Volumetric Display Voxel Projector Beam Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional raster scanning methods for static volumetric displays are too slow to achieve large-scale data accessing necessary for 3D displays, making it difficult to illuminate a volume with a high number of pixels, such as 1.25e17 pixels, which is beyond the capability of most graphics processing units (GPUs).
Innovation Solution
The use of a voxel projector in conjunction with a scanning mirror to expand a light beam into a larger area within a transparent enclosed volume, allowing for faster raster scanning of voxels by manipulating the light beam's dimensions using grating, metasurface, or rotatable diffractive plate structures, and adjusting the light beam's focus with variable lenses to cover more of the 3D display volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional raster scanning is used to illuminate voxels in a static volumetric display, then the scanning process can cover the display volume, but the scanning speed is too slow to achieve large-scale data accessing necessary for high-resolution 3D displays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a spatial light modulator that diffracts light into multiple orders, effectively adding a dimensional multiplication factor to the scanning process. This allows the system to access more voxels by utilizing diffracted light orders rather than relying solely on mechanical mirror scanning speed, thereby achieving both high resolution and improved scanning productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The spatial light modulator acts as an intermediary between the light source and the volumetric display medium. It diffracts the incoming light into multiple orders, enabling the system to illuminate multiple voxel locations simultaneously or in rapid succession, thus overcoming the speed limitation of traditional raster scanning while maintaining precision
2Speed
If the scanning mirror is used to direct light beam across the display volume, then it can control beam position, but the mirror speed is limited due to lack of fine notch motor and servo actuator
Solution Approach 1:
The spatial light modulator creates multiple diffracted light orders that effectively multiply the scanning coverage area. This allows the system to cover a larger display area without requiring the mirror to physically move faster, as the diffracted orders provide additional spatial pathways for light delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the optical parameters by introducing diffraction through the spatial light modulator. This creates multiple light paths and effective scanning angles, allowing the mirror to cover a larger area by utilizing the angular separation of diffracted orders rather than relying solely on mirror rotation speed
3Area of stationary object
If a stationary grating structure or metasurface structure is used in the voxel projector, then it can expand the light beam into larger area, but the structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spatial light modulator serves multiple functions: it diffracts light into multiple orders for area expansion, acts as a programmable optical element for flexible pattern generation, and can be electronically controlled for rapid reconfiguration. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate optical components, thereby managing device complexity while achieving large beam coverage area
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach speeds up raster scanning, enabling a resolution of 1,024 pixels over a 30-centimeter display area by allowing the scanning mirror to cover larger areas, thereby overcoming the limitations of traditional scanning methods.
Implementation Method 1
The scanning mirror is configured to direct a light beam from the light source in an X and a Y dimension
Implementation Method 2
The voxel projector is configured to receive the light beam from the scanning mirror and project an expanded beam into the transparent enclosed volume of the stationary gain medium
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems may provide for 3D volumetric displays. Such 3D volumetric displays may include a transparent enclosed volume holding a gas as a stationary gain medium. A scanning mirror may direct a light beam from a light source. A voxel projector may receive the light beam from the scanning mirror and may project an expanded beam into a volume of the stationary gain medium. Changes in the X and Y orientation between the light beam from the scanning mirror and the voxel projector results in relatively larger changes in the X and Y dimension of the expanded beam that is projected into the volume of the stationary gain medium to produce a 3D image.