Three-Dimensional Internal Projection System
AssigneeLalley Brothers Scientific LLC
InventorsMarc Lalley, Matthew Lalley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A projection system that projects coherent light rays from a coherent light (e.g., laser) source onto an inner reflective surface of a three-dimensional viewing space is disclosed. A relatively compact and low-power laser light image can thereby be formed and seen by an observer from inside the viewing space. Raster scanning or simultaneous projection onto large solid angles of said viewing space are possible. Useful and entertaining information can also be displayed, optionally as dynamic and moving images, onto the projection screen as well.
Claims36
A projection system for projecting coherent images, comprising:
- a coherent light source configured to emit coherent light;
- a microdisplay array that receives the coherent light from said coherent light source and outputs a controlled coherent light output representing an image;
- a fixed focal length lens assembly that operates on said coherent light output of said microdisplay array and is configured to deliver a corresponding coherent light output representing an image to be incident upon a reflective surface;
- said reflective surface having a three-dimensional configuration substantially defining an enclosure volume configured and arranged to receive the coherent light output from said optical lens assembly to present a corresponding viewable image that is observable from inside the enclosure volume.
An image projection system, comprising:
- a coherent light source configured to emit a coherent light;
- and
- an optical lens assembly that operates on the coherent light, and is configured to deliver a corresponding coherent light output for projection onto a reflective surface that substantially defines an enclosure volume around said optical lens assembly;
- said optical lens assembly arranged and oriented to direct said coherent light output towards a said reflective surface to cause a viewable image to be formed on said reflective surface that is observable from within said enclosure;
- said optical lens assembly further arranged and oriented to direct said coherent light output to be simultaneously incident upon at least a 90-degree solid angle on said reflective surface.
An image projection system, comprising:
- a coherent light source configured to emit visible coherent light;
- a display element configured to receive and manipulate said coherent light to produce a controlled output coherent light;
- and
- an optical element configured to diffract said controlled output coherent light;
- said optical element being configured to diffract said controlled output coherent light onto an at least partially reflective surface defining a substantially enclosed three-dimensional volume, thereby creating a viewable image which can be observed from within said volume.
A method for projecting an image onto an internal surface of a substantially-enclosed three dimensional surface, comprising:
- generating coherent light in a visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum from a coherent light source;
- providing said coherent light as an input to a microdisplay apparatus;
- controlling said microdisplay apparatus to output a coherent light representation of the image;
- providing said output of said microdisplay apparatus as a coherent light input to an optical lens assembly;
- and
- altering the coherent light input of the optical lens assembly within the optical lens assembly, including projecting a coherent light output from said optical lens assembly outward from the optical lens assembly to cover a substantial solid angle of said three dimensional reflective surface to form a visible image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.