US 5,907,312 AGranted

Three-dimensional image display device

AssigneeSharp Kabushiki Kaisha

InventorsShunichi Sato, Koushi Koide, Yukitaka Shimizu

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Abstract

The invention is intended to represent a three-dimensional image of an object just as observable from a viewing point, allowing representation of a semi-transparent image on the condition that its rear side may not transparently visible. A three-dimensional image display device according to the present invention is composed essentially of a laser light source, a modulator, an X-Y deflector, a control computer, an image data memory, a moving flat screen and a projection lens. The screen is constructed of a large number of pixels (e.g., 100 by 100 pixels) and each of the pixels is composed of a large number of diffraction elements (e.g., 5 by 5 diffraction elements). On the basis of three-dimensional image data and desired view-point data, both control and image-data preparing computers perform ON-OFF control of laser radiation onto diffraction elements having different reflection directions to determine displaying condition of a pixel composed of said diffraction elements.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A three-dimensional image display device comprising:

a screen;
modulated light generating means for generating modulated light by specifying a radiating position on the screen and then by modulating light at the specified position on the screen;
means for moving the screen so as to volumetrically scan a specified space;
data-inputting means for inputting three-dimensional image data including an area of hidden-line and/or hidden surface processing data;
and
control means for controlling the above-mentioned respective means so as to display an image on the screen on the basis of the three-dimensional image data;
wherein the screen is composed of a plurality of pixels, each of said pixels is composed of a plurality of diffraction elements and the control means control modulation of light to be produced by the light generating means and to be given to the diffraction elements respectively on the basis of the three-dimensional image data so as to direct diffraction rays of light from respective diffraction elements of each pixel to be seen as if the rays are emitted from a single light source.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/695,389Filed 9 Aug 1996
Priority: JP 7-20603011 Aug 1995
Granted: 25 May 1999
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

G02B 30/54
The image being built up from image elements distributed over a three-dimensional [3D] volume, e.g. voxels: the three-dimensional [3D] volume…
G09F 19/18
Using special optical effects: involving the use of optical projection means, e.g. projection of images on clouds
G02B 5/32
Optical elements other than lenses: holograms used as optical elements
G03H 1/202
Copying holograms by holographic , i.e. optical means: contact copy when the reconstruction beam for the master H1 also serves as reference beam…