Method and apparatus for high resolution three dimensional display

• US 6,064,423 A
• Filed: 02/12/1998
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Genex Technologies Incorporated (AccelPath, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Zheng Jason Geng
• Inventors: Geng, Zheng Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHILIPPE, GIMS S
• Application Number:
  US09/022,830
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 348/36, 348/37, 348/39, 348/40, 348/42, 348/51, 348/78, 348/67, 345/6, 345/139, 345/32, 359/462, 359/326, 349/74, 73/606, 73/625
• US Class Current: 348/36
• 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: G02B 30/56 by projecting aerial or floating images
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/562 Screens moving during projection G03B21/58 - G03B21/62 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/002 to project the image of a two-dimensional display, such as an array of light emitting or modulating elements or a CRT
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/003 to produce spatial visual effects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/10 Processing, recording or transmission of stereoscopic or multi-view image signals
• 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 13/289 Switching between monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/302 for viewing without the aid of special glasses, i.e. using autostereoscopic displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/324 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/327 Calibration thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/332 Displays for viewing with the aid of special glasses or head-mounted displays [HMD]
• 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

Abstract

A process and system for displaying large (more than 1 million voxels) volumetric 3D images gives substantially higher resolution than is achievable with prior art techniques. The process and system utilize a sequence of helical slices of a 3D data set to generate a series of 2D images on a reflective surface of a light modulator. The series of 2D images generated on the light modulator are projected into a volumetric 3D-space display using an illumination light source and projection optics. Voxels in 3D space are illuminated for each 2D projected image, each voxel being located at its corresponding spatial location such that the 3D image thus generated can be viewed from any angle in a walkaround fish-tank manner without utilizing any viewing aids.

Claims

1. An improved high resolution volumetric 3D display system utilizing a separately developed 3D image data set, wherein said 3D image data set represents a 360 degree view of the object or objects to be displayed, the display system comprising:

processor means for receiving said 3D image data set and for generating 2D helical-shaped slices of said 3D image data set about a central vertical axis of said 3D image data set;

light modulator means having a flat 2D imaging surface driven by said processor means for successively imaging said 2D helical-shaped slices of said 3D image data set at a rate faster than a refresh rate of a human eye;

light source means for illuminating said imaging surface of said modulator means as successive 2D images are displayed;

a rotating helical display screen the shape of which corresponds to that of said 2D helical-shaped slices of said 3D image data set, wherein rotation of said screen is synchronized with said successive imaging of said 2D helical-shaped slices on said modulator means; and

optical projection means for projecting light from said light source means, which has been modulated by said light modulator means according to said sequence of 2D images, to said rotating helical display screen such that a 3D image is generated in a space through which said screen rotates.

2. The 3D display system of claim 1, wherein said optical projection means further comprise a beam splitter, said beam splitter being optically coupled between said light source means, said light modulator means and said rotating screen such that light from said light source means is directed by said beam splitter to said surface of said light modulator means, and light reflected by said light modulator means is transmitted by said beam splitter to said rotating screen.

3. The 3D display system of claim 1, wherein said light modulated by said light modulator means is projected by said optical projection means to said rotating screen along a direction parallel to an axis of rotation of said rotating screen.

4. The 3D display system of claim 1, wherein said 3D image comprises at least one million voxels.

5. The 3D display system of claim 1, wherein said light modulator means comprises ferroelectric liquid crystal spatial modulator array means for creating the succession of 2D images.

6. The 3D display system of claim 1, wherein said light source means comprise three separate light source means each providing light of a different color such that said 3D image displayed on said rotating helical display screen is in color.

7. The 3D display system of claim 1, wherein said light modulator means comprise three separate light modulator means each of which modulates said 2D slices of said 3D image set with respect to a different color such that said 3D image displayed on said rotating helical display screen is in color.

22. The 3D display system of claim 1, wherein said optical projection means further comprises means to redirect said modulated light being projected to said display screen so as to provide a rear projection-type display.

8. An improved method of providing a high resolution volumetric 3D display utilizing a separately developed 3D image data set, wherein said 3D image data set represents a 360 degree view of the object or objects to be displayed, the method comprising:

generating 2D helical-shaped slices of said 3D image data set about a central vertical axis of said 3D image data set;

successively imaging said 2D helical-shaped slices of said 3D image data set on a spatial light modulator having a flat 2D imaging surface at a rate faster than a refresh rate of the human eye;

illuminating said imaging surface of said modulator as successive 2D images are displayed;

projecting light, which has been modulated by said light modulator according to said sequence of 2D images, to a rotating helical display screen the shape of which corresponds to that of said 2D helical-shaped slices of said 3D image data set, wherein rotation of said screen is synchronized with said successive imaging of said 2D helical-shaped slices on said modulator such that a 3D image is generated in a space through which said screen rotates, said 3D image being either symmetrical or asymmetrical and being viewable from any angle along a 360 degree perimeter around said rotating screen without the use of any view aid.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising directing light, with a beam splitter, from a light source to said surface of said light modulator and transmitting light reflected by said light modulator through said beam splitter to said rotating screen.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein projecting said light modulated by said light modulator comprises projecting said light modulated by said light modulator to said rotating screen along a direction parallel to an axis of rotation of said rotating screen.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said 3D image comprises at least one million voxels.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein said light modulator comprises ferroelectric liquid crystal spatial modulator array for creating the succession of 2D images.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein said illuminating comprises illuminating said imaging surface with three separate light sources each providing light of a different color such that said 3D image displayed on said rotating helical display screen is in color.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein said successively imaging said 2D slices of said 3D image data set on a light modulator comprises imaging a different color component of each of said 2D slices of said 3D image data set on one of three separate light modulators such that said 3D image displayed on said rotating helical display screen is in color.

15. An improved high resolution volumetric 3D display system utilizing a separately developed 3D image data set, wherein said 3D image data set represents a 360 degree view of the object or objects to be displayed, the display system comprising:

a processor for sequencing 2D slices of said 3D image data set, said 2D slices having a curved surface within said 3D image data set and each 2D slice including a central vertical axis of said 3D image data set;

a light modulator having a flat 2D imaging surface driven by said processor for successively imaging said 2D slices of said 3D image data set at a rate faster than a refresh rate of a human eye;

a light source for illuminating said imaging surface of said modulator as successive 2D images are displayed;

a rotating, curved display screen the shape of which corresponds to that of said curved-surface 2D slices of said 3D image data set, wherein rotation of said screen is synchronized with said successive imaging of said 2D slices on said modulator; and

an optical projection system for projecting light from said light source, which has been modulated by said light modulator according to said sequence of 2D images, to said rotating display screen such that a 3D image is generated in a space through which said screen rotates, said 3D image being viewable from any angle along a 360 degree perimeter around said rotating screen without the use of any view aid.

16. The 3D display system of claim 15, wherein said optical projection system further comprises a beam splitter, said beam splitter being optically coupled between said light source, said light modulator and said rotating screen such that light from said light source is directed by said beam splitter to said surface of said light modulator, and light reflected by said light modulator is transmitted by said beam splitter to said rotating screen.

17. The 3D display system of claim 15, wherein said light modulated by said light modulator is projected by said optical projection system to said rotating screen along a direction parallel to an axis of rotation of said rotating screen.

18. The 3D display system of claim 15, wherein said 3D image comprises at least one million voxels.

19. The 3D display system of claim 15, wherein said light modulator comprises a ferroelectric liquid crystal spatial modulator array for creating the succession of 2D images.

20. The 3D display system of claim 15, wherein said light source comprises three separate light sources each providing light of a different color such that said 3D image displayed on said rotating display screen is in color.

21. The 3D display system of claim 15, wherein said light modulator comprises three separate light modulators each of which modulates said 2D slices of said 3D image set with respect to a different color such that said 3D image displayed on said rotating display screen is in color.