US 12,495,136 B2
Dynamic light steering based on relative location of viewer
Mikko Strandborg, Hangonkylä (FI); and Urho Konttori, Helsinki (FI)
Assigned to Distance Technologies Oy, Helsinki (FI)
Filed by Distance Technologies Oy, Helsinki (FI)
Filed on Apr. 9, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/630,168.
Prior Publication US 2025/0317550 A1, Oct. 9, 2025
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04N 13/383 (2018.01); G02B 30/28 (2020.01); H04N 13/32 (2018.01); H04N 13/368 (2018.01); H04N 13/398 (2018.01)
CPC H04N 13/383 (2018.05) [G02B 30/28 (2020.01); H04N 13/32 (2018.05); H04N 13/368 (2018.05); H04N 13/398 (2018.05)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising: tracking means; a light field display unit comprising: a light-emitting surface comprising a plurality of photo-emitting cells; a lenticular array arranged on an optical path of the light-emitting surface, the lenticular array comprising a plurality of lenticules; and a light-steering optical device arranged on the optical path of the light-emitting surface; and at least one processor configured to: utilize the tracking means to determine a relative location of a first eye of a user and of a second eye of the user with respect to an imaginary image plane on which virtual images are to be presented to the first eye and the second eye; and display a light field image via the light field display unit to produce a synthetic light field presenting the virtual images, whilst controlling the light-steering optical device, based on the relative location of the first eye and of the second eye, to direct light emanating from a first set of photo-emitting cells of the light-emitting surface towards the first eye and light emanating from a second set of photo-emitting cells of the light emitting surface towards the second eye, wherein when controlling the light-steering optical device, the at least one processor is configured to: determine a first viewing direction and a second viewing direction for a given first photo-emitting cell belonging to the first set of photo-emitting cells and a given second photo-emitting cell belonging to the second set of photo-emitting cells, based on the relative location of the first eye and of the second eye, respectively, the given first photoemitting cell neighboring the given second photo-emitting cell on the light-emitting surface; and control a given portion of the light-steering optical device that lies on an optical path of the given first photo-emitting cell and the given second photo-emitting cell, based on the first viewing direction and the second viewing direction, to direct light emanating from the given first photo-emitting cell along the first viewing direction and light emanating from the given second photo-emitting cell along the second viewing direction; wherein when it is detected that an ambient temperature is below a predefined threshold temperature, generate the light field image by utilizing a same color for all photo-emitting cells on whose optical path a given lenticule of the lenticular array is arranged.