the 3D object with a reflective side of a partially silvered mirror;
• displaying a background image at a location behind the partially silvered mirror, relative to the observer;
• wherein the background image is transmitted through a transmission side of the partially silvered mirror to the observer;
• displaying a shadow image corresponding to the moving 2D display on a shadow display screen and reflecting the shadow image for viewing on an apparent plane at ninety degrees to an apparent viewing plane of the moving scene image;
• and
• limiting the viewing range of the observer to see the moving 2D display to thereby prevent formation of a secondary image of the moving 2D display.