Volumetric, stage-type three-dimensional display, capable of producing color images and performing omni-viewpoint simulated hidden line removal

• US 6,697,034 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2001
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mind Fusion, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Craig Stuart Tashman
• Inventors: Tashman, Craig Stuart
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancuso, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Arnold, Adam
• Application Number:
  US09/755,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20020126119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: 345/426, 345/31, 345/419, 345/420, 345/421, 345/424
• US Class Current: 345/31
• 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: G09G 3/003 to produce spatial visual effects
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/005 forming an image using a quickly moving array of imaging elements, causing the human eye to perceive an image which has a larger resolution than the array, e.g. an image on a cylinder formed by a rotating line of LEDs parallel to the axis of rotation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/324 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/393 the volume being generated by a moving, e.g. vibrating or rotating, surface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

A volumetric, 3-D image is produced by moving a small number of 1-dimensional light arrays such that virtually all points of a desired volume have at least one light pass through them within the refresh time of the human eye. The motion of the lights consists of two simultaneous motion cycles that are substantially orthogonal to each other, with one being faster than the other. Proper control of the lights thus allows images to be produced within the volume.

Each light element may be composed of a collection of smaller, directional lights, each pointed in a different direction. In such case, the lights may be controlled in a manner that permits each viewer of the volumetric image to only see a variant of that image properly hidden-line removed for his or her particular viewpoint. The display can thus produce volumetric images appearing appropriately hidden-line removed from multiple viewpoints simultaneously.

Claims

1. A 3-dimensional volumetric stage-type display for displaying an image of the contents of a 3-dimensional volume said display utilizing the persistence of vision of a mammal, said display comprising

a) one or more one-dimensional strings of individually-controllable lights, each said string comprising a plurality of said controllable lights;

b) at least one string axis controller, each controlling at least one of said strings, each said controller having a first string axis;

said controller causing each said string to move the string through a cycle of each said string'"'"'s first string axis movement;

wherein each string dynamically visits substantially all the physical points in a dynamic volume as it moves through a complete string axis cycle;

c) a volume display controller having a second volume axis;

said strings also cooperatively moving with respect to said second volume axis, said axis having a volume display cycle;

said movement of said strings of each string axis controller through all said string controller'"'"'s'"'"' cycles during a complete volume display cycle causing said lights of said strings to visit substantially all points of the volume of the display, and

d) a controllable light processor,

wherein said processor controls each and every controllable light as a function of time and space such that said each light is activated during the time it visits each point in said volume which is to appear lighted,

thereby creating said 3-dimensional image of said contents of said-volume.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said

first string axis movement is one of linear or rotary;

said string axis movement cycle is one of a circle or a line; and

said volume display cycle movement is one of linear or rotary.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first string axis movement is rotary;

said second volume display axis is parallel to said first string axis; and

said second volume display cycle movement is rotary, thus resulting in said displayed three-dimensional volume being cylindrical.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first string axis movement is linear, said second volume display axis is perpendicular to said first string axis;

and said volume display cycle movement is linear, thus resulting in said displayed three-dimensional volume being a rectangular parallelepiped.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first string axis movement is linear, and said second volume display cycle movement is rotary.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first string axis movement is rotary, and said second volume display cycle movement is linear.

7. The processor of claim 1 further comprising communication means, said means communicating control instructions to each said controllable light.

8. The processor of claim 7, wherein said communications means operates in a serial manner.

9. The processor of claim 7, wherein said communications means operates in a parallel manner.

10. The communication means of claim 7 further comprising commutation means.

11. The communication means of claim 7 further comprising electromagnetic communication means using non-visible frequencies.

12. The communication means of claim 7 further comprising electromagnetic communication means using visible frequencies.

13. The communication means of claim 7 further comprising electromagnetic communication means using radio frequencies.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 for displaying said image in color, wherein each light is comprised of a plurality of a set of sublights, said set of sublights comprising a set of the primary colors;

and wherein said controllable light processor activates each sublight of each light to an intensity such that the combined lumen output of said set of sublights results in the desired color being perceived to appear at each point in said volume.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 for displaying said image in color, each said string having lights along the length of each string, wherein at the various positions on the length of the respective strings there are at least one set of lights of the components of a set of primary colors;

and wherein said controllable light processor activates each light of each said set to an intensity such that their combined lumen output considering the persistence of vision of a living being results in the perception of a desired color appearing at each point in said volume.

16. A method for simulating and cyclically displaying a three-dimensional image of a solid object which may be viewed from different angles external to and with respect to said object in which said views will appear visually correct, thus simulating hidden-line determination and removal,

said method comprising:

a) determining a substantial quantity of points of said solid object, said quantity of the magnitude of resolution desired, each said point having at least one directional-sublight visiting said point during said cycle;

b) determining all points of opacity which prevent viewing of points further away from the viewer of said object forming opacity polygons of any contiguous collections of said opacity-points;

c) for each said point of step a, determine whether a vector normal to each directional sublight when at each said point of step a intersects with any of said opacity polygons;

if said directional sublight does intersect such a polygon, then said directional sublight when at said point of step a should not be turned on in said cycle, or

if said directional sublight does not intersect such a polygon, then said directional sublight when at said point of step a should be turned on in said cycle.

17. An apparatus utilizing the method of claim 16.