Abstract:
A system and method for reduction of chromatic aberration for an image projection system utilizes a computer system that processes a parametric equation that defines the physical parameters of a projection lens unit. Based on the parametric equation, the divergence or refractive induced bending of light rays passing through the lens unit is identified. This divergence data is then utilized to generate offset values that are transferred to a control unit of a digital image display unit so as to offset, or otherwise space apart, the position of specific color sub-pixels by an appropriate amount to compensate for the divergence or bending effects of the lens unit. The applied offset causes the color light rays emitted by the color pixels to converge or otherwise join after passing through the lens, thus eliminating, or otherwise minimizing the chromatic aberration associated with the projected image.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    Generally, the present invention relates to image projection systems that project images through a lens unit. In particular, an embodiment of the invention is directed to a system and method for reduction of chromatic aberrations of images that are projected through a lens unit for direct view by a viewer&#39;s eye or upon an imaging surface. Specifically, an embodiment of the invention is directed to a system and method for reducing chromatic aberrations by offsetting the relative position of color sub-pixels of an image display unit, such as an LCD (liquid crystal display), so that the color light rays emitted therefrom converge after passing through the projection lens unit and are rendered in a viewer&#39;s eye or upon an imaging screen. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    Recently, high-performance image projection systems, including digital projection display systems, such as digital video projection systems used in movie theaters, head-wearable displays (HWD) used by aircraft pilots or in virtual/augmented reality applications, and other head-up displays (HUD) have increased in use. These image projection display systems use an image display unit that is formed as an array or matrix of individually controllable pixels, such as a LC (liquid crystal) display, which produces a color image that is projected through one or more lenses of a lens unit. Depending on the particular application, the projected image passing through the lens unit may be viewed directly by a viewer&#39;s eye without any intervening optics or components therebetween, as in the case of near-to-the eye head wearable displays (HWD). For example, head wearable displays (HWD), such as those used by pilots, allow pilots to directly view various projected images and data, and in some cases, to allow them to simultaneously view their surrounding environment. Such HWD displays often provide a wide field of view (FOV), such as 180 degrees for example, to allow users to view information of a wide range of space, and in some cases allow users a full field of view of their external environment. Alternatively, the projected image passing through the lens unit may be incident upon any suitable imaging surface, such as a screen, as in the case of a movie theatre. 
         [0003]    However, because such image projection systems produce images that are projected through a lens unit, they are subject to chromatic aberrations. As used herein, chromatic aberration generally refers to the variation of either the focal length, magnification or other characteristic of a lens system with differing wavelengths of light, mostly characterized by prismatic coloring at the edges of the optical image and color distortion within it. In other words, chromatic aberration may result from a defect in the lens system in which different wavelengths of light are focused at different distances because they are refracted or otherwise directed through the lens system at different angles. This refraction or other variance may produce a blurred image with colored fringes. As such, the lens system may be unable to bring various colors or wavelengths of light to focus on a single point. These chromatic aberrations may be the result of the divergence (i.e. change in direction or variation in refraction angle) of the RGB light rays emitted from the red, green, and blue or RGB sub-pixels that form the display image as they pass through the lens unit of the projection system. As a result, the light rays emitted by the color RGB sub-pixels may not be properly focused at a common point on the viewing surface when viewed by a viewer. That is, due to the curvature of the lens unit, and the varying speeds in which different colored light rays pass through the particular material from which the lens unit is formed, each RGB color light ray emitted by the sub-pixels of the display unit may be refracted by the lens unit of the image display unit at a different angle, thus causing a divergence of the color light rays as they pass therefrom. This divergence of the light rays out of the lens unit may result in chromatic aberrations, such as color fringing, which appears along the boundaries between the light and dark portions of the resultant image, where the RGB light rays have not correctly converged or focused. Furthermore, the color fringing effects are often more pronounced around the perimeter of the projected image, than in the middle of the projected image, and they also tend to become more drastic as a projected image is made larger. As such, designers of image projection systems, such as HUDs and digital projection systems, are often required to limit the size of the display, so that it has a relatively narrow field of view (FOV) to reduce the unwanted effects of color fringing. 
         [0004]    In the past, elaborate and complex lens arrangements were utilized to minimize the appearance of chromatic aberrations in the projected image. However, such complex lens arrangements are costly and time consuming to design and add unwanted bulk and weight to the image projection system. 
         [0005]    Therefore, there is a need for a system and method for correcting or reducing chromatic aberrations for an image projection system using parametric equations to define the physical parameters of a projection lens unit to identify the relative divergence of color light rays passing therethrough. Furthermore, there is a need for a system and method for correcting or reducing chromatic aberrations for image projection systems in which the divergence of color light rays passing through the projection lens unit is compensated by off-setting, or otherwise adjusting, the position of the sub-pixels of the image display unit relative to one another, so that the color light rays emitted therefrom converge after passing through the projection lens unit. In addition, there is a need for a system and method for correcting chromatic aberrations for an image projection system, so that images can be projected for direct view by a viewer&#39;s eyes or upon an imaging surface without the effects of color fringing. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In light of the foregoing, it is a first aspect of the present invention to provide a system and method for chromatic aberration for an image projection system. 
         [0007]    It is another aspect of the present invention to provide system for reduction of chromatic aberration of a projected image comprising an image display unit having a plurality of pixels, each pixel having at least a first, a second, and a third sub-pixel that generates respective first, second, and third light rays that are each a different color, a lens unit through which the first, second, and third light rays pass, and a control system coupled to the image display unit, the control system adapted to store offset data generated from a virtual lens model defining the refractive differences of the first, second, and third light rays when passing through the virtual lens model, wherein the control system compensates for the divergence of the first, second, and third light rays by offsetting the position of the sub-pixels relative to each other based on the offset data for each pixel, such that the first, second, and third light rays join when passing through the lens unit. 
         [0008]    Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a system for reduction of chromatic aberration of a projected image comprising an image display unit having a plurality of pixels, each pixel having a first, a second, and a third sub-pixel that generates respective first, second, and third light rays that are each a different color, a lens unit through which the first, second, and third light rays pass, and a control system having a memory unit adapted to store offset values associated with the divergence of the first, second, and third light rays through the lens unit, wherein for each pixel, the control system retrieves the offset values from the memory unit and offsets the position of the sub-pixels relative to each other, such that the first, second, and third light rays combine when passing through the lens unit. 
         [0009]    Still another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of reducing chromatic aberrations in a projected image comprising providing an image display unit having a plurality of pixels, each pixel having a first, second, and third sub-pixel from which respective first, second, and third light rays are emitted through a lens unit, providing a computer system adapted to receive a virtual model of the lens unit, calculating the divergence of the first, second, and third light rays through the lens unit based on the virtual model of the projection lens unit at the computer system, generating one or more offset values the light rays based on the calculating step, and controlling the image display unit in accordance with the one or more offset values to adjust the relative position of the first, second, and third sub-pixels to one another for each pixel, whereupon the first, second, and third light rays join when passing through the lens unit. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    These and other features and advantages of the invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1A  is a schematic diagram of an image projection system when chromatic aberration correction is not applied to a projected image for viewing directly by a viewer&#39;s eyes in accordance with the concepts of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 1B  is a schematic diagram of the image projection system when chromatic aberration correction is not applied to a projected image for viewing by a viewer&#39;s eyes indirectly upon an imaging screen in accordance with the concepts of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2A  is a schematic diagram of the image projection system that provides chromatic aberration correction for a projected image for viewing directly by a viewer&#39;s eyes in accordance with the concepts of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2B  is a schematic diagram of the image projection system that provides chromatic aberration correction for a projected image for viewing by a viewer&#39;s eyes indirectly upon an imaging screen in accordance with the concepts of the present invention; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of the operational steps taken by the imaging projection system to provide chromatic aberration correction in accordance with the concepts of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    A system for reducing chromatic aberration for an image projection system is generally referred to by numeral  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 1-2  of the drawings. Specifically, the system  10  includes a control system  20 , which may comprise any suitable general purpose or application specific computing device that has the necessary memory, hardware and software to carry out the functions to be discussed. Coupled to the control system  20  is an image display unit  30 , such as an LC (liquid crystal) display, or any other digital display device formed of an array of independently controllable and addressable color pixels  24 . While the image display unit may utilize any number of pixels and sub-pixels of any number and color, the following discussion is based on an image display unit  30  having pixels  24  that each include three color sub-pixels  32 , such as red (R)  40 , green (G)  50 , and blue (B)  60  sub-pixels. The RGB sub-pixels  40 ,  50 ,  60  generate respective light rays  100 ,  110 ,  120 , which are received by a projection lens unit  150 , which may comprise one or more optical lenses. In one aspect, it should be appreciated that the components of the system  10 , including control system  20  and lens unit  150  may be integrated as a wearable device, such as a head wearable display (HWD), or any other wearable device. 
         [0017]    Before discussing the operational aspects of the system  10 , it is submitted, that the reader will appreciate that the light rays  100 ,  110 ,  120  in  FIGS. 1-2  are shown as separate rays for purposes of facilitating the discussion of the present invention, and that they are effectively emitted from the image display unit  30  as a combined beam that is incident upon the lens unit  150 . 
         [0018]    Continuing, the lens unit  150  may comprise a collimating lens that is configured to directly focus the image delivered from the image display unit  30  in the viewer&#39;s eyes  160 , as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 2A . In addition, the lens unit  150  may focus the image delivered from the image display unit  30  upon the imaging surface  170 , such as a screen, or any other suitable surface, including an opaque, transparent, or semitransparent surface for example, for indirect viewing by the eyes  160  of the viewer, as shown in  FIGS. 1B and 2B . 
         [0019]    Thus, due to the nature of light, the color light rays  100 ,  110 ,  120  emitted by the color sub-pixels  40 ,  50 ,  60  are refracted at different angles as they pass through the lens unit  150  causing them to diverge away from each other, as shown in  FIGS. 1A-B . It should be appreciated that the term “diverge” or “divergence” as used herein, defines a change in direction or variation in refraction angle of the light rays  100 ,  110 ,  120  as they pass through the lens unit  150 . Furthermore, the light ray divergence (i.e. change in direction/variation in refraction angle) is based on the principle that light rays of different colors move through the lens unit  150  at different angles due to the various physical characteristics of the lens unit  150 , including the material from which it is formed and its curvature, as well as the varying speeds in which the different color light rays  100 ,  110 ,  120  travel through the material of the lens unit  150 . Thus, each of the RGB light rays  100 ,  110 ,  120  passing through the lens unit  150  are each focused at a different point on the viewer&#39;s eye  160 , as shown in  FIG. 1A  or at different points on the imaging surface  170 , as shown in  FIG. 1B , which results in the appearance of chromatic aberrations or color fringing in the projected image. Thus, the system  10  is configured to eliminate or otherwise reduce the appearance of chromatic aberrations by compensating for the divergence of the light rays  100 ,  110 ,  120  after they pass through the lens unit  150  by controlling the relative position of the RGB sub-pixels  40 ,  50 ,  60  of the image display unit  30  based on a virtual model of the lens unit  150 , as discussed in detail below. 
         [0020]    Thus, the operational steps taken by the system  10  to correct the appearance of chromatic aberrations in a projected image are generally referred to by the numeral  200 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Initially, at step  210  of the process a parametric model of the lens unit  150  is processed by a computer system  202 , as shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , remotely from the control system  20 , however it should be appreciated that the control system  20  may be configured to perform such operation as well. It should be appreciated that the computer system  202  may comprise any computing device suitable for processing the parametric model of the lens unit  150 . The parametric model is a virtual model of the lens unit  150  that defines the physical properties of the lens unit  150 , including, but not limited to, its shape and material from which it is formed, and any other physical features. Using the parametric model of the lens unit  150 , the computer system  202  identifies the divergence of the red, green, and blue light rays  100 ,  110 ,  120  that occurs when they pass through the modeled lens unit  150 . As previously discussed, the divergence of the different colored light rays  100 ,  110 ,  120  that are emitted by the image display unit  30  is based on the curvature of the lens unit  150 , the material from which the lens unit  150  is made, and the color or wavelength of the light ray  40 ,  50 ,  60  that determines its speed when passing through the lens unit  150 . These parameters are considered by the virtual model of the lens unit  150 , allowing the computer system  202  to identify the divergence of the RGB light rays  100 ,  110 ,  120  passing through the lens unit  150 , as indicated at step  220 . It should be appreciated that there are numerous approaches to identify the divergence of the light rays  100 ,  110 ,  120 . For example, one approach is to trace back or follow the light rays  100 ,  110 ,  120  from the viewer&#39;s eye  160  back through the lens unit  150 , taking into account its divergent effects, and identifying the points at which the RGB light rays  100 ,  110 ,  120  are incident upon the image display unit  30 . These points where the back traced light rays  100 ,  110 ,  120  are incident upon the image display unit  30  identify the necessary relative positioning of the color sub-pixels  40 ,  50 ,  60  that is needed, so that the light rays  100 ,  110 ,  120  emitted through the lens unit  150  during normal operation of the system  10  converge or otherwise join and form a combined focus on a common point of the viewer&#39;s eye  160 . 
         [0021]    Once the divergence of the RGB light rays  100 ,  110 ,  120  has been identified, the process continues to step  230 , where the computer system  202  calculates the offset values or other factors based on the divergence of the RGB light rays  100 ,  110 ,  120  when passing out of the lens unit  150 . Specifically, the calculated offset values may be based on the refractive differences of the light rays  100 ,  110 ,  120  when passing through the modeled virtual lens unit  150 . As such, the offset values may define the necessary separation distance that is needed between the sub-pixels  40 ,  50 ,  60  of each pixel  24  of the image display unit  30  to enable the RGB light rays  100 ,  110 ,  120  emitted therefrom to compensate for these differences, so as to enable the converge or joining of the light rays  100 ,  110 ,  120  when they pass out of the lens unit  150 , as indicated at step  230 . The computer system  202  includes a memory unit that stores the offset values for each pixel in relation to the lens unit. Skilled artisans will appreciate that the offset values are unique for each pixel in view of each pixel&#39;s unique position in relation to the viewer&#39;s eyes  160  or imaging surface  170 . It will further be appreciated that each pixel&#39;s offset value may be adjusted according to the desired intensity of the image being displayed. In any event, the control system  20  retrieves the offset values from the memory unit as needed. 
         [0022]    Next, after the offset values are identified for each pixel  24  of the image display unit  30  they are transferred by the computer system  202  to a memory unit provided by the control system  20 , at step  232 . The transfer of the offset values may take place using any suitable wired or wireless communication interface. It should also be appreciated that the computer system  202  may be integral with the control system  20  if desired. Once the offset values are transferred, the process continues to step  240 , where the control system  20  controls the image display unit  30  to adjust the relative position of each of the RGB sub-pixels  40 ,  50 ,  60 , in accordance with the calculated offset values. This may be achieved by controlling the image display unit  30 , such that one or more of the sub-pixels  40 ,  50 ,  60  of a given base pixel  24  are combined with one or more sub-pixels  40 ,  50 ,  60  of an adjacent or surrounding pixel  24 ′, as shown in  FIGS. 2A-B . This has the effect of forming a new effective pixel  24 ″ in which the relative spacing or distance between each of the RGB sub-pixels  40 ,  50 ,  60  may be adjusted (increased/decreased). Such process may be replicated as necessary for the plurality of pixels  24  that are provided by the image display unit  30 , thus resulting in an array of new effective pixels  24 ″. As a result of this repositioning of sub-pixels  40 ,  50 ,  60  in each effective pixel  24 ″ based on the calculated offset values, the alignment of the emitted light rays  100 ,  110 ,  120  may be effectively altered upon receipt by the lens unit  150 . The light rays  100 ,  110 ,  120  may then converge or otherwise join to form a resultant ray  242  after passing through the lens unit  150  that is focused at a single point on the viewer&#39;s eyes  160 , as shown in  FIG. 2A , or upon the imaging surface  170 , as shown in  FIG. 2B . 
         [0023]    For example, step  240  may be carried out to form the new effective pixel  24 ″ from the combination of pixels  24  and  24 ′ by controlling the image display unit  30  to turn the blue (B)  60  sub-pixel of pixel  24 ′ and the red (R)  40  and green (G)  50  sub-pixels of pixel  24  off, or otherwise disabling them, as identified by the designation “X” in  FIG. 1B . As a result, the new effective pixel  24 ″ forms a pixel with redefined sub-pixel spacing, whereby a gap or space is now formed by the disabled pixels “X” between the green (G) sub-pixel  50  of pixel  24 ′ and the blue (B) sub-pixel  60  of pixel  24 . It should be appreciated that while the effective pixel  24 ″ discussed herein is formed from sub-pixels of two base pixels  24 , a total of 3 base pixels  24 , each contributing one of the 3 RGB colors, may be used to create a single effective pixel  24 ″. Accordingly, in embodiments where pixel color schemes other than RGB, which use more or less than 3 colors, it is similarly contemplated that an effective pixel may be comprised of sub-pixels from a number of base pixels that is equal to the total number of color sub-pixels in the base pixel. 
         [0024]    Finally, at step  250 , the RGB light rays  100 ,  110 ,  120  emitted from the reoriented effective pixels  24 ″ may converge or otherwise join after passing through the lens unit  150  to the viewer&#39;s eye  160  or imaging surface  170 , thus removing, or otherwise reducing the appearance of chromatic aberrations in the resultant image, as shown in  FIGS. 2A-B . 
         [0025]    As a result of the foregoing process implemented by the system  10 , the computing system  20  may compensate for the offset of each pixel&#39;s sub-pixels by utilizing at least one sub-pixel of pixels surrounding the pixel. In other words, the control system  20  may selectively switch sub-pixels of each pixel off and on, and may selectively switch sub-pixels of surrounding or adjacent pixels off and on to form a new effective pixel  24 ″ that enable a rendered image to be viewed directly by the viewer&#39;s eyes  160  or indirectly upon an imaging screen  170  with reduced or no chromatic aberration. 
         [0026]    Therefore, one advantage of an embodiment of the invention is that a system and method for reduction of chromatic aberration of a projected image may identify and compensate for the divergence of color light rays, such as red (R), green (G), and blue (B) light rays, passing through a lens unit for direct view by a viewer or indirect view via an imaging screen. Still another advantage of an embodiment of the invention is that a system and method for reduction of chromatic aberration is enabled to control the relative position of each color sub-pixel of a plurality of pixels of an image display unit to offset or space apart the light rays generated therefrom using offset values based on the divergence, or variation in refraction angles of the difference color light rays through a lens unit. Yet another advantage of an embodiment of the invention is that a system for chromatic aberration correction of a projected image is that it can be easily retrofit and implemented in existing image projection systems by modeling a lens unit and adjusting the operation of the pixels according to that model. 
         [0027]    Thus, it can be seen that the objects of the invention have been satisfied by the structure and its method for use presented above. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments presented and described in detail herein. Accordingly, for an appreciation of the true scope and breadth of the invention, reference should be made to the following claims.