Patent ID: 6886940
Filing Date: 2005-05-03
Classification: G02B,H04N

Abstract:
1. An autostereoscopic optical apparatus for displaying a stereoscopic virtual image to a first viewer and to a second viewer, wherein the stereoscopic virtual image is imaged to each viewer at a left viewing pupil and a right viewing pupil, the apparatus comprising: (a) a left image generation system for forming a curved left intermediate image; (b) a left projection system comprising a left ball lens segment, wherein the pupil of said left ball lens segment is substantially concentric with said curved left intermediate image, said left ball lens segment forming a real image of said curved left intermediate image; (c) a first beamsplitter disposed to direct said curved left intermediate image toward a focal surface of a first curved mirror, said first curved mirror forming a virtual image of said curved left intermediate image thereby, and said first curved mirror disposed to form: (d) a right image generation system for forming a curved right intermediate image; (e) a right projection system comprising a right ball lens segment, wherein the pupil of said right ball lens segment is substantially concentric with said curved right intermediate image, said right ball lens segment forming a real image of said curved right intermediate image; (f) a third beamsplitter disposed to direct said curved right intermediate image toward a focal surface of a second curved mirror, said second curved mirror forming a virtual image of said curved right intermediate image thereby, and said second curved mirror disposed to form: