Pointer for three dimensional display

• US 5,128,660 A
• Filed: 02/27/1989
• Issued: 07/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Thompson, E. Earle, DeMond, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brier, Jeffery A.
• Application Number:
  US07/315,366
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 340/706, 340/707, 340/708, 340/709, 273/148 B
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0841 the reflecting element being moved or deformed by electrostatic means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/50 the image being built up from image elements distributed over a 3D volume, e.g. voxels
• 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: G09F 19/18 involving the use of optical projection means, e.g. projection of images on clouds projection apparatus per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0847 being a dynamic memory without any storage capacitor, i.e. with use of parasitic capacitances as storage elements
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0262 The addressing of the pixel, in a display other than an active matrix LCD, involving the control of two or more scan electrodes or two or more data electrodes, e.g. pixel voltage dependent on signals of two data electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2022 using sub-frames
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/346 based on modulation of the reflection angle, e.g. micromirrors micromirrors devices per se G02B26/0833
• 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 13/324 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/365 using digital micromirror devices [DMD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/39 the picture elements emitting light at places where a pair of light beams intersect in a transparent material
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/393 the volume being generated by a moving, e.g. vibrating or rotating, surface
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/597 specially adapted for multi-view video sequence encoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3129 : scanning a light beam on the display screen scanning a light beam on a screen in displays other than projection devices G09G3/02; scanning systems in general G02B26/10; projectors using laser light sources in general H04N9/3161

Abstract

A pointer for a three dimensional display utilizes sensors on the display for the user to communicate with the display by means of a hand held device. The three dimensional display can have a spatial light modulator with a plurality of deformable mirror cells each with several memory cells.

Claims

1. A pointer for a three dimensional display comprising:

a hand held body having plurality of beam generators producing individual beams, said beam generators controllable to intersect said beams so as to define a point in a three dimensional space within said three dimensional display.

2. Pointer as in claim 1 including a plurality of buttons for communicating commands.

3. The pointer of claim 1 wherein said beams intersect simultaneously.

4. A video display system comprising:

(a) a three dimensional display;

(b) a hand held body having beam generators producing individual beams; and

(c) a plurality of sensors on said display for detecting the intersection of said beams within the three dimensional space of said three dimensional display.

5. System as in claim 4 including a spatial light modulator.

6. System as in claim 5 wherein said spatial light modulator includes:

(a) an array of individual display cells;

(b) each said display cell having at least two memory cells associated therewith, each said display cell selectively directly connected with one of said memory cells for control of said display cell;

(c) a first decoder for addressing said memory cells for storing information therein; and

(d) a second decoder for addressing said memory cells for selecting which of said memory cells is directly connected for control.

7. System as in claim 6 wherein each memory cell includes at least two components.

8. Systems as in claim 7 wherein one component is a transistor.

9. System as in claim 7 wherein one component stores capacitively.

10. System as in claim 7 wherein both components are transistors.

11. System as in claim 6 wherein said memory cell is implemented in CMOS.

12. System as in claim 6 wherein said memory cell is implemented in NMOS.

13. System as in claim 6 wherein said memory cell is implemented in PMOS.

14. System as in claim 6 wherein said second decoder simultaneously addresses one memory cell associated with substantially all of said display cells to display an image.

15. System as in claim 6 wherein said second decoder simultaneously addresses one memory cell associated with all of said display cells to display an image.

16. System as in claim 6 wherein said first decoder addresses a row of said array at a time.

17. The display system of claim 4 wherein said beams intersect simultaneously.

18. A method of interacting with a three dimensional display comprising the steps of:

(a) producing a plurality of individual beams from a pointer; and

(b) detecting the intersection of said beams within the three dimensional space of said display using sensors associated with said display.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said beams intersect simultaneously.