HK1204684B - Multiview 3d wrist watch - Google Patents

Description

Multi-view 3D wristwatch

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application relates to PCT patent application serial No. PCT/US2012/035573 (attorney docket No.82963238) entitled "Directional Pixel for Use in a display Screen" filed on day 27, 2012, PCT patent application serial No. PCT/US2012/040305 (attorney docket No.83011348) entitled "Directional Backlight" filed on day 31, 2012, day 1, 6, 2012, PCT patent application serial No. PCT/US2012/040607 (attorney docket No.82963242) filed on day 28, 2012, entitled "Directional Backlight with a Modulation Layer", and PCT patent application serial No. PCT/US 058026 (attorney docket No. 3683) filed on day 28, 2012, month 9, entitled "Directional waveguiding-based illuminated Hybrid Lasers for Use in a multiple display Screen", and is hereby incorporated by reference to PCT/US application serial No. 82963246.

Background

Wristwatches have been part of human culture and wear for decades since their 20 th century beginning to become popular. The first designs were simply pocket watches held in place by straps as necessary during the war. Soldiers found it impractical to pull the watch out of their pocket in the middle of a battle and started to rely more frequently on wristwatches. As wristwatches become popular, their design has also improved and evolved over time. The original design was purely mechanical. The next generation of models employ electronic mechanisms with quartz oscillators. Digital watches have become a product in the 70's of the 20 th century and since then various styles have emerged to increase customer demand, including calculator watches, waterproof watches, camera watches, GPS watches, and the like. The current fashion trend indicates that wristwatches are coming up again after being delivered to smartphones and other devices some territories.

Drawings

The present application may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a wristwatch designed in accordance with various examples;

fig. 2 illustrates a schematic view of a wristwatch with a directional backplate (directional backplate) according to various examples;

3A-B illustrate exemplary top views of the directional backplane according to FIG. 2;

4A-B illustrate other exemplary top views of the directional backplane according to FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 illustrates the exemplary directional backplane of FIG. 2 having a triangular shape;

FIG. 6 illustrates the example directional backplane of FIG. 2 having a hexagonal shape;

FIG. 7 illustrates the example directional backing plate of FIG. 2 having a circular shape; and

fig. 8 is a flow chart for generating a 3D time view using a multi-view 3D wristwatch according to the present application.

Detailed Description

A multi-view 3D wristwatch is disclosed. The multi-view 3D wristwatch can display time in 3D so that the user can see the time as if floating in the air. The wristwatch employs a unique directional back plate for providing a light field in the form of a directional light beam. The directional light beam is scattered by a plurality of directional pixels in the directional backplane. Each directional beam originates from a different directional pixel and has a given direction and angular spread depending on the characteristics of the directional pixel. This specified directionality enables the directional beam to be modulated (i.e., turned on, off, or varying brightness) with multiple modulators and produce different 3D temporal views.

In various examples, the directional pixels are arranged in a directional backplane illuminated by a plurality of input planar beams. The directional pixels receive the input planar light beams and scatter a portion of them as directional light beams. A light valve (shutter) layer is placed over the directional pixels to modulate the directional beam as desired. The light valve layer may include a plurality of modulators (e.g., liquid crystal display ("LCD") cells, MEMS, fluidic, magnetic, electrophoretic, etc.) with active matrix addressing, where each modulator modulates a single directional light beam from a single directional pixel or a set of directional light beams from a set of directional pixels. The light valve layer enables the generation of 3D temporal views, where each view is provided by a set of directional light beams. The 3D time view may be single color or multi-color, as desired.

In various examples, the directional pixels in the directional backplane have a patterned grating of substantially parallel trenches arranged in or on top of the directional backplane. The directional backplane may be, for example, a plate (slab) of transparent material such as silicon nitride ("SiN"), glass or quartz, plastic, indium tin oxide ("ITO"), or other material that directs the input planar beam to the directional pixels. The patterned grating may consist of trenches etched directly into the directional backplane, or may consist of trenches made of material deposited on top of the directional backplane (e.g., any material that can be deposited and etched or stripped, including any dielectric or metal). The grooves may also be slanted.

As described in greater detail herein below, each directional pixel may be determined by a grating length (i.e., a dimension along the propagation axis of the input planar beam), a grating width (i.e., a dimension across the propagation axis of the input planar beam), a trench orientation, a pitch, and a duty cycle. Each directional pixel may emit a directional beam having a direction determined by the trench orientation and the grating pitch and an angular spread determined by the grating length and width. By using a duty cycle of 50% or around 50%, the second fourier coefficient of the patterned grating becomes zero, thereby preventing scattering of light in other unwanted directions. This ensures that only one directional beam of light emanates from each directional pixel, regardless of its output angle.

As described in further detail herein below, the directional backplane may be designed with directional pixels having a certain grating length, grating width, trench orientation, pitch, and duty cycle selected to produce a given 3D temporal view. The 3D temporal views are generated from directional beams emitted by directional pixels and modulated by a light valve layer, wherein the modulated directional beams from a set of directional pixels generate a given temporal view.

It should be understood that in the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it is understood that the embodiments may be practiced without limitation to these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods and structures may not have been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the description of the embodiments. In addition, the embodiments may be used in combination with each other.

Referring now to fig. 1, a schematic diagram of a wristwatch designed according to various examples is depicted. The wristwatch 100 is a multi-view 3D watch showing time in a circular-like display, with numbers arranged around the display. The wristwatch 105 is a multi-view 3D watch showing time in a rectangular-like display, where the digital bits indicate time. Both wristwatches 100-105 show time in a 3D time view so that the user can see the time as if floating in the air. Depending on the position of the user's eyes, the user may perceive different time views; that is, the user can see time in a natural and realistic manner much like the brain perceives visual information in real world in 3D.

It should be understood that the time views shown in the wristwatches 100 and 105 may be of a single color or multiple colors, as desired. It should also be understood that the 3D time view may be differently shaped, have different effects, and may include other imagery in addition to time. For example, the 3D temporal view may be shaded, contoured, patterned, etc. The wristwatch display may be rectangular, circular, polygonal, or any other shape that may be designed for a wristwatch. The time view may also include a logo of the wristwatch, a background picture, and other pictures that complement the time displayed. As described below, a 3D time view is generated using a unique directional backplane capable of generating a directional beam of light that is modulated by a light valve layer according to the time to be displayed in the 3D time view (e.g., 8:13am, 10:34pm, etc.).

Referring now to fig. 2, a schematic diagram of a wristwatch with a directional back plate is depicted, in accordance with various examples. The wristwatch 200 includes a directional back plate 205 that receives a set of input planar light beams 210 from a plurality of light sources. The plurality of light sources may include, for example, one or more narrow bandwidth light sources having a spectral bandwidth of about 30nm or less, such as light emitting diodes ("LEDs"), lasers (e.g., hybrid lasers), or any other light source used to provide illumination in a wristwatch. The input planar beam 210 propagates substantially in the same plane as the directional backplane 205, which directional backplane 205 is designed to be substantially planar.

The directional backplane 205 may be constructed of a plate of transparent material (e.g., SiN, glass or quartz, plastic, ITO, etc.) having a plurality of directional pixels 215a-d arrayed in the directional backplane 205 or on top of the directional backplane 205. Directional pixels 215a-d scatter a portion of input planar beam 210 as directional beams 220 a-d. In various examples, each orientation pixel 215a-d has a patterned grating of substantially parallel trenches (e.g., trench 225a for orientation pixel 215 a). The thickness of the grating trenches may be substantially the same for all trenches, resulting in a substantially planar design. The trenches may be etched in the directional backplane or made of a material (e.g., any material that can be deposited and etched or stripped, including any dielectric or metal) deposited on top of the directional backplane 205.

Each directional lightbeam 220a-d has a given direction and angular spread determined by the patterned grating forming the corresponding directional pixel 215 a-d. Specifically, the direction of each directional beam 220a-d is determined by the orientation of the patterned grating and the grating pitch. The angular spread of each directed beam is determined by the grating length and width of the patterned grating. For example, the direction of the directed beam 215a is determined by the orientation of the patterned grating 225a and the grating pitch.

It will be appreciated that this substantially planar design and the formation of the directed beams 220a-d from the input planar beam 210 requires a grating having a much smaller pitch than conventional diffraction gratings. For example, conventional diffraction gratings scatter light when illuminated with a light beam that propagates substantially through the plane of the grating. Here, the grating in each directional pixel 215a-d is substantially in the same plane as the input planar beam 210 when generating the directional beams 220 a-d.

The directed beams 220a-d are precisely controlled by the characteristics of the gratings in the directed pixels 215a-d, including the grating length L, the grating width W, the trench orientation θ, and the trench pitch Λ. In particular, grating length L of grating 225a controls the angular spread Δ Θ of directional lightbeam 220a along the input light propagation axis, and grating width W controls the angular spread Δ Θ of directional lightbeam 220a intersecting the input light propagation axis as follows:

where λ is the wavelength of the directed beam 220 a. The orientation of the grooves, determined by the grating orientation angle theta, and the grating pitch or period, determined by Λ, control the direction of the directed beam 220 a.

The grating length L and the grating width W may vary in size in the range of 0.1 to 200 μm. The trench orientation angle theta and the grating pitch lambda may be set to meet the desired direction of the directed beam 220a, where for example the trench orientation angle theta is on the order of-40 to +40 degrees and the grating pitch lambda is on the order of 200-700 nm.

In various examples, light valve layer 230 (e.g., an LCD cell) is positioned over directional pixels 215a-d to modulate directional lightbeams 220a-d scattered by directional pixels 215 a-d. Modulation of directional beams 220a-d includes controlling their brightness (e.g., turning them on, off, or changing their brightness) with light valve layer 230. For example, a modulator in light valve layer 230 may be used to turn on directional beams 220a and 220d and turn off directional beams 220b and 220 c.

The ability to provide modulation to directional beams 220a-D enables the generation of many different 3D time views, such as time view 240. The modulator is controlled by a clock circuit 245, which clock circuit 245 determines the time to be displayed in the wristwatch 200, thereby determining which directional light beams 220a-d will be turned on or off to produce a time view 240 corresponding to the time to be displayed in the watch 200 (e.g., 03:07 am).

The light valve layer 230 may be placed on top of a spacer layer 235, which spacer layer 235 may be made of a material or simply be composed of space (i.e., air) between the directional pixels 215a-d and the modulator of the light valve layer 230. The spacer layer 235 may have a width on the order of 0-100 μm, for example.

It should be understood that the directional backplane 205 is shown with four directional pixels 215a-d for illustration purposes only. Depending on how the directional backplane is used (e.g., in a 3D display screen, in a 3D table, in a mobile device, etc.), the directional backplane according to various examples may be designed to have many directional pixels (e.g., more than 100). It should also be understood that the directional pixels may have any shape, including, for example, circular, elliptical, polygonal, or other geometric shapes.

Reference is now made to fig. 3A-B, which illustrate top views of the directional backplane according to fig. 2. In fig. 3A, a wristwatch 300 is shown having a directional back plane 305, the directional back plane 305 including a plurality of polygonal directional pixels (e.g., directional pixels 310) arranged in a transparent plate. Each directional pixel is capable of scattering a portion of the input planar beam 315 into an output directional beam (e.g., directional beam 320). Each directional beam is modulated by a modulator, such as LCD cell 325 for directional beam 320. The directional lightbeams scattered by all the directional pixels in the directional backplane 305 and modulated by the modulator (e.g., LCD cell 325) may represent multiple image views that, when combined, form a 3D time view 360.

Similarly, in fig. 3B, wristwatch 330 is shown with directional back plate 335, which directional back plate 335 includes a plurality of circular directional pixels (e.g., directional pixel 340) arranged in a transparent plate. Each directional pixel is capable of scattering a portion of input planar beam 345 into an output directional beam (e.g., directional beam 350). Each directional beam is modulated by a modulator (e.g., LCD cell 355 for directional beam 350). The directional lightbeams scattered by all the directional pixels in the directional backplane 335 and modulated by the modulator (e.g., LCD cell 355) may represent multiple image views that, when combined, form a 3D time view 365.

In various examples, a single modulator may be used to modulate a set of directional light beams from a set of directional pixels. That is, a given modulator may be placed over a set of directional pixels, rather than having one modulator per directional pixel as shown in FIGS. 3A-B.

Referring now to fig. 4A-B, a top view of the directional backplane according to fig. 2 is depicted. In fig. 4A, a wristwatch 400 is shown having a directional back plate 405, the directional back plate 405 including a plurality of polygonal directional pixels (e.g., directional pixel 410a) arranged in a transparent plate. Each directional pixel is capable of scattering a portion of the input planar light beam 415 into an output directional light beam (e.g., directional light beam 420 a). A set of directional beams (e.g., directional beams 420a-d scattered by directional pixels 410 a-d) is modulated by a modulator (e.g., LCD cell 425a that modulates directional beams 420 a-d). For example, LCD unit 425a is used to turn on orientation pixels 410a-d while LCD unit 425d is used to turn off orientation pixels 430 a-d. The directional lightbeams scattered by all the directional pixels in the directional backplane 405 and modulated by the LCD cells 425a-D may represent multiple views that, when combined, form a 3D temporal view 475.

Similarly, in fig. 4B, wristwatch 440 is shown with directional back plate 445, which directional back plate 445 includes a plurality of circular directional pixels (e.g., directional pixel 450a) arranged in a transparent plate. Each directional pixel is capable of scattering a portion of input planar beam 455 into an output directional beam (e.g., directional beam 360 a). A set of directional beams (e.g., directional beams 460a-d scattered by directional pixels 450 a-d) is modulated by a modulator (e.g., LCD cell 470a that modulates directional beams 460 a-d). For example, directional pixels 450a-d are turned on with LCD unit 470a while directional pixels 465a-d are turned off with LCD unit 470 d. The directional lightbeams scattered by all directional pixels in the directional backplane 445 and modulated by modulators such as LCD cells 470a-D may represent multiple views that when combined form a 3D temporal view 480.

It is to be understood that the directional backplane may be designed to have different shapes, such as, for example, a triangular shape (as shown in fig. 5), a hexagonal shape (as shown in fig. 6), or a circular shape (as shown in fig. 7). In FIG. 5, directional backplane 505 receives input planar beams, such as input planar beams 510-520, from three different spatial directions. This configuration may be used when the input planar beams represent different colors of light, where, for example, input planar beam 510 represents red, input planar beam 515 represents green, and input planar beam 520 represents blue. Each of the input planar beams 510-520 is arranged on one side of the triangular directional backplane 505 to focus its light on a set of directional pixels. For example, input planar beam 510 is scattered as a directional beam by a set of directional pixels 525-535. The subset of directional pixels 525-535 may also receive light from the input planar beams 515-520. However, by design, this light is not scattered into the intended visible area of the wristwatch 500.

For example, assume that input planar beam 510 is directed to a subset G of pixels 525-535_AScattered into the desired visible area. The expected viewing area may be defined by a maximum ray angle θ measured through a normal 504 from the orientation backing plate_maxAnd (4) determining. Input planar beam 510 may also be directed to pixel G_B540-550, but those unwanted rays are outside the expected viewing area as long as the following equation is satisfied:

wherein λ_AIs the wavelength, n, of the input planar beam 510_eff ^AIs input plane beam 510 at directional backplane 505 effective index (effective index) of horizontal propagation, lambda_BIs the wavelength of input planar light beam 520 (to be scattered by directional pixels 540-550), and n_eff ^BIs the effective index of refraction for the input planar beam 520 to propagate horizontally in the directional backplane 505. In the case where the effective refractive index and the wavelength are substantially the same, equation 2 reduces to:

for a directional backplane with an index of refraction n greater than 2 and input plane beams propagating near the grazing angle, it can be seen that the intended viewing area of the display can be extended to the entire space (n)_effSin θ is not less than 2_max1). For lower index directional backplanes such as glass (e.g., n-1.46), the expected viewable area is limited to about θ_max<arcsin (n/2) (. + -. 45 ℃ for glass).

It should be understood that each directional beam may be modulated by a modulator, such as, for example, LCD unit 555. Because precise directional and angular control of the directional lightbeams can be achieved by each directional pixel in the directional backplane 505, and the directional lightbeams can be modulated by a modulator, such as an LCD cell, the directional backplane 405 can be designed to produce multiple different views of a 3D image.

It should also be appreciated that the directional backplane 505 shown in fig. 5 may be formed into a more compact design by implementing that the top corners (vertices) of the triangular plates may be cut away to form a hexagonal shape as shown in fig. 6. The directional backplane 605 receives input planar light beams, e.g., input planar light beams 610-620, from three different spatial directions. Each of the input planar light beams 610-620 is arranged on spaced apart sides (alternating sides) of the hexagonal directional backplane 605 to focus its light on a subset of directional pixels (e.g., directional pixels 625-635). In various examples, the hexagonal-shaped directional backplane 605 has side lengths that may range on the order of 10-30mm, with the size of the directional pixels on the order of 10-30 μm.

It should be understood that the wristwatch 600 is shown as having multiple configurations of modulators. For example, a single modulator may be used to modulate a directional beam from a set of directional pixels, e.g., LCD cell 640 for directional pixels 625-635, or a single modulator may be used to modulate a single directional pixel, e.g., LCD cell 655 for directional pixel 660. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any modulator configuration for the directional pixels may be used to modulate the directional light beams scattered by the directional pixels. A clock circuit (not shown) is used to control the modulators in the light valve layer. It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any light valve layer configuration may be used to modulate the directional light beam.

It should also be understood that the directional backplane for a color input plane beam may have any geometry other than a triangular (fig. 5) or hexagonal (fig. 6) shape, as long as light from the three primary colors is introduced from three different directions. For example, the directional backplane may be polygonal, circular, elliptical, or other shape capable of receiving light from three different directions. Referring now to fig. 7, a directional backplane having a circular shape is depicted. A directional back plate 705 in the wristwatch 700 receives input planar light beams 710-720 from three different directions. Each directional pixel has a circular shape, such as directional pixel 720, and scatters the directional light beam modulated by the modulator, such as LCD cell 725. Each LCD cell has a rectangular shape and the circular orientation backplane 705 is designed to accommodate rectangular LCD cells for circular orientation pixels (or polygonal orientation pixels if desired).

A flow chart for generating a 3D time view using a multi-view 3D wristwatch according to the present application is illustrated in fig. 8. The multiview 3D wristwatch generates a 3D time view as described above using a directional back plate and a light valve layer controlled by a clock circuit. First, a clock circuit determines the time to be displayed (800). Light from a plurality of narrow bandwidth light sources is input to a directional backplane (805) in an input planar beam. The clock circuit then controls the light valve layer to modulate a set of directional pixels in the directional backplane according to the time to be displayed (810). Finally, a 3D temporal view is generated from the modulated directional light beams scattered by the directional pixels in the directional backplane (815).

Advantageously, the multi-view 3D wristwatch enables the generation of a 3D time view so that the user can see the time as if floating in the air. The directional beams produced by the directional pixels may be modulated to produce any desired effect in the resulting temporal view.

It is to be understood that the description of the disclosed embodiments above is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present disclosure. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims (14)

1. A multi-view 3D wristwatch comprising:

a clock circuit to determine time;

a plurality of light sources producing a plurality of input planar light beams;

a directional backplane configured to direct the plurality of input planar beams, the directional backplane having a plurality of directional pixels that scatter the plurality of input planar beams into a plurality of directional beams, each directional beam having a direction and an angular spread controlled by a characteristic of a directional pixel of the plurality of directional pixels; and

a light valve layer receiving time from the clock circuit and modulating the plurality of directional beams to produce a 3D time view.

2. The multiview 3D wristwatch of claim 1, further comprising a spacer layer located over the directional backplate.

3. The multiview 3D wristwatch of claim 2, wherein the light valve layer is located above the spacer layer.

4. The multiview 3D wristwatch of claim 1, wherein the directional backplate is substantially planar.

5. The multiview 3D wristwatch of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of directional pixels comprises a patterned grating having a plurality of substantially parallel grooves.

6. The multiview 3D wristwatch of claim 5, wherein the characteristics of the directional pixels include grating length, grating width, grating orientation, grating pitch, and duty cycle.

7. The multiview 3D wristwatch of claim 6, wherein a pitch and orientation of a directional pixel controls a direction of a directional light beam scattered by the directional pixel.

8. The multiview 3D wristwatch of claim 6, wherein a length and a width of a directional pixel control an angular spread of a directional light beam scattered by the directional pixel.

9. The multiview 3D wristwatch of claim 1, wherein the light valve layer comprises a plurality of modulators.

10. The multiview 3D wristwatch of claim 1, wherein the directional backplate comprises a polygonal plate of transparent material.

11. The multiview 3D wristwatch of claim 1, wherein the directional backplate comprises a circular plate of transparent material.

12. The multiview 3D wristwatch of claim 1, wherein the plurality of directional pixels comprises a plurality of polygonal directional pixels.

13. The multiview 3D wristwatch of claim 1, wherein the plurality of directional pixels comprises a plurality of circular directional pixels.

14. A method of generating a 3D time view in a multi-view 3D wristwatch, comprising:

determining a time to be displayed in the wristwatch;

receiving a plurality of input planar light beams from a plurality of light sources in the wristwatch;

controlling a light valve layer to modulate a plurality of directional light beams produced by a directional back plate in the wristwatch configured to direct the plurality of input planar light beams; and

generating a 3D temporal view from the modulated directional beam, wherein

The method also includes scattering the plurality of input planar beams into the plurality of directional beams produced by the directional backplane, each directional beam having a direction and angular spread controlled by a characteristic of a directional pixel of a plurality of directional pixels in the directional backplane.