Viewing-angle-enhanced integral three-dimensional imaging along all directions without mechanical movement.

Integral three-dimensional (3D) imaging provides full-motion parallax, unlike other conventional stereoscopy-based techniques. To maximize this advantage, a 3D system with a wide view along all directions is required. We propose and demonstrate a new integral imaging (InIm) method to enhance the viewing angle along both horizontal and vertical directions. Elemental lens switching is performed by a combination of spatial and time multiplexing by use of double display devices and orthogonal polarizations. Experimental results show that the viewing angle of the system is enhanced along all directions without any mechanical movement or any cross talk between afterimages. We believe that the proposed method has the potential to facilitate practical use of the wideviewing InIm system.