Patent · US Active

Multiplanar volumetric three-dimensional display apparatus

US8854423B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by
60References
115Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 22, 2009
Grant dateOct 7, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 10, 2033

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B3/14
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A multiplanar volumetric three-dimensional display apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a variable lens and an object source. The variable lens is capable of switching its radius of curvature between a number of states, thereby varying its focal power. The object source provides light for the generation of three-dimensional images. Light from the object source is transmitted through the variable lens and focused at an image plane. As the focal power of the variable lens is varied, the location of the image plane is changed. The object source and variable lens are synchronized and refreshed at a sufficient rate such that an observer may perceive light focused at multiple image plane locations simultaneously, thereby creating the appearance of a three-dimensional image. A reflective pointer may be positioned at the image plane locations wherein light from the object source may be reflected by the pointer back through the variable lens and directed to a detector array. In this fashion, the position of the pointer may be calculated and an observer controlling the pointer may interact with the three-dimensional image. An imaging medium, such as a liquid vapo…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.