Specially coherent optics

• US 20060244907A1
• Filed: 12/06/2005
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Castle Simmons
• Original Assignee: John Castle Simmons
• Inventors: Simmons, John Castle
• Granted Patent: US 7,697,750 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/162
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/46 Systems using spatial filters
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/16 Shades; shields; Obturators, e.g. with pinhole, with slot G02C5/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/00 Pattern recognition

Abstract

A refinement in optics providing images with improved sharpness, better control of depth of field, vision-improvement applications, and 3-D capture and display.

Claims

1. A device for enhancing vision comprising:

an array of elongated light paths in a medium, each of the light paths having a point of light entrance and a point of light exit, and each of the light paths oriented to pass substantially collimated light towards a common point;

whereby

less scattered light is passed and an image is formed.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a positioning element for positioning the medium relative to a user'"'"'s eye at an orientation to create the image on the user'"'"'s retina.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein:

the light paths of the array deliver light along paths substantially normal to the user'"'"'s cornea;

whereby

if the user rotates the eye, the user will still be seeing through paths that are favorably aligned to carry light into the user'"'"'s pupil.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the medium is curved

5. The device of claim 4 wherein:

the medium is configured to rest on the cornea of the user;

whereby

it may be worn by the user like a contact lens.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the medium is substantially planar.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein;

the boundaries of the light paths are defined by less transparent areas of an essentially transparent medium;

whereby

the degree of image enhancement and brightness can be chosen by the degree of non-transparency of the boundary area.

8. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a lens disposed proximate the point of light entrance of each light-selective path for reducing the amount of light lost to diffraction as light enters the respective light paths.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the medium is dimensioned to be implanted within an eye of the user.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a lens disposed proximate the point of light exit within each of the light paths for refracting a portion of the light that is diffracted as it exits the respective light paths back into a direction more parallel with the central axis of the respective light path.

32. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a collecting dish at the entrance of the channel concentrating light from the view; and

a reflector, smaller than the collecting dish and positioned at a point of the collecting dish'"'"'s concentration of light, shaped to reflect that collected light back through a hole in the collecting dish and into the entrance of the channel;

whereby

light is concentrated into the channel.

33. The device of claim 32 wherein:

the reflector is shaped to deliver essentially collimated light to the channel

34. The device of claim 32 wherein;

the reflector is shaped to deliver light that is more convergent to offset effects of diffraction where diffraction would otherwise more substantially take light off its intended course.

11. A device for capturing an image comprising:

an array of light paths in a medium, each of the light paths having a point of light entrance and a point of light exit, and each of the light paths being oriented to direct light rays towards a singular point in space; and

a light sensitive surface aligned to receive the rays of light to form an image on the light sensitive surface that is captured by the light sensitive surface.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein:

each of the light paths defines an elongated through-opening in the medium so as to pass more-collimated rays.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein:

the light sensitive surface intercepts the converging rays before or after they reach a near-common point.

14. The device of claim 11 wherein:

the light sensitive surface is film.

15. The device of claim 11

wherein:

the light sensitive surface is a photosensitive electronic array; and

the device further comprises a processor, operatively connected to the light sensitive surface for processing the captured image, whereby

the image can be adjusted programmatically and stored.

16. The device of claim 11 wherein:

the medium is substantially transparent; and

boundaries of the light paths are defined by less transparent areas in the medium

17. The device of claim 15, further comprising:

a display operatively connected to the light-sensitive surface for displaying an image processed by the processor.

18. A device for capturing an image, comprising;

an array of light channels configured to significantly reduce transmission of light passing through them that is not largely parallel to the respective channels, and wherein each of the channels is oriented to direct light to desired locations on a light-sensitive surface associated with the image; and

a light-sensitive surface for receiving the image.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein;

the channels are not oriented to direct light that is symmetrically convergent, but directs light to points on the light-sensitive surface;

whereby

the image can be formed around an obstacle, around an insensitive area on the light-sensitive surface, to form a desired pattern on the light sensitive surface, or to improve peripheral vision to the retina.

20. The device of claim 18 wherein;

the paths of the channels are as nearly parallel as the application requires;

whereby

the image is perceivable as in focus and the same size regardless of the distance from the channels to the objects in view and is less sensitive to glare and haze applicable to high altitude telescopes as well as many constant-focus and constant-image size applications including precise remote measurement.

21. The device of claim 18 wherein;

the paths of the channels are approximately symmetrically convergent in the direction of the light-sensitive area;

whereby

the image that is formed on the light-sensitive area appears focused regardless of the distance from the channels to the objects in view and is less sensitive to glare which is particularly desirable in telescopic, microscopic, and photographic applications.

22. The device of claim 18 wherein;

the light-sensitive area is the retina.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein;

the paths of the channels are aligned so as to be normal to the cornea;

whereby

the eye can rotate and see a panorama.

24. The device of claim 18 wherein;

selected light paths within the medium further comprise a reflective surface for diverting light in a chosen direction.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein;

the reflective surface is located at a selected one of

     1) inside the light-selective path and

     2) at the end of the light-selective path, for redirecting the path of the light in a light-selective path;

whereby

obstacles in the eye may be “

mapped-around” and

modifications can be made for specific purposes, including better peripheral vision, as to where a light-selective path'"'"'s beam arrives on the retina.

26. The device of claim 18 wherein;

selected light paths within the medium further comprise a refractive medium for diverting light in a chosen direction.

27. The device of claim 26 further comprising:

the refractive element is located at a selected one of the set of

     1) inside the light-selective path and

     2) at the end of the light-selective path, for redirecting the path of the light in a light-selective path;

whereby

obstacles in any optical path, including in the eye, may be, using lenses or prisms, “

mapped-around” and

modifications can be made for specific purposes, including better peripheral vision, as to where a light-selective path'"'"'s beams, ultimately arrive on the retina.

28. The device of claim 18 wherein;

the light-sensitive area is an electronic image capture surface.

29. The device of claim 18 wherein;

the light-sensitive area is film.

30. The device of claim 18 further comprising:

a refractive element at the entrance of the channel for refracting light pulled off course by diffraction back into a path parallel to the central axis of the channel.

31. The device of claim 18 further comprising:

a refractive element at the exit of the channel for refracting light pulled off course by diffraction back into a path parallel to the central axis of the channel.

35. The device of claim 18 wherein;

the opening at the end of the channels that faces the view is enlarged to collect more light.

36. The device of claim 35 further comprising:

a reflector positioned in front of the enlarged channel opening for reflecting light that comes from the enlarged channel opening, which channel opening is reflective and in the shape of a light collecting dish, that concentrates the light from the broader area of the opening onto the small reflector which then reflects that light through the channel towards the light-sensitive area;

whereby

substantially more light is collected for each channel resulting in a brighter image.

37. The device of claim 36 wherein;

the reflector'"'"'s shape makes light that will be subject to diffraction when entering the channel more convergent;

whereby

the loss of light due to diffraction is lessened as the added convergence offsets diffraction.

38. The device of claim 35 wherein;

the reflector is positioned and shaped to reflect light, that was parallel to the channel when it struck the dish-shaped opening, into the center of the channel;

whereby

the light entering the channel tends to be more collimated thus allowing shorter and wider channels and thus providing more light.

39. The device of claim 35 wherein;

The reflector is shaped to reflect light into the areas near the walls of the channels that is slightly convergent to offset diffraction as it enters the channel.

40. The device of claim 35 wherein;

the channel becomes increasingly wider as it nears the view.

41. The device of claim 18 wherein;

the end of each channel nearest the light-sensitive area is widened into a reflective curve that is shaped to reflect light, that is diffracted away from the path parallel to the channel, into a path parallel to that of the channel.

42. The device of claim 18 wherein;

the paths of the channels are as nearly parallel as the application requires;

whereby

the image is perceivable as in focus and substantially the same size regardless of the distance from the channels to the objects in view and is less sensitive to glare and haze applicable to high altitude telescopes as well as many constant-focus and constant-image size applications including precise remote measurement.

43. The device of claim 18 wherein;

the boundaries of the light-selective paths are defined by less transparent areas of an essentially transparent medium

44. A light collector comprising:

a first reflective surface curved to act as a collecting dish for light; and

a second reflective surface, smaller than the first reflective surface, curved and aligned to reflect light reflected from the first reflective surface through a through-opening in the first reflective surface;

whereby

light from a larger area is concentrated into a smaller area and this concentrated light is substantially collimated.

45. The light collector of claim 44 wherein;

the first reflective surface is parabolic.

46. The light collector of claim 44 wherein;

the first reflective surface is shaped so that it reflects mostly light that was parallel to its optical axis towards the second reflective surface.

47. The light collector of claim 46 wherein;

The second reflective surface is shaped to reflect the light from the first reflective surface to be largely mutually parallel.

48. The light collector of claim 46 wherein;

The second reflective surface is shaped to reflect some of the light from the first reflective surface to be mutually convergent;

whereby

light that will be subject to diffraction when entering a small opening can be angled to offset diffraction.

49. The light collector of claim 48 wherein;

The outer perimeter of the second reflective surface reflects at a more convergent angle than other parts of the second reflective surface;

whereby

the light most affected by diffraction is selectively angled to offset diffraction.

50. The light collector of claim 44 further comprising:

A third reflective surface having a hole in its center, for light from the second reflecting surface to pass through, curved to reflect light that is diffracted at the opening back to an angle largely parallel to the optical axis of the first reflective surface;

whereby

the effects of redirection due to diffraction is reduced.

51. The light collector of claim 50 wherein;

the first and second reflective surfaces are joined at their holes

52. The light collector of claim 50 wherein;

there is a channel between the first and third reflective surfaces whose walls absorb much of the light passing through the channel that is not parallel to central axis of the channel.

53. The light collector of claim 50 wherein;

The third reflective surface is parabolic.

54. The light collector of claim 50 wherein;

an array of these light collectors are positioned and aligned to form an image.

55. The light collector of claim 50 wherein;

light passing through the hole in the first reflective surface continues through a channel whose walls absorb much of the light passing through the channel that is not parallel to central axis of the channel.

56. The light collector of claim 55 further comprising:

a refracting element positioned where light exits the channel for refracting light that would be taken away from a path parallel to the central axis of the channel by diffraction back onto a path essentially parallel to the central axis of the channel

57. The light collector of claim 44 wherein;

an array of these light collectors are positioned and aligned to form an image.

58. The light collector of claim 57 wherein;

the light coming from each of the light collectors is largely collimated.

59. The light collector of claim 58 wherein;

the light collectors are configured to direct an array of convergent beams;

whereby

the larger size of the collector is accommodated by the larger area available nearest the view while an acceptably contiguous array of smaller spots of light appear on a surface associated with an image.

61. The light collector of claim 44 wherein;

the collector is a grating light valve;

whereby

a single color may be favored by an individual light collector.

60. The light collector of 59 further comprising:

channels placed between the first light collector and the image surface whose walls absorb light passing through that is not parallel to the channel;

whereby

the light that arrives on the target surface and creating an image is essentially collimated for providing a sharp dot rather than a fuzzy dot.

62. A device for enlarging an image of a view, comprising:

a light-sensitive surface; and

an array of light paths formed in a medium, the medium disposed intermediate the light-sensitive surface and the view, each light path passing substantially collimated light and the array being configured to transmit convergent light rays in the direction of the light sensitive surface;

whereby

an enlarged image is formed on the light-sensitive surface applicable for use as a telescope or microscope.

63. The device of claim 62 wherein;

the light-sensitive surface is film

64. The device of claim 62 wherein;

the light-sensitive area is an electronic image capture surface.

65. The device of claim 64 further comprising:

a video display for displaying the image of the image capture surface;

whereby

the viewer can look at a magnified image on the video display.

66. The device of claim 65 further comprising:

a processor, operatively connected to the light-sensitive surface and the video display for processing the image for the video display.

67. The device of claim 65;

wherein

the video display is located between the light-sensitive surface and the viewer;

whereby

the display can be positioned to provide the illusion that the user is looking through the display to the true center location of the magnified image.

68. The device of claim 62 wherein;

the light-sensitive surface is the retina

69. The device of claim 68 further comprising:

a diverting means for diverting light, that is coming from the view and passing through the paths that diverge towards the eye, for diverting the diverging rays to a less diverging array;

whereby

the array of shafts of light may be symmetrically redirected reflectively or refractively in less of a diverging array or more of a converging array, analogous to a convex lens'"'"' effect on a divergent array of light.

70. The device of claim 69 wherein;

the diverting means is a reflective surface in the channel where the channel is itself angled to follow the path of the thus diverted light in the channel

71. The device of claim 69 wherein;

the diverting means is a refractive element.

72. The device of claim 62 wherein;

The light-sensitive surface is the retina of an eye.

73. The device of claim 72 further comprising:

a lens located between the array of light paths and the eye for focusing the image.

74. The device of claim 62 wherein the device is a telescope.

75. The device of claim 62 wherein the device is a microscope.

76. A device for precisely reducing an image comprising:

a light-sensitive surface; and

an array of light paths between the light-sensitive surface and the image view whose length substantially exceeds their diameter to the extent that much of the light from the view that is not parallel to the path is absorbed by the path walls and whose orientation is convergent, in the direction of the light sensitive surface;

whereby

light from the view passing through the paths forms a reduced image on the light-sensitive surface applicable for use in any form of photo reduction.

77. The device of claim 76 wherein;

the light-sensitive surface is film.

78. A method for producing an array of light paths comprising the steps of:

determining vectors of light that need to pass through the array,

identifying the positioning of light paths that would permit light with these vectors,

determining how much uncollimated light that enters the path should be removed, and

determining the ratio of the length of a path to it'"'"'s inner width sufficient to accomplish that determined amount of removal, and

depositing material leaving out deposition material at points where light paths are desired.

79. The method of claim 78 further comprising the step of:

forming shaped surfaces located at the entrance of the light-selective paths;

whereby

light can be selected and collected for passage through the light selective path.

80. The method of claim 78 wherein;

the vectors are determined in order to create a specific image when light is shined through them;

whereby

custom arrays of light-selective paths can be created for any 3-D image including the automatic computer creation of an array of light-selective paths to create a 3-D image from a captured or calculated shape.

81. A method for producing a light controlling array comprising the steps of:

determining vectors of light desired to pass through the array;

identifying the positioning of light paths that would permit light with the determined vectors;

determining how much uncollimated light that enters the paths should be removed;

determining the characteristics of the respective paths necessary to provide that determined amount of removal; and

forming the light paths in a medium;

whereby media supportive of capturing images, displaying images, and carrying a customized image may be created.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein the step of forming the light paths in a medium comprises:

darkening areas of a substantially transparent medium to define the boundaries of the paths for a desired degree of absorption.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein the step of forming the light paths in a medium comprises:

removing material from a medium, that medium having a chosen degree of non-transparency, to create paths for light to pass through.

84. The method of claim 82 wherein:

the darkened boundaries are darkened by selectively exposing a photosensitive medium; and

the selective exposing process is a selected one of the set of

     1) film being exposed is in effective contact with a light controlling array whose exiting beams expose the array being thus created, and

     2) a scanning source of collimated light traces the desired paths on the photosensitive medium.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein:

the desired vectors are calculated by computer to create a specific image;

whereby

a general purpose light controlling array or a light controlling array with a specific image, whose area brightness can be controlled by path breadth and number of paths used to represent a point on a view, can be created, optionally by a computer in real time to reflect a computer contained 3-D still or motion picture.

86. An optical device comprising:

an array of light paths capable of selecting a plurality of non-parallel beams from a single point in the view with separate light paths;

whereby

the light path from which a beam of light exits is indicative of it'"'"'s vector in space.

87. The device of claim 86 wherein;

the light path has boundaries that substantially absorb light that strikes them and whose ratio of path length to path breadth is large enough to remove in a path a desired amount of light that is not parallel to the path.

88. The device of claim 87 wherein;

reflective surfaces select light from a given point in the view that is substantially collimated;

whereby

a light path defined by substantially collimated light is effected.

89. The device of claim 88 further comprising:

light from the reflective surfaces is further improved by passing through channels whose walls substantially absorb light that is not parallel to them.

90. The device of claim 86, further comprising;

a computer for identifying and storing the vectors of the received light;

whereby

rays with substantially accurate relative vectors can be recorded in the computer for display from at least one perspective and calculations of distance to objects can also be done.

91. The device of claim 86 further comprising:

a light-sensitive surface;

whereby

light passing through the array of light paths strikes points on the light sensitive surface such that these points are representative of light arriving along particular vectors associated with points and at least 1 perspective of a view.

92. The device of claim 91, wherein;

a the light sensitive surface is electronic and further comprising a storage device operatively connected to the light sensitive surface for storing the data;

whereby

the light-vector characteristics of the image can be stored.

93. The device of claim 92 further comprising:

a display, operatively connected to the storage device, for displaying, responsive to the stored data, light into selected light paths;

whereby light beams with desired vectors are produced associated with an image from at least one perspective.

94. The device of claim 93, wherein;

the light-sensitive surface recognizes colors;

whereby

rays of light can be captured with their color information and, when, through the same or a similar array of light paths, the rays are recreated by the display, the appropriate color can be displayed.

95. The device of claim 91, wherein;

the light-sensitive surface is film

96. The device of claim 95 further comprising:

a light source for shining light through the array of light paths;

whereby

light passing through the array of light paths from at least one side creates an image from at least one perspective.

97. A display device comprising:

an array of light paths that permit substantially collimated light to pass through and that are aligned in a plurality of directions so that, when light passes through them, a plurality of rays can be produced for each point in a view;

whereby

a sense of true depth is achieved as the plurality of rays, that can seem to come from each individual point in a view, cause the viewer to focus at an appropriate depth to bring the rays representative of a point on the view together on the retina.

98. The device of claim 97, wherein;

the light paths are hollow channels.

99. The device of claim 97, wherein:

the light paths are a substantially transparent material surrounded by a less transparent boundary.

100. The device of claim 99, wherein;

the boundaries are exposed areas of a light sensitive medium

101. The device of claim 99, wherein;

the light paths are transparent strands

102. The device of claim 97, wherein;

reflective surfaces select light that is substantially collimated;

whereby

a light path defined by substantially collimated light is effected.

103. The device of claim 97, further comprising:

a light source for shining light through the array of light paths;

whereby an image may be seen.

104. The device of claim 103, wherein;

a substantially confining area surrounding the entrance to the light paths is reflective and tends to continue to reflect light around the area until it finds a light path;

whereby

less light is wasted and more light passes through the light paths.

105. The device of claim 104, wherein;

light paths are defined by reflective surfaces collecting light that is substantially collimated;

whereby

much of the light entering the light path that is not collimated is efficiently reflected right back to the confining reflective area for another try at finding a light path that it is aligned with.

106. The device of claim 103, wherein;

the light source is an image display device aligned with the array of light paths so that pixels on the display can be lit and cause light to pass through selected light paths;

whereby

conventional and advanced monitors, displays, and projectors can create an image made up of beams of somewhat collimated light.

107. The device of claim 106, wherein;

the display operates at speeds adequate for motion video;

whereby is this a method added to a device problem?

3-D motion video is effected.

108. The device of claim 106, further comprising:

a computer, operatively connected to the image display device, for calculating the desired vectors of light that would produce a desired image and choosing which display pixels to light to produce those vectors;

whereby

by creating the desired video signal for the display, 3-D virtual, CAD, and any other computer images, including motion pictures when the image is refreshed rapidly, can be produced.

109. The device of claim 103, wherein;

the array of light paths is film that was exposed to light that had passed through an array of light paths substantially identical to the array of light paths that it is currently substantially identically aligned with;

whereby

a 3-D image can be produced by simply shining light through film that was exposed through an array of light paths when that film is properly aligned with the same or substantially identical array of light paths.

110. The device of claim 109, wherein;

the array of light paths is bonded to the film;

whereby

3-D film may be sold on a roll as well as in sheets, exposed to a view, processed, and displayed by shining light through it.

111. The device of claim 110, further comprising:

a rapid display device to display the images rapidly one after the other;

whereby

3-D motion pictures may be viewed.

112. The device of claim 103, wherein;

the array of light paths is selectively formed to create a single image when light is shined through it;

whereby

a 3-D image is formed by beams of light coming through the array of light paths where brightness may be selected by path diameter and a path'"'"'s color selected by embedding colors anywhere in the light'"'"'s path.

113. The device of claim 112, further comprising:

a computer for calculating the desired vectors of light that would produce a desired image and choosing which display pixels to light to produce those vectors

114. The device of claim 103, wherein;

the viewer is at least partially surrounded by arrays of light paths all projecting parts of an image;

whereby

the famous Princess Lea effect, a 3-D image you can walk around, is made possible when, as you walk around the image, you are always facing an array of light paths providing the image from that point of view.

115. The device of claim 114, wherein;

the light source is a pixel-addressable light source array and

further comprising;

software for providing representations of objects in virtual space, software to calculate, from those objects, the characteristics of the beams of light from the surfaces of those virtual objects necessary to display a 3-D image, software to select which light path to use to create each of those light beams and which pixels in the light source array to use to send light through each selected light path,

a processor, operatively connected to the pixel-addressable light source array, to run all the software and control the pixel-addressable light source array;

whereby

the Princess Lea effect can be created from a virtual and potentially moving object and, also, an immersive 3-D simulation can be created around a user that is completely responsive to a real-time virtual environment rather than needing to build a new, not-easily changed simulation set for each simulation.

116. The device of claim 103, further comprising:

a beam splitter placed between the viewer and the array of light paths for reflecting light from the array of light paths to the viewer while allowing the viewer to see through the beam splitter.

117. The device of claim 116, wherein;

the beam splitter, optionally in pairs, is mounted in front of the eye in a frame to be worn like glasses, allowing the wearer to see the view ahead while watching the overlaid image from the array of light paths.

118. The device of claim 117, wherein;

one beam splitter is provided for each eye with a separate perspective for each eye;

whereby

full binocular effect is enjoyed.

119. A device for displaying an image comprising:

An array of light paths that permit essentially collimated light to pass,

a light source for shining light through the light paths,

actuators for pointing the light paths in a desired direction,

a controller for controlling the directions of the light paths;

whereby

images, both still and moving, 2-D and 3-D, may be created as the controller selectively chooses the directions for the light paths to point their light optionally changing directions at high speed so as to provide a plurality of beams of light from each point in the view.

120. The device of claim 119, wherein;

the light source is configured according to a selected one of the set 1. each light path has it'"'"'s own light source, 2. groups of light paths may be moved together and these share a light source, and 3. a light source feeds multiple light paths through a hole in the back.

121. The device of claim 119, further comprising:

a beam splitter placed between the viewer and the array of light paths for reflecting light from the array of light paths to the viewer while allowing the viewer to see through the beam splitter.

122. The device of claim 121, wherein;

the beam splitter, optionally in pairs, is mounted in front of the eye in a frame to be worn like glasses, allowing the wearer to see the view ahead while watching the overlaid image from the array of light paths.

123. The device of claim 122, wherein;

one beam splitter is provided for each eye with a separate perspective for each eye;

whereby

full binocular effect is enjoyed.

124. The device of claim 119, wherein;

the light paths are beams of laser light and the light source is a laser for each light path.

125. A device for displaying a 3-D image comprising:

an array of mirrors capable of being rapidly pointed in a plurality of directions,

a light source for shining substantially collimated light on the array of mirrors,

a processor, operatively connected to the array of mirrors, for deciding what vectors of light would produce a desired image with a potential plurality of different vectors to be displayed from a single mirror in a single frame, and for directing the array of mirrors to reflect light with those chosen vectors;

whereby

a 3-dimensional image from at least one perspective is created where, in the same frame, using the term frame as is typically used in motion picture technologies, multiple rays may come from the same mirror permitting parallax and multiple mirrors may be used to paint one point so the viewer can focus the eyes until the rays associated with a point come together on the retina for a sense of depth.

126. A device for capturing a 3-Dimensional image comprising:

an array of light paths through a spinning disc with said light paths pointing in a plurality of directions,

an array of light sensors behind the spinning disc for receiving light that passes through the light paths from the view in front of the disc, and

a computer for tracking the degree of disc rotation and recording the light sensor information when a light path is timed to be in position for light capture, whereby

the vector of each ray of light being sensed by a sensor can identified and, within a single frame, a potential plurality of non-parallel beams may be captured from any single point in the view supportive of providing, at display time, multiple perspectives and a sense of depth.

127. The device of claim 126, further comprising:

a storage device for storing the data;

whereby

it can be displayed later and may also be used to populate virtual 3-D rays and surfaces in models and simulators.

128. The device of claim 126, wherein;

the array of light sensors is an electronic light sensitive medium;

whereby

CCD'"'"'s and other light sensitive mediums can replace rows of sensors.

129. The device of claim 126, wherein;

the light paths are elongated light paths in a medium dimensioned to allow passage of substantially collimated light.

130. The device of claim 126, wherein;

the light paths are the substantially collimated beams that come from reflective surfaces on the disc, each of which collect light that is substantially collimated from a point in the view, and pass it through a hole in the disc towards the array of light sensors.

131. The device of claim 126, further comprising:

a lens between the view and the array of light paths for collecting more light to the opening of each light path.

132. A device for displaying a 3-Dimensional image comprising:

an array of light paths in a spinning disc with said light paths pointing in a plurality of directions,

an array of light sources behind the spinning disc for emitting light to pass through the light paths, and

a computer, operatively connected to the array of light sources and with access to the current position of the disc, for tracking the degree of disc rotation and deciding when to fire which light sources in order to send, through the light paths, beams light along chosen vectors;

whereby

beams of light required to compose a 3-D image may be created.

133. The device of claim 132, wherein;

the array of light sources is a selected one of the set of 1. a display monitor, 2. a projector, and 3. an array of light emitting elements.

134. The device of claim 132, further comprising:

a data retrieval device for retrieving stored data.

135. The device of claim 134, wherein;

data retrieved is data that was captured through a directly comparable array of light paths with sensors comparably aligned with the current array of light sources;

whereby

the computer can replay an earlier-captured image or image sequence from stored data by reading the sequence of events and causing a light source to fire responsive to a comparable stored light sensor value and at the same point in the disc rotation.

136. The device of claim 132, wherein;

color is produced by a selected one of the set of 1. the array of light sources includes different colored light sources, 2. the array of light paths include paths with the same vectors but different color attributes, and 3. further comprising a synchronized color wheel between the array of light sources and the array of light paths.

137. The device of claim 132, further comprising:

computer software to decide what vectors a plurality of light beams would need to have to create a viewable 3-D image and, to decide which light path to use to create each of them and when, based on the timing of the spinning disc;

to fire the light source;

whereby any image that can be in a computer can be displayed through the disc including both still and motion pictures.

138. The device of claim 137, further comprising;

computer software able to change the perspective and orientation of the view before displaying it.

139. The device of claim 138, further comprising:

a user interface that allows the user to change the perspective and orientation.

140. The device of claim 132, wherein;

the light paths are elongated light paths in a medium dimensioned to allow passage of substantially collimated light.

141. The device of claim 132, wherein;

the light paths are the substantially collimated beams that come from reflective surfaces on the disc, each of which collect substantially collimated light from light sources and pass it through a hole in the disc towards the viewer.

142. The device of claim 132, further comprising:

a lens between the view and the array of light paths for collecting more light to each light path.

143. A device for capturing a 3-D image comprising:

a camera for taking a picture,

a distance scanner with a known positional relationship to the camera for scanning the camera'"'"'s viewing area,

a processor having access to an electronic readout of the camera image and distance scanner, and software for relating data for points in the camera image with the distance to each of those points, and

software for constructing, from this data, a 3-D representation of the photographed surface area;

whereby

a 3-D image is captured which can be a single picture or a high speed sequence of them for motion 3-D.

144. The device of claim 143, further comprising:

software for calculating, from the 3-D representation, the relative vectors that beams of light would need to have to create a true 3-D image from some set of points of view;

whereby

display devices requiring detailed beam-vector information, along with brightness and color for each point, are able to display the representation.

145. The device of claim 144, further comprising:

an array of light paths pointing in a plurality of directions for permitting substantially collimated light to pass through,

an array of light sources made up of a selected one of the set of 1. a video display,

a video projector, and film with a light shining through it, aligned with the array of light paths so that individual light sources can be related to the light path which will carry the light from a given point in a given direction, and

software for taking the calculated beam data and choosing which light source location to light up and with what other light characteristics;

whereby

true 3-D display, still or motion, is accomplished, including light characteristics of color and brightness, from the 3-D representation.

146. The device of claim 143, further comprising:

software for changing the 3-D representation in any one of the set 1. changing the current point of view, 2. rotating the image, 3. Rotating objects in the image, 4. mirroring the image, 5. Perspective reversal, 6. Moving objects;

whereby

complex and useful modifications can be made for more effective displays

147. The device of claim 143, further comprising:

a second processor and a transmitting device for transmitting data in any of the above forms to said second processor;

whereby

all the data needed to recreate remotely a potentially live 3-D video image can be transmitted with only that small amount of data to transmit for each point in the view thus allowing the processor at the receiving end to, if what was transmitted was not already in visual form, finish the software processing and display the image.

148. The device of claim 143, further comprising;

a 2-D display showing the processor'"'"'s 3-D representation from a point of view.

149. The device of claim 148, further comprising:

software for changing the perspective, and

a user interface for allowing a user to direct the software to change the displayed point of view;

whereby

a user is able to change the point of view of the image by a selected one of the set of 1. moving a pointing device, 2. moving part of the body associated with a position sensing device causing the image to change to reflect how the image should look from the new body position, and 3. a keypad, optionally on a remote control.

150. The device of claim 143, wherein;

the camera is a light-path array-based camera whose light paths are symmetrically aligned to be a selected one of the set 1. parallel to each other and 2. aligned so as to be pointing towards a singular point in space, with an electronic light sensitive medium for capturing an image;

whereby

the image, that will be used to develop a 3-D image, does not need to be focused.

151. The device of claim 143, further comprising:

one or more additional cameras with similarly associated distance scanners for providing additional points of view;

whereby

as the additional data is mapped into the 3-D representation, it broadens the possible points of view and provides the potential for a 360 degree surrounding image of the view.

152. The device of claim 143, wherein;

the camera uses a constant focus lens to eliminate focusing

153. The device of claim 143, wherein;

the camera uses an array of elongated, symmetrically arrayed light paths passing substantially collimated light, to eliminate focusing.

154. A method for measuring distance comprising:

capturing an image on a light-sensitive surface through an array of elongated light paths that are oriented in a plurality of directions and permit substantially collimated light to pass through each path,

recognizing locations on the light-sensitive surface that are struck by light,

relating those locations on the light-sensitive surface to the known vector of the adjacent light path,

relating combinations of those known vectors associated with a central vector to recognize the depth of the pixel pointed to by a central vector.