Variable Collimation Autostereo Synthetic Holographic-3D Display

To address the Navy"s need for innovative visual displays to provide variable collimation and improved 3D depth perception for rotary wing flight simulators, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to advance the development of a new Variable Collimation Autostereo Synthetic Holographic-3D Display (VCASH-3D) based on a novel synthetic holographic window design. The innovation of using an array of low-cost laser-based miniature projectors and POC"s unique holographic angular multiplexer screen (HAMS) enables the VCASH-3D to provide full parallax 3D (autostereoscopic) images and scenes with any collimation over a wide viewing area without the apparent depth distortions of standard stereoscopic and collimated display systems. In Phase I, POC demonstrated the feasibility of the VCASH-3D through design, fabrication, and demonstration of a functional, full-color, video-rate (60 Hz) prototype consisting of an 8 x 2 array of laser pico-projectors and a POC-fabricated 16 x 9 in., 20deg (H) x 20deg(V) field of view (FOV) HAMS. In Phase II, POC plans to refine, develop, and demonstrate a real-time full-parallax volumetric 3D visualization prototype system based on improved modular and scalable designs to provide variable collimation and improved 3D depth perception for rotary wing chin windows, cargo hatch operations, and curved front windows.