Partial light field display architecture

Abstract

The disclosure describes various aspects of a partial light field display architecture. In an aspect, a light field display includes multiple picture elements (e.g., super-raxels), where each picture element includes a first portion having a first set of light emitting elements, where the first portion is configured to produce light outputs that contribute to at least one a two-dimensional (2D) view. Each picture element also includes a second portion including a second set of light emitting elements (e.g., sub-raxels) configured to produce light outputs (e.g., ray elements) that contribute to at least one three-dimensional (3D) view. The light field display also includes electronic means configured to drive the first set of light emitting elements and the second set of light emitting elements in each picture element. The light field display can also dynamically identify the first portion and the second portion and allocate light emitting elements accordingly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A light field display comprising:
 multiple picture elements, each one of the multiple picture elements including a plurality of light emitting elements and a respective light-steering optical element in optical communication with the one of the multiple picture elements; and   a backplane including electronic circuits electronically connected with the multiple picture elements,   wherein the plurality of light emitting elements includes
 a first array of immediately adjacent light emitting elements configured to produce a first light output contributing to at least one two-dimensional (2D) view, and 
 a second array of immediately adjacent light emitting elements configured to produce a second light output including at least two different colors and contributing to at least one three-dimensional (3D) view, the second array of immediately adjacent light emitting elements being distinct from the first array of immediately adjacent light emitting elements, and 
   wherein, for each one of the multiple picture elements, the respective light-steering optical element is configured to change a first propagation direction of the first light output and a second propagation direction of the second light output of the one of the multiple picture elements upon propagation therethrough.   
     
     
         2 . The light field display of  claim 1 , further comprising a semiconductor substrate supporting the multiple picture elements thereon,
 wherein the light emitting elements in the first and second arrays of immediately adjacent light emitting elements are monolithically integrated on the semiconductor substrate.   
     
     
         3 . The light field display of  claim 1 , wherein the light emitting elements in the first array of immediately adjacent light emitting elements and in the second array of immediately adjacent light emitting elements are inorganic light emitting diodes (LEDs). 
     
     
         4 . The light field display of  claim 1 , wherein the first light output and the second light output include at least three different colors of light. 
     
     
         5 . The light field display of  claim 1 , the light field display further comprising:
 a picture element configuration controller communicatively coupled with the backplane and including a processor and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, control the processor to: (i) dynamically identify the first array and the second array; and (ii) select and configure each of the plurality of light emitting elements to be part of one of the first and second arrays accordingly.   
     
     
         6 . The light field display of  claim 1 , further comprising a third array of immediately adjacent light emitting elements configured to produce a third light output that contributes to at least a second 3D view, and, wherein the first array of immediately adjacent light emitting elements surrounds the second and third arrays of immediately adjacent light emitting elements. 
     
     
         7 . The light field display of  claim 1 , wherein the second array of immediately adjacent light emitting elements forms a disk-shaped portion within at least one of the multiple picture elements. 
     
     
         8 . The light field display of  claim 1 , wherein the light emitting elements are arranged in at least one of a square shape, a rectangular shape, and a hexagonal shape. 
     
     
         9 . A display device for producing a plurality of light field views, the display device comprising:
 a first substrate supporting a plurality of picture elements thereon, at least one of the plurality of picture elements including a plurality of light emitting elements monolithically integrated on the first substrate,   a second substrate supporting a plurality of drivers thereon, each one of the plurality of drivers being in electronic communication with at least one of the plurality of picture elements; and   a light-steering optical element optically coupled with at least one of the plurality of picture elements,   wherein the plurality of light emitting elements includes
 a first array of immediately adjacent light emitting elements for producing a plurality of first ray elements contributing to a two-dimensional (2D) view, and 
 a second array of immediately adjacent light emitting elements, for producing a plurality of second ray elements contributing to a light field view, that includes (i) a first group of light emitting elements that emit a first color of light and (ii) a second group of light emitting elements that emit a first color of light, 
 wherein a portion of the plurality of drivers is configured for controlling the first and second arrays of immediately adjacent light emitting elements. 
   
     
     
         10 . The display device of  claim 9 , wherein each one of the plurality of light emitting elements is an inorganic light emitting diode. 
     
     
         11 . The display device of  claim 9 , further comprising a picture element configuration controller communicatively coupled with the plurality of drivers and including a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, control the processor to (i) dynamically identify the first array and the second array; and (ii) select and configure each one of the plurality of light emitting elements to be part of one of the first and second arrays accordingly. 
     
     
         12 . The display device of  claim 9 , wherein the second array of immediately adjacent light emitting elements forms a disk-shaped portion of each one of the picture elements in the plurality of picture elements, and the first array of immediately adjacent light emitting elements surrounds the disk-shaped portion formed by the second array. 
     
     
         13 . A method for using a light field display device that includes a first substrate supporting a plurality of sets of picture elements, each picture element including a plurality of light emitting elements, a second substrate supporting a plurality of drivers including a picture element configuration controller, and a light steering optical element coupled to each picture element, the method comprising:
 identifying a first array of immediately adjacent light emitting elements and a different, second array of immediately adjacent light emitting elements within each picture element;   producing, with the first array of immediately adjacent light emitting elements, a first plurality of ray elements that contribute to a 2D view;   producing, with the second array of immediately adjacent light emitting elements, a second plurality of ray elements that contribute to a 3D view; and   dynamically adjusting the first and second array of immediately adjacent light emitting elements to contribute to at least one of the 2D view, the 3D view, and a combined 2D/3D view.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 identifying a third array of immediately adjacent light emitting elements in each picture element; and   producing, with the third array of immediately adjacent light emitting elements, a third plurality of ray elements that contribute to an additional 3D view   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising steering the first and second pluralities of ray elements away from the picture element to contribute to at least one of the 2D view, the 3D view, and the combined 2D/3D view.