Practical implementation of a depth-feeling-enhanced two-plane electro-floating display system using three-dimensional integral images

Although there are numerous types of floating-image display systems which can project three-dimensional (3-D) images into real space through a convex lens or a concave mirror, most of them provide only one image plane in space to the observer; therefore, they lack an in-depth feeling. In order to enhance a real 3-D feeling of floating images, a multi-plane floating display is required. In this paper, a novel two-plane electro-floating display system using 3-D integral images is proposed. One plane for the object image is provided by an electro-floating display system, and the other plane for the background image is provided with the 3-D integral imaging system. Consequently, the proposed two-plane electro-floating display system, having a 3-D background, can provide floated images in front of background integral images resulting in a different perspective to the observer. To show the usefulness of the proposed system, experiments were carried out and their results are presented. In addition, the prototype was practically implemented and successfully tested.