Apparatus for displaying a three-dimensional image

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11442289-B2
Application number	US-201916979512-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 4, 2019
Priority date	Mar 9, 2018
Publication date	Sep 13, 2022
Grant date	Sep 13, 2022

Abstract

An apparatus for displaying a three-dimensional image comprises: a light field generating unit (110), which is configured to receive an incident light beam (112) and generate a three-dimensional light field; and an image revealing medium (120), which is arranged to receive the three-dimensional light field generated by the light field generating unit (110), wherein the image revealing medium (120) comprises a fluid with bubbles or particles suspended in the fluid, wherein the bubbles or particles have a size in the range of 40-500 nm.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for displaying a three-dimensional image, said apparatus comprising:
a light field generating unit, which is configured to receive an incident light beam and generate a three-dimensional light field; and
an image revealing medium, which is arranged to receive the three-dimensional light field generated by the light field generating unit, wherein the image revealing medium comprises a fluid with bubbles or particles suspended in the fluid, wherein the bubbles or particles have a size in the range of 40-500 nm,
wherein the bubbles or particles cause scattering of light based on at least one of Tyndall scattering or Rayleigh scattering for forming the three-dimensional image.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the bubbles or particles have a size in the range of 40-200 nm.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the bubbles or particles have a size in the range of 50-150 nm.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid is an aqueous liquid.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the bubbles are filled with air or another gas comprising oxygen, nitrogen or carbon dioxide.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a size of the bubbles or particles and a concentration of bubbles or particles in the fluid are selected for providing an optical attenuation constant in the range of 10-200 dB/m for a wavelength of light of the light beam.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a size of the bubbles or particles and a concentration of bubbles or particles in the fluid are selected for providing an average distance between two adjacent bubbles or particles in the fluid below 200 μm.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a concentration of bubbles in the fluid is larger than 2*10 14 bubbles/m 3 .

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a container in which the image revealing medium is arranged, wherein at least a portion of a wall of the container is transparent for output of light scattered by the bubbles or particles in the fluid.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising at least one channel connected to the container for transporting the image revealing medium into and out of the container.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the image revealing medium is arranged in the container to have an increasing concentration of bubbles or particles in a direction of propagation of light of the generated light field in the container.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one calibration sensor, which is configured to receive light being transmitted through the image revealing medium for detecting an intensity of received light as a measure of attenuation of a light beam propagating through the image revealing medium.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an optical system for transferring the light field generated by the light field generating unit into the image revealing medium.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a controller unit for controlling the light field generating unit for controlling distribution of light in the three-dimensional light field output by the light field generating unit.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one light source, which is configured to generate the light beam incident on the light field generating unit.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light field generating unit comprises a plurality of cells, wherein each cell is configured to interact with a portion of an incident light beam in order to provide interaction with the portion of the incident light beam for forming the three-dimensional light field.

17. An apparatus for displaying a three-dimensional image, said apparatus comprising:
a light field generating unit, which is configured to receive an incident light beam and generate a three-dimensional light field; and
an image revealing medium, which is arranged to receive the three-dimensional light field generated by the light field generating unit, wherein the image revealing medium comprises a fluid with bubbles suspended in the fluid, wherein the bubbles have a size in the range of 40-500 nm.

Assignees

• Imec Vzw

Inventors

• Rottenberg Xavier
• Lodewijks Kristof

Classifications

• G02B30/56 Primary

  by projecting aerial or floating images · CPC title

• G03B21/606

  for relief projection · CPC title

• G03B21/608

  Fluid screens · CPC title

• G02B30/10

  using integral imaging methods · CPC title

• H04N13/388 Primary

  Volumetric displays, i.e. systems where the image is built up from picture elements distributed through a volume · CPC title