Patent Abstract:
Digital binocular fusing apparatus places a primary image in registration with a lenticular lens to produce a secondary 3D image from the primary image. The apparatus includes a lens array, a display mounted behind the lens array and including a primary image and reference marks, a primary image orientation adjustment system for receiving registration adjustment signals to adjust the position of the primary image and the reference marks, a sensor to detect the position of the reference marks and generate position identification signals, and, a registration control for receiving the position identification signals, determining if the primary image is in registration with the lens array, and, if necessary, generating registration adjustment signals and transmitting the registration adjustment signals to the primary image orientation adjustment system.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED INVENTIONS 
   Not Applicable. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable. 
   THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT  
   Not Applicable. 
   INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC  
   Not Applicable. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   (1) Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to optical apparatus. 
   More particularly, the invention relates to optical apparatus that forms a primary image by interpolating pictures of an object, each picture being taken by a camera that is, for each picture, pointed at a common point on the object and is at a different angular position with respect to the object. 
   In a further respect, the invention relates to optical apparatus that forms on a display a primary image comprised of sequentially alternating interpolated sections from a plurality of pictures and that places each section in registration with a lens, each lens being associated with at least one of the interpolated sections and normally only being viewable by one eye of a individual looking at the display. 
   In another respect, the invention relates to optical apparatus that maintains a primary image in registration with a plurality of lens, the primary image being comprised of sequentially alternating interpolated sections from a plurality of pictures. 
   (2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
   It is well known to produce a 3D image by permanently laminating a lens array on a piece of material on which a primary image is formed. 
   The lens array is comprised of a plurality of transparent elongate vertical lenticular sections. Each lenticular section typically has a triangular cross section and includes a pair of canted viewing surfaces, or lens. One viewing surface (or lens) is seen only by a viewer&#39;s right eye. The other viewing surface (or lens) is seen only by a viewer&#39;s left eye. Each lens of a lenticular section comprises one-half of the section. 
   The primary image is comprised of a plurality of sequentially alternating interpolated parallel adjacent elongate strips cut from a plurality of pictures. Each picture is produced by taking a photograph of the same object. Each photograph, however, shows the object when viewed from a different angle. If the primary image is comprised of strips from only two pictures, then the first sequential strip is from the first picture, the second sequential strip is from the second picture, the third sequential strip is from the first picture, the fourth sequential strip is from the second picture, etc. Each sequential pair of strips is in registration with and is beneath one of the lenticular sections. Each strip beneath a lenticular section is viewable through only one viewing surface, or lens, of the lenticular section. 
   While the laminate construction described above is well known, it would be useful if a 3D image could be produced when an individual is viewing a liquid crystal display, a CRT, or another electronic display, particularly if the image depicted on the display is changing or is moving across the display. 
   Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide an apparatus which could, while selectively activating pixels in a display to produce a primary image, use binocular fusing to produce a 3D image for an individual viewing the display. 
   Therefore, it is a principal object of the instant invention to provide an improved apparatus for producing a three dimensional image. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus that functions both to activate selectively pixels to produce a primary image and to produce from the primary image a three dimensional secondary image. 
   Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus that enables a movie, video game, or other visual presentation to be seen in three dimensions without requiring the use of special glasses or other optical apparatus mounted on the head or adjacent the eyes of a viewer. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus that functions to activate selectively pixels to produce a primary image at a selected position with respect to a lens array such that the lens array produces a secondary image of the primary image. 
   Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the type described that can determine when pixels in the primary image are in registration with the lens array. 
   Yet a further object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the type described that can adjust the locations of pixels in the primary image into registration with a lens array. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
     These and other, further and more specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating how a camera or cameras are used to take pictures of an object from different angles; 
       FIG. 2  is a composite diagram illustrating how pictures taken with the cameras in  FIG. 1  are disassembled into strips, which strips are interpolated to produce a layer of material including a primary image formed on top of the layer of material; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a lenticular section used in a lens array; 
       FIG. 4  is a side view illustrating a lens array mounted on top of the layer of material of  FIG. 2  such that the primary image formed on top of the layer can be viewed through the lens array; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating sensors mounted on the bottom of the lens array; 
       FIG. 6  is a front view illustrating the primary image and reference marks formed by the pixels of a display and illustrating the mode of operation thereof; 
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram illustrating operation of apparatus utilized in the practice of the invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating an alternate embodiment of the invention; and, 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view further illustrating an alternate embodiment of the invention. 
   

   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Briefly, in accordance with the invention, we provide improved digital binocular fusing apparatus. The apparatus includes a lens array comprising a plurality of elongate generally parallel adjacent lenticular sections, each section including at least first and second viewing surfaces each canted with respect to the other; a display mounted behind the lens array and including a plurality of pixels, a system for selectively activating the pixels to produce a primary image and a plurality of reference marks; a primary image orientation adjustment system for receiving registration adjustment signals and adjusting the position of the primary image and reference marks with respect to the lens array, the system adjusting simultaneously the position of the primary image and the reference marks; a sensor system for detecting the position of the reference marks and generating position identification signals; and, a registration control system for receiving the position identification signals, for determining if the primary image is in registration with the lens array, and, if necessary, for generating registration adjustment signals, and for transmitting the registration adjustment signals to the primary image orientation adjustment system. 
   In another embodiment of the invention, we provide improved digital binocular fusing apparatus. The apparatus includes a lens array comprising a plurality of elongate generally parallel lenticular sections, each section including at least first and second viewing surfaces each canted with respect to the other; a display mounted behind the lens array and including a plurality of pixels, and a system for selectively activating the pixels to produce a primary image; a primary image orientation adjustment system for receiving registration adjustment signals and adjusting the position of the primary image with respect to the lens array; a sensor system for detecting the position of the primary image and generating position identification signals; and, a registration control system for receiving position identification signals, for determining if the primary image is in registration with the lens array, and, if necessary, for generating registration adjustment signals and for transmitting the registration adjustment signals to the orientation adjustment system. 
   In a further embodiment of the invention, we provide improved digital binocular fusing apparatus. The apparatus includes a lens array comprising a plurality of elongate generally parallel adjacent lenticular sections, each section including at least first and second viewing surfaces each canted with respect to the other; a display mounted behind the lens array and including a plurality of pixels; a system for selectively activating the pixels to produce a primary image, and, a focusing system interposed between the lenticular array and the display. 
   In still another embodiment of the invention, we provide an improved method for producing a three dimensional image. The method includes the steps of providing a lens array comprising a plurality of elongate generally parallel adjacent lenticular sections, each of the lenticular sections including at least first and second viewing surfaces each canted with respect to the other; providing a display mounted behind the lenticular array and including a plurality of pixels; providing a system for selectively activating the pixels to produce a primary image; and, adjusting the position of the pixels into registration with the lens array. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
   Turning now to the drawings, which illustrate the presently preferred embodiments of the invention for the purpose of illustrating the practice thereof and not by way of limitation of the scope of the invention, and in which like reference characters refer to corresponding elements throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  illustrates a flat planar picture  10  of a snowman  90 . Axis X is normal to picture  10 . If a conventional three-dimensional, three axis X-Y-Z system is imagined, each of the axes is normal to the other two axes and in  FIG. 1  axes Y and Z lie in the plane of picture  10 , with axis X normal to the Y and Z axes. Camera  11  is at an angle A of six degrees from axis X and lies in the same plane as the Y and X axes. Camera  12  is at an angle B of six degrees from axis X and lies in the same plane as the Y and X axes. As would be appreciated by those of skill in the art, camera  11  can, if desired, be used to photograph picture  10  at multiple different angles A, for example at angles A of two degrees, four degrees and six degrees. In this scenario, camera  11  would produce three different photographs of picture  10  as viewed to the left of axis X. Similarly, camera  12  can be used to photograph picture  10  at multiple different angles B as viewed to the right of axis X. Each of the photographs produced by cameras  11  and  12  can be interpolated in a manner similar to that described below. In the example set forth below, it is assumed for sake of clarity that only two photographs are utilized, one photograph  13  produced by positioning camera  11  at an angle A of seven degrees from axis X, and a second photograph  26  produced by positioning camera  12  at an angle B of seven degrees from axis X. Angles A and B normally are equal to fifteen degrees or less. Angles A and B normally are equal, but need not be. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , photograph  13  is cut into a series  14 , 16 , 18  of parallel strips. Photograph  26  is cut into a series  15 ,  17 ,  19  of parallel strips. The strips from photograph  13  and photograph  26  are interpolated so that a layer of material  27  is produced in which strips  14 ,  16 ,  18  from photograph  13  alternate with strips  15 ,  17 ,  19  from photograph  26 . A primary image  90 A of the snowman  90  is produced on the top surface of layer of material  27 . 
   A lens array  28  is placed on top of material layer  27 . The primary image  90 A of the snowman  90  is visible through array  28 . Array  28  functions to facilitate binocular fusing to the secondary image actually seen by a viewer appears to the viewer to be a three dimensional image. The secondary image is produced by light that travels from primary image  90 A outwardly through array  28  to the viewer&#39;s eyes. 
   Array  28  consists of a plurality of elongate parallel adjacent lenticular sections  20 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , each lenticular section  20  includes a first viewing surface (or lens)  21  and a second viewing surface (or lens)  22 . Surface  21  is canted with respect to surface  22 . A section  20  also includes bottom  23  and triangular end surface  24  and  25 . The shape and dimension of each section  20  can vary as desired as long as section  20  contains at least one lens surface viewable with one of a user&#39;s eyes and contains at least one other lens surface viewable with the other of the user&#39;s eyes. 
   When an individual&#39;s line of sight is generally normal to lens array  28  and picture  27 —in the same manner that axis X is normal to picture  10  in FIG.  1 —then the individual&#39;s right eye  31  can only see  33  the surface  21  of each section  20  and the individual&#39;s left eye  30  can only see  32  the surface  22  of each section  20 . This phenomenon is generally illustrated in  FIG. 4 , with the understanding that the orientation of the left and right eyes in  FIG. 4  is not normal but is used simply to illustrate that each eye can only view one side of a lenticular section  20 . 
   In the invention, the lens array  28  is, instead of being fixedly mounted on a layer of material  27  comprised of strips from photographs, mounted on the front of a liquid crystal display, CRT, LED array, or other electronic display  95  ( FIG. 6 ) that selectively activates pixels to generate a primary image. Display  95  can, by way of example and not limitation, be a television screen, a computer screen, a screen on a video game, or some other electronic display screen. In addition, sensors  40  to  55  are integrated in or mounted on the back of array  28  in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The sensors can also, if desired, be mounted in a thin film interposed between array  28  and the electronic display  95 , can be mounted on or integrated in the display  95 , can be mounted on or integrated in a focusing sheet or film interposed between array  28  and the electronic display  95 , etc. 
   As will be described, at a minimum it is preferred to have at least a first pair of sensors  41 ,  44  that lie along a first vertically oriented line  91  and a second pair of sensors  47 ,  48  that lie along a second vertically oriented line  92 . The first and second lines  91 ,  92  preferably, but not necessarily, are both parallel to the longitudinal axes of lenticular sections  20 . Lines  91  and  92  are spaced apart a distance indicated by arrows C in  FIG. 5 . In the event horizontal reference lines  93 ,  94  are utilized, they are spaced apart a distance indicated by arrows G. 
   An electronic display screen  95  is depicted in  FIG. 6 . As will be discussed below, a primary image  80  of the snowman  90  is formed on screen  95 . Image  80  is, like the primary image  90 A, comprised of interpolated strips from two or more pictures. Screen  95  can, as noted, comprise a television screen, a liquid crystal display, a display comprised of LED&#39;s, or any other display comprised of electronically controlled pixels. As used herein, a pixel is a source of light having a particular color. Black and white is considered to be a color. 
   One example of a pixel is a phosphor dot produced in an electron beam in a television. In television screens, pixels are typically bunched in a repeating red-blue-green sequence. In one horizontal line across a television screen, the pixel sequence would be red-blue-green-red-blue-green-red-blue-green, etc. 
   Another example of a pixel is a liquid crystal that is aligned using an electric field to permit red, green, blue or white light to pass through the crystal. 
   Another example of a pixel is an LED. A single LED normally produces one color of light. 
   Apparatus for controlling the pixels, colors, and pictures produced on a television screen or other electronic display  95  are well known in the art and will not be detailed herein. An analog video picture can be received by television equipment that processes the picture and causes appropriate pixels on the television screen to generate light so the analog picture is reproduced on the television screen. Television equipment can also receive a digital picture from a compact disk and cause appropriate pixels on the television screen to generate light so the digital picture is reproduced on the television screen. The pictures produced on a television screen or other display  95  can, as is well known, be still pictures or can be “moving” pictures of the type found in movies. 
   Similarly, software can be provided which takes digital data defining two or more pictures  13  and  26 , manipulates the data to “cut” the pictures into strips  14  to  19  and interpolates the strips in the manner evidenced by the layer of material  27  in  FIG. 2  to produce on a display  95  a primary image  80  of the snowman  90 . The primary image  80  produced on display  95  in essence reproduces the top surface of each strip  14  to  19  comprising material layer  27 . It is the top surface of each strip  14  to  19  in material layer  27  that includes a visible image that comprises in part the primary image  90 A formed on layer  27 . 
   In the practice of the invention, a lens array  28  is placed over and in contact with display  95  in the same manner that array  28  is placed over material layer  27  in  FIG. 4 . A primary image  80  of snowman  90  is produced on the display  95 . Vertically oriented reference marks  56  to  59  and horizontally oriented reference marks  76  to  79  are displayed along with the primary image  80 . The reference marks  56  to  59  and  76  to  79  are displayed simultaneously with image  80 . The display  95  includes or is operatively associated with a system for adjusting the position of image  80 . 
   One way that the position of image  80  is adjusted is by moving the image  80  to the right in the direction indicated by arrows L. Reference marks  56  to  59  move simultaneously with image  80  to the right and are displaced the same distance to the right as image  80 . 
   Another way that the position of image  80  is adjusted is by moving the image  80  to the left in a direction opposite that indicated by arrows L. Reference marks  56  to  59  move simultaneously with image  80  to the left and are displaced the same distance to the right as image  80 . 
   A further way that the position of image  80  is adjusted is by expanding or enlarging image  80 . Image  80  is enlarged by expanding image  80  equal amounts (or other selected amounts) in all directions outwardly from the center point  100  of display  95 . Reference marks  56  to  59  and  76  to  79  expand simultaneously with image  80  and are typically displaced the same distance as other parts of image  80  that are, prior to the expansion of image  80 , the same distance from center point  100  as reference marks  56  to  59  and  76  to  79 . 
   Still another way that the position of image  80  is adjusted is by contracting or shrinking image  80 . Image  80  is contracted by contracting image  80  equal amounts (or other selected amounts) in all directions inwardly toward the center point  100  of display  95 . Reference marks  56  to  59  and  76  to  79  contract simultaneously with image  80  and are typically displaced the same distance toward point  100  as other parts of image  80  that are, prior to the contraction of image  80 , the same distance from center point  100  as reference marks  56  to  59  and  76  to  79 . 
   Yet a further way that the position of image  80  is adjusted is by rotating image  80  about point  100  or about some other selected reference point. Reference marks  56  to  59  and  76  to  79  rotate simultaneously with image  80  and are typically rotated through the same size arc or same distance as other parts of image  80  that are the same distance from center point  100  as reference marks  56  to  59  and  76  to  79 . 
   The apparatus necessary to adjust the position of image  80  (by adjusting the position of the pixels forming the image) in the ways set forth above is known in the art and is not detailed herein. 
   When image  80  appears on display  95 , it is important that the visible image from the top of each strip  14  to  19  is reproduced on display  95  in registration with the lens array  28  that contacts and/or is adjacent display  95 . The process for insuring such registration is described below. The following description is facilitated if it is assumed for sake of discussion that in  FIG. 4  material layer  27  is display  95  and that the top visible surface of each strip  14  to  19  in fact comprises a visible portion of primary image  80 , which visible portion is reproduced by causing selected pixels in display  95  to produce selected colors of light. 
   When primary image  80  and reference marks  56  to  59  are formed simultaneously on display  95  by activating selected pixels in display  95 , sensors  40  to  55  “look” for reference marks to identify the position of the reference marks with respect to the sensors. 
   If reference marks  56  and  57  line up with, are directly beneath, and are detected by sensors  41  and  44 , this indicates that the left hand side  102  of the primary image  80  is properly aligned with sensors on the back of the left hand side  101  of lens array  28 , and indicates that strips  14  and  15  are properly positioned directly beneath and in registration with the lenticular section  20  that is shown in  FIG. 4  directly above strips  14  and  15 . 
   If, on the other hand, reference marks  56  and  57  are to the left of, but parallel to, sensors  41  and  44 , then primary image  80  is, along with marks  56  to  59  moved to the right in the direction of arrows L until marks  56  and  57  are in alignment with sensors  41  and  44 . 
   One way to detect the position of co-linear reference marks  56  and  57  is to have an array of sensors  40  to  42  and  43  to  45  so the sensors can scan a selected horizontal distance to “look” for a reference line  56 ,  57 . Another way to detect the position of marks  56  and  57  is, in the event sensors  41  and  44  do not initially detect marks  56  and  57 , to have the control unit move the primary image  80  and reference marks selected increments to the left or right until sensors  41  and  44  detect marks  56  and  57 . 
   If sensor  44  detects mark  57  in alignment with sensor  44 , but sensor  41  detects that mark  56  is not in alignment with sensor  41 , then the primary image  80  is rotated about a point coincident with sensor  44  until mark  56  is directly beneath and in alignment with sensor  41 . 
   Once marks  56  and  57  are in alignment with sensors  41  and  44 , sensors  47  and  48  attempt to detect reference marks  58  and  59 . If sensors  47  and  48  detect that marks  58  and  59  are directly beneath and in alignment with sensors  47  and  48 , this indicates that each pair of strips  14 – 15 ,  16 – 17 ,  18 – 19 , is directly beneath and in registration with its associated lenticular section  20 . If, on the other hand, sensors  47  and  48  detect that marks  58  and  59  are to the left (or right) of sensors  47  and  48 , then the primary image is expanded (or contracted) to bring marks  58  and  59  into alignment and registration with sensors  47  and  48 . The primary image  80  can be expanded by expanding image  80  outwardly in all directions from the center point  100 , can be expanded in the direction of arrow L from the left hand reference marks  56 ,  57 , etc. After image  80  is expanded, it may be necessary to realign marks  56  and  57  with sensors  41  and  44  and to again check to insure that marks  58  and  59  are in alignment with sensors  47  and  48 . 
   Any desired combination of sensing apparatus and reference marks can be utilized to insure that primary image  80  is in registration with the lens array  28 . 
   When display  95  has a curved surface, or has a thick protective covering over the primary image, it may be advisable to interpose a focusing sheet or device between display  95  and lens array  28 . The focusing sheet function to focus light from display  95  at the back of lens array  28 . The focusing sheet can be a fresnel lens, a series of concave or convex lens that each lie along vertical lines parallel to each lenticular section, etc. 
   In use, with reference to  FIG. 7 , an electronically controlled pixel display  67  is provided. Viewable images are produced on the display  67  by causing selected pixels in the display to emit light. A transparent lens array  28  is mounted on display  67 , typically (but not necessarily) with the back of the lens array in contact with the display such that an individual can view through array  28  images produced on the display. Array  28  includes sensors  41 ,  44 ,  47 ,  48 . Data from a digital camera  60  for at least a pair of pictures  13 ,  26  or other data defining a plurality of pictures is directed as interpolation data  64  into memory  66 . Each picture  13 ,  26  is a photograph of the same object or subject matter, but is taken at a different angle in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The interpolation subroutine  61  of control  63  takes the interpolation data and interpolates the data in the manner earlier described with reference to  FIG. 2  to generate data defining a primary image. Control  63  transmits the primary image data to display  67  to activate appropriate pixels to produce a primary image  80  thereon, along with reference marks  56  to  59 . 
   Reference line sensors  69  (i.e., sensors  41  and  44 ) search for marks  56  and  57  in the manner earlier described and generate and transmit alignment data  65  to memory  66 . The alignment subroutine  62  of control  63  analyzes the alignment data to determine if the position of the primary image  80  and reference marks  56  to  59  needs to be adjusted into registration with array  28  by using a horizontal  69  adjustment (i.e., a left or right movement of image  80 ) and/or by using a rotate  71  adjustment. If necessary, the picture orientation adjustment  72  is used to horizontally or rotationally adjust image  80  to bring marks  56  and  57  into alignment with sensors  41  and  44 . 
   Once the reference marks  56  and  57  are aligned with sensors  41  and  44 , reference line sensors  69  (i.e., sensors  47  and  48 ) search for marks  58  and  59  in the manner earlier described and generate and transmit alignment data  65  to memory  66 . The alignment subroutine  62  of control  63  analyzes the alignment data to determine if the position of the primary image  80  and reference marks  56  to  59  needs to be adjusted by using the expand-contract  70  adjustment of the picture orientation adjustment  72 . If necessary adjustment  72  expands or contracts  70  image  80 . 
   Ordinarily, but not necessarily, reference line sensors  68  continuously monitor marks  56  to  59  and to adjust the position of image  80  and marks  56  to  59 . 
   As would be appreciated by those of skill in the art, when a primary image  80  is moving on display  95  not to adjust the position of marks  56  to  59  with respect to sensors  41 ,  44 ,  47 ,  48  but simply as part of the display, then marks  56  to  59  do not move on display  95 . If for example, image  80  is scrolling from left to right across display  95 , marks  56  to  59  do not move while image  80  is scrolling. Control  63  is able to compensate for and allow such a scrolling movement while continuing to monitor the position of marks  56  to  59  with respect to fixed sensors on the back of fixed array  28 . 
   In an alternate embodiment of the invention, pictures can, as depicted in  FIG. 8 , be taken from locations circumscribing, or partially circumscribing, an object  110 . In  FIG. 8 , object  10  is a pyramid. Each axis X 1 , X 2 , X 3 , X 4 , X 5  lies in a plane that passes through dashed line  166 . Dashed line  166  has the shape of a square. Opposing picture pairs are taken for each axis X 1  to X 5  in the same manner illustrated in  FIG. 1 . For axis X 1 , an opposing pair of pictures is taken of object  110  by positioning camera  112  along line  121  and taking a picture and by positioning camera  111  along line  120  and taking a picture. Lines  120  and  121  are each at an angle of seven degrees from line X 1 . Similarly, for axis X 2 , an opposing pair of pictures is taken of object  110  by positioning cameras along lines  130  and  131 . Lines  130  and  131  are each seven degrees from axis X 2 . For axis X 3 , an opposing pair of pictures is taken of object  110  by positioning cameras along lines  140  and  141 . Lines  140  and  141  are each seven degrees from axis X 3 . For axis X 4 , an opposing pair of pictures is taken of object  110  by positioning cameras along line  150  and  151 . Each line  150  and  151  is seven degrees from axis X 4 . For axis X 5 , an opposing pair of pictures is taken of object  110  by positioning cameras along lines  160  and  161 . Each line  160  and  161  is seven degrees from axis X 5 . Lines  120 ,  121 ,  130 ,  131 ,  140 ,  141 ,  150 ,  151 ,  160 ,  161  also lie in the plane that passes through dashed line  166 . After an opposing picture pair is taken to either side of each axis X 1  to X 5 , each opposing picture pair is cut or otherwise processing into strips, which strips are integrated in the manner earlier described with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
   Since the opposing picture pairs are taken at points circumscribing object  110 , a primary image(s) of object  110  can be formed on a cylindrical display or screen  197 , or on an arcuate screen which circumscribes an arc extending over less than three hundred and sixty degrees. 
   As shown in  FIG. 9 , an individual can view screen  197  from different positions  170  to  175 . If, for example, a viewer looks at side  194  of screen  197  from position  173  along axis X 3 , then the viewer sees displayed on side  194  the triangular side  163  of object  110  in three dimensions. If the viewer looks at side  195  of screen  197  from position  170  along axis X 5 , then the viewer sees displayed on side  195  the triangular side  168  of object  110  in three dimensions. Side  168  opposes side  163 . If the viewer looks at screen  197  from position  172 , he sees displayed on screen  197  in three dimensions triangular sides  162  and  163  and the edge  180  along which sides  162  and  163  co-terminate. If the viewer looks at the front  192  of screen  197  along axis X 1 , the viewer sees side  162  displayed on the front  192  of screen  197 . 
   Back  193  of screen  197  can be viewed from position  174  or  175 . 
   One area in which the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9  has application is during the crash testing of vehicles. Using the apparatus of  FIGS. 8 and 9  enables an investigator to view a test crash from all sides of a vehicle.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7