Based on current three-dimensional imaging technology, a group of optical display experts has invented a way to enhance 3D screens small enough to fit into regular eyeglasses.
The researchers have developed a device small enough to fit into a regular pair of glasses that can resolve the long-standing balance in three-dimensional displays, leading to the most realistic 3D images ever produced.
Three-dimensional images are typically created using projection devices known as spatial light modulators (SLM). Light is emitted through a device that alters the shape of light waves at a specific distance, creating a visible surface.
Researchers are getting closer to realistic three-dimensional imagery. (Photo: Andrew Brookes).
However, as SLMs are made from liquid crystal/silicon display technology (LCoS), current 3D imaging technology is suitable for narrow viewing angles, much like flat screens. Viewers must be positioned within a narrow line of sight—anywhere outside of this angle can lead to excessive refraction of light, rendering the image invisible.
It is possible to widen the angle for clearer images, but fidelity is lost due to the current LCoS technology lacking sufficient pixel density to maintain image quality over a broader field. This means that 3D visuals tend to be either small and sharp or large and diffused, sometimes disappearing entirely if the viewer looks far enough away from the optimal angle.
Felix Heide, an assistant professor of computer science at Princeton University and the lead author of the study, explained the significance of the viewing angle. “To have a similar experience, you need to sit directly in front of a movie theater screen,” he stated.
The new technology can be projected onto regular eyeglasses, and they are also small and light enough that the wearer does not need bulky VR headsets.
This discovery will also make applications using 3D imagery—such as in VR and AR displays—more accessible, as the screen technology can be easier to use, lighter, and ultra-thin.
A significant improvement from the Princeton team is the creation of a secondary optical component that works with the SLM, filtering its output to expand the field of view while maintaining detail and stability in the 3D image with significantly lower image degradation.
