Generation of circularly polarized stereoscopic transparencies andprints

摘要

We describe a new iteration of the StereoJet process, which has been simplified by changes in materials and improved by the conversion from linear to circular polarization. A prototype StereoJet process for producing full color stereoscopic images, described several years ago by Scarpetti et al., was developed at the Rowland Institute for Science, now part of Harvard University. The system was based on the inkjet application of inks comprising dichroic dyes to Polaroid Vectograph sheet, a concept explored earlier by Walworth and Chiulli at the Polaroid Research Laboratories. Vectograph sheet comprised two oppositely oriented layers of stretched polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) laminated to opposite surfaces of a cellulose triacetate support sheet. The two PVA layers were oriented at +45 and -45 degrees, respectively, with respect to the running edge of the support sheet. A left-eye and right-eye stereoscopic image pair were printed sequentially on the respective surfaces, and the resulting stereoscopic image viewed with conventional linearly polarized glasses having +45 and -45 degree orientation. StereoJet, Inc. has developed new, simplified technology based on the use of PVA substrate of the type used in sheet polarizer manufacture with orientation parallel to the running edge of the support. Left- and right-eye images are printed at 0 and 90 degrees, then laminated in register. Addition of a thin layer of 1/4-wave retarder to the front surface converts the image pair's respective orientations to right- and left-circular polarization. The full color stereoscopic images are viewed with circularly polarized glasses.