Random Hole Display: A non-uniform barrier autostereoscopic display

Abstract

A novel design for an autostereoscopic (AS) display is demonstrated featuring a randomized hole distribution parallax barrier. The Random Hole Display (RHD) design eliminates the repeating zones found in regular barrier and lenticular autostereoscopic displays, enabling multiple simultaneous viewers in arbitrary locations. The primary task of a multi-user AS display is to deliver the correct and unique view to each eye of each observer. If multiple viewers see the same pixels behind the barrier, then a conflict occurs. Regular barrier displays have no conflicts between views for many viewer positions, but have significant, localized conflicts at regular intervals across the viewing area and when viewed at different distances from the display. By randomizing the barrier pattern the RHD exhibits a small amount of conflict between viewers, distributed across the display, in all situations. Yet it never exhibits the overwhelming conflicts between multiple views that are inherent in conventional AS displays. With knowledge of user locations, the RHD presents the proper stereoscopic view to one or more viewers. It further mitigates viewing conflicts by allowing display pixels that are seen by more than one viewer to remain active by optionally blending the similar colors of desired views. Interference between views for random hole barriers and for a conventional regular barrier pattern are simulated. Results from a proof-of-concept Random Hole Display are presented.