In this blog post, we’ll explore Lucius Prism technology—which enables stereoscopic images without glasses—and its potential.
Glasses-Free 3D: Becoming a Reality
Since the global success of director James Cameron’s film *Avatar*, many action and fantasy movies have been produced in 3D. I haven’t seen *Avatar* myself, but I did watch *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows* in 3D, which was produced to ride the wave of that craze. While the sense of depth was definitely superior to that of conventional 2D films, I found it inconvenient to have to wear 3D glasses while watching. This is particularly cumbersome for people who wear glasses regularly, as having to put on an additional pair of 3D glasses is very bothersome. This inconvenience is a common issue even for people who don’t normally wear glasses. Not only do the frames of the 3D glasses obstruct the field of view, but the pressure they exert on the nose is also a source of discomfort. Therefore, “technology that allows people to watch 3D movies with the naked eye” has long been a major challenge for 3D imaging engineers. The person who presented a significant breakthrough to solve this problem is Professor Cha Kook-heon of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Seoul National University. The “Arrays of Lucius Microprisms” technology developed by Professor Cha’s research team is an innovative solution that allows viewers to watch 3D images with the naked eye, without the need for glasses.
The Principles of 3D Imaging and Polarization
The reason we perceive the world in 3D in our daily lives is because we have two eyes. For example, if you place an apple in front of you and look at it alternately while closing one eye, the image of the apple seen by your left eye and right eye will appear slightly different. This is because there is a gap of about 6 cm between the two eyes. This small difference allows the brain to combine the information received from both eyes, enabling us to perceive the world in three dimensions.
Modern 3D movies are created using this principle. To watch a 3D movie, the visual information reaching each eye must be different. The 3D glasses used in movie theaters are the tools that create this difference. These glasses are equipped with polarizing filters that direct light with different polarization directions to each eye. Light is an electromagnetic wave that propagates as the electric and magnetic fields oscillate perpendicular to each other. The direction in which the electric field oscillates is called the polarization direction. Natural light is a mixture of light with various polarization directions. Since the polarizing filters attached to the lenses of 3D glasses allow only light with a specific polarization direction to pass through, the left and right eyes perceive different images.
Glasses-Free 3D Imaging Technology: Lucius Prism Array
The Lucius Prism Array is not the first glasses-free 3D display technology. Technologies such as the Parallax Barrier method existed previously, but these technologies suffered from instability, causing the image to switch between 2D and 3D depending on the viewing angle. This caused side effects such as dizziness or difficulty concentrating for viewers.
However, the Lucius Prism Array technology has resolved these issues. This technology uses a film composed of microscopic prisms (triangular prisms) measuring tens of micrometers in size. One side of each prism is coated with a special light-absorbing material, which acts to transmit light only in the desired direction. As a result, the correct image is delivered to each eye regardless of the viewer’s angle, providing a natural 3D effect. Thanks to this technology, viewers can now enjoy 3D movies without wearing 3D glasses.
Future Applications of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Lucius Prism Array technology is not limited to 3D movies alone. As part of polymer thin-film research, this technology holds a wide range of potential applications. Polymer thin-film research involves utilizing nanotechnology to fabricate extremely thin films and control their properties. This research can be widely applied to high-value-added technologies of the future, such as organic transistors, organic solar cells, and semiconductors. In particular, since this technology can be easily integrated into existing liquid crystal displays to produce 3D images, it is expected to be applied to various consumer electronics, such as home TVs and smartphone displays. From an economic perspective, its high cost-effectiveness will make it easily accessible to many households.
The Evolution of 3D Imaging Technology and Our Daily Lives
The development of 3D imaging technology began in the film industry but is now expanding into our daily lives. With the rapid advancement of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies, 3D displays have the potential to drive innovation beyond mere entertainment into various fields such as education, healthcare, and manufacturing. For example, in the medical field, 3D images can be used to plan complex surgeries with greater precision, and in manufacturing, 3D design models can be visualized at near-actual scale to improve the design process.
Ultimately, 3D imaging technology will become an increasingly integral part of our daily lives. It will not only allow us to watch 3D movies without special glasses but will also provide realistic visual experiences across a wide range of digital environments. Given that advancements in chemical and biological engineering lie at the heart of these changes, future research and development will enrich our lives even further.
