CAD models in stereo

A stereoscopic projection system boasts 8.85-megapixel resolution for displaying data in superhigh detail. The projection system uses Beacon 8MP patent-pending shutter technology developed by Fakespace Systems Inc., Marshalltown, Iowa. The shutter produces active-stereo images at ultrahigh resolution without the need to tile together multiple projectors of lesser resolutions. At the core of the projector are two light engines that each display 4,096 2,160-pixel images and put out 5,000 lumens of brightness.

Viewers see stereo images by donning electronic shutter glasses made of lightweight paper or plastic. The lenses of the glasses synchronize with electronic shutters in front of each light engine. These alternate on and off in rapid succession to generate separate left and right-eye images.

This technique presents an image on the screen for only one eye at any given time. There's no possibility of cross talk (ghosting), which can arise when both left and right-eye images are on the screen all the time. Fakespace says viewers find cross-talk fatiguing, reducing the amount of time users can work in immersive environments. Further, image contrast improves when only one image is on the screen.

Fakespace says it would take up to six ordinary projectors to create the same resolution, and they would have to be edge matched into a tiled array. Edge matching creates visible lines between projected images when producing large images. Also, using several projectors causes uneven brightness and colors appear across the entire image because of hot spotting.

An alternative to this is edge blending, which would require up to 12 ordinary projectors. Edge blending eliminates the visible line between projectors but reduces resolution because images overlap. Further, electronic and optical-blending technologies can still generate brightness and contrast artifacts that require maintenance.

MAKE CONTACT
Fakespace Systems Inc., (641) 754-4649, fakespace.com