Resolution Improvement in Near-Virtual-Image-Mode Light-Field Display Using Resolution-Priority Technique

A light-field display with a near-virtual-image mode, which employs both a lens array and an aperture array, was previously proposed to provide a wide viewing zone angle and bright three-dimensional (3D) images. However, it is desirable to enhance its resolutions, which are presently equal to those of conventional displays. Thus, we proposed a technique for increasing the resolutions of 3D images generated by the light-field display with the near-virtual-image mode. The gap between the flat-panel display and lens array is reduced to decrease the magnification of the virtual images of the pixels and to enable the observation of multiple virtual pixel images through each lens. Further, we imaged the aperture array using the lens array to eliminate the gaps between the multiple pixels observed through adjacent lenses. We constructed a prototype display based on the proposed technique and verified the increase in the resolution of the prototype display compared to the original near-virtual-image light-field display.