3-D volume visualization display

A volume visualization display system comprising:

• a volumetric screen controller;
• a projector interface connected to said volumetric screen controller;
• a volumetric screen interface connected to said volumetric screen controller;
• a liquid-crystal spatial light modulator color projector connected to said projector interface;
• and
• a volumetric screen monitor connected to said volumetric screen interface,
• wherein said volumetric screen monitor includes a volumetric multi-layer screen, said volumetric multi-layer screen including a plurality of electrically switchable layers that are stacked and coextensive, each of said plurality of electrically switchable layers including:
• a first transparent dielectric substrate having a first side and a second side;
• a first transparent electrode coated on said first side of said first transparent substrate;
• and
• an electrically switchable polymer dispersed liquid-crystal film coated on said first transparent electrode, said electrically switchable polymer dispersed liquid-crystal film including a) a host polymer having an index of refraction and b) a nematic liquid crystal having i) an ordinary index of refraction that substantially matches the index of refraction of the host polymer when an electric field is applied across said electrically switchable polymer dispersed liquid-crystal film from said first transparent electrode and ii) an extraordinary index of refraction that causes visible light to be scattered at a host polymer/nematic liquid crystal interface when said electric field is not applied across said electrically switchable polymer dispersed liquid-crystal film by said first transparent electrode.

A method comprising:

• fabricating a plurality of electrically switchable layers, said plurality of electrically switchable layers being fabricated so as to be electrically switchable fast enough to produce uninterrupted full motion true-volume three-dimensional images with real physical depth cues;
• and
• laminating the plurality of electrically switchable layers together so that said plurality of electrically switchable layers are stacked and coextensive, wherein fabricating the plurality of electrically switchable layers includes, for each of the plurality of electrically switchable layers comprises,
• providing a first transparent substrate having a first side and a second side;
• coating said first side of said transparent substrate with a first transparent electrode;
• and
• forming an electrically switchable polymer dispersed liquid-crystal film on said first transparent electrode, said electrically switchable polymer dispersed liquid-crystal film including a) a host polymer having an index of refraction and b) a nematic liquid crystal having i) an ordinary index of refraction that substantially matches the index of refraction of the host polymer when an electric field is applied across said electrically switchable polymer dispersed liquid-crystal film from said first transparent electrode and ii) an extraordinary index of refraction that causes visible light to be scattered at a host polymer/nematic liquid crystal interface when said electric field is not applied across said electrically switchable polymer dispersed liquid-crystal film by said first transparent electrode.

A method comprising:

• fabricating a plurality of electrically switchable layers;
• and
• laminating the plurality of electrically switchable layers together so that said plurality of electrically switchable layers are stacked and coextensive,
• wherein fabricating the plurality of electrically switchable layers includes, for each of the plurality of electrically switchable layers,
• providing a first transparent substrate having a first side and a second side;
• coating said first side of said transparent substrate with a first transparent electrode;
• and
• forming an electrically switchable polymer dispersed liquid-crystal film on said first transparent electrode, said electrically switchable polymer dispersed liquid-crystal film including a) a host polymer having an index of refraction and b) a nemnatic liquid crystal having i) an ordinary index of refraction that substantially matches the index of refraction of the host polymer when an electric field is applied across said electrically switchable polymer dispersed liquid-crystal film from said first transparent electrode and ii) an extraordinary index of refraction that causes visible light to be scattered at a host polymer/nematic liquid crystal interface when said electric field is not applied across said electrically switchable polymer dispersed liquid-crystal film by said first transparent electrode, and
• wherein forming said electrically switchable polymer dispersed liquid-crystal film on said first transparent electrode includes emulsifying said nematic liquid crystal in an aqueous solution of a polymer matrix to form a first emulsion, forming a second emulsion, mixing said first emulsion and said second emulsion to form a complex emulsion, coating said complex emulsion onto said first transparent conductive electrode and drying said complex emulsion.

A method comprising:

• a) providing a volumetric multi-layer screen with a plurality of electrically switchable layers, each of said plurality of electrically switchable layers including:
• a first transparent dielectric substrate having a first side and a second side;
• a first transparent electrode coated on said first side of said first transparent substrate;
• and
• an electrically switchable polymer dispersed liquid-crystal film coated on said first transparent electrode, said electrically switchable polymer dispersed liquid-crystal film including A) a host polymer having an index of refraction and B) a nematic liquid crystal having i) an ordinary index of refraction that substantially matches the index of refraction of the host polymer when an electric field is applied across said electrically switchable polymer dispersed liquid-crystal film from said first transparent electrode and ii) an extraordinary index of refraction that causes visible light to be scattered at a host polymer/nematic liquid crystal interface when said electric field is not applied across said electrically switchable polymer dispersed liquid-crystal film by said first transparent electrode;
• b) generating i) a first cross-section perpendicular to a direction of viewing from a stored three dimensional image and ii) a second cross-section perpendicular to said direction of viewing from said stored three dimensional image;
• c) applying a first electric field to a first of said electrically switchable layers so as to switch said first of said electrically switchable layers to a first optically transparent state;
• d) projecting said first cross-section through said first of said electrically switchable layers;
• e) removing said first electric field from said first of said electrically switchable layers so as to switch said first of said electrically switchable layers to a first optically diffuse state;
• f) applying a second electric field to a second of said electrically switchable layers so as to switch said second of said electrically switchable layers to a second optically transparent state;
• g) projecting said second cross-section through said first of said electrically switchable layers;
• h) removing said second electric field from a second of said electrically switchable layers so as to switch said second of said electrically switchable layers to a second optically diffuse state;
• and
• i) repeating b), c), d), e), f), g) and h).