Planarized true three dimensional display

• US 5,214,419 A
• Filed: 06/26/1991
• Issued: 05/25/1993
• 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:
  US07/725,234
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 340/716, 340/729, 340/763, 340/764, 340/794, 340/795, 340/783, 340/766, 340/700, 358/88, 358/90, 358/60, 358/62, 358/61, 358/230, 358/233, 358/236, 350/3, 350/6, 350/3.67, 350/3.68, 350/269, 352/86, 359/478, 359/479
• US Class Current: 345/32
• 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 digitized display system providing a three dimensional image utilizing a display including a multi-frequency sensitive material and a spatial light modulator with individual controllable elements. The spatial light modulator can be a deformable mirror device.

Claims

1. A digitized video system for displaying a three dimensional image comprising:

(a) a three dimensional display including at least one material responding to two energy beams of different characteristics to produce a different energy where said beams intersect and located along two paths;

(b) a spatial light modulator having a plurality of controllable elements arranged in an array, at least two of said controllable elements being individually controllable between a first state to provide portions of one of said energy beams and a second state not to provide said portions of said one energy beam along one of said paths; and

(c) the other of said energy beams located along the other of said paths to simultaneously intersect a plurality of said portions of said one energy beam.

2. System as in claim 1 wherein said spatial light modulator includes mirror cells.

3. System as in claim 1 wherein said spatial light modulator includes light valves.

4. System as in claim 1 wherein said spatial light modulator includes:

(a) an array of individual display cell;

(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.

5. System as in claim 4 wherein each memory cell includes at least two components.

6. System as in claim 5 wherein one component is a transistor.

7. System as in claim 5 wherein one component stores capacitively.

8. System as in claim 5 wherein both components are transistors.

9. System as in claim 4 wherein said memory cell is implemented in CMOS.

10. System as in claim 4 wherein said memory cell is implemented in NMOS.

11. System as in claim 4 wherein said memory cell is implemented in PMOS.

12. System as in claim 4 wherein said second decoder simultaneously addresses one memory cell associated with substantially all of said display cells to display an image.

13. System as in claim 4 wherein said second decoder simultaneously addresses one memory cell associated with all of said display cells to display an image.

14. System as in claim 4 wherein said first decoder addresses a row of said array at a time.

15. Method of displaying a three dimensional image comprising the steps of:

(a) intersecting a three dimensional display with two energy beams of different characteristics including a material producing a different energy where said beams intersect; and

(b) individually and simultaneously controlling at least two elements of an array between a first state to provide a portion of one of said energy beams and a second state not to provide a portion of said one energy beams.

16. Method as in claim 15 wherein the step of controlling includes actuating mirror cells.

17. Method as in claim 15 wherein the step of controlling includes actuating light valves.

18. A digitized video system for displaying a three dimensional image comprising:

(a) a three dimensional display including at least one material responding to two energy beams, a first and a second, of different characteristics to produce a different energy where said beams intersect and located along two optical paths;

(b) said first energy beam along one of said paths substantially instantaneously irradiating a plane in said three dimensional display; and

(c) a spatial light modulator having a plurality of controllable elements arranged in an array, each of said controllable elements being individually controllable between a first state to provide a portion of said second of said energy beams along the other of said paths to intersect said plane at a predetermined point, and a second state not to provide a portion of said second energy beam,

19. System as in claim 18 wherein said spatial light modulator includes mirror cells.

20. System as in claim 18 wherein said spatial light modulator includes light valves.

21. Method of displaying a three dimensional image comprising the steps of:

(a) intersecting a three dimensional display with first and second energy beams of different characteristics including a material producing a different energy where said beams intersect;

(b) defining a plane in said three dimensional display with said first energy beam; and

(c) individually and simultaneously controlling at least two elements of an array between a first state to provide a portion of said second of said energy beams to intersect said plane at a predetermined point, and a second state not to provide said portion of said second of said energy beams.

22. Method as in claim 21 wherein the step of controlling includes actuating mirror cells.

23. Method as in claim 21 wherein the step of controlling includes actuating light valves.