Switchable liquid crystal lenticular microlens arrays based on photopolymerization-induced phase separation for 2D/3D autostereoscopic displays

Conventionally, the fabrication of liquid crystal lenticular microlens arrays (LCLMLAs) is complicated and costly. Here, we demonstrate a one-step fabrication technique for LCLMLAs, which is prepared through the photopolymerization-induced phase separation in the LC/polymer composite. The LCLMLAs possess both polarization-dependent and electrically tunable focusing properties. Furthermore, we construct a 14-view 2D/3D switchable autostereoscopic display prototype based on a 2D LCD panel and the prepared LCLMLA, which has a viewing angle of 14° and a crosstalk of 46.2% at the optimal viewing zone. The proposed LCLMLAs have the merits of simple fabrication, large-scale production, and low cost.

Calibration of a multiview display with a tilted parallax barrier for reduction of nonlinear extrinsic crosstalk

Multiview displays, which are capable of displaying different view-images for viewers at different positions, can suffer from undesirable view-image mixing, called crosstalk. In this paper, we propose a method to minimize a class of crosstalk that occurs due to misalignment of flat panel displays and parallax barriers that constitute multiview displays. More specifically, our method is aimed at cases where flat panel displays and parallax barriers are non-parallel. First, we introduce our framework, which associates homography matrices to sets of pixels visible through parallax barriers. Then, we propose an iterative method for finding pixels that are visible for a view-point. By using a stripe test pattern, the homography matrix that corresponds to a set of visible pixels can be found by monitoring the deformation of the stripe test pattern. Last, we experimentally check the validity of the iterative method and demonstrate that the proposed method successfully corrects the geometric distortion of a 3D image.

Compensation of lens manufacturing errors and inhomogeneities by filtering view images in three-dimensional lenticular displays

For a multiview autostereoscopic three-dimensional display based on the lenticular lens, the manufacturing errors and inhomogeneities of the lenticular sheet can deteriorate the view image quality. A calibration method is proposed by filtering the pixel mapping of all view images. Each view is first sequentially turned on to show a white test image, and the intensity distribution of every view will be analyzed. Then individual filter functions are derived and applied to the corresponding view images to correct the subpixel value. Experimental results show that the proposed method can solve view image loss and significantly improve the quality of stereoscopic images.

Analysis and removal of crosstalk in a time-multiplexed light-field display

Time-multiplexed light-field displays (TMLFDs) can provide natural and realistic three-dimensional (3D) performance with a wide 120° viewing angle, which provides broad potential applications in 3D electronic sand table (EST) technology. However, current TMLFDs suffer from severe crosstalk, which can lead to image aliasing and the distortion of the depth information. In this paper, the mechanisms underlying the emergence of crosstalk in TMLFD systems are identified and analyzed. The results indicate that the specific structure of the slanted lenticular lens array (LLA) and the non-uniformity of the emergent light distribution in the lens elements are the two main factors responsible for the crosstalk. In order to produce clear depth perception and improve the image quality, a novel ladder-type LCD sub-pixel arrangement and a compound lens with three aspheric surfaces are proposed and introduced into a TMLFD to respectively reduce the two types of crosstalk. Crosstalk simulation experiments demonstrate the validity of the proposed methods. Structural similarity (SSIM) simulation experiments and light-field reconstruction experiments also indicate that aliasing is effectively reduced and the depth quality is significantly improved over the entire viewing range. In addition, a tabletop 3D EST based on the proposed TMLFD is presented. The proposed approaches to crosstalk reduction are also compatible with other lenticular lens-based 3D displays.

Time-multiplexed multi-view three-dimensional display with projector array and steering screen

A novel time-multiplexed multi-view three-dimensional (3D) display has been implemented using a projector array to provide the image source and an angular steering-screen module to generate multiple high density horizontal views. The liquid crystal (LC)-based steering screen was specially developed to deflect light beams over a small range and operate in synchronism with the projector array with the use of a customized FPGA driver. The prototype produces vivid color 3D scenes with smooth parallax to multiple viewers. The experimental results verify the proposed multi-projection time-multiplexed multi-view 3D display method that uses a steering screen to produce dense views. Displaying both static and dynamic 3D contents is achieved in our implemented 36-view 3D display prototype. The results of crosstalk measurements are given and analyzed to evaluate the display performance.

Iterative calibration of a multiview 3D display with linear extrinsic crosstalk using camera feedback

In this paper, we propose a multiview 3D display calibration algorithm that compensates for misalignment between constituent layers. To minimize distortion of the 3D image due to misalignment, we employ an iterative algorithm using camera feedback. We first establish a mathematical model for the multiview display and predict distortion of a test image pattern due to misalignment. Then, we define two characteristic features of the feedback camera image that indicate the status of the alignment. Based on the mathematical model, we design a compensation algorithm that consists of cascaded one-dimensional root-finding blocks for two-dimensional optimization. Finally, we experimentally verify the image distortion model, convergence of the iterative algorithm, and image quality improvement. The accuracy of the proposed algorithm exceeds the required accuracy for linear extrinsic crosstalk compensation.

Challenges in paper-based fluorogenic optical sensing with smartphones

Application of optically superior, tunable fluorescent nanotechnologies have long been demonstrated throughout many chemical and biological sensing applications. Combined with microfluidics technologies, i.e. on lab-on-a-chip platforms, such fluorescent nanotechnologies have often enabled extreme sensitivity, sometimes down to single molecule level. Within recent years there has been a peak interest in translating fluorescent nanotechnology onto paper-based platforms for chemical and biological sensing, as a simple, low-cost, disposable alternative to conventional silicone-based microfluidic substrates. On the other hand, smartphone integration as an optical detection system as well as user interface and data processing component has been widely attempted, serving as a gateway to on-board quantitative processing, enhanced mobility, and interconnectivity with informational networks. Smartphone sensing can be integrated to these paper-based fluorogenic assays towards demonstrating extreme sensitivity as well as ease-of-use and low-cost. However, with these emerging technologies there are always technical limitations that must be addressed; for example, paper's autofluorescence that perturbs fluorogenic sensing; smartphone flash's limitations in fluorescent excitation; smartphone camera's limitations in detecting narrow-band fluorescent emission, etc. In this review, physical optical setups, digital enhancement algorithms, and various fluorescent measurement techniques are discussed and pinpointed as areas of opportunities to further improve paper-based fluorogenic optical sensing with smartphones.

Local deformation calibration for autostereoscopic 3D display

Calibration is vital to autostereoscopic 3D displays. This paper proposes a local calibration method that copes with any type of deformation in the optical layer. The proposed method is based on visual pattern analysis. Given the observations, we manage to localize the optical slits by matching the observations to the input pattern. In a principled optimization framework, we find an efficient calibration algorithm. Experimental validation follows. The local calibration shows significant improvement in 3D visual quality over the global calibration method. This paper also finds a new intuitive insight on the calibration in terms of the light field theory.

3D Display Calibration by Visual Pattern Analysis

Nearly all 3D displays need calibration for correct rendering. More often than not, the optical elements in a 3D display are misaligned from the designed parameter setting. As a result, 3D magic does not perform well as intended. The observed images tend to get distorted. In this paper, we propose a novel display calibration method to fix the situation. In our method, a pattern image is displayed on the panel and a camera takes its pictures twice at different positions. Then, based on a quantitative model, we extract all display parameters (i.e., pitch, slanted angle, gap or thickness, and offset) from the observed patterns in the captured images. For high accuracy and robustness, our method analyzes the patterns mostly in the frequency domain. We conduct two types of experiments for validation; one with optical simulation for quantitative results and the other with real-life displays for qualitative assessment. Experimental results demonstrate that our method is quite accurate, about a half order of magnitude higher than prior work; is efficient, spending less than 2s for computation; and is robust to noise, working well in the SNR regime as low as 6dB.

Improving the performance of an electrowetting lenticular lens array by using a thin polycarbonate chamber

In this paper, we used a thin polycarbonate (PC) chamber to improve the performance of an electrowetting lenticular lens array. The polycarbonate chamber changed the radius of curvature (ROC) of the oil acting as a lens, which increased the dioptric power of the liquid lens to 1666.7D. The increase in dioptric power required a reduction in the distance between the optical center of the lens and the display pixels under the chamber, which was accomplished by reducing the thickness of the chamber. The optimal thickness of the chamber was determined to be 0.5mm. Using this thin PC chamber, transmittance and viewing angle were measured and compared with an electrowetting lenticular lens with a conventional 1mm poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) chamber was done. Crosstalk which degrades clear 3D images, is an inevitable factor in lenticular lens type multi-view systems. With the 0.5mm PC chamber, the viewing zone was expanded and the ratio of the crosstalk area was reduced, which resulted in a clear 3D image. The new method of depositing the electrode layer also ensured the uniform operation of the liquid lens array.

Aberration analyses for improving the frontal projection three-dimensional display

The crosstalk severely affects the viewing experience for the auto-stereoscopic 3D displays based on frontal projection lenticular sheet. To suppress unclear stereo vision and ghosts are observed in marginal viewing zones(MVZs), aberration of the lenticular sheet combining with the frontal projector is analyzed and designed. Theoretical and experimental results show that increasing radius of curvature (ROC) or decreasing aperture of the lenticular sheet can suppress the aberration and reduce the crosstalk. A projector array with 20 micro-projectors is used to frontally project 20 parallax images one lenticular sheet with the ROC of 10 mm and the size of 1.9 m × 1.2 m. The 3D image with the high quality is experimentally demonstrated in both the mid-viewing zone and MVZs in the optimal viewing plane. The 3D clear depth of 1.2m can be perceived. To provide an excellent 3D image and enlarge the field of view at the same time, a novel structure of lenticular sheet is presented to reduce aberration, and the crosstalk is well suppressed.