360-degree three-dimensional table-screen display using small array of high-speed projectors

Abstract

A new 360-degree three-dimensional table-screen display is proposed, which combines the previously proposed highspeed projector and multi-projector systems. The proposed system consists of a small number of high-speed projectors and a rotating screen. Because each high-speed projector is located outside the rotating axis of the screen, multiple projectors can be aligned above or below the rotating screen. The lens shift technique is used to superimpose multiple images generated by all projectors on the rotating screen. The screen has an off-axis lens function such that the rotation of the screen generates numerous viewpoints on a circle around the rotating screen. Each projector generates numerous viewpoints on a different circle. The use of multiple projectors enables the increase in the number of colors, the reduction of the rotation speed of the screen, and the increase in the number of viewpoints. An experimental system employing two digital micro-mirror device (DMD) projectors and white LEDs was demonstrated. The rotating speed of the screen was 1,666 rpm in order to generate a 3D image with a frame rate of 28 Hz. Each projector generated 800 viewpoints on a different circle with a diameter 800 mm. The diameter of the screen was 300 mm. The 3D resolution was 768 × 768.