Volumetric Display System Enabling User Interaction

• US 20100149182A1
• Filed: 12/17/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zhigu Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Taylor, Stuart, Izadi, Shahram, Butler, David Alexander, Hodges, Stephen E., Villar, Nicolas
• Granted Patent: US 8,704,822 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/424
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/56 by projecting aerial or floating images
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00

Abstract

A volumetric display system which enables user interaction is described. In an embodiment, the system consists of a volumetric display and an optical system. The volumetric display creates a 3D light field of an object to be displayed and the optical system creates a copy of the 3D light field in a position away from the volumetric display and where a user can interact with the image of the object displayed. In an embodiment, the optical system involves a pair of parabolic mirror portions.

Claims

1. A volumetric display system comprising:

a volumetric display arranged to generate a first light field; and

transformation optics arranged to generate an image of the first light field spatially separated from the first light field.

2. A volumetric display system according to claim 1, wherein the transformation optics comprise at least one portion of a parabolic mirror.

3. A volumetric display system according to claim 2, wherein the transformation optics comprise a first portion of a parabolic mirror and a second portion of a parabolic mirror and wherein the first and second portions are arranged such that a base of a first portion of a parabolic mirror lies substantially at a focal plane of the second portion of a parabolic mirror and a base of the second portion of a parabolic mirror lies substantially at a focal plane of the first portion of a parabolic mirror.

4. A volumetric display system according to claim 1, wherein the volumetric display comprises:

a directional optical element and a projector, wherein the projector is arranged to project a sequence of different images onto the directional optical element in synchronization with an angle of rotation of the directional optical element and wherein the directional optical element comprises one of a diffuser in combination with a directional filter and an anisotropic mirror.

5. A volumetric display system according to claim 4, further comprising an optical sensor arranged to detect a position of a user relative to the volumetric display system.

6. A volumetric display system according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the sequence of different images is selected based on said position.

7. A volumetric display system according to claim 1, wherein the volumetric display comprises:

an array of emitters arranged to display a sequence of different images; and

at least one optical detector.

8. A volumetric display system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a sensing apparatus arranged to detect a user interaction with the image of the first light field.

9. A volumetric display system according to claim 8, wherein the sensing apparatus is arranged to detect the user interaction optically via the transformation optics.

10. A volumetric display system according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the sequence of different images is modified based on said user interaction.

11. A volumetric display system according to claim 8, further comprising:

haptic feedback apparatus responsive to said user interaction.

12. A volumetric display system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a sensing apparatus arranged to detect an environment around the system and wherein at least one of the sequence of different images is modified based on said environment.

13. A volumetric display comprising:

a projector; and

a diffuser with a directional filter rotatable in front of the projector,

wherein the projector is arranged to project a sequence of different images onto the diffuser in synchronization with an angle of rotation of the diffuser.

14. A volumetric display according to claim 13, wherein the sequence of different images are of a computer generated object and wherein the volumetric display further comprises a physically real object.

15. A volumetric display according to claim 13, further comprising an optical sensor arranged to detect a position of a user relative to the volumetric display.

16. A volumetric display according to claim 13, further comprising an optical system arranged to perform a spatial translation of a light field generated by the projector and the diffuser.

17. A volumetric display according to claim 16, wherein the optical system comprises at least one portion of a parabolic mirror.

18. A volumetric display according to claim 17, wherein, in use, the at least one portion of a parabolic mirror is rotated around an optical axis of the parabolic mirror.

19. A volumetric display according to claim 18, wherein the at least one portion of a parabolic mirror comprises a flexible reflective membrane.

20. A volumetric display and input system comprising:

a volumetric display;

transformation optics comprising a pair of parabolic mirror portions arranged to generate an image of a 3D light field generated by the volumetric display and wherein the image of the 3D light field is spatially separated from the 3D light field generated by the volumetric display; and

sensing apparatus arranged to detect a user interaction with the generated image.