# US 6,259,450 B1 · Three-dimensional display system apparatus and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,259,450 B1 - Document ID: US6259450B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 08/655,257 - Filed: 1996-06-05 - Granted: 2001-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 1996-06-05 - Assignees: Hyper3D Corp. - Inventors: Alessandro Chiabrera; Bruno Bianco; Jonathan J. Kaufman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6259450B1 ## CPC - G06T 15/10: Geometric effects - H04N 13/365: using digital micromirror devices [DMD] - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract In a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, a three-dimensional scene is reproduced on a specialized light display which offers full multiviewpoint capability and autostereoscopic views. The displayed image is produced using a set of M two-dimensional images of the scene collected at a set of distinct spatial locations. These M two-dimensional images are processed through a specialized encoding scheme to obtain a set of N×K display-excitation electrical-input signals, where K is the number of pixels in the display, and N≦M is the number of individual light-radiating elements within one pixel. The display is thus comprised of a total of N×K light-radiating elements. Each of the elements is adapted for control of their associated radiance patterns. The display is connected for response to the set of N×K display-excitation electrical-input signals. In this manner, the display provides a multiviewpoint and autostereoscopic three-dimensional image associated with the original three-dimensional scene. An alternative embodiment of the invention reproduces a temporal sequence of three-dimensional scenes, utilizing a temporal sequence of sets of M two-dimensional images, thus enabling application to three-dimensional television. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Apparatus for providing a three-dimensional image of a three-dimensional scene, said apparatus comprising: (a) a set of M two-dimensional views of said three-dimensional scene; (b) encoding means for processing said set of M two-dimensional views to obtain a set of display-excitation electrical-input signals; and (c) planar display means connected for response to said set of display-excitation electrical-input signals, whereby to produce said three-dimensional image of said three-dimensional scene. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display means is a digital micromirror device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display means is a light emitting diode array device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display means is a liquid crystal display device. ### Claim 5 Apparatus for providing a sequence of three-dimensional images of a sequence of three-dimensional scenes, said apparatus comprising: (a) a sequence of sets of M two-dimensional views of said sequence of three-dimensional scenes; (b) encoding means for processing said sequence of sets of M two-dimensional views to obtain a sequence of sets of display-excitation electrical-input signals; and (c) planar display means connected for response to said sequence of sets of display-excitation electrical-input signals, whereby to produce said sequence of three-dimensional images of said sequence of three-dimensional scenes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said display means is a digital micromirror device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said display means is a light emitting diode array device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said display means is a liquid crystal display device. ### Claim 9 Apparatus for providing a three-dimensional image of a three-dimensional scene, said apparatus comprising: (a) a set of M two-dimensional views of said three-dimensional scene; (b) encoding means for processing said set of M two-dimensional views to obtain a set of display-excitation electrical-input signals; and, (c) planar display means connected for response to said set of display-excitation electrical-input signals, said planar display means including a set of light-radiating elements and adapted for controlling the radiance pattern from each of said light-radiating elements in said set of light-radiating elements to thereby produce said three-dimensional image of said three-dimensional scene. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said display means is a digital micromirror devices. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said display means is a light emitting diode array device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said display means is a liquid crystal display device. ### Claim 13 Apparatus for providing a sequence of three-dimensional images of a sequence of three-dimensional scenes, said apparatus comprising: (a) a sequence of sets of M two-dimensional views of said sequence of three-dimensional scenes; (b) encoding means for processing said sequence of sets of M two-dimensional views to obtain a sequence of sets of display-excitation electrical-input signals; (c) planar display means connected for response to said sequence of sets of display-excitation electrical-input signals, said planar display means including a set of light-radiating elements and adapted for controlling the radiance pattern from each of said light-radiating elements in said set of light-radiating elements to thereby produce said sequence of three-dimensional images of said sequence of three-dimensional scenes. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said display means is a digital micromirror device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said display means is a light emitting diode array device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said display means is a liquid crystal display device. ### Claim 17 The method for producing a three-dimensional image of a three-dimensional scene, using a set of M two-dimensional views of said three-dimensional scene, and a planar display, which method comprises the steps of: (a) using said set of M two-dimensional views to produce a set of display-excitation electrical-input signals; and (b) driving said planar display with said set of display-excitation electrical-input signals to produce said three-dimensional image of said three-dimensional scene. ### Claim 18 The method for producing a sequence of three-dimensional images of a sequence of three-dimensional scenes, using a sequence of sets of M two-dimensional views of said sequence of three-dimensional scenes, and a planar display, which method comprises the steps of: (a) using said sequence of sets of M two-dimensional views to produce a sequence of sets of display-excitation electrical-input signals; and (b) driving said planar display with said set of display-excitation electrical-input signals to produce said sequence of three-dimensional images of said sequence of three-dimensional scenes. ### Claim 19 The method for producing a three-dimensional image of a three-dimensional scene, using a set of M two-dimensional views of said three-dimensional scene, and a planar display comprised of a set of light-radiating elements, in which a radiance pattern of each of said light-radiating elements of said set of light-radiating elements is controllable, which method comprises the steps of: (a) using said set of M two-dimensional views to produce a set of display-excitation electrical-input signals; (b) driving said planar display with said set of display-excitation electrical-input signals; and (c) controlling the radiance pattern of light radiated from each of said light-radiating elements of said set of light-radiating elements in said planar display to produce said three-dimensional image of said three-dimensional scene. ### Claim 20 The method for producing a sequence of three-dimensional images of a sequence of three-dimensional scenes, using a sequence of sets of M two-dimensional views of said sequence of three-dimensional scenes, and a planar display comprised of a set of light-radiating elements, in which a radiance pattern of each of said light-radiating elements of said set of light-radiating elements is controllable, which method comprises the steps of: (a) using said sequence of sets of M two-dimensional views to produce a sequence of sets of display-excitation electrical-input signals; (b) driving said planar display with said sequence of sets of display-excitation electrical-input signals; and (c) controlling the radiance pattern of light radiated from each of said light-radiating elements of said set of light-radiating elements in said planar display to produce said sequence of three-dimensional images of said sequence of three-dimensional scenes. ### Claim 21 Apparatus for providing a three-dimensional image of a three-dimensional scene, said apparatus comprising: (a) a set of M two-dimensional views of said three-dimensional scene; (b) encoding means for processing said set of M two-dimensional views to obtain a set of display-excitation electrical-input signals, said encoding means including means for orthogonal expansion of said set of M two-dimensional views; and, (c) display means connected for response to said set of display-excitation electrical-input signals, whereby to produce said three-dimensional image of said three-dimensional scene. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said means for orthogonal expansion of said set of M two-dimensional views includes means for tesseral harmonic expansion of said set of M two-dimensional views. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said means for orthogonal expansion of said set of M two-dimensional views includes means for Tchebychef polynomial expansion of said set of M two-dimensional views. ### Claim 24 The method for producing a three-dimensional image of a three-dimensional scene, comprising the steps of: (a) deriving, with at least one orthogonal expansion, a set of display-excitation electrical-input signals; and, (b) driving a display with said set of display-excitation electrical-input signals to produce said three-dimensional image of said three-dimensional scene. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein said orthogonal expansion is a tesseral harmonic expansion. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein said orthogonal expansion is a Tchebychef polynomial expansion. ### Claim 27 Apparatus for providing a three-dimensional image of a three-dimensional scene, said apparatus comprising: (a) a set of M two-dimensional views of said three-dimensional scene; (b) encoding means for processing said set of M two-dimensional views to obtain a set of display-excitation electrical-input signals, said encoding means including means for orthogonal expansion of said set of M two-dimensional views; and, (c) planar display means connected for response to said set of display-excitation electrical-input signals, whereby to produce said three-dimensional image of said three-dimensional scene. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said means for orthogonal expansion of said set of M two-dimensional views includes means for tesseral harmonic expansion of said set of M two-dimensional views. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said means for orthogonal expansion of said set of M two-dimensional views includes means for Tchebychef polynomial expansion of said set of M two-dimensional views. ### Claim 30 The method for producing a three-dimensional image of a three-dimensional scene, comprising the steps of: (a) deriving, with at least one orthogonal expansion, a set of display-excitation electrical-input signals; and, (b) driving a planar display with said set of display-excitation electrical-input signals to produce said three-dimensional image of said three-dimensional scene. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein said orthogonal expansion is a tesseral harmonic expansion. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein said orthogonal expansion is a Tchebychef polynomial expansion.