Monocentric autostereoscopic viewing apparatus using resonant fiber-optic image generation

A substantially monocentric autostereoscopic optical apparatus for displaying a stereoscopic real image comprising a left image to be viewed by an observer at a left viewing pupil and a right image to be viewed by the observer at a right viewing pupil, said apparatus comprising a left image generation system and, similarly constructed, a right image generation system, with each image generation system comprising:

• (a1) a light source for emitting modulated light corresponding to a series of image pixels arranged according to a scan pattern;
• (a2) an optical waveguide having an input end coupled to said light source and a flexible output end, said output end emitting said modulated light;
• (a3) an actuator for deflecting said flexible output end of said optical waveguide according to said scan pattern;
• and
• (a4) an optical relay element for relaying said modulated light toward a beamsplitter;
• and
• (b) said beamsplitter folding the light path to direct said modulated light to a retro-reflective surface which thereby forms said stereoscopic real image from said left image generation system and from said right image generation system.

A method for display of a stereoscopic real image to an observer, the real image comprising a left image to be viewed by the observer at a left viewing pupil and a right image to be viewed by the observer at a right viewing pupil, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) forming a left image onto a retro-reflective surface comprises:
• (a1) emitting a left modulated light corresponding to a series of image pixels arranged according to a left scan pattern;
• (a2) directing said left modulated light through a left optical waveguide having a left output end for emitting said left modulated light;
• (a3) deflecting said left output end according to said left scan pattern;
• (a4) projecting said left modulated light emitted from said left output end toward said retro-reflective surface;
• (b) forming a right image onto said retro-reflective surface with the steps of:
• (b1) emitting a right modulated light corresponding to a series of image pixels arranged according to a right scan pattern;
• (b2) directing said right modulated light through a right optical waveguide having a right output end for emitting said right modulated light;
• (b3) deflecting said right output end according to said right scan pattern;
• and
• (b4) projecting said right modulated light emitted from said right output end toward said retro-reflective surface.