Laser-etched 3D volumetric display

• US 9,781,411 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2016
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Looking Glass Factory, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Looking Glass Factory, Inc.
• Inventors: Frayne, Shawn, Lee, Shiu Pong, Hornstein, Alexis, Fok, Tung Yiu
• Primary Examiner(s): ELAHI, SHAN E
• Application Number:
  US15/266,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20170094263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 348 51
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/52 the 3D volume being constructed from a stack or sequence of 2D planes, e.g. depth sampling systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/56 by projecting aerial or floating images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/111 Transformation of image signals corresponding to virtual viewpoints, e.g. spatial image interpolation
• 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 13/388 Volumetric displays, i.e. systems where the image is built up from picture elements distributed through a volume
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/39 the picture elements emitting light at places where a pair of light beams intersect in a transparent material

Abstract

A three-dimensional volumetric display includes a light source that generates a two-dimensional image output and a transparent scattering volume, coupled to the light source on a first face of the scattering volume, that scatters the image output of the light source in a direction perpendicular to the light axis of the output of the light source; where the scattering volume comprises a three-dimensional array of scattering elements arranged in a plurality of scattering planes tilted relative to the first face of the scattering volume.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional volumetric display comprising:

a substantially transparent scattering volume containing a three-dimensional array of scattering elements, the three-dimensional array of scattering elements arranged in a plurality of scattering planes tilted relative to the first face of the scattering volume;

wherein the three-dimensional array comprises an array of voxel groups, each voxel group comprising a plurality of directional scattering elements positioned such that each voxel group scatters light omnidirectionally;

wherein each scattering element is a cavity in the scattering volume formed via laser sub-surface engraving;

a light source that generates a two-dimensional image output comprising a set of image slices;

wherein the image output is scattered by the scattering volume to create a three-dimensional volumetric image within the scattering volume;

wherein each slice of set of image slices is incident upon a unique scattering plane; and

an onboard computer that receives a three-dimensional image dataset, determines a set of slice partitions of the three-dimensional image dataset according to scattering parameters of the scattering volume, and transforms the three-dimensional image dataset into the two-dimensional image output according to the slice partitions;

wherein the scattering parameters describe a spatial relationship between the light source and the array of scattering elements.

2. The volumetric display of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a digital mirror display.

3. The volumetric display of claim 1, wherein the scattering elements are spherical cavities.

4. The volumetric display of claim 1, wherein the scattering elements are coated with a metallic film.

5. A three-dimensional volumetric display comprising:

a light source that generates a two-dimensional image output; and

a substantially transparent scattering volume, coupled to the light source on a first face of the scattering volume, that scatters the image output of the light source in a direction perpendicular to the light axis of the output of the light source;

wherein the scattering volume comprises a three-dimensional array of scattering elements, the three-dimensional array of scattering elements arranged in a plurality of scattering planes tilted relative to the first face of the scattering volume;

wherein the scattering elements are three-dimensional cavities within the scattering volume;

wherein the image output comprises a set of image slices;

each image slice of the set corresponding to a unique spatial partition of a three-dimensional image dataset;

each image slice of the set projected onto a plane of the plurality of scattering planes.

6. The volumetric display of claim 5, wherein the three-dimensional array of scattering elements is further arranged into voxel groups;

wherein each voxel group comprises a plurality of scattering elements.

7. The volumetric display of claim 6, wherein a minimum spacing between voxel groups is more than twice a maximum spacing between scattering elements of a same voxel group.

8. The volumetric display of claim 7, wherein each voxel group comprises a first scattering element that scatters light directionally on a first axis, a second scattering element that scatters light directionally on a second axis, and a third scattering element that scatters light directionally on a third axis;

wherein the first, second, and third axes are orthogonal.

9. The volumetric display of claim 8, wherein the first scattering element is formed via sub-surface engraving on a first engraving axis normal to a second face of the scattering volume;

wherein the second scattering element is formed via sub-surface engraving on a second engraving axis normal to a third face of the scattering volume;

wherein the third scattering element is formed via sub-surface engraving on a third engraving axis normal to a fourth face of the scattering volume;

wherein the second, third, and fourth faces of the scattering volume are orthogonal.

10. The volumetric display of claim 9, wherein each voxel group scatters light omnidirectionally.

11. The volumetric display of claim 5, wherein the scattering elements of each scattering plane are arranged in a regular rectangular grid.

12. The volumetric display of claim 5, wherein the scattering elements of each scattering planes are arranged into lines;

wherein the lines of a same scattering plane are parallel to each other and to the same scattering plane;

wherein a spacing between lines is more than five times a spacing of scattering elements within a line.

13. The volumetric display of claim 12, wherein the lines of a first scattering plane are not staggered relative to the lines of a second scattering plane.

14. The volumetric display of claim 12, wherein the lines of a first scattering plane are staggered relative to the lines of a second scattering plane.

15. The volumetric display of claim 12, wherein the scattering planes are periodically scattered.

16. The volumetric display of claim 5, wherein the scattering volume comprises a set of planar and primarily solid scattering substrates and a fluid between the set of scattering substrates.

17. The volumetric display of claim 16, wherein the fluid is index matched to an index of refraction of the scattering substrates.

18. The volumetric display of claim 16, wherein the fluid is not index matched to the scattering substrates;

wherein the fluid is a waveguide for light entering the first face of the scattering volume.

19. The volumetric display of claim 5, further comprising an onboard computer;

wherein the onboard computer determines a set of slice partitions of a three-dimensional image dataset according to scattering parameters of the scattering volume and transforms the three-dimensional image dataset into the two-dimensional image output according to the slice partitions.

20. The volumetric display of claim 19, wherein the onboard computer performs multiplexing of virtual slices to simulate a higher depth resolution.