Patent ID: 6940645
Filing Date: 2005-09-06
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A monocentric autostereoscopic optical apparatus for viewing a stereoscopic virtual image comprising a left image to be viewed by an observer at a left viewing pupil and a right image to be viewed by the observer at a right viewing pupil, the apparatus comprising: (a) a left optical system for forming said left image to be viewed at said left viewing pupil, the system comprising: (b) a right optical system for forming said right image to be viewed at said right viewing pupil, the system comprising: (c) a curved mirror, said curved mirror having a center of curvature placed optically midway between said left spherical gradient-index ball lens and said right spherical gradient-index ball lens; and (d) a beamsplitter disposed to reflect said left and right curved images toward said curved mirror, said curved mirror disposed to form a virtual stereoscopic image of said left and right curved images, and said curved mirror disposed to form, through said beamsplitter, a real image of said left spherical gradient-index ball lens pupil at said left viewing pupil and a real image of said right spherical gradient-index ball lens pupil at said right viewing pupil.