Flicker-reduced image generation device, multifocal display system, and operating method thereof

A multifocal display system comprising:

• a display device including at least one display panel and at least one focus conversion device;
• a driving circuit configured to generate a display driving signal for driving the display panel and a driving synchronization signal for controlling an operation of the focus conversion device synchronized with the display panel;
• a controller configured to output image data displayed on the display panel and a control signal for controlling the driving circuit;
• and
• a flicker-reduced image generation device configured to receive a multifocal image frame, to extract a plurality of focal plane images corresponding to each of a plurality of focal planes from the multifocal image frame, to determine a target focal plane among the plurality of focal planes, to perform defocusing processing on focal plane images of each of remaining focal planes excluding the target focal plane among the plurality of focal planes, to generate a flicker-reduced image corresponding to the target focal plane based on a focal plane image of the target focal plane and the defocused focal plane images of each of the remaining focal planes, and to output the flicker-reduced image to the controller.

A method of operating a multifocal display system, the method comprising:

• receiving a multifocal image frame;
• extracting a plurality of focal plane images corresponding to each of a plurality of focal planes from the multifocal image frame;
• determining a target focal plane among the plurality of focal planes;
• performing defocusing processing on focal plane images of each of remaining focal planes excluding the target focal plane among the plurality of focal planes;
• and
• generating a flicker-reduced image corresponding to the target focal plane based on a focal plane image of the target focal plane and the defocused focal plane images of each of the remaining focal planes.