Described herein is an apparatus for producing three-dimensional staic or moving images. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an image generator and an optical device. The image generator generates a plurality of image elements including first and second image elements. In one embodiment the image elements constitute coherent beams of light encoded with image information, wherein the coherent beams of light are sequentially generated by one or more laser scanners of the image generator. The optical device receives the plurality of image elements on a first planar surface thereof and, in response, produces first output light rays and second output rays corresponding to the first and second image elements, respectively. The first and second output light rays, when seen by an observer, appear to originate from first and second common points, respectively. The first and second common points are spaced from each other and from the first planar surface. Moreover, the first and second common points are spaced from the first planar surface in a direction perpendicular to the first planar surface.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority to provisional patent application entitled "Apparatus For Producing A Three-Dimensional Image," Ser. No. 60/147,434 filed on Aug. 4, 1999.
The following patent application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as though fully and completely set forth herein: "Holographic Illumination System," Ser. No. 09/395,889, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,152 filed Sep. 14, 1999.
Embodiments of the invention provide a system and method for providing a three-dimensional moving image display. In one embodiment, a display having a plurality of pixels is provided. In addition, a refractive index controller is provided for controlling a modifiable and reversible index of refraction of at least one of the pixels. The refractive index controller is used for modifying the index of refraction of the at least one of the pixels to a first extent to manipulate the phase of a first photon and to a second different extent to manipulate the phase of a second photon.
Systems and methods for providing illumination suitable for imaging devices such as laser projection systems, wherein the illumination pattern is adjustable by modifying one or more characteristics of a controlled angle diffuser. In one embodiment, a highly collimated (e.g., laser light) beam is passed through a holographic diffuser to create a well defined cone angle for the light emanating from each point on the diffuser. This light is focused into an illumination image that is controlled by the prescription of the diffuser. In one embodiment, the diffuser can be positioned to alternately place different regions having different prescriptions in the optical path corresponding to the illumination image. In one embodiment, the diffuser can be continually moved to eliminate speckling and "worminess" in the illumination image.
Electronic displays are provided which can reproduce image data with high contrast ratios and a gray scale range comparable to conventional X-ray film viewed on a light box. One such display includes a rear low-resolution LCD or DLP display which projects an image onto a high-resolution LCD display. In such embodiments, the mechanical and optical registration between the two displays is not critical. Therefore, modulation transfer function and distortion of the projection optics are not critical. Accordingly, the brightness of the inventive display can be maximized with high power lamps and high aperture projection optics. Because the display has a high dynamic range, the need for dynamic range compression algorithms is reduced.
Apparatus and methods for scanning conoscopic holography measurements are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a conoscopic holography sensor, a beam directing assembly, and a control assembly. The beam directing assembly is adapted to adjustably direct a laser beam from the sensor toward the workpiece, and to direct a reflected light from the workpiece into the sensor. The control assembly controllably adjusts a direction of the laser beam into a desired position on the workpiece. In one particular embodiment, the beam directing assembly includes first and second mirrors coupled to first and second galvanometers for controllably directing the laser beam along first and second axes, respectively. Alternately, the system includes a calibration assembly having a three axis stage for performing calibrations of the laser beam location.
Image disturbance called speckle noise occurs when an image generator has a small effective screen size and a projection lens has a small effective diameter. The present invention is intended to reduce speckle noise. In an optical projector, a viewing angle enlarging ember (60) for enlarging viewing angle or a scattering member (28) for scattering image light is disposed near an image display device (18), such as a liquid crystal panel. Speckle noise can be reduced, suppressing the deterioration of resolution and contrast.
