Optical System for 3 Dimensional Display

An optical system or front end for adding an optical depth information to a two-dimensional image ( 1 ), wherein the optical system includes an array of optical lenses ( 2 ) arranged in front of the two-dimensional image ( 1 ). The optical lenses have adjustable focal length (strength) in response to the optical depth information (D). An optical barrier ( 3 ) is arranged in front of the array of optical lenses ( 2 ) with optical apertures aligned with the optical lenses of the array of optical lenses ( 2 ). Such optical front end can be used for 3D displays based on known 2D displays including LCD, LCOS, Plasma, and CRT type displays. Such a 3D display does not suffer from a resolution loss depending on a number of viewing angles. In embodiments adapted for pixelized 2D displays, the array of optical lenses preferably has one lens per pixel. The barrier ( 3 ) may be fixed or adjustable to allow adjustment of the characteristics of the added optical depth. The lenses and apertures of the barrier ( 3 ) may be shaped so as to be adapted for either horizontal or vertical viewing angles, or for both. The array ( 2 ) of lenses may be based on electro-wetting lenses, fluid-focus lenses, or lenses of bi-refringent LC materials. The array of lenses ( 2 ) may be formed by a stack of two or more arrays of lenses.