Abstract:
The present disclosure addresses the problem of attaching and adjusting 3D stereoscopic enabling devices by providing a means and apparatus to attach and align the SEDs in a simple straightforward manner. Several mounting options are available that fall into two main categories including spring-clip and screw-clip mounting systems. Any of the major stereoscopic enabling devices including but not limited to VRex Micropol, lenticular array, microlens array, parallax barrier, holographic array may be mounted to a flat panel display (using various display technologies including LCD, plasma, OLED, etc.) or notebook computer display using one of these two mounting system types. Once initial mounting of the stereoscopic enabling device has been achieved, a means for proper alignment for optimal 3D stereoscopic viewing is provided using an appropriate test image depending on the stereoscopic enabling device that is used.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES  
       [0001]    This application is related to provisional patent application No. 60/348,401 filed on Oct. 19, 2001 entitled Method and Apparatus for Easy Attachment and Alignment of 3D Stereoscopic Enabling Devices and is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention is related to stereoscopic displays, in particular to the application and alignment of 3D stereoscopic enabling devices to flat panel displays such as LCD monitors and notebook computers.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The present invention addresses the problem of the application and alignment of 3D stereoscopic enabling devices to flat panel displays such as (but not limited to) LCD monitors and notebook computers. There are numerous ways to enable such devices for 3D stereoscopic viewing. However, to date, there has been no easy method or apparatus by which the average consumer would be able to attach and align a 3D stereoscopic enabling device SED (such as a VRex Micropol™, a lenticular optical device, or parallax barrier) to a home laptop or flat panel display. The present invention provides both an apparatus and means that greatly simplifies the use of 3D enabling devices on such displays. Most systems (VRex micropol, lenticular arrays, etc.) have been permanently mounted, making after market 3D kits for the vast majority of non-3D enabled product impossible to realize. To enable a flat panel display or notebook computer for 3D stereoscopic viewing required a stereoscopic enabling devise to be permanently mounted to the display.  
           [0004]    There is a need for solving the problem of attaching and adjusting 3D stereoscopic enabling devices by providing a means and apparatus to attach and align the SEDs in a simple straightforward manner.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present is directed to the problem of attaching and adjusting 3D stereoscopic enabling devices by providing a means and apparatus to attach and align the SEDs in a simple straightforward manner. Several mounting options are available that fall into two main categories including spring-clip and screw-clip mounting systems. Any of the major stereoscopic enabling devices including but not limited to VRex Micropol, lenticular array, microlens array, parallax barrier, holographic array may be mounted to a flat panel display (using various display technologies including LCD, plasma, OLED, etc.) or notebook computer display using one of these two mounting system types.  
           [0006]    Once initial mounting of the stereoscopic enabling device has been achieved, a means for proper alignment for optimal 3D stereoscopic viewing is provided using an appropriate test image depending on the stereoscopic enabling device that is used. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    The following drawings along with the Detailed Description are descriptive of the various embodiments of the invention wherein:  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 illustrates an overall attachment and alignment apparatus block diagram;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 illustrates an attachment and alignment process flow diagram;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 illustrates a first embodiment of a spring clip mounting apparatus with a removable grip for a laptop display (side view);  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of a spring clip mounting apparatus type  2  with removable grip for laptop display (side view);  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 illustrates a third embodiment, a screw clip mounting apparatus with removable grip for flat panel display (side view);  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 illustrates a Micropol 3D stereoscopic enabling device;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 7 illustrates a parallax barrier 3D stereoscopic enabling device;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 8 illustrates a lenticular 3D stereoscopic enabling device;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 9 illustrates a vertical adjustable clip; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 10 illustrates a horizontal adjustable clip. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]    Overall Attachment and Alignment Apparatus Block Diagram  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 illustrates the overall block diagram for the various embodiments of the present invention. The basic idea is to provide an apparatus that afford convenient attachment and alignment of a stereoscopic enabling element to a display device. The block diagram  100  illustrates an attachment apparatus  102  binding the 3D stereoscopic enabling device (SED)  104  to the display device  106 . The purpose of the attachment apparatus is to hold the SED firmly in place while providing enough freedom of movement across the display device surface to allow proper alignment. The embodiments of the attachment apparatus may take one of two forms or a combination of both. These attachment forms include spring-clip based attachment devices and compression screw based clips. Proper alignment is achieved according to the alignment means outlined below. The drawing illustrates an alignment apparatus  108  that makes it easy for a user to align the SED with little prior experience.  
         [0020]    Attachment and Alignment Process Flow Diagram  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram  200  of the attachment and alignment process flow for the preferred embodiment. The first step involves placement of the SED over the display device  202  active area. It is important for many SED types (e.g., VRex micropol and lenticular) that the SED be placed in the proper orientation for 3D viewing. One of the various attachment clip devices  206  is used to secure the SED to the display device. Enough compression should be applied to keep the SED in place but allow the user to adjust the alignment later in the process. The third step is to attach the removable adjustment grips  206  if they are to be used. The alignment image  208  is presented for display on the display device. This image will aid in alignment of the SED by providing a left-perspective image for the left eye and a right-perspective image for the right eye (such a the left eye perspective image is a single black field and the right perspective image is a single white field, or other distinctive alignment image). Proper alignment is achieved when the left eye of the user sees only the left perspective image and the right eye of the user sees only the right perspective image. For example, the alignment will indicate proper adjustment has been reached when dark bands disappear in the viewed image. Next the adjustment apparatus is used to slide the SED over the surface of the display device to achieve proper alignment. Once alignment is achieved remove the adjustment grips  214  if necessary.  
         [0022]    Spring Clip Mounting Apparatus with Removable Grip for Laptop Display (Side View)  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 illustrates a spring-clip based mounting apparatus  300  with removable spring handles. The spring clip  302  attaches the 3D stereoscopic enabling apparatus to the display device (in this case a Laptop Display) by providing sufficient compression for friction to prevent the SED from moving with respect to the display under normal usage. However, compression provided by the spring clip is sufficiently low to allow a user to slide the SED across the display surface for proper alignment. Another feature of this spring clip is that it extends from the backside of the display, over the top of the display and a cross the display bezel to the SED. Multiple clips may be used depending on the security required. Once the clip has been positioned to the desired location, the spring handles  306  may be removed for convenience.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 also illustrates the location of a removable adjustment grip  308 . One or more removable adjustment grips may be attached to the SED to help the user during the alignment process. In a preferred embodiment these devices may of a suction cup and handle that allow the user to easily attach and remove them from the SED.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 illustrates a side view diagram of an alternative embodiment  400  of a spring-clip device  402  for attachment. In this case a thumbscrew  404  is used inside the spring-clip to adjust the compression of the clip. This adjustment capability allows greater freedom of control for the user in the alignment process and the more compact design is more convenient for practical use.  
         [0026]    Screw Clip Mounting Apparatus with Removable Grip for Flat Panel Display (Side View)  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a compression-screw type attachment clip  500 . In this case the clip holds the SED to the display device by compression induced by a thumbscrew  502  instead of by the spring action of the metal clip. This attachment type is useful for oddly shaped flat panel displays or displays that have a larger distance between the front and back of the display chassis. The thumbscrew  502  is placed opposite the front side of the clip to prevent an inadvertent sliding and side forces on the SED  504 . A ball joint  506  on the thumbscrew insures that the applied force is perpendicular to the SED. The applied force from the ball joint may be applied via a rubber foot  508 . As in the alternative spring clips case, the user may adjust the compression strength for easier alignment of the SED  506 . Once proper alignment is accomplished, the thumbscrew may be tightened for more secure attachment.  
         [0028]    Micropol 3D Stereoscopic Element  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 6 illustrates the micropolarizer (Micropol) SED  600 . The micropolarizer SED changes polarization of light on a line-by-line basis (or pixel-by-pixel) basis. The process of stereoscopic viewing requires two views of a scene (a left and right perspective) to be directed to the viewer&#39;s left and right eyes, respectively. A spatially multiplexed image (SMI) combines the left and right eye perspectives, alternating line by line (or pixel-by-pixel). The micropolarizer SED alternates the polarization structure of the display so that adjacent lines (or pixels) will have orthogonal (or opposite) polarization. When the viewer puts on polarizing glasses, one eye will see one set of lines (or pixels) and the other eye will see the other set of lines (or pixels). The human brain, through a process call stereopsis, processes the two images producing depth. The μPol can be placed on any kind of displays, including but not limited to LCDs, plasma, projection screens, notebook computers, etc.  
         [0030]    Parallax Barrier 3D Stereoscopic Element  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 7 illustrates the parallax barrier SED  700 . The parallax barrier SED  702  consists of a fine, vertical slit plate of alternating clear and opaque stripes. The SED  702  is placed in front of a specially prepared image. The image consists of alternating right-eye and left-eye stripes corresponding to the left and right image perspectives. Each slit in the barrier acts as a window onto a stripe of the section of the image that lies behind it. Exactly which stripe of the image is visible depends on the horizontal angle from which the slit is viewed. At an appropriate position, the viewer will see the right view of the image through the slits with the right eye and the left view with the left eyes. The opaque barrier blocks the left image from the right eye and the right image from the left eye. Through stereopsis, the viewer will see a stereoscopic image.  
         [0032]    Lenticular 3D Stereoscopic Element  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 8 illustrates the lenticular SED  800 . The lenticular SED consists of an array of long, narrow lenses. The image from the display consists of alternating stripes of left-eye and right-eye image information. Each lens focuses on the image information behind the lens and directs the light in different directions. At an appropriate position, the viewer will see the right view of the image through the slits with the right eye and the left view with the left eyes.  
         [0034]    Vertical Adjustable Clip  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 9 illustrates an integration of the adjustment mechanism with the clipping mechanism in the form of an adjustable clip  900 . The figure shows the upper right hand corner of a display system. The SED  902  is set against the display  504  and held in place with the adjustment clip  906 . The clip pressure surface  908  presses against the SED  902  to hold it against the display  904 . The user can adjust the adjustment mechanism  908  to move the SED  902  vertically on the display and achieve the final alignment between the SED  902  and the display  904 . The adjustment mechanism can be implemented using rotational thread systems, miniature worm gears, rack and pinion systems, sliding wedge systems, and rotational cams for example. Other mechanical systems can be used to replace the adjustment mechanism as would be known by someone skilled in the art.  
         [0036]    It is also possible to place the vertical adjustment clip  906  on other portions of the display, like the left side or the lower right side for example. More than one adjustment clip may be used. For example, one clip could be on the left and one clip could be on the right.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 9 illustrates a vertical adjustment that is needed by μPol and other horizontal type SEDs. It is possible to mount the same clip on the top or bottom of the display to achieve a horizontal adjustment for parallax barrier and lenticular SEDs.  
         [0038]    Horizontal Adjustable Clip  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 10 illustrates a horizontal adjustment clip  1000 . A tension spring  1002  holds the back of clip  1004  and front of clip  1006  pieces together and provides the force to hold the SED  1008  to the display  1010 . The thumbscrew adjustment  1012  allows the user to adjust the horizontal position of the front of clip  1006  that moves the SED  1008  horizontally on the display  1010  through the actions of the clip pressure surface  1014 . It is possible to replace the thumbscrew adjustment  1012  with other mechanical systems like rotational cams, sliding wedges, and other systems known to someone skilled in the art of mechanisms. It is possible to position the horizontal adjustment clip  1000  in other positions on the display. It is possible to use more than one horizontal adjustment clip  1000  to hold and adjust the SED  1008 . It is also possible to place the horizontal adjustment clip  1000  on the top or bottom of the display  1010  to allow for vertical movement of the SED  1008 .  
         [0040]    While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of this invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling with the scope of the appended claims.