Patent ID: 6504649
Filing Date: 2003-01-07
Classification: G02B,H04N

Abstract:
An image transmission device, comprising:a microprism sheet including first and second portions arranged such that each of two viewers situated in front of the sheet is able to exclusively view a different portion of an image transmitted by the microprism sheet, each of said first and second microprism sheet portions comprising a substrate and a plurality of grooves having intersecting sides that form a v-shape, the sides of the grooves forming first and second sets of substantially planar surfaces orientated at non-zero angles relative to a plane extending transversely to a principal plane of the microprism sheet, wherein the first set of substantially planar surfaces of said first microprism sheet portion has light attenuation or scattering properties that are different than corresponding light attenuation or scattering properties of the second set of substantially planar surfaces of said first microprism sheet portion so as to permit a first portion of said image situated behind the microprism sheet to be viewed along an optical path that extends through the microprism sheet and through the first set of surfaces of said first microprism sheet portion to a first of said two viewers situated at a first position in front of the microprism sheet while preventing said first portion of said image from being viewed by a second of said two viewers along an optical path that extends through the microprism sheet and through the second set of surfaces of said first microprism sheet portion when the second of said two viewers is situated at a second position in front of the microprism sheet, and wherein the first set of substantially planar surfaces of said second microprism sheet portion has light attenuation or scattering properties that are different than corresponding light attenuation or scattering properties of the second set of substantially planar surfaces of said second microprism sheet portion so as to permit the second portion of said image situated behind the microprism sheet to be viewed by said second of said two viewers along an optical path that extends through said first set of surfaces of said second microprism sheet portion while preventing said second portion of said image from being viewed by said first of said two viewers along an optical path that extends said second set of surfaces of said second microprism sheet portion.