Volumetric accessing of a volumetric display

Abstract

Methods and systems may provide for 3D volumetric displays. Such 3D volumetric displays may include a transparent enclosed volume holding a gas as a stationary gain medium. A scanning mirror may direct a light beam from a light source. A voxel projector may receive the light beam from the scanning mirror and may project an expanded beam into a volume of the stationary gain medium. Changes in the X and Y orientation between the light beam from the scanning mirror and the voxel projector results in relatively larger changes in the X and Y dimension of the expanded beam that is projected into the volume of the stationary gain medium to produce a 3D image.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]Embodiments generally relate to three-dimensional (3D) volumetric displays. More particularly, embodiments relate to 3D volumetric displays using a beam expansion to increase the volume accessible when producing a 3D image.BACKGROUND[0002]There are many district technologies for the creation of a three-dimensional (3D) image. Typically, these district technologies for creation of a 3D image fall into three approaches: free space displays, swept volume displays, and static volumetric displays. Due to these technologies taking district approaches, the technological approaches utilized for free space displays and / or swept volume displays often are not applicable or easily adapted for static volumetric displays.[0003]Free space displays often operate in open air, with no barrier between the 3D image and a user. For example, such free space displays may utilize trapped particles, free particle, or plasma emission technologies to create the 3D image.[0004]Swept volume...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes an apparatus and method for controlling the dimensions of a beam of light that is projected into a stationary gain medium. The apparatus uses a rotatable diffractive plate called a voxel projector, which controls the changes in the X and Y dimensions of the expanded beam. The method involves adjusting the location of the light beam on the voxel projector and the orientation of the voxel projector to achieve the desired expansion of the beam. The technical effect of this invention is better control over the size and shape of laser beams, which can improve the performance and efficiency of optical systems.

Problems solved by technology

Due to these technologies taking district approaches, the technological approaches utilized for free space displays and / or swept volume displays often are not applicable or easily adapted for static volumetric displays.

However, such traditional raster scanning may be too slow to achieve the large scale data accessing for 3D displays that is necessary.

For example, it may be too difficult to raster scan X and Y locations of a volume using a mirror due to the slow speed of the galvanometric system that is controlling the mirror.

Such slow mirror speed may be due to the lack of a fine notch motor and / or servo actuator for mirror assemblies.

It also may be difficult to raster scan a volume with a set of X,Y direction mirrors.

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