Viewing-angle-enhanced integral imaging system using a curved lens array

Yunhee Kim,Sungyong Jung,Heejin Choi,Byoungho Lee,Jae-Hyeung Park,Sung-Wook Min

doi:10.1364/opex.12.000421

Abstract

We propose an enhanced three-dimensional integral imaging system using a curved lens array. Incorporation of a curved lens array instead of a conventional flat lens array expands the viewing angle remarkably. The flipped images are eliminated effectively by adopting barriers. The principle of the proposed system is explained and the experimental results are also presented.

Highlights

The integral imaging (InIm), which uses a lens array and a planar display panel, is in the spotlight as an autostereoscopic three-dimensional (3D) display method for its many advantages compared with other techniques [1,2,3,4,5,6]
In the InIm system each elemental lens has its corresponding area on the display panel
By use of a curved lens array and the elemental images that are generated by computer-generated integral imaging (CGII) according to the curvature of the lens array, the viewing angle is expanded remarkably

Summary

Introduction and motivation

The integral imaging (InIm), which uses a lens array and a planar display panel, is in the spotlight as an autostereoscopic three-dimensional (3D) display method for its many advantages compared with other techniques [1,2,3,4,5,6]. There is limitation in decreasing the f-number and there occurs the lens aberration Another method is using lens switching to enhance the viewing angle by doubling the region of each elemental image [9]. To implement the dynamic mask without mechanical movement, another method using orthogonal polarization switching was proposed [10] This method uses orthogonally polarized elemental images with polarization shutter screen and the orthogonal polarization sheet attached to the lens array. The method cannot implement dynamic color display Another method which uses moving lenslet arrays with low fill factor [12] was proposed, but the system needs mechanical movement. The conventional viewing angle analysis should be quite modified and the proposed system can widen the viewing angle

Principle of the proposed method

Experimental results

Conclusion