Implementations of a compressive light field projection system are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the compressive light field projection system utilizes a pair of light modulators, such as digital micromirror devices (DMDs), that interact to produce a light field. The light field is then projected via a projection lens onto a screen, which may be an angle expanding projection screen that includes a Fresnel lens for straightening the views of the light field and either a double lenticular array of Keplerian lens pairs or a single lenticular, for increasing the field of view. In addition, compression techniques are disclosed for generating patterns to place on the pair of light modulators so as to reduce the number of frames needed to recreate a light field.

Implementations of a compressive light field projection system are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the compressive light field projection system utilizes a pair of light modulators, such as digital micromirror devices (DMDs), that interact to produce a light field. The light field is then projected via a projection lens onto a screen, which may be an angle expanding projection screen that includes a Fresnel lens for straightening the views of the light field and either a double lenticular array of Keplerian lens pairs or a single lenticular, for increasing the field of view. In addition, compression techniques are disclosed for generating patterns to place on the pair of light modulators so as to reduce the number of frames needed to recreate a light field.

A laser system for generation of three-dimensional (3D) colored images is based on semiconductor laser sources generating laser light at a plurality of wavelengths. The laser source for each basic color range (red, green and blue) is formed on a single chip. The chip can be an array of the distributed feedback lasers or an array of distributed Bragg reflector lasers, each of which generates laser light at its own wavelength, or a COMB laser generating laser light at a plurality of wavelengths.

All light illuminates a two-dimensional (2D) display, and the light transmitted through the display or reflected by the display at a given color range impinges on an optical unit, containing a first optical element, e.g., a lens or a mirror, the focal length of which is wavelength-sensitive. Light at different wavelengths forms 2D images at different depths. Then, once the images created by the display and the laser pulses at each wavelength are synchronized, all images of the given colored range are perceived by the human's eyes as a single 3D image of this color range.

To fuse 3D images in red, green and blue that are formed at different positions, an optical element, e. g., a lens or a mirror is employed, the focal length of which is adjustable by mechanical motion, or deformation, or applying an electro-optic effect in an electric field. This optical element can be either the same first element with the wavelength-dependent focal length, or a different element. Then, once the light is switched between red, green and blue color ranges, the adjustable focal length of this element is adjusted such to compensate a change of the focal length of the first element, and the focal length of the entire optical unit is restored. Then the human's eyes average the perceived light and see a smoothly moving fully colored 3D image.

A laser system for generation of three-dimensional (3D) colored images is based on semiconductor laser sources generating laser light at a plurality of wavelengths. The laser source for each basic color range (red, green and blue) is formed on a single chip. The chip can be an array of the distributed feedback lasers or an array of distributed Bragg reflector lasers, each of which generates laser light at its own wavelength, or a COMB laser generating laser light at a plurality of wavelengths.

All light illuminates a two-dimensional (2D) display, and the light transmitted through the display or reflected by the display at a given color range impinges on an optical unit, containing a first optical element, e.g., a lens or a mirror, the focal length of which is wavelength-sensitive. Light at different wavelengths forms 2D images at different depths. Then, once the images created by the display and the laser pulses at each wavelength are synchronized, all images of the given colored range are perceived by the human's eyes as a single 3D image of this color range.

To fuse 3D images in red, green and blue that are formed at different positions, an optical element, e. g., a lens or a mirror is employed, the focal length of which is adjustable by mechanical motion, or deformation, or applying an electro-optic effect in an electric field. This optical element can be either the same first element with the wavelength-dependent focal length, or a different element. Then, once the light is switched between red, green and blue color ranges, the adjustable focal length of this element is adjusted such to compensate a change of the focal length of the first element, and the focal length of the entire optical unit is restored. Then the human's eyes average the perceived light and see a smoothly moving fully colored 3D image.

A light-source module includes a light-source unit, a first projection lens, a first lens, a mirror wheel, a first light-guiding unit, a second light-guiding unit, and a second projection lens. The first projection lens has an entrance pupil. The light beam provided by the light-source unit can pass through the first projection lens via the entrance pupil and then is guided to the mirror wheel. With the rotation of the mirror wheel, when the light beam passes through the mirror wheel, it becomes a transmission light beam. At different time, when the light beam is reflected by the mirror wheel, it becomes a reflection light beam. The second projection lens has a first exit pupil and a second exit pupil, in which the transmission light beam and the reflection light beam pass through the second projection lens via the first exit pupil and the second exit pupil, respectively.

A light-source module includes a light-source unit, a first projection lens, a first lens, a mirror wheel, a first light-guiding unit, a second light-guiding unit, and a second projection lens. The first projection lens has an entrance pupil. The light beam provided by the light-source unit can pass through the first projection lens via the entrance pupil and then is guided to the mirror wheel. With the rotation of the mirror wheel, when the light beam passes through the mirror wheel, it becomes a transmission light beam. At different time, when the light beam is reflected by the mirror wheel, it becomes a reflection light beam. The second projection lens has a first exit pupil and a second exit pupil, in which the transmission light beam and the reflection light beam pass through the second projection lens via the first exit pupil and the second exit pupil, respectively.

Systems and methods provide a retro-reflective screen covered with a screen material. The retro-reflective screen has a plurality of retro-reflective screen elements positioned within the screen material. At least one of the plurality of retro-reflective screen elements is oriented so as to have an incident angle that is less than 45 degrees. Additionally, a portion of the screen material that corresponds to the at least one screen element has an incident angle that is greater than the incident angle of the at least one screen element. Additionally, the system also comprises at least one projector that (i) generates light characterizing an image or video and (ii) projects the light onto the retro-reflective screen.

Systems and methods provide a retro-reflective screen covered with a screen material. The retro-reflective screen has a plurality of retro-reflective screen elements positioned within the screen material. At least one of the plurality of retro-reflective screen elements is oriented so as to have an incident angle that is less than 45 degrees. Additionally, a portion of the screen material that corresponds to the at least one screen element has an incident angle that is greater than the incident angle of the at least one screen element. Additionally, the system also comprises at least one projector that (i) generates light characterizing an image or video and (ii) projects the light onto the retro-reflective screen.

The problem of 3D panel display systems either (a) requiring special glasses to separate left and right viewing images, or (b) having auto-stereoscopic 3D with compromised fidelity, is solved by providing a projection three dimensional (3D) display system for providing glass-free, 3D display to a plurality of viewing volumetric pairs (VVAs) in space corresponding to a hypothetical plurality of viewers' eye aperture pairs, the projection 3D display system comprising: (a) a dual-image projector configured to project both a left viewing tri-color image and a right viewing tri-color image; and (b) means for (1) receiving a tri-color mixed input beam encompassing the left and right viewing tri-color images, (2) multiplying the tri-color mixed input beam into a plurality of tri-color mixed output beams, and (3) focusing the plurality of tri-color mixed beams for viewing at the VVAs.

The problem of 3D panel display systems either (a) requiring special glasses to separate left and right viewing images, or (b) having auto-stereoscopic 3D with compromised fidelity, is solved by providing a projection three dimensional (3D) display system for providing glass-free, 3D display to a plurality of viewing volumetric pairs (VVAs) in space corresponding to a hypothetical plurality of viewers' eye aperture pairs, the projection 3D display system comprising: (a) a dual-image projector configured to project both a left viewing tri-color image and a right viewing tri-color image; and (b) means for (1) receiving a tri-color mixed input beam encompassing the left and right viewing tri-color images, (2) multiplying the tri-color mixed input beam into a plurality of tri-color mixed output beams, and (3) focusing the plurality of tri-color mixed beams for viewing at the VVAs.