Volumetric three-dimensional display system

• US 20020067467A1
• Filed: 09/06/2001
• Published: 06/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gula Consulting Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Actuality Systems, Inc. (Ellis Amalgamated LLC)
• Inventors: Bareau, Jane L., Dorval, Rick K., Thomas, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 6,554,430 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 353/10
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/54 the 3D volume being generated by moving a 2D surface, e.g. by vibrating or rotating the 2D surface
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 25/02 with interposed lenticular or line screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/60 Memory management
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/00 3D [Three Dimensional] image rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/005 General purpose rendering architectures
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/20 Perspective computation
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/128 Frame memory using a Synchronous Dynamic RAM [SDRAM]
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/002 to project the image of a two-dimensional display, such as an array of light emitting or modulating elements or a CRT
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/003 to produce spatial visual effects
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/005 forming an image using a quickly moving array of imaging elements, causing the human eye to perceive an image which has a larger resolution than the array, e.g. an image on a cylinder formed by a rotating line of LEDs parallel to the axis of rotation
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/022 using memory planes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/363 Graphics controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/393 Arrangements for updating the contents of the bit-mapped memory
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/399 using two or more bit-mapped memories, the operations of which are switched in time, e.g. ping-pong buffers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/167 Synchronising or controlling image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/275 from 3D object models, e.g. computer-generated stereoscopic image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/286 having separate monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/393 : the volume being generated by a moving, e.g. vibrating or rotating, surface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 : Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

The invention features a volumetric display system including an optical relay, a motor, a support structure coupled to the motor, a projection screen disposed on the support structure, and a projection optic. During operation, the projection optic receives a light beam from the optical relay and projects the light beam onto the projection screen. Also, the motor rotates the support structure, the projection screen, and the projection optic about a rotation axis.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an optical relay;

a motor;

a support structure coupled to the motor;

a projection screen disposed on the support structure; and

a projection optic, wherein during operation the projection optic receives a light beam from the optical relay and projects the light beam onto the projection screen, and the motor rotates the support structure, the projection screen, and the projection optic about a rotation axis.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the projection optic is positioned on the rotation axis.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the projection optic is a projection lens.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the projection screen defines a plane, and the projection screen is disposed on the support structure so that the rotation axis lies in the plane.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the projection lens has a lens axis, and the lens axis and the rotation axis define an angle, the angle being no more than about 10 degrees.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the angle is at least 4.9 degrees and no more than 5.0 degrees.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the projection lens is a triplet lens.

8. The system of claim 3, further comprising a first and second mirror disposed on the support structure, wherein during operation the motor rotates the first and second mirrors about the rotation axis, and the first mirror receives the light beam from the projection lens and directs the light beam to the second mirror, and the second mirror directs the light beam to the projection screen.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a third mirror disposed on the support structure, wherein during operation the motor rotates the third mirror about the rotation axis, and the third mirror receives the light beam from the second mirror and directs the light beam to the projection screen.

10. The system of claim 3, wherein the support structure comprises a platform having a hole, and the projection lens is mounted within the hole.

11. The system of claim 3, wherein the optical relay comprises a relay lens and a field lens, and wherein during operation the relay lens receives the light beam from a light source and relays the light beam to the field lens, and the field lens relays the light beam to the projection lens.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the projection optic is a projection lens having a lens axis, and the method further comprises tilting the projection lens so that the lens axis defines an angle with the rotation axis, the angle being no more than about 10 degrees.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising rotating a first and second mirror about the rotation axis, wherein the projection optic is a projection lens, and the projection lens projects the light beam onto the first mirror, the first mirror directs the light beam onto the second mirror, and the second mirror directs the light beam onto the projection screen.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising rotating a third mirror about the rotation axis, wherein the third mirror receives the light beam from the second mirror and directs the light beam onto the projection screen.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising directing the light beam from the light source onto the projection lens using an optical relay.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the optical relay comprises a mirror, the method further comprising adjusting the mirror to center the light beam on the projection screen.

12. A method, comprising:

rotating a projection optic and a projection screen about a rotation axis;

supplying a light beam from a stationary light source; and

projecting the light beam through the projection optic onto the projection screen.