An integral imaging system can be utilized for many threedimensional (3D) imaging applications. However, improvement in display performance, such as resolution and viewing angle, is generally difficult because a large amount of image information is required. Therefore, we propose an integral imaging system using a locally controllable point light source array. In this system, point light sources with the desired light distribution angle, light direction, and light-diffusing states are generated as a local backlight through the projection of a predetermined image pattern. An integral 3D image with an enhanced viewing angle can be reproduced by controlling the light distribution of each point light source in time division and displaying the corresponding elemental images on a liquid-crystal display (LCD). Moreover, a high-resolution twodimensional (2D) image can be reproduced on the entire or partial region of the display screen by generating diffused light in predetermined areas. In this study, a prototype display system was developed and experimentally evaluated to demonstrate the enhancement of the horizontal viewing angle from 14.2˚ to 28.0˚. Furthermore, we confirmed the possibility of partially switching between 3D and 2D images.
Hayato Watanabe, Masahiro Kawakita, Naoto Okaichi, Hisayuki Sasaki, Tomoyuki Mishina, "Integral Imaging System using Locally Controllable Point Light Source Array" in Proc. IS&T Int’l. Symp. on Electronic Imaging: Stereoscopic Displays and Applications XXIX, 2018, pp 247-1 - 247-5, https://doi.org/10.2352/ISSN.2470-1173.2018.04.SDA-247