Apple developing glasses-free 3D and holographic display technology

A patent filed in 2006 shows Apple’s interest in the 3D realms, showing a new type of three dimensional and holographic glasses-free display. A lot has changed since 2006 since, and while the patent probably had concentrated on television, monitors and even projection systems, its present applications in smaller, mobile segment are certainly appealing to Apple, the company behind the bestselling iPhone and iPad devices.

The display technology supposedly uses lens-like bumps on the screen that deflect stereoscopic images from each pixel into the right and left eyes of the viewer. While it does seem like the viewing angles would be quite limited with this approach, and not ideal for multiple viewers, Apple’s patent claims the display combined with 3D imaging technology would be able to track the movements of multiple viewers and manipulate the deflected image to keep it crispy andautostereoscopic for all.