We propose an omnidirectional three-dimensional (3D) display system. This is a tool for communication around a 3D image between a small number of people. This 3D display consists of multiple basic 3D display units. Each basic 3D display unit consists of a projector and a curved HOE lens array sheets. The projector is located on the center of the curvature of the curved HOE lens array, and it projects light rays on the curved HOE lens array with ascending vertical angle 45-degree. Projected light rays are reflected and reconstruct the 3D image over the center of the curvature by the curved HOE lens array. In this method, even though the viewing angle of each HOE lens does not increase, the viewing angle of the 3D image by the curved HOE lens array can be increased. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, we constructed the prototype basic 3D unit. The viewing angle of a 3D image was 44-degree. Therefore, the viewing angle was increased by the proposed method compared to 17-degree by the conventional flat HOE lens array. This paper describes the principle of proposed 3D display system, and also describes the experimental results.

Date Published: 12 March 2013
PDF: 9 pages
Proc. SPIE 8648, Stereoscopic Displays and Applications XXIV, 86481N (12 March 2013); doi: 10.1117/12.2002321

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8648:
Stereoscopic Displays and Applications XXIV
Andrew J. Woods; Nicolas S. Holliman; Gregg E. Favalora, Editor(s)