Patent ID: 6281862
Filing Date: 2001-08-28
Classification: G02B,G09G

Abstract:
A scanning display responsive to an image signal having a depth component and a modulation component representing modulation of respective image pixels, comprising:a light source having an input terminal for receiving the image signal and responsive to the image signal to produce the light modulated according to the modulation component;a scanner positioned to receive the modulated light and configured to scan the modulated light through a periodic scan pattern, where the scan pattern includes a plurality of locations, each location corresponding to a respective one of the image pixels, the periodic scan pattern having a scanning period; anda variable focus lens positioned to receive the modulated light and having a variable focal length, the lens having a response time sufficiently fast to produce a first focal length for a first image pixel and a second, different focal length for an immediately subsequent pixel in response to the depth component, wherein the variable focus lens is a resonantly varying lens having a resonant frequency corresponding to the scan period, and wherein the modulated light is controlled to enter the variable focus lens at a timing by which the variable focus lens produces the first focal length when the modulated light for the first image pixel enters the variable focus lens and produces the second focal length when the modulated light for the second image pixel enters the variable focus lens.