German University in Cairo

Media Engineering and Technology Faculty

Autostereoscopic 3D display
Report

Author: Mouaz Alabsawi

Supervisor: Prof. Mohammed Rehan

April 2014

Declaration of Authorship
I, Mouaz Alabsawi declare that this report titled, ` Autostereoscopic 3D Display ` and the
work presented in it are my own. I confirm that:
I have acknowledged all main sources of help.

Mouaz Alabsawi
April,2014

Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my friend Youmna for her support and providing knowledge in
preparing this report.
I also wish to express my gratitude to Prof. Rehan, for providing encouragement and
knowledge in the seminar.
I am also very grateful to my parents and my brothers for setting the suitable
environment of work.
Many thanks to research papers that delivered knowledge and information to me.

Abstract
In developing of VR applications, 3D TVs have the lions share of development. A 3D TV is a TV
that has a display which deliver to the user a similar depth and dimensions of the viewer. 3D TV
development is revolved around techniques of viewing the depth to users.3D viewing depends on
a main idea. That idea states that when we compose two images (left image and right image) via
certain methodology, consequently the brain is tricked and has the illusion of a 3D real-scene.
Generally, delivering a 3d scene to the brain is made by two methods, with glasses or autostereoscopic display. With glasses that have some certain characteristics are used in 3D movies
and some types of 3D TVs. When using 3D glasses, the display shows two images. The role of
glasses is to combine these two images to construct a 3D scene for the eyes. Although 3D glasses
technology has developed a lot, it doesnt have the satisfaction of customers because they have
to wear an extra glass. On the contrast, Auto-stereoscopic displays dont require special glasses.
In real life, 3d scene is constructed by some cues (factors). The two important cues that deliver
the 3d scene is movement parallax and stereo parallax. 3d displays are working on changes of
those two cues.
There are several types of 3d auto-stereoscopic displays such as twoview display, head-tracked
display and multi-view display. Twoview display uses either parallax barrier or lenticular sheet
technology. These divide the horizontal resolution into two sets. Two images are captured and
constructed. One image for left eye and another for right eye. The problem with this type is that
the user has to be in a certain position. Head-tracked display is fixing this problem through
tracking the head of the user with a special device. However, this approach is annoying to ask
user to wear a special device on his head. Multi-view display is dynamic approach that provides
multiple display spaces (lobes) described in two-view display method. More of lobes is better for
users. There Are four technologies for multi-view display, which are: spatial multiplex, multiprojector, time-sequential and hybrid systems.

Contents
List of figures............................................................................................................... 6
Introduction ................................................................................................................. 7
History....................................................................................................................... 9
Motivation ................................................................................................................. 9
Types of autostereoscopic 3D display ..................................................................... 11
Two-view display ................................................................................................... 11
Head-tracked display .............................................................................................. 12
Multi-view display .................................................................................................. 13
Technologies for multi-view display ................................................................... 15
Summary .................................................................................................................... 17
Bibliography .............................................................................................................. 18

List of figures
Figure 1: 3d glasses that construct 3d view from cyan and magenta images ...........7
Figure 2: How humans eye perceive 3d image. .......................................................8
Figure 3: 3d TVs penetration rate (2010-2015) .......................................................10
Figure 4: Two-view display......................................................................................11
Figure 5: Single viewer display ................................................................................12
Figure 6: Two view display ......................................................................................13
Figure 8: Four-view display with three lobes ..........................................................14
Figure 7: sixteen-view display with single lobe .......................................................14

Introduction
There are many applications that deliver a 3d video to the human brain such as 3d
glasses and 3d display. 3d glasses are like we use in movies and in front of some of
3d TVs. The main idea of all version of 3d glasses is that the display deliver two
different images and the glasses
construct from these two images
another 3d view to eyes. The
problem with this type of glasses
that users do not prefer to wear
special things to see a 3d view.
Auto stereoscopic 3d displays solve
this problem. They are delivering
the 3d vie to the user without need
for
special
equipment.
3d Figure 1: 3d glasses that construct 3d view from cyan
prescription to human created when and magenta images
it realizes that there multiple views
in same environment and the objects are moving in this environment. In other words,
the 3d illusion happens when two cues (factors) are changing which are stereo
parallax and movement parallax. Stereo parallax means that each human eye sees a
different image than the other eye but two eyes constructing a 3d image. Movement
parallax means that with moving the head the view changes from the previous. With
combining the two effects of stereo and movement parallax, Autostereoscopic 3D
display can producing a 3d effect similar to that of a white hologram.

Figure 2: How humans eye perceive 3d image.

Figure 2(a) shows an observer looking at a scene. He sees a different image of the
scene with each eye and different images again whenever he moves his head. He is
able to view a potentially infinite number of different images of the scene.
Figure 2(b) shows the same viewing space divided into a finite number of horizontal
windows. In each window only one image, or view, of the scene is visible. However
the viewers two eyes each see a different image, and the images change when the
viewer moves his head-Albeit with jumps as the viewer moves from window to
window. Thus Both stereo and horizontal movement parallax cues can be provided
with a small number of views. There is no fundamental restriction to horizontal
movement parallax: vertical movement parallax can also be provided, but this squares
the number of views. The finite Number of views required in Figure 2(b) Allows the
replacement of the scene by a threedimensional display that outputs a different image
to each window (Figure 2(c)).
Figure 2(c) an auto--stereoscopic 3D Display provides a different image to each
window, producing both stereo and movement parallax with a small number of views.
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History
Thinking about capturing and generating special multimedia started a long time ago.
The first trial was in 1851 in the great exhibition, a Picture of Queen Victoria Taken
by Louis Jules Duboscq. The improved technology that used in capturing the image
became very popular throughout the world. In 1922, the first public 3d movie is
produced called The power of love. After 13 years, the first 3d color movie is
produced in 1935. For the next ten years the use of technology remained latent. By
World War II, stereoscopic cameras was quite commonly.
In 1950s, 3d technology came back strongly and became very popular in addition,
TVs were well known during these times. By 1950, several 3d movies were created
such as Bwana Devil and House of Wax. However, not all cinemas and movies
theaters were operational and familiar to 3d technology. By 1980, more 3d movies
were produced, like Friday the 13th part III and Jaws. After six years, Canada
developed the first 3d movie called Echoes of the Sun using polarized glasses in
1986. In next few years, the 3d technology improved exponentially. In 1990s, several
3d movies were produced in IMAX 3d technology such as Into the deep and
Wings of courage.
With starting of 21th century in 2000s, many big studio movies were created in 3d
technology using latest HD video cameras, Spy kids3d: Game Over for example.
In 2010, 3d television started to attract more and more customer and became a
trending technology. Many channels that shows animated shows, sports events,
documentaries, educational shows and musical performances are all in 3d. This long
history of 3d technology is continuing and growing very fast. As a trending
technology, 3d technology is expected to continue developing and expanding in the
next coming few years. While the technology is improving, the prices are expected
to be lower and lower.

Motivation
Interesting of people in 3d TVs increased recently, especially after the dazzling 3D
movie Avatar. According to Display Search, 3D televisions shipments have
totaled 41.45 Million units in 2012, Compared with 24.14 In 2011 And 2.26 In
2010. Users prefer 3d TV because they dont have to wear special glasses to see the
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3D multimedia. Figure 3 shows the increasing of penetration rate in last four years
and the expected next year

Figure 3: 3d TVs penetration rate (2010-2015)

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Types of autostereoscopic 3D display

There are several types of auto-stereoscopic 3D displays like two-view display,
head-tracked display and multi-view display.

Two-view display
There two technologies are used in order to make a two view display, either parallax
barrier or lenticular sheet technology. These technologies separate the horizontal of
the underlying resolution into two sets. That happens in liquid crystal and display
device. Two images are generated, first one consists of odd columns of pixels and the
other one consists of the even ones. One of them are generated to suitable and
appropriate to left eye and the other one are generated to suitable and appropriate to
the right eye. The two generated images are available and construct a stereoscopic
view in multiple zones in the space. If the viewer stands in an appropriate distance
and right position he will get stereoscopic 3d view.

Figure 4: Two-view display

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The problem with two-view technique is that viewer has a 50% chance to be in
suitable distance and correct position, otherwise he or she will get pseudoscopic. Also
moving forward and backward from the ideal distance or any change of the position
of the viewer will decrease his chance to get the correct view. This is a serious
problem and lead researchers to find another stereoscopic solutions such as headtracked display.

Head-tracked display
Head-tracked display is similar to two-view display, it displays only two views. The
idea is that it tracks the head of the viewer and put his head and eyes in the correct
position so the viewer will always see the correct view. Head-tracking technology is
not just used to provide stereo parallax to the viewer, it could also be used to deliver
the movement parallax taking heads position into account during the process of
image generation.

Figure 5: Single viewer display

Head-tracked technology is a two view display that has knowledge of viewer's head
position and distance from display. so it can deliver the suitable left and rigtht images
to the suitable zones, thus preventing any pseudoscopic view. Another advanced
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technologies could be used to allow the physical movement of zones if there are
multiple viewers for a single display.

Figure 6: Two view display

The main problem with this approach stands in the head-tracked mechanism itself.
People prefer 3D auto-stereoscopic display because it doesnt require any special
glasses or other equipment to wear. So if we ask user to wear a special head tracker
which is stranger to the user, this will be pointless and useless. However there are
some mechanism to move on such a difficulty.
Another difficulty with head-tracked display that it is provides single view only
which is not appropriate for a family or any group of people watching one display.
In addition, the applications that needs multiple persons. Consequently, multi-view
displays have to be considered.

Multi-view display
Multi-view displays work on display multiple views and create multiple zones in the
space called lobes.

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Figure 7: Four-view display with three lobes

Each of the lobes contains same set of four views. As long as the viewers head in
the lobe, he or she will perceive the 3d image. Any viewer with both eyes in the lobe
(Figure 7)

Figure 8: sixteen-view display with single lobe

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Advantages of Multi-view display:

Viewer is free to move his head inside the viewing lobe and still perceive the
3d image.
Viewer can look around between objects of scene simply by moving his or her
head.
Multiple viewers for a single display is supported.
Each viewer from multiple viewers is watching the 3d view from his
prescription.
No need for head-tracking and its difficulties.
However, there are some disadvantages for Multi-view auto-stereoscopic 3d display
approach such as:
The computation complexity of generating, processing and displaying multiple
views.
The difficulty of displaying multiple views simultaneously because each view
is displayed whether there is someone see it or not. So that increases the
computation cost.

Technologies for multi-view display

There are four technologies for multiview display, which are: spatial multiplex,
multiprojector, timesequential and hybrid systems.
Spatial multiplex
The idea of spatial multiplex is dividing resolution display between multiple views
by parallax barrier and lenticular sheets. The display device is preferred to be liquid
crystal display as this provides relatively simple alignment of lenticulars or the barrier
with pixel structure. The limitations of liquid crystal devices on pixel size and
resolution reduces the traditional multiplexing to four views. That barely makes
appropriate multi-view.

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Multi-projector
Instead of using LCDs, multiple projectors could be used. Each projector is assigned
to a certain view. The problem with this technique is that it is expensive. Imagine big
number of views will cost big number of projectors. So this technique is
recommended in reasonable number of view.
Time-sequential
In time-sequential technique, a single display with high frame rate is used. A
secondary optical device is used for directing images to appropriate zones.
Hybrid systems
It combines the two above systems. So they can move on the expenses of multi
projectors and the complexity of computation of time-sequential. Latest development
of multi-view displays use the combination of spatial multiplexing and multi
projector.

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Summary
There is two ways to deliver to human brain 3d image: 3d glasses and autostereoscopic 3d displays.
Customers prefer 3d TVs because it does not require any special thing to wear.
There are three types of auto-stereoscopic 3d displays:
Two-view display: Using either parallax barrier or lenticular sheet
technology to separate the horizontal of the underlying resolution into two
sets.
Head-tracked display: is a two view display that has knowledge of
viewer's head position and distance from display.
Multi-view display: displays work on display multiple views and create
multiple zones in the space called lobes.
Multi-view display techniques:

Spatial Multiplex: The Resolution of a display device is split between

the multiple views.

Multiprojector: A Single projection display is used for each view.

Timesequential: A Single very fast display device is used for all views.
Hybrid Systems: Combining two of the above mechanisms can produce
a system with a higher number of views, at the expense of more complex
technology.

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Bibliography
J. R. Moore, S. R. Lang & N. A. Dodgson, Multi-view auto-stereoscopic 3D
display, University of Cambridge, Computer Laboratory, UK.
N. A. Dodgson, Autostereo displays: 3D without glasses, Computer
Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, UK.
C. van Berkel, D. W. Parker and A. R. Franklin, Multiview 3D-LCD, Proc.
SPIE, 2653, 3239 (1996)
M. Brewin, M. Forman and N. Davies, Electronic capture and display of full
parallax 3D images, Proc. SPIE 2409, 118124 (1995)
O. M. Castle, Synthetic Image Generation for a Multiple-View Autostereo
Display, Tech. Rept No.382, University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory,
Pembroke St, Cambridge, UK, CB2 3QG (1995)

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