Multi-planar volumetric display system including optical elements made from liquid crystal having polymer stabilized cholesteric textures

• US 20020163482A1
• Filed: 05/20/2002
• Published: 11/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vizta 3D, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vizta 3D, Inc.
• Inventors: Sullivan, Alan
• Application Number:
  US10/153,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20020163482A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/6
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/52 the 3D volume being constructed from a stack or sequence of 2D planes, e.g. depth sampling systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/00 3D [Three Dimensional] image rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/003 to produce spatial visual effects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/395 with depth sampling, i.e. the volume being constructed from a stack or sequence of 2D image planes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to three-dimensional (3D) imaging, and more particularly, to a multi-planar 3D display system using a plurality of liquid crystal shutters which incorporate nematic liquid crystals having polymer-stabilized liquid cholesteric textures. The polymer stabilized mixture includes a combination of liquid crystals, a chiral additive, monomer and a photo initiator. By using nematic liquid crystals having polymer-stabilized cholesteric textures in a multi-planar 3D display system, a substantially haze-free 3D image can be viewed on the multi-surface optical device from a wide range of viewing angles.

Claims

1. A system for generating volumetric three-dimensional images, comprising:

a multi-surface optical device including a plurality of optical elements arranged in an array, wherein said plurality of optical elements include liquid crystals having polymer stabilized cholesteric textures; and

an image projector for selectively projecting a set of images on said plurality of optical elements to display a volumetric three dimensional image viewable in the multi-surface optical device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said liquid crystals having polymer stabilized cholesteric textures are formed from a mixture of nematic liquid crystals, monomers, a chiral additive and a photo initiator.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein:

said monomers have a percentage by weight of the mixture ranging from approximately 2%-4%;

said photo initiator has a percentage by weight of the mixture ranging from approximately 0.2%-0.4%;

said chiral additive has a percentage by weight of the mixture ranging from approximately 2%-30%; and

said nematic liquid crystals have a percentage by weight which comprises the remaining balance of the mixture.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said liquid crystal is E-44, said monomer is BMBB6, said photo initiator is benzoin methyl ether, and said chiral additive is CB15.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein:

said nematic liquid crystal is selected from the group consisting of E48, BL087 and BL119;

said monomers are selected from the group consisting of RM249, RM206 and BABB-6; and

said chiral additive is selected from the group consisting of ZLI4572, ZLI4571, R811, S811 and CE1.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said nematic liquid crystal having polymer stabilized cholesteric textures are made by the dispersion of a low concentration of polymer in a nematic liquid crystal.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the concentration of said polymer in said mixture ranges from approximately 2%-4% by weight of the mixture.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said liquid crystal having polymer stabilized cholesteric textures is operable in either a normal mode or a reverse mode.

9. A method for generating volumetric three-dimensional images, the method comprising the steps of:

forming a multi-surface optical device including a plurality of optical elements arranged in an array, wherein said plurality of optical elements include liquid crystals having polymer stabilized cholesteric textures; and

selectively projecting a set of images on said plurality of optical elements while controlling the optical states of said polymer stabilized liquid crystals, to display a volumetric three dimensional image viewable in the multi-surface optical device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said multi-surface optical device operates in a normal mode such that each of said plurality of optical elements is in a scattering state in the absence of an electric field and a transparent state in the presence of an electric field.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said multi-surface device operates in a reverse mode such that each of said plurality of optical elements is in a transparent state in the absence of an electric field and a scattering state in the presence of an electric field.

13. The multi-surface optical device of claim 12, wherein said liquid crystals having polymer stabilized cholesteric textures are formed from a mixture of nematic liquid crystals, monomers, a photo initiator and a chiral additive.

14. The multi-surface optical device of claim 12, wherein:

said monomers have a percentage by weight of the mixture ranging from approximately 2%-4%;

said photo initiator has a percentage by weight of the mixture ranging from approximately 0.2%-0.4%;

said chiral additive has a percentage by weight of the mixture ranging from approximately 2%-30%; and

said nematic liquid crystals have a percentage by weight which comprises the remaining balance of the mixture.

15. The multi-surface optical device of claim 13, wherein said nematic liquid crystal is E-44, said monomer is BMBB6, said photo initiator is benzoin methyl ether and said chiral additive is CB15.

16. The multi-surface optical device of claim 13, wherein:

said nematic liquid crystal is selected from the group consisting of E48, BL087 and BL119;

said monomers are selected from the group consisting of RM249, RM206 and BABB-6; and

said chiral additive is selected from the group consisting of ZLI4572, ZLI4571, R811, S811 and CE1.

17. The multi-surface optical device of claim 12, wherein said nematic liquid crystal having a polymer stabilized cholesteric texture are made by the dispersion of a low concentration of polymer in nematic liquid crystal.

18. The multi-surface optical device of claim 17, wherein the concentration of said polymer in said mixture ranges from approximately 2%-4% by weight of the mixture.

19. The multi-surface optical device of claim 12, wherein said liquid crystal having a polymer stabilized polymer cholesteric texture is operable in either a normal mode or a reverse mode.

12. A multi-surface optical device for displaying three dimensional images comprising:

a plurality of optical elements arranged in an array for displaying a volumetric image viewable said multi-surface optical device, wherein said plurality of optical elements include liquid crystals having polymer stabilized cholesteric textures which can be switched between a substantially transparent state and a substantially scattering state.