Volume display systems, methods, and apparatus

Abstract

A volumetric display system, method, and apparatus for generating a holographic image within an ambient atmospheric air display volume (1000) using a columnar laminar flow generation system. According to example embodiments, the volumetric display method and system includes a columnar laminar flow generation system (100) that combines an input ambient atmospheric air stream (120) with at least one stream of microparticles (110) to produce a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric air streams (142) and a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric microparticle streams (141) that extend through the ambient atmospheric air display volume (1000); and a laser projection system (300) that outputs a plurality of laser beams (310) representative of the holographic image, each of the plurality of laser beams (310) aligned to overlap a portion (1010) of a single columnar laminar microparticle stream (141) within the ambient atmospheric air display volume (1000) to illuminate a target microparticle stream within the respective overlapping portion (1010) of the single columnar laminar microparticle stream (141).

Description

Cross-references to related applications

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 571,485, filed March 29, 2024, entitled “Volume Display System, Method, and Apparatus”, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 526,564, filed July 13, 2023, entitled “System and Apparatus for Creating and Controlling Voxels of Light and Manipulating Them into Volumetric Content in the Air Using Controlled Atmosphere Array Interactions”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] The following relates to holographic display systems, methods, and apparatus. Specifically, this disclosure relates to holographic projection, holographic systems, and / or stereoscopic systems for entertainment, training, identification, interaction, and any other desired applications. The disclosed holographic methods and systems do not require the use of screens, containers, wearable devices, and / or other devices to activate or display content. The disclosed holographic display methods and systems provide truly real-time, aerial, volumetric display systems with the ability to display 2D and 3D, as well as volumetric and spatial content, in a true 3D space. Background Technology

[0003] Traditional holographic displays are mostly illusions, reflections, transparent solid screens, or moving physical light arrays, requiring the use of visual persistence to achieve hardware functionality. Most traditional stereoscopic displays are either contained in a box-like structure with a limited viewing angle, using extrapolation of lenticular or stereoscopic concepts, and / or using transparent or semi-transparent displays.

[0004] There is a need for an interactive display, system, and device that can display stereoscopic digital visual information without a screen or container.

[0005] It requires seamless interaction with digital data and content in real-world space.

[0006] A display system that can scale to a limited viewing angle and provide interactivity is needed.

[0007] The advantages and benefits offered by the disclosed holographic methods and systems include, but are not limited to, physical scalability and the ability to generate volumetric objects in the air, as opposed to screen projections or contained media; greater safety than some conventional holographic technology platforms because plasma explosions are not generated in the air to achieve voxel visibility; the disclosed technology is not contained within an enclosed box or screen, does not have a limited viewing angle, and is more economical to manufacture than some other similar systems. Furthermore, the disclosed technology has a wide range of applicability, can be used in daylight or low light, outdoors or indoors, and, according to some embodiments, allows interaction with objects of light via touch. Attached Figure Description

[0008] The various aspects of this disclosure can be best understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Note that, in accordance with standard industry practice, the various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, for clarity of discussion, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or decreased.

[0009] Figures 1A to 1E Various operational details of a voxel-atmosphere stabilization terminal (VAST) system according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure are shown, wherein Figure 1A A functional block diagram of the VAST system is shown. Figure 1B Details of voxel generation according to this disclosure are shown. Figure 1C Further operational details of generating laminar flow using bottom and top halos are shown. Figure 1D An example embodiment of a columnar laminar flow arrangement is shown, wherein the laminar flow groups are oriented or arranged at an angle of less than 90 degrees to provide an alternative arrangement for generating visible voxels from a fixed laser aperture emission point (XZ plan top view), and Figure 1E An example embodiment of a columnar laminar flow arrangement is shown, wherein the laminar flow group is oriented or aligned at an angle of less than 90 degrees to provide an alternative arrangement for generating visible voxels from a fixed laser aperture emission point (×Z plane top view), and also includes the addition of a reflector to allow more of the laser beam to reach the flow point.

[0010] Figure 2 This is a functional diagram of a VAST system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The VAST system includes a bottom unit, a top unit, a laser unit, and a laser terminator unit.

[0011] Figures 3A to 3C A VAST system layout according to an example embodiment (Example 1) of this disclosure is shown. Figure 3A A simple layout of a VAST system is shown. Figure 3B More details of the laminar flow grid are shown, and Figure 3C This is a detailed view of a portion of the laminar flow in the volumetric display.

[0012] Figures 4A to 4E A VAST system layout according to an example embodiment (Example 2) of this disclosure is shown.

[0013] Figures 5A to 5G Various further views of the VAST system layout according to an example embodiment (Example 2) of this disclosure are shown. Figure 5A A bottom left perspective view is shown; Figure 5B Another bottom left perspective view is shown, including the microparticle channel; Figure 5CAnother perspective view of the combo reservoir and phase change device is shown; Figure 5D The image shows a bottom perspective view of the combined container and phase change device, including the main thrust section, particle channels, and layered grid. Figure 5E A top perspective view of the combined container and phase change device is shown, including the main thrust section, particle channels, and layered grid. Figure 5F A detailed example section / cross-sectional view of a portion of a laminar flow grid array is shown, as well as Figure 5G This is a perspective view of an ion wind generator.

[0014] Figure 6A and Figure 6B Various details of the atmospheric receiving unit system and subsystems of a stereoscopic display system (Example 2) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure are shown. Figure 6A This is a top view showing the exhaust fan, layered grid, IR distance measurement subsystem, laser termination component, and computer; and Figure 6B It is a top view showing the exhaust fan, IR distance measurement subsystem, laser termination component, and computer.

[0015] Figure 7A and Figure 7B Various details of a subsystem for driving a laser output projection system and a stereoscopic display system (Example 2) by a content control computer unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure are shown; Figure 8A and Figure 8B A stereoscopic display system (Example 3) according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure is shown.

[0016] Figure 9 A stereoscopic display system (Example 4) according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure is illustrated. According to this embodiment, the system includes holographic light object presence telecommunications for home, business, art, and / or municipal applications. Functionality includes a hybrid system for enhancing interaction or collaboration with holographic light objects (also meaning "light objects") in home, business, art, and municipal environments.

[0017] Figure 10 A stereoscopic display system (Example 5) according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure is shown, including a VAST system for holographic therapy, exercise, or training using data and feedback in home, business, art, and municipal environments.

[0018] Figure 11 A stereoscopic display system (Example 6) according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure is shown, which includes a holographic lightweight object high-speed and precision firearms and combat training platform for practice and / or entertainment in home, business, art and municipal environments.

[0019] Figure 12 A stereoscopic display system (Example 7) according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure is shown, which includes holographic light object public advertising and facilities for home, business, art and municipal environments.

[0020] Figure 13 A stereoscopic display system (Example 8) according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure is shown, which includes a holographic light object system scaled for indoor meetings or as a display case in home, business, art and municipal environments. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The following disclosure provides numerous different embodiments or examples for implementing various features of the provided subject matter. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify this disclosure. Of course, these are merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, in the following description, forming a first feature above or on a second feature may include embodiments where the first and second features are in direct contact, and may also include embodiments where an additional feature may be formed between the first and second features such that the first and second features are not in direct contact. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in various examples throughout this disclosure. Such repetition is for simplicity and clarity and does not in itself define the relationship between the various embodiments and / or configurations discussed.

[0022] Furthermore, for ease of description, this document may use spatially relative terms such as “below,” “under,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” “top,” “bottom,” “side,” “right,” “left,” “base,” etc., to describe the relationship of an element or feature to another element (or feature) or feature (or feature) shown in the figures. In addition to the orientations shown in the figures, the spatially relative terms are intended to cover different orientations of the device in use or operation. The device may be oriented in other ways (rotated 90 degrees or other directions), and the spatially relative descriptive terms used herein may be interpreted accordingly.

[0023] This disclosure and the exemplary embodiments described herein provide a holographic display system that presents (i.e., displays) aerial, stereoscopic, interactive, multi-sensory, and spatial content. According to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, the holographic display system includes a) a bottom unit for receiving and combining microparticles and regulated atmospheric air, and generating and guiding / directing a plurality of parallel volumetric columnar laminar flows comprising the combined microparticle and atmospheric air composition; b) an atmospheric receiving unit for receiving the volumetric columnar laminar flows generated by the bottom unit; and c) a laser beam array projection system that emits a laser beam array controlled to intersect / overlap with one or more parallel volumetric columnar laminar flows generated by the bottom unit to irradiate microparticles contained within a desired volumetric columnar laminar flow, the desired volumetric columnar laminar flow being associated with image rendering of an object projected by the laser beam array projection system.

[0024] According to one example embodiment, the content control module is operatively connected to the laser projection system via a wired or wireless communication channel and provides image content to the laser projection system for projection onto a volumetric columnar laminar flow.

[0025] Additional features that may or may not be integrated with the disclosed holographic display will be further described herein, and include, but are not limited to, an interactive spatial sensor module and system that provides a user with the ability to interact with the displayed hologram, and an audio system that is integrated with the disclosed holographic display system.

[0026] As previously stated, the disclosed holographic method and system provide a physically scalable holographic display with a three-dimensional object suspended in mid-air, rather than a solid medium contained within a screen, grid, film, LED, or other object. Currently available methods of holograms and holographic systems, aside from some involving hardware volumetric systems, have very limited viewing angles, preventing you from seeing everything around you by walking or moving around it. In particular, the limited interactivity with content in real-world space breaks their intended illusion; limited lighting conditions lead to imperceptibility or break their intended illusion; and the use of deliberately misleading illusions attempts to convey the idea or aspects of a floating volumetric content or object. The disclosed holographic method and system offer improvements over currently available methods and systems and are significantly different, and are more secure than plasma pulsed laser holographic content. Currently, no other available holographic display or system offers the following capabilities: 1) Multiple people around the display can see it simultaneously from virtually any angle along the X, Y, and Z axes, except those intentionally standing behind the hardware components; 2) It can be updated in real time or with pre-made content, and can be installed temporarily or permanently; 3) It can be as large as a shipping container or as small as a matchbox; 4) It has strong visibility even in competing light conditions (e.g., in a brightly lit room or in sunlight through an unobstructed window); 5) It does not use screens or grids to reflect content and is actually stereoscopic; 6) No LEDs are needed for any part of the visible light content; the light voxel content actually floats and changes in mid-air in front of the observer; actual, fully three-dimensional, tactile light objects are suspended in mid-air and can be interacted with from multiple directions, including behind, in front, above, and below; 7) The ability to scale and resolution range through modular components and custom builds; and 8) There are no stereoscopic or lenticular or “3D effects” – this is not an illusion.

[0027] For the purposes of this disclosure, the disclosed holographic system may be referred to as a Voxel Atmospheric Stabilized Terminal (VAST) system, which provides a complete aerial volumetric display system, and can also be configured as an interactive aerial volumetric display system of its kind. The disclosed VAST system provides visible, stabilized, controllable, optionally dimmed, aerially visible, volumetric 3D voxels with RGB+ light, featuring coordinated spatial audio and mid-air touch response, for use in entertainment, training, signage, interaction, and any other desired applications.

[0028] According to an example embodiment further described herein, the VAST system includes the following: 1) a top unit, which is a laminar air receiving and control unit with four outward-facing miniature audio speakers to minimize interference with the flow within the system. 2) a bottom unit, which is a laminar air transmitting and control unit with less power than the receiving end. The bottom unit conveniently contains a content control computing module with an operator-aided monitor screen and peripherals, custom software, an audio splitter, a space-placed miniature four-speaker array, and an infrared input circuit board for touching spatial information to enable real-time interaction with the computing module via an infrared sensor module. 3) a right-side unit is a laser beam projector that receives content display instructions from the built-in computing module or via other input methods (wired or wireless). 4) a left-side unit is a laser beam termination container. The four main units mentioned (top, bottom, right, and left) can be configured to be directly connected via structural or wiring elements, or they can interact wirelessly based on installation parameters.

[0029] According to another exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, a VAST system relating to volumetric display technology is provided. This VAST system is a display system that displays aerial, three-dimensional, interactive, multi-sensory, and spatial content. According to this exemplary embodiment, the system includes a custom liquid reservoir, a fluid phase change device with control circuitry, conduits for microparticles, a layered conduit grid array, an ion wind generator, a controlled atmospheric volume, an atmospheric receiving mechanism, a content control computing module, custom software, a spatial audio separator module, a spatial audio speaker array, a distance sensor module, a distance input circuit, a laser output projector and a laser termination unit, temperature management, signage display and control, and an infrared or laser beam alignment sensor function. The bottom unit is the atmospheric transmission base and control, with its atmospheric output power less than that of the receiving end. It includes an atmospheric conditioning layer, a content computing module and firmware, a computing interface and software, ambient temperature and pressure regulation, a hydrophobic flow conduit, a condensate trap, a microparticle conduit system, temperature management, and laser beam alignment. The right-side unit is a laser beam transmitting unit with a laser projector and beam calibration. The left-side unit is a laser beam receiving unit and a sign with infrared beam alignment and structural line connections. A laser beam projector sends an invisible stream of particles from the bottom unit, producing visible and practically stable 3D volumetric light voxels suspended in the air. The atmospheric receiving unit above provides control over the ambient air through a strong suction array, structural support, viscous shear, induction, and the Coanda effect. Under constant flow conditions, the surrounding viscous shear pulls up the contained particle stream, creating the first interactive volumetric display system in the air.

[0030] A description of the operating principles of the disclosed VAST method and system is now provided. While the following description describes the use of vertical laminar flow, it should be understood that in other embodiments, the direction of vertical laminar flow is not limited to the vertical direction.

[0031] The disclosed VAST system generates a vertical, invisible airflow of particles that overlaps with an intersecting beam (i.e., a laser beam) to produce luminescent voxels. To achieve this, the system maintains the integrity of the airflow as uniformly and smoothly as possible as it passes through the surrounding air. In fluid dynamics, aerodynamics determines the properties of airflow as it flows through or around an object.

[0032] The disclosed VAST system introduces invisible or near-invisible microparticle streams into invisible air, but in order to precisely send a laser beam to specific 3D coordinates within the microparticle stream, the system maintains the integrity of the microparticle stream through viscous shear, ion wind, and the induction of controlled surrounding air.

[0033] A relatively large volume of ambient air is generated through the atmospheric sending unit. The atmospheric sending unit pushes the ambient air upwards (i.e., vertically) towards the atmospheric receiving unit at a certain velocity, and the atmospheric receiving unit also strongly pulls the air upwards, completing a smooth, invisible volume of continuous flow. The disclosed VAST system introduces an invisible stream of particles in the bottom atmospheric sending unit and in a strategic upward direction from the bottom atmospheric sending unit. Under constant flow conditions, the viscous shear, propulsion, and induction of the air pulls up the contained particle stream together, functionally maintaining the coherence, integrity, and stability of the flow. The entire atmospheric volume is in a laminar or near-laminar state, using pressure-responsive ambient air to maintain the integrity of the airflow, acting like an envelope barrier. According to one example embodiment, the flow velocity in the top receiving unit exceeds that in the bottom unit because pulling the air introduces less turbulence than driving from the bottom.

[0034] The generated atmospheric volume now comprises an array of X and Z-plane particle stream points, which are vertically compressed along the Y-axis in real space with near-infinite simulated Y resolution. This quantizable XYZ array is the first physical aspect that determines the volumetric light content resolution of this VAST system.

[0035] The VAST laser output projector includes customized and calibrated content. This content can be played back interactively or via other playback software associated with the beam to overlay desired particle flow points in real space, which are linked to the creation of continuously recognizable volumetric light objects. In other words, the overlapping points of the light content of the particle flow and the beam create visible voxels, which form continuously recognizable light objects in the air. To create or display visual content, light objects can simultaneously or temporarily strike the flow columns to present a perceptible planar content concept composed of individual flow columns, or to present a richer, more coherent three-dimensional object (one or more) across the entire available flow column resolution.

[0036] According to another aspect of the disclosed VAST system, the displayed video and audio content can include post-modified or real-time 2D video and mono or stereo audio converted into extrapolated 3D volumetric and spatial representations through our hardware and custom software technologies. One example includes using the VAST system for video calls, which are custom-processed to have air volumetric interactivity, etc. Light content is coordinated with spatialized audio speaker arrays and audio content to correlate or complement real-time or pre-presented light content. Spatial sound emanating from voxel or light objects is designed to simulate, as well as provide ambient, transitional, or functional sounds.

[0037] Volumetric light content and spatial audio content can also be perceptibly correlated with aerial points in real 3D space, which serve as input points for aerial distance sensing. This allows content to respond to touch without peripheral devices. This creates floating, visually and audibly responsive buttons, sliders, or other interactive components or features, depending on the desired creative content and experience. According to one aspect of the disclosed VAST system, floating light objects with ambient noise are generated, which can be used as buttons or other controls or responsive features to advance the content or state of the system software.

[0038] Together with all the functional elements described, the disclosed VAST system creates 3D voxels of RGB+light that are suspended in mid-air, visible, dimmable, updated, and fairly stably, with spatial audio characteristics and mid-air touch interaction. Other variations may include ultrasound, electromyography, tactile feedback, speech, chemistry, chain reactions, or other interactions or inputs.

[0039] refer to Figure 1A The illustration shows a volumetric columnar display system according to an example embodiment, which provides a basis for a basic understanding of the operation of the disclosed volumetric columnar display system.

[0040] like Figure 1AAs shown, the disclosed holographic display system includes a bottom unit 100 for generating a microparticle stream and sending the microparticle stream to a top stream receiving unit 200, thereby generating a plurality of vertically oriented columnar laminar flows on an XYZ grid.

[0041] The bottom unit 100 includes an invisible particulate air medium generator 110, which uses a basic compound or fluid, as well as a phase change mechanism and propulsion system, such as a smoke generator having components including a fluid reservoir, a phase change heating element, pipes / ducts, propulsion elements (such as fans and peristaltic pumps or similar devices), and an atmospheric / indoor air inlet 101. Key ducts and / or pipes move the particulate and air medium into the array 130 to form an invisible display volume 1000, i.e., an invisible semi-aerial volume of real-world space.

[0042] The inlet array 210 included in the flow receiving unit 200 receives particulate media and provides additional air control to the particulate dilution system and / or the recirculation / redistribution / dispersion 220 of the particulate media via a suction or vacuum system 220 and piping.

[0043] A laser and / or light source 300 with graphics capabilities controls light content 310 to generate an image 1030 in mid-air by overlapping 1010 with a stream of invisible particulate medium 140. A control computer (not shown) and / or circuitry processes the content for display and provides additional data processing.

[0044] For safety and / or light control, the laser beam terminator system 400 provides light blocking outside the invisible display volume 1000.

[0045] All of the above work together as a system to create mid-air volumetric light content within an invisible boundary of a volume of 1000 in mid-air.

[0046] Optional additional interaction, input, output, and playback devices to enhance the experience or functionality (i.e., touchscreen, depth sensor, speaker, microphone, etc.). Interactive controls and any / all components can operate any whole or part of the system. Components can be, but are not limited to, keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, sensors, buttons, or any other interaction and / or display method.

[0047] As described above, the disclosed VAST system includes hardware and software systems comprising multiple components for creating and controlling volumetric light content visible in an open-air converging volume of an overlapping array, from physical to digital input. The underlying medium is a particle air array (one or more) 140 combined with the overlap of light 310 to generate perceptible volumetric content in an empty space that is not actually enclosed. According to one aspect, a user can manipulate 3D computer graphics (CG) objects on a computer that converts the desired display content into signals to send laser beams 310 to precise points in real space, thereby overlapping with the particle stream array 140 to co-generate voxels of light at their intersections. These created voxels are the building blocks of the mid-air volumetric content described herein.

[0048] Other software aspects of the control functions are provided by one or more computers or modules integrated in one or more of the bottom unit 100, stream receiver 200, laser unit 300 and / or other content / function control units for basic interactivity, design and control of the content displayed on the system, as well as hardware and circuitry for sensing input, interactivity, output and playback, including control / design / manipulation aspects (i.e., gesture input, depth / motion capture, on / off or mode buttons, motor action prompts, etc.).

[0049] During operation, Figure 1A The example VAST operation shown is as follows: a) Heating a haze / particle generation and distribution system, which includes liquid / medium, into a gaseous particulate-air medium.

[0050] b) The particulate air medium is propelled into a conduit leading to a desired outlet array and into a desired invisible volume space.

[0051] c) The receiving particulate air inlet array with pipes redistributes and / or dilutes the particulate medium.

[0052] d) A light source, such as a laser with controllable graphics capabilities and aperture / output, is computer-controlled to create an invisible display volume (output particle-airflow) to produce the desired light output. The aerial overlap of normally invisible beams and normally invisible particle-airflow creates visible aerial voxels without normally perceptible closure. By controlling the flow through the invisible volume to achieve maximum laminar flow-based stability, the beam is directed to the precise intersection of these flows to create the desired content. 3D interpolation of the content image file (e.g., a 2D image file) is performed in the control software.

[0053] Additional performance elements may include all types of interference mitigation components and / or tiers; equipment mounting and / or travel / storage / carrying enclosures and / or protective / security components; and / or attached interference mitigation components and / or stand-alone interference mitigation components.

[0054] Typically, this device is a display technology, optionally with interactive visual and auditory capabilities. It is primarily used to display stereoscopic content composed of light in a real 3D space. Like standard display devices, it can be passive or interactive, can include sound or other sensory media, can have different scales and / or resolutions, and may have specific limitations based on the properties of those buildings. Main uses include, but are not limited to, advertising or entertainment or data / training or telepresence or interactive or artistic works; generally belonging to various types of communication and display media and information, serving as a bridge for digital entry into our 3D world space without the limitations of illusion or other display and interactive technologies. Furthermore, this technology can be used for various types of display or data storage or encoding communication or simulation or rehabilitation or other sensory or communication transitions / connections or starting points.

[0055] refer to Figure 1B This shows some further basic details of how the disclosed VOXEL system operates, using an invisible particle stream 141 in the air in 3D space, an invisible laser 310, and beam and stream overlap 1010 to create a voxel 1020, causing visible laser interference, thereby providing an instantly visible floating 3D light sphere 1020 using suspended, invisible, and stable voxels.

[0056] refer to Figure 1C Further details relating to the control of invisible flow in an invisible volume according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are now described.

[0057] As previously mentioned, initially, the laminar vertical flow 141 is generated by invisible particles—air—which are used to overlap with the laser beam. As the airflow moves upward through the surrounding air, the system must maintain the integrity of the airflow as uniform and smooth. In fluid dynamics, aerodynamics determines the properties of airflow as it flows through or around an object. To introduce the invisible particle flow into the invisible air and precisely direct the laser beam towards it, the surrounding air is controlled through viscous shearing and induction, thereby maintaining the integrity of the particle flow.

[0058] A larger cylinder made of ambient air is generated by "sending" a halo 1A through laminar flow. Bladeless fans use the same principle. For example... Figure 1CAs shown, halo 1A pushes the ambient air upward to the "receiving" halo 2A at a certain speed, while simultaneously pulling the air upward, completing a smooth, invisible ambient airflow cylinder in which the ambient air is drawn into the airflow, the airfoil section (1A / 2A) generates negative pressure, and viscous shear draws in the air, resulting in a high-speed air jet flowing from the bottom halo 1A to the top halo 2A.

[0059] Further reference Figure 1C An invisible microparticle stream 141 is introduced from the bottom halos 1A / 1B along a strategic direction. Since the volumetric flow rate between halos 1A and 2A is constant, ambient viscous shear carries away the microparticle stream contained within. The entire volume is in a laminar state, using pressurized and directional ambient air to maintain airflow integrity, acting as an envelope barrier. According to the example embodiment, the flow velocity of the top halo units 2A / 2B exceeds that of the bottom halo because the suction action introduces less turbulence. The result is a strategic array (defined constraints) of flow points in the X and Z planes compressed (approaching infinite Y resolution) in the vertical Y direction. This quantifiable XYZ array determines the volumetric resolution of the system.

[0060] Figure 1D An example embodiment of a columnar laminar flow arrangement is shown, wherein the laminar flow group 310 is oriented or aligned at an angle (angle 1) of less than 90 degrees to provide an alternative arrangement for generating visible voxels 7; 1010; 1020 from a fixed laser aperture emission point 301 (XZ plane top view).

[0061] Figure 1E An example embodiment of a columnar laminar flow arrangement is shown, wherein the laminar flow group 310 is oriented or aligned at an angle (angle 1) of less than 90 degrees to provide an alternative arrangement for generating visible voxels 301 from a fixed laser aperture emission point 301 (XZ plane top view), and also includes the addition of reflectors 321 and 322 to allow the laser beam 310 to be closer to the flow point 7 / 1111 without including other flows that increase display resolution.

[0062] According to an example embodiment of the disclosed VAST system, the VAST system includes the following: Ground unit (e.g., such as) Figure 1A The 100 shown includes: a laminar flow transmitting halo 1A and a control 1B (with lower receiving power), including an atmospheric conditioning layer; a hydrophobic flow column pipe; a condenser trap; a dream fluid phase change system; a particulate fluid storage tank; a cleaning tank (automatic cleaning cycle); temperature management; and infrared beam alignment.

[0063] The resulting invisible volume is characterized by the main atmospheric laminar volume and the array of microparticle columns 141.

[0064] Top unit (e.g.) Figure 1A The 200 shown includes a laminar flow receiving halo 2A and a control 2B, which includes temperature management, indicator display and control, and infrared beam alignment.

[0065] Right side unit (e.g.) Figure 1A The 300 shown includes a laser beam transmitter, a content computing module and firmware, a computer interface and software, ambient temperature and pressure regulation, and infrared beam alignment.

[0066] Left unit (e.g., such as) Figure 1A The 400 shown includes laser beam receiver and marking, infrared beam alignment and structural line connection.

[0067] Reference Figure 2 The diagram shows a functional diagram of another example VAST system according to the present disclosure, which includes a bottom unit 100, a vertically spaced top unit 200, a laser unit 400, and a laser termination unit 400.

[0068] During operation, the bottom unit 100 operates as follows: The particle stream generation system (111A, 112, 113, 114, 111B, 115, 116, 117) generates multiple particle streams (e.g., such as...) Figure 1A The 141) shown is injected into a plurality of discrete fluid guides included in a laminar flow grid 130. Discrete particulate flow guides are arranged in the laminar flow grid 130 and separated from a plurality of other atmospheric airflow guides included in the laminar flow grid 130. The laminar flow grid 130 receives a plurality of ambient atmospheric airflows 142 generated from an ambient airflow generating system including an ambient air inlet 121 and an ion wind / fan array 122. Both the particulate flow guides and the atmospheric airflow guides include an inlet end, an outlet end, and a hollow central volume extending from the inlet end to the outlet end. The inlet end is used to receive at least a portion of the ambient airflow or at least a portion of one or more particulate flows generated by the ion wind generator array 122, wherein the flow from the outlet end is a laminar flow of a corresponding injected particulate flow or atmospheric airflow provided by the ion wind / fan array 121 to generate an ambient atmospheric air display volume 1000.

[0069] More specifically, the particulate flow generation system draws in ambient air via a first ambient air inlet 111A, which is propelled by a fan / impeller 112 to a thermal flash phase change device 114, and particulate material is drawn in, which undergoes a phase change from a liquid form supplied by the particulate flow reservoir 113 using the thermal flash phase change device 114. A second ambient air inlet 111B, a thrust fan / impeller 115, a thrust air-particulate mixing conduit 116, and a particulate conduit leading to grid points 117 provide the particulate flow, which is injected into the laminar grid 130. In other words, the phase change device 114 operates by evaporating water and a glycol- or glycerol-based particulate flow. This fluid is vaporized or atomized by flash at a temperature of approximately 440 degrees Fahrenheit, producing a semi-dense particulate cloud that is ejected into the air by the main thrust impeller 115 and diluted by mixing with the air.

[0070] In operation, the top unit 200 operates by drawing in or receiving columnar laminar particle streams and ambient air streams generated by the bottom unit via a laminar flow grid 210. The laminar flow grid 210 may also include multiple fluid guides, similar to the particle and ambient air stream guides described previously with reference to laminar flow grid 130. An exhaust fan array 220 and air outlet 230, along with the laminar flow grid 210, supplement the laminar flow control of the initial particle and ambient air streams and trajectories generated by the bottom unit 100. Furthermore, the air outlet 230 is operatively associated with an exhaust / particle dilution / particle dispersion system. According to one example embodiment, the flow rate of the exhaust fan array 220 is greater than the flow rate generated by the bottom unit 100.

[0071] In operation, the laser projector array 500 operates to project multiple laser beams (e.g., such as those controlled by content generation software and laser control software executed on computer 300) Figure 1A As shown in 310), to overlap one or more micro-stream portions (e.g., such as) within a content volume of 1000. Figure 1A As shown in 141), the desired holographic image is generated. For safety reasons, the laser terminator unit 400 is located within the trajectory of the laser beam and outside the content volume 1000 to absorb and disperse the energy associated with the emitted laser beam projected by the laser projector 500.

[0072] refer to Figures 3A to 3C The layout of the VAST system 10 / 20 according to an example embodiment (Example 1) of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 3A A simple layout of a VAST system is shown. Figure 3B More details of the laminar flow grid are shown, and Figure 3C This is a detailed diagram of a portion of the laminar flow in the volumetric display.

[0073] As shown in the figure, this scaled-down VAST system includes a thrust air inlet and fan 115, a fluid phase change device 114, a particulate liquid reservoir 113, and a particulate conduit 117 to form grid points on a laminar grid 130, thereby generating a particulate stream. An ion wind generator 122 generates an atmospheric airflow toward the laminar grid 130, and after the particulate stream and atmospheric airflow are driven from a laminar outlet within the volume display 1000, the particulate stream and atmospheric airflow combine to generate a laminar columnar flow. A laser diode projector 300 emits a laser beam 142 whose trajectory overlaps or intersects with the particulate stream 141 to generate luminescent voxels 1020. For safety, the trajectory of the laser beam 142 terminates at a laser terminator that absorbs and disperses any remaining energy after passing through the volume display 1000.

[0074] Figure 3B and Figure 3C Further details of the volume display 1000 are provided, showing the arrangement of the laminar grid fluid guide within the volume display 1000, as well as the arrangement of the atmospheric columnar airflow guide 131 and the particulate flow guide 132 relative to each other.

[0075] Reference Figures 4A to 4E The diagram illustrates a VAST system layout according to another exemplary embodiment (Embodiment 2) of this disclosure.

[0076] As shown in the figure, the VAST system includes a laser projector or array 300 that projects multiple laser beams 310 through a display volume to generate a volumetric image 1030. According to this example embodiment, the bottom unit includes a microfluidic system comprising a microfluidic liquid reservoir and phase change devices 113 and 114, a thrust fan / impeller 115, a thrust air-microfluidic mixing conduit 116, microfluidic conduits leading to grid points, and a microfluidic inlet 117 leading to a microfluidic flow guide 132 of the laminar flow grid 130. The bottom unit's atmospheric airflow generation system includes multiple ionizers 122 that propel atmospheric airflow into the atmospheric airflow guide 131 of the laminar flow grid 130. According to this example embodiment, after insertion of the microfluidic grid conduit / syringe, the microfluidic flow guide is fluidly isolated from the atmospheric airflow guide by sealing the respective inlet point of the microfluidic flow guide.

[0077] Structural support 240 supports a top unit including a laminar flow grid 210, an extraction / vacuum system 220 including an array of fans 221, a laser termination unit 400, an infrared (IR) sensor device 600, and a content and control computer 500 that executes one or more content and control algorithms to control the VAST system, including communicating with a laser projector 300 via wired or wireless means, for displaying a holographic image 1030 in a display area by overlapping a specific laser beam 310 with a microparticle stream 140. The IR sensor device 600 transmits spatially interactive content or buttons 1040, which overlap with a volumetric display such as buttons to provide interactivity with the display to the user. For clarity, in Figure 4A Only a small sample of the total number of microparticle streams 140 and laser beams 310 is shown in the image.

[0078] To make it clearer, Figure 4B This is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the lower side of the bottom unit laminar flow grid 130 (for clarity, only a sample of the particle inlet 118 is labeled). Figure 4C This is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the bottom unit laminar flow grid 130. Figure 4D It is a magnified perspective view of the volume display and part of the top unit. Figure 4E This is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the lower side of the top unit laminar flow grid 210.

[0079] refer to Figures 5A to 5G Various further views of the VAST system layout according to an example embodiment (Example 2) of this disclosure are shown. Figure 5A A bottom left perspective view is shown; Figure 5B Another bottom left perspective view is shown, including the microparticle channel; Figure 5C Another perspective view of the combined container and phase change device is shown; Figure 5D The image shows a bottom perspective view of the combined container and phase change device, including the main thrust section, particle channels, and layered grid. Figure 5E A top perspective view of the combined container and phase change device is shown, including the main thrust section, particle channels, and layered grid. Figure 5F A detailed example section / cross-sectional view of a portion of a laminar flow grid array is shown. Figure 5G This is a perspective view of an ion wind generator, including a high-voltage transformer 123, an aerodynamic structure 124, a cathode 125, and an anode wire / tip 126.

[0080] Reference Figure 5F It should be understood that this is only as... Figure 5EThe example laminar grid arrangement is shown in a partial end view. Specifically, it shows the interconnection between the laminar particle flow guide 131 and the particle flow from the thrust air particle mixing duct system (116; 117), and the airflow from the ion wind generator 122 into the laminar grid 130.

[0081] refer to Figure 5G During the operation of the ion wind generator 122, the airflow is propelled (upward) by the induction of corona discharge at the anode wire 126, which supplies power to the high-voltage transformer 123. The negative anode wire 126 is divided into paths of equal length, and the end of the anode wire 123 is divided into equidistant tips of equal length. The wire points are arranged equidistant along their length from the wider end of the metal aerodynamic tube 125 (cathode), and the transformer positive wire is attached to the aerodynamic tube 125 so that the entire length of the tube becomes the cathode. The distance between the wire tip 126 and the aerodynamic tube 125 must be sufficient to produce a corona discharge of maximum distance, but not so far as to produce an arc discharge when voltage is applied to the circuit. As the corona discharge jumps from the anode 126 to the cathode 125, ionized air particles are propelled by the corona discharge, and adjacent air is induced to move forward. All components are securely fixed to the aerodynamic support structure 124, aligned with the direction of the generated airflow.

[0082] Reference Figure 6A and Figure 6B Various details of the VAST atmospheric receiving unit system and subsystems of the volume display system (Example 2) are shown. Figure 6A This is a top view showing the exhaust fan 221, the layered grid 210, the IR distance measurement subsystem 600, the laser termination component 400, and the content and control computer 500 from an oblique perspective. Figure 6B This is a top view showing the exhaust fan 221, the IR distance measurement subsystem 600, the laser termination component 400, and the content and control computer 500.

[0083] During operation, the layered pipe grid array 210 draws in from the transmitting unit (e.g., as... Figure 4A The 140 shown propels a mixed columnar laminar particle and atmospheric airflow through the volume display area. The exhaust fan 221 provides exhaust / dilution / diffusion output, and assists in mixing the particles and atmospheric air (e.g., as shown in Figure 140). Figure 1A The laminar flow is shown in 140) through volume. According to the example embodiment, the flow rate of the top unit exhaust fan 221 is greater than the specific / atmospheric air flow rate of the bottom unit.

[0084] refer to Figure 7A and Figure 7BThis illustrates various details of a content control computer unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, which drives a subsystem of a laser output projection system and a stereoscopic display system (Embodiment 2). Figure 7A This is a block diagram of a simple 2D data and content stream generation method / system for generating volumetric aerial holograms. Figure 7B This is a block diagram of a method / system for generating volumetric video call content streams for real-time display during video calls.

[0085] refer to Figure 7A The general data stream used to process 2D content for display as a 3D volumetric hologram includes the following processing steps: In step 511, the content generation system acquires the desired video / image of the object to be displayed in a standard video / image format or other preprocessed format; In step 512, in order to be invisible in the system, all unused pixels are converted to true digital black; In step 513, the content output is tilted to compensate for the projector angle; In step 514, this step offsets the pixels on the X-axis to align with the desired particle column and sub-column positions on the Z-axis depth; and In step 515, all frames and objects are resolved manually or automatically, and live feeds or pre-made content are provided for playback. Further processing is performed to link content changes to interactive input and audio content.

[0086] refer to Figure 7B The data stream of the volumetric video call content stream generation method / system for real-time display during a video call includes the following process steps: In step 521, the content generation system receives video call input feeds, such as, but not limited to, ZOOM or other video call platforms; In step 522, the content generation system executes a face tracking and feature recognition algorithm (using TOUCHDESIGNER or similar / proprietary software); In step 523, the content generation system performs a digital masking method to isolate the face; In step 524, the content generation system center performs the process of reducing the target pixels of the bridge of the nose to frames on the X and Y axes; In step 525, the content generation system performs algorithm processing in real time to re-center the feed based on the target pixels (one or more) associated with the lower nasal bridge; In step 526, the content generation system converts pixels outside the mask into real digital black to achieve real-world invisibility; In step 527, the content generation system performs a step of tilting the content output to compensate for the laser projector angle; and In step 528, the content generation system performs a process of offsetting pixels on the X-axis to align the desired particle columns and sub-column positions on the Z-axis depth.

[0087] Additional processing steps following step 528 may include: linking the real-time feed system to interactive input and audio content (such as an "end call" button); transmitting incoming call audio to the system speaker output; transmitting a camera and microphone to the VAST system with the camera facing the user and aligning with the line of sight of a floating caller hologram, enabling direct and natural dialogue with the caller in the form of a floating stereoscopic laser hologram.

[0088] According to the example embodiments of operation described in this disclosure with reference to Figures 4 to 7, operating the VAST system includes the following functional attributes / specifications: A) Volumetric Holographic Display Attributes / Specifications The volumetric holographic display has a resolution of 343,440 synchronized voxels; 60Hz refresh rate (halving the resolution can be used as a basis for increasing the refresh rate to 120Hz); A brightness of approximately 1750 lumens (approximately 510 nits); 53 vertical microparticle columns, each 2mm × 2mm; For each microparticle column, the average number of voxels is 3 × 2160; and The diameter of a voxel with Gaussian decay in real-world space is ~0.7 mm. B) Displays microparticle flow and surrounding airflow in volumetric properties / specifications. The grid output speed is 4-7 meters per second; The speed at the center of the volume is 3-5 m / s; and The suction force at the top of the volume grid is 3-4 m / s, and the suction force at the top outlet is 4 m / s.

[0089] C) Main thrust impeller attributes / specifications Air intake ~ 7 meters per second; An impeller approximately 4 inches in diameter, and a duct approximately 1 inch in diameter divided into (5) 0.75-inch conduits, which are further divided as evenly as possible into 53 individual 2mm outlets, corresponding to the desired grid points; and Microparticle flow housings, connectors, and pipes made from high-temperature resistant curing resin materials and high-temperature resistant gasoline pump hoses.

[0090] D) Laminar flow grid properties / specifications Two grids (one top and one bottom displaying the volume); The grid has a 2mm square outlet and a 0.5mm wall. 200mm x 200mm grid, top grid height is 8mm, bottom grid height is 16mm, bottom grid has a 3mm protrusion for the pipe connector below; 80×80 grid, each grid with 6400 posthole exits; and High-temperature resistant curing resin materials.

[0091] E) Structural properties / specifications 16.75 inches wide × 22 inches high × 11 inches deep (top + bottom + volume); 2-inch structural steel bars supporting the top unit; Bottom dimensions: 16.75 inches wide x 5.5 inches high x 11 inches deep; Top dimensions: 16.75 inches wide x 5 inches high x 11 inches deep; The laminar flow display volume is 200mm × 200mm × 30.5cm (~ 8 inches × 8 inches × 12 inches); and The steel and aluminum structural components, along with some plastic connectors, an internal absorbent gauze lining (for hypothetical moisture leakage), and a sound-absorbing foam wall lining layer (to reduce fan noise), are located beneath the steel casing.

[0092] F) Phase change and memory properties / specifications ~10ml storage container; A mixture of ethylene glycol and water-based fluids; A combined 4.5-inch × 2-inch × 1.5-inch storage unit, phase change valve, and air inlet; and The particles are injected into the high-thrust air inlet, where turbulent mixing occurs before they enter the particle duct.

[0093] G) Ion wind module attributes / specifications 4 inches wide × 2.5 inches high × 1.25 inches deep; Wind speed of 2-3 meters per second; A 200,000-volt high-voltage transformer designed for Taser units; Vertically oriented 0.25-inch × 4-inch streamlined pneumatic aluminum tube (teardrop shape); The distance between the tip of the anode wire and the cathode aluminum tube is 1 cm; A vertical aerodynamic structure made of high-temperature resistant curing resin material; The system can have a maximum of 4 modules in the bottom cell below the grid; and An optional fan can be used as a supplement to or replacement for the ion wind generating module.

[0094] H) Laser Projector Attributes / Specifications Sony VPL-XW5000ES 4K HDR Laser Home Theater Video Projector; and X-LASER LASERCUBE 1.5W Scanner-type Beam Display Laser.

[0095] I) Laser Terminator The laser terminator includes an inner lining made of a matte black, high-temperature resistant, light-absorbing aluminum substrate from film.

[0096] refer to Figure 8A and Figure 8B The illustration shows a stereoscopic display system (Example 3) 30 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0097] As shown in the figure, the VAST system includes bottom units 110, 120, 130, and 300. The bottom units integrate the functions of the previously described microparticle flow generator 110, columnar flow generator 120, laminar flow grid 130, and laser projector array to provide an invisible display volume 1000 or 1030 with holographic / floating content for user 8 to view. The VAST system also includes top units 210, 220, and 400, which integrate the functions of a layered pipe grid array 210, a suction / vacuum system 220, and a laser terminator 400.

[0098] Regarding the holographic / floating content 1000; 1030, as shown in the figure, the displayed voxel image consists of multiple layered images 1030A-D, which are stacked in the Z direction to generate a single image that is perceptible from the user's advantageous position.

[0099] refer to Figure 9 A stereoscopic display system (Example 4) 40 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. According to this embodiment, the system includes holographic light object presence telecommunications for home, enterprise, art, and / or municipal applications. Functionality includes a hybrid system for enhancing holographic light object interaction or collaboration for home, enterprise, art, and municipal environments.

[0100] As shown in the figure, the VAST system includes bottom right units 110; 120; 130; 300, which integrate the functions of the previously described microparticle flow generator 110, columnar flow generator 120, laminar flow grid 130, and laser projector array to provide user 8 with an invisible display volume featuring holographic / floating content 1000; 1030. The VAST system also includes top left units 210; 220; 400, which integrate the functions of the laminar pipe grid array 210, suction / vacuum system 220, and laser terminator 400. Furthermore, an IR sensing module is integrated in the top left unit to provide spatially interactive content 1040.

[0101] refer to Figure 10 The present invention illustrates a volume display system (Example 5) 50 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, including a VAST system for holographic therapy, exercise or training using data and feedback in home, business, art and municipal environments.

[0102] As shown in the figure, the VAST system includes a right column or bottom unit 110; 120; 120; 130; 140; 300, which integrates the functions of the previously described microparticle stream generator 110, columnar stream generator 120, laminar flow grid 130, and laser projector array 300 to provide user 8 with an invisible display volume featuring holographic / floating content 1000; 1030. The VAST system also includes an upper column top unit 210; 220; 400, which integrates the functions of the laminar pipe grid array 210, suction / vacuum system 220, and laser terminator 400. According to this example embodiment, one or more laser beams and laminar columnar microparticle streams generally overlap longitudinally to provide a “strip” holographic voxel image 1030.

[0103] Reference Figure 11 The present invention illustrates a stereoscopic display system (Example 6) 60 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, the system comprising a holographic light object high-speed and precision firearms and combat training platform for practice and / or entertainment in home, business, art and municipal environments.

[0104] As shown in the figure, the VAST system includes a floor bottom unit 100 integrated into the floor surface, a top ceiling unit 200 integrated into the ceiling, a side wall laser projection unit 300 integrated into the right side wall, and a side wall laser terminator unit 400 integrated into the left side wall. They operate as described above to provide the user / shooter 8 with an invisible display volume with holographic content / floating target content 1020; 1030.

[0105] refer to Figure 12 The illustration shows a stereoscopic display system (Example 7) 70 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, which includes holographic light object public advertising and facilities for home, business, art and municipal environments.

[0106] As shown in the figure, the VAST system includes right-side units 110; 120; 120; 130; 300, which integrate the functions of the previously described microparticle flow generator 110, columnar flow generator 120, laminar flow grid 130, and laser projector array 300 to provide user 8 with an invisible display volume 1000; 1030 containing holographic / floating content. The VAST system also includes left-side units 210; 220; 400, which integrate the functions of the laminar pipe grid array 210, suction / vacuum system 220, and laser terminator 400.

[0107] refer to Figure 13 The present invention illustrates a stereoscopic display system (Example 8) 80 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, the system comprising a holographic light object system scaled for indoor meetings or as a display in home, business, art and municipal environments.

[0108] As shown in the figure, the VAST system includes a front bottom unit 100, a rear unit 200, a right laser projector array unit 300, and a left laser terminator unit 400, which function as described above to provide user 8 with an invisible display volume with holographic / floating content 1000; 1030.

[0109] Other applications include, but are not limited to, holographic light object functional interactive barriers and signs: home, business, art, municipal. Holographic light object stage displays or demonstration concepts, with unit elements hidden below, above, and under the stage. Additionally, light objects are shown to be able to be captured in real-time or later for use in film, television, advertising, and live broadcasts (on the back of the image): home, business, art, municipal.

[0110] Further embodiments are described below.

[0111] [A1] In a non-limiting illustrative embodiment, a method for generating a holographic image within an ambient atmospheric air display volume using a columnar laminar flow generation system and a laser projection system includes: the columnar laminar flow generation system drawing in input ambient atmospheric air and generating an ambient atmospheric airflow; the columnar laminar flow generation system combining the input ambient atmospheric airflow with at least one particle flow using a first laminar flow grid to receive the input atmospheric airflow and generate a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows and a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric particle flows. These parallel columnar laminar atmospheric particle flows extend from the first laminar flow grid through the ambient atmospheric air display volume to a second laminar flow grid spaced apart from the first laminar flow grid. The first laminar flow grid includes an array of parallel columnar fluid guides, each fluid guide including an inlet end, an outlet end, and a hollow central volume extending from the inlet end to the outlet end. The inlet end receives at least a portion of the ambient atmospheric airflow or at least a portion of one or more particle flows, and the outlet end outputs one or more of the plurality of columnar laminar atmospheric airflows or one or more of the parallel columnar laminar particle flows at a first constant flow rate. The second laminar flow grid draws in a mixed airflow and at least one particulate stream passing through it at a second constant flow rate. The second laminar flow grid includes an array of parallel columnar fluid guides, each fluid guide including an inlet end, an outlet end, and a hollow central volume extending from the inlet end to the outlet end. The inlet end receives at least a portion of one or more of a plurality of columnar parallel laminar airflows or at least a portion of a parallel columnar laminar particulate stream, and the outlet end outputs at least a portion of the plurality of columnar parallel laminar airflows or at least a portion of the parallel columnar laminar particulate stream at the second flow rate. The method also includes a laser projection system outputting a plurality of laser beams representing a holographic image, each of the plurality of laser beams being aligned to overlap a portion of a single columnar laminar particulate stream within an ambient atmospheric air display volume, and each of the laser beams irradiating a target particulate stream within a corresponding overlapping portion of the single columnar laminar particulate stream.

[0112] [A2] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the method of paragraph [A1] includes an ambient atmospheric airflow comprising ambient atmospheric air supplied from a first air inlet, and a particulate stream comprising atmospheric air supplied from a second air inlet other than the first air inlet.

[0113] [A3] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the method of paragraph [A1] includes laminar flow receiving units that are perpendicularly spaced from a first laminar flow grid, the first laminar flow grid being perpendicularly aligned with a second laminar flow grid, the first laminar flow grid and the second laminar flow grid including the same number and size of parallel columnar fluid guides.

[0114] [A4] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the method in paragraph [A1] includes a first laminar grid array of parallel columnar fluid guides comprising laminar airflow guides and particulate flow guides, and a columnar laminar flow generation system using one or more ion wind generators operatively connected to the laminar airflow guides to generate multiple parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows.

[0115] [A5] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the method in paragraph [A1] includes a first laminar grid array of parallel columnar fluid guides comprising laminar airflow guides and particle flow guides, and the columnar laminar flow generation system generates the particle flow by: using a particle reservoir and an operably associated phase change device to change the phase state of the reservoir particle output flow to generate the particle flow; and injecting the particle flow into the particle flow guides.

[0116] [A6] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the method in paragraph [A1], wherein the first laminar grid array of the parallel columnar fluid guides includes laminar airflow guides and particle flow guides, further includes: a columnar laminar flow generating system using one or more ion wind generators operatively connected to the laminar airflow guides to generate a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows, and using a particle reservoir and an operatively associated phase change device to change the phase state of the reservoir particle output flow to generate a particle flow; and injecting the particle flow into the particle flow guides.

[0117] [A7] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the method of paragraph [A1] includes a first laminar grid array of parallel columnar fluid guides comprising laminar airflow guides and particulate flow guides, each of the particulate flow guides being surrounded by laminar flow guides, and the inlet of each of the particulate flow guides being isolated from the surrounding fluid guides.

[0118] [A8] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the method of paragraph [A1] is wherein a plurality of laser beams output by a laser projection system are aligned to intersect the laminar microparticle stream at an angle of 0 to 90 degrees relative to the flow direction of the microparticle stream.

[0119] [A9] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the method of paragraph [A1] includes a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows and a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric particle flows that are generally perpendicular or oblique to gravity and flow against gravity.

[0120] [A10] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the method in paragraph [A1] further includes terminating the plurality of laser beams after they have passed through the ambient atmospheric air display volume.

[0121] [B1] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the holographic image generation system includes: a columnar laminar flow generation system comprising: an ambient atmospheric air inlet; a first laminar flow grid including an array of parallel columnar fluid guides, each fluid guide including an inlet end, an outlet end, and a hollow central volume extending from the inlet end to the outlet end; the inlet end receiving at least a portion of the ambient atmospheric air flow or at least a portion of one or more particle flows; a second laminar flow grid; and a laser projection system, wherein a) the ambient atmospheric air inlet draws in input ambient atmospheric air and generates an ambient atmospheric air flow; b) the first laminar flow grid combines the input ambient atmospheric air flow with at least one particle flow to generate a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric air flows and a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric particle flows extending from the first laminar flow grid through the ambient atmospheric air display volume to a second laminar flow grid spaced apart from the first laminar flow grid. and c) the laser projection system outputs multiple laser beams representing the holographic image to be displayed, each of the multiple laser beams being aligned to overlap a portion of a single columnar lamellar particle stream within the ambient atmospheric display volume, and each of the laser beams irradiating a target particle stream within the corresponding overlapping portion of the single columnar lamellar particle stream.

[0122] [B2] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system of paragraph [B1] includes an ambient atmospheric airflow comprising ambient atmospheric air supplied from a first air inlet, and a particulate airflow comprising atmospheric air supplied from a second air inlet other than the first air inlet.

[0123] [B3] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system of paragraph [B1] includes laminar flow receiving units that are perpendicularly spaced from a first laminar flow grid, the first laminar flow grid being perpendicularly aligned with a second laminar flow grid, the first laminar flow grid and the second laminar flow grid including the same number and size of parallel columnar fluid guides.

[0124] [B4] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system in paragraph [B1] includes a first laminar grid array of parallel columnar fluid guides comprising laminar airflow guides and particulate flow guides, and a columnar laminar flow generation system using one or more ion wind generators operatively connected to the laminar airflow guides to generate multiple parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows.

[0125] [B5] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system of paragraph [B1], wherein the first laminar grid array of parallel columnar fluid guides includes laminar airflow guides and particle flow guides, and the columnar laminar flow generating system generates the particle flow by: using a particle reservoir and an operably associated phase change device to change the phase state of the reservoir particle output flow to generate the particle flow; and injecting the particle flow into the particle flow guides.

[0126] [B6] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system of paragraph [B1], wherein the first laminar grid array of the parallel columnar fluid guides includes laminar airflow guides and particle flow guides, further includes: a columnar laminar flow generating system using one or more ion wind generators operatively connected to the laminar airflow guides to generate a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows, and using a particle reservoir and an operatively associated phase change device to change the phase state of the reservoir particle output flow to generate a particle flow; and injecting the particle flow into the particle flow guides.

[0127] [B7] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system of paragraph [B1] includes a first laminar grid array of parallel columnar fluid guides comprising laminar airflow guides and particulate flow guides, each of the particulate flow guides being surrounded by laminar flow guides, and the inlet of each of the particulate flow guides being isolated from the surrounding fluid guides.

[0128] [B8] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system of paragraph [B1] is wherein a plurality of laser beams output by a laser projection system are aligned to intersect the laminar microparticle stream at an angle of 0 to 90 degrees relative to the flow direction of the microparticle stream.

[0129] [B9] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system of paragraph [B1] includes a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows and a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric particle flows that are generally perpendicular or deflected relative to gravity and flow against gravity.

[0130] [B10] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system in paragraph [B1] further includes a laser terminator that terminates the plurality of laser beams after they have passed through the ambient atmospheric air display volume.

[0131] [C1] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, a method for generating a holographic image within an ambient atmospheric air display volume using a columnar laminar flow generation system and a laser projection system includes: the columnar laminar flow generation system drawing in input ambient atmospheric air and generating an ambient atmospheric airflow using one or more ion wind generators; the columnar laminar flow generation system combining the input ambient atmospheric airflow with at least one particle flow using a first laminar flow grid to receive the input atmospheric airflow and generate a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows and a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric particle flows extending from the first laminar flow grid through the ambient atmospheric air display. The volume reaches a second laminar flow grid separated from the first laminar flow grid. The first laminar flow grid includes an array of parallel columnar fluid guides, each fluid guide including an inlet end, an outlet end, and a hollow central volume extending from the inlet end to the outlet end. The inlet end receives at least a portion of the ambient atmospheric airflow or at least a portion of one or more particle streams. The outlet end outputs one or more of a plurality of columnar laminar atmospheric airflows or one or more of parallel columnar laminar particle streams at a first constant flow rate. The second laminar flow grid draws in the mixed atmospheric airflow and at least one particle stream passing through it at a second constant flow rate. The second laminar flow grid includes the array of parallel columnar fluid guides. Each fluid guide includes an inlet end, an outlet end, and a hollow central volume extending from the inlet end to the outlet end. The inlet end receives at least a portion of one or more of a plurality of columnar parallel laminar atmospheric airflows or at least a portion of a parallel columnar laminar particle flow. The outlet end outputs at least a portion of the plurality of columnar parallel laminar atmospheric airflows or at least a portion of the parallel columnar laminar particle flow at a second flow rate. The laser projection system outputs a plurality of laser beams representing a holographic image. Each of the plurality of laser beams is aligned to either a) overlap with a portion of a single columnar laminar particle flow within the ambient atmospheric air display volume, or b) longitudinally align with a single columnar laminar particle flow within the ambient atmospheric air display volume. Each of the laser beams irradiates a target particle flow or a longitudinally aligned single columnar laminar particle flow within the corresponding overlapping portion.

[0132] [C2] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the method in paragraph [C1] includes an ambient atmospheric airflow comprising ambient atmospheric air supplied from a first air inlet, a particulate airflow comprising ambient air supplied from a second air inlet different from the first air inlet, and a first laminar grid array of parallel columnar fluid guides comprising laminar airflow guides and particulate airflow guides, and a columnar laminar flow generation system using one or more ion wind generators operatively connected to the laminar airflow guides to generate a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows.

[0133] [C3] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the method in paragraph [C1] includes a first laminar grid array of parallel columnar fluid guides comprising laminar airflow guides and particle flow guides, and the columnar laminar flow generation system generates a particle flow by: using a particle reservoir and an operably associated phase change device to change the phase state of the reservoir particle output flow to generate a particle flow; and injecting the particle flow into the particle flow guides.

[0134] [C4] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the method of paragraph [C1] includes a first laminar grid array of parallel columnar fluid guides comprising laminar airflow guides and particulate flow guides, each of the particulate flow guides being surrounded by laminar flow guides, and the inlet of each of the particulate flow guides being isolated from the surrounding fluid guides.

[0135] [C5] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the method in paragraph [C1] further includes terminating the plurality of laser beams after they have passed through the ambient atmospheric air display volume.

[0136] [D1] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the holographic image generation system includes: a columnar laminar flow generation system, the columnar laminar flow generation system including: an ambient atmospheric air inlet; a first laminar flow grid, the first laminar flow grid including an array of parallel columnar fluid guides, each fluid guide including an inlet end, an outlet end and a hollow central volume extending from the inlet end to the outlet end, the inlet end receiving at least a portion of the ambient atmospheric air flow or at least a portion of one or more particle flows; and a second laminar flow grid; and a laser projection system, wherein the laser projection system outputs a plurality of laser beams representing a holographic image, each of the plurality of laser beams being aligned to a) overlap with a portion of a single columnar laminar particle flow within the ambient atmospheric air display volume, or b) longitudinally align with a single columnar laminar particle flow within the ambient atmospheric air display volume, and each of the laser beams irradiates a target particle flow or a longitudinally aligned single columnar laminar particle flow within the corresponding overlapping portion.

[0137] [D2] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system of paragraph [D1] includes an ambient atmospheric airflow comprising ambient atmospheric air supplied from a first air inlet, a particulate airflow comprising atmospheric air supplied from a second air inlet different from the first air inlet, and a first laminar grid array of parallel columnar fluid guides comprising laminar airflow guides and particulate airflow guides, and a columnar laminar flow generation system using one or more ion wind generators operatively connected to the laminar airflow guides to generate a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows.

[0138] [D3] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system of paragraph [D1] includes a first laminar grid array of parallel columnar fluid guides comprising laminar airflow guides and particle flow guides, and the columnar laminar flow generation system generates a particle flow by: using a particle reservoir and an operatively associated phase change device to change the phase state of the reservoir particle output flow to generate a particle flow; and injecting the particle flow into the particle flow guides.

[0139] [D4] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system of paragraph [D1] includes a first laminar grid array of parallel columnar fluid guides comprising laminar airflow guides and particulate flow guides, each of the particulate flow guides being surrounded by laminar flow guides, and the inlet of each of the particulate flow guides being isolated from the surrounding fluid guides.

[0140] [D5] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system in paragraph [D1] further includes a laser terminator that terminates multiple laser beams after they have passed through an ambient atmospheric air volume.

[0141] [E1] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, a method for generating a holographic image within an ambient atmospheric air display volume using a columnar laminar flow generation system and a laser projection system is provided. The method includes: a bottom unit that draws in input ambient atmospheric air and generates an ambient atmospheric airflow; and a first laminar flow grid that combines the input ambient atmospheric airflow with at least one particle flow to receive the input atmospheric airflow and generate a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows and a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric particle flows extending from the first laminar flow grid through the ambient atmospheric air display volume. The first laminar flow grid includes an array of parallel columnar fluid guides, each fluid guide including an inlet end, an outlet end, and a hollow central volume extending from the inlet end to the outlet end. The inlet end receives at least a portion of the ambient atmospheric airflow or at least a portion of one or more particle flows, and the outlet end outputs one or more of the plurality of columnar laminar atmospheric airflows or parallel columnar laminar particle flows at a first constant flow rate. One or more of the following: a top unit, perpendicularly spaced from the bottom unit, draws in multiple parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows and multiple parallel columnar laminar atmospheric particle flows from the bottom unit via a second laminar flow grid, the second laminar flow grid comprising an array of parallel columnar fluid guides, each fluid guide including an inlet end, an outlet end, and a hollow central volume extending from the inlet end to the outlet end, the inlet end receiving at least a portion of one or more of the multiple columnar parallel laminar atmospheric airflows or at least a portion of the parallel columnar laminar particle flows, the outlet end outputting at least a portion of the multiple columnar parallel laminar atmospheric airflows or at least a portion of the parallel columnar laminar particle flows at a second flow rate; and a laser projection system outputting multiple laser beams representing a holographic image, each of the multiple laser beams being aligned to overlap a portion of a single columnar laminar particle flow within the ambient atmospheric air display volume, and each of the laser beams irradiating a target particle flow within a corresponding overlapping portion of the single columnar laminar particle flow.

[0142] [E2] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the method in paragraph [E1] includes an ambient atmospheric airflow comprising ambient atmospheric air supplied from a first air inlet, a particulate airflow comprising atmospheric air supplied from a second air inlet different from the first air inlet, and a first laminar grid array of parallel columnar fluid guides comprising laminar airflow guides and particulate airflow guides, and a columnar laminar flow generation system using one or more ion wind generators operatively connected to the laminar airflow guides to generate a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows.

[0143] [E3] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the method in paragraph [E1] includes a first laminar grid array of parallel columnar fluid guides comprising laminar airflow guides and particle flow guides, and the columnar laminar flow generation system generates a particle flow by: using a particle reservoir and an operably associated phase change device to change the phase state of the reservoir particle output flow to generate a particle flow; and injecting the particle flow into the particle flow guides.

[0144] [E4] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the method of paragraph [E1] includes a first laminar grid array of parallel columnar fluid guides comprising laminar airflow guides and particulate flow guides, each of the particulate flow guides being surrounded by laminar flow guides, and the inlet of each of the particulate flow guides being isolated from the surrounding fluid guides.

[0145] [E5] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the method in paragraph [E1] further includes terminating the plurality of laser beams after they have passed through the ambient atmospheric air display volume.

[0146] [F1] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the holographic image generation system includes: a columnar laminar flow generation system, comprising: a bottom unit including an ambient atmospheric air inlet and a first laminar flow grid including an array of parallel columnar fluid guides, each fluid guide including an inlet end, an outlet end, and a hollow central volume extending from the inlet end to the outlet end, the inlet end receiving at least a portion of the ambient atmospheric airflow or at least a portion of one or more particle flows; a top unit including a second laminar flow grid; and a laser projection system, wherein a) the ambient atmospheric air inlet draws in input ambient atmospheric air and generates an ambient atmospheric airflow; b) the first laminar flow grid combines the input ambient atmospheric airflow with at least one particle flow to generate a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows and a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric particle flows extending from the first laminar flow grid through the ambient atmospheric air display volume to a second laminar flow grid spaced apart from the first laminar flow grid. and c) the laser projection system outputs multiple laser beams representing the holographic image to be displayed, each of the multiple laser beams being aligned to overlap a portion of a single columnar lamellar particle stream within the ambient atmospheric display volume, and each of the laser beams irradiating a target particle stream within the corresponding overlapping portion of the single columnar lamellar particle stream.

[0147] [F2] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system of paragraph [F1] includes an ambient atmospheric airflow comprising ambient atmospheric air supplied from a first air inlet, a particulate airflow comprising atmospheric air supplied from a second air inlet different from the first air inlet, and a first laminar grid array of parallel columnar fluid guides comprising laminar airflow guides and particulate airflow guides, and a columnar laminar flow generation system using one or more ion wind generators operatively connected to the laminar airflow guides to generate a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows.

[0148] [F3] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system of paragraph [F1] includes a first laminar grid array of parallel columnar fluid guides comprising laminar airflow guides and particle flow guides, and the columnar laminar flow generation system generates a particle flow by: using a particle reservoir and an operably associated phase change device to change the phase state of the reservoir particle output flow to generate a particle flow; and injecting the particle flow into the particle flow guides.

[0149] [F4] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system of paragraph [F1] includes a first laminar grid array of parallel columnar fluid guides comprising laminar airflow guides and particulate flow guides, each of the particulate flow guides being surrounded by laminar flow guides, and the inlet of each of the particulate flow guides being isolated from the surrounding fluid guides.

[0150] [F5] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system in paragraph [F1] further includes a laser terminator that terminates multiple laser beams after they have passed through an ambient atmospheric air volume.

[0151] [G1] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the holographic image generation system includes: a bottom unit comprising: a columnar laminar flow generating system including an ambient atmospheric air inlet; and a first laminar flow grid including an array of parallel columnar fluid guides, each fluid guide including an inlet end, an outlet end, and a hollow central volume extending from the inlet end to the outlet end, the inlet end receiving at least a portion of the ambient atmospheric airflow or at least a portion of one or more particle flows; and a laser projection system; and a top unit comprising a second laminar flow grid, wherein a) the ambient atmospheric air inlet draws in input ambient air and generates an ambient atmospheric airflow; b) the first laminar flow grid combines the input ambient atmospheric airflow with at least one particle flow to generate a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows and a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric particle flows, the plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric particle flows extending from the first laminar flow grid through the ambient atmospheric air display volume to a second laminar flow grid spaced apart from the first laminar flow grid. and c) the laser projection system outputs multiple laser beams representing the holographic image to be displayed, each of the multiple laser beams being aligned to overlap a portion of a single columnar layered particle stream within the ambient atmospheric display volume, and each of the laser beams irradiating a target particle stream within the corresponding overlapping portion of the single columnar layered particle stream, wherein the bottom and top units are vertically aligned with the ambient atmospheric display volume.

[0152] [G2] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system of paragraph [G1] includes an ambient atmospheric airflow comprising ambient atmospheric air supplied from a first air inlet, a particulate airflow comprising atmospheric air supplied from a second air inlet different from the first air inlet, and a first laminar grid array of parallel columnar fluid guides comprising laminar airflow guides and particulate airflow guides, and a columnar laminar flow generation system using one or more ion wind generators operatively connected to the laminar airflow guides to generate a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows.

[0153] [G3] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system of paragraph [G1] includes a first laminar grid array of parallel columnar fluid guides comprising laminar airflow guides and particle flow guides, and the columnar laminar flow generation system generates a particle flow by: using a particle reservoir and an operably associated phase change device to change the phase state of the reservoir particle output flow to generate a particle flow; and injecting the particle flow into the particle flow guides.

[0154] [G4] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system of paragraph [G1] includes a first laminar grid array of parallel columnar fluid guides comprising laminar airflow guides and particulate flow guides, each of the particulate flow guides being surrounded by laminar flow guides, and the inlet of each of the particulate flow guides being isolated from the surrounding fluid guides.

[0155] [G5] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system in paragraph [G1] further includes a laser terminator that terminates multiple laser beams after they have passed through an ambient atmospheric air volume.

[0156] [H1] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the holographic image generation system includes: a bottom unit comprising: a columnar laminar flow generating system including an ambient atmospheric air inlet and a first laminar flow grid, the first laminar flow grid including an array of parallel columnar fluid guides, each fluid guide including an inlet end, an outlet end, and a hollow central volume extending from the inlet end to the outlet end, the inlet end receiving at least a portion of the ambient atmospheric airflow or at least a portion of one or more particle flows; and a laser projection system; and a top unit comprising a second laminar flow grid, wherein a) the ambient atmospheric air inlet draws in input ambient air and generates an ambient atmospheric airflow; b) the first laminar flow grid combines the input ambient atmospheric airflow with at least one particle flow to generate a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows and a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric particle flows, the plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric particle flows extending from the first laminar flow grid through the ambient atmospheric air display volume to a second laminar flow grid spaced apart from the first laminar flow grid. and c) the laser projection system outputs multiple laser beams representing the holographic image to be displayed, each of the multiple laser beams being aligned to overlap a portion of a single columnar layered particle stream within the ambient atmospheric display volume, and each of the laser beams irradiating a target particle stream within the corresponding overlapping portion of the single columnar layered particle stream, wherein the bottom unit and the top unit are diagonally aligned, the bottom unit being located near the lower corner of the ambient atmospheric display volume and the top unit being located near the upper diagonal of the ambient atmospheric display volume.

[0157] [H2] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system in paragraph [H1] includes an ambient atmospheric airflow comprising ambient atmospheric air supplied from a first air inlet, a particulate airflow comprising ambient air supplied from a second air inlet different from the first air inlet, and a first laminar grid array of parallel columnar fluid guides comprising laminar airflow guides and particulate airflow guides, and a columnar laminar flow generation system using one or more ion wind generators operatively connected to the laminar airflow guides to generate a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows.

[0158] [H3] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system of paragraph [H1], wherein the first laminar grid array of parallel columnar fluid guides includes laminar airflow guides and particle flow guides, and the columnar laminar flow generation system generates a particle flow by: using a particle reservoir and an operatively associated phase change device to change the phase state of the reservoir particle output flow to generate a particle flow; and injecting the particle flow into the particle flow guides.

[0159] [H4] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system of paragraph [H1] includes a first laminar grid array of parallel columnar fluid guides comprising laminar airflow guides and particulate flow guides, each of the particulate flow guides being surrounded by laminar flow guides, and the inlet of each of the particulate flow guides being isolated from the surrounding fluid guides.

[0160] [H5] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system in paragraph [H1] further includes a laser terminator that terminates the plurality of laser beams after they have passed through the ambient atmospheric air display volume.

[0161] [I1] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the holographic image generation system includes: a vertically extending first side unit comprising: a columnar laminar flow generating system including an ambient atmospheric air inlet, and a first laminar flow grid including an array of parallel columnar fluid guides, each fluid guide including an inlet end, an outlet end, and a hollow central volume extending from the inlet end to the outlet end, the inlet end receiving at least a portion of an ambient atmospheric air flow or at least a portion of one or more particle flows; and a laser projection system; and a vertically extending second side unit including a second laminar flow grid, wherein a) the ambient atmospheric air inlet draws in input ambient atmospheric air and generates an ambient atmospheric air flow; b) the first laminar flow grid combines the input ambient atmospheric air flow with at least one particle flow to generate a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric air flows and a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric particle flows, the plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric particle flows extending from the first laminar flow grid through the ambient atmospheric air display volume to the second laminar flow grid spaced apart from the first laminar flow grid. and c) the laser projection system outputs multiple laser beams representing the holographic image to be displayed, each of the multiple laser beams being aligned to a) overlap with a portion of a single columnar lamellar particle stream within the ambient atmospheric display volume, or b) longitudinally aligned with a single columnar lamellar particle stream within the ambient atmospheric display volume, and each of the laser beams irradiates a target particle stream within a corresponding overlapping portion of the single columnar lamellar particle stream, wherein the first side unit and the second side unit are horizontally aligned with the ambient atmospheric display volume.

[0162] [I2] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system of paragraph [I1] includes an ambient atmospheric airflow comprising ambient atmospheric air supplied from a first air inlet, a particulate airflow comprising ambient air supplied from a second air inlet different from the first air inlet, and a first laminar grid array of parallel columnar fluid guides comprising laminar airflow guides and particulate airflow guides, and a columnar laminar flow generation system using one or more ion wind generators operatively connected to the laminar airflow guides to generate a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows.

[0163] [I3] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system of paragraph [I1], wherein the first laminar grid array of parallel columnar fluid guides includes laminar airflow guides and particle flow guides, and the columnar laminar flow generating system generates a particle flow by: using a particle reservoir and an operably associated phase change device to change the phase state of the reservoir particle output flow to generate a particle flow; and injecting the particle flow into the particle flow guides.

[0164] [I4] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system of paragraph [I1] includes a first laminar grid array of parallel columnar fluid guides comprising laminar airflow guides and particulate flow guides, each of the particulate flow guides being surrounded by laminar flow guides, and the inlet of each of the particulate flow guides being isolated from the surrounding flow guides.

[0165] [I5] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the system in paragraph [I1] further includes a laser terminator that terminates the plurality of laser beams after they have passed through the ambient atmospheric air display volume.

[0166] [J1] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, a method for generating a holographic image within an ambient atmospheric air display volume using a columnar laminar flow generation system and a laser projection system includes: the columnar laminar flow generation system drawing in input ambient atmospheric air and generating an ambient atmospheric airflow; the columnar laminar flow generation system combining the input ambient atmospheric airflow with at least one particle stream to generate a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows and a plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric particle streams extending through the ambient atmospheric air display volume; the columnar laminar flow generation system drawing in a mixed atmospheric airflow and at least one particle stream after the plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows and the plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric particle streams have passed through the ambient atmospheric air display volume; and the laser projection system outputting a plurality of laser beams representing the holographic image, each of the plurality of laser beams being aligned to overlap a portion of a single columnar laminar particle stream within the ambient atmospheric air display volume, and each of the laser beams irradiating a target particle stream within a corresponding overlapping portion of the single columnar laminar particle stream.

[0167] [K1] In another non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the holographic image generation system includes: a columnar laminar flow generating system, the columnar laminar flow generating system including: an ambient atmospheric air inlet; a first parallel columnar fluid guide array, each fluid guide including an inlet end, an outlet end, and a hollow central volume extending from the inlet end to the outlet end, the inlet end receiving at least a portion of the ambient atmospheric airflow or at least a portion of one or more particle flows; and a second parallel columnar fluid guide array, each fluid guide including an inlet end, an outlet end, and a hollow central volume extending from the inlet end to the outlet end, the inlet end receiving at least a portion of the ambient atmospheric airflow or at least a portion of one or more particle flows; and a laser projection system, wherein a) the ambient atmospheric air inlet draws in input ambient air and generates an ambient atmospheric airflow; b) The first parallel columnar fluid guide array combines the input ambient airflow with at least one particle stream to generate multiple parallel columnar laminar airflows and multiple parallel columnar laminar airflows, the parallel columnar laminar airflows extending from the first parallel columnar fluid guide through the ambient air display volume to a second parallel columnar fluid guide spaced apart from the first parallel columnar fluid guide; and c) the laser projection system outputs multiple laser beams representing the holographic image to be displayed, each of the multiple laser beams being aligned to overlap a portion of a single columnar laminar airflow within the ambient air display volume, and each of the laser beams irradiating a target particle stream within a corresponding overlapping portion of the single columnar laminar airflow.

[0168] The foregoing summary outlines features of several embodiments to enable those skilled in the art to better understand various aspects of this disclosure. Those skilled in the art should understand that they can readily use this disclosure as the basis for designing or modifying other methods and structures to perform the same purposes and / or achieve the same advantages of the embodiments described herein. Those skilled in the art should also recognize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of this disclosure, and that various changes, substitutions, and modifications can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A method for generating a holographic image, wherein the holographic image is generated within an ambient atmospheric display volume using a columnar laminar flow generation system and a laser projection system, the method comprising: The columnar laminar flow generation system draws in ambient air and generates an ambient airflow. The columnar laminar flow generation system uses a first laminar flow grid to combine the input ambient airflow with at least one particle flow to receive the input ambient airflow and generate multiple parallel columnar laminar airflows and multiple parallel columnar laminar air particle flows extending from the first laminar flow grid through the ambient airflow display volume to a second laminar flow grid separated from the first laminar flow grid. The first laminar flow grid includes an array of parallel columnar fluid guides, each fluid guide including an inlet end, an outlet end, and a hollow central volume extending from the inlet end to the outlet end. The inlet end receives at least a portion of the ambient airflow or at least a portion of one or more particle flows, and the outlet end outputs one or more of the multiple columnar laminar airflows or one or more of the parallel columnar laminar air particle flows at a first constant flow rate. The second laminar flow grid draws in a mixed atmospheric airflow and at least one particulate flow through the second laminar flow grid at a second constant flow rate. The second laminar flow grid includes an array of parallel columnar fluid guides. Each fluid guide includes an inlet end, an outlet end, and a hollow central volume extending from the inlet end to the outlet end. The inlet end receives at least a portion of one or more of the plurality of columnar parallel laminar atmospheric airflows or at least a portion of the parallel columnar laminar particulate flow. The outlet end outputs at least a portion of the plurality of columnar parallel laminar atmospheric airflows or at least a portion of the parallel columnar laminar particulate flow at the second flow rate. and The laser projection system outputs a plurality of laser beams representing the holographic image, each of the plurality of laser beams being aligned to overlap a portion of a single columnar laminar particle stream within the ambient atmospheric air display volume, and each of the laser beams irradiating a target particle stream within a corresponding overlapping portion of the single columnar laminar particle stream.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the ambient atmospheric airflow comprises ambient atmosphere provided from a first air inlet, and the particulate flow comprises atmosphere provided from a second air inlet different from the first air inlet.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the laminar flow receiving unit is perpendicularly spaced from the first laminar flow grid, the first laminar flow grid is perpendicularly aligned with the second laminar flow grid, and the first laminar flow grid and the second laminar flow grid include the same number and size of parallel columnar fluid guides.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first laminar grid array of the parallel columnar fluid guides includes laminar airflow guides and particulate flow guides, and the columnar laminar flow generation system uses one or more ion wind generators operatively connected to the laminar airflow guides to generate the plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first laminar flow grid array of the parallel columnar fluid guide comprises a laminar airflow guide and a particle flow guide, and the columnar laminar flow generating system generates the particle flow in the following manner: The particle stream is generated by using a particle storage device and an operably associated phase change device to change the phase state of the particle output stream from the storage device; and The microparticle stream is injected into the microparticle stream guide.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first laminar flow grid array of the parallel columnar fluid guide comprises a laminar airflow guide and a particulate flow guide, the method further comprising: The columnar laminar flow generation system uses one or more ion wind generators to generate the plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows, the one or more ion wind generators being operatively connected to the laminar airflow guides, and The phase state of the particle output stream from the storage device is changed using a particle storage unit and an operably associated phase change device to generate the particle stream; and The microparticle stream is injected into the microparticle stream guide.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first laminar grid array of the parallel columnar fluid guides includes laminar airflow guides and particulate flow guides, each of the particulate flow guides being surrounded by laminar flow guides, and the inlet of each of the particulate flow guides being isolated from the surrounding fluid guides.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The plurality of laser beams output by the laser projection system are aligned to intersect the laminar microparticle stream at an angle between 0 and 90 degrees relative to the flow direction of the microparticle stream.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows and the plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric particle flows are generally perpendicular or inclined to gravity and flow against gravity.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: After the plurality of laser beams have passed through the ambient atmospheric air and displayed a volume, the plurality of laser beams are terminated.

11. A holographic image generation system, comprising: A columnar laminar flow generation system includes: Atmospheric air inlet; A first laminar flow grid includes an array of parallel columnar fluid guides, each fluid guide including an inlet end, an outlet end, and a hollow central volume extending from the inlet end to the outlet end, the inlet end receiving at least a portion of ambient atmospheric airflow or at least a portion of one or more particle flows; and Second laminar flow grid, and Laser projection system Wherein a) the ambient air inlet draws in the input ambient air and generates an ambient airflow; b) the first laminar flow grid combines the input ambient airflow with at least one particle flow to generate a plurality of parallel columnar laminar airflows and a plurality of parallel columnar laminar particle flows extending from the first laminar flow grid through the ambient air display volume to a second laminar flow grid spaced apart from the first laminar flow grid; and c) the laser projection system outputs a plurality of laser beams representing a holographic image to be displayed, each of the plurality of laser beams being aligned to overlap a portion of a single columnar laminar particle flow within the ambient air display volume, and each of the laser beams irradiating a target particle flow within a corresponding overlapping portion of the single columnar laminar particle flow.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the ambient atmospheric airflow comprises ambient atmosphere supplied from a first air inlet, and the particulate flow comprises atmosphere supplied from a second air inlet other than the first air inlet.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the laminar flow receiving unit is perpendicularly spaced from the first laminar flow grid, the first laminar flow grid is perpendicularly aligned with the second laminar flow grid, and the first laminar flow grid and the second laminar flow grid include the same number and size of parallel columnar fluid guides.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the first laminar grid array of the parallel columnar fluid guide includes laminar airflow guides and particulate flow guides, and the columnar laminar flow generation system generates the plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows using one or more ion wind generators, the one or more ion wind generators being operatively connected to the laminar airflow guides.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the first laminar flow grid array of the parallel columnar fluid guides comprises laminar airflow guides and particle flow guides, and the columnar laminar flow generating system generates the particle flow in such a way that: The particle stream is generated by using a particle storage device and an operably associated phase change device to change the phase state of the particle output stream from the storage device; and The microparticle stream is injected into the microparticle stream guide.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the first laminar grid array of the parallel columnar fluid guides comprises laminar airflow guides and particulate flow guides, and the method further comprises: The columnar laminar flow generation system uses one or more ion wind generators to generate the plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows, the one or more ion wind generators being operatively connected to the laminar airflow guides, and The phase state of the particle output stream from the storage device is changed to generate the particle stream using a particle storage device and an operably associated phase change device; and The microparticle stream is injected into the microparticle stream guide.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the first laminar grid array of parallel columnar fluid guides includes laminar airflow guides and particulate flow guides, each of the particulate flow guides being surrounded by laminar flow guides, and the inlet of each of the particulate flow guides being isolated from the surrounding fluid guides.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein, The plurality of laser beams output by the laser projection system are aligned to intersect the laminar microparticle stream at an angle between 0 and 90 degrees relative to the flow direction of the microparticle stream.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein, The multiple parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows and multiple parallel columnar laminar atmospheric particle flows are generally perpendicular or oblique to gravity, and flow against gravity.

20. The system of claim 11, further comprising: A laser terminator that terminates the plurality of laser beams after they have passed through the ambient atmospheric air display volume.

21. A method for generating a holographic image, wherein the holographic image is generated within an ambient atmospheric display volume using a columnar laminar flow generation system and a laser projection system, the method comprising: The columnar laminar flow generation system draws in ambient air and uses one or more ion wind generators to generate an ambient airflow. The columnar laminar flow generation system uses a first laminar flow grid to combine the input ambient airflow with at least one particle flow to receive the input ambient airflow and generate multiple parallel columnar laminar airflows and multiple parallel columnar laminar air particle flows extending from the first laminar flow grid through the ambient airflow display volume to a second laminar flow grid spaced apart from the first laminar flow grid. The first laminar flow grid includes an array of parallel columnar fluid guides, each fluid guide including an inlet end, an outlet end, and a hollow central volume extending from the inlet end to the outlet end. The inlet end receives at least a portion of the ambient airflow or at least a portion of one or more particle flows, and the outlet end outputs one or more of the multiple columnar laminar airflows or one or more of the parallel columnar laminar air particle flows at a first constant flow rate. The second laminar flow grid draws in a mixed atmospheric airflow and at least one particulate flow through the second laminar flow grid at a second constant flow rate. The second laminar flow grid includes an array of parallel columnar fluid guides. Each fluid guide includes an inlet end, an outlet end, and a hollow central volume extending from the inlet end to the outlet end. The inlet end receives at least a portion of one or more of the plurality of columnar parallel laminar atmospheric airflows or at least a portion of the parallel columnar laminar particulate flow. The outlet end outputs at least a portion of the plurality of columnar parallel laminar atmospheric airflows or at least a portion of the parallel columnar laminar particulate flow at the second flow rate. and The laser projection system outputs a plurality of laser beams representing the holographic image, each of the plurality of laser beams being aligned to either a) overlap with a portion of a single columnar laminar particle stream within the ambient atmospheric display volume, or b) longitudinally align with a single columnar laminar particle stream within the ambient atmospheric display volume, and each of the laser beams irradiates either the target particle stream within the corresponding overlapping portion or the longitudinally aligned single columnar laminar particle stream.

22. The method according to claim 21, The ambient atmospheric airflow includes ambient atmospheric air supplied from a first air inlet, and the particulate airflow includes atmospheric air supplied from a second air inlet different from the first air inlet. The first laminar grid array of the parallel columnar fluid guide includes laminar airflow guides and particulate flow guides, and the columnar laminar flow generation system uses one or more ion wind generators to generate the plurality of parallel columnar laminar atmospheric airflows, the one or more ion wind generators being operatively connected to the laminar airflow guides.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the first laminar flow grid array of the parallel columnar fluid guides comprises laminar airflow guides and particle flow guides, and the columnar laminar flow generating system generates the particle flow in the following manner: The particle stream is generated by using a particle storage device and an operably associated phase change device to change the phase state of the particle output stream from the storage device; and The microparticle stream is injected into the microparticle stream guide.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the first laminar grid array of the parallel columnar fluid guides includes laminar airflow guides and particulate flow guides, each of the particulate flow guides being surrounded by laminar flow guides, and the inlet of each of the particulate flow guides being isolated from the surrounding fluid guides.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising: After the plurality of laser beams have passed through the ambient atmospheric air volume, the plurality of laser beams are terminated.

Images