Patent ID: 7165842
Filing Date: 2007-01-23
Classification: G03B

Abstract:
1. An autostereoscopic optical apparatus for viewing a stereoscopic 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 image generation system for forming a left curved intermediate image near a focal surface of a curved mirror, the left image generation system comprising: (b) a right image generation system for forming a right curved intermediate image near the focal surface of the curved mirror, the right image generation system comprising: (c) a center of curvature of the curved mirror placed substantially optically midway between the exit pupil of the left optical system and exit pupil of the right optical system; (d) a beamsplitter disposed between the focal surface and the center of curvature of the curved mirror, the curved mirror and beamsplitter cooperating to form, at the left viewing pupil: the curved mirror and beamsplitter further cooperating to form, at the right viewing pupil: (e) a circular polarizer disposed between the beamsplitter and the left and right viewing pupils for conditioning the polarization of incident and output light.