| Stereo imagery has been a goal in optics research since the invention of the stereoscope in 1834. While the market has been inundated with displays of various types, sizes, and formats, no general purpose, easy to use, inexpensive method for the display of imagery in stereo has been developed. The benefits of stereo vision are numerous and quickly become apparent when attempting to perform simple tasks without the aid of stereo cues. The proliferation of remotely operated vehicles has provided an even greater need for the capability to see the operational environment in stereo. Operators using conventional 'mono' vision displays lose critical depth cues causing operator fatigue and, frequently, fail to recognize potential hazards.;Numerous approaches to the display of stereo imagery have been demonstrated; however, all suffer from various drawbacks, not the least of which is cost. Stereoscopic displays typically require the user to wear special headgear. Autostereoscopic displays, so named because they do not require the headgear, typically have tight limitations on the position of the viewer's head. The investigation into the application of two readily available, inexpensive liquid crystal panels sandwiched together to form a compact, rugged stereoscopic display is presented here. The appropriate drive signals are provided to the two stacked panels, which encode, in polarization, the left and right images. Standard polarized 3D glasses are then used to view the image in stereo. The theory behind the operation of the stereoscopic display, experimental determination of the liquid crystal display modulation characteristics, and the resulting modifications to the theory of operation are described. |
