Transparent Waveguide Arrays for 4D Plenoptic Opacity Modulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies fail to create a compelling interactive virtual world experience akin to the 'holodeck' concept, lacking the ability to stimulate human sensory receptors effectively, particularly in visual, auditory, somatosensory, gustatory, olfactory, and vestibular systems, due to limitations in resolution, image quality, and seamless energy surface fabrication.
Innovation Solution
A transparent energy relay waveguide system using a 4D plenoptic function to direct energy through arrays of waveguides, combined with energy modulation elements like LCD, LED, OLED, and LCOS, to achieve holographic opacity modulation and bi-directional energy propagation, enabling immersive holographic, virtual, and augmented reality experiences without external accessories.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional display technologies are used, then device complexity is reduced, but sensory resolution and image quality fail to exceed human sensory capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the display function into multiple independent waveguide channels, each handling specific spatial and angular information. This segmentation enables parallel processing of light field data across multiple dimensions, achieving high sensory resolution through distributed optical paths rather than a single complex display surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from 2D display surfaces to 4D plenoptic space by incorporating spatial (x,y) and angular (theta,phi) dimensions. This dimensional expansion allows the system to encode and decode light field information in a way that exceeds human sensory resolution while maintaining manageable device complexity through structured optical geometry.
2Adaptability or versatility
If waveguide arrays with multiple modulation elements are implemented, then holographic opacity modulation and binocular disparity are achieved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces intermediate optical elements such as beam splitters, combiners, and relay optics between the waveguide arrays and modulation elements. These intermediaries act as mediators that tolerate manufacturing variations by providing optical path compensation and alignment buffering, enabling holographic opacity modulation without requiring extreme manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs adjustable optical parameters including waveguide thickness, refractive index profiles, and modulation element positioning that can be tuned post-manufacturing. These parameter changes allow compensation for fabrication tolerances while maintaining the desired holographic opacity modulation and binocular disparity effects.
3Stability of the object's composition
If energy waveguide relay systems with inverse 4D plenoptic functions are used, then seamless energy surface and motion parallax are achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the forward and inverse 4D plenoptic transformation functions into an integrated waveguide relay architecture. By combining these functions in a cascaded configuration where the output of one stage feeds into the next, the system achieves seamless energy surface stability while consolidating control logic and reducing overall system complexity compared to separate independent systems.
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
The system provides a seamless energy surface capable of fooling human sensory receptors, achieving binocular disparity, motion parallax, occlusion, and opacity, exceeding human sensory resolution for vision, hearing, touch, taste, and balance, and enabling interactive, immersive environments.
Implementation Method 1
a first energy waveguide relay system configured such that energy passing therethrough is directed according to a first 4D plenoptic function; a second energy waveguide relay system following the first energy waveguide relay system, the second energy waveguide relay system configured such that energy passing therethrough is directed according to a second 4D plenoptic function
Implementation Method 2
a first energy modulation element disposed in a first location in the first energy waveguide relay system, in a second location in the second energy waveguide relay system or in a third location in between the first energy waveguide relay system and the second energy waveguide relay system, the first energy modulation element configured to modulate energy passing therethrough
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are transparent energy relay waveguide systems for the superimposition of holographic opacity modulation states for holographic, light field, virtual, augmented and mixed reality applications. The light field system may comprise one or more energy waveguide relay systems with one or more energy modulation elements, each energy modulation element configured to modulate energy passing therethrough, whereby the energy passing therethrough may be directed according to 4D plenoptic functions or inverses thereof.