Improvement of the distortion of aerial displays and proposal for utilizing distortion to emulate three-dimensional aerial image.

This paper evaluates the spatial distortion of aerial image and proposes a novel optical design to utilize the distortion as visual expression. Our optical system is based on aerial imaging by retro-reflection (AIRR). Using acrylic plate as beam splitter, a clear aerial image can be obtained at low cost. However, when upsizing the device, there is a problem that aerial image was distorted because the acrylic beam splitter was deformed by its own weight. In this study, we have supported the beam splitter with guide wires and have evaluated the distortion of aerial image quantitatively by changing the experimental condition about guide wires and beam splitters. Simultaneously, we have deliberately generated irregular distortions of beam splitter to create a three-dimensional aerial image. Irregular deflection is caused by pulling the acrylic plate upward with an adjust wire and partially raising it. We have succeeded in forming three-dimensional aerial images that appear differently depending on the viewpoint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]